Samsung’s Galaxy Watch lineup is already equipped with a strong range of health and fitness features, but that’s not stopping the company from enhancing its offerings. 
The upcoming Galaxy Watch 8 series promises even more health-focused tools aimed at improving sleep, heart health, fitness, and nutrition with a personalized touch.
However, there’s a significant development on the horizon: Samsung is exploring the idea of turning parts of its Samsung Health platform into a paid service. Yes, a premium subscription might be coming soon.
In a recent interview, Dr. Hon Pak, Samsung’s digital health leader, revealed that the company is considering adding a paid tier to Samsung Health, similar to services like Garmin Connect Plus or Fitbit Premium. These subscriptions offer in-depth health insights, personalized recommendations, and exclusive guided workouts.
Although Samsung didn’t go into specifics about which features might be locked behind a paywall, the timing of this news coincides with the anticipated One UI 8 Watch update. This update is expected to be released alongside the Galaxy Watch 8 next month.
While nothing has been confirmed, it’s likely that a subscription model will emerge, with a possible monthly fee for premium features. Basic health and fitness tracking would still be free, but more advanced tools and insights may require a subscription.
Four key health features have already been revealed in the update: Antioxidant Index, Bedtime Guidance, Running Coach, and Vascular Load. However, not all of these features will be available on every device. For instance, the Antioxidant Index and Vascular Load features are exclusive to the Galaxy Watch Ultra, while the Running Coach will only be available on the Galaxy Watch 7 or later.
New Galaxy Watch buyers may get some of these features for free, but existing owners of older models may be nudged towards the subscription service. The pricing, though not yet confirmed, could fall within the range of other premium health platforms-around $6.99 per month for Garmin Connect Plus or $9.99 for Fitbit Premium.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see this shift toward subscriptions, especially considering Samsung has already stated that its Galaxy AI features will remain free until the end of 2025, hinting at more premium tiers in the future. In today’s world, subscription models are almost everywhere-from streaming services like Netflix to AI tools like ChatGPT.
So, is Samsung Health about to join the ranks of subscription-based apps? It seems likely. But we’ll have to wait and see exactly what gets locked behind that paywall.