Whoop Has Modified Their Improve Coverage

Whoop’s new 5.0 {hardware} launched this week, together with a premium model of the gadget that they’re calling the MG. Together with the launch got here a brand new improve coverage, requiring customers to pay for what many thought can be a free improve. The corporate has walked again some of the brand new coverage, however most customers will nonetheless must pay to get the brand new gadget. Right here’s what it is best to know. 

Whoop’s official, present improve coverage

{Hardware} comes bundled with Whoop’s subscriptions, that are sometimes bought in 12-month or 24-month memberships. Whoop stated upon launching the 5.0 and MG which you can get the brand new {hardware} in two methods: 

• You’ll be able to pay so as to add 12 months to your subscription (a “membership extension”) and obtain the brand new gadget.

• You’ll be able to pay a $49 payment and obtain the brand new gadget with out altering the time period of your membership. 

(There was additionally a point out of a $79 payment for upgrading to the MG {hardware}, however that {hardware} requires a dearer subscription, so individuals who plan to improve to MG can be anticipated to pay extra for his or her subscription anyway.) 

After some backlash, Whoop revealed an article “clarifying and updating our improve coverage” during which they introduced a coverage to ship upgraded {hardware} to some prospects with none additional fee: 

• Members who have already got greater than 12 months left on their membership (for instance, somebody who purchased a 24-month membership and nonetheless has 13 months left) can get the brand new {hardware} at no cost. 

• Members who bought a 12-month (or extra) membership or renewal within the 30 days earlier than the 5.0 was introduced on Might 8 also can get the brand new {hardware} at no cost. 

Why persons are mad

This new improve coverage is totally different from how Whoop dealt with upgrades in 2021, when the earlier gadget—the 4.0—got here out. And till the launch of the 5.0 earlier this month, a minimum of two pages on Whoop’s web site appeared to say that members would get to improve to the following technology of {hardware} at no cost. Whoop has addressed one in all these as a mistake—a weblog publish referencing a six-month dedication—however hasn’t commented instantly on the opposite, a FAQ that appears to say everybody will get free upgrades. I will begin with the FAQ.

Till lately, that FAQ acknowledged “WHOOP is a membership, which implies you get the newest and best expertise as quickly because it’s accessible so long as you might be an energetic member. No want to purchase a brand new gadget every time it’s launched; you possibly can improve at no cost.” Right here is an archive of that web page that I made on Might 2, 2025, nonetheless displaying that language lower than per week earlier than the 5.0 launched. The date on the web page says that it was revealed in April of 2020.

The web page nonetheless exists on Whoop’s web site right here, however now says one thing very totally different: “WHOOP is dedicated to a membership mannequin the place {hardware} is at all times included. When new gadgets launch, you’ll have the chance to improve by extending your membership and you may obtain the brand new gadget at no further price. For those who’re not prepared to increase at the moment, you possibly can obtain the newest {hardware} by paying a one-time improve payment.” There is no such thing as a indication on that web page that it has been modified, and it nonetheless bears the April 2020 date. (Right here is an archive of the way it seems right this moment, for future reference.) 

I wrote to Whoop asking if that they had any touch upon that change, together with just a few different questions. In response, they despatched me the brand new improve coverage (additionally discovered right here), addressed a special weblog publish that had modified—extra about that beneath—and later despatched alongside this assertion:

“We have at all times tried to make it as simple and accessible as doable for our members to get on WHOOP. Since 2021, we have required members have a sure variety of months remaining on their membership to obtain a free improve. That continues to be true right this moment. You’ll be able to obtain a free improve to WHOOP 5.0 with 12 months remaining in your membership. Alternatively, you may also pay a one-time improve payment in case you’d favor to not lengthen. You can too select to resume your subscription when it’s up, and also you’ll be eligible to improve to WHOOP 5.0 at the moment at no cost.  With this launch, we launched two new gadgets — 5.0 and MG — each of which supply 14+ day battery life, a 7% smaller dimension, and the Wi-fi PowerPack. Given MG is our most premium providing with totally different medical-grade capabilities, it does include extra premium price. We ensured members may nonetheless obtain a free improve to WHOOP 5.0, however have a special possibility in the event that they had been on the lookout for totally different options and performance.”

