Short answer
Yes, your phone can check your heart rate. Open an app that uses the camera, cover the rear camera and flash with one fingertip, keep still for about a minute while seated, and read the beats per minute. The flash lights your finger and the camera picks up the tiny change in color with each pulse — the same principle a pulse oximeter uses (7).
At rest and with a regular rhythm, a careful camera reading with a well-tested app is close to a validated reference method. A meta-analysis of 14 studies found that fingertip camera apps differed from validated methods by only −0.32 beats per minute on average in adults at rest (1). But apps vary: in a Swiss study of 108 heart patients, some apps were off by more than 20 bpm in over a fifth of readings, and contact apps (finger on the camera) did better than face-scanning ones (2).
A normal resting heart rate for adults is 60 to 100 bpm (4, 5). One reading tells you less than the same reading repeated at the same time of day for a week.
If your heart has felt fast or fluttery and you want to check without buying a watch, you're not overreacting, and wanting a number is not hypochondria. A quick, careful reading with what's already in your pocket is a sensible first step.
Note: this article is for general education and is not medical advice. A phone camera reading cannot diagnose a heart rhythm problem and does not replace an ECG. Chest pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath, or a very fast or very slow heart rate with dizziness are emergencies: call 911 or your local emergency number. This guide is published by Welltory, which makes one of the apps mentioned. Welltory is a general wellness product: it helps you track and understand your data and does not diagnose or treat any condition.
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How can a phone camera see your heartbeat?
Each time your heart beats, a small wave of blood reaches the tiny vessels in your fingertip. For a fraction of a second there is slightly more blood in the tissue, so it absorbs a little more light. Between beats, there's slightly less.
When you press a fingertip over the camera with the flash on, the flash works as a light source and the camera as a light detector. The app records a short video and tracks how the brightness of your red-lit finger rises and falls. Each dip is one heartbeat. Count the beats against time, and you have your heart rate (7).
The technique is called photoplethysmography, or PPG. It's the same optical idea behind smartwatches, fitness rings and the clip-on pulse oximeter at your doctor's office. The difference is that a watch reads your wrist continuously, while a phone gives you a single, deliberate reading when you ask for one.
Because the camera tracks individual beats, some apps can also estimate heart rate variability (HRV) — the small differences in time between one beat and the next. That needs a longer, cleaner signal than heart rate alone, which is why HRV apps usually ask you to hold still for longer. We cover that in how to measure HRV without a wearable.
What you need before you start
A phone with a flash close to a camera lens. Your fingertip has to cover both at once. On phones where the flash sits far from every lens, a camera reading usually doesn't work (7).
An app that measures heart rate with the camera. The phone's own camera app won't show a pulse. Some health apps include a camera reading; for example, Google's help pages describe a heart rate check with the rear camera in Google Fit on some Android phones (6).
Five quiet minutes. The reading itself takes about a minute, but the minutes before it matter more.
Warm hands. Cold fingers have less blood flow, which weakens the signal (6).
Does it work on my phone? It depends on both the phone and the app. As an example, as of November 2026 the Welltory Help Center lists camera support for iPhone X and later, several iPad Pro models and a range of Samsung Galaxy phones (including the A52–A54, A33–A34, A72–A73 and S21–S23 series), and says camera readings don't work on Google Pixel phones (7). Other apps have their own lists, so check before you rely on one. If you use an iPhone, our iPhone heart rate app page shows the iPhone-specific steps; Android users can start from the Android heart rate app page.
How to check your heart rate with your phone camera, step by step
Sit down and rest for five minutes. Activity, stairs and even a brisk walk to the kitchen raise your heart rate for a while. Avoid caffeine and smoking beforehand (4).
Turn on silent mode. A notification popping up halfway through can make you move or tense up.
Rest your forearm on a table with the phone in your hand or flat on the surface, so your arm isn't working to hold it up.
Open the app and start the measurement. If the app asks, let it use the camera and switch on the flash.
