Finding a laptop that can juggle both gaming and schoolwork isn’t as tricky as it used to be. These days, you don’t have to choose between a machine that can handle your homework and one that can keep up with your favorite games. Whether you’re diving into an essay, editing video for a project or hopping into a round of Fortnite or Baldur’s Gate 3 after class, there are plenty of laptops that strike the right balance between performance, portability and price.

The key is knowing what to look for. A solid gaming and schoolwork laptop should have enough processing power for multitasking, a GPU that can handle modern games (even if you're not cranking settings to ultra) and decent battery life to get you through a day of classes or study sessions. Some are sleek and lightweight enough to slip into a backpack while others double as full-on gaming rigs when you’re home and plugged in. We’ve tested a range of laptops to help you find one that fits your student schedule and your Steam library.

Best laptops for gaming and school in 2025

Best laptop for gaming and schoolwork FAQs

Are gaming laptops good for school?

As we’ve mentioned, gaming laptops are especially helpful if you're doing any demanding work. Their big promise is powerful graphics performance, which isn't just limited to PC gaming. Video editing and 3D rendering programs can also tap into their GPUs to handle laborious tasks. While you can find decent GPUs on some productivity machines, like Dell's XPS 15, you can sometimes find better deals on gaming laptops. My general advice for any new workhorse: Pay attention to the specs; get at least 16GB of RAM and the largest solid state drive you can find (ideally 1TB or more). Those components are both typically hard to upgrade down the line, so it’s worth investing what you can up front to get the most out of your PC gaming experience long term. Also, don’t forget the basics like a webcam, which will likely be necessary for the schoolwork portion of your activities.

The one big downside to choosing a gaming notebook is portability. For the most part, we'd recommend 15-inch models to get the best balance of size and price. Those typically weigh in around 4.5 pounds, which is significantly more than a three-pound ultraportable. Today's gaming notebooks are still far lighter than older models, though, so at least you won't be lugging around a 10-pound brick. If you’re looking for something lighter, there are plenty of 14-inch options these days. And if you're not into LED lights and other gamer-centric bling, keep an eye out for more understated models that still feature essentials like a webcam (or make sure you know how to turn those lights off).

Do gaming laptops last longer than standard laptops?

Not necessarily — it really depends on how you define "last longer." In terms of raw performance, gaming laptops tend to pack more powerful components than standard laptops, which means they can stay relevant for longer when it comes to handling demanding software or modern games. That makes them a solid choice if you need a system that won’t feel outdated in a couple of years, especially for students or creators who also game in their downtime.

But there’s a trade-off. All that power generates heat, and gaming laptops often run hotter and put more strain on internal components than typical ultraportables. If they’re not properly cooled or regularly maintained (think dust buildup and thermal paste), that wear and tear can shorten their lifespan. They’re also usually bulkier and have shorter battery life, which can impact long-term usability depending on your daily needs.

Gaming laptops can last longer performance-wise, but only if you take good care of them. If your needs are light — browsing, writing papers and streaming — a standard laptop may actually last longer simply because it’s under less stress day-to-day.

What is the role of GPU in a computer for gaming and school?

The GPU plays a big role in how your laptop handles visuals — and it’s especially important if you’re using your computer for both gaming and school.

For gaming, the GPU is essential. It’s responsible for rendering graphics, textures, lighting and all the visual effects that make your favorite titles look smooth and realistic. A more powerful GPU means better frame rates, higher resolutions and the ability to play modern games without lag or stuttering.

For schoolwork, the GPU matters too — but its importance depends on what you're doing. If your school tasks mostly involve writing papers, browsing the web or using productivity tools like Google Docs or Microsoft Office, you don’t need a high-end GPU. But if you’re working with graphic design, video editing, 3D modeling or anything else that’s visually demanding, a good GPU can speed things up significantly and improve your workflow.

Georgie Peru contributed to this report.

A great phone doesn’t need to cost a fortune. In 2025, features once exclusive to high-end devices – big batteries, multi-camera arrays, high refresh rate displays and more – have trickled down to more affordable models. Sure, you’ll still need to buy a flagship smartphone to get the best camera or fastest processor, but you don’t need to compromise nearly as much anymore if you’re looking for a great handset at a reasonable price. If you have less than $600 to spend, let us help you figure out what features to prioritize when trying to find the best midrange smartphone.

The best midrange phones for 2025

What is a midrange phone, anyway?

While the term frequently appears in articles and videos, there isn’t an agreed-upon definition for “midrange” beyond a phone that isn’t a flagship or an entry-level option. Most of our recommendations cost between $400 and $600 — any less and you should expect significant compromises. If you have more to spend, you might as well consider flagships like the Apple iPhone 16 and the Samsung Galaxy S25.

What to consider before buying a midrange smartphone

Buying a new device can be intimidating, but a few questions can help guide you through the process. First: what platform do you want to use? If the answer is iOS, that narrows your options down to exactly one phone. (Thankfully, it’s great.) And if you’re an Android fan, there’s no shortage of compelling options. Both platforms have their strengths, so you shouldn’t rule either out.

Of course, also consider how much you’re comfortable spending. Even increasing your budget by $100 more can get you a dramatically better product. Moreover, manufacturers tend to support their more expensive devices for longer. It’s worth buying something toward the top limit of what you can afford.

Having an idea of your priorities will help inform your budget. Do you want a long battery life or fast charging? Do you value speedy performance above all else? Or would you like the best possible cameras? While they continue to improve every year, even the best midrange smartphones still demand some compromises, and knowing what’s important to you will make choosing one easier.

What won’t you get from a midrange smartphone?

Every year, the line between midrange and flagship phones blurs as more upmarket features and specs trickle down to more affordable models. When Engadget first published this guide in 2020, it was tricky to find a $500 phone with waterproofing and 5G. In 2025, the biggest thing you might miss out on is wireless charging – and even then, that’s becoming less true.

One thing your new phone probably won’t come with is a power adapter; many companies have stopped including chargers with all of their smartphones. Performance has improved in recent years, but can still be hit or miss as most midrange phones use slower processors that can struggle with multitasking. Thankfully, their cameras have improved dramatically, and you can typically expect at least a dual-lens system on most midrange smartphones below $600.

Whether you need a new laptop for work, school or personal use, it can be overwhelming to start the shopping process. There are so many solid laptops available now with excellent feature sets that determining what you really need, versus what's just nice to have, can be difficult. The good thing is that you do have a ton of choice, with laptop makers including Apple, Dell, ASUS, Lenovo and others making solid machines for all kinds of use cases at various price points.

Out of all of the notebooks we've tested and reviewed recently, we consider Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air M4 to be the best laptop for most people, and this is still the case for our top picks to start off the new year. It's powerful enough to handle most tasks (even light video editing); it has a great screen and built-in speakers; and its battery could last over 18hours (depending on what you're doing, of course). The MacBook Air M4 is also one of the lightest and thinnest systems we've reviewed, and it's dead silent, thanks to a fanless design.

Of course, not everyone wants a MacBook, and there are excellent Windows laptops and Chromebooks out there, too. Windows systems offer a range of configurations, from budget to high-end UHD screens with stunning IPS panels that boast high nits for vivid brightness. Chromebooks, on the other hand, tend to be more affordable and are great for users who mostly work online. Whether you need a powerhouse for creative work, a compact system for note-taking, or a laptop that can handle family movie night, there’s something for everyone in today’s laptop market.

Table of contents

• Best laptops of 2025

• How we test and pick laptops

• Factors to consider when choosing a laptop

• Best laptops specs comparison chart

• Other laptops we’ve tested

• Laptop FAQs

• Recent updates

Best laptops of 2025

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How we test laptops

Engadget has been reviewing laptops for two decades, and while the definition of what a portable PC is has changed considerably since, our obsession with testing their limits and serving up informative buying advice remains the same. Be it a hybrid tablet like Microsoft's Surface machines, a rotating 2-in-1 convertible like HP's Spectre x360s or a plain old clamshell notebook, our review process follows similar beats. How does it look and feel? How fast is it? Whether it’s a Windows device powered by an Intel Core i5 or higher, a MacBook or a Chromebook, we aim to answer the most important question: Is it actually worth your hard-earned cash? We also pay close attention to portability, webcam quality and display features, including IPS panels and nits of brightness, as they can make a big difference in daily use.

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Factors to consider when choosing a laptop

Price

You can expect to spend between $1,000 and $1,800 for a new laptop these days, depending on the configuration. If you're looking for more of a workhorse, that could cost you well over $2,000 for additional RAM, storage, as well as a beefier graphics card and CPU. But you can also find some good laptops under $1,000 if you're willing to overlook build quality (or buy a refurbished or previous generation machine, which we highly recommend). Systems with AMD chips tend to come in cheaper than their Intel counterparts, but the bulk of their cost will come down to other components like RAM and storage.

I’ve included our favorite affordable model in this best laptop buying guide, but we have a list of the best budget laptops that you can check out as well.

Operating system: Apple, Windows or Chrome OS

There's a good chance you've already committed to an operating system, but my advice is to be as flexible as possible. These days, most major software is compatible with both Macs and PCs. (Of course, it's another story if you've become dependent on an Apple-only app like Final Cut Pro.) Web-based apps, naturally, will work on any platform with an internet browser.

If you're an Apple-loyalist, there aren't many reasons to consider Windows laptops (unless you want a secondary gaming machine). But for Windows users, macOS is becoming more tempting every year. Apple's MacBooks, powered by its M-series Silicon chips, are among the fastest and most efficient laptops we've ever seen. They're incredibly well-built and have outstanding battery life to boot. MacOS itself is also an easy platform to learn, especially if you're used to iOS and iPadOS.

That brings up another point: iPhone users may want to consider Macs because of the seamless integration with Apple's other platforms. You can't respond to iMessage conversations easily or hop into FaceTime chats on Windows PCs, but doing so is simple on Macs. (Microsoft's Phone Link app lets you send iOS users individual texts, but not media or group chats.) Android users, meanwhile, may be better off with Windows, as Phone Link can make calls, synchronize all your texts and also access your phone's photos.

If cloud gaming is your priority, Windows laptops with NVIDIA’s GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming compatibility may offer more flexibility and decent performance, especially when paired with fast internet speeds. Chromebooks also make a compelling case here as an affordable, lightweight solution for casual cloud gaming sessions.

