I was once a Division 1 college wrestler, and while my days of wind sprints and power cleans are behind me, I still take pride in being a fitness fanatic. Admittedly, staying in shape has become more challenging in my mid-thirties. But I now have the resources to invest in fitness hacks: a personal trainer, a subscription to Hungryroot meal deliveries, and high-quality wearables to track my biometrics. My gym motto these days? Work smarter, not harder.
While Fitbit was the first widely adopted wearable and the Apple Watch is a simple way to get in on fitness tracking, the current leaders in the market are Whoop and Oura Ring. Whoop, a wrist-worn device resembling a watch, is particularly popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts, thanks to partnerships with professional sports stars and influencers like podcast host and health guru Dr. Andrew Huberman. Oura Ring (which as you may have discerned, you wear on your finger) has carved out a niche as a stylish fitness tracker offering robust sleep insights and a guided meditation feature. Both devices monitor various health metrics, including sleep, heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV). However, they differ in design, subscription models, user interfaces and unique features.
Wearables are invaluable if you’re serious about improving sleep, fitness and overall health. The insights I’ve gained from using both Whoop and Oura have significantly improved my sleep hygiene and allowed for a more strategic approach to my workouts. I now know what activities to avoid before bed and when my body is primed for that big squat day or marathon pickleball competition. I even adjust my work schedule around the days when my system is most rested.
Below, we outline the basic features and differences between the two major contenders in the wearable war, Whoop and Oura.
Whoop vs. Oura at a glance
Want fitness and sleep data for an edge in the gym and the workplace? Whoop is an invaluable tool for high-performers of all types. Designed by world-class athletes, Whoop gives suggestions for better recovery, healthier habits and even new workouts.
Ready to improve your fitness routine and sleep with a chic, discreet accessory? Oura Ring offers sleep and fitness insights in a very easy-to-digest format and a library of guided meditations. Oura is also the leading wearable in tracking blood oxygen saturation levels while sleeping.
Quick comparison
| Design | Wristband |
|---|---|
| Price | No upfront cost. $30 per month subscription |
| Battery life | 4 to 5 days |
| Material | Sweat-resistant fabric |
| Colors | Onyx (Black), Coast (Blue) Dusty Rose (Pink), Arctic (White), Ocean (Deep Blue), Forest Green (Dark Green), Grey Mist |
| Weight | 27 grams |
| Bonus features | Haptic Alarm Clock, Personalized Coaching, Whoop Teams |
| Sleep data | Yes |
| Heart rate data | Yes |
| Variable heart rate data | Yes |
| Steps tracked | No |
| Design | Ring |
|---|---|
| Price | $299 upfront cost. $6 per month subscription |
| Battery life | 4 to 7 days |
| Material | Lightweight Titanium |
| Colors | Black, Gold, Silver, Rose Gold, Matte |
| Weight | 4.5 grams |
| Bonus features | Guided meditation, Menstruation tracking |
| Sleep data | Yes |
| Heart rate data | Yes |
| Variable heart rate data | Yes |
| Steps tracked | Yes |
Whoop for workouts, Oura for discretion
Whoop’s band is lightweight, sweat-resistant and comfortable enough to wear 24/7. Its minimalist, screenless design pairs well with casual and formal wear. The bands are available in various colors and can be easily replaced if they get dirty or torn. The sensor sits flush against your wrist, continuously measuring your vitals day and night. Whoop is also water-resistant and heat-resistant, so no need to remove it for swimming, showering or schvitzing in the sauna.
The Oura Ring is made from lightweight titanium — a durable, eye-catching and hypoallergenic metal. I chose the classic black finish, but rings are also available in silver, gold, rose gold and matte black. You can wear the Oura Ring on any finger, and Oura provides a sizing kit to ensure a perfect fit. Like Whoop, Oura Rings are water- and heat-resistant.
For workouts and competitive sports, Whoop’s design trumps Oura’s. The Oura Ring gets in the way during deadlifts, pull-ups or other exercises that involve gripping equipment. Whoop, on the other hand, is almost imperceptible during gym sessions. I even forget I have it on at the climbing gym or during tennis games.
For a discreet and chic accessory, Oura wins the day. Instead of a watch-sized band, the Oura is as small as a wedding band. I have noticed, however, that the finish gets chipped and scratched with frequent use, especially with high-impact activities. To keep the ring’s luster, avoid wearing it during rugged hiking trips, intense weightlifting sessions, or bar room donnybrooks.
Whoop goes down the data rabbit hole, Oura sticks to simplicity
Whoop and Oura track similar data — heart rate, HRV, respiratory rate, body temperature and sleep patterns — but they analyze and present the information differently. Whoop provides more granular data with detailed charts and graphs, while Oura presents the data in a simpler, more digestible format. After using both apps, I found the Whoop and Oura apps equally easy to learn. Here’s the breakdown between the two.
Whoop’s metrics
- Strain: This metric, based on a scale of 0 to 21, measures the cardiovascular stress generated by daily activities and workouts. The primary input for Strain is the amount of time spent in states of elevated heart rate, but it also accounts for HRV and resting heart rate.
