Oura, maker of the popular Oura Ring, recently announced that it is investing in U.S. manufacturing operations in Fort Worth, Texas, partly in order to bolster the specialized and evolving needs of its military partnerships. The brand has worked across the U.S. Department of Defense, its largest enterprise customer, since 2019.
The Oura announcement has been met with immediate backlash online. However, Oura has released statements to press and on their subreddit, explaining that no Oura Ring user’s data is shared with the DoD except when you are “enrolled in a Department of Defense (DoD) health or human-performance program that uses Oura Ring, and you have consented to share your data with that program.”
The Oura Ring is one of the most popular smart rings on the market — it’s an excellent wearable with a sleek design and an intuitive app. But if you're looking for an alternative smart ring based on the recent news we have you covered. I’ve tested wearables and smart rings for years, and rounded up some of the best (subscription-free) Oura Ring alternatives below.
To pick the best alternatives to the Oura Ring, I tried smart rings from brands like Ultrahuman and Samsung, keeping the following criteria in mind when using them:
- Price: One of the main reasons people search for Oura Ring alternatives is price: it’s one of the most expensive smart rings, plus it has a monthly subscription fee. As such, I focused on alternatives that cost less than the Oura Ring.
- Ease of use: A smart ring should be easy to use while giving interesting, informative and actionable data. I tested each smart ring app, looking at glanceable data as well as customization options.
- Compatibility: I noted when products were compatible with iPhone, Android or both, and generally preferred products with dual-compatibility
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Our top picks come from tech brands like Ultrahuman and Samsung. Below each recommendation I share specifications to consider when shopping.
Best overall
This is my favorite Oura Ring alternative: it has the same $349 price, but doesn’t have any mandatory subscription fees. It’s lighter than the Oura Ring and just as comfortable — I forgot I was wearing it most of the time.
It’s a fully-featured smart ring that tracks your health, wellness and fitness metrics, with a big emphasis on actionable insights — it can send you notifications for things like your optimal caffeine window for the day, ideal sun exposure and details around your circadian phases.
You can learn more in my Ultrahuman Ring Air review.
Best for Samsung
If you already own a Samsung smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Ring is the best smart ring to get. It tracks very similar metrics and analysis compared to the Oura and Ultrahuman ring, but has a standout design that sets it apart from the competition.
It’s the most comfortable smart ring I’ve tested — it’s very light, and the concave design looks sleek on my finger. It comes with a transparent, wired charging case that I love, especially compared to Oura and Ultrahuman’s charging docks. Plus it syncs seamlessly with other Samsung smartphones and smartwatches.
Note that it is only compatible with Android smartphones — iPhone owners will want to look at our other options.
Best budget
The Ringconn Gen 2 Air costs $199 and does not have a subscription fee — it costs much less than the Oura Ring and every other smart ring on this list. Despite its lowest price, it has an up to 10 day battery life, much longer than its competitors. And it tracks similar metrics and scores with sleep, health and fitness, including Health Alerts to indicate potential signs of illness.
If you want features like sleep apnea detection, a wireless charging case and 12 days of battery life (up from 10) you’ll want to consider the pricier RingConn Gen 2 instead.
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There are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for any smart ring, regardless of brand.
Try a sizing kit first
Smart ring sizing is not universal — each ring fits a little differently, even if you order the same size. Purchase the brand’s sizing kit first to find your perfect fit before ordering the actual smart ring.
Prioritize comfort
There’s a saying in photography that the best camera is the one you have with you. The same is true for health and fitness tracking: the best smart ring for you is the one that you’ll actually wear daily. Consider which finger you’ll wear your smart ring, and if it will rub uncomfortably against other jewelry you may wear. If you’re not a ring person, it’s unlikely a smart ring is going to change your mind and be more comfortable than a wrist-based fitness tracker.
Double check compatibility
Like smartwatches, smart rings are compatible with Android and/or iPhone devices. Make sure you purchase one that is compatible with your phone — iPhone owners shouldn’t purchase the Android-only Samsung Galaxy Ring, for example.
I am a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories on smartwatches, running shoes, cameras and more. I test smart rings and wearable tech regularly, and leveraged my experience using smart rings as well as that of NBC Select staffers.
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