I need a fitness tracker that broadcasts heart rate to gym equipment via ANT+.

If you need a wearable that directly broadcasts your heart rate via ANT+ to compatible gym equipment (like treadmills, stationary bikes, or rowers) or indoor training apps, you have two primary form factors to choose from: GPS smartwatches that feature an optical wrist sensor with a broadcast mode, or dedicated heart rate straps/armbands.

The top options on the market capable of broadcasting heart rate over ANT+ include:

• Garmin Forerunner Series (e.g., Garmin Forerunner 265 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or Garmin Forerunner 165 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ) – Most modern Garmin smartwatches feature a native Broadcast Heart Rate setting via ANT+ and Bluetooth. You can turn this on from the quick menu or heart rate settings, and nearby gym gear or screens will pick it up instantly.
• Garmin Venu Series (e.g., Garmin Venu 3 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ) – A sleeker, lifestyle-focused fitness tracker/smartwatch hybrid that retains Garmin's full sports ecosystem, including the ability to actively broadcast wrist heart rate over ANT+ to indoor equipment and apps like Zwift or Peloton.
• Garmin HRM-Pro Plus Go to product viewer dialog for this item. – If you don't mind wearing a chest strap instead of a wrist tracker, this is the gold standard. It tracks all-day activity, steps, and calories like a regular tracker when synced, and natively streams real-time data over dual ANT+ and Bluetooth.
• Polar H10 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. – Another chest strap favorite. Highly regarded for medical-grade accuracy, it concurrently transmits via ANT+, Bluetooth, and 5 kHz frequency, making it universally compatible with almost any commercial piece of gym equipment.
• Wahoo Trackr Heart Rate Go to product viewer dialog for this item. – A slim, rechargeable chest strap option that features reliable ANT+ broadcasting alongside multi-device Bluetooth connectivity for gym displays and phones.

To help narrow down the best choice for you, let me know:

• Do you prefer a wrist-based watch/tracker or a chest/arm strap?
• Are you already tied into a specific ecosystem like Garmin Connect?

Yes. If your main requirement is broadcasting heart rate to gym equipment via ANT+, I’d strongly favor a dedicated ANT+ heart-rate sensor over a fitness smartwatch.

Best choices

• Polar H10 Heart Rate Sensor - $104.99 (Target)

Polar H10 — my top pick. It broadcasts heart rate over ANT+ and Bluetooth simultaneously, and Polar specifically lists gym equipment as a use case. It also has excellent ECG-based accuracy.

• Best for: Treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, rowing machines, etc.

• ANT+: Yes

• Bluetooth: Yes

• Gym equipment compatibility: Excellent

• Approx. price: $100–105 currently

• Garmin HRM-Pro Plus - $258.49 (kate-minimalist)

Garmin HRM-Pro Plus is another excellent option. Garmin confirms that it connects to compatible fitness equipment using ANT+ or Bluetooth.

• Best for: If you also use Garmin watches/cycling computers
• ANT+: Yes
• Bluetooth: Yes
• Extra: Running-dynamics data

If you specifically want a watch

That's a little trickier. Some Garmin watches can broadcast their wrist HR over ANT+, but compatibility varies by model and Garmin's documentation often describes broadcasting primarily to Garmin ANT+ devices rather than guaranteeing every gym console.

So if your goal is simply:

Wear it → start workout → gym machine automatically sees your HR

I'd buy the Polar H10 rather than a watch. It doesn't require you to wear a smartwatch, and ANT+ HR broadcasting is enabled by default.

If you tell me which gym equipment/brand you want it to work with (Life Fitness, Matrix, Precor, Technogym, Peloton, NordicTrack, etc.), I can narrow it down to the safest choice.

Yes. If your main requirement is “wear it, and have the gym machine receive my heart rate over ANT+”, I’d focus on an ANT+ heart-rate sensor, rather than a conventional fitness tracker.

My top choices

• Garmin HRM 200 - $79.99 (Garmin)

• Polar H10 - $104.95 (REI Co-op)

• Polar Verity Sense - $104.95 (HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com)

• Garmin HRM 600 - $169.99 (Garmin)

• Garmin HRM 200 — best value. About $80, and it transmits real-time heart rate to compatible fitness equipment over ANT+. Garmin explicitly lists its current HRM sensors as broadcasting over ANT+.

