Samsung Health May Adopt A Fitbit-Style Subscription Model
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Fitbit, Apple Fitness+, and almost every other fitness and health tracking app have locked down some of their advanced features behind a subscription. Samsung Health app is the only outlier, providing detailed health insights and workout recommendations for free. But that may soon change, as the company may follow Fitbit’s lead and adopt a subscription model.
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Samsung recently unveiled several new health-focused features like Vascular Load, Running Coach, and Antioxidant Index that will roll out with the Wear OS 6-based One UI 8 Watch update later this year. These advanced health features provide even deeper insight into your health, including determining the stress on your circulatory system and heart health.
In its announcement, Samsung only mentioned that these new health features will come to Galaxy Watch 5 or later models with the One UI 8 Watch beta in Korea and the US soon. These features will also be a part of Samsung’s next smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 8. However, it seems once the features graduate from beta, Samsung may put them behind a paywall, at least for its existing smartwatches.
CNET interviewed Dr. Hon Pak, Samsung’s senior vice president and head of digital health, to discuss the upcoming Galaxy Watch and its new health-focused features. During the interview, the executive mentioned that the company is “exploring a premium subscription model” for Samsung Health and may paywall advanced coaching features, like many of the best fitness apps for Android. The basic health tracking features will remain free to use.
Samsung Health Premium incoming?
Fitbit does something similar, offering basic health features and tracking for free. But if you pay $10 per month, you unlock Fitbit Premium benefits, which include wellness reports, sleep score, stress management score, guided meditations, and recipe and meal hacks. Basic health features, like heart rate, step count, and sleep tracking, are available for free.
Samsung did not share any specifics about pricing or the affected models, so there’s a lot that needs clarity. The company may provide more details about Samsung Health’s paid subscription tier when it unveils the Galaxy Watch 8 alongside its 2025 foldable lineup at a rumored July event.
