Garmin Connect Plus: A Subscription You May Not Prefer, Yet Find Indispensable
Garmin has been a go-to choice for fitness aficionados thanks to its dependable hardware and extensive, complimentary software offerings. However, with the rollout of Garmin Connect Plus, the company has altered its approach, introducing a subscription model that encompasses features such as Active Intelligence, Performance Dashboard, and upgraded Live Activities. While a number of users hesitate to fork out money for capabilities they previously accessed for free—or feel should remain complimentary—some of these functionalities are becoming increasingly hard to overlook.
Let’s delve into what Garmin Connect Plus brings to the table, what merits the investment, and why even the staunchest Garmin supporters are experiencing mixed feelings.
What Is Garmin Connect Plus?
Garmin Connect Plus is a premium subscription service that adds new features atop the existing Garmin Connect platform. It comprises:
– Active Intelligence (AI-driven insights)
– Performance Dashboard (advanced data visualizations)
– Enhanced Garmin Coach materials
– Live Activity tracking functionalities
– Exclusive badges and challenges
The subscription is designed to rival comparable services from Fitbit Premium, Strava, and Samsung Health. Nonetheless, Garmin’s decision is contentious as it disrupts a well-established model of providing robust software for free with the purchase of high-end hardware.
The AI: Active Intelligence Still Needs Improvement
A standout feature of Connect Plus is Active Intelligence, Garmin’s AI-driven assistant that evaluates your fitness data and provides insights. In principle, it’s a fantastic concept—tailored feedback based on your training load, stress levels, and recent activities.
In reality, however, Active Intelligence remains in its early stages. It frequently reiterates information already found in your In Focus charts or watch widgets. Although it can sometimes deliver helpful summaries—like indicating a decline in your intensity minutes or increased stress—it does not possess the depth and contextual analysis observed in Strava’s Athlete Intelligence, which relates each workout to your 30-day averages.
For the time being, Active Intelligence is more of a novelty than a fundamental requirement. However, if Garmin develops it further to provide deeper, actionable insights—especially concerning training plans and long-term trends—it could become an essential component of the Connect Plus offering.
Performance Dashboard: The Highlight of the Package
If there’s one feature that makes Connect Plus worth evaluating, it’s the Performance Dashboard. This desktop-exclusive tool offers up to 123 customizable charts to monitor everything from mileage and elevation gain to Body Battery and race forecasts.
Users can layer data sets (e.g., stress vs. training load) and track year-over-year progress, making it ideal for data-oriented athletes. The dashboard elevates Garmin Connect from a simple activity tracker to a comprehensive analytics platform.
Regrettably, it’s also the most aggravating element of Connect Plus—because it’s locked behind a paywall. For years, Garmin users have accessed detailed metrics without charge. Now, some of the most treasured insights are exclusively available to subscribers.
Garmin Coach: Beyond Just Workouts
Garmin Coach has consistently provided free training plans for runners and cyclists. With Connect Plus, Garmin enhances it by incorporating daily educational videos and professional insights. These videos are still in the rollout phase, but the potential is substantial.
Envision a coach elucidating the aim of your anaerobic workout or offering tips on proper squat form before a strength training session. This type of content could bridge the gap between algorithm-based training and human coaching, rendering Garmin Coach more appealing and effective.
While it’s premature to assert whether these videos will validate the expense, they signify a positive direction for Garmin—adding value without eliminating existing free features.
Live Activities and Badges: Functional, Yet Controversial
The newly introduced Live Activity tracking allows users to view real-time statistics in the mobile app and interact with indoor workouts in a more dynamic manner. It’s a valuable tool for both gym-goers and novices, but again, it rests behind the Connect Plus paywall.
Similarly, Garmin has rolled out exclusive gold-tinted badges for subscribers. These offer greater variety—such as tracking elevation gain or time in specific heart rate zones—but they’ve led to criticism. Competitive users who take pride in badge collections now feel marginalized unless they opt to pay.
This “pay-to-win” outlook risks alienating Garmin’s most devoted fans, particularly those who have already invested in premium hardware.
What Garmin Got Right—and Where It Missed the Mark
Garmin Connect Plus is not a poor product. In fact, numerous features are genuinely beneficial. The issue lies in its introduction.
Unlike Apple or Samsung, which provide extended free trials with new devices, Garmin unveiled Connect Plus without any such cushion. Customers who recently bought a $1,000+ Fenix 8 or Forerunner 965 are now being asked to pay extra for features that seem like natural extensions of their gadgets.
Had Garmin included a six-month trial with new purchases—or provided grandfathering for recent buyers—it might have eased the transition. Instead, it feels like a bait-and-switch to many loyal customers.
Should You Subscribe?
Here’s the bottom line:
– Casual users: You can forgo Connect Plus.
