When it comes to fitness trackers, the WHOOP and the Apple Watch are consistently top contenders, but they approach health and fitness in very different ways.
The Apple Watch is an all-purpose smartwatch with fitness features, while the WHOOP is a dedicated fitness tracker focused on recovery and performance. Both are popular choices for tracking activity, but which one is right for you?
This article provides a comprehensive comparison of the WHOOP and the Apple Watch. We’ll look at fitness tracking, sleep analysis, recovery metrics, hardware, software, and pricing to help you decide which device best fits your needs. I’ve used both devices extensively, and I’ll do my best to provide an unbiased assessment based on my experience.
Design and Comfort
The WHOOP and the Apple Watch take very different approaches to design. Ultimately, which one you prefer will depend on your personal style and how you plan to use the device.
WHOOP Design
The WHOOP favors function over form. Eschewing a screen altogether, the WHOOP strap focuses on collecting and analyzing data. The idea is that you’ll wear this band 24/7, so you can get a complete picture of your sleep, recovery, and exertion.
You can swap out the bands to customize the look.
Apple Watch Design
The Apple Watch is a traditional smartwatch with a screen that displays all sorts of information and delivers notifications from your phone. You can choose from different sizes and materials, and there’s a wide selection of watch faces and customization options.
Because the Apple Watch is meant to be worn all day and night, comfort is a consideration. Some users find it bulky, especially during workouts or sleep, while others don’t notice it at all. The WHOOP is generally considered more comfortable for 24/7 wear, thanks to its lightweight, screenless design.
Pricing and Subscription Models
How much will these trackers set you back? And how do their pricing models compare?
WHOOP Pricing
WHOOP operates on a subscription model. You can choose from a monthly, annual, or 24-month plan. The monthly plan gives you the flexibility to try it out, but the longer subscriptions offer a lower monthly rate. Keep in mind that, over time, the subscription fees add up, making the total cost of ownership higher compared to devices you purchase outright.
Also, don’t forget to factor in the cost of accessories and replacement bands if you want to customize your WHOOP or need to replace a worn-out band.
Apple Watch Pricing
The Apple Watch is a one-time purchase. There are different models, like the Series 9 and the Ultra, each with its own price point. You pay for the watch upfront and own it.
While the initial cost is higher, you don’t have recurring subscription fees. However, you might want to consider AppleCare+ for extended warranty and accidental damage coverage, which adds to the overall expense. And, of course, there are a plethora of accessories available, from different bands to charging docks.
Ultimately, you’ll need to decide which pricing model aligns best with your budget and preferences. Do you prefer a lower upfront cost with ongoing subscriptions, or a higher initial investment with no monthly fees?
Fitness and Workout Tracking: How Do They Stack Up?
When it comes to tracking your fitness and workouts, the Apple Watch and WHOOP take different approaches. The Apple Watch is more of an all-rounder, while WHOOP zeros in on strain and recovery.
Activity and Workout Tracking Capabilities
If you’re looking for a wide array of workout types, the Apple Watch has the edge. It can track everything from running and swimming to yoga and HIIT. WHOOP, on the other hand, is more focused on activities that put a strain on your cardiovascular system. How accurate are they? That can vary depending on the activity, but both generally do a decent job.
Speaking of strain, that’s WHOOP’s bread and butter. It measures cardiovascular strain, which is essentially how hard your body is working during an activity. This is a key metric for understanding your recovery needs.
Calorie Tracking
Both devices estimate calorie burn, but it’s important to understand the difference between active and total calories. Active calories are those you burn during exercise, while total calories include your basal metabolic rate (the calories you burn just by being alive). The accuracy of these estimates can vary, so take them with a grain of salt.
Step Counting
Step counting is a basic metric, and both devices do it. However, it’s important to remember that step counting alone isn’t a complete picture of your fitness. It doesn’t account for intensity or other factors.
