Garmin Connect Plus is not really worth the price yet, if you ask me

It’s not a Garmin Fitness Tracker Review that says I don’t talk about how much I appreciate Garmin’s robust companion. In fact, I usually talk about it as a comparative point when I go through other brands as well. Garmin Connect Plus introduces a wide range of new features to the already excellent app, in addition to a subscription fee, and although I’m not excited about the latter, I like the raised app experience.

Garmin Connect Plus takes the brand’s fitness tracking of a notch with personal insight, customizable dashboards, added to safety features and more. However, these upgrades come to an additional $ 6.99 per month (or $ 69.99 annually). Fortunately, none of the existing functions are locked behind the new wage wall. If the new tools do not catch your eyes, you can continue to use everything you love about Garmin Connect for free.

You can also try out Connect Plus before committing, thanks to a 30-day free trial. Just access the service through the regular Garmin Connect app, and subscribe to unlock all the premium features. As always, Garmin’s ecosystem is available for both Android and iOS users.

While Garmin has offered paid services before, this is the first time they have added a subscription fee to the core functions. Although I am glad the basics remain free, I want them to offer a longer trial for the premium tools. One month is not enough to fully judge whether these upgrades are worth the extra cost, especially considering the price of Garmin Trackers and Smartwatches. Even Apple offers a three -month trial of Fitness Plus before asking users to gag over cash.

I was gently excited about Garmin Connect Plus from the moment it was launched and has since given the new features an experiment. Although not all the features feel completely refined, I am generally satisfied with the added value each brings to my training experience.

• Active intelligence driven by AI
  AI is all the rage in wearables, and for good reason; These tools have lots of potentials. Garmin’s Model, called Active Intelligence (because AI of AI is not superfluous …) uses your health and activity data to provide suggestions, and over time learn from your data to get better at tailoring tips to your goals. However, it still feels a bit basic and is not always super relevant. AI is still in Beta, so I hope it will improve with more time, but right now it is not as powerful as it can be.

• Performance dashboard
  Performance dashboard is an online feature (so not available on your smartphone). The dashboard allows users to tailor activity reports, with more than 100 items to play with, so you can build a computer screen that matches your priorities. The tool also produces new diagrams and graphs that utilize the same accurate data for a more digestible form. I appreciate how the dashboard highlights comparisons and makes it easier for me to track my progress in the long term.
• Live activity
  Garmin’s new live activity feature is a cool addition and lets you send training statistics in real time from the clock to your phone. It works indoors during structured, non-GPS training sessions, and it is especially useful for gym, strength or core training where it can be a trouble-free check to check your watch. I really like it for rowing because I can put the phone up on a stand in front of me. For some structured workouts, you get animations and reps and can control the training from your phone (aka skip Burpees). It is useful for sure, but if I am honest, it does not feel that it should be a paid function.

• Social features
  Garmin Connect Plus also introduces new brands and challenges, adding a socially motivating team to the premium service if that’s what makes you go. Although I desperately wanted to become a boy scout as a child, I have never been one for app brands, so this does not necessarily feel as an appointment for me.
• Additional Garmin Coach guidance
  I’m a big fan of Garmins coaching Programs and has long applauded that the service is free. According to the company, the Garmin Connect Plus Garmin Coach improves with exclusive content and guidance, but I have not yet faced a difference in my experience. My guess is that you have to start a new program and use it long enough for the new features to kick.

• Life rack
  Garmins Updated Life Rack feature is another solid upgrade to share your activities. When you start a workout, followers are notified via text instead of e -post, which feels more immediate. You also get a dedicated life rack profile page that is automatically updated with your activities, plus the ability to customize the privacy settings and the URL. Although it is a useful feature, I always feel strange that the security features are commodified. I would like to see Garmin make these improvements for free for everyone.

Overall, Garmin Connect Plus offers solid upgrades, but whether it is worth $ 6.99 per month depends on how much you value the extra features. The improved analysis, customizable dashboards and extra safety tools are good for serious athletes, but some features can use processing. For example, the personal insight is a nice touch, but not as useful as I expected. That being said, the potential is there, and Garmin delivers consistently exceptional training tools.

It is difficult to ignore the trend with several apps moving toward subscription, which is a little disappointing. Before I commit, I would recommend testing it out with a free trial. While in it, remember that other Premium apps, such as Strava, also offer robust tool kits for athletes, so it is worth comparing what is available. Personally, I am already invested in the Garmin ecosystem. Garmin Connect Plus just feels like a logical next step for me. If you prefer to keep your wallet closed, the free version still provides good value.