Whoop

2026-04-04T05:41:38Z

Obnoxious7774: Added an icident where whoop persues litigation in order to try to eliminate a competitor based on frivilous complaints. Ultimately hurting consumers by hurting competition.

{{CompanyCargo
|Founded=2012
|Industry=Health, Technology
|Logo=Whoop logo.svg
|Type=Inc
|Website=https://www.whoop.com/,https://shop.whoop.com/fr/fr/,https://shop.whoop.com/gb/en/
|Description=Whoop, Inc. (stylized as WHOOP) is an American wearable technology company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.
}}

'''{{Wplink|Whoop_(company)|Whoop, Inc.}}''' (stylized as '''WHOOP''') is an American wearable technology company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heater |first=Brian |date=2021-08-31 |title=Whoop raises another $200M for its athlete-focused fitness wearable |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/31/whoop-raises-another-200m-for-its-athlete-focused-fitness-wearable/ |url-status=live |access-date=2021-10-14 |website=TechCrunch |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260112201714/https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/31/whoop-raises-another-200m-for-its-athlete-focused-fitness-wearable/ |archive-date=12 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-09 |title=Whoop Terms of Use |url=https://www.whoop.com/de/en/whoop-terms-of-use/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Whoop |at=24. CONTACT Contact Us. If you have any questions regarding the Services, please contact Membership Services via support.whoop.com or call 1-833-948-0566. Our mailing address is Whoop, Inc., One Kenmore Square #601 Boston, MA 02215. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224100650/https://www.whoop.com/us/en/whoop-terms-of-use/ |archive-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref> Its principal product is a health tracking wristband that measures strain, recovery, and sleep.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rovell |first=Darren |date=2017-03-06 |title=MLB approves device to measure biometrics of players |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18835843/mlb-approves-field-biometric-monitoring-device |url-status=live |access-date=2021-10-14 |website=ESPN |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260207154914/https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18835843/mlb-approves-field-biometric-monitoring-device |archive-date=7 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Willgress |first=Lydia |date=2021-04-14 |title=We put Whoop's fitness tracker strap and membership experience to the test |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/outdoor-activity/sports-equipment-accessories/whoop-strap-review-band-tracker-b1830575.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2021-10-14 |website=The Indepentdent |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251006230411/https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/outdoor-activity/sports-equipment-accessories/whoop-strap-review-band-tracker-b1830575.html |archive-date=6 Oct 2025}}</ref> The device is best known for its use by athletes, and requires a subscription in order to process the data it gathers from the user's body.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martinelli |first=Michelle |date=2016-07-29 |title=Wearable apps help Olympic athletes train at their best |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/07/29/wearable-apps-whoop-olympic-athletes-train/87698488/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240703142549/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/07/29/wearable-apps-whoop-olympic-athletes-train/87698488/ |archive-date=3 Jul 2024 |access-date=2021-10-14 |website=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lindemann |first=Hannah |date=2021-03-31 |title=Whoop Strap im Test |url=https://www.runnersworld.de/laufuhren/whoop/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251007143255/https://www.runnersworld.de/laufuhren/whoop/ |archive-date=7 Oct 2025 |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Runner's World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hüber |first=Frank |date=2021-04-20 |title=Whoop Strap 3.0 im Test: Dauerdatenlieferant für Fitness, Schlaf und Erholung |url=https://www.computerbase.de/artikel/wearables/whoop-strap-3-0-fitness-test.76173/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250117224052/https://www.computerbase.de/artikel/wearables/whoop-strap-3-0-fitness-test.76173/ |archive-date=17 Jan 2025 |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Computerbase}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carlsen |first=Janina |date=2025-05-14 |title=Whoop 5.0 im Praxis-Test: Der aktuell teuerste Fitnesstracker |url=https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/cb-Tests-Wearables-Whoop-5.0-Praxis-Test-Fitnesstracker-39679161.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251208133831/https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/cb-Tests-Wearables-Whoop-5.0-Praxis-Test-Fitnesstracker-39679161.html |archive-date=8 Dec 2025 |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Computerbild}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-13 |title=Memberships made for you |url=https://www.whoop.com/de/en/membership/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250907171446/https://www.whoop.com/de/en/membership/ |archive-date=7 Sep 2025 |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Whoop}}</ref> Whoop, Inc. also sells wearable biceps bands and various other items like colorful straps.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-13 |title=4.0 Bands |url=https://shop.whoop.com/de/en/collections/band/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Whoop}}</ref>