Cover the camera and the flash with the pad of one fingertip. Most people use the index finger. The app will tell you which lens to use on your model; on many phones the right one sits right next to the flash (7).
Check the screen. You should see an even, bright red. If you can see the room, your finger isn't covering the right lens (7).
Press lightly. Pressing hard squeezes blood out of the fingertip and flattens the signal (7).
Keep still and breathe normally. Don't talk and don't try to slow your breathing on purpose (8).
Wait for the full reading. Most apps show a live waveform; wait until the app says it's done rather than lifting your finger when a number first appears.
Write down the result with the time and anything relevant: just woke up, after coffee, after a bad night.
Watch for heat. On some phones the flash can get hot enough to hurt. If it feels warm, keep your fingertip touching the lens but lift it 2–3 mm off the flash itself (7).
Use the same finger on the same hand every time. Different fingers have slightly different blood flow, and consistency makes your readings comparable from day to day (7).
What does the number mean?
Once you have a number, compare it with the usual ranges, then with your own readings over time.
| Situation | Typical heart rate (adults) | When to pay attention |
|---|---|---|
| Sitting or lying down, awake | 60–100 bpm | Repeatedly above 100 at rest, or below 60 with dizziness, fainting or unusual tiredness |
| Very fit or an endurance athlete | Often 40s–50s | Normal if you feel well |
| On beta-blockers | Often below 60 | Ask your doctor if you feel faint |
| During or just after activity | Above 100 is normal | Stays high long after you rest |
| Fever, dehydration, stress or anxiety | Often higher than usual | Stays high after you recover |
Cleveland Clinic also points out that your own usual range matters: a sudden change from your normal is worth noticing even if the number is still "in range" (5). Our guide to what a normal resting heart rate is goes into ranges by age and fitness, and high resting heart rate causes covers what typically pushes the number up.
How accurate is a phone camera heart rate reading?
The honest answer is: accurate enough to be useful at rest, if the app is good and you measure carefully — and not reliable in the situations where accuracy matters most.
What the research shows:
At rest, in adults with a normal rhythm, camera apps agree well with validated methods. A 2018 meta-analysis in JMIR Cardio pooled studies of fingertip camera apps against ECG and other validated devices. The average difference was −0.32 bpm, and the correlation was 0.95. None of the reported limits of agreement exceeded 10 bpm (1).
Apps are not all the same. In a 2017 Swiss study presented by the European Society of Cardiology, researchers tested four randomly chosen apps on 108 patients against ECG and pulse oximetry. One contact app performed almost like a medically approved pulse oximeter; the other did not. For some apps, more than 20% of readings were off by more than 20 bpm. Face-scanning apps that didn't touch the skin did worse, especially at high heart rates and with lower body temperature (2).
Some apps have been tested independently. A 2022 study in Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine compared a camera-based app (Welltory) and a chest-strap app with ECG in 26 professional cyclists at rest, lying and sitting, over 1-minute and 5-minute recordings. Neither app differed significantly from ECG, and correlations ranged from 0.77 to 0.94 (3). That's a small group of healthy athletes at rest, so it doesn't tell you how any app performs in older adults or people with heart conditions.
Where camera readings are weaker:
Irregular rhythms. The meta-analysis notes that accuracy may be lower during arrhythmias, and the Welltory Help Center says camera PPG is unreliable for people with arrhythmias (1, 7).
Children. Results in children were mixed, and the review authors advise against relying on them (1).
During exercise. None of the reviewed studies tested whether apps measure accurately during exercise (1).
Very high heart rates. Most of the measured heart rates in the studies were in the 70–80 bpm range, so there's little evidence above that (1).
As one of the Swiss researchers put it, there is no law requiring these apps to be validated, and it helps to "have a specific question in mind" before you measure (2). For a deeper look at camera HRV specifically, see how accurate is HRV from a phone camera.
