Oura Ring vs Whoop (Comparison): Close Enough Features But Different!

Smart Tech
Updated On - February 6, 2024

When it comes to wearable devices the two very well-known products are Oura ring and Whoop band. We always get these questions: Which one of them is best for me? Oura ring vs. Whoop, what are their differences? Oura has established a great brand over the years and is the leading brand in the smart ring market with a valuation of $2.55 billion. Whoop, on the other hand, started its journey in 2012 and developed a widely acclaimed fitness-tracking band. The company is valued at $3.6 billion in 2021.

Below, we look at the main differences between Oura Ring (3) and Whoop (4) Band, comparing and contrasting the two in terms of battery, water resistance, sleep tracking, fitness and health tracking, price, and so on.

For options in smart rings, check out our articles on the best smart rings and alternatives to the Oura Ring.

Our Brief on Oura Ring vs. Whoop

Battery: Oura ring holds the battery for longer time. But, the good thing about Whoop is that you can charge it while wearing.

Water-resistant: Oura has better water-resistance — up to 100 meters underwater. With both Whoop and Oura you can shower and swim.

Build and Material: Both Oura and Whoop are made with high quality material. They have a great build.

Sleep tracking: Oura has more tailored system for sleep information and improvement.

Fitness tracking: Whoop is specifically designed for sport and fitness activities. So a better choice.

Comfort and overall thought: Both Oura and Whoop are very well designed so you can wear them comfortably all day long.

It depends if you like to have a ring on your finger or a band on your wrist.

Battery Life

We consider the Oura ring better than Whoop in the battery aspect and charging. It can go up to 7 days with one charge according to Oura. But, in real-world experience, you will get 4-5 days because of using different features like blood oxygen sensing. But with Whoop, you should expect the charge of more or less 4-5 days. Although, in reality, it lands on the lower end of that — like 3-4 days.

To charge Oura ring, it will take 20 to 80 minutes to reach 100% charging. Meanwhile, Whoop comes with a charger pack that takes about 2 to 2.5 hours to fully charge. On the charger pack, there is an LED indicator to show the charging status. Once it reaches the charged state, it will turn green. You can slide the battery pack 4.0 of Whoop in either direction onto your Whoop band. One cool thing about Whoop charging is that you can charge it while wearing it on your wrist. So it is more convenient than removing it. They are maximizing the use of the band and data collection this way. But with Oura, you need to remove it and use the charger.

Both the Oura and Whoop chargers can hold one full set of charging session. The Whoop charger can automatically turn off and sense movement. For instance, if you’re running, it will recognize your motion and charge while you are running. When you take it off and place it in a still position, it will keep the charge.

Oura recommends keeping the charging level at least 30%, especially when you go to bed. If the battery level is low, it won’t record your sleep data, but you will still get the bedtime and wakeup time.

Battery tips to prevent damage.

Don’t leave your ring on the charger for too long, like a week, or when it’s fully charged. Extended exposure to very hot or very cold temperatures can seriously harm the battery. Make sure your ring doesn’t hit zero percent charge, as it can affect the battery’s lifespan. The Oura ring’s battery usually lasts about 2-3 years, with an average of 5 days per charge. After that you may notice some degradation on battery charging. Your habits and how you charge it can affect how long it lasts, so it’s best to keep the battery between 20% and 80% for the best longevity.

Whoop recommends charging your band every day. This ensures continuous tracking and data collection. You can charge your band, for instance, while taking a shower or getting ready for bed. The battery pack might feel a bit warmer than usual during charging.

Here is the battery comparison for the Oura ring vs the Whoop band.

Water-resistant

We consider the Oura ring the clear winner in the waterproof category. The Oura ring is water-resistant can handle up to 100 meters (~330 feet). You can wear it in the shower while swimming, or doing recreational diving, but not during activities like scuba diving or prolonged underwater periods. You can wear the Oura ring in hot tubs, saunas, ice baths, and during cryotherapy tasks.

The WHOOP 4.0 sensor is designed to resist dust and water, with a rating of IP68. It can handle being submerged up to 10 meters (approximately 32 feet) deep for up to 2 hours. This means you can capture data while swimming or taking a shower.

The battery pack of the WHOOP 4.0 is also water-resistant, but it has a lower rating than the band. It’s rated water resistance up to 1 meter for 2 hours. So, it’s best to avoid swimming with the battery pack attached.

Here is the summary of Oura ring vs Whoop water-resistant comparison.

Design, Build, and Material

Oura and Whoop both feature distinct designs and excellent build quality.

Oura is crafted from lightweight and durable titanium. It weighs between 0.1–0.2 ounces (or 4–6 grams). The outer layer varies depending on the color type. The black and stealth rings come with a DLC coating, where DLC stands for Diamond-like Carbon. The silver, gold, rose gold, and brushed titanium rings are coated with a physical vapor deposition coating (PVD).

The internal layer has a non-allergenic, non-metallic seamless inner molding. This inner surface is medical-grade and BPA-free, designed to prevent allergic reactions. It has two styles: full circular Horizon or Heritage with a flat section.

