Garmin Drops Connect+ Paywall on Personalized LiveTrack Feature

Garmin appears to be walking back one of its Connect+ subscription restrictions. The Personalized LiveTrack profile page, previously locked behind the paid tier, is rumored to be moving back to free access for all users.

This is the first concrete rollback since Connect+ launched and started splitting features between free and paid tiers. LiveTrack is not a niche tool: endurance athletes use it constantly so family, crew, or coaches can follow them in real time during marathons, ultras, or long cycling rides.

Putting that behind a paywall was a jarring move for a brand whose hardware already costs $350 to $1,000-plus. Garmin users were vocal about it. The pressure clearly worked.

For context, Whoop charges $30 per month and locks everything behind a subscription from day one. Polar and Coros still offer robust free platforms alongside their hardware. Apple Watch leans heavily on the iPhone ecosystem with no mandatory subscription. Garmin sitting closer to that Coros model on core features is the right call.

Not a full reversal. But a smart one. Garmin needs to protect hardware value, and locking safety and tracking features is exactly the kind of move that sends athletes shopping elsewhere.