As for whether you’ll want a PC with a dedicated Copilot AI button on the keyboard, that depends on how often you see yourself using Microsoft’s generative tools. Given we’re only just seeing the first slate of AI PCs, it would be wiser to wait out the hype and see what improvements might come over time.

And what about ChromeOS? Chromebooks are a smart and (typically) inexpensive way to do things like web browsing and hopping on a few video chats, but for most, they're not the best choice as a primary computer. There aren't many apps or games that work offline, and they also don't work with powerful software suites like Adobe's (you can use the stripped-down Adobe Express and Photoshop online tools, though).

Chromebooks are great secondary machines to use alongside a more powerful Mac or PC, and they're popular in schools because they're cheap and easy for IT workers to manage. And if all you need is web browsing access, or a notebook for a kid, a Chromebook might be enough.

If, for some reason, you’re looking for a powerful ChromeOS system, there are also Chromebook Plus models to consider. These machines sport faster processors and more RAM than typical Google notebooks, and they can also tap into a few of the company’s online AI features, like AI image generation and photo processing.

Ports and connectivity

These days, most laptops ship with a few USB-C ports, which can handle both charging and speedy data transfers. Apple's MacBooks also include a separate connection for MagSafe power, and you'll find custom power connections on some PCs like Microsoft's Surface. Older USB Type-A connections are less common now, but they still pop up in systems like HP's Spectre x360 14, as well as many models from ASUS.

For gamers or creators who rely on discrete graphics, ensuring your laptop has the right ports for external monitors or GPUs is crucial. DisplayPort or HDMI connections can also ensure you’re ready for dual- or multi-screen setups for more immersive experiences. Similarly, if you want to save high-resolution files or install multiple games, you might need to consider additional hard drive space; external hard drives are pretty affordable, as long as you have a proper port to connect them.

If you're a fan of wired headphones, it's worth keeping a close eye on headphone jack availability. Many lightweight laptops, like Dell's XPS 13, don’t have the 3.5mm socket entirely. They usually include a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, but that's a clunky solution, and it also takes up a USB port. Sure, most people use wireless earbuds and cans today, but it's still helpful to have a wired one around for when those devices run out of juice.

Most laptops today offer Wi-Fi 6 or 6E and Bluetooth 5.0 or later, which should mean faster and more stable connections if you have compatible routers and devices. While Wi-Fi 7 routers have started appearing, that spec hasn't made its way into laptops yet. As for cellular coverage, there are notebooks like the Surface Pro 9 and Samsung Galaxy Book models that offer integrated 5G. But from our testing, that feature may not be worth the cost of a separate data plan. Instead, you could tether to your smartphone or invest in a wireless hotspot that can keep multiple devices online.

Laptop size and weight

So how portable do you want your laptop to be? That's the ultimate question you need to ask when choosing between various screen sizes. 13-inch machines have become a solid starting point for most shoppers — it's enough real estate for the majority of tasks like emailing and writing, and it also helps keep machines relatively light (typically between two to three pounds). Thanks to manufacturing advancements, these dainty machines sometimes even come with larger screens (the smaller MacBook Air actually has a 13.6-inch display).

If you have trouble seeing fine text, we’d recommend going for a display larger than 13 inches. ASUS’s Zephyrus G14 is a solid 14-inch option for gamers, and we’re also seeing more productivity-focused machines aim for that size, like the XPS 14 and MacBook Pro. While 14-inch notebooks are a bit heavier than 13-inch models, coming in between three to four pounds, their screens are noticeably roomier.

For artists, or anyone else who needs a large canvas, a 15-inch laptop may make the most sense. They typically weigh between 3.5 and 4.5 pounds, but that extra heft may be worth it to fit wider video editing timelines or Photoshop windows. And, as you'd expect, you'll also pay a bit more for a 15-inch notebook compared to smaller ones (the 15-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,199, while the smaller model goes for $999). PC makers are also replacing 15-inch systems with 16-inch versions, which will give you even more space to work.

If you're in the market for a business laptop, size and portability might be key considerations. A lightweight yet powerful system with a long battery life can make a world of difference if you travel frequently for work.

You can still find laptops with 17-inch or 18-inch screens, but those are typically gaming systems or souped-up workstations. They're not meant for mere computing mortals.

Battery life

A laptop's battery life depends on several factors: The power draw from the screen and other hardware, the optimizations used to avoid unnecessary power drain, and, of course, the size of the actual battery. One of our favorite systems, the Dell XPS 13, lasted 13 hours and 15 minutes in the PCMark 10 battery benchmark. In real-world testing, I was able to use it for a day and a half without needing a recharge. The MacBook Air 13-inch, meanwhile, more than 18 hours in our benchmark and kept running for more than two work days of my typical workflow. In general, you should expect a modern laptop to last at least eight hours.

If battery life is your absolute priority, I'd strongly suggest looking at Macs over Windows PCs. Apple's M-series chips are essentially mobile hardware, with all of the power efficiency you'd expect from something originally designed for phones. Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon chips could help Windows PCs compete with Apple’s astonishing battery life, but we’ve yet to see those in action. Chromebooks also typically get decent battery life (as long as you don’t overstuff them with power-draining tabs).

Refresh rate

A laptop's refresh rate refers to the amount of times its screen is cycled every second. Modern displays like IPS LCDs and OLEDs support 60Hz refresh rates at a minimum, but we're seeing more devices offering 120Hz, 240Hz and beyond. The higher the number, the faster the screen is refreshed, which ultimately leads to a smoother experience while mousing around or scrolling through web pages. (If you want to get a sense of what a slow refresh rate looks like, just grab an e-reader like the Kindle and try to flip between book pages.)

While high refresh rates used to be reserved for gaming laptops, nowadays we're seeing more mainstream machines like the XPS 13 offer 120Hz (or variable rates that move between 60Hz and 120Hz). If there's one knock against the MacBook Air, it's that it's still stuck at 60Hz.

CPU

If you’re buying a new laptop, you’ll want to make sure it’s powered by the latest CPUs. For Windows PCs, that includes Intel’s Core Ultra chips for thin-and-light machines or the 14th-gen HX chips for beefier systems. The Core Ultra series have NPUs for handling AI tasks, while the HX hardware does not – they’re based on Intel’s previous chip architecture, and they’re more focused on delivering raw horsepower. Intel's older 13th-gen and 12th-gen laptop chips also don't have NPUs, so keep that in mind if you're looking at used systems.

You'll also see AMD's Ryzen 8000 and 9000 chips in plenty of new systems like the ASUS Zephyrus G14 and Razer Blade 14. Those CPUs mainly target gaming laptops and high performance systems, while you'll still find AMD’s older Ryzen 7000 chips in ultraportables. AMD's main advantage is that its chips also include Radeon graphics, which are far more capable than Intel's Arc hardware (though those are getting better).

Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus are also an option in Copilot+ PCs (more on those below). Since they’re based on mobile chip designs, they’re likely also more power efficient than AMD and Intel’s hardware. In the past, we’ve avoided recommending Snapdragon chips because they led to a slow and frustrating Windows experience. But Microsoft claims it’s rebuilt Windows 11 around Snapdragon’s Arm-based architecture, which should lead to far faster performance and better app compatibility.

As for Apple's laptops, you'll be choosing between the M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max, each of which is progressively more powerful.

GPU

A GPU, or graphics processing unit, is the component that communicates directly with a laptop's display. Laptop CPUs all have some form of integrated GPU: Intel has either its standard graphics or beefier Arc hardware, while AMD's chips include fast Radeon mobile graphics. If you want to play demanding games at high speeds (measured in frames per second, or fps), or if you need some extra power for rendering video or 3D models, you can configure a laptop with a dedicated GPU like NVIDIA's RTX 40-series hardware or AMD's Radeon RX 7000. Just be sure to leave room in your budget if you want a powerful GPU, as they typically add $300 or more to the cost of a laptop.

Apple's M-series chips, meanwhile, have GPU cores that can perform as well as NVIDIA’s and AMD's lower-end dedicated GPUs. That's quite the accomplishment for systems like this (especially the MacBook Air and 14-inch MacBook Pro), and it's another reason we highly recommend Apple's notebooks.

AI PCs, NPUs and Copilot+

Simply put, an AI PC is a computer equipped with a neural processing unit (NPU), which is designed to handle AI-related tasks. Much like how GPUs tackle heavy-duty gaming and rendering workloads, NPUs are designed to handle the complex math necessary for AI workloads. They’re also far more power efficient than CPUs or GPUs, which could lead to better battery performance in laptops. While many factors go into NPU performance, for the most part we measure their potential speed by TOPS (tera operations per second).

We were primed for AI PCs based on the chips Intel and AMD announced in 2023. Intel unveiled its "Core Ultra" CPUs in December, its first to include an NPU for AI work. AMD also announced its Ryzen 8040 AI mobile chips that month (and it couldn't help but say they were faster than Intel's new hardware). But in May, Microsoft announced its Copilot+ initiative, which is pushing major PC makers to deliver premium AI PCs with specifications including 16GB of RAM, 256GB SSDs and NPUs with at least 40 TOPS of AI performance.

Copilot+ is more than just a marketing term: Microsoft is also launching AI-powered features in Windows 11 that take advantage of powerful NPUs. That includes Recall, which can help you locate anything you’ve done on your PC (whenever it finally launches), as well as Cocreator in Paint, which can generate AI images based on text prompts and doodles.

If you buy an AI PC that isn’t Copilot+ certified, you’ll still be able to use some features like Windows Studio Effects, which can blur your background in video calls or keep you in frame. Developers like Adobe and Audacity are also building features into their apps that can take advantage of NPUs.

At the time of this post, Chromebook Plus notebooks can also access a few of Google’s online AI features, like image generation and photo processing.

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Other laptops we tested that didn't make the cut

ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED

Aside from its lovely OLED screen, the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED doesn't stand out from the crowded laptop field in any way. It just looks dull and boring, especially compared to the strikingly beautiful ASUS Zephyrus G14, which also came out this year. While you can probably find the Zenbook 14 for a decent price, I'd recommend holding out for something with a bit more personality (and with a less wobbly screen hinge).

