Integrate with iOS Health

[so-rich]

Hi there,

I'm really excited about Apple's announcement of the Health App in iOS 8 to be release this fall.  I'm looking forward to seeing a product announcement by Fitbit for a successor to the recalled Fitbit Force, and I'm really hoping to hear some exciting news about Fitbits intigration with Apple's new Health App to be released alongside iOS 8 this fall.  

This is a huge oportunity to make your devices even smarter and more integrated - Please support these APIs!  Thanks!

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity and labels.

[SunsetRunner]

I started off with a Fitbit One, then upgraded to a FitBit Charge HR. Now I'm looking to upgrade again AND get a tracker for my wife and son, but Fitbit products are pretty much out of the running because of this.

FitBit has asked us to indicate how we "envision an ideal HealthKit integration to work" as if we need to justify this thing we're requesting. When FitBit realizes that their product is an add-on that needs to support my chosen mobile platform (and not the other way around), I'll consider coming back. In the meantime, I've been very impressed with the offerings from G. They do pretty much everything the FitBits do, but they're waterPROOF and they work with Healthkit.

[Luline62]

I got the Fitbit as a gift. I do not like that Fitbit is not listening at all to their customers. Come on Apple and Fitbit work together

[Surveyor17]

It would be more convenient and commercially valuable to have Fitbit device feed multiple Health Display apps. FitBit has a good head start vs. Apple fitness devices but Apple has more phones out there that have apps for display.

[Austin_H]

What could you possibly stand to lose by integrating with HealthKit? (besides valuable customers, that is.) The bottom line is that FitBit does not solve world hunger (metaphorically speaking) and as an app developer, you need to recognize that you can't be the best at everything. This is why integration is so important. Your customers don't revolve around you and we all have our own preferences. HealthKit is used by a ton of apps to help refine and improve it. FitBit has so much to offer all these other great apps. Unfortunately, it seems FitBit is the only bit that doesn't fit in with the rest of the health community. So I'll have to find a different way to get my health data to my other apps like Sleep Cycle and RunKeeper. Maybe Apple Watch, but it's so expensive.

[mbawkher]

@Austin_H I couldn't agree with you more.

Fitbit appears to be sitting on a high horse for not implementing this feature when more than 2,000 customers have actually bothered to log into this forum and request/vote for this feature.

Realistically speaking, integrating Fitbit into Healthkit probably won't take that much time to do considering the talent that is clearly present in the fitbit app development team.

[PKDaba]

@Luline62, it's not a matter of Apple and Fitbit working together. Apple has made the HealthKit API available to developers for over 2 years. It's an openly available programming interface available to any developer or company (e.g. Garmin, Withings, Jawbone, and more) with the foresight to integrate with it.

As a matter of fact, Apple fully supported Fitbit by selling its products in its Apple Stores (on-line and brick and mortar) when Fitbit first came on the fitness tracking scene. How does Fitbit repay Apple's and many of its initial loyal users' support? By refusing to integrate with HealthKit. To date, no one at Fitbit has officially given any reason as to why they've made this petty decision.

The closest 'official' explanation came from Fitbit's response to @jamipie831's query. Requoting Fitbit's very professional response: "...The reason why you need that [Sync Solver] is due to Fitbit and Apple having a failing [spc] out due to Apple bringing out the Apple Watch..." Quite an unbelievable response to say the least. If true, it just confirms Fitbit's pettyness.

As it stands, Fitbit lives in its own bubble. Apple is moving forward with new innovations like its ResearchKit and WatchKit empowering users and developers to track / analyze / improve their health while having FULL control of their OWN health data across multiple platforms.

[randallrich77]

• Integrate with iOS 8 Health App- We need this now.

[SunsetRunner]

Highly disappointed. 

To be honest...I expected this to work out of the box. I didn't even check for it.
Right now I am considering returning the Charge HR that I just purchased.

