---
title: "Samsung Health API Alternatives: Health Connect and More (2026)"
canonical: "https://aifitnessapi.com/alternatives/samsung-health-api-alternatives"
cluster: "Alternatives"
primary_query: "samsung health api alternatives"
last_reviewed: "2026-10-27"
description: "Samsung says Samsung Health syncs with Health Connect, so Android apps can read its data there. Other routes: watch SDKs, Health Services, aggregators."
publisher: "AIFitnessAPI — independent, not sponsored"
cite_as: "\"Samsung Health API Alternatives: Health Connect and More (2026)\", AIFitnessAPI, https://aifitnessapi.com/alternatives/samsung-health-api-alternatives"
---

# Samsung Health API Alternatives: Health Connect and More (2026)

> The main alternative to the Samsung Health Data SDK is Google's Health Connect: Samsung says Samsung Health has synchronized data with Health Connect since version 6.22.5 (October 2022), including activity such as steps and exercise, heart rate and sleep, and Galaxy Watch data reaches it through the phone. For readings on the watch itself there is the Samsung Health Sensor SDK and Wear OS Health Services, and for many devices at once, aggregators whose mobile SDKs read Samsung Health. The Data SDK stays the direct route, but a released app needs Samsung's partnership approval, as of October 27, 2026.

- Canonical: https://aifitnessapi.com/alternatives/samsung-health-api-alternatives
- Last reviewed: 2026-10-27
- Publisher: AIFitnessAPI (https://aifitnessapi.com) — independent, not sponsored
- Cite as: "Samsung Health API Alternatives: Health Connect and More (2026)", AIFitnessAPI, https://aifitnessapi.com/alternatives/samsung-health-api-alternatives

---

Samsung's own route to Samsung Health data is the Samsung Health Data SDK, covered in [how to integrate Samsung Health](/integrate/samsung-health-api). This page is for when that route does not fit, as of October 27, 2026.

## Why teams look for a Samsung Health API alternative

- **Partnership before release.** Samsung asks you to "submit partner request before your app distribution"; without approval, an app using the Data SDK works only with developer mode turned on. Samsung calls the partnership "an exclusive service for the Samsung Health Data SDK".
- **Android, on the phone.** The Data SDK reads the Samsung Health app on the user's Android phone. Terra's documentation lists Samsung Health with Apple Health and Health Connect as mobile-based integrations that "require a mobile app with a Mobile SDK integration on the user's device".
- **Brokers hit the same gate.** Validic lists Samsung under vendors not accepting new applications, saying approval "requires direct relationship with Samsung Health".

## The alternatives

**Google Health Connect.** Samsung's own Health Connect FAQ answers the question directly: Samsung Health "synchronizes data with Health Connect since version 6.22.5 (October 2022) and later". Samsung lists activity data such as steps and exercise, heart rate and sleep as synchronized, and says Galaxy Watch data is transferred to Samsung Health on the phone and synchronized to Health Connect. Reading or writing it needs the user's Health Connect data permission. Two limits: the Health Connect app runs on Android phones and does not support Wear OS devices, and Samsung lists those data types, not everything Samsung Health holds. See [integrating Health Connect](/integrate/google-health-connect).

**On the watch: the Samsung Health Sensor SDK and Health Services.** For an app that runs on the wrist, Samsung's Sensor SDK is compatible with Galaxy Watch4 and later and provides both raw signals from the BioActive Sensor and processed data, in a watch app running on Wear OS powered by Samsung. Google's Health Services is the platform-wide equivalent: Google says Wear OS 3 and higher includes it. The [Wear OS data types reference](/wear-os-data-types) lists what Health Services exposes.

