Tap BPM counter

General wellness information, not medical advice. Results are estimates based on published formulas and ranges; they are not a diagnosis. Read more.

How to use the tap bpm counter

1. Find your pulse. Place two fingers on the thumb side of your wrist, or beside your windpipe at the neck. Press lightly until you feel the beat.
2. Tap along. Tap the big button on every beat. After five taps your BPM appears and keeps refining.
3. Or count for 15 seconds. Start the timer, count beats, enter the number; the tool multiplies by four.
4. Sit still first. For a resting value, sit quietly for five minutes beforehand.

How accurate is tapping?

Within a few beats per minute if you keep a steady rhythm for 10 or more taps. Reaction time adds noise on individual taps but averages out. A 15-second count is accurate to about 4 BPM because of rounding; a 30-second count halves that error.

A better way on iPhone

Tapping gives you heart rate only. A fingertip on the iPhone camera gives a continuous optical pulse wave, from which Pulse Tracker also derives heart rate variability, respiratory rate and a rhythm breakdown, with a quality score so you know the reading is clean.

Wellness disclaimer. Pulse Tracker is intended for general wellness use only. It is not a medical device, is not FDA cleared or approved, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. Blood pressure shown in the app is either a value you entered from your own cuff or an estimate derived from the pulse signal after cuff calibration; it is not a measurement and must not be used to make medical decisions. Read the full wellness disclaimer. Camera readings, estimates and classifications are for general information only and can be affected by movement, lighting, skin temperature and other factors. Do not use them to diagnose, treat or make decisions about a medical condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional, and call emergency services if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting or other urgent symptoms.