It is human nature to prefer being sedentary – after all, back in the hunter/gatherer era, no one decided to run for fun or to burn extra calories. Nevertheless, in today’s day and age, we have to motivate ourselves to move more. Almost 40% of people in Europe spend every workday sitting down. Although it is obvious that incorporating more movement is necessary, committing to an active lifestyle takes a lot of willpower.

Through technological advancements and prioritizing user-centric design, fitness apps break free from conventional exercise norms. This option redefines exercise as an enjoyable and lasting commitment. Ultimately, individuals can foster a healthier, more active lifestyle, empowered by the tools and guidance offered by forward-thinking fitness platforms.

However, when Apple Health started in 2014, it could not be seen as an app ahead of its time. It had a simplistic interface and only the necessities, such as calorie tracking and weight input. 

Additionally, despite the app’s primary focus on health rather than fitness, concerns emerged regarding Apple Health’s accuracy. Medical experts raised questions about the reliability of the data it provided. Important metrics, including heart rate, were inaccurate, posing a risk to a patient’s health assessment.

Apple found that while the app provided basic functionalities, it lacked the advanced features necessary to support users in achieving their long-term fitness goals. Even though it was deemed sufficient at the time, it was clear the app needed improvements.

The Apple Health App needed improvements, that encompassed more reliable features. That aside, Apple also needed to expand its horizons and start focusing on fitness: specifically, on fitness tracking and experiences together.

A lot of apps did this separately. Fitbit was a leader in the fitness tracker market, and multiple apps like Sworkit provided exercise videos. Apple’s integration of both features aimed to surpass the competition, offering advanced fitness tracking alongside immersive workout videos guided by experts. This ambitious vision was a redefinition of the fitness app landscape. Additionally, it was a holistic way to inspire and empower users to lead healthier, more active lifestyles.

Moreover, Apple was missing crucial interactive features. The company needed to prioritize the importance of user engagement in fostering long-term commitment to fitness. By focusing on elements designed to inspire and motivate users, Apple could retain existing users as well as attract new ones seeking a dynamic and interactive fitness solution.

Apple Fitness+ and Apple Watch are now widely used in everyday life and reviewed on various social media platforms. But how did Apple prevail in the competitive fitness industry? These are a few features they implemented to reach their success:

1. Streaks incentivize consistency

Apple Fitness+ and Apple Watch both incorporate streaks in their strategy. However, it’s not as simple as turning on the app; the users have to complete activity rings to “close them” and only then does it count as a streak.

There are three categories of these rings: move, exercise, and stand. As users consistently meet all 3 goals, they earn special badges and awards. These streaks not only earn users’ in-game achievements but encourage consistent activity throughout the day.

Streaks reinforce the habit of consistent physical activity and provide a sense of achievement. For the same reason, users maintain their fitness habits over time and stay loyal to Apple’s fitness features.

2. Social competition and community features drive user retention

Users engage in challenges and compete with their social circle or app users they have yet to meet. This social aspect fosters a sense of community and companionship, as users support and encourage each other in their fitness journeys. Friendly rivalry encourages users to strive for improvement, enhancing commitment to their workout routines.

Furthermore, users can synchronize their Apple Watch with their friends’. This allows for an effortless comparison of progress. Users can celebrate milestones together, and engage in friendly competition to close Apple activity rings first. The synchronization feature helps users to stay motivated and maintain consistent progress toward fitness objectives.

3. Seamless integration of devices for better tracking and experience

The seamless integration of the Apple Fitness app with the Apple ecosystem, particularly the Apple Watch, offers accurate tracking and easy access to fitness features across devices, resulting in a positive user experience.

By syncing seamlessly, users can transition between devices without any disruption to their fitness tracking. For example, users can start a workout on their iPhone and seamlessly continue it on their Apple TV, with all data synchronized.

Equally important, users see their hard work through metrics like heart rate and calories burned in every workout. This visibility into their exercise outcomes reinforces the users’ commitment to achieving their desired fitness goals.

Apple’s fluid integration of fitness features across various devices allows users to easily track their progress and strive for greater achievements. In other words, Apple continually innovates to provide users with a comprehensive fitness experience that evolves with their needs and goals.

As of now, the Apple Watch has inarguable popularity. It’s the top-used smartwatch in the U.S., thanks to its ease of use and convenience. Apple Fitness+, on the other hand, achieves its praise because of the personalized experience it provides. Users often call it a fitness app with a professional feel and feel that the app helps them achieve their goals. Together, Apple Watch and Apple Fitness+, offer users an all-around approach to health and wellness.