Options for syncing with Apple Health in 2023/24

[JSamLaRose]

Hi! Been a FitBit user for many years now. Flex, Charge HR, Charge 4, and currently a Charge 5. I prefer this form factor and the battery life over the Apple Watch, although I'm an iPhone user and miss getting all of my data into Apple Health. 

I'm currently using PowerSync on iOS to sync with Apple Health. I know there are some limitations with that— for example, I don't get HRV or sleep quality from FitBit into Apple Health. Has anything changed since I last looked at this (years ago)— any other (better) options now on offer? I'm looking at FitBit to Apple Health Sync aka FitBitSync by StepsApp, though I'm not sure it'll do anything more than PowerSync already does. 

Thanks in advance for any info. 🙂

[JSamLaRose]

Dead silence! No one using a Fitbit and syncing with Apple Health who can offer any recommendations? Okay... 

Power Sync (the app I'm currently using for syncing) supports syncing the following data: 

• Heart Rate (not HRV, I'm assuming this is resting heart rate)
• Steps
• Walking + Running Distance
• Flights Climbed
• Weight
• Body Fat Percentage
• Body Mass Index
• Sleep Analysis (in bed and asleep time)
• Water
• Dietary Calories

For some reason, Power Sync stopped syncing heart rate data back in May— not sure if that was a change in the app or something to do with Fitbit. As I'm interested in getting a bit more heart rate data (HRV etc) over to Apple Health, it looks like I have the following choices: 

• look for other third-party syncing solutions that might sync more data (though this might be a dead end— most of these apps have an issue syncing "intraday" data)
• pick up on a complementary device that might sync some of the data I currently miss (seeing as I'd like to avoid getting an Apple Watch, maybe something like an Oura that I can wear WITH my Fitbit? Just turn off the data I don't want to sync to avoid duplication...)
• pony up for a Fitbit Premium subscription (probably not— don't need workouts, just the analysis, and I want widgets on my iPhone for "at a glance" visualisations that might actually impact my behaviours... other apps that sync with Apple Health can provide that)
• give in and buy an Apple Watch 😞

Need to do a bit more research, but if everything works as I think it does, I'll be looking at picking up a second gen Oura to wear alongside my Fitbit. I've found a few shortcuts that allow for getting Oura HR data over to Apple Health, so this seems to be a convoluted but workable solution. 

Hope this helps someone in a similar position...

[RDJNC]

I just updated my Charge 5 software. In the process I was given the option of connecting my Fitbit to Apple Health. I agreed to it but so far today I don’t see any Fitbit data showing up in Apple Health, nor can I find any instructions on how to do so.

I’ve searched for answers but everything I find talks about using 3rd party apps like what you are talking about. Even when I limit the google search to the last month. (In fact that’s how I found your post.)

I assumed that this was a new deal between Google & Apple but maybe not. If I find out more I’ll let you know.

[lacroixn]

I have Fitbit Premium, didn’t help.

[RebeckaBoo]

Fitbit can now read Apple Health *eyeroll*. If Google wants to ignore the fact that a lot of people want Apple Health to sync with Fitbit and ignore the last several years of requests, then I’m jumping ship. I love my Versa 2 but it’s several years old and I was hoping to find another Fitbit to upgrade to, but it’s not meant to be.

[JSamLaRose]

I haven't made any progress on this yet, but I'm still leaning towards the Oura.

There's no guarantee I'll be able to achieve the outcome I want via an Oura, and I'll have to manage things to avoid double counting, but I won't know until I try it out... 

[JSamLaRose]

I hear you. Looking through the forum, a lot of people have posted something similar, but either not enough people have followed through, not enough people have followed through to make a significant impact, or Fitbit's hands are tied in some way.

I'd love for Fitbit to retain its users AND offer some meaningful solution here, but I do wonder what it might take. Failing that, I'd love some transparency. After all the years people have been asking, I haven't found much clarity as to where the sticking point is. Sure, Apple's Health offering and wearable serve as Fitbit competitors, but other syncing options exist. As far as I've thus far gleaned, Fitbit itself restricts intraday heart rate data, presumably to avoid strain on servers?

As a user, if there was just a clear line from Fitbit that communicated "sorry, this isn't likely to happen because..." I'd be sad about the state of affairs, and I'd still need to figure out what to do, but I'd have a lot more appreciation for Fitbit for being open and honest about it. Maybe that's just me!