Razer Blade 14

The Razer Blade has almost everything you'd want in a 14-inch gaming notebook, but it's far pricier than the Zephyrus G14 on this list, and it doesn’t even have an SD card reader. It would be a solid competitor once its price falls a bit, and it's certainly a great option if you just have to have a jet-black laptop.

Framework Laptop 16

Framework gave its modularity magic to the Laptop 16, delivering a gaming notebook where almost every single component is user replaceable. But you'll have to pay a pretty penny to snag it with upgraded hardware, and its optional Radeon 7700S GPU was surprisingly slow.

Alienware m16 R2

The Alienware m16 r2 has been revamped with a slimmer case, but it’s otherwise a fairly typical gaming laptop. It’s a solid option for Alienware fans, but you’ll find better hardware and deals elsewhere.

ASUS Zenbook Duo (2024)

The Zenbook Duo is a fascinating dual-screened notebook, and according to my colleague Sam Rutherford it’s the first of its kind that’s worth buying. But its unique hardware isn’t really meant for mainstream consumers, and Windows 11 still doesn’t support multi-screen setups well enough to make full use of the Zenbook Duo’s ample canvas.

Dell XPS 16

Dell’s XPS 16 is big and beautiful, but it’s far too expensive compared to the competition. Plus, it uses a capacitive row of function keys that you basically can’t see under bright light and has too few ports for a machine of this size.

See Also:

• Best Gaming Laptops for 2025

• Best Cheap Windows Laptops

• Best 2-in-1 Laptops for 2025

• Best Chromebooks

• Best Laptops for College Students

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Laptop FAQs

What is the average battery life of a laptop per charge?

It’s hard to come up with an average battery life for laptops, since that will ultimately depend on what you’re doing with them. An ultraportable like the MacBook Air that sips power can last around 20 hours in our battery benchmark, and around two full work days of real-world usage. But a gaming laptop may last only a few hours if you’re actively playing something while on battery. At this point, Macs are delivering far better battery life than PCs, thanks to Apple’s Silicon chips, but Microsoft claims Copilot+ systems with Qualcomm chips will also get over 20 hours of batter life.

How much RAM do I really need?

The more RAM you have, the more things your computer can do simultaneously. For that reason, we recommend buying PCs and Macs with at least 16GB of RAM. That gives you enough memory to have several applications open at once, as well as web browsers filled with RAM-hogging tabs. Many PC games also require at least 16GB of RAM. While you could use a system with 8GB of RAM for basic tasks, you’ll quickly run into slowdowns and error messages as your apps stack up. Many laptops, especially ultraportables, don’t let you upgrade RAM, too – so you’ll have to buy an entirely new computer if you didn’t equip enough memory at the start.

If you’re a hardcore gamer, programmer or planning to render videos or 3D models, then you may want to go for 32GB of RAM or more. And if you just need a secondary laptop for lighter work – perhaps a no-frills system for writing – then you can probably get by with 8GB. Just be sure to keep those browser tabs in check.

What is the best storage capacity for a laptop?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to laptop storage. You’ll typically find configurations between 256GB and 1TB SSDs (solid state drives) on most laptops, and I’d recommend most people get at least 512GB. That’ll be enough space for large apps, music and video files without stressing your system too much. If you’re a media hoarder, or want to play a ton of games, then it’s definitely worth getting a 1TB SSD.

If you’ll mainly be streaming your shows and music, and would rather invest in RAM or other hardware, then 256GB of storage would be serviceable. I’d recommend staying away from any machine with 128GB of storage though. Most of that will be taken up by the operating system, and you’ll likely run into issues cramming in large apps after a few months.

We recommend springing for extra built-in storage or investing in a portable SSD for backing up your most important files. It's also worth noting that Chromebooks tend to come with less built-in storage — 32GB, 64GB or 128GB — since ChromeOS encourages users to save their files in the cloud rather than on the device. In that case, 128GB is plenty.

What's a good price range for a decent laptop in 2025?

You can expect to spend between $1,000 and $1,800 for a typical 13-inch laptop today. As I explained above, you'll pay more if you want to stuff in more RAM or better GPU hardware. But you can also find deals below $1,000 if you look for refurbished or older-generation models.

What’s the difference between macOS and Windows? Which is better?

Simply put, macOS is the operating system in all of Apple's notebooks and desktops, while Windows powers the vast majority of PCs. You'll also find Chromebooks running Google's ChromeOS, but those are basically just web browsers running on top of Linux.

Debating the differences between Windows and Macs is something PC nerds have been doing since the '80s, so we won't be declaring a winner here. There are some small, negligible distinctions, like using a Command versus a Control key, how file explorers work and concerns about viruses and security. For the most part, those are minor issues or have become moot thanks to better built-in security.

But if you care more about playing the newest games, you'll want to have a Windows system. If you're more focused on creative apps, like Photoshop, Premiere and Final Cut Pro, then macOS may be a better fit (especially if you're running an iPhone).

What are the best laptop brands?

There is no single "best" laptop brand, but judging from this guide alone, we're generally impressed by notebooks from Apple, Dell and ASUS. They all offer fast, reliable and sturdy machines. HP also makes some eye-catching devices if you want an option that’s the most aesthetic. Those four brands, along with Lenovo and Acer, dominate laptop sales worldwide. We'd avoid systems from any retail store brands, or companies that don't have a major presence in the US.

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Best laptops specs comparison chart

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Recent updates

March 2025: Updated to include the M4-powered MacBook Air.

November 2024: Updated to include the M4-powered MacBook Pros.

August 2024: Updated to include the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12.

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Running a car rental business without a proper website is like trying to drive with the parking brake on – you’re just making things harder for yourself. I learned this firsthand when helping a friend create a website for his rental company.

Whether you’re starting fresh or upgrading an existing rental business, creating a professional website doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With WordPress, you can build a fully functional car rental site that handles everything from showing off your vehicles to processing bookings.

In this guide, I’ll show you the exact steps to create your car rental website in WordPress. I’ve done all the research and testing, so you can skip the headaches and get straight to growing your business.

Why Build a Car Rental Website with WordPress?

Are you fed up with juggling multiple phone calls and emails from customers who are trying to get information about your car rentals? 

A WordPress website can be a game-changer for your business, providing a one-stop shop where customers can find everything they need.

A good website can handle all the heavy lifting: customers can browse your fleet of vehicles, compare different packages, read reviews, and even reserve a car directly through your site. This not only saves you time but also improves the overall customer experience.

Plus, a car rental website is your chance to get seen by a whole new crowd. 

Think about it: people are constantly searching online for things like ‘car rentals near me,’ ‘affordable SUVs,’ or ‘weekend car deals.’ If you don’t have a website, then these people won’t find you. It’s that simple. 

A car rental website acts like a 24/7 billboard, showing off your fleet and prices to potential customers who are actively looking for what you have to offer. 

That said, let’s help you create a car rental website. I cover a lot in this guide, so feel free to use the quick links below to jump straight to the section you want to learn about:

You’ll notice I have some “optional” steps, but I highly recommend you try them if you really want your website to drive sales and boost revenue.

Step 1: Choose Your Car Rental Website Builder

First things first, before building a car rental website, you’ll need a powerful platform that can handle lots of traffic and give your customers a smooth ride. That’s why I recommend WordPress. 

There are lots of different website builders out there, but WordPress stands out for business owners seeking a user-friendly, reliable, and budget-friendly solution.

In the car rental industry, every cent counts. The awesome thing about WordPress is that it’s open-source and totally free to use. That means more money to spend elsewhere – whether that’s marketing, keeping your fleet in tip-top shape, or buying new vehicles.

​​For more on this topic, see our article on why WordPress is free.

Here’s where it gets really good: WordPress has a massive plugin library, with over 59,000 plugins on WordPress.org alone.

Think of plugins as little add-ons that do specific things. For your car rental website, you might use car plugins to manage bookings, showcase customer reviews, and display eye-catching photos of your fleet.

With the right plugins, you can really streamline your business and boost those bookings.

And get this: according to our blogging statistics, WordPress powers almost 43% of all websites. That’s a huge number, proving just how reliable and scalable it is. Perfect for growing your business online! 

Now, let’s get a bit more technical: there are two types of WordPress software, so it’s important to pick the right one.

First up is WordPress.com, which is a blog hosting platform. Then there’s WordPress.org, also known as self-hosted WordPress. For a car rental website, I recommend WordPress.org because it gives you the freedom to use all those must-have WordPress plugins without an expensive plan.

For a deeper dive into why I consistently recommend WordPress, see our complete WordPress review.

☝ Have you already created a site on WordPress.com? Don’t worry! I have a step-by-step guide on how to migrate your website from WordPress.com to self-hosted WordPress, ensuring a smooth transition for your car rental business.

Step 2: Set Up Your Website Hosting

Before you can create a professional and user-friendly car rental website, you’ll need a few things in place. 

First up, you need a domain name. This will be your online address, where potential customers can see your cars, check your rates, and book rentals. 

You’ll also need a web hosting plan, which is where your website lives online. You’ll want to make sure you pick a reliable host that keeps your site running 24/7. After all, if your car rental website experiences downtime, you’ll almost certainly miss out on bookings.

To make your life easier, we’ve hand-picked some of the best WordPress hosting you can buy. 

A domain name typically costs $14.99/year, and hosting costs start from $7.99/month. This may sound manageable, but it tends to add up over time.

Here’s the good news: WPBeginner has an exclusive deal with Bluehost. They’ve agreed to offer WPBeginner readers a huge discount on web hosting, plus a free domain. You can click the button below to get started for as little as $1.99 per month. 

Once you’re on the Bluehost website, just click the green ‘Get Started Now’ button.

This takes you to the pricing page, where you can choose a hosting plan.

For a car rental website, I recommend picking either the ‘Basic’ or ‘Choice Plus’ plan, as they have everything you need.

After choosing a plan, go ahead and click ‘Continue.’

Next, it’s time to choose a domain name for your car rental website. 

Remember that a domain is your online address, so it should be easy to remember and say, and fit your brand. The name of your car rental business is usually a good option.

For example, if your rental business is called Speedy Rides, then speedyrides.com is a solid choice.

However, if that domain name isn’t available, then you can experiment by adding helpful information like location or the type of vehicles you rent.

For instance, if you specialize in luxury cars in Austin, then you could try SpeedyLuxuryRides.com or SpeedyRidesAustin.com.

