Smartwatches are evolving into virtual personal trainers, with brands like Polar now offering subscription-based fitness programs that leverage biometric data to create customized workout plans. On Thursday, Polar unveiled its Fitness Program, a paid service designed to provide science-backed cardio training tailored to users’ goals, routines, and recovery metrics.
A Smartwatch as Your Coach
The new program appears ideal for fitness beginners or those seeking structured guidance without manually crafting their own plans. By analyzing heart rate, sleep, and recovery data from Polar smartwatches, the AI-driven service generates a four-week adaptive training plan, scheduling cardio, strength, and mobility sessions based on the user’s availability and preferences.
Polar emphasizes that the Fitness Program is built for long-term adherence, optimizing workouts for efficiency and personalization. The plan adjusts dynamically, factoring in training load and recovery status to prevent burnout and maximize results.
Pricing and Availability
Currently priced at €10 per month, the service is available for Android users in the EU, Norway, and the UK. iOS support is expected later this summer. Polar has not yet confirmed a release date for the U.S. market.
Industry Trends and Consumer Reactions
The move follows Garmin’s recent introduction of Active Intelligence, a similar paid training guidance feature priced at 70/year. However, Garmin’s rollout faced backlash, with users on platforms like Reddit criticizing the decision to charge for insights derived from data already collected by their devices.
As smartwatch brands increasingly monetize AI-powered fitness coaching, the debate continues over whether these services justify their costs—or if they should be included in the original purchase. For now, Polar’s entry adds another option for users seeking a data-driven, hands-off approach to fitness.
