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Samsung Health Adds iFit Workouts to Galaxy Watches, Challenging Apple Fitness+

  //health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. to-galaxy-watches-challenging-apple-fitness.html
  Published in Health and Fitness on Tuesday, November 11th 2025 at 12:16 GMT by Digital Trends

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Samsung Health Adds iFit Workouts to Galaxy Watches, a Direct Challenge to Apple Fitness+

Digital Trends reports that Samsung has officially brought the iFit fitness ecosystem to its Galaxy Watch line, positioning the company in direct line for the wearable‑fitness battle that has long been dominated by Apple’s Fitness+. The update—available to both current and new Galaxy Watch users—provides access to an extensive library of workout videos, live classes, and AI‑driven training plans, all of which are integrated into Samsung’s Health app. In a landscape where subscription‑based, on‑demand workouts have become a premium feature of premium watches, Samsung’s move is both a response to consumer demand and a calculated business push.

The Core of the Offering: iFit on Galaxy

iFit, a brand that has long partnered with major OEMs such as Garmin, has built a reputation for “the world’s most flexible fitness ecosystem.” The Digital Trends piece notes that Samsung’s integration brings more than 200,000 workouts to Galaxy watches, covering an expansive range of categories: from strength training and HIIT to yoga, Pilates, dance, and even golf swing analysis. The library is structured into:

The integration works via a new iFit tab in the Samsung Health app. When a user opens the app on the watch, they are greeted with an iFit dashboard that offers an easy swipe‑through of workout types, a “Trending” page that highlights popular sessions, and a “My Plan” section that syncs with the user’s health metrics. Importantly, the system leverages the watch’s heart‑rate monitor and GPS to calibrate calorie estimates and zone targets on the fly, giving a level of precision that many on‑demand services claim but rarely deliver.

Subscription and Pricing

Samsung has made clear that the iFit library will be a paid add‑on to the existing Samsung Health app, which is already free. According to the article, the subscription starts at $6.99 per month in the U.S., with a discounted rate of $39.99 per year if a user commits for 12 months. The Digital Trends analysis highlights that Samsung’s pricing is very close to Apple’s Fitness+ plan, which is $9.99/month (or $99.99 for an annual plan). The company seems to be betting on the sheer scale of its Galaxy customer base to drive uptake: as of Q3 2023, Samsung sold more than 50 million Galaxy Watch units worldwide.

A notable feature of the iFit subscription is the ability to access the library from any device. While the watch is the primary medium, users can also stream iFit workouts on smartphones or tablets, making it convenient to start a session at the gym or in a living room. The Digital Trends article points out that Samsung’s “any‑device” policy is a strategic differentiator compared to Apple, which restricts its Fitness+ content to iOS‑based devices only.

Integration With Samsung Health’s Core Features

Samsung Health has long been praised for its broad array of health metrics: step tracking, sleep monitoring, stress‑level monitoring, and even menstrual cycle logging. With iFit, the article describes a two‑way data flow:

1. Workout Data Sync – When a user completes an iFit session on the watch, the calories burned, heart‑rate data, and workout duration are automatically fed into Samsung Health’s long‑term statistics dashboard. This allows users to see a consolidated view of their fitness over time without switching apps.

2. Personalized Recommendations – Samsung Health’s AI engine examines a user’s baseline metrics (VO₂ max, resting heart rate, sleep quality) and suggests iFit workouts that will keep the user in the optimal training zone. For example, a user with a low VO₂ max might receive a beginner‑level HIIT class that gradually increases intensity.

The article also points out that Samsung has added a new “Workout Highlights” feature in the app, which automatically generates short summary videos (30–60 seconds) of key workout moments. These can be shared on social media or saved for later reference.

Competition with Apple Fitness+

Apple’s Fitness+ has dominated the smartwatch‑fitness space since its launch in November 2020, offering a polished library of 150+ workouts and a seamless integration with the Apple Watch’s sensors. The Digital Trends article lays out the main differences between the two ecosystems:

• Device Ecosystem – Apple Fitness+ is limited to iOS and Apple Watch. Samsung’s iFit can be accessed on Android smartphones, tablets, and the Galaxy Watch series, giving it a broader reach.
• Workout Variety – Apple’s library focuses on high‑production studio videos, whereas iFit offers a mix of studio‑quality content and user‑generated classes. This leads to a larger volume of workouts (over 200,000 vs. 150+).
• Subscription Tiers – Apple offers a one‑tier subscription. Samsung introduces a tiered approach with a free “iFit Lite” version (limited workouts) and a paid full‑access plan.
• Data Integration – Samsung’s Health app offers more granular data fields (e.g., sleep stages, stress levels) that are fed into iFit analytics. Apple offers strong heart‑rate monitoring but fewer contextual data points.

The article notes that Samsung is betting on the synergy of the Galaxy ecosystem: users who already own Galaxy devices may find it easier to subscribe to iFit than to switch to an Apple‑centric environment. The “any‑device” nature of iFit could be a decisive factor for non‑Apple users who still want high‑quality on‑demand workouts.

Looking Ahead: Future Enhancements

Samsung Health’s addition of iFit is just the beginning. The article cites interviews with Samsung executives who hinted at future developments, including:

• Augmented Reality (AR) Workouts – Utilizing the Galaxy Watch’s front camera for real‑time posture correction.
• Live Personal Coaching – In‑app scheduling with certified trainers who can adjust workouts on the fly.
• Cross‑Platform Analytics – Integration with Google Fit and Fitbit for users who own multiple ecosystems.

Digital Trends emphasizes that Samsung’s move also opens doors for third‑party developers. By exposing an API, Samsung could allow fitness app creators to integrate their own workout libraries, effectively turning the Galaxy ecosystem into a universal fitness hub.

Bottom Line

Samsung’s addition of iFit workouts to its Galaxy watches marks a strategic push into the premium fitness subscription market. By leveraging its massive global customer base, offering a vast library of workouts, and providing flexible, cross‑device access, Samsung is clearly positioning itself to challenge Apple’s stronghold on smartwatch‑based fitness. Whether the strategy will pay off depends largely on user conversion and retention, but the first signs—such as a competitive price point and robust integration—suggest that Samsung is ready to be a serious contender in the health‑tech arena. For anyone already invested in the Galaxy ecosystem or looking for an alternative to Apple’s Fitness+, Samsung Health’s new iFit partnership offers a compelling, data‑rich, and highly accessible solution.