If you are someone looking for a functional and performance oriented running on your smartphone, you do have plenty of choices. But, Fitbit is one of the awesome running apps that works the best both for novices and experienced. Here we go with a detailed review of Fitbit.
What is Fitbit?
As you might have rightly guessed it as of now, Fitbit is a running app. It is a well-known app in the health and fitness genre.
In fact, apart from running and related tasks, Fitbit can also help you out with several other fitness related tasks. As long as you have the concerned trackers available with you, you can keep track of all your workouts. Be it food, running, exercises, water intake or sleep.
Yes, the app works best with the trackers. However, that does not mean you will not be able to use the app otherwise. You can easily use the app independent of the tracking devices, but yes – the functionality will be limited.
How does it Function?
Well, the functionality of the app is just great. Maybe your experience will be better if you have a tracker connected to the app. If you don’t – nothing to worry. You can still use the basic features of the app. Let us go through the individual aspects of the app in the following paragraphs.
The Installation
Installation is not much complicated. The app can easily be downloaded from your app store.
If you are Android, get it from [wpi_designer_button text=’Google Play Store’ link=’https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fitbit.FitbitMobile&hl=en’ target=’_blank’ rel=”nofollow”]
iOS users can download from [wpi_designer_button text=’iTunes Link’ link=’https://itunes.apple.com/in/app/fitbit/id462638897?mt=8′ target=’_blank’ rel=”nofollow”]
After installation, you can launch the app to be welcomed by the login screen. Yes, you need to enter your profile details and personal information to be able to use the app on your phone. The initial screen also lets you connect with your Fitbit app. If you do not have one, you can let the app know it and proceed to use the basic features of the app. You will also need to provide your age, gender, and other related information. Fitbit needs them to analyse your fitness and health related aspects. You will get best results if you do provide the correct details.
The application is just 20 MB in size and should not take much of your precious storage space.
If you have a Fitbit tracker or any other such compatible device, it should be perfectly easy to sync with your device. The app does show some hiccups sometimes as there is occasional delay between the real time updates and those shown on the app.
The app requires permissions to access your location and accounts. These may be needed for GPS and social network functionality. However, there could be a few privacy concerns wherein the app needs access to your messages. However, given the the fact that the app comes from a trusted source, we do not think there is anything fishy.
The Looks and Interface
The interface is quite simple and easy to follow. On Android, it does follow the Material Design standards. The tool works exactly like the other pedometer apps.
Fitbit app can be used as a perfect pedometer or running app. All the menu items are located within the reach. That is exactly what you would love to see on a fitness app. The cleaner interface is quite intuitive. The application is quite easy to follow and understand.
The Salient features of the Fitbit App
Fitbit is indeed one of the greatest health and fitness app. It offers you several great features that would make it comparable to the competing applications.
You can use the app even without the Fitbit tracker, or for that matter any other compatible fitness tracker app.It does act predominantly as a pedometer app. However, the app can also be used for other fitness related tasks as well.
One of the feature we loved the most is the Food Plan. You can use the Create a Food Plan option on the app. It may not be comparable to the other well established and dedicated calorie control apps. Even then, it should be helpful and offer you enough features and can work like most Weight Loss Apps you may find elsewhere. It works on the simple principle. You just need to enter your current weight, and the weight you would want to accomplish. The app will create the best custom dieting plan that should help you achieve that.
Fitbit also offers you several ways for workouts. You can choose the option that best suits you. You should be guided with proper calorie intake based on your chosen plan.
User Experience
Well, the app performs quite efficiently. Yes, it does show up that the app is dependent on the trackers. However, that does not stop you from getting used to and taking advantage of some of the awesome features that the app provides you.
The interface is just easy to follow. The logging is simple to understand and follow. In fact, the graphs and details shown on the app interface tend to be work as a motivation for keeping up with your resolution of being in good health. The visual achievements help you reach your goal effectively.
The application does offer you several functionalities. It can also help you connect your app to a digital scale so that you can track your weight. You can track your sleep patterns and diet habits alike with the aid of the app.
It simplifies the task of keeping yourself fit. It can handle multiple requirements including but not limited to exercises, sleep patterns and dieting. We agree that you may not experience any unique and utterly innovative features on Fitbit, but – even then the app does offer you a host of features that make it a good choice as an app for regular usage.
If you are someone for whom this is the very first entry into the arena of fitness apps, Fitbit can be a great choice as this offers you a great experience in terms of initialisation. The interface that is one of the most uncomplicated can go a long way in helping you get used to the concept of health and fitness.
Flowers and Brickbats
Fitbit is one of the great fitness apps you can use to achieve your fitness goals. However, as with any other software tool, or app – this too has its own set of Pros and Cons. Let us set out on pinpointing the positives and Negatives of the app for the benefit of our readers.
The Pros
- Though the app is designed specifically for the trackers, it does work effectively even without them.
- It can work with your GPS on the basis of hikes, walks and runs.
- Most of the results provided by the app tend to be quite accurate.
- Fitbit also comes with food log that helps you keep track of your calorie intake.
- The app offers you a treasure of data. The data collected includes almost all the aspects of your fitness regime that the app covers for you – the records of your pedometric data, diet plans,
calories consumed and calories burnt and what not. In short, it works as a complete source of all your health related data.
The Cons
- Even when it works without the tracker, the experience is not exactly up to the mark.
- Sometimes, the app tends to go wrong with its calculations.
- The need for a high end Fitbit device makes it a little costly affair.
The Final Thoughts
Fitbit is actually one of the prominent fitness apps you can opt for. In fact, we fell in love with the amount of data it can bring before you. The app has packed in a lot of features within a single app. Yes, you may need to get yourself a high end Fitbit device, or any other compatible tracker – if you want to take the full advantage of the app, but if your needs are not beyond a certain basic functionality, it can work wonders.
Fitbit is made for the trackers, and that would be something that may stop you away from opting for the app. If you do not use any of these Fitbit compatible devices or trackers – it may not be a good option to buy it. There are several better alternatives you can go for. That does not mean Fitbit does have any issues, but the fact that it needs to be paired with a suitable device makes it a bad choice if you do not have the required hardware with you. On the other hand, if you have a compatible tracker, nothing can beat the performance of Fitbit.
Have any of our readers used the Fitbit App – either with the tracker or without the tracker? If yes, we would welcome them to share their experiences and opinions about the app with us. The feedback shared by you will have be much helpful for our readers. If you do have any queries to make with respect to the Fitbit app, you are welcome to share your views with us in the comments section here below.