Garmin Connect review

If you ride with a Garmin Edge or watch, Garmin Connect is already on your phone, and it does more for cyclists than many owners use. The free app shows detailed statistics for every ride, tracks health trends such as heart rate, lets you build custom workouts and courses to send to your device, and syncs with Strava and Apple Health. Garmin Cycling Coach plans run on compatible devices. Garmin Connect+, launched in March 2025, costs $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year after a 30-day trial and adds Active Intelligence insights powered by AI, a customizable performance dashboard, extra coaching guidance while following a Garmin plan, text alerts to family when you start a LiveTrack activity and exclusive challenges such as Power Cycling. Garmin says all existing features remain free. The limits are clear: Connect only works with Garmin hardware, and the app has a learning curve.

Who it is for

Riders who already own a Garmin Edge or watch and want their data and courses in one free app.

Price

Free app; Garmin Connect+ $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year (about $5.83 per month); 30-day free trial.

choose between a monthly ($6.99/month) or annual ($69.99/year) plan
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.

Key features

• Detailed ride statistics and health trends from compatible Garmin devices
• Create custom workouts and courses and send them to a device
• Garmin Cycling Coach plans on compatible Edge and watch models
• Connect+ adds AI Active Intelligence insights and a performance dashboard
• Connect+ adds expanded LiveTrack text alerts and exclusive challenges

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: All existing Connect features stay free
• Strength: Syncs with Strava, Apple Health and other apps
• Strength: Connect+ costs less than most training subscriptions
• Weakness: Only useful with a Garmin device
• Weakness: The app takes time to learn, as App Store reviewers note
• Weakness: No virtual riding or route discovery community of its own

Key facts

• Free plan: Yes
• Connect+: $6.99/mo or $69.99/yr
• Free trial: 30 days for Connect+
• Requires: A compatible Garmin device
• Syncs with: Strava, Apple Health, MyFitnessPal

Where it ranks

Garmin Connect is No. 8 in our Best Cycling Apps verdict.