Aktiia experience report

Aktiia offers a wristband that measures blood pressure around the clock without a cuff. For people with high blood pressure, this is naturally a perfect solution: simply wear a wristband shaped like a small fitness tracker and get an overview of your own blood pressure. We were curious and tested the device thoroughly.

Cost

The device cost 99.99 euros plus 8.99 euros per month for a subscription to use the app, or 199.99 euros including 12 months of app use. We chose the monthly payment option because we only wanted to test the device for a few months.

After the test, however, the subscription could not be canceled because the model had changed completely. Now the 99.99 euros plus 8.99 euros per month for 12 months amount to a kind of installment purchase. The app can now always be used without restriction in its “essential functions.”
This strongly suggests that additional paid services may be planned later.

Current users are therefore somewhat like guinea pigs and need to remain flexible regarding additional costs.

Setup

Setting up the band is a bit fiddly and unfortunately not documented very clearly. The band must still be on the charging dock for pairing.

The wristband must be placed on it in a specific orientation. Unfortunately, there is no indication of which one. As a result, you always have to spend some time testing whether the wristband is positioned correctly.

Along with the band, a cuff for calibration is supplied, and it isn't easy to attach. We turned it several times because we weren't sure which way round it should go. A marking would be helpful here.

The calibration, however, worked very well the first time.

Measurements, first round

From then on, we wore the wristband for several weeks. Our blood pressure was an excellent 120/70 mmHg or so. The drops during the night are clearly visible. There is one reading every two hours. This gave us twelve readings per day almost consistently.

Measurements, Take Two

Then it was time for a holiday. A perfect use case for the Aktiia. The bulky cuff device could stay at home, lightening our luggage. Since the next calibration would have been required while we were away, we simply did it early. That was no problem.

This time we took extra care: we waited five minutes right after waking up and then started the calibration measurements: first the band measures - everything is fine. Now the cuff. No result. Repeat, repeat, repeat. "Please wait a few hours and try again."

Later we tried again. At that point the band produced no result. Repeat, repeat, repeat. "Please wait a few hours." Even later we tried again. This time the wait message was ignored and we fiddled with it for about an hour until it finally calibrated.

From then on, the readings were consistently around 135/85 mmHg, about 15 mmHg higher than after the previous calibration. This time, there were also many days with far fewer than twelve readings.

Unfortunately, this shows the problem with the technology: everything depends on the calibration. In our opinion, a one-month interval between calibrations is also too long. That may be okay for people with normal blood pressure, but it is clearly too imprecise for people with hypertension.

Measurements taken by third parties

While on holiday, the band stopped working. The battery was always dead after just a few minutes, presumably due to water damage because the band was accidentally not removed in the shower. Aktiia immediately sent a replacement free of charge-that is great service.

We recalibrated the band and compared Aktiia measurements over one week with guideline-compliant home measurements. The average of the home measurements was 118/83 mmHg, while Aktiia's average was 133/87 mmHg. That is too much deviation.

Conclusion

Besides the high price, the unreliable readings are the main reason why we no longer use the device and do not recommend it either.

The wearing comfort is fairly poor. The band feels quite cheap, similar to a Chinese fitness tracker costing just a few euros. We experienced mild skin irritation, and having to put it on and take it off frequently because it is not waterproof is annoying.

At the moment, the device might be suitable for people with normal blood pressure who are curious about fluctuations over time. We do not think it is very suitable for people with hypertension.

Unfortunately, the data can only be exported from the app as a PDF. There is no access to the individual measurements. That is also very unsatisfying for serious quantified-self enthusiasts.

Note: This test was conducted in summer 2021. The product may have been improved since then.

Addendum Summer 2025: Aktiia was renamed Hilo. The measurement principle has remained the same. There are now growing numbers of voices advising caution with this method. Among other things, Stiftung Warentest retracted a verdict on the Samsung smartwatch, and the US FDA issued a warning to a fitness tracker manufacturer because it displayed blood pressure readings. More information on this issue can be found in our article "Blood pressure measurement with smartwatches, fitness trackers and the like.". We therefore still do not believe in the measurement accuracy of the Aktiia band.

This article is from Tensana – the leading app since 2011, helping hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day. Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 07/2025).

Author Horst Klier has been closely involved with high blood pressure since 2002 – initially because he was personally affected and, since 2009, as the developer of Tensana – and is now regarded as a recognized blood pressure expert thanks to his app and specialist platform, used millions of times, as well as his numerous publications. As the author of several health guides and specialist articles, he communicates complex knowledge in a clear and practical way.