Garmin watches are great for helping you train, keeping track of your physical activity, staying up to date with your messages and phone calls, entertainment, and of course for telling the time.
Connect IQ is the online store where you can access a wide range of applications, widgets, streaming services and customizations for your Garmin watch.
Some of the applications available on Connect IQ are made by the inhouse app developers at Garmin, and others are made by external developers. New applications are added regularly, and there are lots to choose from.
If you want to make sure that you make the most of your Garmin watch then you are in the right place.
We have put together this list of the best applications for your Garmin watch, so keep reading to find out which applications could be useful to you (if you need to reset your Garmin Watch, read here).
Best Apps For Your Garmin Watch
OUR TOP PICK
The first application on the list is Strava. This is essential if you like to run, walk or cycle and you want to track your routes, distance and performance.
Strava can provide you with a detailed breakdown and analysis of your pace at different points in your route, how many calories you burned, and even your heart health.
One of the great things about Strava is that it isn’t just a useful app, it’s also an online community full of like minded people who have the same hobbies as you.
You can share your achievements and encourage each other, and even take part in challenges.
In order to sync your Strava account with your Garmin watch you need to create a Garmin Connect account. You will then be able to link the two accounts.
EDITORS CHOICE
If you own a Garmin watch and you are an Amazon Prime member then you are in a great position.
The Amazon music streaming application can only be found on Garmin watches - no other smartwatches are compatible with Amazon Music due to an exclusive arrangement between the two companies.
It makes sense to take advantage of this and use the app to stream all of your favorite music on your watch without the need to use a paired smartphone.
There are lots of pre-programmed playlists available on the Amazon Music app that will help to motivate you during your workouts, or you can create your own.
You won’t need to take your phone out with you when you go for a run, as you can track your performance with Strava and use amazon music for your entertainment!
BEST VALUE
AccuWeather is known for being one of the most accurate weather apps available, and you can get it on your Garmin watch.
You will never be unprepared for a sunny spell or a rain shower again with this app. You can check the weather days in advance and receive updates when the forecast changes so you are always one step ahead.
Having this app will help you to plan your days more productively so you can make the most of the dry weather and not get caught out.
Need to mow the lawn - check which day will be dry. Want to go for a run - have a look at the hourly forecast and choose the best time slot for your ideal running weather.
Not sure whether to eat dinner outside - have a look at the AccuWeather app!
RUNNER UP
RunSafe+ is a fantastic app if you love running or walking. You can use it for outdoor activities, on a treadmill in a swimming pool, or anywhere else you like to run or walk.
It will track how far you have traveled, how fast you are moving, and much more.
You can use this app to help you estimate your performance in any upcoming race events, and delve into a detailed breakdown of your training.
You can also see potential safety issues with your run, and set up the auto lap function.
Unlike Strava, this app is geared directly towards runners rather than cyclists etc.
RUNNER UP
Spotify is not exclusive to Garmin- it is available on almost every type of smartwatch you can get.
If you want access to as many different songs, artists and playlists as possible then Spotify is the best music app for you.
You can even download songs, albums or playlists ahead of time so you can listen to them when you have no signal.
This is ideal if you like to run cross country or in rural areas where the internet signal will be weak.
The only downside to using Spotify on your Garmin watch is that you will need to have a premium spotify subscription.
You cannot access free Spotify on your watch, even if you are willing to listen to adverts between songs. However, if you love music and you listen to it a lot then it will be well worth the money.
RUNNER UP
This application has been rated over 4 stars by many users, and it’s easy to see why.
It is a free app that gives you access to various different workouts to target certain areas - flexibility, cardio, strength etc. Each workout is only 7 minutes long and will get you feeling fitter and healthier.
Whether you want to complete the workout while you are at the gym, at home, in your garden, in the park or stuck in a hotel room, all you need is your watch. It’s simple but effective and has proved to be very popular.
RUNNER UP
Maps Nav is an application for your Garmin watch that uses data from Google Maps to help you find your way and navigate unfamiliar areas.
It’s much easier to keep track of the directions on your smartwatch than holding your phone out in front of you.
It is also much safer, as it doesn’t draw attention to the fact that you’re not sure where to go and are in a vulnerable position. This is important when you are in an area of high tourism.
You can set the watch to vibrate when there is a new directional instruction, which is ideal for longer journeys.
RUNNER UP
Garmin was the first smartwatch to create a pregnancy app on a wearable device. It can be synced up to your health tracking app to give you a good idea of your overall health during your pregnancy.
You are able to track your glucose levels, the movement of your baby, the weeks of your pregnancy, and various symptoms. It will also tell the approximate size of your baby at various points in the pregnancy.
You can also use this app to help you become pregnant by tracking your menstrual cycle and various symptoms that indicate your fertility.
There are still some improvements that can be made to this app and the developers are taking on board user feedback, but it is a step in the right direction to make women’s health more accessible.
RUNNER UP
There are lots of fitness apps for Garmin watches that are great for running, cycling, walking etc, but this app is the best if you are into hiking.
The long battery life and accurate GPS of Garmin watches makes them ideal for people who go on long hikes, and this app will help you take it to the next level.
Hiking App Professional allows you to track your route, the distance you have traveled, the different elevations and altitudes on your hike, your pace, your heart rate, and more.
You can use it to improve your overall fitness, or target specific areas like uphill speed, descent speed, heart rate, altitude or overall pace. You can track your progress and achievements on the app.
Using this app while you hike can also help to keep you safe. Keeping track of your temperature and heart rate will ensure that you don’t overexert yourself and that you take enough breaks when needed.
