Recommended Free Tools
Some Android phones can estimate heart rate and breathing rate with the cameras already built in. In the current Google-documented method, Google Fit uses the rear camera and your fingertip for heart rate, and the front camera to observe head and upper-torso movement for respiratory rate. The features appear only on supported phones and are intended for wellness tracking—not diagnosis or emergency decisions.
Before you start
- Install or update Google Fit and make sure its camera permission is allowed when requested.
- Check that your phone has working rear and front cameras.
- For heart rate, use a well-lit room and warm your hands if they are cold.
- For breathing rate, prop the phone securely so it cannot move, and sit where your head and upper torso can remain visible.
- For a resting measurement, sit quietly for several minutes rather than measuring immediately after exercise, stairs, caffeine or acute stress.
Google does not publish a complete model-by-model compatibility list. Instead, open Google Fit and look for the relevant card; the feature is available only on some Android phones (Google heart-rate help; Google respiratory-rate help).
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
How to check your heart rate
- Open Google Fit.
- Tap Home at the bottom.
- Scroll to Heart rate.
- Tap Add data (or the add control shown on the card).
- Place one finger lightly over the rear camera lens so it is fully covered. Do not press hard.
- Keep your finger and hand still while the on-screen measurement runs.
- When a number appears, tap Save if the attempt was steady and the result looks usable.
Google Fit detects tiny fingertip color changes caused by blood-volume changes with each pulse. This is an optical pulse estimate, not an electrocardiogram (ECG) (Google’s explanation of the camera method).
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIf the heart-rate attempt fails
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| Cold fingers | Warm your hand, then repeat. |
| Dim room | Move to brighter light. Google Fit may offer a flashlight control or document using a light source to improve the signal. |
| Finger placement | Cover the lens completely with a relaxed finger, without heavy pressure. |
| Movement | Rest your hand on a stable surface and remain still. |
| Dirty lens | Clean the camera gently with a suitable soft cloth. |
| No Heart rate card | Update Google Fit and Android where appropriate. If the card remains absent, the phone may not support the feature. |
These are practical recovery steps; they cannot make an unsupported phone or an unusually irregular pulse clinically reliable.
#1 Best Overall
- Simple to Use Without a Subscription: No Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cords or PC needed. Place the device near your smartphone. Monitor your heart by placing your fingers or thumbs on the silver KardiaMobile EKG sensors. Know in 30 seconds whether your heart rhythm is normal.
How to check your breathing rate
- Open Google Fit and tap Home.
- Scroll to Respiratory rate and tap Add.
- Prop the phone up or place it on a stable surface.
- Position your head and upper torso inside the front-camera frame.
- Sit still, avoid talking, and breathe normally. Do not deliberately speed up or slow down.
- Wait for tracking to finish, then tap Save.
The front camera observes small movements of your head and upper torso as you breathe; it is not reading your nose or mouth directly (Google’s camera-method explanation).
When respiratory tracking will not finish
- Secure the phone if it is shifting or being held in your hand.
- Reduce movement, talking, coughing and posture changes.
- Make sure the camera can see both your head and enough of your upper torso.
- Use adequate light for the front camera.
- Stop consciously controlling your breathing and return to a normal rhythm.
- If the card is missing after updates, your phone or app version may not support the feature.
Save readings and build a useful trend
Open the Heart rate or Respiratory rate card after saving. Google Fit provides historical views such as Day, Week, Month and Year for heart-rate records, and Week, Month and Year views for respiratory-rate records (heart-rate history; respiratory-rate history).
Rank #2
- Accurate and detailed EKG results - Records a medical-grade, six-lead EKG and provides FDA-cleared determinations of your heart rhythm in just 30 seconds.
- Six Leads, Six Times more Information: Detects six of the most common arrhythmias including AFib, Bradycardia, Tachycardia, Sinus Rhythm with Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs), Sinus Rhythm with Supraventricular Ectopy (SVE), and Sinus Rhythm with Wide QRS.
- 6L Max includes one year of KardiaCare: Membership is required to use this 6-lead EKG. You will be prompted to enter payment details when you create your account, but you will not be charged during the first year. Your membership renews after one year unless canceled.
- Board-Certified Cardiologist EKG Reviews - KardiaCare includes four free EKG reviews per year, available to use anytime during the year. Using your detailed 6-lead EKG results, cardiologists can detect over 20 arrhythmias, with results delivered in just 24 hours. Additional reviews can be purchased for $39 each
- Automatically Email Your EKG to Doctors or Anyone - KardiaCare enables you to set up automatic emails so that results from your EKGs will be emailed to anyone you choose.
- Measure at approximately the same time of day.
- Rest quietly first and use the same phone and camera position.
- Do not compare a post-workout value with a resting value.
- Note illness, stress, caffeine, medication changes and recent activity.
- Look for a sustained change over several comparable readings rather than reacting to one number.
Why Google Fit may not be the app you expected
Google’s 2026 rebrand changed the Fitbit app to Google Health beginning May 19, with rollout generally between May 19 and May 26 (Google’s rebrand notice). That does not replace the separate Google Fit instructions for phone-camera measurements.
| What you want | Documented Google route |
|---|---|
| One-off heart-rate check with the phone camera | Google Fit |
| One-off respiratory-rate check with the phone camera | Google Fit |
| Wearable vitals and a longer-term dashboard | Google Health with a compatible Fitbit device or Pixel Watch |
| Data from connected apps and devices | Google Health and Health Connect, depending on the integration |
Google Health’s documented vitals workflow requires a compatible Fitbit device or Pixel Watch; it is not presented as a phone-camera-only replacement for Google Fit (Google Health vitals requirements; Google Health feature map).