HR Broadcasting and Support for Chest Straps
The Apple Watch can connect to external heart rate monitors, like chest straps, which are generally more accurate than wrist-based sensors. WHOOP relies on its built-in sensor. While convenient, wrist-based sensors can be less accurate, especially during high-intensity activities. The benefit of chest straps is greater accuracy, but the downside is that they’re less convenient to put on and sync up.
Workout Recommendations
WHOOP’s Strain Coach offers personalized workout recommendations based on your recovery. This is a great feature for optimizing your training. The Apple Watch provides more basic activity suggestions.
Post-Workout Analysis
WHOOP shines with its detailed post-workout analysis, providing strain scores and recovery recommendations. The Apple Watch offers basic post-workout summaries. The key difference is the actionable insights you get with WHOOP.
Sleep Tracking and Coaching: A Head-to-Head
Both the Whoop and the Apple Watch track your sleep, but they approach it from different angles.
WHOOP Sleep Tracking
The Whoop band monitors your sleep stages, noting any disturbances throughout the night, and uses that data to make personalized recommendations for recovery. It also looks at your sleep data in relation to your lifestyle, trying to correlate your habits with the quality of your sleep.
As with most wearables, the accuracy of the sleep stage detection isn’t perfect, but it’s generally considered pretty good, particularly when you look at trends over time.
Apple Watch Sleep Tracking
The Apple Watch tracks how long you sleep and provides a basic analysis of your sleep stages, integrating seamlessly with the Sleep app on your iPhone. It’s convenient, especially if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem.
However, the Apple Watch’s sleep tracking is more limited than what you get with Whoop. It’s fine for a general overview, but it doesn’t offer the same depth of analysis or personalized recommendations.
Sleep Coaching and Insights
This is where Whoop really shines. It gives you actionable insights and recommendations to improve your sleep quality, focusing on trends in your sleep data over time. It’s like having a sleep coach on your wrist.
The Apple Watch, on the other hand, offers very basic sleep coaching features. It can help you establish a bedtime routine, but it doesn’t provide the same level of personalized guidance.
Health Monitor
Whoop’s Health Monitor gives you a daily snapshot of your key biometrics, alerting you to any deviations from your baseline. This can be super helpful for spotting potential problems early on.
The Apple Watch relies more on you to initiate measurements. While it can track things like heart rate and blood oxygen, it doesn’t proactively alert you to changes in the same way Whoop does.
Recovery Tracking and HRV
Both the Whoop and the Apple Watch track a lot of data, but how do they use that data to help you optimize your workouts and your rest? One of the most critical factors in that equation is heart rate variability, or HRV.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Measurement
Your heart doesn’t beat at a perfectly regular pace, like a metronome. The variation in time between each beat is known as heart rate variability (HRV). A higher HRV generally indicates that your body is well-rested and ready to take on stress, while a lower HRV may indicate that your body is under stress and needs more recovery time.
Both devices measure HRV, but they present the data differently.
Recovery Score
Whoop distills your HRV, along with other metrics like sleep and respiratory rate, into a daily recovery score. This score gives you a quick snapshot of how ready you are to train.
The Apple Watch tracks HRV, but it doesn’t offer a specific recovery score. Instead, it presents the raw data, leaving you to interpret the numbers yourself.
Actionable Insights
Whoop takes the recovery score a step further by providing personalized recommendations for your training based on your recovery. If your score is low, Whoop might suggest a rest day or a light activity. If your score is high, it might encourage you to push yourself harder.
With the Apple Watch, you’re responsible for interpreting the HRV data and making your own decisions about training and recovery.
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
Both devices also estimate your basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is the number of calories your body burns at rest. This information can be helpful for understanding your calorie needs and managing your weight.
Hardware and Sensors
Both the Whoop and the Apple Watch rely on advanced sensor technology to gather data about your body and your activities.
Sensor Technology
Both devices use optical heart rate sensors to track your pulse. The Whoop really shines in this area, sampling your heart rate 100 times per second. This higher sampling rate can potentially lead to more accurate data, especially during high-intensity activities.
