Garmin dominates among data-focused GPS watch owners
Garmin accounts for around 78% of the GPS watches tracked by Runalyze, making it by far the most common brand among athletes who use the platform, according to Runalyze data first reported by the French site Montre Cardio GPS.
This does not mean Garmin has 78% of the overall GPS watch market. Runalyze is a specialist training and analysis platform, so its users are much more likely to be serious, data-focused runners and athletes. The figure tells us more about what watches data-oriented athletes use than about total watch sales.
Runalyze’s current manufacturer ranking shows:
| Brand | Share |
|---|---|
| Garmin | 77.9% |
| Coros | 5.9% |
| Unidentified devices | 4.4% |
| Suunto | 4.0% |
| Apple | 3.4% |
| Polar | 2.4% |
| Other brands (Zepp, Wahoo, iGPSPORT, Google) | under 1% each |
Garmin’s dominance has also grown substantially over time. Its share was around 43.5% in 2006, rising to 68.8% in 2018. It then stayed around 72-73% for several years before reaching 76.7% in the 2026 figures.
The other brands tell a different story. Suunto reached 13.4% in 2015 but has since fallen to about 4%. Polar peaked at 10.5% in 2016-17 and is now around 2.4%. Coros, meanwhile, has grown from almost nothing in the 2010s to around 5.8-5.9% today. Apple reached 5.5% in 2024 but has fallen to about 3.6%.
Within Coros, the Pace series dominates: the Pace 3, Pace Pro and Pace 4 together account for around 61% of Coros devices tracked.
Garmin’s own device numbers are far more spread out. Its top model, the Forerunner 965, accounts for just 8.5%, followed by the Forerunner 955, 255, 265 and 970, then a long list of other Forerunner, Fenix and Garmin models.
Garmin Forerunner 970
Premium GPS triathlon smartwatch. Features a bright AMOLED touch screen and a built-in LED flashlight.
Runalyze’s numbers come from uploaded workout files where the platform can identify the device that recorded the activity. Runalyze itself says the data can be affected by differences between manufacturers and by how historical data was collected. Strava imports can also complicate things, because the normal Strava API doesn’t always provide the original device information. Direct syncing or Strava’s Bulk Export can preserve the original FIT files.
Runalyze also shared data directly with the5krunner that isn’t on its public device pages, measured by which service a user has linked to their account rather than which device recorded each file. By that measure, Garmin accounts for roughly 47% of linked accounts, with Polar, Suunto and Coros each around 4%. About 13% of accounts link Strava specifically, a bridging service rather than a watch brand. This measures something different from Runalyze’s 77.9%, and the two figures should not be compared directly.
Garmin holds roughly four out of every five identifiable GPS watches Runalyze tracks. That says more about Garmin’s grip on serious, data-focused endurance athletes than about its share of the wider watch market.
Note: Apple Watch is by far the biggest-selling watch of any kind ever. If you account for the proportion of owners who use it for sport in the total market figures, Garmin’s share would drop significantly. But few Apple Watch users use Runalyze.
Quick answers
Does Garmin really have 78% of the GPS watch market?
No. Garmin has around 77.9% of the devices Runalyze tracks specifically, a platform used mostly by serious, data-focused athletes, not the wider consumer watch market.
Which brand is growing fastest against Garmin?
Coros. It has grown from near zero in the 2010s to around 5.8-5.9% today, already ahead of Suunto and Polar individually.
Is there any other data confirming Garmin's lead?
Yes. Data Runalyze shared directly with the5krunner, measuring linked accounts rather than device files, puts Garmin at roughly 47%, still the clear leader by that measure too.
Last Updated on 16 September 2026 by the5krunner
My favourite kit and nutrition
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro — I’ve just bought one.
- Injinji – Runners protect your toes. Avoid discomfort and minor injury. Run more. Run faster. I use them.
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — A small keyring adapter you can use anywhere. Essential when away. I use one.
- Garmin charging puck — the fastest and most reliable way to top up your Garmin before a session. I use one.
- Ravemen FR300 — Front light that mounts directly under your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Keeps your bars clean and your beam pointed where it matters. I use one.
- Body Glide – The blue anti-chafe stick that all swimmers and many runners use. I use it.
- Maurten — The race nutrition trusted by elite athletes. Gels and drink mixes engineered to be easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin Varia RTL515 — A radar rear light that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind. Pairs with your Edge or Wahoo. I use this model.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2 — The power-meter pedals most serious cyclists choose. Accurate, easy to move between bikes. I use this model.
- Garmin Forerunner 970 — A serious choice for a pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Polar H10 — My daily driver for accurate, waking HRV readings.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3 — The bike computer that has the feature Garmin lacks: usability. I use mine on most rides.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