Rank #3
- ACCURATE AND DETAILED EKG RESULTS. KardiaMobile 6L records a medical-grade, six-lead EKG and provides FDA-cleared determinations of your heart rhythm in just 30 seconds.
- SIX LEADS, SIX TIMES THE DATA. Six-lead EKGs give you a more detailed view of your heart and more data to share with your doctor. With KardiaMobile 6L, you can detect AFib, Bradycardia, Tachycardia and Normal Sinus Rhythm right on your smartphone.
- TRUSTED BY PROFESSIONALS: Recommended by doctors, KardiaMobile 6L is the world’s first FDA-cleared six-lead personal EKG
- COMPATIBLE WITH SMARTPHONES. Works with most smartphones and tablets. KardiaMobile 6L is compatible with most popular phones and tablets. To use your Kardia device, you must download the Kardia app on a compatible device. Visit the Kardia store to check the list of compatible devices.
- NO SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED. Takes a six-lead EKG and detects Atrial Fibrillation, Bradycardia, Tachycardia, and Normal Sinus Rhythm without a KardiaCare subscription.
How accurate is a phone-camera reading?
Google researchers prospectively evaluated the technique with 95 participants for heart rate and 50 for respiratory rate, using a Pixel 3 running Android 10. They reported a heart-rate mean absolute percentage error of 1.6% ± 4.3% and a respiratory-rate mean absolute error of 0.78 ± 0.61 breaths per minute (study summary; peer-reviewed paper; full text).
Those results support the feasibility of the algorithms under defined conditions. They do not certify every Android model, camera, app build, lighting condition or user, and the work involved Google researchers and consultants. Treat the result as a wellness estimate and use repeated, consistent readings for trends. Google’s later work on passive heart-rate estimation during ordinary phone use is research, not a generally available setting (2026 Google research; 2026 paper).
Rank #4
- Record and store ECG signals, and display heart rate for home health care use. There is no subscription or hidden cost required to use the device & app.
- The device can be connected with PC via USB, with mobile phone via Bluetooth.
- The function of software PC and mobile phone includes sample mode and time setting, upload case, case review, measurement etc.
- Powered by Built-in large capability rechargeable lithium battery.
- The device is intended for OTC (over-the-counter) Use. Implanted pacemaker are not recommended to use with this device. This device is not intended to substitute for a hospital diagnostic ECG device.
When not to rely on your phone
Google states that these features are not intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, prevent or treat disease. Use them for general wellness and trend tracking; they do not replace medical equipment or professional advice (heart-rate safety notice; respiratory-rate safety notice).
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Seek prompt medical care for chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, confusion or a rapidly worsening condition. Do not make an emergency decision solely from a phone number. If you have a known heart or respiratory condition, need clinical monitoring, or have been instructed to use a validated device, follow that clinical plan instead.
Best Value
- Sends accurate real-time heart rate and HRV data to compatible Garmin smartwatches and cycling computers, fitness equipment, and apps
- Comfortable machine-washable strap is available in two sizes (XS–S and M–XL) for the most ideal fit for your body type
- Understand how much you slow down when your foot hits the ground with step speed loss, and improve your running form with additional running dynamics, including stride length, vertical oscillation and ground contact time balance (requires compatible smartwatch)
- During activities where you can’t wear a watch, such as team sports, HRM 600 will record the workout and sync data, including heart rate, calories, speed, distance and more, directly to the Garmin Connect smartphone app
- Tracks daily metrics, including estimated steps, heart rate, calories burned and more, and syncs that data directly to the Garmin Connect smartphone app
Alternatives when Google Fit is unavailable
Manual pulse count
Sit quietly and use two fingers—not your thumb—on the inside of the wrist below the base of the thumb or on the side of the neck. Count beats with a timer using a method recommended by a recognized medical organization, then record the result and conditions. A manual count is still an estimate and should not override symptoms or clinical advice.
Manual breathing count
Remain relaxed, count each complete inhale-and-exhale cycle as one breath with a timer, and avoid consciously changing your breathing. This is a fallback estimate, not a clinical assessment.
Wearables and medical devices
A smartwatch or fitness tracker is better suited to automatic or repeated readings, overnight trends, exercise tracking, alerts and health-dashboard integration. Google documents compatible Fitbit devices and Pixel Watches as sources for metrics such as breathing rate, resting heart rate, heart-rate variability and oxygen saturation, depending on device support (Google Health vitals documentation). Samsung Galaxy Watch data can connect through Health Connect after enabling Health Connect in Samsung Health and consenting to Samsung Health’s processing (Google Health connection instructions).
Privacy and permissions
Google’s original 2021 announcement said camera video for these measurements was processed in real time on the device, not stored on the device or uploaded to Google servers, and that saving the resulting measurement to Google Fit was optional (Google’s announcement). Because that statement is historical, review the current app privacy disclosures and permissions before use.
- Camera permission may be required.
- A saved measurement is different from raw camera video.
- Health data is sensitive; review Google Fit, Google Health and Health Connect permissions before connecting other apps or devices.
- Android treats heart rate and other body-sensor data as highly sensitive and requires granular health permissions for apps targeting Android 16 or later (Android health-data policy).
The Bottom Line
For a supported Android phone, Google Fit is the documented no-purchase option: use the rear camera and a fingertip for heart rate, and the front camera with your head and upper torso in view for breathing rate. Save several comparable readings for trends, and use a clinician-approved device or medical care when accuracy or symptoms matter.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
