What you need to know Fitbit has announced that it will be removing challenges, adventures, and open groups from its app. These three features will continue to be available until March 27th. Fitbit verified users can still create private groups for competitions.
It’s been almost five years, and only three years, since the acquisition closed, but we’re finally seeing exactly what we feared after Google acquired Fitbit. In a move that shouldn’t surprise anyone at all, Fitbit announced today that it’s removing even more features from its app.
In an email sent to Fitbit users, the company explains that adventures, open groups, and challenges will be removed from the app. This includes all the trophies you’ve earned over the years in those intense competitions with friends.
(Image credit: Android Central)
The community aspect of Fitbit has always been very intriguing, as you could either get a bunch of your friends together to compete or join a public group. Starting March 27, you can only create a “closed group” and “connect with other users in the Fitbit community” through the Health & Wellness forums.
This is another major blow to Fitbit believers, as Google seems content to remove features and options that helped Fitbit become as popular as it was. In a statement provided to The Verge, Nicol Addison, head of communications at Fitbit and Nest, said, “Fitbit has determined that these select features had a limited number of active users compared to other offerings, but cannot confirm specific numbers at this time.”
As part of the email sent to its users, Fitbit also stated that you can download and export data from all the removed features. However, you only have until March 27th, after which date the history and data will also be unavailable.
Things aren’t looking good for Fitbit
(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)
When the Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4 were introduced, we wondered how well these products would pair with the best Android smartwatches. Not very well at all, as it turns out, since Fitbit has removed the ability to download and install third-party apps.
Of course, Fitbit’s App Gallery isn’t nearly as robust as the Play Store, which the Pixel Watch running Wear OS 3 has full access to. But you can’t even download music straight to your Fitbit, let alone rely on your favorite streaming service.
It definitely feels like Google is standing by the wall to add another line of products to its “graveyard.” But it’s not as if Fitbit was all Android users. That remains one of the best things about a Fitbit, as it works with both iOS and Android. So it’s disappointing, to say the least, to see more features removed while premium is constantly being thrown in the face.
I don’t know what the future holds for Fitbit, and I wish I had a crystal ball to see what Google is up to. Unfortunately, it’s pretty obvious that Fitbit isn’t just on the back burner, we’re nearing the end.
The best Fitbit
Gone are the days when Fitbit Versa or Sense were your best options if you wanted Fitbit integration. Now that title belongs to the Pixel Watch, which offers everything that other Fitbits offer along with the power of Wear OS 3.
