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Cycling apps · Data ownershipBy WattsUP · Checked October 10, 2026 · 6 min read

Is Garmin Connect+ Worth It for Cyclists?

Short answer: for most cyclists, no. Connect+ costs $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year, and the things that matter for riding, such as recording, syncing, training load and exporting your rides, are still in the free Garmin Connect app. It’s easier to justify if you want its nutrition tracking or strength-workout tools. Either way, your ride files are yours, and there are good free ways to use them.

What Connect+ adds

Garmin launched Connect+ on March 27, 2025, with a 30-day free trial. At launch it included:

  • Active Intelligence: AI-written tips and insights based on your data.
  • Performance Dashboard: customisable charts and graphs.
  • Expanded LiveTrack: automatic text links and a custom profile page.
  • Live workout stats on your phone while you record an indoor or strength workout on the watch.
  • Extra Garmin Coach content, plus exclusive challenges and badges.

Since then Garmin has added Trails+ (May 2025), 3D maps of activities and courses (November 2025), a year-end summary (December 2025) and nutrition tracking with a food database and barcode scanning (January 2026).

What stays free

Garmin said at launch that all existing Garmin Connect features would remain free, and a year on that still holds. You can record and sync rides, see your training status and load where your device supports it, plan courses, use segments, and download your ride files, all without paying.

Reviewers did point out the “for now” in Garmin’s promise. That’s not a reason to panic, but it is a good reason to keep your own copy of your ride files.

Who it is worth it for

The5krunner, which reviewed Connect+ after a year, called it “generally not worth it” with two exceptions: people who want live strength-training tools on their phone, and Garmin users already paying for a separate nutrition app who would rather log food in Garmin Connect. If neither describes you, the free app covers cycling well. If one does, the monthly plan lets you try it without committing for a year.

How to get your ride files out of Garmin (free)

  1. One ride: in Garmin Connect on the web, open the activity, click the gear icon in the top right and choose Export Original. You get the ride’s original .fit file.
  2. Everything: go to Garmin’s Account Data Management page, choose Export Your Data, then Request Data Export. Garmin emails a download link. It often arrives within a couple of days but can take several weeks, so request it before you need it.
  3. Find the ride files: unzip the export and open DI_CONNECT. Depending on your export, the rides are in DI-Connect-Uploaded-Files or DI-Connect-Fitness-Uploaded-Files, inside further ZIP files in that folder.
  4. Straight from the device: plug your Garmin into a computer over USB and copy the files from its activity folder. These are the original recordings, before any app touches them.

Free ways to analyse your Garmin rides

A FIT file is an open format, so you have options:

  • Garmin Connect (free): the simplest choice if you only ride with Garmin.
  • Intervals.icu: free, very detailed analysis and training-load charts, with an optional paid supporter tier.
  • GoldenCheetah: free, open-source analysis software that runs on your computer.
  • WattsUP: free during beta. It reads the same FIT files, finds and scores every climb, and, if you also ride a smart trainer, puts indoor workouts and outdoor rides on one training-load curve. Try a file in the ride analyzer.

Leaving another platform as well? See how to export your full Strava history.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Garmin Connect+ cost?+

Garmin Connect+ costs $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year in the US, with a 30-day free trial. It launched on March 27, 2025.

Is Garmin Connect+ worth it for cyclists?+

For most cyclists, no. The features that matter for riding, such as recording, syncing, training load and exporting your ride files, are in the free Garmin Connect app. Connect+ is easier to justify if you want its nutrition tracking or live strength-workout tools, or simply want to support Garmin.

Do I need Connect+ to export my rides from Garmin?+

No. You can download any ride’s original FIT file from Garmin Connect on the web, or request a full export of your account data from Garmin’s Account Data Management page, without a subscription.

Will Garmin put existing free features behind the paywall?+

At launch Garmin said all existing Garmin Connect features would remain free. Reviewers noted the “for now” in that promise, which is one reason to keep your own copy of your ride files.

What can I use instead of Connect+ to analyse my rides?+

Your Garmin’s FIT files work in several free tools: Garmin Connect itself, Intervals.icu for detailed analysis, GoldenCheetah on your computer, and WattsUP if you also ride indoors and want trainer workouts and outdoor rides in one training-load model.

Sources

Prices and features checked October 10, 2026. WattsUP is not affiliated with Garmin.