If you want to track your steps, sleep, and workouts without paying for a subscription, both Google Fit and Samsung Health are solid options. They're free, widely available, and capable of handling the basics. The question is which one fits your phone, your habits, and the other health tools you already use.

The answer isn't the same for everyone. Google Fit is built to work across Android phones and iPhones, with an emphasis on simplicity and integration with other Google services. Samsung Health is deeper and more feature-rich, but it's built primarily for Samsung Galaxy devices and pairs most tightly with Samsung's wearables.

We compared both apps across features, device compatibility, sleep tracking, nutrition logging, and third-party integrations. Here's what we found.

Key Takeaways

• Samsung Health is more feature-complete, with sleep coaching, stress tracking, blood oxygen monitoring, and nutrition logging built in

• Google Fit works on more devices, including iPhones, and integrates more naturally with Google Workspace and third-party apps

• If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone or watch, Samsung Health is the clear pick; otherwise, Google Fit or a dedicated third-party app may serve you better

Quick Verdict

• Google Fit: Best for Android users who want a lightweight activity tracker with broad app integration

• Samsung Health: Best for Samsung Galaxy device owners who want a complete health platform in one app

Google Fit Overview

Google Fit launched in 2014 as a fitness data hub. Its defining feature is the Heart Points system, developed in partnership with the American Heart Association. You earn one Heart Point per minute of moderate activity (brisk walking, cycling) and two per minute of intense activity. The goal is 150 Heart Points per week, which aligns with standard public health recommendations for aerobic activity.

The app tracks steps, distance, active minutes, and Heart Points automatically using your phone's sensors. It connects with a wide range of third-party apps, including Strava, MyFitnessPal, Sleep as Android, and Peloton, through the Google Fit API. That ecosystem breadth is one of its real advantages. For a list of tools that pair well with it, see our guide to apps that work with Google Fit.

What Works

• Available on Android and iOS, so it works across phone ecosystems

• Heart Points system provides a clear, science-backed activity target

• Strong third-party integration through the Google Fit API

• Connects with Wear OS smartwatches and many fitness trackers

• Data syncs with Google Health Connect for unified Android health data

Limitations

• Sleep tracking is limited; it requires a Wear OS watch rather than your phone

• No built-in nutrition or food logging

• No stress or mood tracking

• The app has received fewer updates in recent years compared to Samsung Health

Pricing: Free. No paid tier.

Samsung Health Overview

Samsung Health is a more complete health platform than Google Fit. Beyond step counting and activity tracking, it includes sleep coaching, stress measurement through heart rate variability, blood oxygen monitoring (on supported devices), food and water logging, menstrual cycle tracking, and guided workouts. It's the health layer built into Samsung's entire device ecosystem.

If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone paired with a Galaxy Watch, Samsung Health becomes significantly more capable. The watch feeds continuous heart rate, sleep stage analysis, body composition data (on some models), and electrocardiogram readings directly into the app. It's the kind of health dashboard that used to require paying for a Whoop or Oura subscription, now available for free on compatible Samsung hardware. See our roundup of apps that pair well with Samsung Health for more on extending its capabilities.

What Works

• Full feature set: sleep, stress, nutrition, blood oxygen, workouts, and more

• Deep integration with Galaxy Watch for continuous health monitoring

• Sleep coaching with actionable stage breakdowns

• Available on non-Samsung Android phones, though some features require Samsung hardware

• Strong workout library with guided sessions

Limitations

• Best features require Samsung Galaxy hardware; non-Samsung users get a reduced experience

• Not available on iOS

• Third-party app integration is more limited than Google Fit's open API

• UI can feel dense if you only want basic step and activity tracking

Pricing: Free. No paid tier.

Head-to-Head: Google Fit vs Samsung Health

Activity tracking: Both apps track steps, distance, and active minutes automatically. Samsung Health's workout tracking covers more exercise types with structured sessions; Google Fit relies more on automatic detection and third-party apps for sport-specific data.

Sleep tracking: Samsung Health wins here, especially with a Galaxy Watch. It gives detailed sleep stage breakdowns and coaching tips based on sleep quality trends. Google Fit's sleep tracking is minimal without a Wear OS device. If sleep quality is a priority, also see our guide to circadian rhythm apps for dedicated sleep tools.

Device compatibility: Google Fit works on Android and iOS. Samsung Health works on Android only, and some features are locked to Samsung Galaxy devices. If you don't have a Samsung phone, Google Fit is the more accessible option.

Third-party integrations: Google Fit has a more open ecosystem. Apps like Strava, Peloton, and MyFitnessPal integrate directly through the Google Fit API, and it connects with Health Connect for cross-app data sharing. Samsung Health supports fewer third-party connections, though it covers more ground natively.

Nutrition logging: Samsung Health includes a food database for logging meals. Google Fit has no built-in nutrition tracking and relies on third-party apps.

Stress and mental wellness: Samsung Health measures stress through heart rate variability and includes breathing exercises. Google Fit doesn't include stress tracking. If you want to act on your energy patterns rather than just measure them, our guide on energy-based calendar planning covers how to schedule your day around your natural highs and lows.

Which Should You Choose?

• You have a Samsung Galaxy phone or watch: Samsung Health. You get the full feature set and the hardware integration that makes it genuinely useful for sleep and health monitoring

• You use an iPhone or a non-Samsung Android phone: Google Fit. Samsung Health doesn't run on iOS, and its non-Samsung Android experience is limited

• You rely on third-party fitness apps: Google Fit, for its broader API and Health Connect integration

• You want full-featured health tracking without a wearable: Samsung Health, for its built-in nutrition, stress, and sleep features

• You just want step counting and weekly activity targets: Either works; Google Fit is simpler to navigate

If you want to go beyond tracking and actually schedule your workouts and recovery time around your energy levels, that's where a planner like Lifestack adds value. It connects to your calendar and helps you block time for exercise during the windows when you're most likely to follow through, rather than treating workouts as something to fit in whenever.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Google Fit better than Samsung Health?

It depends on your devices. For Samsung Galaxy users, Samsung Health is more feature-complete. For everyone else, especially iPhone users or people using non-Samsung Android phones, Google Fit is more accessible and integrates more broadly with third-party apps.

Can I use Samsung Health on an iPhone?

No. Samsung Health is only available on Android devices. iPhone users cannot install Samsung Health. Google Fit, by contrast, is available on both Android and iOS.

Can I use Google Fit on a Samsung phone?

Yes. Google Fit runs on any Android phone, including Samsung Galaxy devices. However, it won't access Samsung-specific sensors like body composition or some ECG features that are exclusive to Samsung Health and Galaxy hardware.

Which app is better for sleep tracking?

Samsung Health, especially when paired with a Galaxy Watch. It provides detailed sleep stage analysis, sleep score, and coaching tips based on your data. Google Fit's sleep tracking is basic without a Wear OS watch. For more dedicated sleep tools, see our guide to sleep trackers.

Are Google Fit and Samsung Health free?

Yes. Both apps are completely free with no paid tiers or premium subscriptions.

Does Samsung Health work with Google Fit?

They don't sync directly, but both apps connect to Android's Health Connect platform, which can share step counts and activity data between supported apps. Full bidirectional sync between the two apps is not available.