The key is keeping it relevant and easy to understand. Play around with different combinations until you find something you like.

💡 Struggling for inspiration? Check out our guide on how to choose the best domain name.

Now, go ahead and click the ‘Next’ button after choosing a domain name.

Bluehost will now ask for your account information, such as your name and email address. You’ll also get a chance to buy some optional extras.

I typically don’t recommend buying these extras right away if you’re trying to keep costs down. Plus, you can always buy them later if your car rental business needs them.

That done, simply type in your payment information to complete the purchase.

After a few moments, you’ll get an email with instructions on how to log in to your web hosting control panel. This is the dashboard where you can manage your car rental site, including setting up email notifications and asking for WordPress support.

Step 3: Install WordPress on Your Web Hosting

When you sign up using the Bluehost discount link, Bluehost will install WordPress on your domain name automatically.

Give it a few minutes to load, and then click the ‘Edit site’ button so you can set up your new website.

At this point, a window will appear asking if you want to migrate a WordPress site or start a new setup.

Since you’re creating a new car rental site, click the ‘Start Setup’ button.

The setup wizard will now ask for some basic information, such as the type of website you’re building.

You can now choose the category that best fits your site. For a car rental site, you’ll typically select ‘Business,’ but you can choose any category you want. After that, click ‘Continue Setup.’

Once you’ve gone through the entire Bluehost WordPress setup wizard, click on ‘Complete Setup.’

Bluehost will now take you to the WordPress admin area.

You can also log in to the WordPress dashboard by heading to yoursite.com/wp-admin/ directly in your web browser.

Are you using a different WordPress website host such as SiteGround, Hostinger, HostGator, or WP Engine? See our complete guide on how to install WordPress for step-by-step instructions. 

Now that the setup is out of the way, you’re ready to start building your car rental website. 

Step 4: Select a WordPress Car Theme

So, you’ve got your domain and hosting – now it’s time to make your website look fantastic.

After all, it’s the first thing potential customers will see, so it’s important to make a great first impression. 

WordPress comes with a default theme, but it’s not ideal for a professional car rental site. 

When choosing a theme for your rental website, you should look for something that reflects your brand identity. Are you aiming for a luxurious and sophisticated feel, or do you specialize in budget-friendly vehicles?

You should also think about the content you’ll be showing.

Do you have a ton of car photos taken by a professional photographer? Then, make sure your WordPress theme can handle a big gallery. 

Want to display your cars in a listing format? Look for a theme that supports this layout and perhaps even has built-in searching and filtering options.

To help you out, my team has collected the best themes for car dealerships and the best themes for auto repair shops.

Many of these themes have features designed specifically for the automotive industry, such as a built-in Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) decoder. 

Don’t worry if you’re not technical! We’ve created a step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress theme, so your car rental website will look great in no time.

After installing your theme, you can customize it by heading over to Appearance » Customize in the WordPress dashboard. This will launch the theme customizer, where you can fine-tune the theme settings and see your changes in the live preview.

Are you using one of the newer full-site editing (FSE) themes? Then you’ll need to go to Appearance » Editor instead. This launches the full site editor, where you can add, remove, and edit the blocks in your WordPress theme. It’s super intuitive. 

Another option is using a website and landing page builder plugin like SeedProd.

SeedProd is a drag-and-drop page builder that’s super popular and easy to use. We’ve used it to build many of our partner websites, including the Duplicator, WPForms, and WP Charitable websites.

With SeedProd, you can create stunning landing pages, homepages, and even entire websites. 

It also comes with ready-made templates designed specifically for the automotive industry.

There’s even a dedicated car rental template that you can use.

As you can see, this template has a ready-made section where you can display your fleet. 

You can easily upload your own photos and details, so it’s super simple for customers to find what they’re looking for.

The template also has a ‘Reserve Now’ call to action button that you can customize to seamlessly integrate with your booking or inventory management system (more on that later!)

Alternatively, you can use SeedProd’s AI website builder to create a completely custom theme in just a few seconds. For details, see our guide on how to make a WordPress website with AI.

Step 5: Create a Custom Home Page

WordPress has two default content types called posts and pages. Website owners typically use posts to create articles and blogs, but this creates a bit of a problem for you.

By default, WordPress will display a list of blog posts on your homepage. Regardless of your blogging plans, you don’t want a list of posts to be the first thing potential customers see. 

That’s why I recommend creating a custom home page that includes a quick rundown of your company, a peek at your vehicles (think pictures and specs), your rates, and other important information.

You might even include customer testimonials and reviews to build trust and credibility (more on that later!) Basically, you want to wow your visitors, and a list of blog posts just won’t cut it.

To help you out, we’ve created a complete guide on how to create a custom homepage. Simply follow this guide, and you’ll have the perfect ‘welcome mat’ for your visitors and potential customers.

Once you’re happy with how the page looks, you can set it as your homepage. To do this, head over to Settings » Reading in the WordPress dashboard.

Here, scroll to the ‘Your homepage displays’ setting and select ‘A static page.’

Next, open the ‘Homepage’ dropdown and select the page you created earlier.

Now, your customers will see a welcoming home page that includes all the essential information about your car rental business.

Step 6: Add More Pages

When designing your car rental website, it’s important to share as much information as possible. This will help potential customers understand what your business has to offer, so they can make an informed decision about whether you’re right for them.

Want to show off your fleet of vehicles? No problem. Need to share your rates and pricing? Easy. FAQs, maps, and other key details? WordPress can handle it all.

But before you start adding all that awesome content, let’s talk about organization. Your website must be easy to navigate so that customers can find what they need quickly. That means setting up different pages for different types of information.

For example, you might create a dedicated page for your vehicles where you display photos and descriptions. Another page might focus on rates and pricing, including any deals you’re currently running. 

Thankfully, it’s super easy to add more pages to WordPress. Just head over to Pages » Add New Page.

This opens the WordPress content editor, where you can add a title, type in the body text, add a featured image, and more. 

Once you’re happy with a page, just hit the ‘Publish’ button to make it live. 

Want more creative control over your page layouts and designs? Then, be sure to check out our guide on how to create custom pages in WordPress.

Step 7: Add a Contact Us Form

Want to help customers get in touch? A contact form is your answer!

It’s the simplest way for visitors to ask questions, voice concerns, or make requests—whether they are about booking, rates, or just providing helpful feedback. 

The easiest way to add a contact form to your WordPress website is by using the WPForms plugin. 

We use WPForms to power all our forms across WPBeginner, including our contact form, so we’re confident it’s a great fit for your car rental website.

To learn more about this popular contact form plugin, check out our detailed WPForms review. 

After installing the plugin, you’ll notice that it comes with a ready-made Simple Contact Form template. You can quickly customize this form in WPForms’ drag-and-drop editor.

Then, just add the form to any page, post, or widget-ready area using the WPForms block. It’s that simple! 

Step 8: Add a Click-to-Call Button

Have you already added a contact form to your site? Great!

But sometimes, customers need you now. Think: car trouble, accidents – all times when waiting for a response just won’t cut it.

That’s where a click-to-call button comes in. It lets folks dial your number in one click from their phone or computer, no typing needed. 

Even when it’s not an emergency, some people may just prefer a phone call.

A click-to-call button makes it easier for these people to call your business, and more calls mean more bookings and more money in your pocket.

Ready to add a click-to-call button to your site? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to add a click-to-call button in WordPress.

Step 9: Accept Online Reservations

This might be the most important step for your car rental website. If you really want to grow your business, then you absolutely need to let visitors book vehicles directly on your website.

This is typically much quicker and easier than calling customer service or visiting your rental lot in person. It’s better for the customer and for you.

There are a few ways to add online reservations, but I highly recommend the free VikRentCar plugin. Why? Because it’s designed specifically for car rental websites.

It’s packed with features you won’t find in generic booking plugins. This includes the option to define pickup and dropoff locations, dates, and times for smooth bookings.

You can also show off your vehicles in a grid or list, making it easy for customers to browse your entire fleet. 

The first thing you need to do is install and activate the VikRentCar plugin on your website. There’s also a premium version of the VikRentCar plugin that comes with extra features like rental restrictions, seasonal pricing, an integrated payment system for 60+ payment gateways, and more.

For more details, you can follow our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, select ‘VikRentCar’ from the left-hand menu.

Here, you’ll see a setup wizard that will walk you through all the steps to get your online reservations up and running. Now, let’s go over these steps.

Set Up Your Pricing Plans

The first step is setting up your pricing plans. Make sure to think about the plan options you’d like to offer before you continue.

For instance, you’ll likely want a ‘Base Plan’ and then maybe another that comes with rental insurance or other add-ons.

When you’re ready, click the ‘Configure’ button under ‘Types of Price.’

You’ll need at least one pricing plan in order to show rates to your customers.

With that in mind, go ahead and click on the ‘New Price’ button.

Now, fill in the details for your first price type. You can also add attributes, but that’s optional.

When you’re happy with the information you’ve entered, click the ‘Save’ button.

Just repeat these steps for all the pricing plans you want to offer. 

Once that’s done, click the ‘Dashboard’ icon to return to the main setup wizard.

List Your Rental Cars

Now it’s time to create a profile for each car model in your fleet. Think of it as a little info sheet for each type of car you have.

To start, click the ‘Configure’ button under ‘Cars.’

Once again, this takes you to a new screen.

Here, click on the ‘New Car’ button.

Now, fill in all the details for this car. This includes:

• The name of the car.
• The total units you have.
• Whether it’s available or not.
• Additional information you want to show potential customers, like images.

Simply work your way down this page and fill in all the info.

Don’t forget to click ‘Save’ to store your changes.  

Customize Your Car Rental Fares

When you click ‘Save,’ VikRentCar will ask you to enter the daily rental cost for each pricing plan you created earlier.

Just type in the price for each plan, then click ‘Insert Fares’ to save this information. 

After you hit ‘Insert Fares,’ you’ll see a table where you can adjust your prices for specific rental periods for each price level. 

There are options for ‘Daily Fares, ‘Extra Hours Charges,’ and ‘Hourly Fares.’

If you keep scrolling through, you’ll see the standard pricing.

By default, VikRentCar multiplies the daily rate by the number of rental days.

However, you can customize this by scrolling back up to the ‘Daily Fares,’ ‘Extra Hours Charges,’ and ‘Hourly Fares’ tabs and making some changes.

