Garmin’s new paid layer is filled with AI but actually seems useful

If there is something we have learned over the last few months, all the good things must be done. Fortunately, Garmin does not end its free level but is Introducing a premium plan called Garmin Connect+S The fins will sound familiar if you subscribe to apps like Strava. And since its 2025, paid features added to Garmin Connect+, all have something to do with AI.

For $ 7/month or $ 70/year, Garmin Connect+ will unlock Custom Intelligence Insights, which seems to be Garmin’s experience for AI suggestions manager. These features include suggestions based on your history of health and activity data, implementation board to compare your progress and training guidelines for runners and cyclists. The subscription also includes a bonus notifications for Livetrack, so that a reliable family and friends know that you have started running, plus some unique social characteristics, including special badges for the implementation of challenges for activity.

The company clarifies in its press release that it is a matter of increasing its platform. Garmin competes with other fitness and training applications, such as Strava, which offers many of the same features for almost double the price of Garmin’s supply price. And while longtime Garmin users may be disappointed when they hear the brand that covers a trend that we all fight, at least, offers useful features.

AI can be difficult to sell right now because of the overall reluctance of consumers, but it is not as cunning as it may sound in the fitness world. I use Strava’s AI summaries and find them informative and encouraging, since the bot always positively rotates the fact that I have done any activity at all. But Strava costs me $ 12 a month, which is a tone for someone who doesn’t go more than four miles a week. The cheaper subscription price of Garmin is already making me consider jumping a ship to save money.

Garmin users can register for a 30-day trial version to try out the features before they get involved. Or, if you are already in the Garmin ecosystem, you can ignore all this and stick to the free health data and abilities already offered, including performance and construction of rides and running courses.