Why your phone can't find your pulse (and how to fix it)
If the app keeps restarting, shows a jagged line or gives a number that's obviously wrong, one of these is usually the reason.
| Problem | What's happening | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Cold fingers | Less blood reaches the fingertip, so the signal is weak | Warm your hands under warm water or hold a mug first (6) |
| Pressing too hard | Pressure squeezes blood out of the tissue | Rest your finger lightly, just enough to cover the lens (7) |
| Moving or talking | Motion changes the light and looks like extra beats | Rest your arm on a table, stay silent (7) |
| Wrong lens | Phones with several cameras use one lens for the reading | Look for an even red screen; if you see the room, move your finger (7) |
| Too bright or too dark | Strong sunlight leaks around the finger; dim light gives no signal | Measure indoors; turn the flash on if the app allows (6, 8) |
| Flash too hot | You flinch or lift your finger | Keep your fingertip 2–3 mm off the flash (7) |
| Just moved | Your heart rate is still coming down | Sit for 10–15 minutes after stairs or a walk (8) |
A quick cross-check. If you're unsure about a reading, count your pulse by hand at the same time: two fingers on the inside of your wrist, below the base of your thumb, for 30 seconds, then double it (4). The two numbers should be within a few beats of each other. If they're far apart, trust the hand count and try the phone again later. Our step-by-step guide on how to check your pulse shows the wrist and neck methods.
Phone camera, counting by hand or a watch: which should you use?
Each method answers a slightly different question. Here's how they compare, as of November 2026.
| | Phone camera | Counting by hand | Smartwatch or ring |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you need | A phone with a flash next to a lens, and an app | A clock or stopwatch | The device, worn daily |
| What you get | A spot reading of heart rate; some apps add HRV | Heart rate and how the rhythm feels | Continuous or frequent readings, including overnight |
| Best for | A consistent morning reading or a quick check | A free check; feeling whether the rhythm is regular | Trends over weeks, sleep, workouts |
| Main weakness | One moment only; depends on the app; poor with irregular rhythms | Counting errors, especially with short counts | Wrist readings are affected by fit and movement |
| Cost | Usually free to try; some features need a paid plan | Free | The price of the device |
None of these is an ECG. If your question is "Is my rhythm normal?", only an ECG can answer it. A phone or watch can tell you that something is worth asking about.
When a phone reading is the right tool — and when it isn't
Good uses:
Learning your baseline. A reading each morning for one to two weeks shows your normal range much better than a single check (8).
Spotting a change. If your usual morning number is in the low 60s and it's suddenly in the mid-70s for several days, that's a clue worth noticing — often a cold coming on, poor sleep, alcohol or stress.
Checking in after a specific moment. You felt your heart racing during a meeting and want a number once you've sat down quietly.
Deciding whether you need a wearable at all. Many people find a daily phone reading answers their question without buying a device. We discuss this in do you really need a new wearable?
Not the right tool:
During an episode of chest pain, fainting or severe breathlessness. Don't spend time measuring. Call 911 or your local emergency number.
To diagnose atrial fibrillation or another arrhythmia. Camera PPG is unreliable when the rhythm is irregular (7).
For a child's heart rate. Evidence in children is too mixed to rely on (1).
During exercise. Camera apps haven't been shown to work while you're moving (1). Use a chest strap or watch for workouts.
Common mistakes when checking heart rate with a phone
Measuring right after you sit down. Your heart rate can take 10–15 minutes to settle after stairs or a walk (8).
Comparing readings from different moments. A number after two coffees at 3 pm and one before breakfast aren't comparable. Pick one time of day and stick to it.
Measuring again and again when worried. Anxiety raises heart rate, so repeated anxious checks tend to confirm the worry. Take one careful reading, write it down and move on.
Switching apps or fingers. Different apps use different algorithms. Stay with one app, one finger, one position.
Trusting a reading the app flags as poor. If the app shows a low-quality signal, measure again rather than saving it.
Ignoring how you feel. A normal number doesn't cancel out dizziness, chest pain or breathlessness.
Living with a racing or skipping heart: the questions people ask next
Can my phone check my heart rate without an app?
