With many health, fitness, and wellness apps running on Android devices, users often need to switch between platforms to manage their data. Health Connect solves this by providing a single place for Android users to manage access to their health and fitness data, offering granular control.
The Google Health API platform offers two primary integration paths: Health Connect for on-device Android data, and the Google Health API for cloud-based, cross-platform data.
Platform overview
The following table summarizes the key APIs within the Google Health API platform:
| API | Status | Audience | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Connect | Available | Android mobile developers | On-device |
| Google Health API | Available | Web, server-to-server (S2S), and platform-agnostic developers | Cloud |
| Fitbit Web API | Transitioning | Existing Fitbit ecosystem developers | Cloud |
| Google Fit API | Deprecating | Legacy Google Fit (Android and REST) API developers | Cloud |
Health Connect
Consider integrating with Health Connect if you're an Android mobile developer.
We don't recommend migrating to Health Connect if you're an existing Google Fitbit Web API developer. However, if you're integrated with the Fit APIs, we recommend migrating to Health Connect only if you are a step-tracking app.
Health Connect unifies data across Android's portfolio of devices and apps into an ecosystem, providing a common health platform for Android developers. It provides a secure, on-device store for health and fitness data, standardizes the data schema, and centralizes permissions control.
- Architecture: Local / Android Path (Mobile-centric).
- Availability: Part of the Android framework starting with Android 14. For Android 13 and lower, it is available through the Google Play Store.
- Data storage: Device-centric, where data is stored locally on the user's device.
Health Connect distinctives
The following is a summary of how Health Connect differs from the Fit Android API:
- Intended audience: Health Connect is intended for Android mobile developers.
- Device-centric: Users access and store data on their devices.
- No account needed: The data is not associated with a Google Account.
- Built-in permissions: Health and fitness data management is centralized.
Integrate with Health Connect
The following resources help you integrate with and learn more about Health Connect:
- Integrate: See Get started to start integrating with Health Connect.
- Learn more: To learn more about Health Connect, watch the Introducing new APIs for health and fitness in Health Connect by Android video on YouTube.
- Resources: For more information, see the documentation.
- Migration: Fit API developers can follow the Fit migration guide.
Google Health API
The Google Health API is a unified web API designed for server-to-server (S2S) interactions. It is an account-centric, platform-agnostic interface that replaces the existing Fitbit Web API functionality.
Google Health API distinctives
- Architecture: Cloud Path (Server-to-server).
- Audience: Developers requiring a reconciled view of health and medical data across platforms.
- Data needs: Required if your app is web-based, uses the OAuth protocol, or requires low-latency data from Fitbit or Pixel Watch.
- Availability: Available.
Legacy APIs
The following APIs are considered legacy and are being deprecated or transitioned to newer alternatives.
Google Fit API
The Google Fit API (including the REST API) is officially scheduled for end of service by the end of 2026. We recommend integrating with Health Connect or the Google Health API. All developers using Google Fit APIs must transition. We recommend removing Google Fit integration and encouraging users to connect to new integrations. For instructions, see the Fit migration guide.
Fitbit Web API
The Fitbit Web API is a platform-agnostic interface to integrate with the Fitbit ecosystem. In the Fitbit Web API, the user's data is tied to their Fitbit account instead of their device. Existing developers should prepare to transition to the Google Health API to access unified health data.