New Withings accounts need a subscription for health data syncing
Withings has put automatic health data syncing to third-party apps behind a paid subscription for people who create new accounts from 13 October 2026. The change affects users of its smartwatches and scales who want to access their data in services such as Apple Health or Google Health.
Withings Plus costs $9.95 a month or $99.50 a year, and new devices include a one-month trial; syncing pauses after the trial, but previously transferred data is not deleted. Accounts created by 12 October retain free syncing, including when their owners register additional Withings devices, because access is tied to the account.
- New Withings accounts need a subscription for automatic app syncing.
- Withings Plus costs $99.50 a year.
- Existing accounts keep free syncing, even with new devices.
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Withings makes connected health devices, including smartwatches and scales, that record information such as activity and weight. Users can link a Withings account to other health apps, such as Apple Health or Google Health, so data from different devices and services can be viewed together.
The reported change applies to accounts created from 13 October 2026: ongoing automatic syncing with third-party apps requires Withings Plus, a paid subscription. Earlier accounts keep free syncing, even if their owners add more Withings devices, so the rules depend on when the account was created.
This matters to people who rely on one app to bring together health information from several sources. Withings says data already transferred will remain available if syncing stops after the one-month trial.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Withings can argue that maintaining reliable connections to third-party health platforms takes ongoing engineering and support, and that subscription revenue helps fund those services. Charging new customers while honouring existing accounts also gives users clear notice and avoids withdrawing a feature from people who already rely on it.
The case against
Customers may reasonably see syncing as a basic part of making health devices useful, especially when it lets them bring their own data into Apple Health or Google Health. Putting that access behind a recurring fee limits how people use data generated by devices they have bought, and could make the cost and usefulness of a new device less clear at purchase.
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Originally published by The Verge as “Withings now charges $100 per year to sync your data to other apps”.