Top 5 Portable ECG Monitors in Canada, 2026
Published on Thursday, January 1, 2026
For most Canadians the KardiaMobile 6L is the one to buy: it is the only device here that records a six-lead ECG (leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL and aVF) in 30 seconds, and it is both FDA-cleared and Health Canada licensed. Portable ECG monitors are compact devices that let you record your heart's rhythm at home instead of waiting for a clinic appointment. All of them are spot-check recorders: you start a reading yourself, hold still for 30 seconds to a few minutes, and get a trace you can save or send to a clinician. None of them replace a diagnosis from a doctor, and the useful differences between them come down to how many leads they capture, whether they work without a phone, and whether they carry a Health Canada medical device licence.
Top Picks Summary
KardiaMobile 6L
KardiaMobile 6L is the only personal ECG on this list that captures six leads of your heart's electrical activity (I, II, III, aVR, aVL and aVF) rather than one. It is FDA-cleared and Health Canada licensed, and it records a medical-grade EKG in 30 seconds with no wires, patches or gels. It is a spot-check recorder, not a continuous monitor: you start each reading yourself by resting two fingers on the electrodes and the device on your knee. The Kardia app returns instant determinations for normal sinus rhythm, atrial fibrillation, bradycardia and tachycardia, and exports a PDF you can send to a clinician; a wider set of detections requires a paid KardiaCare membership.
SonoHealth EKGraph Portable ECG Monitor
The SonoHealth EKGraph is a handheld single-lead ECG recorder that works entirely on its own. It has a colour LCD screen that shows the waveform and heart rate as you record, captures a trace in about 30 seconds, and stores roughly 100 readings on the device, so no smartphone is needed to take or review a reading. Recordings can be synced over Bluetooth to share with a clinician, and there is no subscription. It is sold as a consumer heart-rhythm recorder rather than a Health Canada licensed medical device, so treat its on-screen classification as a prompt to see a doctor, not a diagnosis.
EMAY Portable ECG Monitor
The EMAY Portable ECG Monitor is a pocket handheld recorder with a 1.77-inch screen that captures a single-channel ECG in up to 30 seconds. It needs no wires, cables or gel electrodes and does not need a constant smartphone connection: it stores about 100 recordings internally and runs roughly 500 readings per charge, then syncs later over Bluetooth or USB so you can print or share a PDF report. There is no subscription. EMAY's own documentation states the device is intended for heart activity reference only and is not for medical diagnostic use, so an abnormal reading is a reason to see a doctor rather than a conclusion.
Wellue DuoEK
The Wellue DuoEK is a single-lead ECG recorder built for two ways of working: quick handheld spot checks and longer sessions worn against the chest with the supplied strap. It supports several electrode positions (hand to hand, right hand to left leg, and chest lead) and records sessions from 30 seconds up to five minutes, which is longer than the 30-second snapshot most personal ECGs allow. It pairs over Bluetooth with the ViHealth app for review and sharing, and the battery covers roughly 500 checks per charge. It records one lead, not six, and it is sold as a consumer heart-rhythm recorder rather than a Health Canada licensed medical device.
AliveCor KardiaMobile Card
The AliveCor KardiaMobile Card is a credit-card-sized, Health Canada licensed personal ECG that slips into a wallet. It records a single-lead, medical-grade EKG in 30 seconds and pairs with most smartphones and tablets, returning instant determinations for normal sinus rhythm, atrial fibrillation, bradycardia and tachycardia through the Kardia app. Like the rest of the range it is a spot-check recorder rather than a continuous monitor, and a wider set of rhythm detections requires a paid KardiaCare membership.
The features that actually separate these devices are lead count (six leads on the KardiaMobile 6L versus one on everything else), whether the unit records standalone without a phone, recording length, and whether it needs a paid subscription for its full set of rhythm determinations.
Understanding Portable ECG Monitors
Portable ECG monitors record a short trace of your heart's electrical activity so you can capture symptoms as they happen rather than hoping they recur during a clinic visit. They are screening and record-keeping tools, not diagnostic instruments.
Every device on this list is a spot-check recorder, not a continuous monitor: you start each reading yourself and hold the electrodes for 30 seconds to five minutes.
Lead count is the main technical difference. The KardiaMobile 6L captures six leads (I, II, III, aVR, aVL and aVF); the other four devices capture a single lead, the same view a smartwatch ECG gives you.
Regulatory status varies and is worth checking before you buy. AliveCor's KardiaMobile 6L and KardiaMobile Card are FDA-cleared and Health Canada licensed; the EMAY, SonoHealth and Wellue units are sold as consumer heart-rhythm recorders and EMAY's own documentation states the device is for reference only and not for medical diagnostic use.
Some units work entirely on their own. The SonoHealth EKGraph and EMAY monitor have onboard screens and store around 100 readings without a phone, while the AliveCor devices require a paired smartphone or tablet.
Watch for subscription costs. AliveCor's base devices give instant determinations for normal sinus rhythm, atrial fibrillation, bradycardia and tachycardia; a wider set of detections requires a paid KardiaCare membership. The EMAY, SonoHealth and Wellue devices have no subscription.
A recording is only useful if a clinician sees it. All five export a shareable trace, so bring the PDF to your doctor rather than acting on the on-screen classification yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which portable ECG monitor should I buy for fast sharing?
Choose the KardiaMobile 6L. It records a six-lead ECG (leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL and aVF) in 30 seconds and exports a PDF you can email straight to a clinician. It is FDA-cleared and Health Canada licensed, rated 4.8, and lists from C$168.00 CAD
Does the SonoHealth EKGraph record 30-second ECG strips?
Yes. The EKGraph records a single-lead ECG in about 30 seconds and works standalone: it has its own colour LCD screen, stores roughly 100 readings on the device, and needs no smartphone and no subscription. It can also sync over Bluetooth to share results.
Is the EMAY Portable ECG Monitor a better value than the KardiaMobile 6L?
It depends on what you need. The EMAY records a single-lead ECG in 30 seconds, runs standalone with its own screen and no subscription, and stores about 100 recordings. The KardiaMobile 6L captures six leads instead of one and is Health Canada licensed, so it gives a clinician far more to work with. EMAY wins on simplicity and running cost; the 6L wins on clinical usefulness.
How many ECG leads does the KardiaMobile 6L capture?
Six: leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL and aVF, recorded in 30 seconds without wires, patches or gels. It is the only FDA-cleared six-lead personal ECG. Every other device on this page records a single lead.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the right portable ECG monitor can significantly impact your cardiovascular health monitoring experience in Canada. We hope this guide has helped you find what you're looking for. If you need more specific information, feel free to explore our search bar for tailored insights.