Cheeky question for garmin smartwatch owners...

[EnterFunnyNameHere]

Hi,

Apologies for the shameless info hunt - I have tried to Google but can't get a definitive answer. I got some money for my birthday and am looking to treat myself to a new smartwatch (one with GPS). I currently have an old fitbit and I really hate how many of their features are actually only available if you pay for the premium app access ("fitbit premium" I think).

I'm looking at a Garmin Venu/Venu2 and just wondered if any current owners know if its a similar situation? The basic garmin app is free but does that actually give you access to all features?

I think it's so cheeky how much fitbit hide the fact the fancier features are only available if you buy the expensive watch and then a premium subscription on top - bastards!!

TIA

I have a Garmin (although not the model you are looking at). I've never had to pay for any of the features.

Also a long term Garmin owner and never paid to access any features!

Samsung Galaxy 4 (the only one I have experience of) works just like a phone - everything that’s free there is free on your watch. Calls etc need the phone to be nearby because it’s driven by the phone Bluetooth (other features aren’t). There is another version that works exactly like a phone on your wrist (I believe it must have its own SIM card), but there’s a monthly subscription.

(Sorry I didn’t see that your title mentioned Garmin specifically)

Which premium-only features do you like so much, OP? Wellness reports, sleep profile, invitation challenges?

I have a Venu square and everything I use is included. I don't even know if there are premium features.

But it depends what you want it for I suppose.

With the fitbit it was when I was looking at the Sense - a lot of the quoted features seemed to be only available for premium users. It's not necessarily that there is a particular feature I want to get - it's more the principle that fitbit advertise the watch as having the features, but actually it is dependent on an ongoing fee. I have no idea if I could afford the fee if my circumstances changed (currently it would be fine, luckily). I want something where whatever features are advertised you just get for the cost of the watch itself.

So mostly wanting to know if that is the case with Garmin - I think it's cheeky to make the watch itself quite expensive if you're also going to stiff users a monthly fee to access the features it has!

That bodes well! I think I prefer the round face version but I'm guessing they behave the same way!

I have a vivomove (i think) and haven't ever noticed an option for subscription features on the Connect app!

I had a garmin vivosmart 4. Never had to pay for any features. But it packed up after two years, first the display became patchy, then it failed to charge. It wasn’t accurate on its swimming lap count and could never distinguish strokes. (Although that might have been user fault).
What really did for me was the lack of software support, it often failing after the app was supposedly updated. That may have improved.

You have to pay a subscription if you use apps like Spotify or MySwim, but they're external apps running on the watch. Everything you'd want a watch to do it does for free.

The main controlling app isn't as intuitive as the fitbit one but you get used to it.

Thanks all, especially @StamppotAndGravy! Good point about external apps, I'm not too fussed on those but it's a good point to make!

@Alphabet1spaghetti2 interesting feedback... I guess my take is none are perfect, and I've certainly had my issues with fitbit, but I might dig into the reviews a bit further.

I had a garmin vivoactive. I found it very clunky and not particularly user friendly. I didn’t have to pay extra for it, but after about 2 years it stopped connecting to gps.

I changed it for an Apple Watch and I find it excellent.

DH has a Venu 2, I have a Lily. With hindsight I'd have had a Venu 2s and may upgrade at Christmas.

I'm assuming you're a woman OP, apologies if not.

The app is a lot better than Fitbit which I had previously.

I've had a forerunner for 5+ years and vivoactive for 3+ years and have never had to pay for anything!

I have a 245, I don’t pay for any premium features, never came across anything like that. I swim quite a bit, the 245 doesn’t recognise open water swimming, or the strokes. Also, it doesn’t measure gradient (cycling/running).
What I am saying is find one that is specific for the type of exercise you want to do.

I,ve got a Vivosmart 3. After about 2 years the face wasn't visible but I emailed Garmin for advice and they asked for it back and replaced it. Wasn't aware it was a known fault and it was out of warrenty. Never needed to pay for any extras on the app.
However, I don't use it all the time as I appear to be mildly allergic to the strap, so I only wear it when I am walking or cycling or need a stop watch for the parking when I am in town. The strap allergy may be related to sweating under it as it is worse in summer.

Garmin household here, we've had 6 between us over the last 10 years or so, never had to pay for anything extra.

This is all really helpful, thanks all! Good point mafe about making sure it fits what exercise I do, but as I'm mostly a walker and some casual cycling I think most models would do. I love swimming but haven't been for years. I need space (tall and long legs!) and can't be bothered with how early/late I need to go to miss the crowds!

I have a Forerunner and have never had to pay for anything on the app, and don't remember seeing anything on the app that refers to paid features.

I use a Garmin fenix. No hidden extras or subscription. The watch is really robust ( I have really bashed it when climbing and it was undamaged)and the previous model I had for ages was replaced free of charge when it broke when it was out of warranty. Good customer service and seems to be the most popular brand with people who take running, cycling seriously.

I moved from Fitbit to Garmin and I would never go back, much better features and definitely all free!!

What are the better features, RedSolo? I quite like my Fitbit (not on Premium). Help me understand what features I'd get on Garmin that are better.

I have a Venu2s and love it. If anything I don’t use all of the features it has! I upgraded from a forerunner to have the body battery to help manage long covid which has been really useful.

These are things I like on Fitbit, I don't want to give up:
slim design
choice of wrist bands (straps), being able to put it on my ankle instead
customisable app display (only show things I'm interested in)
customisable watch display (show time how I want to see it, and a few other things)
customisable buzz if I hit a specific target (eg, 218 minutes of activity)
Calories/steps/active minutes summed per 15 minutes or day or week or month or all year
Steps taken / hour, in customisable time window (active hours)
count of still hours/day
longest stationary period / day
auto-recognition of some types of activity
ability to manually log other types of activity
resting heart rate each day
daily Heart rate plot (bpm, minutes & periods in each zone)
can download any of above data, time series, to play in spreadsheets
avg HR & calories used when I do the auto-detect activities, & breakdown by exercise (HR) zones

Optional desirable (I have now but don't much use)
some indication of sleep quality and minutes in types of sleep (sleep score is rubbish, I suppose, but it gives a relative idea of quality)

totals all types of exercise in zones, distance, duration, calories

synchronicity with Strava