• Polar H10 — best accuracy. Chest strap with ANT+ + Bluetooth, and Polar specifically says it can connect directly to gym equipment.

• Polar Verity Sense — best if you don't want a chest strap. It's an optical armband that broadcasts ANT+ and Bluetooth.

• Garmin HRM 600 — premium option. ANT+ and Bluetooth, rechargeable, and designed to send HR to fitness equipment and training devices.

If you specifically want a watch

A Garmin watch can also broadcast its wrist-measured heart rate over ANT+. Garmin's current compatibility list includes models such as the Forerunner 165/265/570/965/970, fēnix 7/8, Instinct 2/3, Venu 3/4, etc.

The important distinction is that the gym equipment must support ANT+ heart-rate reception. Equipment displaying an ANT+ “Link Here” logo is specifically designed for this type of connection.

My pick: If you don't need a watch, get the Garmin HRM 200. If you want an armband rather than a chest strap, get the Polar Verity Sense.

If you tell me which gym equipment/brand you use (Life Fitness, Precor, Matrix, Technogym, Peloton, etc.), I can narrow it down to something I know will work with that machine.

Most standard smartwatches (like Fitbit, Apple Watch, or standard Garmin wrist-based trackers) do not natively broadcast live heart rate data over ANT+ to gym equipment. To broadcast live HR via ANT+ (the standard protocol used by most stationary bikes, treadmills, and rowers), you generally need a dedicated chest strap or an optical armband with dual ANT+/Bluetooth capabilities.

Top reliable options that broadcast real-time heart rate via ANT+ to gym equipment include:

Garmin HRM-Pro Plus / HRM-Fit Go to product viewer dialog for this item. – Premium chest straps that offer dual transmission (ANT+ and Bluetooth), allowing them to connect seamlessly to compatible gym equipment, bike computers, and watches . The HRM-Fit is specifically designed to clip onto sports bras.

Wahoo TRACKR Heart Rate – Wahoo's rechargeable chest strap broadcasts over multiple simultaneous ANT+ and Bluetooth connections with high accuracy and zero need for coin-cell batteries.

Myzone MZ-Switch – Unique because it can be worn three ways (chest, arm, or wrist) and features dual analog/ANT+ and Bluetooth broadcasting to hook directly into club screens and gym displays.

Coospo H6 / H808S Go to product viewer dialog for this item. – Budget-friendly chest strap options that feature reliable dual-mode ANT+ and Bluetooth capability, widely compatible with third-party fitness apps and smart gym machines.

If you prefer not to wear a chest strap, do you want an optical armband instead? Also, let me know if you plan to connect it to a specific brand of gym equipment (like Peloton, Concept2, or Life Fitness) so I can verify compatibility.

If your main requirement is “wear it and have the gym treadmill/bike/elliptical display my heart rate over ANT+”, I’d strongly favor a heart-rate sensor rather than a smartwatch.

Best choices

Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor

$104.95

1. Polar H10 — my top pick

• Broadcasts heart rate via ANT+ and Bluetooth.
• Specifically designed to connect to gym equipment.
• ECG chest measurement is generally more reliable than wrist optical HR during exercise.
• Supports two simultaneous Bluetooth connections in addition to ANT+.
• Around $105 currently, with some retailers showing lower prices.

Polar Verity Sense

$104.99

2. Polar Verity Sense — if you don't want a chest strap

• Optical sensor worn on your upper arm/forearm.
• Broadcasts via ANT+ and Bluetooth.
• Much more comfortable if you dislike chest straps.
• The tradeoff is that optical HR can be less responsive/accurate than a chest strap during hard intervals.

3. Garmin HRM-Fit / HRM-Pro / HRM 600 Garmin's ANT+ heart-rate monitors can also connect directly to compatible fitness equipment; Garmin specifically says to look for the ANT+ Link Here logo on the machine.

What I'd buy

If you only care about getting HR onto gym equipment, I'd buy the Polar H10. You don't need to spend $200–600 on a fitness watch just to accomplish this.

One important caveat: the gym machine itself must support ANT+ HR. Look for the ANT+ logo/“ANT+ Link Here” indicator.

