Garmin, a company that is most known for in-car GPS systems, has entered into the fitness tracker market. Garmin's Vivosmart is a capable fitness tracker that looks to compete with the Fitbit Charge HR.

The Vivosmart fitness tracker from Garmin has very similar features to the Fitbit Charge HR, Tech Radar reports. To choose between the two fitness trackers, buyers need to decide which features are the most important to them.

The main difference between the Vivosmart and the Fitbit Charge HR is the way that the two devices monitor a user's heart rate.

With the Fitbit Charge HR, users are always aware of their heart rates, thanks to the built-in heart rate sensor. Fitbit categorizes heart rates into three different zones: at burn (moderate intensity), cardio (high intensity) and peak (maximum intensity).

With the Vivosmart, users will need to purchase the Vivosmart bundle, which includes the heart monitoring chest strap. To keep track of their heart rates, users need to wear the strap during workouts. Garmin uses five intensity zones to tell users how hard their hearts are working.

The Vivosmart is water resistant, making it a good option for activities like swimming and showering. On the other hand, Fitbit warns users to take off the Charge HR when showering and swimming.

One unique feature of the Vivosmart is its smart notification system. Paired with a compatible smartphone, the app allows users to see text alerts, notifications of incoming calls and other alerts. Users can swipe through these notifications on the screen of the Vivosmart.

The Fitbit Charge HR offers a unique social feature. By simply signing up for a Fitbit account, users can cheer on their friends, share their workouts or challenge their rivals to meet goals.

Both fitness trackers offer statistics like steps, calories burned and distance traveled. The Fitbit Charge HR adds extra statistics, such as floors climbed and active minutes.

Both companies say their fitness trackers can last up to a week on a charge, but performance for both devices depends on how much they are used.

The Fitbit Charge HR has to be taken off when showering or swimming and offers fewer notifications, but it takes a user's heart rate without an annoying strap. The Fitbit Charge HR is also currently more affordable, selling for $119.89 from Walmart

The Vivosmart is waterproof, making it good for swimming and showering, and it offers tons of smart alerts on its screen. The only drawbacks are the heart rate strap and its price of $149.99.