Smart health company Withings has introduced a new policy requiring accounts created after October 13 to subscribe to Withings+ for $100 annually to enable automatic third-party app syncing like Apple Health.
Withings, a company known for its smart health devices, has started charging new users an annual fee to automatically sync their health data with third-party applications such as Apple Health. According to Engadget, this new policy, which came into effect for accounts made after October 13, requires a Withings+ subscription, priced at $100 per year.
Existing Withings users appear to be unaffected by this change. However, for anyone creating a new account post-October 13, the ability to automatically connect their health information to Apple Health or other similar platforms is now locked behind the paid Withings+ plan. For those opting out of the subscription, the only alternative is to manually export and upload their data whenever they wish to view it on another platform.
An official response from Withings on its support forum confirmed the policy, stating that "automatic sync to third-party apps is part of Withings+" for new customers. This means what was once a standard, free feature for many smart health devices has now become a premium offering from Withings.
Considering Withings' product lineup, this move feels particularly steep. The company is primarily known for its high-end smart health gear, including the Body Scan 2 scale, which costs $600 (approximately ₹50,000). Even its mid-range scales are priced around $280 (roughly ₹23,000). An additional annual cost of $100, which converts to about ₹8,300, for basic data syncing could be a significant deterrent for new Indian buyers already investing a substantial amount in the hardware.
In the Indian market, many popular smartwatches and fitness trackers from brands like Apple, Samsung, and Fitbit offer seamless integration with Apple Health or Google Fit without an additional yearly subscription just for automatic syncing. This makes Withings' decision stand out, potentially making their ecosystem less appealing to those who rely on integrated health platforms.
Honestly, requiring an annual fee for a fundamental feature like automatic app syncing, especially for devices that are already premium-priced, is a questionable strategy. While Withings has not commented further since the Engadget report, it will be interesting to see how this policy impacts user adoption and sentiment.