For example, you might offer a discount for rentals longer than 3 days and then an even bigger discount after 7 days.

In that case, you’d need to set specific prices for daily ranges 1-3, 3-7, and so on.

You might also add hourly rates in order to attract more customers.  

As you type in different prices, the list of fees below will update instantly. 

This makes it easy to play around with different pricing to see how it affects your total costs.

I recommend taking some time to explore the table and the different tabs. This will help you find that sweet spot – pricing that’s competitive for customers but also covers your costs and makes you money.

Once you’re happy with your pricing, click ‘Quit Inserting’ to return to the main dashboard. 

Now, simply repeat these steps to add all the cars and pricing information to your site.

Choose Pickup & Dropoff Times & Locations

With that done, let’s set up your pickup and dropoff times by selecting the calendar icon in the toolbar. Then, click ‘Calendar’ in the dropdown menu.

Here, you can set your pickup and dropoff times.

Once you’re happy with the times, click the ‘Back’ button. 

Next up, let’s add your locations. 

Click the key icon in the toolbar, then select ‘Pickup/Dropoff Locations.’

On the next screen, click on the ‘New Location’ button.

Now, you can enter all the details for each pickup and dropoff location you offer.

When you’re ready, just click ‘Save’ to store your changes.

There are more settings you can explore, but this is enough to create a simple car rental system.

Add Your Booking Calendar to Your Website

That said, it’s time to add your car rental booking calendar to your site using VikRentCar’s built-in shortcode generator. Click the car icon to return to the main dashboard.

Then select the ‘Shortcodes’ button.

On the next screen, select ‘New.’

This takes you to the shortcode builder.

The easiest way to create a shortcode is to select the content you want to display from the ‘Type’ dropdown menu.

For example, you can select Locations List, Search Form, General Availability, Promotions, and more.

Typically, though, you’ll want to start by showing your available cars, so in that case, you’d need to select ‘Cars List’ from the ‘Type’ dropdown menu.

VikRentCar will then show some settings under ‘Details’ where you can make some customizations.

Simply work through these options and adjust them to your liking.

You can choose to display your vehicles in a list or a grid. You can also pick the order in which they appear and how many cars VikRentCars shows per page. 

When you’re happy with how the shortcode is set up, give it a descriptive name. This will help you identify the shortcode later in your dashboard.

Then, click on ‘Save & Close.’ 

With that done, VikRentCar will display a dashboard with all the shortcodes you’ve created.

To add this content to an existing page or post, click the icon under ‘Shortcode.’

You can now copy the shortcode and paste it into any page, post, or even a widget area on your site. If you’re not sure how, then check out our guide on how to add a shortcode in WordPress. 

Alternatively, if you want to add this content to a brand new page, then click the ‘Create page’ button.

This will automatically create a new page and insert the shortcode for you. Super easy!

By following these steps, you’ll have your car rental system up and running on your WordPress site in no time.

Step 9 Alternative: Use a Simple Car Rental Booking Form

If you want a quick and easy way to rent out your cars, then you can also create a rental form using WPForms. This way, visitors can enter all their requirements, and you can review each request manually.

WPForms even has a ready-made Truck Rental Agreement form template that you can customize and add to your site with just a few clicks. 

This approach tends to work best when you have a smaller fleet of vehicles. You could even accept payments directly through the form or process the rental request before sending customers to a dedicated WordPress payment form on your website.

💡Related Post: Learn how to offer equipment rentals in WordPress.

Step 10: Create a Stunning Vehicle Display

Photos are a great way to impress potential customers with the sheer variety and quality of your car rental options. You should already have high-quality photos of all your vehicles. Now it’s time to show them off!

But here’s the catch: too many big photos can really slow down your site. And a slow site? That’s a surefire way to frustrate visitors and may even drive potential customers away.

That’s why smart business owners use a slider plugin that’s optimized for performance. Envira Gallery is our pick because it lets you upload unlimited photos, create slick sliders, and organize your vehicles into albums.

This means customers can scroll through your entire fleet, seeing every detail without your site malfunctioning or slowing down. It’s the perfect way to show off your vehicles and give customers a better understanding of what you have to offer. 

Want to learn more? Check out our detailed Envira Gallery review, where we downloaded this popular plugin and put it to the test.

Ready to dive in? Our guide on how to create a responsive image gallery has step-by-step instructions to help you get started. 

Step 11: Guide Customers to Your Door

Even after you have a website, some people may still prefer to see your vehicles before booking, or they might opt for direct pickup.

You can make it easy for those people to find you by adding a Google Map to your site. 

You can embed an interactive Google Map directly in your site using a map plugin or a code snippet.

We cover both methods in our guide on how to add a Google Map in WordPress, so you can choose the method that suits you the best. 

Step 12: Showcase Your Rental Options

It’s essential to clearly communicate your pricing, packages, and any additional fees to customers. Being upfront makes you seem more trustworthy and helps customers avoid any nasty surprises.

For the best results, your pricing table should display all the rental options with their prices right next to them. You might also create tables for different car types (such as economy, compact, luxury) and different rental durations (like daily, weekly, monthly). 

That way, customers can compare their options quickly and find the right package for them.

Ready to create an easy-to-read pricing table without writing a single line of code? Head over to our complete guide on how to add pricing tables in WordPress.

Step 13: Display Customer Reviews

When was the last time you bought a product or signed up for a service without checking the reviews first? Before you buy anything, you probably want to know what others think, and so do your car rental customers. 

If you already have reviews on platforms like Google Business Profile, Facebook, or Yelp, then you can display them directly on your site using Smash Balloon Reviews Feed.

This plugin can fetch testimonials from all the top review platforms and embed them on your site. It will even fetch new reviews automatically. 

You can customize the review feed to perfectly fit your website so everything looks professional and consistent. 

For complete step-by-step instructions, see our guide on how to show Google, Facebook, and Yelp reviews on your site.

Don’t have any reviews yet? It’s time to change that! You can use WPForms to add a review form to your site. 

The plugin even has a Review Form template that lets you collect star ratings, recommendations, pros and cons, and other feedback from your customers.

Want feedback on specific staff members? 

WPForms also has a Customer Service Review template that you may find helpful.

For detailed instructions, see our guide on how to add a client feedback form in WordPress.

Once you start collecting feedback, I recommend creating a dedicated customer review page.

Step 14: Create a Navigation Menu

Now that you’ve added some useful content to your car rental website, it’s time to make it easy for customers to find what they need.

A well-organized navigation menu will help customers quickly locate the information they’re looking for, such as your location, vehicle inventory, or rental policies.

Don’t worry – adding menus and even sub-menus in WordPress is surprisingly straightforward.

For a comprehensive, step-by-step guide, check out our detailed post on how to add a navigation menu.

Step 15: Add Social Media Feeds (Optional)

Are you active on social media? Then, you already know how important it is to keep your audience in the loop. 

But did you know you can bring all that social buzz right onto your website?

You can embed social media feeds directly in your WordPress website using a plugin like Smash Balloon. 

This can keep your site fresh and dynamic, even when you’re busy with other tasks. This way, your visitors will always see your latest social content, even if they’re not following you on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

It’s perfect for keeping visitors engaged and informed. 

Displaying social media content directly on your website also directs traffic to your social profiles, so you may get more followers, too!

Want to learn more before downloading Smash Balloon? Just check out our in-depth Smash Balloon review. 

Step 16: Publish Valuable Content (Optional)

It’s not essential, but starting a blog is a great way to show off your expertise, get new customers, and keep existing customers coming back to your business. 

You might keep things straightforward and use your blog to share company updates or industry news. This is an easy way to build a relationship with your audience. Plus, you can add relevant industry keywords to your website so people can find your services more easily.

Regularly publishing this content can also keep your site fresh and up-to-date, which is a key way to improve your search engine rankings. 

If you have more time to blog, then you could get creative and produce high-quality, original content.

For example, you might review different types of vehicles, sharing your thoughts on their pros and cons, features, and performance. This can help your customers make informed decisions when choosing a rental vehicle. 

You might even offer advice on related subjects, like what to pack for a road trip or how to stay safe while traveling.

This valuable content increases your chances of appearing in search results and being shared on social media. This means more visitors, more bookings, and more revenue. 

Ready to start blogging? See our guide on how to create a separate page for blog posts in WordPress.

After that, I recommend checking out our blog post idea generator for some extra inspiration.

Step 17: Use FOMO to Drive Car Rental Reservations (Optional)

As a car rental business, increasing bookings is always a top priority, and FOMO can be your secret weapon.

FOMO, or ‘fear of missing out,’ is a term for anxiety about missing out on something exciting and trendy. If visitors think that your cars are in high demand, then they’re more likely to book immediately rather than delay. 

That’s where TrustPulse comes in. 

TrustPulse can display real-time user activity notifications on your car rental website. For example, it can show a popup every time someone rents a vehicle from you. You can even display the total number of bookings within a certain time frame to really prove your popularity.

TrustPulse also tracks customer activity on individual listings, so you can show how many people viewed a particular vehicle. This creates a sense of urgency, encouraging visitors to book before the vehicle is gone.

Essentially, TrustPulse highlights the popularity of your rentals, motivating people to book right now. 

We’ve seen firsthand how this strategy can convince visitors to make a purchase. To learn more, see our complete TrustPulse review.

Ready to get started? Check out our guide on how to use FOMO on your WordPress site. It will show you how to set up TrustPulse and start boosting your bookings. 

Bonus Tips: How to Grow Your Car Rental Website

Congratulations! You now have a professional-looking car rental website. Now, let’s get that website working hard for you, bringing in more traffic and turning visitors into paying customers.

Here are some extra tips to really boost your car rental business:

• Use AIOSEO to climb those search engine rankings. This plugin can help people find your website when they’re searching for things like ‘car rentals near me,’ ‘rent a car today,’ or any other phrases you want to target. See our ultimate WordPress SEO guide for details.
• A slow-loading website can frustrate visitors and make a terrible first impression. To make your site lightning fast, check out our guide on how to boost WordPress speed and performance.
• Understanding customer behavior is crucial for driving bookings and revenue. MonsterInsights lets you monitor your website’s performance by tracking visitor numbers, engagement, and conversion rates. You can then use these insights to fine-tune your car rental site and watch your revenue soar. For details, see our guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.