Whoop has additionally been criticized for a weblog publish, discovered right here by Whoop customers on Reddit, that reveals one other discrepancy in acknowledged insurance policies. That weblog publish, which bears a date of September 30, 2024, stated that the coverage was to offer upgraded {hardware} to anybody who had been a member for a minimum of six months. The weblog publish was nonetheless dwell as of March 28 of this 12 months, as proven on this Wayback Machine archive. Whoop says that “was by no means our coverage and may by no means have been posted,” saying as a substitute that that they had provided free upgrades to anybody with six months or extra remaining on their subscription on the time of the 4.0 launch. 

This seems to be right—emails despatched in 2021 talked about that Whoop customers with “6+ months left on their membership” had been eligible to improve at no cost. Whoop confirmed me screenshots from such emails, and I dug into my very own inbox (by no means delete something, of us) and located the identical. The screenshot beneath is from an electronic mail I acquired in 2021.

From an electronic mail dated Sep 17, 2021.
Credit score: Whoop

In order that historic truth about six-month memberships checks out, however I see why many Whoop customers say they really feel misled. In the meantime, the FAQ’s assertion about free upgrades for all energetic members definitely influenced my long-term overview of the 4.0, revealed simply final month, during which I reported (based mostly on that FAQ on Whoop’s personal web site) that “you don’t need to pay for brand spanking new {hardware} to get new {hardware}.”

Indignant Whoop customers are discussing on Reddit and different boards the query of whether or not the corporate’s actions might run afoul of truth-in-advertising legal guidelines in Australia, the UK, the EU, and/or the U.S. Some are suggesting that U.S.-based prospects take into account submitting a criticism to the FTC (right here is the shape) or to your state’s legal professional common. 

Is it even price upgrading from the 4.0 to the 5.0? 

In spite of everything that, it’s not even clear whether or not the transfer from 4.0 to five.0 is price paying something. For those who’re comfortable together with your present membership (now often called Peak), all you’d achieve with 5.0 is an extended battery life. 

However you’d lose the power to make use of any straps or equipment you got to your 4.0. The brand new gadget is 7% smaller, Whoop says, which smacks of “we wished you to purchase all new equipment.” It positive looks as if they may have simply stuffed these seven-percent-smaller internals in the identical dimension housing because the 4.0 and had every little thing nonetheless be appropriate. Heck, fill the additional area with an even greater battery! 

I’d solely pay to improve in case you really feel the longer battery life is extra essential than back-compatibility together with your previous straps and equipment. (And in case you have lots of Whoop Physique clothes, it’s possible you’ll wish to anticipate extra 5.0 customers to weigh in earlier than you toss all of it—I noticed a minimum of one Reddit remark saying that the previous boxers match the brand new gadget simply advantageous.)

Must you “upcycle” your previous 4.0? 

There’s one other unusual factor happening with Whoop’s improve plans. For those who improve from the 4.0 to the 5.0, they’ll ship you a present field with a sanitizing wipe and a brand-new strap, so as to go your previous 4.0 on to a pal. They name it “upcycling,” and the complete particulars are right here.

However why would your pal need your previous 4.0? They might nonetheless have to enroll in a Whoop membership, and any new membership comes with a free 5.0 (or MG). 

Whoop makes an attempt to sweeten the deal by supplying you with (the gifter) a $50 credit score that can be utilized for equipment for your self—however not put towards membership. You solely get this as soon as your giftee indicators up for a paid membership. As for the particular person you present your previous gadget to, there are just a few methods for them to get a reduction on membership with the used 4.0: 

• You (the gifter) can prepay for a 12-month Peak membership for them, for $190 moderately than the same old $239. 

• They’ll be part of for $199 for a 12-month Peak membership

• They’ll use the 4.0 for a two-month free trial, which mechanically rolls over right into a full-price $239 12-month Peak membership. 

As quickly as you pay for a membership, and have 12 months remaining, you possibly can improve to the 5.0 or MG—in order that gifted 4.0 might have a brief lifespan certainly.

This doesn’t really feel like upcycling in any respect to me, only a method to faux you’re doing one thing helpful with a tool that may shortly get thrown away. For gadgets you truly purchase, like a Garmin or an Apple Watch, going with an older mannequin can typically prevent some money. With the Whoop’s price being baked into any new subscription, it appears unusual to suggest that some customers forgo the brand-new {hardware} that will in any other case be included.

In case you have a pal eliminating an previous 4.0, you may as nicely use the upcycling program to get a small low cost on the membership with 5.0 that you just had been planning to purchase anyway (utilizing one of many two choices above). Or if you have already got a 4.0, you may as nicely ask your pal to get the re-gifting package only for the free spare band—these issues nonetheless price 49 {dollars}.