- Recovery: Useful for athletes and those in cognitively demanding jobs, the Recovery score, expressed as a percentage, indicates how prepared your body is to face stress. Scores fall into three zones: red (0 to 33%), yellow (34 to 66%), and green (67 to 100%). On green-zone days, you’re primed for intense workouts or mentally taxing projects; on red-zone days, it’s best to ease off and focus on hydration and rest.
- Sleep: Whoop tracks your total sleep including time spent in deep, REM and light sleep stages. The app allows you to log factors like caffeine intake, stress levels and travel, providing tailored suggestions for better sleep as it learns your habits. Whoop calculates your optimal amount of sleep based on previous sleep data and recovery data. The app informs you how much of a weekly sleep debt you have accumulated (a metric that often terrifies me on busier weeks).
Oura Ring’s metrics
- Sleep: Upon waking, Oura provides a sleep score from 1 to 100 based on sleep stages (REM, deep, light), disruptions, and total sleep duration. Unlike Whoop, Oura also tracks blood oxygen levels (SpO2) during sleep, which can help detect issues like sleep apnea.
- Readiness: Similar to Whoop’s Recovery metric, Oura’s Readiness Score (1 to 100) gauges your body’s ability to handle stress based on sleep quality, resting heart rate, HRV, and other factors. Both devices provide detailed graphs outlining the factors that contribute to physical readiness like weekly sleep scores and physical exertion.
- Activity: Oura’s Activity Score (1 to 100) accounts for daily movement, activity intensity, and calories burned. It also tracks steps and body temperature, offering a more holistic view of physical activity than Whoop.
Subscription and pricing balance out
Whoop is technically “free” upfront, but you must pay a monthly subscription fee of $30 to use the device and access the app’s features. An annual subscription reduces the cost to $24 per month (billed at $288 annually), while a two-year subscription averages $20 per month (billed at $480). The subscription covers access to the Whoop app, data analytics and personalized coaching. If your device gets damaged, Whoop will replace it. You can also buy it from online outlets like Amazon and Best Buy, though they will charge you for the 12-month subscription up front.
Oura requires an initial purchase of the device. Standard Oura Rings cost $299, with premium finishes going up to $549. After purchasing the ring, users can subscribe to a monthly membership ($6) to access Oura’s full range of features and insights. Oura offers an initial 6-month free trial. If you choose not to subscribe after the trial, the ring still functions but with limited app features.
Whoop and Oura offer extra features for different users
Depending on what you’re looking for, each fitness tracker offers its own extras for different lifestyles. What works best for you depends on what level of detail you want to drill down into. Here are a few of my favorites from each.
Whoop
- Haptic Alarm Clock: Whoop’s silent alarm clock gently wakes you up with vibrations instead of a loud sound. You can set it to wake you at a specific time or when you’ve reached a sleep or Recovery goal. It can also rouse you when you’re in light sleep, allowing for a much gentler reentry into waking consciousness. As a bonus, the haptic alarm clock does not wake my partner when I need to get up early.
- Real-Time Strain Coach: Based on your Recovery score, Whoop suggests how intensely you should train during workouts. The Strain Coach sends real-time updates on your optimal strain levels, helping you avoid overexertion. You can use the app to receive suggestions for exercises in the gym. I use the strain coach to gauge my capacity for cognitive workloads, too, as the days when my body is most energized correlate with the times when my mind is sharpest.
- Whoop Teams: You can share your data and compete with friends, family, or famous athletes who use Whoop, such as LeBron James, Michael Phelps and Whoop founder Will Ahmed. This competitive aspect keeps me motivated with my gym buddies.
Oura
- Blood Oxygen Level Monitoring: Oura monitors SpO2 levels during sleep, which is particularly useful for detecting issues like sleep apnea. I’ve noticed my SpO2 levels drop when I consume alcohol or when I’m at higher altitudes, such as during a trip to Denver.
- Menstrual Cycle Tracking: Oura uses body temperature and other physiological data to predict and track menstrual cycles, providing valuable insights into hormonal health.
- Guided Meditation and Breathing Exercises: Oura includes a selection of guided meditations and breathing exercises to help users manage stress, focus, and improve sleep quality. My mother, who also wears an Oura, uses these features daily.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for more detailed fitness data and personalized coaching, go with Whoop. If you prefer a smaller wearable with extras like guided meditations and menstrual tracking, Oura is your winner. After trying out both devices for several weeks, I prefer Whoop. My priority is optimizing fitness and recovery, and Whoop — founded by elite athletes — offers more complete and useful insights in these areas. Whoop is also less cumbersome for weightlifting, racket sports and other athletic activities. While I never had to remove my Whoop except for charging, I frequently removed the Oura Ring during exercises like deadlifts or bench presses.
But the Oura Ring still has its advantages. I appreciate its small size and subtlety. Pure vanity speaking here, but it pairs aesthetically better with my watch than my Whoop does. Oura’s battery life is also slightly longer. Finally, Oura’s meditation feature is excellent — comparable to dedicated meditation apps like Headspace or Calm. It’s fascinating to see how metrics like heart rate, HRV and body temperature change during a deep meditation session.