CortexLit

CortexLit tool · Movement · Runs offline · No account

Tracker Worth-It Checker

Compare your activity with and without a tracker over two weeks, and show whether the device changed your week.

← Back to the article · See the evidence

This tool gives general information based on the research summarised in Activity Trackers: What the Trials Say They Do. It is not a medical device, does not diagnose, and does not replace advice from your clinician.

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Free vs Plus




Free (this page)
  • two-week comparison with and without the tracker
  • plain-language reading
  • text export and print
  • all citations and cautions


Plus (optional, one-time)
  • calendar (.ics) review reminders
  • unlimited share images
  • share card without the 'Made with CortexLit' footer


Checkout isn't live yet, so Plus is unlocked here with a local code. The check runs in your browser and can be bypassed; it is a placeholder for a real payment link.






Free tier: 1 share image per result.






Commercial disclosure: optional paid Plus tier; all evidence, cautions and the main result are free. No affiliate links, no sponsors.







What this is based on


Every output names at least one verified PubMed source. Identifiers were verified on 2026-10-11 in an earlier batch and carried over into this build; they were not re-queried here, and no retraction database was checked. Verification was at abstract level.


Ferguson 2022
Ferguson T, Olds T, Curtis R, et al. Effectiveness of wearable activity trackers to increase physical activity and improve health: a systematic review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Lancet Digit Health. 2022;4(8):e615-e626. doi:10.1016/S2589-7500(22)00111-X. PMID: 35868813.
PMID 35868813 · systematic review · weight 1.0 · abstract level
Brickwood 2019
Brickwood KJ, Watson G, O'Brien J, et al. Consumer-Based Wearable Activity Trackers Increase Physical Activity Participation: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2019;7(4):e11819. doi:10.2196/11819. PMID: 30977740.
PMID 30977740 · systematic review meta analysis · weight 1.0 · abstract level
Liu 2024
Liu J, Chen S. Distal and proximal factors of wearable users' quantified-self dependence: A cognitive-behavioral model. Digit Health. 2024;10:20552076241286560. doi:10.1177/20552076241286560. PMID: 39360241.
PMID 39360241 · observational survey · weight 0.5 · abstract level


Limits: A two-week self-comparison is an observation about you, and season, weather and workload all move these numbers. The 1,800-step figure is a group average from a meta-analysis, not an expected personal effect.







Privacy


Inputs stay in this page's memory. There is no telemetry, no analytics call and no network request. Saving is opt-in, local to this browser, deletable, and unencrypted.