==Consumer impact summary==
====Digital discontinuation bricking concerns====
No basic tracking capabilities of the Whoop wearable device are available to users without a subscription, because it will not sync the data with the app.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Austin |first=Max |date=12 Mar 2026 |title=Can You Use Whoop Without Membership? Here’s the Truth |url=https://wearald.com/whoop-without-membership/#Can_You_Use_Whoop_Without_Membership |url-status=live |access-date=12 Mar 2026 |website=Wearald}}</ref> The device is designed to be useless when there is no active subscription, which is a form of [[self-destructive design]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Randall |first=Nick |date=13 Jul 2023 |title=Whoop Without Membership: our Guide to Fitness Tracking |url=https://thewearify.com/whoop-without-membership/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 Mar 2026 |website=Thewearify}}</ref>

====Forced app download====
Whoop offers a limited set of information in the web experience, while the mobile app provides "comprehensive insights including Strain, Recovery, Sleep tracking, WHOOP Coach, and other health metrics with a rich, interactive interface designed for one-the-go use." This forces the user to use the mobile app in order to get full access to the features they paid for.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benger |first=Liv |date=Oct 2025 |title=Whoop APP complete desktop web version |url=https://www.community.whoop.com/t/whoop-app-complete-desktop-web-version/9478 |access-date=12 Mar 2026 |website=WHOOP}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlotterbeck |first=Noor |date=Nov 2025 |title=WHOOP coach on browser or desktop app |url=https://www.community.whoop.com/t/whoop-coach-on-browser-or-desktop-app/11211 |access-date=12 Mar 2026 |website=WHOOP}}</ref>

====Lengthy cancellation process====
As of March 11th 2026, the process to cancel a Whoop subscription involves navigating ~11 different pages.{{Citation needed|date=11 Mar 2026}}<ref>{{Cite web |author=noooor |date=2025-12-01 |title=How do I cancel a membership? |url=https://www.community.whoop.com/t/how-do-i-cancel-a-membership/12370 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260213152531/https://www.community.whoop.com/t/how-do-i-cancel-a-membership/12370|archive-date=2026-02-13|access-date=2026-02-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-10-06 |title=Canceling Your Membership |url=https://support.whoop.com/s/article/Canceling-Your-Membership?language=en_US |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Whoop |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250728215100/https://support.whoop.com/s/article/Canceling-Your-Membership?language=en_US |archive-date=28 Jul 2025}}</ref> An average cancellation might take around 15 minutes.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Bella |date=2 Feb 2026 |title=How To Cancel Your Whoop Subscription (2026) |url=https://www.joinchargeback.com/cancels/how-to-cancel-whoop |url-status=live |access-date=11 March 2026 |website=Chargeback}}</ref> This raises ethical concerns around not implementing the [[Federal Trade Commission|FTC]]'s [[click-to-cancel]] rule, which asks services to make cancellation as easy as it is to sign up.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=The FTC’s “Click to Cancel” Rule |url=https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/NegOptions-1page-Oct2024-v2.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251122050657/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/NegOptions-1page-Oct2024-v2.pdf |archive-date=22 Nov 2025 |website=Federal Trade Commission}}</ref>

Starting from the Membership menu, the customer is required to find "Cancel your Membership" button at the bottom (Step 1). Then within a page that presents retention offers, click "Take survey to cancel" and avoid those retention offers. To complete the cancellation, a survey must be taken on why they want to cancel their subscription.<ref name=":0" />

The "Cancel my Subscription" button is at the bottom of the "memberships" page. A big "PAUSE MEMBERSHIP" button is displayed above it. This button is stylized and red. Below it there is the "Cancel my Membership" text. This text is underscored and doesn't look like a button. To access this "Cancel my Membership" text one has to scroll down and then look specifically for this text.{{Citation needed|date=11 Mar 2026}}

Once the user clicks on the "Cancel my Membership" text they will be greeted by a huge red "Remain a member" button. Below this button is an underscored "Take survey to cancel" text. This almost looks like a "get back to the previous page" text.{{Citation needed|date=11 Mar 2026}}
<gallery>
File:Whoop subscription cancellation process 1.png|Step 1 of the Whoop subscription cancellation process.
File:Whoop subscription cancellation process 2.png|Step 2 of the Whoop subscription cancellation process.
File:Whoop subscription cancellation process 3.png|Step 3 of the Whoop subscription cancellation process
</gallery>
On the next page it will tell you to pause your membership instead. It then shows you the benefits from pausing your membership. It lists the following benefits with this headline:

Headline: "take a break and use your remaining months later" & "pausing your membership will allow you to:"

#Use the remaining 352 days of your membership later
#Save your existing data until you’re ready to come back
#Pause billing and data uploads, you can unpause at any time

