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Best HRV Monitors Compatible With Optimal HRV  App

Below are the compatible HRV Monitors manufactured by Optimal HRV that work with the Optimal HRV app, which tracks heart rate variability and offers biofeedback training to enhance your HRV score.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Makes a Device Compatible?

To reliably capture Heart Rate Variability (HRV), your device must:

  1. Measure and transmit accurate R-R intervals (inter-beat intervals, IBI) without smoothing or filtering.

  2. Support Bluetooth 4.0 (BLE) or ANT+ connectivity (ANT+ is only supported on selected Android devices). 

If your device manufacturer confirms those two points, it’s likely compatible.

What heart rate monitors are compatible?

The app is compatible with any heart rate monitor that accurately measures R-R intervals and has Bluetooth 4.0 or ANT+ (ANT+ only available for Android devices).

  • Polar H7

  • Polar H9

  • BlueLeza HRM Blue – Only available in Europe

  • 4iiii Viiiiva

  • Zephyr HxM (make sure it’s Bluetooth 4.0, not 2.0!)

  • Cardiosport TP3

  • Suunto Smart Belt

  • Ambiotex smart shirt with cardio-monitor

  • Garmin HRM Dual and the HRM Pro are the only two with Bluetooth and ANT+. These monitors have not been tested in-house; however, this information is provided directly by Garmin support.

  • Inner Balance Bluetooth Sensor ear clip

Which heart rate monitors are unverified or incompatible?

The devices listed below are closed-platform third-party devices that do not send data to Optimal HRV:

 

  • Whoop wrist device

  • iThlete Finger Sensor

  • Oura ring

  • Motiv ring

  • Apple Watch

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We cannot confirm that the monitors listed below transmit accurate R-R intervals; therefore, they cannot be used for measuring heart rate variability (HRV). However, they are acceptable for measuring basic heart rate (HR):

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  • Biostrap

  • Wahoo BLUEHR

  • Wahoo TICKR FIT Heart Rate Armband

  • Polar OH1 Armband

  • Polar Verity Sense

  • Vernier Go Wireless Heart Rate

  • Geonaute*

  • MyZone MZ-3

  • Under Armour UA Heart Rate

  • LifeBEAM hats

  • TomTom BLE HRM

  • Mio ALPHA

  • Fitbit Charge HR

  • Lezyne HRM

  • The most inexpensive chest straps are sold on Alibaba

  • Knock-off brand monitors

*Manufacturers have confirmed that the devices listed above do not transmit R-R intervals to third-party applications.

How to Confirm Your Device?

If your device isn’t listed above, here’s how to find out if it’s compatible with the Optimal HRV app:

1. Check Compatibility Criteria
Contact your device’s manufacturer and ask:

  • Does this device capture accurate R-R intervals?

  • Does it transmit those raw intervals (without smoothing)?

  • Does it support Bluetooth 4.0 or ANT+?

If you’re unsure about any of the above, your device’s manufacturer should easily be able to confirm whether their product meets these criteria. If they can’t, we recommend not doing business with them.

2. Run a 60-Second Compatibility Test
Before subscribing, use the Optimal HRV app’s 60-second compatibility test to ensure your device and the app can communicate properly.

3. Contact Your Manufacturer
Most manufacturers have a contact form or support email on their website. Here’s what to ask:

  • For your phone or tablet:​

Does this device support Bluetooth 4.0?

(Be sure to specify your phone or tablet model and version.)

  • For your heart rate monitor:​

Does this heart rate monitor capture accurate RR intervals? If so, does it alter or smooth the R-R intervals? Also, does it support Bluetooth 4.0?

(Include the exact heart rate monitor model in your message.)

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How to Measure Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Using PPG and Pulse Oximetry Devices?

To accurately calculate meaningful heart rate variability (HRV), it is essential to measure the time between each heartbeat precisely. Unfortunately, most wristbands and watches that use LED/Pulse Oximetry sensors are not yet accurate enough to capture the exact R-wave peak. While technology has advanced to allow these devices to measure basic heart rates reliably, this improvement does not translate to HRV measurements, as HRV is sensitive to subtle changes that basic heart rate is not.

 

For example, if your heart rate is 60 beats per minute, your heart could be beating once every second. In this case, if you measured the time between each beat in seconds, it would be consistent: 1s, 1s, 1s, 1s, 1s. Alternatively, your heart could show varying intervals, such as: 1.17s, 0.97s, 0.83s, 1.03s. Despite both scenarios resulting in an average heart rate of 60 beats per minute, the heart rate variability would differ significantly.

 

Many devices are not designed to measure HRV; instead, they tend to smooth out or average the R-R intervals to simplify the reporting of basic heart rate. 

 

For the most accurate measurements, we strongly recommend using the Polar H10 HRV monitor or another compatible heart rate chest strap. We continue to research the effectiveness of wrist HR monitors, pulse oximeters, finger sensors, ear clips, and other options. When we find devices that meet our standards for accuracy and quality, we will inform you.

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