As a long-time Garmin user, I have to say I'm incredibly disappointed by the recent decision to lock new Garmin Connect software features behind a paywall. When I purchased my Garmin Fenix 8 for over €1200, one of the primary reasons I justified the investment was the belief that software updates and feature enhancements would be included as part of that premium price.
I can understand charging extra for features that depend on third-party services or incur ongoing costs, but many of these new features are purely software-based and feel like they should be part of the existing platform.
If Garmin had been upfront about this model—offering a significantly lower hardware price and making it clear at the time of purchase that some software features would come with a subscription—that would have been different. At least then, we as customers would have had the ability to make informed decisions.
This paywall approach feels like a double-dip: charging a premium for the hardware while also expecting users to pay for software. It’s hard not to feel frustrated by the lack of transparency and the direction Garmin is taking with this model.
As someone who has supported Garmin over the years, I expected better. I’m now seriously considering looking for alternatives—brands with a clearer and fairer pricing model. You can’t charge above the competition for hardware and then also demand additional payment for software features that have historically been included. Pick one.
I’d be curious to hear if others feel the same way about this shift, or if anyone has suggestions for other brands offering a better balance between hardware pricing and software features.
