We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. What to Buy Personal Care & Medical Devices The 7 Best ECG Monitors for At-Home Use, Recommended by Heart Surgeons The best ECG monitors offer connectivity, portability, accuracy, and comfort. By Nsisong Asanga Nsisong Asanga Nsisong Asanga is a public health physician and field epidemiologist with several years of clinical and field experience. health's editorial guidelines Updated on December 2, 2024 Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO Michael Menna, DO, is currently an attending emergency medicine physician at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York, with nearly 10 years of experience. learn more Fact checked by Richard Scherr Fact checked by Richard Scherr Rich Scherr is an updates strategist and fact checker for Health.com. He is a seasoned journalist and editor with over two decades of experience, he has held several leadership roles at major publications. health's fact checking process In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews What to Know About Home ECG Monitors How We Selected Our Experts Benefits of Personal ECG Monitors Who We Are Health Heart disease is the leading cause of premature loss of life worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). However, 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes are preventable through lifestyle changes, risk factor management, and early detection with devices like ECG monitors. Electrocardiograms track the heart's electrical activity, offering insights into heart health that can help spot problems before complications occur. Making them especially beneficial for individuals with a history of heart conditions or high-risk factors for heart disease. Before using any medical device, it’s important to consult your doctor. Alexandra Kharazi, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon in San Diego, explains that ECG monitors can't guarantee accuracy and may give users false results. And while convenient, a device should never be a replacement for seeking professional, in-person medical care. Whether your doctor suggested ECG monitoring or you're just learning about its benefits, we have consulted with cardiothoracic experts and conducted extensive research to provide you with recommendations for the best ECG monitors for at-home use. We also had a physician from our Medical Expert Board review this article for medical and scientific accuracy. What to Know About Home ECG Monitors Frequency: It is recommended that adults undergo an ECG test at least once a year. However, if you have certain health conditions, a higher risk of heart disease, or if your doctor advises it, you may need to have ECG readings more frequently. Portability: A personal ECG monitor should allow you to monitor your heart health anytime, anywhere. A portable device can make it easy and encouraging to keep track of your health at home or on the go. Connectivity: Some ECG monitors can be connected to your phone or computer, making it convenient to record readings and allowing your family or healthcare team to access your data remotely. ECG and EKG: An electrocardiogram (ECG) is also called elektrokardiogramm (EKG) based on the German spelling of the word. While often mistaken for two different devices, ECG and EKG are just words for the same test. Our Top Picks Best Overall: SALE Omron Complete Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor + EKG at Amazon $180 $140 Jump to Review Best Budget: FaceLake FL10 Portable ECG Monitor at Walmart $70 Jump to Review Best Portable: AliveCor KardiaMobile ECG at Walmart $71 Jump to Review Best Display: LOOKEE Personal ECG / EKG Heart Monitor at Lookeetech.com Jump to Review Best Wearable: Apple Watch Series 8 at Amazon $400 Jump to Review Best with Customer Support: SonoHealth Portable EKG Heart Rate Monitor at Sonohealth.org Jump to Review Easiest to Use: EMAY Portable ECG Monitor at Amazon $109 Jump to Review Best Overall Omron Complete Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor + EKG PHOTO: Omron $180 $140 at Amazon $150 at Walgreens View on Omronhealthcare.com Why We Like It The Omron Complete Wireless Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor + EKG is our pick for the best home ECG monitor because it provides simultaneous blood pressure and ECG readings with comfort, accuracy, and reliability. Large and small cuff sizes are available to help you feel comfortable regardless of the size of your upper arm. It’s also durable and supports connectivity to most smartphones, allowing you to access your data at any time and share it with your doctor, too. We love that it’s portable, so you can take it with you on vacation or if you travel for work. Plus, it has a great battery life and doesn’t drain the AA batteries over short periods of time. While the Bluetooth connectivity may take a little longer to set up, it’s a breeze once you’re up and running. It’s Worth Noting It may take a while to set up. Product Details: Memory: Free storage on the free Omron Connect appBattery: 4 AA (included)Connectivity: Select iOS and Android devices Best Budget FaceLake FL10 Portable ECG Monitor PHOTO: Amazon $70 at Walmart View on Facelake.com Why We Like It This affordable ECG monitor a clear LCD display that shows you all you need to know about your heart health. We love that you can read your ECG results after a short 30 seconds and it doesn’t require any wires, gels, or patches. If you’re looking to track your health over time, this device will come in handy as you get unlimited cloud storage, Bluetooth connectivity, and easy access to your records. Though it isn’t the most powerful home ECG monitor, it’s a great pocket-friendly option for monitoring your heart health on a budget. It’s Worth Noting This isn't the most powerful or durable device. Product Details: Memory: Unlimited cloud storageBattery: RechargeableConnectivity: iOS and Android devices Best Portable AliveCor KardiaMobile ECG PHOTO: Alive Technologies $71 at Walmart View on Alivetec.com Why We Like It The Alive Cor Kardia Mobile ECG brings medical-grade tech to the palm of your hand and delivers a reading in only 30 seconds. It requires no patches, wires, or gels and gives you your results directly on your smartphone. Because they’re digital and on your phone, your resutls can easily be saved and shared with your care team. It’s Worth Noting While some users may love the convenience of app connectivity, it’s important to note that this ECG monitor can’t be used without said app. So if you’re not interested in the extra step of connecting your phone to get your results, this may not be the best option for you. But it’s compatible with most Android and iOS devices and we think it’s a great pick for anyone who needs to monitor their heart health on the go. Product Details: Memory: Unlimited storage in the Kardia AppBattery: 