Usually not. The built-in camera app doesn't show a pulse. You need a health app that has a camera heart rate feature, or a connected watch or chest strap. On some Android phones, Google Fit includes a camera heart rate check (6).
Can I check my heart rate on a Samsung phone?
On many Samsung Galaxy phones, yes, with an app that supports their camera layout. As of November 2026, the Welltory Help Center lists the Galaxy A52–A54, A33–A34, A72–A73 and S21–S23 series among supported models (7). If you also wear a Galaxy Watch, the watch can give you continuous readings.
Why is my phone reading different from my watch?
They measure from different places, at different moments, often with different algorithms. Your watch may be averaging over a few minutes while your phone measured one quiet minute. A difference of a few beats is normal. A big gap usually means one of the readings was taken while moving or with poor contact.
Is it safe to put my finger on the flash?
For most phones, yes, for the minute it takes. On some models the flash gets hot; keep your fingertip touching the lens but 2–3 mm off the flash (7).
How often should I check my heart rate with my phone?
Once a day is enough for most people — ideally in the morning, at the same time and in the same position. For one to two weeks, that gives you a personal baseline (8).
My heart rate is 100+ every time I check — what now?
First, check the conditions: sitting quietly for five minutes, no coffee, no stairs. If it's still above 100 at rest on several days, talk to a doctor. Common, treatable reasons include fever, dehydration, anemia, thyroid problems, caffeine and some medicines (5).
Before you blame yourself
Many people who check their heart rate on their phone do it because something feels off — racing at night, pounding after coffee, tired for no reason — and then feel silly for checking. It's easy to decide you're "just anxious" or "out of shape".
Before you blame yourself, check what your body already recorded. A heart rate that's higher than usual for a few mornings is rarely random. It usually tracks something you can see: two short nights in a row, a late dinner with wine, a cold you haven't quite noticed yet, a tense week at work.
Pick one thing to change for one to two weeks — for example, no caffeine after noon, or the same bedtime every night — and keep measuring at the same time each morning. If the number drifts back toward your usual, you've found a lever. If it doesn't, you have a clear record to show your doctor.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if your resting heart rate is often above 100 or below 60 with symptoms such as dizziness, fainting or unusual tiredness; if your pulse often feels irregular; if you notice your heartbeat without checking it; or if you have palpitations that keep coming back (4, 5).
Get care immediately — call 911 or your local emergency number — if a very fast or very slow heart rate comes with chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations or dizziness (5), or if you faint.
How to bring this up with your doctor
What to ask for, by name. "Could you check my heart rhythm with an ECG?" If symptoms come and go: "Would a heart monitor I wear for a few days help catch it?"
What to bring. Your phone readings with dates and times, what you were doing, whether the reading was in the morning or after activity, and how you felt. Add a list of medicines, supplements, caffeine and alcohol.
What to say, out loud. "When I check my heart rate sitting quietly in the morning, it's usually around [number], but for the last [days/weeks] it's been [number], and I feel [symptom]."
If you're told it's probably anxiety. Ask: "Can we do an ECG first, to rule out a rhythm problem, before we put it down to stress?"
How Welltory helps — and what it cannot do
The limits first. Welltory is a general wellness product, not a medical device. It does not diagnose arrhythmias, and its camera reading is not an ECG. The Help Center also notes that camera readings are unreliable with arrhythmias and may be inaccurate if you're under 18 or pregnant (7).
What it can do is give you a consistent spot reading with the phone you already have, and help you connect the number to your day.
Heart rate and HRV with your phone camera. You cover the camera and flash with a fingertip and get a spot reading of heart rate and HRV — a deliberate check, not 24/7 monitoring (7). On the free plan you get one camera or heart rate monitor measurement a day; Premium, a paid subscription that renews automatically until you cancel, removes that limit (7). If your phone isn't supported, you can measure with an Apple Watch, a Samsung Galaxy Watch (Series 4 and later) or a compatible chest strap instead (9).
