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Published August 7, 2026. Updated October 10, 2026.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. None of the devices below diagnose heart disease or replace a cardiologist. Talk to a doctor about any heart rhythm symptom or concern, and about whether a personal ECG device is right for you.
Wearable ECG monitors come in two forms: a watch you already own, or a $75 card. Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch can both take a single-lead ECG on demand. That feature is locked to hardware that costs hundreds of dollars, and neither works without the matching phone ecosystem. AliveCor’s KardiaMobile Card does the same core job, a 30-second single-lead reading you can share with a doctor, as a standalone $75 device that works with any smartphone. The short version: if you already own a recent Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, use what you have. If you do not want to buy a whole new watch just for this, the Card is the cheaper, platform-agnostic way in.
I have worn smartwatches and fitness bands for years, on boats, whitewater rafts and long road trips, and I read the health-feature fine print before the headline. A heart-rhythm feature is only as good as the habit of using it. So cost and convenience matter as much as the clearance paperwork.
How much do wearable ECG monitors cost to start?
The Card is cheapest, at $75. This is the number that does not show up on any single product page: the true entry cost of each option, once you account for whether you already own the required hardware.
| Cost | Apple Watch ECG | Galaxy Watch ECG + IHRN | KardiaMobile Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feature cost itself | Free (built in) | Free (built in) | Free (basic 4-category detection) |
| Required hardware if you don’t already own it | Apple Watch Series 4+, from ~$399 | Galaxy Watch4+, from $299.99 | Just the Card itself, $75 |
| Works with | iPhone only | Android (Samsung-optimized) | Any iOS or Android phone |
| Optional paid tier | None | None | KardiaCare (price not listed on Kardia’s product pages) |
| Cheapest way to a first reading if starting from zero | ~$399 | ~$299.99 | $75 |
Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the retailer before buying.
Who needs a personal ECG device?
People managing or screening for atrial fibrillation (AFib) and other rhythm irregularities. That is especially true if you have had an episode, have a family history, or have been told by a doctor to log symptomatic episodes. If that is not you, a passive heart-rate sensor on any basic fitness tracker covers typical day-to-day needs. None of the three devices here is worth buying purely for general wellness tracking.
Is the Apple Watch one of the best wearable ECG monitors?
Yes, if you already own a compatible watch. Apple’s ECG app has been available since Apple Watch Series 4 in 2018 and remains one of the earliest FDA-cleared consumer ECG features. Placing a finger on the Digital Crown for 30 seconds records a single-lead (Lead I) ECG. The app classifies the rhythm as sinus rhythm, AFib or inconclusive, and stores a PDF you can share directly with a doctor. It is included at no extra cost on every compatible watch, with no subscription and no per-reading fee. It only works on Apple Watch Series 4 and later, though. So the feature is free, while the entry ticket is a watch that starts around $399.
Apple also runs a separate, passive AFib History feature that estimates how often your heart shows signs of AFib over time. The two work together but measure different things. One is a snapshot you take yourself. The other is ongoing background estimation.
What heart rhythm tools does the Galaxy Watch have?
Two, and they are easy to conflate. The first is an on-demand ECG app in Samsung Health Monitor, functionally similar to Apple’s. It takes a single-lead reading when you touch the watch’s frame. The second is the Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN), a passive background feature. It checks for AFib-suggestive patterns via the watch’s BioActive Sensor without you doing anything. Samsung’s own announcement is explicit that IHRN “is not intended to provide a notification on every episode of irregular rhythm suggestive of AFib” and does not replace a doctor.
IHRN’s current FDA clearance covers Galaxy Watch4 series and later. It rolled out alongside the ECG app rather than replacing it. Like Apple’s setup, both Galaxy Watch heart-rhythm features are included free with the hardware. The cost barrier is the watch itself, which starts at $299.99 for the Galaxy Watch8, Best Buy’s listed value.
Can the KardiaMobile Card replace a watch ECG?
For the core job, yes. AliveCor’s KardiaMobile Card is a credit-card-sized, single-lead (Lead I) EKG device that connects to your smartphone over Bluetooth. It costs $75 on sale direct from Kardia, down from $84. The free tier detects AFib, bradycardia, tachycardia and normal sinus rhythm from a 30-second reading. Those are the same core categories as either watch’s ECG app. You do not need a specific brand of phone or a several-hundred-dollar watch.
A paid KardiaCare membership adds three more rhythm classifications on top of the four free categories: sinus rhythm with wide QRS, sinus rhythm with PVCs, and sinus rhythm with SVE. Kardia’s membership page says it also lets you send any Kardia EKG to a board-certified cardiologist, with a report within 24 hours. Kardia’s product pages do not list the membership price, so check it at checkout. Membership is not required to use the core device or send readings to your own doctor.
Which wearable ECG monitors should you buy?
If you already own a compatible Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, buy nothing else. The ECG feature is already on your wrist for free, and both are legitimately FDA-cleared for what they do. Between the two watches, Apple’s ECG app has the longer track record. Both pair an on-demand reading with a passive background check: AFib History on Apple, IHRN on Samsung.
If you do not own either watch and ECG is your main reason for buying one, the math changes. A $399 or $299.99 watch is a steep price for a feature the $75 KardiaMobile Card performs with a phone you already have. The Card is also the only option here that does not lock you into one phone ecosystem. That matters if you are choosing on behalf of a parent or family member whose phone you do not control.
How we researched wearable ECG monitors
Facts and pricing come from each maker’s own current product and clearance documentation: Apple’s and Samsung’s newsroom announcements, and AliveCor’s device-comparison page. Kardia’s own pages do not list the KardiaCare membership price, so this page does not quote one. See our editorial standards page for more on our process.
Frequently asked questions about wearable ECG monitors
Is the Apple Watch ECG the same as a hospital 12-lead EKG?
No. It is a single-lead (Lead I) ECG, a much narrower snapshot than a clinical 12-lead EKG. It is useful for catching signs of AFib and sharing a reading with a doctor, but not for a full cardiac workup.
Does the Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification need a Galaxy Watch?
Yes. IHRN currently requires a Galaxy Watch4 or later, per Samsung’s own FDA clearance documentation. It works via the watch’s BioActive Sensor rather than through a phone alone.
Can the KardiaMobile Card replace a smartwatch’s ECG feature?
For the core job of taking a single-lead ECG reading, yes. It detects the same four basic categories as either watch’s app (AFib, bradycardia, tachycardia, normal), at a fraction of the cost. It does not do anything else a smartwatch does.
Do I need a subscription to use any of these?
No. Apple’s ECG app and Samsung’s ECG and IHRN features are both included free with a compatible watch. The KardiaMobile Card’s core four-category detection is also free. A paid KardiaCare membership is optional and adds extra rhythm classifications and cardiologist review of your readings.
Can any of these devices replace seeing a cardiologist?
No. All three makers frame their devices as screening and logging tools meant to inform a conversation with a doctor, not to diagnose heart conditions on their own. Talk to a healthcare provider about any symptoms or irregular readings.
Curious about blood pressure claims on the same watches? Our smartwatch blood pressure comparison covers a related, and often confused, set of health claims. For ring-based alternatives, see our smart ring comparison. Browse more comparisons in our Wearable Tech category.