In addition to heart rate sensors, both devices include accelerometers and gyroscopes to track motion. The Apple Watch also has GPS capabilities for mapping your outdoor workouts.
Accuracy
When it comes to accuracy, both devices do a decent job, but it’s important to remember the limitations of wrist-worn sensors. Factors like skin tone, tattoo coverage, and how tightly you wear the device can all affect the accuracy of the readings.
While the Apple Watch’s GPS is generally reliable, the Whoop relies on your phone’s GPS, which may be less convenient for some users.
Strap Design
The Whoop strap is designed for 24/7 wear, with a focus on comfort and durability. The Apple Watch, on the other hand, offers a wide variety of band options, allowing you to customize the look and feel of your device.
Display
Here’s where the two devices really diverge. The Apple Watch boasts a vibrant, full-color display with a user-friendly interface. The Whoop, in contrast, has no screen at all. All of your data is accessed through the Whoop app on your smartphone.
Software and Integrations
The software experience is where the Whoop and Apple Watch start to diverge significantly. Here’s how they compare:
User Interface and App Experience
The Whoop app is all about the data. It’s designed for hardcore athletes who want in-depth analysis and actionable insights into their performance.
The Apple Watch app, on the other hand, is more versatile and user-friendly, offering a broader range of features and a more intuitive interface.
Integrations
The Apple Watch wins hands-down when it comes to integration. It works seamlessly with the entire Apple ecosystem, including HealthKit and other Apple apps. This makes it easy to track your overall health and fitness data in one place.
Whoop has more limited integrations, although they are expanding their ecosystem. Still, it’s not quite as comprehensive as the Apple Watch.
Community Features
Both devices offer community features, but they’re geared toward different audiences. Whoop has a strong community focus, allowing you to share data, compete with other athletes, and join teams.
The Apple Watch also lets you share your activity with friends and family, encouraging a bit of healthy competition and motivation.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life can be a major factor when choosing a wearable. Here’s how the WHOOP and Apple Watch stack up.
WHOOP Battery Life
The WHOOP 4.0 is known for its impressive battery life, offering up to 5 days on a single charge. The unique charging system involves sliding a battery pack over the sensor without removing the WHOOP from your wrist, allowing for continuous data tracking.
Apple Watch Battery Life
The Apple Watch Series 8 offers up to 18 hours of battery life with typical use. However, with the new Low Power Mode, you can extend that to around 36 hours. Charging is done via a magnetic charging cable, and the Series 8 offers fast charging, allowing you to go from 0% to 80% in about 45 minutes.
Battery Life Comparison
The WHOOP clearly wins in terms of battery longevity, lasting several days longer than the Apple Watch. However, the Apple Watch offers faster charging and the convenience of a widely used charging standard.
Who is each device best suited for?
Both the WHOOP and the Apple Watch have strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a quick look at which device may be a better fit for you.
Apple Watch
The Apple Watch is a better choice for you if:
- You’re looking for a smartwatch that can do a little bit of everything, including fitness tracking.
- You’re already invested in the Apple ecosystem of products.
WHOOP
The WHOOP is a better choice for you if:
- You’re a serious athlete or fitness enthusiast who wants in-depth data about your training and recovery.
- You’re interested in analyzing data and getting actionable recommendations for optimizing your performance.
Key Takeaways
The WHOOP and Apple Watch both offer valuable insights into your health and fitness, but they approach it from different angles. The WHOOP prioritizes recovery, training load, and sleep analysis, while the Apple Watch delivers a broader range of features, including activity tracking, communication, and entertainment.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on what you want from a wearable. If you’re a serious athlete focused on optimizing performance, the WHOOP’s detailed recovery metrics and training guidance may be more appealing. If you want a versatile smartwatch with fitness tracking capabilities, the Apple Watch might be a better fit.
Consider your individual needs, training style, and priorities when making your decision. Both devices can be powerful tools for improving your health and achieving your fitness goals.