3V coin cellConnectivity: Select iOS and Android devices Best Display LOOKEE Personal ECG / EKG Heart Monitor PHOTO: LOOKEE View on Lookeetech.com View on Walmart.ca Why We Like It The Lookee ECG monitor has a touch screen with user friendly icons and large legible text that makes reading your result a breeze. We love that you can share it with your partner using the dual user mode and send your readings to your phone or computer through the free app. However, it’s worth noting that some users found that the app connection process wasn’t the most intuitive. But if you’re tech savvy or don’t particularly care about spending a few extra minutes to get set up, it's a great product for easily monitoring your health. It's Worth Noting Some may find connecting to the app difficult at first. Product Details: Memory: Unlimited cloud storageBattery: Rechargeable Connectivity: iOS, Android, and Windows Best Wearable Apple Watch Series 8 PHOTO: Amazon $400 at Amazon View on Walmart $429 at Apple Why We Like It Apple Watches are top-of-the-range fitness accessories for people who take tracking their health seriously. They include a nifty ECG monitor plus many other additional features, like period tracking, a blood oxygen sensor, and sleep analysis. Our team at Health has personally tested this fitness tracker and loved its convenient iOS connectivity, sleek design, and accurate readings. This device is waterproof and sturdy, and although it isn’t the most affordable option, we believe it delivers value for money by helping you track your health long after the sale. It’s Worth Noting It functions best with OS devices so if you have an Android it may not be the best product for you. Product Details: Memory: Unlimited cloud storageBattery: RechargeableConnectivity: iOS Best with Customer Support SonoHealth Portable EKG Heart Rate Monitor PHOTO: SonoHealth View on Sonohealth.org Why We Like It SonoHealth is a family-owned business based out of South Carolina. It was created by a nurse who wanted to help patients stay around the hospital when possible. We love that this ECG monitor is portable, can be used with or without the internet, and comes reasonably priced. This device requires no gels, patches, or wires, and you can take your reading simply by placing your fingertip on the sensors. This device truly stands out, however, because of its company’s customer service. If you struggle with technology, this option may be great for you as SonoHealth is quick, efficient, and helpful when it comes to troubleshooting with customers. Not to mention, this ECG comes with a two-year warranty. It’s Worth Noting It has been known to have connectivity issues in the past. Product Details: Memory: Unlimited storage in appBattery: Lithium-ionConnectivity: iPhone, PC (Windows & Mac), Android Easiest to Use EMAY Portable ECG Monitor PHOTO: Amazon $109 at Amazon View on Emaycare.com Why We Like It Medical devices and machines can sometimes seem threatening and unfriendly. But the EMAY Portable ECG Monitor is distinctly different. From its pleasant appearance, great display, and easy-to-read results, it’s clear this product was made with you in mind. You can get readings for up to 12 different situations, including a fast heart rate, atrial fibrillation, and a normal reading that lets you know there’s no abnormality found. However, if you need the most accurate readings, this may not be the best pick. Also, while the device itself is incredibly easy to use, it may not be the easiest to connect to apps and your PC. So, if you’re looking for advanced connectivity, we recommend choosing another option on this list. It’s Worth Noting It may not be the most accurate option on this list. Product Details: Memory: Unlimited storage on the phone appBattery: UnspecifiedConnectivity: iOS, Android and PC How We Selected We sought the advice of cardiology experts, healthcare workers, and medical specialists to identify the best ECG Monitors for home use. They provided their expert opinions on the technical aspects of ECG monitors and the important factors patients should consider when purchasing a heart monitoring device.With this guidance, we extensively researched the market of personal ECG monitors. We analyzed the available options on criteria such as accuracy, timing of results, ease of use, portability, connectivity, and price. After careful consideration, we selected the top seven options we felt were the best ECG monitors for recommendation. Our Experts We consulted two cardiology experts for their professional insights on the important aspects to consider when choosing an ECG device. The experts we spoke to included: Alexandra Kharazi, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon in San Diego John Higgins, MD, a sports cardiologist with UTHealth Houston Benefits of Personal ECG Monitors A personal ECG monitor is a wise investment for individuals with heart disease or a history of conditions such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, palpitations, stroke, or transient ischemic attacks. It can help detect any abnormalities in the heart rhythm early on and can be immensely helpful in preventing serious complications. According to Dr. Higgins, home ECGs aren't recommended for general screenings of healthy, symptomless adults. However, people with high-risk factors, such as excess weight, high blood pressure, or family history, could benefit from having an ECG at home to monitor their heart health more closely and test more frequently. Pacemakers and Personal ECGS Monitors Using a personal ECG monitor with a pacemaker can be complicated since home ECGs may not be equipped to identify a paced rhythm. If you have a pacemaker, it's important to consult your healthcare provider for guidance in choosing a pacemaker-compatible device, advises Dr. Higgins. When to See a Healthcare Provider It's crucial to inform your healthcare provider of any unusual symptoms as soon as you feel something is wrong. Although heart disease symptoms can vary by individual, common signs may include: Feeling faint LightheadednessShortness of breath Chest pain or discomfort Swelling of your legs or arms Persistent nausea or vomiting A stronger heartbeat than usual Numbness in your arms, neck, or jaw Pain in your arms, neck, jaw, or back Who We Are Dr. Nsisong Asanga is a licensed physician, epidemiologist, global health consultant, and writer for Health. She helps her patients choose the best devices to support their health needs, including home ECG monitors. To make these recommendations, she consults fellow experts, users, and scientific literature. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 2 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. World Health Organization. Cardiovascular diseases: Avoiding heart attacks and strokes. American Heart Association. Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG).