Garmin’s AI Subscription Sparks Outrage Among Devoted Users | Image Source: www.dcrainmaker.com
NEW YORK, USA, March 28, 2025 – When Garmin announced the launch of its new subscription service, Garmin Connect+, at $6.99 a month or $70 a year, he expected users to welcome a series of new AI-based health and fitness ideas. Instead, the company found an unexpected and ardent reaction from its most loyal clientele. What should be an improvement to the well-informed Garmin Connect platform triggered a debate about monetization, confidence and perceived dilution of value for users of Garmin smart watches.
As Notebookcheck, Vice, and DCRainmaker reported, the new service promises customized information using AI - however, customers feel that these “views” are vague, redundant or, worse, mathematically incorrect. The reaction through social platforms, particularly the sub-editor Garmin, was strong and unwavering in his criticisms. With thousands of comments flooded, Garmin faces a reputational challenge that probably did not anticipate the launch of Connect+.
What is Garmin Connect+ and why the Fuss?
Garmin Connect+ is marketed as a layer above the existing Garmin Connect application. According to Garmin’s statements to TechRadar, the Core Connect app remains free, with the added value of the fees paid by “active intelligence”, live activities and other AI-induced improvements. But the company insists that “all existing features and data in Garmin Connect remain free”. However, this clarification did not address the growing concerns of clients.
Users are not only sceptical about the new price model, they are totally wary of what they see as the beginning of a slippery slope. Many believe that the basic features, which were previously free or related to clock equipment, can gradually change behind a pay wall. The concern is less about the price of $7 or more about the direction Garmin seems to be taking.
In a very excited Reddit thread entitled “DO NOT SIGN UP for Garmin Connect +…”, the poster warned: “Imagine if features such as popularity routing, morning reports or advanced coaching plans were published today, almost certainly they would be locked behind this subscription paywall.”
This sentiment encapsulates a larger fear: that Garmin will start monetizing not just new features, but also alter access to existing functionalities over time.
Are the characteristics of AI really useful?
Although AI’s features were at the heart of the launch announcement, users and reviewers were affected by its execution. According to Lifehacker, the ideas generated by the active intelligence system are often only generic summaries of already visible data. In many cases, AI made simple mathematical errors, such as calculating total training time or misinterpretation of activity types.
One user pointed out how AI told them that they spent more than a month underwater in one day. Another user pointed out: “It seems that” Active Intelligence ” is basically the most basic summary of their training possible. “
The issue here is not merely about bugs or beta glitches, but about unmet expectations. When customers hear “AI insights,” they envision something transformative—perhaps predictive analytics, adaptive training suggestions, or even chatbot-like interactions. Garmin’s offering, at this point, is far from that vision.
What do AI users really want?
The community is full of ideas. A recurring suggestion is to make the AI component more interactive and useful for planning. Why can’t the system recognize training models and suggest changes? Why not adjust training plans dynamically according to user fatigue or recovery status?
Many users pointed out how competitors like Whoop and Oura allow conversational consultations with their AI systems. Garmin, on the other hand, shows a static paragraph at the top of the application page. This is the full range of active intelligence at the moment. No push notifications, no voice commands, no integration into the user interface. It feels manipulated rather than deeply integrated, a beta in name but not in vision.
According to DCRainmaker’s analysis, features such as Live Activities and Extended Analysis can have potential, but the absence of a truly dynamic IA support makes Connect + feel more like a sale than an innovative jump.
Is this a fundraiser or a strategic hub?
The reaction is not only a disappointment, there is a sense of betrayal. Garmin was applauded for not adopting aggressive monetization strategies like many of his rivals. By charging a bonus for your front-line devices and offering robust, advertising-free, app-compatible experiences, they have gained customer loyalty for years. Connect + threatens this goodwill.
Critics argue that this movement seems less focused on improving user experience and more on revenue extraction. Users who have already invested hundreds of dollars in the Garmin ecosystem feel stuck. This is a classic dilemma in technology: balancing innovation with monetization, especially when users’ confidence is at stake.
As a Sarctic Redditor said: “The new strategy of Garmin: Sell the watch, then rent the features. “
While harsh, this statement reflects a growing concern that the era of one-time purchases delivering full value may be fading fast, replaced by subscription fatigue and paywalls disguised as progress.
Q Pulamp; A: What’s next for Garmin and its users?
Q: Will Garmin return to Connect+ or change your strategy?A: Although Garmin has not yet officially responded to the subsequent reaction with no course correction, history shows companies often retouch their offers on the face of the uproar user. Garmin can introduce more artificial intelligence features or provide assurance that future updates do not limit the free level.
Q: Are the existing features safe to cut?A: For now, yes. Garmin emphasized that all current features will remain free. But skeptics indicate the trend towards gradual migration of the characteristics observed on other platforms and remain unaccepted.
Q: How is this compared to other fitness subscription models?A: The Garmin model is relatively modest compared to the others, but also more limited in its implementation. Competitors offer a rich data display, personalized coaching and conversational AI, areas where Garmin Connect+ is currently moving away.
Q: Is AI likely to improve over time?A: Maybe. Garmin labeled Active Intelligence as beta, which implies continuous development. However, without transparency in the road map, it is difficult to measure the extent and speed of improvements.
Q: Should users update to Connect + now?A: It depends on your expectations. If you are looking for real custom AI features or transformers, it is prudent to wait. For those who value online activities or other niche tools, subscriptions could offer benefits, albeit limited.
Final reflections
Garmin’s decision to introduce a subscription level with AI-based features was probably a strategic decision to take advantage of growing health technology and the SaaS market. But its execution stumbled out of the door, not because of prices, but because of unadjusted expectations, artificial intelligence and fears of long-term devaluation of its devices.
The company is now at a crossroads. You can double in Connect+, risk alienating your central users more, or adopt a more transparent community-based approach to fine-tuning the set of features. Whatever Garmin’s decision, one thing is clear: at a time when the user’s trust is hard earned and easily lost, clarity, consistency and authentic value are more important than ever.
