Withings Apple Health Sync Now Costs $100 a Year for New Users
Withings Apple Health sync is no longer free for everyone. The smart health company has started gating automatic syncing to Apple Health and other third-party apps behind its Withings+ subscription. The change applies to accounts created after October 13, while existing users do not appear to be affected.
The Withings+ plan costs $100 a year. For new free users, automatic sync to third-party apps is now part of that paid membership. Without it, they must manually export and upload their history each time they want their latest Withings data in another platform.
What Exactly Changed
The policy shift was announced in a support forum post and later confirmed in a reply labeled “Official response from Withings.” That response states that after the 13th, “automatic sync to third-party apps is part of Withings+.”
The breakdown looks like this:
Existing accounts: Not impacted by the change.
Accounts created after October 13: Need a Withings+ membership for automatic sync.
Free accounts after that date: Must manually export and upload data to move it to Apple Health or a similar app.
Withings+ cost: $100 per year.
The company has not issued a broader public statement beyond the forum response. Requests for additional comment were made at the time of reporting, and the article will be updated if a response arrives.
Why Users Are Pushing Back
Many replies to the original forum post came from existing customers criticizing the decision. Their frustration centers on the idea that syncing data to a third-party app is a relatively simple feature, yet it is now tied to a $100 annual subscription for new users.
Automatic health data syncing is a core part of how many people use wearables and smart scales. It lets readings flow into Apple Health, where users can view trends alongside data from other devices and apps. Removing that convenience for free accounts adds friction to a workflow that was previously seamless.
The reaction also highlights a broader tension in the connected health market. Hardware makers increasingly pair premium devices with recurring subscriptions, and customers often accept that model when it funds ongoing features or cloud storage. When it gates a basic connectivity feature, the value equation becomes harder to justify.
Withings’ Broader Product Line
Withings is primarily known for high-end smart health gear. The company recently released the Body Scan 2 scale, which costs $600, while the mid-range version will still run you $280.
That pricing context matters to customers who feel the new subscription requirement adds another layer of cost to devices they already paid a premium for. A $600 scale is already a significant investment, and a $100 annual fee to sync its data with Apple Health makes the total cost of ownership noticeably higher for new buyers.
What New Users Can Do Instead
New free users are not completely locked out of moving their data. They can still manually export and upload their history whenever they want to access their latest Withings data in another platform. It is simply less convenient than an automatic connection.
For anyone who relies on Apple Health as a central hub, the choice comes down to paying for Withings+ or accepting a manual process. Neither option is ideal for users who bought the hardware expecting the sync feature to remain free.
Manual exports also introduce room for error. Users who forget to upload regularly may end up with gaps in their health history, which undermines the long-term tracking that makes these devices useful in the first place.
How This Compares to the Wider Market
Subscription fatigue is a real concern among wearable and smart health users. Many people already pay monthly or yearly fees for fitness platforms, cloud storage, and premium health insights. Adding another $100 annual charge for a syncing feature that competitors often include for free could push some buyers toward other brands.
It also raises questions about what counts as a core feature versus a premium add-on. For a device whose main job is collecting health data, getting that data into the app a user prefers feels fundamental rather than optional.
Withings Apple Health sync now sits behind a paywall for new accounts, turning a previously included feature into part of a $100-a-year subscription. Existing users are unaffected, but the reaction on the company’s own forum shows how unpopular the change is among its customer base.
Whether Withings adjusts the policy in response to the backlash remains to be seen. For now, new buyers should factor the subscription cost into their decision before purchasing a Withings device, especially if automatic syncing to Apple Health is essential to their routine.
