Recently, Google launched the Fitbit Air as a direct rival to the Whoop screenless fitness band, rebranded the Fitbit app to Google Health, and released a Gemini-powered AI coach. Exactly one day later, Whoop has responded with on-demand video consultations with licensed clinicians for US users.
The contrast is hard to ignore. While Google is betting on AI as your general health advisor, Whoop is doubling down on real, licensed doctors, and making the case that they can serve its fitness-focused users considerably better (via CNBC).
What exactly is Whoop offering?
Whoop has launched an in-app consultation feature that starts with a comprehensive review of your continuous biometric data collected by the device.
If you have recent blood work or medical history available through the HealthEx records integration, that gets factored in too, giving the clinician a fuller picture of your health before the call even begins. Whoop has confirmed the feature is designed to complement existing healthcare rather than replace a primary doctor or emergency services.
Whether clinicians will be able to issue prescriptions remains unconfirmed. The live video consultation will come at an additional cost beyond the standard membership. Pricing and availability will be confirmed this summer.
Is Whoop doing this to one-up Google’s Fitbit Air?
Whoop’s existing subscription, starting at $199 per year (with free hardware), already provides a host of health-tracking features beyond continuous heart rate monitoring, HRV, and sleep stages. Subscribers get daily recovery scores, strain coaching, sleep performance analysis, and monthly health reports with long-term trends.
Google Health Premium, by comparison, costs $99.99 a year and leads with its Gemini-powered Health Coach, which reads your biometric data, medical records, and meal photos, and generates personalized recommendations. The difference in approach is what might make users stick with Whoop.
Instead of relying on an AI drawing inferences based on data, Whoop is offering access to a medical professional who can ask follow-up questions, identify nuances in your health records with experience, and, most importantly, carry professional accountability that comes with a medical license.