A morning routine you can trust. The Help Center suggests measuring every morning for one to two weeks: after waking, before coffee, exercise or a shower, in the same position, without controlling your breathing (8).
Tag what's going on. When Welltory detects a stress or recovery episode and asks "What happened?", you can tap a suggested tag, type, or answer by voice — "two coffees", "bad night", "racing heart" — and My Patterns (iOS) starts to show what tends to come before your higher readings (10).
A record for your doctor. From the web app you can export your data as CSV: Dashboard → choose a chart → pick the time range → Export (11). Bring it to your appointment with your notes.
How we made it
We based this article on a 2018 meta-analysis of smartphone camera heart rate apps, a 2017 European Society of Cardiology study comparing apps with ECG, a 2022 validation study in professional cyclists, and patient guidance from the British Heart Foundation and Cleveland Clinic. Device steps come from Google's Fit Help Center and the Welltory Help Center, checked as of November 2026. Search questions came from what people in the United States most often ask about checking their heart rate with a phone. For the product section, we checked every function against the Welltory Help Center on November 6, 2026.
Made with AI tools, then edited and fact-checked by the Welltory team. See our Editorial & AI policy.
Jane Smorodnikova, co-founder of Welltory, built the methodology behind how we read physiological data.
Written by Tatsiana Yashyna.
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This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. A phone camera reading cannot diagnose a heart rhythm problem and does not replace an ECG. Chest pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath, or a very fast or very slow heart rate with dizziness are emergencies: call 911 or your local emergency number. This guide is published by Welltory, which makes one of the apps mentioned. Welltory is a general wellness product: it helps you track and understand your data and does not diagnose or treat any condition. Sources were retrieved on November 6, 2026.
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Written by Jane Smorodnikova
The founder and CEO of Welltory. A recognized tech leader with two Master's degrees and experience at MIT, she has scaled Welltory to over 17 million users.
Written by Tatsiana Yashyna
Deputy COO at Welltory. With a background in medicine and years of working with health data, she translates research and real physiological signals — sleep, stress, heart rate, and hormones — into clear, evidence-based explanations that help people understand what their bodies are telling them.
References
- De Ridder B, Van Rompaey B, Kampen JK, Haine S, Dilles T. Smartphone apps using photoplethysmography for heart rate monitoring: meta-analysis. JMIR Cardio 2018;2(1):e4. https://cardio.jmir.org/2018/1/e4
- European Society of Cardiology — Consumers warned about accuracy of heart rate apps (Coppetti T, et al. Accuracy of smartphone apps for heart rate measurement. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology 2017). https://escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/consumers-warned-about-accuracy-of-heart-rate-apps
- Moya-Ramón M, Mateo-March M, Peña-González I, Zabala M, Javaloyes A. Validity and reliability of different smartphones applications to measure HRV during short and ultra-short measurements in elite athletes. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine 2022. https://dspace.umh.es/handle/11000/35232?locale=en
- British Heart Foundation — Checking your pulse. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/tests/checking-your-pulse
- Cleveland Clinic — Pulse & heart rate. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/17402-pulse--heart-rate
- Google Fit Help — Track your heart rate with your phone. https://support.google.com/fit/answer/10477667?hl=en
- Welltory Help Center — Taking measurements with your smartphone camera. https://help.welltory.com/en/articles/4412277-taking-measurements-with-your-smartphone-camera
- Welltory Help Center — How to take accurate heart rate variability measurements (updated August 3, 2026). https://help.welltory.com/en/articles/3361520-how-to-take-accurate-heart-rate-variability-measurements
- Welltory Help Center — Data sources and how to connect them. https://help.welltory.com/en/articles/11130907-data-sources-and-how-to-connect-them
- Welltory Help Center — My Patterns (iOS). https://help.welltory.com/en/articles/16012012-my-patterns-ios
- Welltory Help Center — How to export data from Welltory. https://help.welltory.com/en/articles/3368391-how-to-export-data-from-welltory