Wearable giant Whoop flipped the script on wrist-worn fitness trackers. It ditched watch faces in favor of a discreet, screenless band. It went beyond daily step count to dive deeper into health metrics. You even pay for it in an unconventional way.
Rather than asking you to drop a few hundred dollars upfront, the brand will send you a band free of charge. After downloading the app and signing up for an ongoing membership, you have a free 30-day trial to test all the features on offer. Then, if you like it, you can choose to keep this app access going for an annual fee. If not, you can cancel it and return your band.
Here is everything you need to know about getting a free Whoop 5.0 band, which is widely considered one of the best fitness trackers on the market.
Read more: Whoop 5.0 review: A wellness editor’s honest verdict
You can sign up to get your hands on a free Whoop band on the brand’s website. You will, naturally, not receive the best of everything. Instead of choosing your membership type, band material, and charger, you will be sent a default package of the “certified pre-owned Whoop 5.0 device”, a wired basic charger, and a black CoreKnit band.
This doesn’t mean you’ll be sent an old band — the devices are checked and in good condition. You just may not be the first owner.
When you sign up for the free trial, you are also automatically assigned Whoop’s mid-tier Peak membership. This includes personalized coaching features, 24/7 tracking of your sleep, strain, recovery, heart rate, and, for women, hormonal insights.
On top of Whoop’s original offering, it also features a stress monitor, a health monitor, and a new Healthspan feature that uses your data to provide a “biological age”. However, Healthspan is only unlocked after you have recorded 21 recoveries (or nights of sleep) in your first month using the device.
Once your free trial is up, it will automatically convert into a 12-month Whoop Peak membership. You can cancel your trial, in which case you will be asked to return your band, device, and charger within 14 days after receiving a return label to avoid a restocking fee. Or you can change your subscription to a cheaper Whoop One or a more expensive Whoop Life membership.
Read more: Whoop 5.0 vs Oura ring: What tracker should you buy?
Fitness and wellness journalist Jennifer Heimlich included the Whoop 5.0 in her reviews of the best fitness trackers and sleep trackers, a testament to how impressive the band is.
The Independent’s fitness and wellbeing editor Emilie Lavinia has also tested the Whoop 5. In her review, she wrote: “I loved wearing the Whoop 5.0 so there’s very little I can say that might dissuade you from buying the new hardware if you’re already keen.”
The tracker is a “whole lifestyle experience with the band sensors able to automatically detect whatever exercise you’re doing, measure biological age, and prevent health issues with medical-grade insights. It’s a futuristic experience that caters to anyone”, she added.
If you’re undecided on whether to sign up for a year, now’s the time to trial it for 30 days first.