The Oura Ring has sensors to check health metrics. The Oura Ring Gen 3 has 15 sensors. From green and red LEDs to infrared (IR) LEDs, for measuring daytime and workout heart rates. Extra NTC sensors measure skin temperature for improved illness detection and Cycle Insights. An extra IR sensor compensates for misalignment, ensuring accurate readings. It has seven temperature sensors for predicting menstrual periods and detecting potential illnesses. And lastly, a green LED for heart rate sensing and a SpO2 sensor for blood oxygen levels.

Whoop has made significant improvements from its previous model (3.0). The battery now uses a new type of silicon from Sila, making it smaller with higher energy density. It also has an enhanced Bluetooth Low Energy antenna for a more reliable connection.

Whoop sensors measure various things, including pulse oximetry and skin temperature. It has 5 LEDs: 3 green, 1 red, and 1 infrared, along with 4 photodiodes. The WHOOP 4.0 also has a spinning motor that creates vibrations for haptic alerts.

The new Whoop model (4.0) is 30% smaller than previous versions. WHOOP 4.0’s Any-Wear™ Technology allows it to be worn on various body parts, like the torso, waist, and calf. WHOOP 4.0 bands are made of SuperKnit and Marled materials. You can get whoop in 0.5 or 14 grams and the wrist band can make it up to 1 ounce (28 grams).

Here is the summary of Whoop vs. Oura ring for build, design, and material.

Sleep Tracking

We consider the Oura ring a solid device for sleep tracking. Better sleep measurements and algorithms tailored to sleep will help users understand their sleep data. Two main sleep factors are measured by the Oura ring: sleep quality and sleep cycles.

These sensors collect data on heart rate, heart rate variability, and respiratory rate. Then it can tell you your sleep stage, like deep sleep, REM sleep, or light sleep.

And then, there is a sleep score. It takes into account factors like sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and sleep stage balance. Besides tracking your sleep, the Oura Ring 3 gives you a Readiness Score that lets you know how ready you are for the day. The readiness score gauges your preparedness based on your previous activity, heart rate variability, and sleep quality.

Another data is skin temperature. Oura ring measures skin temperature, so you can regulate sleep-wake cycles with accurate sleep-wake-cycle measurements. By doing this, you’ll be able to schedule your sleep better.

The Oura app offers practical suggestions for managing stress, optimizing your sleep routine, and boosting recovery based on your sleep patterns, activity levels, and readiness scores.

Whoop also tracks sleep in 4 stages, slow wave, REM, light, and awake time. Whoop’s sensors track your sleeping in these stages so you can optimize your sleep. Whoop can detect when you fall asleep and wake up.

The Whoop app gives you insight into your sleep. Including your sleep time, hours asleep, sleep need, sleep efficiency, and consistency. Based on your sleep goals, Whoop algorithms can analyze these data and tell you where you need to improve.

The sleep section of the app gives you personalized recommendations. Things like adjusting your bedtime routine, optimizing your sleep environment. Even how to manage stress levels. All these things help you sleep better.

Fitness and Health Tracking

We consider the Whoop band better than the Oura ring for tracking fitness exercises. A well-designed training routine begins with understanding the impact of your workout on your body. With WHOOP 4, you can calculate your daily strain or the amount of cardiovascular strain you put on your body each day. Athletes and fitness enthusiasts can take advantage of this feature to maximize their performance while minimizing the risk of injury.

The key to achieving peak performance is proper recovery. WHOOP 4 provides insight into your body’s readiness to handle physical stress, helping you optimize your recovery.

It calculates your recovery score by factoring in heart rate variability, resting heart rate, and quality of sleep. Using this information, you can decide when to push yourself and when to rest and recover.

That means if your score is under 33% then your body needs some rest. If you are in the yellow zone or 34-66% that means you can do some moderate exercises. Green zone means you are all set for the activities.

The WHOOP 4 provides personalized coaching based on your individual data to help you succeed in your fitness journey. It offers actionable recommendations tailored to your specific needs, whether they are adjusting your sleep schedule, modifying your training intensity, or improving recovery. Through this personalized guidance, you will be able to make informed decisions and optimize your performance.

But, unlike most fitness trackers, Whoop does not count steps. Instead, it quantifies the total strain your body takes on.

Oura Ring 3 tracks heart rate variability (HRV). Essentially, it shows how well your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are in balance.

HRV provides insight into stress, recovery, and performance readiness. So those who want to optimize their recovery and training routines can benefit from this information.

Using its accelerometer and gyroscope, the Oura Ring 3 accurately measures your daily steps, calories burned, and active time. You can maintain a healthy lifestyle by setting personal daily goals.

The Oura Ring 3 analyses various physiological markers to give you insight into your menstrual cycle, so you can plan accordingly. This feature is especially helpful for women who want to track their reproductive health and make informed decisions.

As a vital measure of your respiratory health and overall well-being, SpO2 provides information about your blood oxygen levels. With the Oura Ring 3, you can identify potential health issues and take proactive steps to maintain optimal health by tracking your SpO2 levels.

Here is the Oura ring vs. Whoop contrast in terms of sleep, fitness, and health tracking information.

Price

We looked at the price of Oura Ring and Whoop ownership over 2 years period. If you own Whoop, it is free, but there is monthly subscription fee. So for 24 months you will spend $399. Oura ring is $5.99/month for 24 months and an upfront payment of $300 for the ring only so over 2 years it becomes $442.

People that are Interested

Wearable tracking devices are gaining popularity year after year. Based on the real-time information, the website visitors percentage for Whoop is as follows: (source)