This time instead of the "REMAIN A MEMBER" button there is a red "PAUSE MEMBERSHIP" button in all caps. Just below is a "NO THANKS, STILL CANCEL" text which isn't highlighted in any color. If you click the "NO THANKS, STILL CANCEL" text the user will see the following: "Cancelling your WHOOP membership disables the ability to upload new data to your strap." It will ask you the following question: "What’s the primary reason you decided to cancel your WHOOP membership?".
[[File:Whoop subscription cancellation process 4.png|150px|alt=Step 4 of the Whoop subscription cancellation process|thumb|Step 4 of the Whoop subscription cancellation process]]
It lists various answers:

#I misplaced the sensor and don’t want to pay for a replacement
#Didn’t provide features I expected
#Unhappy wearing the strap (fit, comfort, durability, etc.)
#I had a life change that made it difficult to use the product (pregnancy, injury, work schedule, etc.)
#I’m not confident in the pace of innovation
#Didn’t trust the accuracy of the data
#The sensor was not working properly
#I can no longer afford the subscription
#Didn’t help me meet my personal goals
#Customer service issues
#Other

[[File:Whoop subscription cancellation process 5.png|150px|alt=Step 5 of the Whoop subscription cancellation process|thumb|Step 5 of the Whoop subscription cancellation process]]
If the user doesn't want to answer any of these questions they can click on "Other". This will show a little box where the user can enter their reason and click on "Next" afterwards. It will then show a "GIVE FEEDBACK" page with a sub-headline that states "Feedback helps WHOOP improve." It asks you "When did you decide you would not renew?" and gives four answers.

#1 WEEK BEFORE RENEWAL
#1 MONTH BEFORE RENEWAL
#3 MONTHS BEFORE RENEWAL
#OVER 3 MONTHS BEFORE RENEWAL

[[File:Whoop subscription cancellation process 6.png|150px|alt=Step 6 of the Whoop subscription cancellation process|thumb|Step 6 of the Whoop subscription cancellation process]]
The user cannot skip the questions. Once the user clicks on an answer they will be asked the following question: "Are you planning to switch to another device? If yes, which device?". It lists various competitors' devices. The user cannot skip over this question.

#Apple Watch Ultra
#Google Pixel Watch
#Ultrahuman Ring
#Fitbit
#Samsung Galaxy Watch
#Oura Ring
#Samsung Galaxy Ring
#Garmin
#Apple Watch
#I'm not switching to a new device
#Other

[[File:Whoop subscription cancellation process 7 & 8.png|150px|alt=Step 7 & 8 of the Whoop subscription cancellation process|thumb|Step 7 & 8 of the Whoop subscription cancellation process]]
The "other" button will show a box where the user can enter their reason and click on next. This takes at least two clicks to do as with the previous "Other" button. After this question the user will be asked "Which of the following best describes why you decided to switch to this device?". It offers multiple answers again.

#The product was certified by a scientific organization
#I liked the device form factor the most (e.g., ring, wrist-based)
#The brand resonated with me
#I followed a recommendation from a friend or family member
#I saw value after completing a free trial
#The offering was easy to understand
#I trusted a review
#The product had the best feature set
#I saw the product in-store
#The product was well-priced
#The device is the most accurate
#Other
<gallery>
File:Whoop subscription cancellation process 9 & 10.png|Step 10 & 11 of the Whoop subscription cancellation process
File:Whoop subscription cancellation process 11.png|Step 11 of the Whoop subscription cancellation process
File:Whoop subscription cancellation process 12.png|Step 12 of the Whoop subscription cancellation process
File:Whoop subscription successfully canceled.png|Screenshot of a successful Whoop subscription cancellation process
File:Whoop subscription cancellation e-mail.png|Whoop Subscription Cancellation E-Mail
</gallery>
Clicking on the "Other" button prompts you to put in a custom answer again. Then the user can click on "Next". On the next page the user is greeted by a red "CLAIM OFFER" headline and a red button that says "YES, CLAIM 10% OFF". Below that button is a non-highlighted "NO THANKS, STILL CANCEL" button. Once you click on that the new page says "CANCEL MEMBERSHIP".{{Citation needed|date=11 Mar 2026}}

====Removal of payment method====
There is no button to remove the payment method.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Benger |first=Liv |date=2025-11-01 |title=Payment card to be removed |url=https://www.community.whoop.com/t/payment-card-to-be-removed/11799 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251217005607/https://www.community.whoop.com/t/payment-card-to-be-removed/11799 |archive-date=17 Dec 2025 |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=WHOOP}}</ref> The user can update the payment method. Whoop will charge the payment method with 1$ to verify functionality. The user has no assurance that their payment method won't be charged if they can't remove it.{{Citation needed|date=11 Mar 2026}}

==Incidents==
- Anticompetitive lawsuit against Bevel (https://youtu.be/iAcx7kP9sog)

==See also==

*[[Dark pattern]]
*[[Planned obsolescence]]
*[[Forced app download]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Whoop