SmartGym expands workout tracking to 3rd-party apps, adds Strava sync

SmartGym, Apple's 2023 Apple Watch App of the Year, is rolling out a new update today that delivers some of its longest-requested features. Here's what's new.

Strava sync and third-party workout support are here

Starting today, SmartGym users will be able to sync their progress with Strava, which means that any workout recorded in SmartGym will also automatically appear on Strava. According to the app's developer, Matt Abras, "Strava syncing has been a really popular request," and delivering it required multiple behind-the-scenes tweaks.

Since SmartGym runs independently on Apple Watch and many users work out without their iPhone, SmartGym had to account for workouts being recorded and synced without a paired phone nearby. As a result, workouts recorded directly on the Watch can now appear on Strava without any manual steps.

In addition to Strava syncing, SmartGym now also offers support for third-party workouts, in essence aggregating workouts recorded in other apps. So if you use any other workout app, including Apple Fitness+ or the built-in Workout app on Apple Watch, you can now see those sessions directly in SmartGym, having it work as your central workout dashboard.

A few extra tidbits

Today's update also introduces:

• Flexible time ranges for every progress chart, ranging between all time, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year
• New and more customizable sharing options and templates (including new transparency options) for users who like to share their progress on social media
• Per-measurement unit customization, which lets users set Weight units (Kg/Lbs), Distance units (km/miles), and Measurement units (cm/inches) independently

To download SmartGym, follow this link.

This update represents a significant evolution for SmartGym, transforming it from a standalone workout tracker into a comprehensive fitness hub. By supporting third-party app data and Strava integration, SmartGym addresses a common pain point for fitness enthusiasts who use multiple apps to track different aspects of their workouts.

The ability to aggregate workouts from Apple Fitness+, the native Workout app, and other fitness applications into a single dashboard provides users with a unified view of their fitness journey. This is particularly valuable for those who participate in various types of exercise or use specialized apps for different activities.

The Strava integration is especially noteworthy given Strava's popularity among serious athletes and fitness enthusiasts. The fact that SmartGym can sync workouts recorded directly on the Apple Watch without requiring an iPhone nearby demonstrates thoughtful engineering that accounts for real-world usage patterns.

For users who regularly share their fitness achievements on social media, the new customizable sharing options with transparency support offer enhanced ways to showcase progress. Combined with the flexible time range options for progress charts, users now have more granular control over how they visualize and share their fitness data.

The per-measurement unit customization is a practical addition that acknowledges the global nature of SmartGym's user base, allowing seamless switching between metric and imperial units for different types of measurements.

The update reinforces SmartGym's position as a leading fitness app in the Apple ecosystem, building on its recognition as Apple's 2023 Apple Watch App of the Year. By expanding its capabilities to work with other apps and services, SmartGym is positioning itself as the central nervous system for fitness tracking on Apple devices.

For existing SmartGym users, this update eliminates the need to manually transfer workout data between apps or maintain multiple fitness dashboards. For new users, it offers compelling reasons to choose SmartGym as their primary fitness tracking solution, knowing it can integrate with their existing fitness ecosystem.

The update is available now, and users can download or update SmartGym through the App Store to access these new features.