Withings locks Apple Health sync behind $99.99 annual subscription for new smart scale users

The feature had previously been free, and many rival products still offer similar syncing at no cost. A post on the Withings forum described the decision as a “silent and incredibly anti-consumer change,” according to TechRadar. Existing users will not be forced to pay, but the exemption does not apply to anyone who signed up on or after the October date.

Withings reportedly told the forum poster that the paywall was justified by unspecified “privacy measures” and an “AI connector.” TechRadar said syncing data to Apple Health through the HealthKit framework does not require server-side processing or heavy AI work that would explain the fee. The publication described the paywall as giving the impression of an opportunistic revenue booster.

The reaction from users has been strongly negative. The original forum poster called the change “an obvious cash grab” that “ruins the hardware experience and destroys the trust in the brand,” adding that “We shouldn't have to pay a subscription to access our own health data.” On Reddit, users echoed the criticism, with one saying “$99 a year is a real joke” and another saying of Withings’ decision-makers, “They are digging their own grave.” A further Redditor asked, “Why would I ever buy another Withings product, let alone recommend the products to other people, if you have to pay a subscription to access your own data?”

A Withings representative tried to explain that the $99.99 Withings+ subscription includes other features, including “An improved Health Assistant” and “Better-priced access to medical services.” According to TechRadar, however, users have focused on the decision to lock a basic feature behind a paywall rather than on the additional services.

TechRadar reported that given the strength of the customer reaction, it would not be surprising if Withings reversed course and unlocked Apple Health syncing in the near future. Many users have already said they will either abandon their Withings devices or avoid buying one in the first place.

Editor's Summary Withings has placed Apple Health syncing for new smart scale users behind a $99.99 annual subscription, affecting those who signed up on or after Oct. 13, 2026. The move has triggered criticism from users who call it anti-consumer and a cash grab, while Withings says the subscription includes other health services. The outcome remains uncertain as customers threaten to leave the brand and TechRadar suggests a possible reversal.