If you tell me which gym equipment you use (e.g. Life Fitness, Technogym, Precor, Matrix, Peloton, Concept2), I can check exactly which ANT+ tracker/sensor will work with it and find the best current price.

When you need a fitness tracker that broadcasts your heart rate specifically via ANT+ (the gold standard for connecting to gym equipment like treadmills, spin bikes, and rowers), Garmin is your best and most reliable option . While many brands broadcast via Bluetooth, Garmin natively supports simultaneous ANT+ and Bluetooth heart rate broadcasting straight from the optical wrist sensor on almost all of their modern wearable ecosystem.

Top choices and how they handle it include:

Garmin Forerunner Series (e.g., Garmin Forerunner 965 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ): The premier choice for runners and triathletes. It features robust dual ANT+ / Bluetooth HR broadcasting either on-demand or automatically in the background whenever an activity starts.

Garmin Venu Series (e.g., Garmin Venu 3 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ): A great lifestyle-meets-fitness tracker with a vivid AMOLED display that still retains full Garmin sports tracking and native ANT+ heart rate broadcasting features.

Garmin Instinct Series (e.g., Instinct 2 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or 2X): Rugged, outdoor-focused screen/monochrome watches that support full ANT+ broadcasting if you prefer a utility look with long battery life.

Garmin HRM-Pro Plus (Dedicated Chest Strap): If you find wrist-based optical sensors lag during intense gym intervals or gripping weights, the Garmin HRM-Pro Plus broadcasts elite-level precise metrics over both ANT+ and Bluetooth directly to gym equipment.

Are you looking for a smartwatch/wrist tracker you can wear daily, or would you prefer a chest strap / armband for maximum accuracy on the gym equipment?

If you want a device that reliably broadcasts your real-time heart rate via ANT+ to gym equipment (like stationary bikes, treadmills, or rowers), traditional wrist-based daily fitness trackers (like standard Fitbits or Apple Watches) usually do not natively broadcast over ANT+ to third-party equipment (they typically use proprietary Bluetooth or require a phone bridge).

Instead, the best solutions for ANT+ gym equipment broadcasting are dedicated chest straps or optical armbands with dual ANT+/Bluetooth capability, or specific fitness ecosystems.

Top options that broadcast over ANT+ for gym equipment include:

Widely considered the gold standard for heart rate accuracy. It features simultaneous ANT+, Bluetooth, and 5kHz GymLink transmission, meaning it can hook directly into legacy and modern ANT+ gym equipment, bike computers, and phones effortlessly.

An elite choice if you are in the Garmin ecosystem. It broadcasts live heart rate data over both ANT+ and Bluetooth simultaneously and tracks advanced running dynamics if you take it outside.

If you hate chest straps, this optical sensor can be worn on your upper or lower arm. It has a massive ANT+ and dual-Bluetooth broadcast range and pairs seamlessly with indoor gear and equipment.

A budget-friendly dual-band (ANT+ and Bluetooth) chest strap option that easily hooks up to indoor gym displays and apps like Peloton.

If you strictly want a conventional all-day wrist fitness tracker , the Fitbit Charge 6 is a notable exception that can broadcast your heart rate live, though it uses Bluetooth rather than ANT+ to connect to compatible gym machines.

To help narrow down the best choice, tell me:

• Do you prefer wearing a chest strap or an armband/wristband?
• Does your gym equipment explicitly require ANT+ , or does it accept Bluetooth as well?

Yes. If your main requirement is broadcasting heart rate to gym equipment over ANT+, I’d favor a dedicated heart-rate sensor rather than a smartwatch.

Best choices

Polar H10

$104.99

Garmin HRM 600

$169.99

Garmin HRM-Fit

$149.99

COOSPO H6

$31.90

1. Polar H10 — my top pick for most people

• ANT+ + Bluetooth
• Designed specifically for heart-rate transmission
• Works with compatible gym equipment, cycling computers, watches, etc.
• Chest-strap ECG measurement is generally more reliable during exercise than wrist-based HR.
• Polar explicitly confirms that the H10 can transmit to gym equipment over ANT+.

2. Garmin HRM 600 — best premium option

• ANT+ + Bluetooth
• Broadcasts to compatible fitness equipment
• Rechargeable battery
• Adds HRV and other training features if you also use a Garmin ecosystem. Garmin specifies unlimited concurrent ANT+ connections for the HRM 600.