I hope this article has helped you learn how to make a car rental website with WordPress. You may also want to check out our expert picks of the must-have WordPress plugins for all business websites or our guide on how to sell car parts in WordPress.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Make a Car Rental Website with WordPress (Step by Step) first appeared on WPBeginner.

On the podcast today we have James Kemp.

James is the Core Product Lead for WooCommerce. After working with WooCommerce running a plugin shop for 10 years, he joined the team at the end of 2023 to help shape the future of e-commerce.

James talks about his journey with WordPress and WooCommerce and explains his role at Automattic, where he’s tasked with connecting the community’s feedback to the developments in WooCommerce, ensuring that the Woo platform continually evolves and improves.

He discusses the innovations within WooCommerce, the challenges of balancing the needs of small and large-scale stores, and how the team navigates an environment filled with both competitors and opportunities.

He gets into the positive impact of WooCommerce’s recent rebranding, and how the system positions itself amidst the ever-growing competition from SaaS platforms like Shopify. James shares his insights into the trends shaping e-commerce, like the seamless integration of newer technologies and consumer buying habits.

If you are keen to understand the breadth of WooCommerce’s impact on e-commerce, or are curious about the direction of online shopping, this episode is for you.

Useful links

WooCommerce

IconicWP

Kestrel WP

Patrick Garmen from Mindsize

Woo Newsroom

Store Leads

Details about ‘More in Core’

Inside Woo podcast

James on X

On the podcast today we have Katie Keith.

Katie is a founder and CEO of Barn2 Plugins. With a background deeply rooted in WordPress, Katie’s journey presents an interesting narrative of transformation, from the early days of running a WordPress agency, to now managing a flourishing plugin business. Barn2 plugins has a portfolio of 19 premium plugins, many of which extend functionalities in WooCommerce.

Today, Katie previews her upcoming lightning talk which she’ll be giving at WordCamp Asia. She talks about the transition from agency work to plugin development, highlighting early challenges and choices that shaped the business’ path.

We get into the initial allure of client projects and their subsequent realisation of the benefits offered by productising their skills for global reach. Katie describes the decisions that led them to WordPress plugins, with products like WooCommerce Protected Categories and Document Library Pro, and explores how customer feedback and market needs drove their product diversification.

As Katie explains, the plugin world wasn’t without its hurdles. There was trial and error involved in launching new products. This underscored the importance of market research. Additionally, she touches on Barn2’s current pivot into Shopify apps, aiming for diversification to help ensure that the business has stability by being available across multiple platforms.

Katie investigates the current WordPress and WooCommerce landscape, discussing how she perceives the industry will change, potential growth areas, and the necessity of staying agile.

If you’re curious about the intricacies of building a plugin business, or are seeking inspiration from someone who has already navigated the WordPress ecosystem, this episode is for you.

Useful links

Barn2 website

Shopify

Themeforest

Iconic website

Katie’s X profile

Looking to boost your online store’s conversion rates? You’re not alone. When we first started selling products online, we noticed that many visitors would abandon their carts right at checkout.

The reason? They weren’t sure if they could trust our website with their payment information.

That’s when we discovered the power of trust badges. After adding them to our checkout pages, we saw an immediate improvement in sales. These small but powerful symbols help reassure customers that their transactions are secure and legitimate.

And fortunately, adding trust badges to your WordPress checkout pages isn’t complicated at all. Whether you’re selling physical products or digital downloads, this step-by-step guide will show you how to set up trust seals in WordPress.

You’ll learn which badges work best and where to place them for maximum impact. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have everything you need to boost your store’s credibility and increase your sales.

Before we dive into the beginner’s guide, here are some quick links to help you navigate to the sections that you’re interested in:

What Are Trust Badges?

Trust badges are visual elements or icons designed to reassure visitors that your website or online store is secure, reliable, and credible. You have probably seen them on checkout pages, product pages, or even website footers.

They often include badges like ‘Secure Checkout,’ ‘Money-Back Guarantee,’ ‘Verified Seller,’ or ‘Free Shipping.’ These symbols act as subtle but powerful signals that help customers feel safe making a purchase from your store.

Trust badges are especially important for online stores because customers are sharing sensitive information like credit card details.

A well-placed trust badge, such as one showing your site uses SSL encryption or is backed by a reputable payment processor, can ease concerns and help to reduce cart abandonment.

Even small design choices, like adding a PayPal or Stripe logo, can have a big impact on customer confidence.

WordPress makes it easy to add trust badges using plugins, widgets, or even custom code.

Whether you run a WooCommerce store or sell digital products with Easy Digital Downloads, adding trust badges is a simple step that can directly affect your sales.

The Benefits of Using Trust Seals in Your Online Store

Adding trust badges to your WordPress site is about more than looking professional. It also gives your customers the confidence to take the next step.

When visitors trust your site, they are more likely to stick around, make a purchase, and even return for more.

Here are some key benefits of using trust badges on your site:

• ✔️Reduce Cart Abandonment: One of the biggest reasons customers abandon their carts is fear of fraud or security concerns. Displaying trust badges like ‘Secure Checkout’ or ‘SSL Secured’ reassures them that their information is safe.
• ✔️Boost Conversions: Trust badges directly impact your sales. When customers see that your store is verified or offers guarantees, they feel more confident buying from you. In fact, a study found that adding trust badges to checkout pages increased conversions by up to 42%.
• ✔️Build Credibility: Badges like ‘Verified Seller’ or those from well-known payment processors (like PayPal or Stripe) make your site look more credible.
• ✔️Encourage Repeat Purchases: When customers have a positive, trustworthy experience, they are more likely to come back. Badges like ‘Money-Back Guarantee’ or ‘100% Satisfaction Guaranteed’ tell buyers that you stand by your products and can build long-term loyalty.
• ✔️Improve Perceived Value: Trust badges also improve how customers view your products and services. A badge like ‘Free Shipping‘ has a psychological boost because users love the idea of getting more value without additional cost.

Types of Trust Badges That You Can Use

You must keep in mind that not all trust badges are created the same, and each serves a specific purpose to address different customer concerns. From security to shipping guarantees, the type of trust badge you use can make a big difference in how customers perceive your store.

Here are some of the most common types of trust badges used on WordPress sites.

Secure Checkout Badges

One of the biggest concerns for customers when it comes to online shopping is whether their personal and payment information is safe. This is where secure checkout badges come into play.

These badges, often displayed as a padlock icon or labeled with ‘SSL Secured,’ let shoppers know your site is using SSL encryption to protect sensitive data.

In WordPress, secure checkout badges can be automatically added if you are using a reliable SSL certificate.

Many hosting providers even include SSL for free.

Pairing this with a visible badge on your checkout page makes it clear to customers that their payment details are safe from hackers or breaches.

Payment Processor Badges

Another layer of reassurance comes from using payment processor badges. Logos from trusted payment providers like PayPal or Stripe tell customers that their transactions are being handled by well-known and secure systems.

For instance, we use a ‘PayPal Verified’ logo on the MonsterInsights checkout page. This immediately ensures customers that they have the option to pay securely through a trusted platform.

This simple addition can make all the difference when a hesitant shopper is deciding whether or not to complete their purchase.

Credit Card Logo Badges

Another idea for trust badges is to display credit card logo badges on your checkout page. These badges, like Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and others, let customers know that they can securely make payments using their preferred card.

It helps visitors feel more confident about sharing their payment information since they recognize these major payment brands. It is a simple way to show that your website supports safe and secure transactions.

We recommend placing these card logos where they are easy to spot, like near the payment options or checkout button.

Customer Satisfaction Badges

Customer satisfaction badges are a great way to boost confidence and encourage people to make a purchase. These badges signal to potential buyers that your store values their experience and offers reliable services.

For instance, Money-Back Guarantee is a customer satisfaction badge that reassures customers that if they are not happy with their purchase, they can get their money back.

Similarly, a Free Shipping Badge can instantly make your store more appealing. It is an easy way to increase conversions by highlighting a benefit that many customers look for when shopping online.

You can also add a Verified Seller Badge if you have a store on a platform like Etsy. This will allow you to show that your store is credible and trustworthy.

Client and Partner Logo Badges

Displaying your clients’ logos on your website is a powerful way to build credibility and trust.

When potential customers see that well-known brands or companies work with you or are using your product, it gives your business a stamp of approval.

For example, at OptinMonster, we show a list of logos of all the famous brands that are using our product.

Third-Party Endorsement Badges

Third-party endorsement badges are another tool for improving your credibility. They show that your business has been recognized or approved by an external organization or expert.

These badges act as independent validation that your products or services meet certain standards, making potential customers feel more confident about their purchase decisions.

For instance, seals from trusted organizations, like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or security certification seals (like Norton or McAfee), can go a long way in reassuring customers that your site is safe.

If your business has won any industry awards or been featured in top publications, then you can also show these badges. They will serve as proof that experts or influencers in your field recognize your business’s quality and success.

Method 1: How to Add Custom Trust Badges to Checkout Pages in WooCommerce (Custom Code)

If you’ve already designed your WooCommerce checkout page and want to add trust badges to it, then this is the method for you. It’s also a free method if you don’t want to invest in a dedicated WooCommerce plugin like FunnelKit (Method 2).

We’re going to be working with custom code here, which can be a bit risky and even break your website. That’s why we’re going to use WPCode.

It is the best WordPress code snippets plugin on the market. After thorough testing, we have concluded that it is the easiest and safest way to add custom code. To learn more, see our WPCode review.

Note: Keep in mind that you will also need to add your own trust seal images to the WordPress media library. For details, see our guide on how to properly add images in WordPress.

First, you need to install and activate the WPCode plugin. For step by step instructions, see our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon plugin activation, head over to the Code Snippets » + Add Snippet page from the WordPress dashboard.

Here, click the ‘Use Snippet’ button under the ‘Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet)’ option.

You will now be directed to a new screen where you must add a code snippet name. This name will only be for your identification and will not be shown to any users.

Then, choose ‘HTML Snippet’ as the ‘Code Type’ from the popup.

