Fitnit vs Apple Fitness+: Do You Really Need an Apple Watch?
Apple Fitness+ is Apple's guided workout service, deeply integrated with the Apple Watch. Fitnit is an AI-powered fitness app that tracks your exercises through your phone's camera. Both are solid fitness apps, but they work in very different ways.
How They Work
Apple Fitness+ streams guided video workouts — yoga, HIIT, strength, cycling, and more — led by professional trainers. Your Apple Watch displays real-time heart rate, calories burned, and activity rings on screen during workouts. The experience is polished and well-integrated into the Apple ecosystem.
Fitnit uses AI body tracking through your phone camera to watch your actual movements. It counts your reps automatically, analyzes your form, and gives you real-time feedback on technique. You don't follow along with a video — you do your own workout while Fitnit tracks everything.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Fitnit | Apple Fitness+ |
|---|---|---|
| Requires Wearable | No | Apple Watch required for full experience |
| AI Form Analysis | Yes — real-time | No |
| Auto Rep Counting | Yes — camera-based | No |
| Guided Video Workouts | No | Yes — large library |
| Nutrition Tracking | Yes — photo + manual + search | No |
| Pricing | Free tier, Pro $14.99/mo | $9.99/mo (+ Apple Watch $249+) |
| Platform | iOS + Web | Apple devices only |
| Earn Money | Yes — referral program | No |
The Apple Watch Question
Here's the thing about Apple Fitness+: without an Apple Watch, it's just a workout video library. The Watch is what makes it special — seeing your heart rate on screen, closing your rings, getting personalized metrics.
But an Apple Watch starts at $249. Add the $9.99/month subscription and you're looking at $369+ in the first year just to get started.
Fitnit works with just your phone. And if you already have an Apple Watch, Fitnit integrates with Apple Health anyway — so your Watch data flows into Fitnit automatically. You get the best of both worlds without paying for another subscription.
Who Should Choose What?
Choose Fitnit if:
- You want your exercise form analyzed and corrected in real-time
- You don't want to buy an Apple Watch just for fitness
- You prefer doing your own workouts rather than following along with videos
- You want nutrition tracking in the same app
- You want to access your workouts from a web browser too, not just Apple devices
Choose Apple Fitness+ if:
- You already own an Apple Watch and want to maximize its value
- You prefer guided, instructor-led video workouts
- You enjoy yoga, meditation, and a wide variety of class types
- You want SharePlay group workouts with friends
- You're fully invested in the Apple ecosystem
The Verdict
Apple Fitness+ is excellent if you already own an Apple Watch and prefer following along with guided workouts. But if you want AI-powered exercise tracking that actually watches your form and counts your reps — without spending hundreds on a wearable — Fitnit is the smarter choice.
The best part? If you do have an Apple Watch, Fitnit works alongside it through Apple Health. You don't have to choose one or the other.