If you’re a Garmin smartwatch user who’s been eyeing the company’s premium subscription features but hesitant to pay another monthly fee, we might have some good news for you. A fresh rumor indicates that Garmin is beginning to loosen its restrictions on one popular feature, potentially making it available to a wider range of customers beyond just its top-tier Connect+ subscribers.
This shift could be a significant value-add for users of high-end devices like the new Garmin Fenix 8 Pro, who may already be paying for other Garmin services.
A Quick Recap of Garmin Connect+
To understand why this is a big deal, let's rewind. In March of 2025, Garmin officially launched Garmin Connect+, a comprehensive subscription service priced at $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year. This service bundled a suite of advanced features that were previously locked away, aiming to create a more premium, data-rich experience for the most dedicated athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.
Some of the headline features of Connect+ include:
- Personalized Coaching Guidance: Enhanced, AI-driven advice within Garmin Coach training plans.
- Exclusive Badge Challenges: Unique digital awards to earn through specific fitness feats.
- Detailed 3D Maps: More realistic and immersive topographical maps for hiking and exploration.
- LiveTrack Enhancements: Upgrades to the popular safety and sharing feature.
What's Changing with LiveTrack?
At its core, LiveTrack is a fantastic safety and convenience tool. It allows you to automatically share your real-time location with friends and family during a run, ride, or hike. The basic version has been free for years, but the "enhancements" were a key selling point for Connect+.
These subscriber-only perks included the ability to send text (SMS) notifications to your followers and, notably, the option to create a custom LiveTrack profile page—a personalized landing page for your activities.
According to a recent and detailed report from the reliable tipsters at Garmin Rumors, this is now changing. The blog, which has a strong track record with Garmin news, states that the LiveTrack feature is receiving a visual refresh. More importantly, they indicate that the ability to personalize a LiveTrack homepage is no longer exclusive to Connect+ subscribers.
This feature is now reportedly being extended to anyone with a "connectivity subscription." In Garmin's ecosystem, this primarily means inReach subscribers.
This is a strategic and customer-friendly move. inReach is Garmin's satellite communication service, popular with serious adventurers who venture outside of cellular coverage. These users often rely on LiveTrack for safety during remote expeditions. It never made much sense for them to need both an inReach plan and a Connect+ subscription to access a fully-featured location-sharing tool.
This development is part of a broader wave of updates coming to the Garmin ecosystem. A recent article from Garmin Rumors dives deeper, hinting at other exciting improvements on the horizon, including a new "Rundown" feature, an auto-logging function, and smarter activity insights. You can read their full breakdown of what's coming next for Garmin users here.
What Does This Mean for You?
For the average user, this signals that Garmin is listening to feedback and is willing to adjust its subscription strategy to provide better value. If you are an inReach subscriber, you now get more for your existing monthly payment without an additional upsell.
This is particularly beneficial for users of Garmin's latest flagship multisport watches, like the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro. This device, which currently retails for $1,299.99 on Amazon, is a powerhouse designed for the most demanding environments. Its users are exactly the type who would benefit from a unified and powerful LiveTrack experience without subscription overlap.
It's important to note that not all Connect+ LiveTrack features are becoming free-for-all. The report makes it clear that sending LiveTrack information via text (SMS) notifications will remain exclusive to Garmin Connect+ subscribers. The big win here is the personalized homepage.
The Bigger Picture: Is This a Trend?
The big question now is whether this is a one-off change or the start of a new trend. Will Garmin continue to trickle down other Connect+ features to users with different subscriptions, like Outdoor Maps+?
For now, that remains unclear. Core features like the exclusive 3D maps and premium coaching plans still appear to be firmly part of the Connect+ package. However, this move with LiveTrack shows a flexibility in Garmin's approach, suggesting that the wall between its various subscription services might be more permeable than we initially thought.
For Garmin users, it’s a promising sign that the company is focusing on creating a more logical and integrated experience across its product lineup.