Fitbit and apple health

[SunsetRunner]

I have read MANY comments wanting fitbit to integrate/partner with Apple heath. I fully support this because it is highly inconvenient that my Apple health does not reflect my steps nor my weight and sleep. This then does not project accuracy for other apps that do not sync with fitbit but sync with health. You have had many people give the suggestion to integrate with Health; so my question Is, why is it not in any current plans, nor being developed so this can happen in the very near future? 

[SteveH]

I'd be surprised if you get a response from Fitbit to this.

My view is that I wonder why Fitbit would want to. The Apple Health app is a competitor to Fitbit so why would they enable people to use Apple in place of their own app. 

And, given that Google are in the process of buying Fitbit, would Google want to help Apple either?

[fourthirty]

Hi @SteveH ,

This is just my opinion, but perhaps Fitbit should consider this is because their user base keeps asking for it (multiple posts over many years).  I have personally purchased 6 Fitbit devices (not including the devices I've purchased for my spouse and other family members), and find the lack of this integration very frustrating.  I have all of my other fitness solutions feeding Apple Health, with the exception of Fitbit.

While they may view Apple Health as a competitor, Fitbit does not have a solution to pull together a holistic view of someone's overall health as Apple Health is able to do (with the multitude of other apps that support Apple Health).  Fitbit can still produce a fantastic app with many features, and offer premium features at a monthly rate - but that should not prevent them from sharing the most basic data (steps, hr, weight) with Apple Health (again, just my opinion).

Using the Google logic - why does Google offer a Chrome, Google Photos, Google Home, YouTube, Google Pay, Google Drive, Google News, and Gmail app for iOS?

Other exercise and tracking apps such as Strava & Nike Run Club integrate with Apple Health, even though they offer their own powerful features in their applications.

I'm wondering if it ultimately has to do with Apple's strict Apple Health API privacy requirements?

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/healthkit/protecting_user_privacy

I don't know if this is the case, because it seems to focus on data obtained through HealthKit.  We're just asking Fitbit to provide the data TO HealthKit (they obtain our data from the tracker and application).

Hoping that one day Fitbit will change their stance on this, but not holding my breath.

[SunsetRunner]

There is one other question to ask - Why would Apple want to help Fitbit by allowing Their app to sync with Fitbit, rather than requiring the user to purchase an Apple Watch? In order for Apple Health to sync to Fitbit, Apple has to allow it. So far, they do not seem to be willing. 

[fourthirty]

Hi @SunsetRunner  - It wouldn't be necessary for a Fitbit to sync directly with Apple Health.  Apple has developed a HealthKit API, which allows iOS applications to share data with Apple Health.

https://developer.apple.com/healthkit/

Therefore, the Fitbit device would sync with the Fitbit app, and then the app could share pertinent information with Apple Health using this interface.

I may be wrong, but I don't believe Apple is restricting Fitbit from utilizing this API.  My understanding is that it is a 100% Fitbit decision.  If anyone is aware of any statement from Fitbit contrary to this, I'd love to see it.  Thx.

[thenameless1]

@SunsetRunner I'm confused by your comments about the apple watch. According to your logic Apple shouldn't even allow Fitbit to have an app. It also becomes flawed when other users out there developed apps like powersync, to achieve such results.  It's also odd that every other device syncs with apple health except fitbit

@fourthirty is correct in that Apple provides the api  for developers to use. Here is a link  https://developer.apple.com/healthkit/

The real question is why Fitbit isn't taking advantage of the healthkit api?

[SunsetRunner]

Hi all,

I've commented on this in other posts and it was my biggest requested feature.

Personally I believe it's a case of Fitbit wanting to lock you into their products. Apple does not care if Fitbit uses HealthKit (the API behind the Health App). In fact the whole point of Apples HealthKit was so that developers had a centralised storage area were they could interact with other apps without the need for each developer needing to write interfaces with each other. (much like HomeKit).

Fitbit simply wish to keep YOUR! data to themselves so in theory when you come to require a new fitness product you will simply buy another one of theirs instead of moving to Apples Watch or a Withings offering.

However all this does (in my opinion) is drive users away ultimately. When I was in the market for some scales it was simply for the fact that they did not allow this integration that I went with the Withings option. And although I have gone back to a traditional watch as my daily driver it is also the reason why if buying a new smart watch I would opt for Apple or Withings. 

It is not that I don't want to use the FitBits app. I liked the version that was out in 2018 (Sorry not used since then) but I want the flexibility to easily access MY DATA from any app on my device.

In the mean time (if it's still available) there was an app called power sync that would extract your data from Fitbit and send it to the health app. The only thing it would not sync is constant HR.

Cheers

[fourthirty]

Hi @SunsetRunner  - thanks for sharing the information about power sync.  I'll definitely check it out.

I agree with your summary of the benefits of HealthKit, as a central repository for all my health data.  For example, I have a bluetooth blood pressure monitor that feeds Apple Health.  It is so infuriating that I'm also unable to import my Fitbit data - would love to be able to correlate workouts/steps/etc vs blood pressure over time.  I also made the mistake of purchasing their Aria scale (which works great), but I'm unable to share that data with Apple Health.  I should have gone with the Withings scale.

It will soon be time to update my Charge 2 (which I love).  I'd really like to move to the Charge 4, because I believe it will be the best tracker on the market (for my needs).  I also really like using the Fitbit app and the sleep tracking.

However, Fitbit's policies may ultimately drive me to an Apple Watch, or other subpar fitness tracker.  So frustrating!

The data collected from my Fitbit is MY health data, and I should be able to control it.

Perhaps you are correct - by locking our health data into their app, their strategy is that users will be forced to another Fitbit product.  I guess that has worked in the short term, as I've been trapped in that cycle for several years.

Please Fitbit - consider revising your stance on this and open up our health data to Apple Health.

[ctr256]

Carol-B,

I really do not understand why you keep saying this, despite numerous developers pointing out that you are incorrect about this, trying to explain how APIs work/etc to you.  Are you employed bt fitbit?  Please stop spreading misinformation.  Apple’s HealthKit API is openly published such that any developer can utilize it. The numerous other apps which use this public API (including all of the “sync” apps people are using as workarounds) are evidence of this. It is Fitbit who has purposely decided not to support this. Fitbit wants people to use their app exclusively. Apple is not “blocking” Fitbit from integrating with Apple Health. The feature request has been open for 6 years. Fitbit developers surely know how to make this work, it is not so much the developers ignoring it but instead Fitbit’s management/executive team who is ignoring this.

Disclosure: I am an engineer with 25 years of experience in IT/software/networking technologies.

[SunsetRunner]

@SunsetRunner - Fitbit officially becomes part of Google on 2/1. We’ll have tho see if those two want to work together without any work-arounds. 

[hyybid]

When Apple came out with their Watch, Fitbit was partnering with Microsoft, another Apple rival.

So you knew they were not going to make their app interoperable with Apple Health.

My guess is nothing will change with Google now owning them.  Android has their own health frameworks and also their own software for smart watches, though Android Wear devices don't sell too well.

[SunsetRunner]

Have you checked the Fitbit Med ID app, @hyybid? I know it is available for my Sense and my Versas. It is comparable to Apple Health, allowing me to enter my medicines, health conditions, allergies and more. I find it to be a good alternative to Apple Health. To see if it is available for your Fitbit device, open the Fitbit app on your phone. Tap Account > Device name > Apps > All Apps. Then search for Med ID. If you check it out, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on it.