Connect +

This has all just been a little misjudged by the company. I’m sure they are genuinely trying to put together a premium offering for people who want to pay extra. 

My constructive feedback is that it should be free for several months to get it to a mature level but don’t mess with the core free functions. Personally I think that the missing Apple Health integration is an obvious item that could be integrated. I could get information from my third party weighing scales and Garmin would likely make the same profit as selling me their scales.  In other words it needs genuine added value. 

What are you on about the "added value"? WE paid EXTRA for these watches compared to the competition (Suunto, Coros, etc) for these things:

1) Durability

2) Software Support

3) Backing of a reputable brand to uphold those 2 items

And you are telling me that they need more money? You can spend $1000 on a watch by Garmin... and you are saying that it doesn't justify good faith from the company to properly look after us? Get out of here

Don’t get me wrong, Connect, which I actually like, does not warrant a charge but looking outside at the likes of Wahoo they also have products at similar prices to Garmin. They also have free utilities and chargeable tools for those who want them.

It’s not for me to decide what those chargeable tools will be. I said in another post elsewhere that I have just paid for Training Peaks Premium. I am fully set for training across my devices and platforms, indoor and outdoor cycling and integration with Apple Health, something Connect didn’t offer. 

Personally, from a cycling point of view, I would prefer something much more radical like a tie up with Zwift!

This is the most disappointing thing they could do. I HONESTLY ADVISE THEM TO CHANGE THIS. 

Misjudged absolutely but the time they spent on Connect+ would have been better spent on getting the existing software sorted. It is riddled with bugs and every update creates more. People are paying Garmin a premium for their watches, far more than what the competing brands cost, to essentially be ongoing beta testers.

Dear Garmin Team

I wish to express my disappointment and concern regarding the introduction of the Garmin Connect+ subscription service. While I recognise the commercial rationale for expanding service offerings, this move represents a significant shift in Garmin’s relationship with its customers—and not one that reflects well on the brand.

Garmin has long been respected for offering a premium, subscription-free ecosystem. Many of us invested in Garmin devices specifically because they included full access to health, fitness, and performance metrics without recurring charges. The clear understanding was that future software updates and feature improvements would also be made available equally to all users. This wasn’t just a selling point—it formed the basis of an implied contract between Garmin and its customers.

The concern now is that meaningful innovation—especially anything AI-driven, analytical, or performance-enhancing—will be increasingly reserved for Connect+ subscribers, while standard users are left behind with slower, limited updates. The fear is not about what has been locked away yet, but about the trajectory. If future feature development is disproportionately focused on paid tiers, this fundamentally alters the value proposition that Garmin users bought into.

At the very least, the introduction of Connect+ should have been transparently communicated well in advance—ideally a year or more—to allow prospective buyers to make informed decisions. As it stands, many users now find themselves locked into expensive hardware investments under terms that feel like they’ve changed post-purchase.

It is particularly disappointing to see this rollout come on the back of widespread, well-documented concerns around the core functionality of certain devices—such as ongoing wrist-based heart rate accuracy issues—and the absence of long-promised features like Strength Coach on flagship models such as the Epix 2. To introduce a new paid service while these baseline issues remain unresolved feels tone-deaf and risks completely alienating an already disillusioned user base.

At a time when competitors like COROS are gaining momentum by doubling down on value and user experience, this shift toward a more aggressively monetised model is not only poorly timed—it’s strategically baffling.

I urge Garmin to reconsider this direction or, at the very least, to provide clear and credible assurances that the core experience and future feature development for all users will remain robust, fair, and fully supported.

Garmin still hasn't even made the equipment selection according to the activity, which is a very simple problem (we can only choose one bike, for gravel, road, mtb), asking for money for some features is ridiculous. We pay 2000 euros for a watch and an Edge device and we will pay extra for their features, it is really ridiculous.

I paid $1000 for an Enduro 2 and it doesn't get the strength workouts from the Garmin coach, however my cheap Garmin 255 does. At least one poster mentions only certain watches are compatible with Connect+, and neither of mine are mentioned. Now they offer a subscription for some AI that in its' infinite wisdom says my stress has been lower and that's important. WTH? 

Like many of you, I was surprised and saddened to learn about the new "Connect +" subscription. It was just this week that I was even telling a friend, while enthusiastically showing off the new Garmin Strength Coach, how fantastic it is that so much is included with the purchase of our premium Garmin devices.

The beauty of the Garmin ecosystem has always been its comprehensive integration of running, cycling, and now strength coaching, and other valuable features, all without additional subscription costs. This seamless experience is a major draw for the Garmin community. Given the premium price point of Garmin watches, there's a shared concern that introducing subscriptions could impact future upgrade decisions for loyal users.

Having recently invested in a new device last summer, I, like others, am keen to understand how this new subscription model will evolve and what it might mean for the native features we currently enjoy. My relationship with Garmin will be determined by how this plays out. In the meantime, I will be jumping off the Garmin bandwagon and warn others about the recent changes

BTW - Who thought of the  feature? Meh!

BTW - Who thought of the [star] feature?

Eh not too different from Strava subscriber badge, DCR supporter badge, twitter blue check, verified flairs in reddit / forums, etc., etc.

I guess the big difference is that some ppl are openly saying they'd be ashamed to be seen with a Connect+ star on their profile pic.