Google Retires the Fitbit App: What You Need to Know About the New Google Health Platform
Alongside the launch of the new screenless Google Fitbit Air tracker, Google has officially confirmed that the Fitbit app is being phased out and replaced by the Google Health app. This transition began back in 2023, when Google required all new Fitbit users to sign up using a Google account. The migration for existing users will be completed by May 2026, and any user who has not moved their account by July 15, 2026, will have it permanently deleted. These changes set the stage for a long-anticipated shift, with Google fully taking over the user experience through its own branded app.
The Google Health app shares some visual similarities with the Fitbit app, but it is organized quite differently and introduces a range of new features. The most notable addition is Google Health Coach, a Gemini AI‑driven tool that launched as a public preview in October 2025 and is now being made available to all users. It gathers information through natural language conversations and even photos, tracks your workouts and habits, and helps you build a structured plan to achieve your health and wellness goals. Users of Google Fit will also be invited to migrate their data, as that app will cease to exist and be folded into the new Google Health platform.
Key Features of the Google Health App
Once you have migrated your Fitbit data to a Google Account (if you haven’t already), the app will automatically switch to Google Health starting May 19, 2026. You will then notice the new layout and features, including data organized into four tabs: Today, Fitness, Sleep, and Health. The top dashboard is customizable, allowing you to see trends, progress, and how different aspects of your health interconnect rather than existing in silos. The app also integrates with third‑party services like MyFitnessPal for nutrition tracking. For users in the U.S., you can sync medical records to view lab results, medications, and more—all in one place.
The Google Health Coach, built heavily on Gemini AI, helps you create a weekly plan. After a quick onboarding conversation where you explain your goals, daily routines, available equipment, injuries, and other details using natural language, the Coach provides personalized guidance. As your circumstances change, you can inform the virtual coach to receive modified recommendations. The more you share, the more Health Coach adapts and becomes smarter. It can deliver customized workout plans, help you sleep better, and provide comprehensive health summaries.
What This Change Means for Users
This transition affects not only Fitbit users but also Google Pixel Watch owners, who will also use the redesigned app. The change solidifies Google’s ownership of Fitbit and rebrands the app under Google’s name, powered by Gemini AI. However, similar to the Fitbit Premium subscription, you will need a Google Health Premium subscription to unlock all benefits. Premium features include the ability to ask Health Coach personalized questions, access adaptive fitness plans, receive detailed health insights, view medical record summaries, and enjoy a library of workouts and mindfulness sessions.
With the free, base version of the Google Health app, you will get basic activity tracking, sleep tracking, health tracking (including vital signs), and health/wellness logging—but not much beyond that. The free version is far less comprehensive. The good news is that existing subscribers to Google AI Pro and Ultra will receive Google Health Premium at no additional cost, adding further value to current or new AI subscriptions.
This is a significant change, but one that many Fitbit owners anticipated since the account migration was announced in 2023. It was only a matter of time before Google retired the Fitbit app, and that day has finally arrived. You might think there is no longer a need for a Fitbit device, but with these substantial upgrades, there very well still might be.
