Fitbit Zip: Track Your Sleep, Understand Your Rest

Fitbit devices are well-known for their sleep-tracking capabilities, and the Fitbit Zip is no exception. While it may not offer the same comprehensive insights as some of the more advanced Fitbit models, the Fitbit Zip can indeed provide basic sleep tracking information. Here's what you need to know about using your Fitbit Zip to track your sleep.

Fitbit Zip's compatibility with sleep tracking

Fitbit Zip is a clip-on device that does not have a heart rate monitor. It is not designed to be worn on the wrist.

Fitbit devices that are worn on the wrist and have a heart rate monitor can track sleep in terms of how long it lasts and the differences between sleep stages. They can discern between light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep.

Fitbit devices that do not track heart rate can still be used to check your sleep pattern in the Fitbit app. Your sleep pattern includes your time spent awake, restless, and asleep. If your device detects excessive movement, it will record that time as being awake.

Therefore, the Fitbit Zip can be used to track sleep in terms of how long it lasts, but it cannot track sleep stages.

How to track sleep with Fitbit

To track your sleep with Fitbit, you must wear your Fitbit device to bed. Wrist-based Fitbit devices and Google Pixel Watch series can automatically detect your sleep when you wear your device to bed. It is recommended that you wear your device in a snug wristband during sleep. Avoid wearing your device in a clip or pendant accessory. When your body is completely at rest and you haven't moved for about an hour, your device records that you're asleep.

Fitbit devices that don't track heart rate can check your sleep pattern in the Fitbit app. Your sleep pattern includes your time spent awake, restless, and asleep. If your device detects excessive movement, enough that restful sleep won't be possible, your device records time spent awake.

Fitbit devices that track heart rate can also track sleep stages. Fitbits with heart rate monitors can discern between light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep. The Sleep Profile feature, a more detailed breakdown of your sleep that appears once a month, is available only on specific models. To get those reports, you’ll need a Charge 5, Charge 6, Inspire 2, Inspire 3, or Luxe tracker, or any Sense or Versa watch (except the very first Versa model from 2018). Google Pixel watches can also track your sleep.

You can sync your device each morning to review your sleep data, such as your sleep score. You can check this information on your Fitbit device or in the Fitbit app. You can check your averages for the week or longer periods of time for certain sleep stats, including hours slept, sleep score, sleep schedule, and sleep stages.

Sleep tracking with a Fitbit Premium subscription

Sleep tracking is one of the most popular features of Fitbit devices. All Fitbit devices can track your sleep in terms of duration, and those with a heart rate monitor can also discern between light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep.

However, for a more detailed analysis of your sleep, you will need a Fitbit Premium subscription. This subscription costs $10 a month and provides a range of extra insights, not just more data about your sleep. It also includes access to a library of workout videos and audio tracks, with guided meditations, sleep aids, and audio tracks to guide you during a run or workout.

With a Premium subscription, you can access the Sleep Profile feature, which provides a detailed monthly analysis of 10 features identified by the Fitbit research team as most important for a cohesive picture of sleep quality and quantity. These features include your sleep schedule, bedtime, and wake-up times. The Sleep Profile also assigns you a "sleep animal" to characterise your long-term sleep behaviours.

Additionally, Premium subscribers can turn on the snore and noise detection feature on their Fitbit Sense or Fitbit Versa 3. This feature uses the device's microphone to track noise, including snoring from the user or someone sleeping nearby. A summary of the nightly results is available in the morning.

Sleep tracking without a Fitbit Premium subscription

Fitbit offers a range of sleep-tracking features, some of which are only available with a Fitbit Premium subscription. However, it is possible to track your sleep without a Premium subscription. Here's how:

Wrist-Based Tracking

All Fitbit devices can track your sleep by detecting when your body is completely at rest and you haven't moved for about an hour. Simply wear your Fitbit device on your wrist while you sleep, and it will automatically start tracking your sleep. It will record the amount of time you are asleep, and if your device has a heart rate monitor, it can also track the differences between light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep.

Sleep Data Review

After syncing your device each morning, you can review your basic sleep data in the Fitbit app or on your Fitbit device. This includes information such as the number of hours you slept, your sleep score, your sleep schedule, and the number of hours spent in each sleep stage. These features are available without a Premium subscription and can provide valuable insights into your sleep patterns and quality.

Sleep Profile

While the Sleep Profile feature, which provides a detailed monthly analysis of your sleep, is a Premium-only feature, you can still access some of its benefits without a subscription. For example, you can view your sleep animal, which characterizes your long-term sleep behaviours, on the first of every month without a Premium subscription. Additionally, you can manually calculate your sleep duration and sleep stages to gain a better understanding of your sleep patterns.

Alternative Methods

If you don't have access to a Fitbit device, there are other ways to track your sleep. For example, you can use a sleep-tracking app on your smartphone, which may provide similar insights into your sleep patterns and quality. Alternatively, you can manually track your sleep by keeping a sleep journal or log, recording the time you go to bed, any disturbances during the night, and the time you wake up. This low-tech method can still provide valuable information about your sleep habits.

In summary, while a Fitbit Premium subscription offers enhanced sleep-tracking features, it is not necessary to have one to track your sleep. By using a Fitbit device and the accompanying app, you can still gain valuable insights into your sleep patterns and make informed decisions to improve your sleep quality.

Other Fitbit sleep tracking features

Fitbit devices offer a range of sleep-tracking features to help you understand your sleep patterns and improve your sleep quality. Here are some of the key features offered by Fitbit:

Sleep Tracking

Fitbit devices can automatically track your sleep when worn during sleep. They detect when your body is completely at rest and hasn't moved for about an hour, indicating that you're asleep. Fitbit devices with heart rate monitors can also discern between different sleep stages, including light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep.

Sleep Goals and Schedules

You can set sleep goals and schedules using the Fitbit app. This allows you to set a bedtime and wake-up time, helping you maintain a consistent sleep routine.

Sleep Sensitivity

Fitbit allows you to adjust the sleep sensitivity settings to suit your needs. Normal mode records significant movements like rolling over as time spent awake, while Sensitive mode records nearly all movements as time spent restless or awake.

Smart Wake and Sleep Stages

The Smart Wake feature monitors your sleep stages and wakes you during a light sleep stage within a 30-minute window before your set alarm time. This helps you avoid being abruptly awakened from a deep sleep or REM sleep, leaving you feeling more refreshed.

Snore and Noise Detection

Fitbit devices with a microphone, such as the Fitbit Sense or Versa 3, can track noise levels and snoring during sleep. This feature provides a summary report in the morning and can be useful for identifying potential sleep disturbances.

Sleep Profiles and Scores

Fitbit Premium subscribers have access to Sleep Profiles and Scores, which provide a detailed breakdown of your sleep patterns and quality. The Sleep Profile feature includes a sleep animal avatar that characterizes your long-term sleep behaviours.

Frequently asked questions