I track my weight in the Heath app and many apps "read" the weight data to adjust their calculations and estimations on a daily basis. Having to manually feed the data also into fitbit app is bothersome. On Fitbit's side there is no point to not provide Health Kit integration besides the goal to lock the user further into their eco-system. 

This is use of dark design patterns at it's best. Acting against the user's free choice. Fitbit, you are playing a high-risk game with your user's loyalty. In the long run this never was a favorable strategy.

[FallonTang]

in my opinion, healthkit integration would help to keep the user in record for its health statics.

Dont get me wrong fitbit do a great job to keep our body records too. but i think the focus it a bit different here. healthkit keep the statics records is more like for a health care purpose and the fitbit one for me is more a fitness one! 

in long term, more people would know how to use healthkit than fitbit as the iphone sale is hot. which mean a bigger data base of people's health and more people will know how to use your healthkit data to doignose your health.

I think fitbit is the best fitness app, but please don't take away the chance that user could keep track with healthkit. 

[xkid]

I bought my fitbit exclusively so that Health app would be able to track my sleep and heart rate, having past 1 week from getting my fitbit charge HR I looked into Heath app only to see that there were no logs at all for sleep and heart rate, I am extremely disappointed and don't know if I should just return it and buy an apple watch instead, I don't want a smart watch, I just want to track my sleep and heart rate, what can I do?

[steffieagle]

Get Sync Solver App. Works great with Fitbit and Apple Health.

Sent from my iPhone

[HopefulRunner]

@xkid @steffieagle

Sync Solver does not sync heart rate.

[steffieagle]

I have Apple Watch. Don't know about Fitbits with heart monitors. I have basic Flex.

Sent from my iPhone

[PKDaba]

@xkid, there are many fitness trackers out there (e.g. Garmin, Jawbone, Withings, etc.) that do integrate with HealthKit. If you haven’t read the last few pages of this thread, take it as fact that Fitbit integration with HealthKit will not happen in the near future, if ever. So, if integration is important to you and more importantly who controls your fitness data, then return your Fitbit while you can.

For those contemplating on using Sync Solver do keep in mind the following:

1. It’s a manual, highly inconvenient, extra step you’ll need to do to sync your data after every workout.
2. There are anecdotal reports that not all data is transferred.
3. You’re paying extra for an App that Fitbit should technically be able to implement, a true disservice on Fitbit’s part towards its iOS clients.
4. Sync Solver is at the mercy of Fitbit’s control of its programming API. There have been instances in the past when Sync Solver did not work because of changes made by Fitbit.
5. Sync Solver stores your fitness data in servers in China every time you perform a sync. Their severs have been hacked in the past resulting in service downtime. There are no guarantees it won’t happen again in the future. Your fitness data is at the mercy and control of a third party company as it travels to Fitbit’s servers. Once there, Fitbit controls your fitness data.

See beyond Fitbit’s marketing hype. Stay informed and do your research, especially those of you who are new to the Fitbit scene and care about seamless HealthKit integration.

[dtherio]

It also doesn't sync sleep properly. The programmer has confirmed that to me and apparently has no plans to fix it.

[jamipie831]

I'm disgusted that FitBit hasn't posted a response that they are NOT going to ever do this because they made Apple into a competitor.  This is an insane thread!  I was going to purchase the new Blaze but after researching it further and asking since last year about this integration, I love the FitBit app but I hate that it won't do what it should out the box without a crappy work around.  FitBit has admitted to me that I should use Sync Solver because they are not going to integrate into HealthKit because they are now Apple's competitor.  I'm moving on and unsubscribing and I would urge everyone here to sell their FitBits to show them how we feel about being lied to and ignored.  

[Sherri0]

To have to use a third-party app is ridiculous.  For Fitbit even to recommend doing such a thing is absurd.  I am replacing my Fitbit One with a brand that listens to their customers, which is just about all the others.

