Pick WHOOP if
- You already train by strain numbers
- No display is a feature, not a bug
- Monthly subscription model is acceptable
WHOOP is a screenless strap on a monthly subscription, reading 14/27 signals — recovery, strain, sleep, HRV, SpO2. Garmin is a watch you buy once, reading 19/27 including Body Battery and 24/7 stress.
WHOOP and Garmin both target serious training — but the value model is opposite. WHOOP charges monthly and prefers no display. Garmin charges once and gives you a screen, GPS, Body Battery, ECG, floors. If you already train by strain numbers, WHOOP fits the workflow. If you want the broadest signal stack and one-time payment, Garmin.
Per-category breakdown of API signals.
| Signal | WHOOP | Garmin |
|---|---|---|
| Heart & Vitals | ||
| Resting HR | ✓ | ✓ |
| HRV | ✓ | ✓ |
| SpO2 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Respiratory Rate | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skin Temperature | ✓ | ✓ |
| Body Temperature | — | — |
| Blood Pressure | — | — |
| ECG · AFib | — | ✓ |
| Sleep | ||
| Sleep duration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sleep stages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sleep score | ✓ | ✓ |
| Activity | ||
| Steps | — | ✓ |
| Active minutes | — | ✓ |
| Calories | ✓ | ✓ |
| Activities | ✓ | ✓ |
| Floors climbed | — | ✓ |
| Distance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fitness & Recovery | ||
| VO2max | — | ✓ |
| Training load | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recovery / Readiness | ✓ | — |
| Body Battery | — | ✓ |
| Stress (continuous) | — | ✓ |
| Cardiovascular age | — | — |
| Body Composition | ||
| Weight | ✓ | — |
| Body fat % | — | — |
| Muscle mass | — | — |
| Hydration | — | — |
Verified against vendor developer documentation.
Pick WHOOP if
Pick Garmin if
Pick both if
Yes. MyBodyAI merges signals from every connected source and uses richer-source-wins per field. WHOOP is built, waiting for vendor app approval, Garmin is live via GDPR upload.
WHOOP reads 14 of 27 tracked signals. Garmin reads 19. The matrix above breaks the count down by category — they often win different categories.
No. Recommendations on this page come from signal coverage and developer-API capability. Affiliate commissions never change the matrix, the pick-X-if cards, or your MyBodyAI subscription price.
Your MyBodyAI history is preserved per signal. New data starts arriving from Garmin the moment you connect it. Disconnecting WHOOP pauses the old feed without deleting past data.
Direct links to each vendor's store. Some are affiliate.
MyBodyAI merges these signals into Biological Age, Recovery and 9 other indices.
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