Go ahead and add the following custom code into the ‘Code Preview’ box:

<div class="wpcode-trust-badge" style="text-align: center;">
	<img src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/trust-badge.png" width="100" alt="Trusted" />
</div>

After that, be sure to replace the placeholder image URL with the URL of your trust badge image to display it correctly on the checkout page.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to upload the trust badge image to your WooCommerce store and retrieve its URL from the WordPress media library. If you’re unsure how to do this, check out our tutorial on how to get the URL of images you upload in WordPress.

You can add as many trust badge images as you like.

Now, scroll down to the ‘Insertion’ section and choose the ‘Shortcode’ option.

Then, toggle the ‘Inactive’ switch to ‘Active’ and click the ‘Save Snippet’ button.

Once you do that, WPCode will generate a shortcode that you will be adding to your WooCommerce checkout page.

Simply click the ‘Copy’ button and store the shortcode somewhere safe.

Now, open your store’s checkout page in the WordPress block editor.

Here, you need to choose a suitable place within the checkout block to display your trust badge, ensuring it’s highly visible to customers.

While the ‘Shortcode’ block isn’t available in this section, the trust badge shortcode will still work correctly when placed inside a ‘Paragraph’ block.

Finally, click the ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ button to store your changes.

Now, visit your WooCommerce store to see the trust badges in action.

Method 2: How to Add Trust Badges to WooCommerce Checkout Pages (Plugin Method)

If you want to add trust badges to your WooCommerce checkout page without using custom code, then FunnelKit Funnel Builder is a great option.

It comes with professionally designed checkout templates that already include trust badges, helping you create a high-converting checkout experience with minimal effort.

Keep in mind that this version will involve creating an entirely custom WooCommerce checkout page. So, if you just want to add trust badges to your existing checkout page, then please go to Method 1.

We’ve tested FunnelKit a lot over the years, and it’s a great tool for improving your WooCommerce store. For details, see our complete FunnelKit review.

First, you need to install and activate the FunnelKit Funnel Builder plugin. For details, see our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once you’ve activated the plugin, you need to go to the FunnelKit » Store Checkout page and click the ‘Create Store Checkout’ button.

You can now choose from any of FunnelKit’s professionally designed checkout page templates.

To take a closer look at the trust badges for each template, simply click the ‘Preview’ button.

We’re using the Hific template, which has multiple trust badges related to security.

When you find a template you want to use, go ahead and click on the ‘Import This Funnel’ button.

Doing this will show a prompt on the screen.

Go ahead and click the ‘Activate’ button. Once you do that, type in the name for your store’s checkout page.

You will now be able to edit the checkout page according to your liking.

For step-by-step instructions, see our guide on how to customize checkout pages in WooCommerce.

Once you are done, head back to the Store Checkout page and click on the ‘Draft’ button.

Then, choose the ‘Publish’ option from the dropdown menu.

Now, visit your WooCommerce store to see the custom checkout page.

Here, you will see the trust seals at the bottom.

For more details on getting the most out of FunnelKit, see our guide on how to make a high-converting sales funnel in WordPress.

Method 3: How to Add Trust Badges to Checkout Pages for Digital Products

If you sell digital goods with Easy Digital Downloads (EDD), then it’s actually super easy to add trust badges to your checkout pages. You’ll just need to make sure that you first have a functional store for selling digital downloads in WordPress.

You’ll also need the WPCode plugin because it comes with built-in EDD locations that make it even easier to add trust badges to your store.

Important: Keep in mind that you will also need to add your own trust seal images to the WordPress media library. For details, see our guide on how to properly add images in WordPress.

First, you will need to install and activate the WPCode plugin. For details, see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon plugin activation, visit the Code Snippets » + Add Snippet page and choose the ‘Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet)’ option.

Then, select ‘HTML Snippet’ as the code type.

Now, simply add the following custom code into the ‘Code Preview’ box:

<div class="wpcode-trust-badge" style="text-align: center;">
	<img src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/trust-badge.png" width="100" alt="Trusted" />
</div>

Once you do that, make sure to add the URL of your trust badge image from the media library. If you’re not sure where to find it, then please see our guide on how to get the URL of images you upload in WordPress.

Then, scroll down to the ‘Insertion’ section and choose the ‘Auto Insert’ mode.

After that, you need to expand the ‘Location’ section and switch to the ‘eCommerce’ tab.

Next, scroll down to the ‘Easy Digital Downloads’ section and select the ‘After the Checkout Cart’ option. Now, your trust badges will automatically be added to your EDD checkout page.

If you’re using the free version of WPCode, then you’ll need to copy the WPCode shortcode and paste it into your checkout page. For details, see our guide on how to add shortcodes in WordPress.

Go ahead and toggle the ‘Inactive’ switch to ‘Active’ from the top.

Then, click the ‘Save Snippet’ button to store your settings.

Now, visit the checkout page in your digital downloads store.

Here, you will notice that the trust badges are showing in your chosen location.

Bonus Tips for Using Social Proof in Your Online Store

Using random icons on your checkout page won’t automatically boost conversions. Instead, you need the right trust signals in the right places.

Here are a few tips to get the most out of social proof in your WordPress store:

• 🎨Match the Badges to Your Store’s Design: Trust badges should stand out just enough to grab attention without clashing with your design. Avoid oversized, pixelated, or mismatched badges that make your checkout page look cluttered.
• 🔥Test and See What Works Best: Not all badges work the same for every store. Try different placements, designs, and messaging to see what resonates with your customers. A/B testing can help you find the perfect combination.
• ⭐Show more social proof with customer reviews. Showing positive reviews from happy customers can also convince shoppers to complete their purchases. For details, see our guide on how to show Google, Facebook, and Yelp reviews in WordPress.
• 💰Show real-time purchase notifications. Showing users that other customers are buying your products can convince them to do the same. Learn how to do this in our guide on how to create a live sale notification in WooCommerce.

Related Guides for Boosting Sales in WordPress

• How to Reduce Stripe Transaction Fees in WordPress (Expert Tips)
• How to Create a Services Section in WordPress (Easy Ways)
• Important Online Payment Statistics, Data, and Trends
• How to Make Money Using AI (Easy Ideas)
• Best Homemade Things to Make and Sell Online (Expert Pick)
• WordPress Payment Processing: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Add Trust Badges to Checkout Pages in WordPress (& Boost Sales) first appeared on WPBeginner.

Smartwatches do more than just track your steps and deliver phone alerts to your wrist. The best smartwatches go even further, giving you the ability to pay for a cup of coffee, take calls and connect to apps like Spotify all without whipping out your smartphone.

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you already know all of the benefits of a smartwatch. You’re ready to invest, or upgrade from an aging accessory, but we wouldn’t blame you if you if you didn’t know where to start. There are dozens of smartwatches available now, including GPS running watches, fitness trackers that look like smartwatches and multi-purpose devices. Plus, you’ll want to consider factors like durability, battery life and operating system before you spend a lot of money on a new wearable. We’ve tested and reviewed most major smartwatches available today and these are our top picks.

Table of contents

• Best smartwatches

• Stylish smartwatches: Fossil and more

• Factors to consider before buying a smartwatch

• Other smartwatches our experts tested

• Smartwatch FAQs

Best smartwatches of 2025

Stylish smartwatches: Fossil and more

Fossil

Yes, there are still companies out there trying to make “fashionable” hybrid smartwatches. Back when wearables were novel and generally ugly, brands like Fossil, Michael Kors and Skagen found their niche in stylish smartwatches that took cues from analog timepieces. You also have the option to pick up a “hybrid” smartwatch from companies like Withings and Garmin – these devices look like classic wrist watches but incorporate some limited functionality like activity tracking and heart rate monitoring. They remain good options if you prefer that look, but thankfully, wearables made by Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and others have gotten much more attractive over the past few years.

Ultimately, the only thing you can’t change after you buy a smartwatch is its case design. If you’re not into the Apple Watch’s squared-off corners, all of Samsung’s smartwatches have round cases that look a little more like a traditional watch. Most wearables are offered in a choice of colors and you can pay extra for premium materials like stainless steel for extra durability. Once you decide on a case, your band options are endless – there are dozens of first- and third-party watch straps available for most major smartwatches, and for both larger and smaller wrists, allowing you to change up your look whenever you please.

Factors to consider before buying a smartwatch

Compatibility

Apple Watches only work with iPhones, while Wear OS devices play nice with both iOS and Android phones. Smartwatches made by Samsung, Garmin, Fitbit and others are also compatible with Android and iOS, but you’ll need to install a companion app on your smartphone.

The smartwatch OS will also dictate the type and number of third-party apps you’ll have access to. Many of these aren’t useful, though, making this factor a fairly minor one in the grand scheme of things.

Price

The best smartwatches generally cost between $300 and $400. Compared to budget smartwatches, which cost between $100 and $250, these pricier devices have advanced operating systems, communications, music and fitness features. They also often include perks like onboard GPS tracking, music storage and NFC, AMOLED displays, and long battery life, things that budget devices generally don’t have.

Some companies make specialized fitness watches: Those can easily run north of $500, and we’d only recommend them to serious athletes. Luxury smartwatches from brands like TAG Heuer and Hublot can also reach sky-high prices, but we wouldn’t endorse any of them. These devices can cost more than $1,000, and you’re usually paying for little more than a brand name and some needlessly exotic selection of build materials.

Battery life

Battery life remains one of our biggest complaints about smartwatches, but there’s hope as of late. You can expect two full days from Apple Watches and most Wear OS devices. Watches using the Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor support extended battery modes that promise up to five days of battery life on a charge — if you’re willing to shut off most features aside from, you know, displaying the time. Other models can last five to seven days, but they usually have fewer features and lower-quality displays. Meanwhile, some fitness watches can last weeks on a single charge. If long battery life is a priority for you, it’s worth checking out the watch’s specs beforehand to see what the manufacturer estimates.

Communication

Any smartwatch worth considering delivers call, text and app notifications to your wrist. Call and text alerts are self explanatory, but if those mean a lot to you, consider a watch with LTE. They’re more expensive than their WiFi-only counterparts, but cellular connectivity allows the smartwatch to take and receive phone calls, and do the same with text messages, without your device nearby. As far as app alerts go, getting them delivered to your wrist will let you glance down to the watch face and see if you absolutely need to check your phone right now.

Fitness tracking

Activity tracking is a big reason why people turn to smartwatches. An all-purpose timepiece should function as a fitness tracker, logging your steps, calories and workouts, and most of today’s wearables have a heart rate monitor as well.

