Curious if your Fitbit data—like steps, sleep, heart rate, and more—can sync automatically into Apple Health?
While Fitbit and Apple Health don’t offer a direct link, you can still bring your Fitbit stats into Apple’s ecosystem using third‑party apps. This guide unpacks everything you need to know: app options, setup steps, feature comparisons, limitations, and expert tips to make your fitness tracking smoother than ever.
How Fitbit and Apple Health Differ
Before diving into syncing solutions, it’s helpful to understand why Fitbit data doesn’t just show up in Apple Health.
- Apple Health: A centralized health database built into iOS, gathering health metrics and activity data from Apple Watch, iPhone sensors, and HealthKit-compatible apps.
- Fitbit: A proprietary health ecosystem managed through the Fitbit app and cloud services. Fitbit devices do not natively integrate with Apple Health, due to differences in platforms, APIs, and data control.
This separation isn’t due to incompatibility—it’s a deliberate choice. But thanks to developers who built bridge apps leveraging Fitbit’s API and Apple’s HealthKit, you can sync key daily metrics with just a few taps.
Meet the Best Third‑Party Sync Apps
Several highly rated apps on the App Store act as middlemen between Fitbit and Apple Health. Let’s explore the top contenders:
Syncfit (Fitbit Sync to Apple Health)
- Availability: Free with in‑app purchases
- Data synced: ~20 data types, including steps, distance, active calories, exercise sessions, sleep, heart rate, SpO₂, weight, and water intake
- History import: Yes — users report syncing up to two years of past Fitbit data successfully
- Auto‑sync: Background sync is supported for continuous updates
This app is praised for its reliable performance. In reviews, people note it “works perfectly after setup,” making a seamless bridge between Fitbit and Apple Health.
Fitbit to Health Sync Solver (SCEP LLC)
- Availability: Free with premium upgrades for advanced features
- Data synced: Daily-level data including steps, workouts, weight, and sleep
- History import: Yes — within Fitbit’s daily granularity limits
- Auto‑sync: Background sync available with one-time purchase
This app is known for reliability. Users report one-time setup followed by regular updates keeps Apple Health accurate without manual prompting.
Fitbit to Apple Health Sync (myFitnessSync / Bickster LLC)
- Availability: Free basic version, premium style unlock for auto-sync and advanced data
- Data synced: Steps, workouts, sleep, weight, water, BMI, body fat
- History import: Yes
- Auto‑sync: Supported in background with premium upgrade
A straightforward interface helps manage exactly what data goes where, with reliable syncing once setup is confirmed.
FitbitSync by StepsApp GmbH
- Availability: Free trial, then annual subscription (~$20/year)
- Data synced: 14+ data fields, including steps, sleep, workouts, heart rate, weight
- History import: Full past data capability
- Auto‑sync: Background sync with premium subscription
This app is favored for its user-friendly setup and detailed data options. Many users appreciate fluid syncing and reliability.
What Data Can and Can’t Be Synced?
These syncing apps leverage daily summaries—not real-time metrics—due to limitations in Fitbit’s API and Apple Health’s background capabilities:
- Supported: Daily totals of steps, floors climbed, active minutes, distance, calories, weight, sleep duration, average and resting heart rate.
- Not supported: Minute-by-minute heart rate, live activity tracking, exercise segment details (laps, GPS route, pace), or detailed sleep stage breakdown.
This means if you wear an Apple Watch and pace yourself by minute, Fitbit data will show up only as daily totals. That’s fine for holistic tracking but won’t compete with Apple’s real-time activity tracking.
Step-by-Step: How to Sync Fitbit to Apple Health
Follow these steps once you’ve chosen a sync app:
- Install your sync app via the App Store (Syncfit, Sync Solver, myFitnessSync, or FitbitSync).
- Open the app and log in using your Fitbit credentials. Grant permission to pull your historical and future data.
- Connect with Apple Health: Approve access to whichever data types you want to sync (steps, sleep, heart rate, etc.)
- Start an initial sync—this may take a few minutes depending on how much history you’ve collected.
- Enable background sync within the app settings for regular updates (usually hourly or daily).
