FITIV Works with Any Bluetooth Heart Rate Monitor
Unlike apps locked to proprietary hardware, FITIV Pulse supports any Bluetooth LE heart rate monitor. If your HR monitor transmits standard Bluetooth heart rate data, it works with FITIV.
Supported Bluetooth HR Monitors
Chest Straps
- Polar H10 — ECG-style chest strap, Bluetooth + ANT+
- Polar H9 — Chest strap at a lower price, Bluetooth + ANT+
- Wahoo TICKR — Reliable Bluetooth + ANT+ dual-mode
- Wahoo TICKR X — Adds motion features in Wahoo's app (FITIV uses its heart rate)
- Garmin HRM-Pro — Bluetooth LE + ANT+ (use BT mode with FITIV)
- Garmin HRM-Dual — Dedicated dual-mode HR strap
Arm Sensors (Optical)
- Scosche Rhythm+ — Popular forearm optical sensor
- Scosche Rhythm24 — Updated version with longer battery
- Polar OH1 — Clip-anywhere optical sensor
- Polar Verity Sense — Multi-sport optical sensor
- Wahoo TICKR FIT — Forearm optical band
Other Brands
- MyZone (MZ-3, MZ-Switch), Coospo, and most other monitors that support standard Bluetooth heart rate broadcasting
Watches, Bands, and Earbuds
- Apple Watch (Series 4 or later, via the FITIV Apple Watch app)
- Garmin watches with the Broadcast Heart Rate feature
- WHOOP with HR Broadcast turned on
- Fitbit Air with "Share heart rate" set to Always visible in Google Health
- AirPods Pro 3 and Powerbeats Pro 2 (iOS 26 or later) with heart rate turned on in iOS Settings
Why Use a Dedicated HR Monitor?
Accuracy during high-intensity exercise: Wrist optical sensors struggle with motion artifacts during high-cadence cycling, jump rope, or intense HIIT. Chest straps measure electrical activity (ECG) — motion doesn't affect the reading.
Battery life: Most chest straps run on a coin cell battery that lasts for months of training. A smartwatch needs regular charging.
Cost: A chest strap is a one-time purchase, often under $100, with no subscription.
Connecting a Bluetooth HR Monitor to FITIV
- Turn on your HR monitor (most activate automatically when worn)
- If the monitor is paired to another app or device, disconnect it there first
- Open FITIV and go to the Workout tab
- Tap the device banner at the bottom to open Workout Tracking
- Under Bluetooth Sensors, tap Discover & Manage Sensors
- Tap your monitor under Discovered Sensors to add it to My Sensors
- Go back to Workout Tracking and tap your monitor to use it for workouts
- Start a workout and check that your heart rate is coming through
Pair the monitor inside FITIV rather than in your phone's Bluetooth settings. FITIV remembers paired devices, and you can manage them under More → Bluetooth Sensors.
Wahoo TICKR with FITIV
The Wahoo TICKR and TICKR X are popular dual-mode (Bluetooth + ANT+) straps. To use with FITIV:
- Enable Bluetooth on your phone
- Wet the strap electrodes before wearing (improves conductivity)
- Pair the TICKR once from the Workout tab using Discover & Manage Sensors
- After that, select it as your tracking device when you start a workout
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use both Apple Watch and a chest strap at the same time?
FITIV uses one heart rate source per workout. A common setup is a chest strap for workout accuracy and an Apple Watch for all-day and overnight data like sleep, resting heart rate, and HRV. You can also pair the strap directly to your Apple Watch (watch Settings → Bluetooth), and the watch will then use the strap during workouts.
My HR monitor isn't listed — will it still work?
Any Bluetooth LE device transmitting the standard Heart Rate Service (UUID 0x180D) will work with FITIV. Most consumer HR monitors use this standard protocol.
Does FITIV work with ANT+ sensors?
No. FITIV connects over Bluetooth only, and iPhones don't have ANT+ radios. Most modern HR monitors also transmit Bluetooth LE (dual-mode), so use the Bluetooth mode. ANT+-only sensors will not connect.
Will FITIV use my chest strap for HRV?
No. FITIV uses a Bluetooth monitor for live workout heart rate. The HRV behind your Recovery and Training Readiness scores comes from the overnight readings your Apple Watch saves to Apple Health.
