Syncing Fitbit to Apple Health works through a third-party app called Health Sync, because Apple and Fitbit do not connect directly
Fitbit and Apple Health are not designed to talk to each other. Fitbit sends data to its own app and ecosystem, while Apple Health pulls from Apple Watch and other Apple-approved sources. To move your Fitbit data into Apple Health, you need a middleman app that reads from Fitbit and writes to Apple Health. The most common option is Health Sync, a paid app available on the App Store that handles this transfer automatically.
The process takes about 10 minutes to set up. You read Health Sync, sign in with your Fitbit account credentials, choose which data types you want to sync (steps, heart rate, sleep, distance, calories), and let it run in the background. After that, your Fitbit data flows into Apple Health on a schedule you set—typically every hour or every few hours, depending on your preference.
Key Takeaways
- Apple Health and Fitbit do not sync directly; you need a third-party app like Health Sync to bridge them.
- Health Sync is a paid app (not free) that reads your Fitbit data and writes it into Apple Health automatically.
- You will need your Fitbit login credentials to authorize Health Sync to access your account.
- Once set up, syncing happens on a schedule you choose, usually every few hours without any action on your part.
- Not all Fitbit data types transfer; steps, heart rate, sleep, and distance are the most reliable, while some advanced metrics may not appear in Apple Health.
What Health Sync does and what it costs
Health Sync is a standalone app made by a developer called Xapptly. It acts as a translator between Fitbit and Apple Health. When you open it and sign in with your Fitbit credentials, it reads the data Fitbit has collected and pushes it into Apple Health. You do not enter your data twice or manually copy numbers—Health Sync automates the whole process.
The app costs money upfront (typically a few dollars, though the exact price varies by region and may change). There is no subscription; you pay once and own it. Some users report that Health Sync occasionally stops syncing if you do not open the app for a long time, so checking in once a week or setting a calendar reminder can help keep the connection active.
Step-by-step setup for Health Sync
Start by downloading Health Sync from the App Store on your iPhone. Open it and tap the Fitbit icon to sign in with your Fitbit account email and password. Health Sync will ask for permission to access your Fitbit data; approve this request.
Next, choose which data types you want to sync. The app shows you a list: steps, distance, calories burned, heart rate, sleep, and sometimes weight or blood pressure if your Fitbit tracks those. Check the boxes for the metrics you want in Apple Health. Then set a sync frequency—most people choose every 1 to 3 hours, though you can sync more or less often.
Tap "Start Syncing" or the equivalent button (the exact wording changes with app updates). Health Sync will run a test sync to confirm the connection works. If successful, your Fitbit data should appear in Apple Health within a few minutes. Open the Health app and check the Dashboard or the specific metric (like Steps or Heart Rate) to confirm the data arrived.
Which Fitbit data actually transfers to Apple Health
Not every metric your Fitbit tracks will show up in Apple Health. The most reliable transfers are steps, distance traveled, calories burned, and heart rate. Sleep data usually transfers as well, though Apple Health displays it differently than Fitbit does—you will see it under Sleep in the Health app, but the detail level may be lower.
Advanced Fitbit metrics like SpO2 (blood oxygen), skin temperature, stress level, and menstrual cycle tracking often do not transfer because Apple Health does not have a standard category for them, or the connection between the apps does not support them. If a metric is important to you, check Health Sync's documentation or test the sync to confirm it transfers before relying on it.
Troubleshooting when syncing stops or fails
If Health Sync stops syncing, the most common cause is that you have not opened the app in a while. Health Sync sometimes pauses background syncing if the app sits unused for weeks. Open Health Sync once a week to keep it active, or set a phone reminder to check it.
If syncing fails when you try it, check that your Fitbit account password has not changed. If you recently updated your Fitbit password, you will need to re-enter it in Health Sync. Go to the app's settings, find the Fitbit account section, and update your credentials. Also confirm that your iPhone has internet access and that you have given Health Sync permission to access Apple Health in your phone's Settings app (Settings > Health > Data Access & Devices).
If data appears in Apple Health but stops updating after a few days, restart your iPhone and open Health Sync again. Sometimes the background sync process gets stuck; restarting clears it. If the problem persists, uninstall and reinstall Health Sync, then sign back in and restart syncing.
Alternative approaches if Health Sync does not work for you
If you do not want to pay for Health Sync or prefer a different method, you have limited options. Some people manually log their Fitbit data into Apple Health using the Health app's built-in logging feature, but this is time-consuming and defeats the purpose of automatic tracking. Others use Fitbit's own app alongside Apple Health and accept that the two will not be unified.
A few other third-party apps claim to sync Fitbit to Apple Health, but Health Sync is the most widely used and reliable. Before trying another app, read recent reviews to confirm it still works—some older apps have stopped being maintained and no longer function with current Fitbit or Apple Health versions.
Why Fitbit and Apple Health do not sync directly
Fitbit is owned by Google, and Google has its own health platform called Google Fit. Apple and Google do not share health data between their ecosystems by default. Apple Health is designed to work with Apple devices and a curated list of third-party apps and devices that Apple has approved. Fitbit is not on that list, so the two platforms remain separate.
This is a business decision, not a technical limitation. Both companies could build a direct connection if they chose to, but they have not. As a result, users who want both Fitbit and Apple Health to work together have to use a middleman app like Health Sync.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will syncing drain my phone battery?
Health Sync syncing in the background uses very little battery. The app only checks for new data every few hours and sends small amounts of information. Most users do not notice any battery impact. If you are concerned, you can reduce the sync frequency to once every 6 or 12 hours instead of every hour.
Does Health Sync store my Fitbit password?
Health Sync stores your Fitbit login credentials on your phone so it can access your account. The app does not send your password to external servers or share it with third parties. If you are uncomfortable storing your password in a third-party app, this method is not for you, and you will need to manually log data or use only the Fitbit app.
Can I sync Fitbit data to Apple Health on an iPad or Mac?
Health Sync is available only on iPhone. If you want Fitbit data in Apple Health on an iPad or Mac, it will sync from your iPhone—Apple Health syncs across all your Apple devices automatically once data is in the system. You do not need to set up Health Sync separately on each device.
What happens if I uninstall Health Sync?
If you uninstall Health Sync, syncing stops when ready. The data that has already been transferred to Apple Health stays there; it does not disappear. If you reinstall Health Sync later, you can start syncing again from that point forward, but it will not backfill old data you missed while the app was uninstalled.
Can I sync Fitbit to Apple Health for free?
Health Sync is not free, but it is a one-time purchase with no ongoing subscription. If you want a completely free option, you would need to manually log your Fitbit data into Apple Health using the Health app's logging feature, which is much slower and requires you to enter numbers by hand.