[RickyFitbit]

Hi Everyone, 

We want to make sure you know that we are listening! We review this thread everyday and there's not one post that goes unnoticed. 

Please know that we have not changed our stance and I, personally can understand the frustration that some of you are feeling. If you feel that this stance means you aren't able to enjoy using your Fitbit tracker and you've purchased it from fitbit.com, you can return your Fitbit tracker within the 45 day warranty that comes along with your purchase. If you've purchased your tracker through an authorized retailer, please refer to them for return information.

Also know that this is not our intent; we don't want our users to return their Fitbit trackers. If you feel that achieving your health goals is with another tracker due to HealthKit integration, we're sad to see you go, but all we want you do to is achieve your health goals; be it with us or without us. 

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

[SunsetRunner]

@RickyFitbit If your stance after two and a half years is still "No", then at least do everyone the courtesey of changing the status of this feature request from "Under Consideration" to "Denied" or something similar. The way things are now, new users that don't initially realise how old this thread is might actually hold out hope for integration.

I have had issues with my Charge HR since the day I bought it, the lack of HealthKit integration being one of them, but unfortunately for me I live pretty far from the nearest major city so returning the device within the return window was a costly option. I'm making do now, but I actively discourage everyone I know from buying any Fitbit product at all. A company more interested in petty rivalry than user experience. A company that always gives the same "we are aware of the issue and are looking into it" for 6-month old software bugs. A company that constantly encourages users to try Fitbit Premium, even though the current base functionality inspires no confidence that additional insights would be anywhere near accurate (I'm refering to the often incorrect or incomplete food database and lackluster sleep tracking). A company that suggests buying a third-party app to provide functionality that has become expected basic functionality.

As much as RickyFitbit might personally understand our frustration, Fitbit as a company certainly does not appear to have any clue. I suggest everyone else who has been burned by this experience also inform their friends and colleagues who are considering a fitness tracker to steer clear of Fitbit. Other brands might be a little more expensive, but to get seamless HealthKit integration (and by extension integration with any other app that uses HealthKit), the additional initial outlay is probably worth it.

[mrjonlor]

@RickyFitbit,

Ok.  You've asked us to envision how HealthKit integration would benefit us as FitBit users and I believe that question has been answered hundreds of times within this thread.  Now I (and I presume many others on this thread and others) have one question for you.  What would it take for FitBit to change their stance? You say FitBit is listening to the community.  How?  How can we actively influence the decision?  Posting and voting here have obviously had little to no effect.  

It's great that you, personally, understand our frustration, but if the thousands of votes and posts on this thread have no impact on FitBit's development roadmap, then maintaining this thread is a waste of your time and ours.  If there is no reasonable likelihood that this will get implemented in the next 6-12 months, then change the status to 'Declined', close off coments and we can all move on with our lives.

Personally, I'm of the opinion that FitBit should just close down the Feature Request section of the community entirely.  It seems obvious to me from all the feature threads that I've posted in and follow that FitBit does not actually listen to this community in any meaningful way when it comes to feature development. How's the on-device battery indicator for the Charge HR coming along?   (You know, the feature that would at least help mitigate that data corruption bug the HR has when it syncs after running out of power?)  Offline Syncing?  How about Partner API access for SyncSolver?  Anything?  All great ideas that have been "Under Consideration" for quite some time now.   

[PKDaba]

Well said @SunsetRunner and @mrjonlor.

Fitbit does not have the courage and integrity to officially say what their stance is. It won’t change the status of this thread to “denied” for fear of losing new customers who don’t know better. Unsuspecting clients will continue to come here to beg and plea once they realize that there’s no HealthKit integration. The ones who discover this beyond their refund period or have hung on the hope that integration will happen are the ones who suffer from this deception. Fitbit will tell those unsuspecting users that the issue has been discussed in this thread and that those clients should have done their research. That’s the reason why this noncommittal thread continues to exist. Even as recently suggested by Ricky in this thread, there’s a 45 day period to get your refund, how generous! Has Fitbit thought of informing consumers on its packaging that its products do not integrate with HealthKit or it’s not 100% iOS compatible? Or how about offering refunds to all clients who are not happy that there’s no HealthKit integration? You can count on Fitbit to continue listening but not acting to satisfy its customers.