Many smartwatches' fitness features include a built-in GPS, which is useful for tracking distance for runs and bike rides. Swimmers will want something water resistant, and thankfully most all-purpose devices now can withstand at least a dunk in the pool. Some smartwatches from companies like Garmin are more fitness focused than others and tend to offer more advanced features like heart-rate-variance tracking, recovery time estimation, onboard maps and more.

Health tracking on smartwatches has also seen advances over the years. Both Apple and Fitbit devices can estimate blood oxygen levels and measure ECGs. But the more affordable the smartwatch, the less likely it is that it has these kinds of advanced health tracking features; if collecting those kinds of wellness metrics is important to you, you’ll have to pay for the privilege.

Music

Your watch can not only track your morning runs but also play music while you’re exercising. Many smartwatches let you save your music locally, so you can connect wireless earbuds via Bluetooth and listen to tunes without bringing your phone. Those that don’t have onboard storage for music usually have on-watch music controls, so you can control playback without whipping out your phone. And if your watch has LTE, local saving isn’t required — you’ll be able to stream music directly from the watch to your paired earbuds.

Displays

Most wearables have touchscreens and we recommend getting one that has a full-color touchscreen. Some flagships like the Apple Watch have LTPO displays, which stands for low-temperature polycrystalline oxide. These panels have faster response times and are more power efficient, resulting in a smoother experience when one interacts with the touchscreen and, in some cases, longer battery lives.

You won’t see significant gains with the latter, though, because the extra battery essentially gets used up when these devices have always-on displays, as most flagship wearables do today. Some smartwatches have this feature on by default while others let you enable it via tweaked settings. This smart feature allows you to glance down at your watch to check the time, health stats or any other information you’ve set it to show on its watchface without lifting your wrist. This will no doubt affect your device’s battery life, but thankfully most always-on modes dim the display’s brightness so it’s not running at its peak unnecessarily. Cheaper devices won’t have this feature; instead, their touchscreens will automatically turn off to conserve battery life and you’ll have to intentionally check your watch to turn on the display again.

NFC

Many new smartwatches have NFC, letting you pay for things without your wallet using contactless payments. After saving your credit or debit card information, you can hold your smartwatch up to an NFC reader to pay for a cup of coffee on your way home from a run. Keep in mind that different watches use different payment systems: Apple Watches use Apple Pay, Wear OS devices use Google Pay, Samsung devices use Samsung Pay and so forth.

Apple Pay is one of the most popular NFC payment systems, with support for multiple banks and credit cards in 72 different countries, while Samsung and Google Pay work in fewer regions. It’s also important to note that both NFC payment support varies by device as well for both Samsung and Google’s systems.

Other smartwatches our experts tested

Apple Watch Ultra 2

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is probably overkill for most people, but it has a ton of extra features like extra waterproofing to track diving, an even more accurate GPS and the biggest battery of any Apple Watch to date. Apple designed it for the most rugged among us, but for your average person, it likely has more features than they'd ever need. If you’re particularly clumsy, however, its high level of durability could be a great reason to consider the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Apple Watch SE

The Apple Watch SE is less feature-rich than the flagship model, but it will probably suffice for most people. We actually regard the Watch SE as the best smartwatch option for first-time buyers, or people on stricter budgets. You’ll get all the core Apple Watch features as well as things like fall and crash detection, noise monitoring and Emergency SOS, but you’ll have to do without more advanced hardware perks like an always-on display, a blood oxygen sensor, an ECG monitor and a skin temperature sensor.

Garmin Forerunner 745

Garmin watches in general can be great options for the most active among us. The Garmin Forerunner 745 is an excellent GPS running watch for serious athletes or those who prize battery life above all else. When we tested it, we found it to provide accurate distance tracking, a killer 16-hour battery life with GPS turned on (up to seven days without it) and support for onboard music storage and Garmin Pay.

Smartwatch FAQs

Is there a difference between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker?

While smartwatches and fitness trackers share some similarities, they’re designed for slightly different purposes.

A fitness tracker is primarily focused on health and activity tracking. It keeps tabs on your steps, heart rate, sleep and workouts, and some even offer advanced metrics like blood oxygen levels and stress tracking. Fitness trackers are generally more compact, have longer battery life and are built with activity in mind.

A smartwatch, on the other hand, is like a mini smartphone on your wrist. It offers fitness tracking features, but also lets you do things like reply to texts, take calls, use apps and control smart home devices. Many smartwatches support voice assistants, mobile payments and even LTE connectivity, so you can leave your phone behind in some cases.

If you mainly want health and activity tracking with long battery life, a fitness tracker is the way to go. If you want a more connected experience with extra features, a smartwatch is the better choice.

How long do smartwatches last?

How long a smartwatch lasts mostly depends on two things: battery life and overall durability.

Smartwatch battery life varies a lot depending on the brand, features and how you use it. Basic models with e-ink displays or monochrome screens can last a week or more, while full-featured smartwatches like the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch usually need a charge every day or two. If you're using features like always-on display, GPS tracking or LTE connectivity, expect the battery to drain faster.

Physically, a good smartwatch should last several years before you need to upgrade. Premium models with scratch-resistant glass, water resistance and strong build materials tend to hold up well over time. However, software support matters too — brands like Apple and Samsung typically provide updates for at least a few years, while some budget smartwatches may not get long-term software support.

You can expect to charge most smartwatches daily or every few days, and if you take care of them, they should last 3-5 years before an upgrade is necessary.

How much should you spend on a smartwatch?

How much you should spend on a smartwatch depends on what features you need and how often you plan to use it.

If you just want the basics — step tracking, notifications, heart rate monitoring and basic fitness tracking — you can find some solid budget-friendly options from brands like Amazfit, Fitbit and some Wear OS models. These usually have decent battery life but may lack premium features like LTE, advanced health tracking or third-party apps.

In the mid-range smartwatch price bracket, you’ll find popular models like the Apple Watch SE and Fitbit Versa series. These offer a good mix of fitness tracking, smart features and design quality. You’ll get better build materials, more accurate sensors and app support, but battery life might still be limited to a day or two.

High-end smartwatches like the Apple Watch Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Garmin Fenix/Epix series offer advanced health tracking, rugged designs, LTE connectivity and longer software support. These are great for serious athletes, outdoor adventurers, or anyone who wants the latest and greatest features.

If you just want a simple smartwatch for notifications and fitness tracking, a budget or mid-range model will do the job. But if you want a premium feel, advanced health tracking or LTE connectivity, it’s worth spending a bit more. For most people, $200 - $350 hits the best balance of features and value.

Do all smartwatches have GPS?

Not all smartwatches have built-in GPS. Some rely on your phone’s GPS, while others have it built-in for independent tracking.

High-end and fitness-focused smartwatches, like the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch and Garmin models have their own built-in GPS. This means they can track your runs, walks, bike rides and hikes without needing to be connected to your phone. It’s a must-have for serious athletes or anyone who wants accurate location tracking without carrying a phone.

Some budget and mid-range smartwatches (like some Fitbit and Amazfit models) don’t have built-in GPS but can use your phone’s GPS when connected via Bluetooth. This works fine if you usually carry your phone while working out, but it’s less convenient if you prefer to leave it behind.

Some very basic or budget smartwatches skip GPS entirely and rely solely on step tracking or motion sensors. These are fine for casual users who don’t need location tracking.

Can you leave your phone at home and still use a smartwatch?

Yes, but it depends on the smartwatch and what you want to do without your phone.

If your smartwatch has LTE or cellular connectivity , you can make calls, send texts, stream music, use maps and even access apps without your phone nearby. However, you’ll need a separate data plan from your carrier, which usually comes with an extra monthly cost.

Even without LTE, some smartwatches can still do plenty on their own, including track workouts and GPS routes (if they have built-in GPS), play music offline (if they support downloads from Spotify or Apple Music), may contactless payments with features like Apple Pay and Google Wallet and control smart home devices.

If going phone-free is important to you, look for a smartwatch with LTE and built-in GPS for the best experience.

Can a smartwatch make calls without a phone?

Yes, a smartwatch can make calls without a phone — but only if it has the right features.

Some smartwatches have built-in LTE connectivity, meaning they can work independently from your phone. You can make and receive calls, send texts, stream music and use apps as long as you have a mobile data plan for the watch. However, you’ll need to pay for a separate cellular plan and battery life drains faster when using LTE.

If your smartwatch doesn’t have LTE, it can still make calls, but only when connected to your phone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It essentially acts as a remote speaker and microphone for your phone’s calls. Watches like the standard Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch (Wi-Fi versions) can do this. However, if your phone isn’t nearby or connected to Wi-Fi, calling won’t work.

Some fitness-focused smartwatches (like certain Garmin, Fitbit and Amazfit models) don’t have a built-in speaker or microphone, so they can’t make or receive calls at all — only show notifications.

If calling without a phone is a must, make sure to choose an LTE model with a built-in mic and speaker.

What's the difference between an Android and Apple smartwatch?

The biggest difference between Android and Apple smartwatches comes down to compatibility, features and ecosystem integration.

Apple smartwatches (Apple Watch) only work with iPhones. If you have an Android phone, you can’t use an Apple Watch at all. Android smartwatches (Wear OS, Samsung Galaxy, Garmin etc.) mostly work with Android phones, but some also support iPhones with limited features. If you have an iPhone, the Apple Watch is the best choice. If you have an Android phone, go for a Wear OS or Samsung Galaxy Watch.

Apple Watch (watchOS) has the best app support with seamless integration into Apple’s ecosystem (iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Pay, Apple Fitness+, Siri etc.). Android smartwatches offer more variety, with access to Google services (Google Assistant, Google Wallet and Google Maps), and some support Amazon Alexa or Samsung’s Bixby.

In terms of design, Apple Watch has a single design but comes in different sizes and materials. It’s sleek, but your only real customization comes from bands and watch faces. Android smartwatches, on the other hand, come in tons of styles and brands (Samsung, Google Pixel Watch, Garmin, Fossil etc.), meaning you can pick a round watch, a rugged design or a luxury-looking model.

If battery life is important to you, the Apple Watch lasts about a day or two per charge, depending on usage and model. Many Android smartwatches (especially Garmin, Amazfit or Mobvoi TicWatch) last multiple days or even weeks on a single charge.

Georgie Peru contributed to this report.