Garmin forces users to pay for new features with Connect+ subscription
- Garmin has launched a new subscription service called Connect+, focused on providing personalized fitness insights.
- The subscription costs $6.99 monthly, while all existing features in Garmin Connect remain free.
- Changes in Garmin's subscription model may affect future feature availability and user satisfaction.
In March 2025, Garmin announced the launch of a new subscription service called Garmin Connect+, which comes at a price of $6.99 per month or $69.99 annually. This decision marks a significant shift for Garmin, as the company previously resisted the trend of introducing subscription models that are common in the technology and health sectors. Existing Garmin users will retain access to the features they enjoyed for free, which include tracking and analyzing their health and fitness activities. The introduction of Connect+ aims to provide users with enhanced insights and enriched services, primarily based on artificial intelligence that promises to offer personalized experiences. The features offered by the new plan include “Active Intelligence,” which delivers AI-generated insights on users' health and fitness progress, as well as exclusive challenges and achievement badges that are limited to the paid tier. Other enhancements include exclusive coaching guidance and new social media-like interactions that allow followers to stay updated on a user’s live activity as they engage in workouts captured by their Garmin devices. Garmin's shift to a subscription model reflects ongoing changes in consumer expectations and technology advances. As customers increasingly seek personalized experiences, the addition of AI-generated commentary and insights can potentially place Garmin at the forefront of modern fitness and health tracking. However, there are concerns over the future of free features that are currently available, as there is uncertainty regarding whether future updates will limit free services in favor of premium subscriptions. This subscription model aligns Garmin with other fitness platforms like Strava and Whoop, both of which have already been charging users for access to premium features that incorporate advanced technology and AI tools. The introduction of Connect+ illustrates Garmin's need to evolve in line with industry trends while attempting to retain user satisfaction by ensuring that basic features remain accessible without charge.