Help spread the word. Make sure to leave your comments, ratings, reviews about how well Fitbit really listens to and respects its customers.

[iwatts]

Absolutely to all of the above. @RickyFitbit is stuck between a rock and a hard place. His job is to placate us and he has an impossible task. He has to toe the party line. But I have suggested several times this thread is marked as closed. Again, not listened to. When is enough enough. I can absolutely guarantee that I will never purchase another Fitbit again. Just not worth it.

[mbawkher]

@RickyFitbit 
Previous users have already shared a number of my views towards implementing HealthKit which is a basic feature provided by all your competitors (Jawbone, Misfit, Xaomi, Apple Watch).

In the next year the health tracker market will hit saturation and Fitbit's challenge won't be acquiring new customers, it will be retaining it's current customers, 2,500 of which have up-voted this feature in this 'request feature forum'.

These are people who have taken the time to come on to this forum and leave you their feedback. Feedback which is instrumental in Fitbit remaining market leader in the health tracker market.

CareKit is a new feature touted by Apple to help peope manage their physical ailments, imagine how much the wealth of data gathered by Fitbit can help people.

Fitbit, don't think you are above the market you are in, history has shown that market dominators such as IBM, Xerox, Kodak all faltered when they became complacent and disregarded their customers' feedback and trends in the market.

If Fitbit is going to implement any new features in the coming app updates, integration with HealthKit needs to be it.

[dhoffman19]

Yes, please integrate fitbit with the iphone health app!

[Genosis]

I just voted as #2500, so figure I would throw my hat in with the others with my observations.

I recently purchased my signficant other a FitBit Charge (she wanted an Apple Watch along with mine, but wanted to start with just a fitness tracker), and it instantly inspired her to do more steps, compete with her more active friends, and finally lose some weight. So far so good.

However, I would like to participate as well, to discover that there is oddly no Apple Watch support for your app and community features. I already invested into an Apple Watch (as an Apple developer, I was an early adopter), and had no interest in wearing multiple devices tracking the same type of information.

After a bit of research, concluded there the only responsible solution was to keep my phone on me, verifying that FitBit does allow my iPhone 6 to function as a device collecting limited information. So my question is, why allow this and not the Apple Watch/Health Kit? With as many metrics as your application seems to support, it should be a slam dunk to intergrate with it. 

If the decision is based on device sales: let's be real; if someone already has an Apple Watch, they are not going to switch and are almost as likely not to juggle multiple wearable devices. Also, most if not all of the people interested in such intergrated have stated they would be willing to pay for a "Premium" feature to integrate their Watch/Health data. 

So, bottom line.. this stance may convince a small portion of people to purchase a FitBit in addition to their Watch. Those sales would be far outstripped by the people willing to participate in what I have seen as an excellent social an analytical platform for fitness and health. Tell your analysts to run the numbers on the thousands people willing to pay 4.99, even 9.99 for a FitBit app with integration, against the relatively few willing to drop 70-180$ on a low to mid range FitBit device. If it is finances we are talking about, I'm certain the benefit would be clear. Not to mention the few that may even sell off or avoid FitBit alltogether for their lack of intergration with HealthKit, which already aggregates a wealth of vital information.

You make an excellent product FitBit, but there are more benefits to playing nice and becoming part of the wearable technology fitness community as a whole, instead of tightly clutching to the bubble one you are protecting. I acknowedge I have made several assumptions, but I suspect I am not far off the mark. 

TLDR; Support IOS Health! As you can already tell, you have a sizable, and increasingly impatience, audience waiting for this.