I’ve been using the Oura Ring for over six years, and after previously reviewing it at the two-year mark, I felt it was time for an update. While the Oura Ring remains one of the best sleep and recovery trackers on the market, it has undergone some changes—some good, some not so good.

In this post, I’ll break down:

What the Oura Ring is and how it works
What it tracks and how it compares to other wearables
What I like and dislike about it after six years of use
Why I’m still using it, despite some drawbacks

Let’s dive in!

What Is the Oura Ring?

The Oura Ring is a wearable sleep and recovery tracker designed to monitor vital health metrics, such as heart rate variability (HRV), body temperature, sleep quality, and activity levels. Unlike fitness-focused wearables like Apple Watch, Whoop, or Garmin, the Oura Ring prioritizes recovery and sleep insights over real-time fitness tracking.

How It Works:

Three key scores: Each day, Oura provides a Sleep Score, Activity Score, and Readiness Score, all rated out of 100.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) tracking: A key metric for recovery and stress management.
Temperature tracking: A unique feature that sets it apart from other wearables.

What I Like About the Oura Ring

1. Most Accurate Sleep Tracking

Having used multiple sleep trackers—including Whoop, Eight Sleep, and Apple Watch—I find Oura to be the most accurate at tracking:

Sleep duration (when you actually fall asleep and wake up)
Sleep stages (REM, deep, and light sleep)
Resting heart rate and HRV

Compared to other devices, Oura better distinguishes between reading in bed and actually falling asleep, which improves data accuracy.

2. HRV and Recovery Insights

Oura was one of the first wearables to track HRV, a key marker of how well your body is adapting and recovering. Unlike older wearables that only measured resting heart rate, HRV provides deeper insights into recovery status and overall health.

3. Temperature Tracking & Cycle Tracking

One of the main reasons I still use Oura is its temperature tracking, which is incredibly valuable for cycle tracking and fertility awareness.

Your body temperature rises after ovulation, allowing for accurate cycle tracking.
If you track your temperature consistently, you can predict your period start date within a 10-day window.
It also integrates seamlessly with Natural Cycles, making it an excellent option for women tracking their cycles.

4. Detects Lifestyle Impacts on Sleep & Recovery

Using Oura over six years, I’ve identified key lifestyle factors that impact my sleep quality, including:

Alcohol consumption – Even one or two drinks significantly reduces HRV and REM sleep.
Eating too close to bedtime – Negatively impacts both sleep quality and resting heart rate.
Blue light exposure before bed – Delays melatonin production, reducing sleep efficiency.
Morning sunlight exposure – Improves circadian rhythm and overall sleep quality.

Oura’s tracking helped reinforce these habits, making it a great tool for self-awareness and optimization.

What I Don’t Like About the Oura Ring

1. Activity Tracking Is Inaccurate

If you’re looking for a fitness tracker, Oura is not the best option. The step count is overestimated, and activity tracking (including heart rate during workouts) is far less accurate than Whoop or Apple Watch.

Step tracking is inconsistent – Counts more steps than you actually take.
Heart rate tracking during workouts is unreliable – Since it’s worn on the finger, it struggles to measure intense activity accurately.
Not ideal for weightlifting – The ring can feel uncomfortable when gripping weights.

For fitness tracking, I’d recommend Whoop or Garmin over Oura.

2. Battery Life Isn’t Great

Currently, I get about three nights of sleep on a single charge. While this isn’t terrible, it’s not as good as I’d like, especially after years of use.

3. Subscription Model

Oura introduced a $6/month subscription model with the release of Gen 3. While I don’t have to pay because I’m a legacy user, I wouldn’t be as inclined to use Oura if I had to pay the subscription fee.

Why I’m Still Using the Oura Ring

Despite its drawbacks, I still wear my Oura Ring every night for two main reasons:

Temperature Tracking for Cycle Tracking – This feature alone makes Oura extremely valuable for womenmonitoring their menstrual cycle or fertility.
Accurate Sleep Tracking – Out of all the sleep trackers I’ve used, Oura provides the best data on sleep duration, HRV, and recovery.

If you’re focused on recovery and cycle tracking, Oura remains one of the best wearable devices on the market.

Is the Oura Ring Still Worth It After 6 Years?

Who Should Get the Oura Ring?

People who want the best sleep tracking available
Women looking for accurate cycle tracking and fertility awareness
Individuals focused on recovery rather than fitness tracking
Anyone who prefers a discreet wearable over a bulky watch

Who Should NOT Get the Oura Ring?

Anyone looking for real-time fitness tracking – Get a Whoop, Apple Watch, or Garmin instead.
Those who don’t want to pay a subscription fee – The $6/month cost might not be worth it for some.
Athletes who need highly accurate step counting and workout tracking – Oura’s activity tracking is unreliable.

Final Thoughts

After six years of use, I still think the Oura Ring is one of the best sleep and recovery trackers available. However, it’s not without flaws—especially in the activity tracking and subscription model areas.

That said, if you prioritize sleep tracking, recovery insights, and cycle tracking, Oura remains an excellent choice.

Oura Ring Review After 6 Years: Is It Still Worth It?