- Adjust data source preferences in Apple Health: Go to Health → Activity (or other category) → Data Sources & Access → Move the sync app to the top to prevent duplicates.
Avoiding Common Sync Problems
- Duplicates in Apple Health: If both Fitbit and Apple Watch record the same data, set your sync app as the primary source for steps or sleep.
- Missing historical data: Some free tiers limit history import. You may need to upgrade or re-trigger the initial sync.
- Background sync stopped: Check that battery optimization is off for the app, or reinstall if it fails to sync.
- Partial missing data: Ensure all required Health permissions are granted, then run the sync again.
- Login issues: If Fitbit password changed, re-authorize the app inside its settings.
Price Comparison & Feature Breakdown
App | Free Tier? | History Import | Auto‑Sync | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
Syncfit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Free + in‑app purchases |
Sync Solver | Yes | Yes | Yes (premium) | Free + one‑time $4–7 |
myFitnessSync | Yes | Yes | Yes (pro) | Free + pro upgrade |
FitbitSync | Trial | Yes | Yes (subscription) | $20/yr after trial |
All these apps get the job done, but your choice depends on how much data you need and whether you want to pay.
Real User Feedback and Reviews
Reddit users and App Store reviewers consistently praise these solutions:
“Sync Solver works great—setup took minutes and my Fitbit history synced perfectly.”
“FitbitSync has kept my Apple Health steps accurate for months, worth the yearly fee.”
“Switched to Syncfit—it added all my sleep and steps in one go, seamless.”
General sentiment is that these apps “just work” after initial setup. The only hiccups tend to come from permissions or Apple’s health data settings, which are easily fixed.
Benefits of Syncing Fitbit with Apple Health
- Centralized tracking: See all health data in one app instead of jumping between Fitbit and iOS.
- Use HealthKit-compatible apps: Fitness apps that read Apple Health can now use your Fitbit data.
- Elevate your Apple Watch experience: Your full step, workout, and sleep history helps calibrate rings and stats better.
- Better visualization: Health app charts, Trends, and Highlights offer a clearer picture of your long-term activity.
Limitations & What You Won’t Get
Despite best efforts, syncing isn’t flawless:
- No live metrics or workouts: Only daily summaries—no detailed GPS routes or laps.
- HealthKit constraints: You may hit Apple’s daily limit for certain categories.
- Permissions may reset: iOS updates could revoke permissions, requiring reauthorization.
- Reliance on third‑party apps: If the app is discontinued or Fitbit changes its API policy, sync may break—so choose established options with solid reviews.
What to Do If You Also Use an Apple Watch
If you wear an Apple Watch alongside Fitbit, peaks and overlaps can cause duplicate data:
- Choose one activity metric source: For steps or workouts, set either Apple Watch or Fitbit-based app as primary.
- Use the Health App’s Data Sources: Go to each category (e.g., Steps), then reorder Data Sources & Access to place your preferred source at top.
- Turn off redundant tracking: In Fitbit app, disable background tracking of steps or distance to avoid counting the same activity twice.
Final Verdict: Worth It? Absolutely
If you value seeing all health and fitness data in one place—or use other HealthKit-based apps—it’s absolutely worth syncing your Fitbit data into Apple Health. It’s not just convenient; it empowers better insight and automation based on daily movement, sleep, and workout trends.
How to Choose the Right App
- For budget-conscious users: Try Sync Solver, which can import history and enable auto‑sync for a small one‑time fee.
- For advanced data needs: Syncfit or myFitnessSync offer rich data options and background syncing.
- For ease and reliability: FitbitSync has a clean interface and reliable performance—yearly subscription is worth it for some.
Conclusion: Maximize Your Health Data Workflow
In today’s fitness-first world, having all your data in one place is hugely empowering. While Fitbit doesn’t natively support Apple Health, the bridge apps we discussed enable accurate, continuous syncing—transforming your iPhone into the central hub for your entire journey.
Ready to sync Fitbit with Apple Health? Pick an app, follow the setup steps above, and enjoy seeing your full fitness story unfold inside Apple Health.
Still not sure? Share your Fitbit model, the data you want tracked, or whether you use an Apple Watch—I’ll help you choose the perfect syncing tool!
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