RUNNER UP
If you want to find out more about your sleeping habits and learn how to get a better night’s sleep, you should definitely try the Sleep As Android app.
It will track your motion and your heart rate while you are sleeping and use the data to come up with a sleep score.
This will tell you the quality of your sleep. You can use this score to track your sleep over a period of time.
If you are trying to sleep better, you can see how different lifestyle changes impact your sleep score.
For example, if you cut down on caffeine or change your evening routine, you can see if your sleep score is better after a week or so.
There are some other great features to this app such as bedtime notifications to stop you from staying up too late, alarms to wake you up in the morning, anti snoring aids and lots of advice on how to improve your sleep routine.
RUNNER UP
Watchlist is a Microsoft application that is compatible with Garmin watches. It is ideal for anyone who wants to get a better handle on their life and feel more organized.
The app allows you to create lists and keep on top of your priorities. You can sync the lists with other smart devices so that you are always up to date.
For example, you could have a shopping list on a device at home and sync it to your watch.
If your partner finds time to grab some of the items on the list before you get to the shops, you won’t end up with duplicate items as your watch will update the list.
Whatever you are planning or however many tasks you have to do. Watchlist will help you to stay on top of it and feel calm and organized.
You can also use it to make fun lists, like places you want to visit, ideas for day trips, or movies that you want to watch.
RUNNER UP
More and more people are investing in home security, and with the RecogniTion application you can connect your cameras to your Garmin smartwatch so that you can easily keep an eye on your property.
You will receive an alert on your watch if a potential break in is detected, which allows you to find out about much quicker than if the alert went to your phone.
The app is designed to filter out motion triggers caused by wind or animals etc, so you will only be notified when you need to be.
This is a great way to give you peace of mind, especially when you are on holiday or away from the house for a few days
RUNNER UP
Using a smartphone to pay for things is nothing new - a lot of shops and restaurants etc accept pay by phone so you can leave your house without your bank card.
But what about all of those loyalty cards? If you don’t carry a traditional wallet then you might be missing out on building up points and getting free rewards. And what about those gift cards that you received for Christmas?
The Barcode Wallet app lets you store various barcodes in your smartphone so you can use them whenever they are needed.
You can input all of your loyalty cards and gift cards and use your watch instead of having to carry around a wallet.
RUNNER UP
Meditate is a fantastic app that takes you through guided meditation and yoga sessions.
This is really helpful for clearing your mind, making you feel centered, lifting your mood and improving your mental health and wellbeing. It can also improve your overall health and make you feel more rested.
The app can monitor your heart rate during a session so that you can compare the before and after and see how beneficial the meditation was in making you feel calm and present.
Regular meditation over a long period of time is very useful and can have a big impact on your overall perspective as well as your resting heart rate and your mental resilience.
You don’t need to have any experience to enjoy using this app. The guidance is easy to follow even if you are a beginner.
RUNNER UP
If you live in an urban environment or a heavily populated area then it is a good idea to track the air quality around you.
This will let you know whether you need to invest in an air filter (or whether you need to turn it on if you already have one), and whether you need to find time to get away from the city for some country air.
Breathing in poor quality air can cause health conditions such as asthma, and can also lead to general discomfort. It also makes it much harder for your body to get all of the oxygen that it needs.
RUNNER UP
It might seem strange to use a toothbrush timer, but it is actually very useful.
Some electric toothbrushes have a built-in timer feature that lets you know when it’s time to move on to a different section of your mouth, and when you have been cleaning your teeth for long enough.
If you don’t have a toothbrush that does this, you can simply use the toothbrush timer on your watch.
Using a timer when you are cleaning your teeth helps you to do a thorough job without overdoing it.
It also helps you to stay focused on the task at hand, ensuring that you pay close attention and clean each part of your mouth properly.
RUNNER UP
If you are a commuter or you regularly use public transport, then you need to check out this app.
It allows you to check the timetables and routes for public transport near you without needing to take your phone out of your pocket.
It is powered by Google, and will look for the relevant information and present it to you on your watch.
Once you are on the public transport, you can find out how long is left of your journey. This app makes traveling a lot easier, and once you have it you will wonder how you managed without it for so long.
RUNNER UP
There are lots of useful things that your Garmin smartwatch can do, but it’s also great for keeping you entertained.
If you are waiting for a bus or a train, or your friend is running late for dinner, you can use this application to have a quick game of snake while you wait.
It’s simple but fun, and soon becomes very addictive. The controls are very easy and it’s a good way to pass the time without draining the battery on your phone playing games or scrolling through social media.
RUNNER UP
Emerald Maze is another fun game for your Garmin watch, but this one is a bit more complicated and well developed.
To get through the maze you have to make decisions on whether to travel left, right, up the ladder or down the stairs.
If you make the right decisions then you progress through the maze. If you choose wrong, then you have to start again.
This is simple, honest fun that also gives your memory skills a little workout.
Summary
A lot of people assume that Garmin watches are only for exercise, but there are lots of different things that you can do with a Garmin watch.
It’s very easy to track your workouts and progress on your Garmin watch, but you can also listen to music, track your health, navigate, check the weather and keep on top of various health stats.
Or just play a quick gam to pass the time.
Speaking of time, how about checking out another of our latest Garmin focused articles all about the best Garmin watch faces.
From a young age, I have always had a big interest in technology, and this blog is an extension of that interest. Through this blog, I hope to provide others with all of the information they need regarding tech options to consider, and things such as compatibility. Some of the different items I will be discussing include headphones, smartwatches, and how to fix common issues.
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