3. Garmin HRM-Pro Plus — excellent if you want running metrics too

• ANT+ + Bluetooth
• Specifically supports connection to compatible fitness equipment
• Also records running dynamics, pace/distance, and activity data.

4. COOSPO H6 — budget choice

• ANT+ + Bluetooth
• Much less expensive than the Polar/Garmin options
• Good choice if you simply need an ANT+ HR signal for a treadmill, bike, elliptical, etc.

One important distinction

If by “fitness tracker” you mean a watch/wristband, there are Garmin watches that can broadcast heart rate over ANT+ when broadcasting is enabled.

But if the goal is simply:

put it on → start exercising → gym machine sees your HR

I'd get the Polar H10. It's considerably simpler and doesn't require wearing a watch.

If you tell me what gym equipment you use (e.g., Life Fitness, Matrix, Precor, Technogym, NordicTrack, Peloton), I can narrow it down to the models that are most likely to connect to that equipment.

If you need a device that explicitly broadcasts your heart rate via ANT+ (and usually Bluetooth Low Energy simultaneously) to connect directly with smart gym equipment, bikes, treadmills, or apps like Zwift and Peloton, standard wrist-based fitness bands (like Fitbit or standard Apple Watches) typically won't work because they don't natively broadcast raw ANT+ data to external receivers.

Instead, you need a dedicated heart rate monitor (chest strap or optical armband) or a specialized sports watch that supports real-time ANT+ broadcasting.

Top options that reliably broadcast heart rate via ANT+:

Add to list Polar H10 Heart Rate Sensor (Chest Strap) – Widely considered the gold standard for accuracy. It features simultaneous ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity, plus a 5 kHz transmission that hooks into older legacy gym equipment.

Add to list Garmin HRM-Pro Plus (Chest Strap) – Excellent if you are in the Garmin ecosystem. It broadcasts unlimited ANT+ connections alongside multiple Bluetooth channels and tracks advanced running dynamics if paired with a watch.

Add to list Polar Verity Sense (Optical Armband) – If you dislike chest straps, this optical sensor straps comfortably to your arm or bicep and features high-range simultaneous ANT+ and dual Bluetooth broadcasting.

Add to list COROS Heart Rate Monitor (Optical Armband) – A comfortable, sleek arm-worn sensor with auto-wear detection that broadcasts cleanly over both ANT+ and Bluetooth.

Add to list Wahoo TRACKR Heart Rate (Chest Strap) – A newer rechargeable chest strap from Wahoo that supports robust ANT+ and multiple simultaneous Bluetooth connections to link straight to fitness gear.

To help narrow down the best fit, let me know:

• Do you prefer a chest strap or an armband?
• Are you pairing it with a specific brand of gym equipment or app (like a specific treadmill, Peloton, or Garmin watch)?

Yes — if your gym equipment accepts ANT+ heart-rate signals, you have two good routes:

Best options

Polar H10

$104.99

Garmin HRM-Pro Plus

$258.49

Garmin Forerunner 165

$249.99

Bryton Smart Heart Rate Sensor

$51.19

1. Polar H10 — my pick if you only need heart rate
A chest strap that broadcasts HR over ANT+ and Bluetooth simultaneously. This is probably the simplest and most reliable solution for a treadmill, bike, rower, etc.

2. Garmin HRM-Pro Plus — best if you want more fitness features
Also broadcasts real-time HR over ANT+ and Bluetooth and is explicitly compatible with fitness equipment.

3. Garmin Forerunner 165 — if you specifically want a wrist tracker/watch
Garmin says many of its watches can broadcast wrist heart rate, including over ANT+. However, I'd verify the exact watch model's broadcasting support before buying.

Garmin Forerunner 165

$249.99

What I'd buy

If your requirement is simply “wear something → treadmill/bike detects my HR via ANT+”, I'd choose the Polar H10. You don't need a smartwatch at all, and ANT+ lets the gym equipment receive the heart-rate signal directly.

If you want a wrist-worn tracker rather than a chest strap, tell me your budget and whether you want a watch with its own screen/GPS, and I can narrow it down to 2–3 current models that definitely broadcast ANT+ HR.