Whoop Changes Course on Fitness Tracker Upgrade Policy Following Criticism
Fitness wearable company Whoop has reversed part of its recently announced upgrade plan for the Whoop 5.0 device, following widespread backlash from its user community.
Originally, Whoop said customers could only get the new device by either paying a $49 fee ($79 for the EKG model) or extending their subscription by 12 months. This upset loyal users who expected free hardware upgrades as part of their annual membership—especially given that the company charges between $199 and $359 annually for its subscription services.
The backlash centered around an old statement on Whoop’s website, which claimed users would receive free upgrades after six months of membership. That statement, now removed, was cited by frustrated subscribers who saw the new upgrade terms as a betrayal of Whoop’s promises.
Updated Policy: What Whoop Now Offers
In a Reddit post addressing the backlash, Whoop announced a more inclusive upgrade policy:
- Customers with 12+ months left on their subscription can now upgrade to Whoop 5.0 for free (or get a refund if they already paid).
- Customers with less than 12 months remaining can still upgrade, but must extend their subscription.
Whoop explained that the confusion stemmed from its recent shift to offering only 12- and 24-month subscription plans, phasing out monthly and six-month options.
“A previous blog article incorrectly stated that six-month members were eligible for a free upgrade. That was never our policy and should not have been published,” the company clarified.
Mixed Reactions in the Community
The Whoop subreddit had divided reactions. While one moderator called the update a “win for the community,” others remained skeptical, questioning the credibility of the company’s claims.
Some users expressed frustration after discovering they had 11 months left on their subscriptions—just short of the cutoff for a free upgrade.
Despite the policy revision, the incident has left a mark on Whoop’s brand image, with many users calling for greater transparency and consistency in how the company handles product upgrades.
