Whoop apologizes, gives free Whoop 5.0 upgrades to some users after backlash
The company has responded to frustrations from its users following the introduction of its newest wearable
⌚️ Whoop is making amends with its uers after taking some heat the past few days
⬆️ The company has reversed course and will give more users free hardware upgrades to Whoop 5.0
📝 A policy was updated to reflect Whoop’s new pricing strategy, which eliminated the company’s previous upgrade promise
💵 The Whoop 5.0 ranges from $199/year to $359/year, depending on the model you choose
Whoop is making things right with its users.
Following the Whoop 5.0 announcement, many existing customers noticed that they didn’t have the option to upgrade to the new hardware from Whoop 4.0 like the company had promised; instead, they needed to either extend their subscription or pay an upgrade fee. But that’s changing, at least for those year 1+ year subscriptions.
Whoop says that it’s adjusting its upgrade path for its users, stating that anyone with a prepaid subscription with more than 12 months remaining will get Whoop 5.0 for free. Anyone with less than 12 months will still be required to pay a fee or extend their subscription to upgrade, but it’s an improvement nonetheless.
In a thread posted to X, Whoop acknowledged its previous policy which indicated that Whoop users who were active members for at least six months would be treated to free upgrades. The company says it was posted by mistake and that its original policy gave free upgrades to those who had six months or more remaining on their membership. Now that the company only offers 12-month or 24-month memberships, the policy needed to be changed.
Whoop also says that if you paid for an upgrade to Whoop 5.0 or Whoop MG and still have more than 12 months remaining on your subscription, the company will issue you a refund.
The change comes after users complained Whoop wasn’t giving them free Whoop 5.0 hardware after being loyal users of its platform.
Update 5-11-2025 12:08 PM ET: Updated to reflect Whoop’s new upgrade policy and additional information shared with the press and on X.
Original article: Whoop just announced the Whoop 5.0 band this week, and while it’s been met by a lot of excitement, it’s also facing some criticism. That’s because Whoop isn’t giving the new hardware to existing subscribers for free, breaking a promise it held up until less than two months ago.
With a Whoop subscription, the company used to promise users that any hardware upgrade would be free of charge so long as their subscription stretched back six months. This was Whoops’ policy until at least March 28, according to the Wayback Machine (as reported by The Verge). However, the company seemingly changed it with the introduction of Whoop 5.0. Now, if you want to upgrade your hardware, you have to extend your subscription by another year, pay $49 for the Whoop 5.0, or pay $79 for Whoop MG.
The only folks who are eligible for “free hardware” seem to be those who just signed up for Whoop in the past 30 days, according to a Reddit thread.
Whoop users have taken to social media to express their frustration with the policy change, with the r/Whoop subreddit festering with distaste. On X, users pointed out that the company has essentially lied to its existing users. In a statement emailed to The Shortcut, Whoop had the following to say:
The information referenced was pertaining to a previous launch, and is an error of fact. Like any company, we from time to time update our commercial policies.
With the launch of the WHOOP 5.0, we’ve worked to make WHOOP more accessible to more people and are now offering three tiers of membership, including our lowest price point ever with WHOOP One at $199. The WHOOP 4.0 will also continue to be supported, with members receiving new features available on our Peak membership.
The appeal of Whoop over other fitness trackers doesn’t just lie in the sheer amount of features available. It also doesn’t force you to buy the band in advance; instead, you simply subscribe to Whoop’s services to get the hardware. Other fitness trackers like the Oura Ring require you to purchase the hardware first and pay a monthly subscription price afterward. While Whoop’s subscription is more expensive, it at least means you get the hardware for “free.”
It’s unclear whether Whoop will be shifting its upgrade policy after all of this outrage. Right now, the company’s upgrade page on its website remains the same as it has all week, informing users of the fees they need to pay to get Whoop 5.0.
The latest version of the Whoop band includes features like blood pressure insights, ECG recording, Healthspan, better sleep tracking, 14-day battery life, and more.
Update 5-9-2025 5:34 PM ET: Updated to reflect a statement sent to The Shortcut from Whoop.
Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.