Ten Websites Or Applications That Play Nice With Fitbit

Do you want to get more out of your Fitbit, Jawbone Up, Misfit, Withings or other activity tracking device? My 10 on the  10th list is a round-up of ten websites or applications that play nice with Fitbit activity trackers. Most of these will also play nice with other activity trackers and devices including Jawbone Up, Misfit, the Garmin family of devices and Withings devices. Most also can sync with a variety of fitness or nutrition applications, so be sure to check the “applications gallery” for any that interestest you.

The apps  listed can make your Fitbit more accurate, make nutrition tracking easier, reward you for your activity and motivate you to live your healthiest life. I am sure this is just the tip of the iceberg, there may be other fantastic applications that I haven’t mentioned. I would love to hear about other apps if you have found some that add value to your Fitbit or other tracker experience.

Thank you to YakkaFit  for hosting the 10 on the 10th linkup! Be sure to check out the other posts in this months fitness themed 10 on the 10th list linkup!

Disclosure: I have nothing to disclose. These are simply apps I found beneficial. I have redeemed prizes through a couple of the rewards apps, but this was simply through participation in their program and before I ever thought to write about them.

10 Applications  or Programs That Play Nice With My Fitbit:

 

1. Spark People

Spark People has a rich collection of articles, an active community and detailed nutrition and activity trackers. My favorite aspect is that the nutrition tracker can sync to my Fitbit account and it actually logs the specific foods. My other favorite feature is the recipe calculator as that is very helpful if you make your own meals. The Spark recipe calculator is a great tool for “making over” your favorite recipes. You simply enter the ingredients and the number of servings it yields and the calculator generates a nutrition label. If you save the recipe, you have it for future reference (and easy logging). You can hack the ingredients–subbing less healthy for more and see how that improves the nutrition value. This is a feature sadly lacking on Fitbit, so I feel the Spark recipe calculator alone greatly improves my nutrition tracking and it is also a great awareness and education tool.

 

2. Digifit

I use the Digifit iCardio application on my phone. It links with my Bluetooth heart rate monitor, provides detailed heart rate and GPS information and it logs my workout to my Fitbit account. Digifit works with several devices including heart rate monitors, foot pod sensors, and others. Be sure and check the compatible device list before committing to the pro or paid options. Digifit also pulls some of my Fitbit activity to their sites interface giving me a very comprehensive view of my activity stats for the day–both during and outside my workout.

 

3. My Fitness Pal

My Fitness is another feature rich nutrition tracking app and website that can sync to Fitbit. I find My Fitness Pal a little easier to use than Spark People, but the nutrition information isn’t quite as detailed. I personally feel that My Fitness Pal does a better job of estimating my calorie allowance then Spark. So I go back and forth between the two based on my personal preferences. My Fitness Pal also has a recipe calculator, but I don’t find it as detailed as Sparks. MFP does have it’s own perks including a very extensive food database and a barcode scanner to make logging of packaged foods easier. When I use to subscribe to Clean Eating magazine, I was surprised to find just about any recipe I tried was already entered by another MFP member.

 

4. IFTTT

IFTTT is a great app for connecting different accounts or setting automatic actions when something specific happens. IFTTT can connect with a few different activity trackers (Fitbit, Jawbone Up, Misfit, Withings and others). I have used IFTTT to send an IOS reminder to myself if my step count is below goal, to put my daily Fitbit activity summaries into a Google Spreadsheet, to keep a spreadsheet of my sleep logs.

 

5. Fitstar

Fitstar is a great application that features body-weight workouts and it adjusts the workouts to your previous performance. After each, you enter your repetitions and some questions about how difficult you found the exercise. Fitstar will also log the workout to Fitbit for you. Fitstar also connects with other activity tracking devices (Jawbone UP and possibly others) and My Fitness Pal.

 

6. Runkeeper

I haven’t been using Runkeeper very much recently, but I thought I would mention is as it is a very versatile app. I use to use Runkeeper as kind of a “fitness” Twitter and journal as it can link to and pull information from a variety of applications (including Fitbit).

 

7. AchieveMint

AchieveMint is a website that you can connect with a variety of activity trackers and apps to earn points. Those points result in cash rewards once you accumulate enough points. You can earn points for Fitbit steps, tweeting healthy topics, checking into a gym, drinking water (if tracked by a certain app) and more.

 

8. Every Move

Every Move is another activity rewards program that are able to link with a Fitbit account. Every Move can sync with a variety of fitness apps and devices including Runtastic, Runkeeper, Striiv, MiCoach, Strava, Misfit and others.

 

9.  Fitbolt

Fitbolt is a computer application that reminds you to stretch or take short exercise breaks throughout the day. It also will log the break to your Fitbit account. I need to use this app more to save me from being too sedentary when working at the computer.

 

10. Twitter or Facebook

Either directly or through IFTTT you can automatically share your daily step count, whether you reached goal or a few other things. If you are motivated by encouragement from your friends this is a great motivational tool.

 

Bonus: Get Rewarded For Your Activity: Five Activity Incentive Programs

I previously posted the above round-up of five apps or websites that I have used that reward me for my activity (Four out of five link to my Fitbit account). Participating in these programs has resulted in my Fitbit paying for itself.