Google Fit API Deprecation and the New Health Connect by Android: What Thryve Customers Need to Know
- Written by: Thryve
- 5 minutes
Google is encouraging developers to migrate to Health Connect, a unified platform for health and fitness data that integrates Android health sources, such as Fitbit, Google Fit, and Samsung Health. Google recently announced the deprecation of Google Fit APIs, including the Google Fit REST API, with a full shutdown set for June 30, 2025, and new developer sign-ups ending on May 1, 2024.
This shift will impact many apps and platforms relying on these wearable integrations. However, at Thryve, we’re committed to handling this transition seamlessly, so our customers won’t experience any disruptions.
What is Health Connect?
Key Platforms Being Phased Out
Health Connect is designed to centralize health and fitness data from a variety of apps and wearable ecosystems, such as Google Fit, Fitbit, and Samsung Health. It gives developers access to health metrics like heart rate, sleep, and activity levels. As Google Fit and other services phase out, Health Connect aims to be an aggregator for Android health data.
Health Connect will replace or consolidate multiple platforms:
- Google Fit: A leading health-tracking app for monitoring activity and health metrics, with APIs set to sunset in June 2025.
- Fitbit: Known for its extensive fitness tracking, Fitbit will transition to using Health Connect for integration needs. The Fitbit API however will still be available.
- Samsung Health: Health Connect will also take over Samsung Health API’s role in supporting integration for Samsung wearables. The Samsung API however will still be available.
Many developers and businesses relying on these platforms are now facing the need to shift to Health Connect. However, with Thryve, our clients can skip the hassle of individual migrations, as we manage these integrations for you.
How Thryve Handles This Transition for You
Thryve’s unified platform handles the complexities of integrating data from multiple wearables, so your data flow remains uninterrupted. Here’s how Thryve continues to provide advantages over both in-house integration and Health Connect:
1. Broader Device and OS Compatibility
- Health Connect is directly integrated with Android starting from Android 14, but it can only be installed as an app on devices running Android 9 and above. In contrast, Thryve’s SDK supports a wide range of Android versions, ensuring that all users can access consistent and reliable data integration.
2. Enhanced Reliability and Data Quality
- With Health Connect, data is aggregated from various sources, which can lead to potential gaps and inconsistencies since each source must maintain dual integrations with both Health Connect and their own API. Thryve minimizes these data gaps by working directly with wearable providers and verifying that data is consistently accurate, complete, and up-to-date.
3. Broader Health Data Types and Detailed Annotations
- Health Connect currently lacks support for some essential data types, like ECG data, and does not always handle detailed annotations, such as identifying whether data is manually added or medically certified. Thryve supports a broader range of health data and ensures that annotations are retained, which is crucial for clinical and high-stakes health applications.
4. Seamless Compliance with Privacy Regulations
- Thryve ensures compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO standards across all integrations. In contrast, managing data compliance across multiple third-party platforms using Health Connect can be complex. Thryve’s robust compliance system provides peace of mind for clients handling sensitive health data.
5. Efficient Data Updates and Automatic Adaptation
- Thryve is designed to adapt quickly to new APIs and evolving data types from wearable manufacturers. As Google transitions its ecosystem to Health Connect, Thryve will ensure all necessary updates are in place, so clients experience no disruption. With Thryve’s unified API, you won’t need to manage multiple API changes; we handle everything on your behalf.
6. Streamlined Data Management and User Experience
- Health Connect centralizes data but may require users to manage settings across different apps, which can be confusing. With Thryve, clients receive a single, streamlined integration, ensuring a better user experience without the need for complex multi-app setups.
In this blog post, we explore why relying solely on in-house solutions or platform-specific aggregators may fall short for digital health applications. Read more to discover how a unified health data API such as Thryve can streamline integration, improve data reliability, and enhance patient insights.
Thryve: The API Solution for Reliable Health Data Insights
Thryve’s continuously updated platform integrates with over 500 devices, including popular sources like Apple HealthKit and Garmin, ensuring that our clients receive complete health insights. With Thryve, you can count on uninterrupted access to high-quality, fully compliant data, regardless of industry changes or new aggregator models.
For digital health businesses navigating these transitions, Thryve remains a powerful alternative to aggregators like Health Connect, providing superior reliability, data diversity, and compliance. To learn more about how Thryve can keep your digital health solution at the forefront, book a demo with us today and experience firsthand how Thryve makes wearable data integration seamless and future-proof.
