Replace my Fitbit One - with an app?

December 14, 2024 3:41 PM

My Fitbit One from ten years ago is no longer syncing with the app very well. Should I replace it, or is there an app that'll do the minimal things I want without having to wear a tracker?

I don't want or need the real-time tracking that all the modern trackers seem to have. I mostly want to track my sleep, workouts (no detailed metrics needed) and menstrual cycle. I like that the Fitbit app has a clean interface for those things, plus a few workout and meditation videos. The options I'm considering are:

- Buy a Fitbit Inspire to replace the One. Have you used the Inspire? What's it like? Do you have to keep it paired all the time, or can you just sync it every few days?
- Use the Fitbit app with no tracker. Is that even possible? Have you paired your phone to the Fitbit app?
- Use a different fitness/health app with no tracker. Do you have any recommendations? Again, I want to track sleep, workouts and menstrual cycle. Clean interface and data privacy are important.

posted by zeptoweasel to Technology (4 answers total)

If you care about data privacy you should know that Fitbit is now owned by Google - a new device would require a Google account and it is not clear what your data is used for. For this reason when my Fitbit died about a year ago I opted for a Garmin watch instead.
posted by piyushnz at 8:26 PM on December 14, 2024

I have owned 2 Garmins since my Fitbit died many years ago. I purchased this one Oct. 1, 2024. It has various downloadable faces and syncs with the Garmin Connect App on my Android phone. You may prefer a different color wrist band.

I will now give my standard caveat which is I never hesitate to return products I purchase with my hard earned money the instant I think it is a bad match for my needs. The only slight annoyance I have with this watch is that I charge it every 4 days, a week would have been nicer.

FWIW.
posted by forthright at 9:00 PM on December 14, 2024

I had a Fitbit Inspire and then an Inspire 2. It will do everything you need. Its sleep tracking is quite good. For your use case, I think it’s a great option.I have a Garmin now that meets other needs for me well (run and swim tracking) but the sleep tracking is not as good, and it would really be overkill for your needs.
posted by hydropsyche at 6:09 PM on December 15, 2024

Thanks to piyushnz for pointing out that Google owns Fitbit. It looks like, as of this writing, some new devices require you to link your Google account but the Inspire can be used with an existing un-linked Fitbit account. However, this review at the Wirecutter makes it sound like Google might force all users to link their Google accounts as soon as 2025.

I think my One can probably limp along a bit longer. If/when I'd have to link my Google account, I'll switch to using a simple habit tracker app - going with EZ Habit, but I also looked at Loop, HabitKit and Rise.
posted by zeptoweasel at 3:52 PM on December 29