Popular fitness tracker users angry following product launch
A new fitness tracker just dropped and existing users are angry.
The fitness tracker world is usually pretty chill. Updates drop, new features roll out, and users either upgrade or don’t.
But not this time.
A new launch from a beloved brand has left some of its most loyal fans feeling blindsided — and they’re not being quiet about it.
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Reddit is flooded with accusations, screenshots, and a growing thread of frustration that’s been dubbed #Whoopgate by the community. Some are even calling for legal action.
One user put it bluntly: “They've lied before, they're lying again, and they will lie again. Can we get a class action suit?” — u/cwamoon
Whoop's big promises meet big backlash
On paper, the new Whoop launch should’ve been a slam dunk.
The company introduced two next-generation wearables — Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG — with a 14-day battery life, sleeker design, an FDA-cleared ECG, Blood Pressure Insights, more flexible wear options beyond the wrist, and a new global ambassador: soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
Founder & CEO Will Ahmed called it “a new chapter” and said Whoop had “held nothing back.” That might be true — at least for new customers.
But existing members say they’ve been left behind. Despite years of loyalty (and hundreds of dollars spent), many aren’t eligible for free upgrades and must pay again — in some cases at a higher tier — to access new features.
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The reaction has been swift. Users have accused the company of deceptive business practices, going back on their word, and misleading upgrade promises.
Reddit threads titled “Whoopgate: The Receipts” by u/fffraterrr and “Upvote this if you cancelled your Whoop subscription!” by u/danfar93 have gone viral. Many users say they’ve already cancelled their subscriptions. Others are comparing Whoop’s tactics to something out of a Black Mirror episode.
Screenshots are being posted as evidence — comparing emails, pricing tiers, and upgrade eligibility — with many users saying they feel scammed and betrayed by a company they trusted. They argue Whoop has gone back on its word, promising one thing and delivering another.
Many longtime members are outright pissed, saying the company's tactics feel manipulative and shady.
Whoop’s trust problem is now a business problem
Whoop made its name as the premium wearable for performance-obsessed athletes, biohackers, and data nerds.
But now, it’s facing a customer trust crisis — just as competition in the space is heating up. The global fitness tracker market was valued at $60.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach approximately $164.4 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research.
Earlier this week, Oura, one of Whoop’s biggest rivals, introduced two game-changing new features focused on heart health and women’s wellness. The update was seen as a major step forward for a brand that’s already become a favorite among wellness influencers and longevity-focused consumers.
Whoop, meanwhile, is dealing with accusations of bait-and-switch tactics and broken promises. That’s risky for a company that relies heavily on recurring revenue — charging up to $359/year for its top-tier membership.
This isn’t just about hardware. It’s about trust, and that’s much harder to rebuild.
For now, Whoop hasn’t issued a public response to the backlash. But the longer they stay silent, the louder the anger gets. And that call for a class action lawsuit? It’s starting to sound a lot more serious than just Reddit noise.
In a fast-moving wearables market, brand loyalty can disappear overnight — and for Whoop, it already is.
Update 1:39 PM: A member from Whoop's PR team reached out with the following statement: "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 Whooop 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."
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