**Aggregators with mobile SDKs.** These read Samsung Health or Health Connect inside your app and deliver the data to your backend with other sources:

- **Terra** lists Samsung as event-driven with credentials "Required", and its docs send Samsung Health to the Terra Mobile SDK.
- **Rook** lists Samsung Health as an SDK source and says that to integrate with it, "clients are required to create their own developer accounts", which "can take several weeks".
- **Thryve** lists Samsung Health as a native source read through its SDK.
- **Open Wearables** lists Samsung Health via its Android, Flutter and React Native SDK.
- **Spike** lists Samsung Health on its integrations page, and **Sahha** says Samsung Health is among the Android apps that write to Health Connect, which its SDK reads.

The point to check before you buy: an aggregator's direct Samsung Health route can still need your own Samsung relationship, as Rook says outright. [Health data aggregator APIs](/fitness-apis/health-data-aggregator-apis) compares them.

| Alternative | Best for | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| Health Connect | Android apps that need steps, exercise, heart rate or sleep | The types Samsung syncs; phone only; user permission |
| Samsung Health Sensor SDK | Watch apps that need raw sensor signals | Galaxy Watch4 and later only |
| Health Services on Wear OS | Watch apps across Wear OS brands | On the watch, not historical cloud data |
| Aggregator mobile SDKs | Samsung Health beside many other sources | Fees; some still need your own Samsung developer account |

## Which should you pick?

- **Your Android app needs everyday activity, heart rate and sleep.** Health Connect, which Samsung itself points to, without a Samsung partnership.
- **You need data types Samsung does not sync to Health Connect, or you write data back.** The Data SDK with a partnership request; writing needs Samsung's access code.
- **You are building for the watch.** The Sensor SDK for Galaxy-specific signals, Health Services for anything that runs on Wear OS.
- **You also need iPhone users and cloud wearables.** An aggregator, accepting that Samsung access may still go through your own developer account.

For the comparable Apple platform, see [HealthKit alternatives](/alternatives/healthkit-alternatives); for Galaxy Ring data specifically, [smart ring APIs](/fitness-apis/smart-ring-apis).

## Is switching easy?

Moving from the Data SDK to Health Connect is mostly a change of client library on the same phone: Health Connect records instead of Samsung's data types, and a Health Connect permission prompt instead of Samsung Health's. Moving to an aggregator adds a vendor and a backend pipeline but makes iOS and cloud devices connect-flow options rather than new projects.

## Sources

- [developer.samsung.com/health/data/process.html](https://developer.samsung.com/health/data/process.html) — partner request before distribution, developer mode, exclusive service, access code for writing (checked 2026-10-27)
- [developer.samsung.com/health/health-connect-faq.html](https://developer.samsung.com/health/health-connect-faq.html) — Samsung Health sync with Health Connect, synced data types, Galaxy Watch data, Wear OS support (checked 2026-10-27)
- [developer.samsung.com/health/sensor/overview.html](https://developer.samsung.com/health/sensor/overview.html) — Samsung Health Sensor SDK on Galaxy Watch4 and later (checked 2026-10-27)
- [developer.android.com/health-and-fitness/health-services?hl=en](https://developer.android.com/health-and-fitness/health-services?hl=en) — Health Services on Wear OS 3 and higher (checked 2026-10-27)
- [docs.tryterra.co/reference/health-and-fitness-api/supported-integrations](https://docs.tryterra.co/reference/health-and-fitness-api/supported-integrations) — Samsung integration row (checked 2026-10-27)
- [docs.tryterra.co/unified-api/integration-setup/setting-up-data-sources](https://docs.tryterra.co/unified-api/integration-setup/setting-up-data-sources) — mobile-based integrations need the Mobile SDK (checked 2026-10-27)
- [docs.tryrook.io/data-sources/](https://docs.tryrook.io/data-sources/) — Samsung Health row and own developer accounts (checked 2026-10-27)
- [docs.thryve.health/thryve-data-sources/overview](https://docs.thryve.health/thryve-data-sources/overview) — Samsung Health row (checked 2026-10-27)
- [openwearables.io/docs/providers/supported](https://openwearables.io/docs/providers/supported) — Samsung Health via SDK (checked 2026-10-27)
- [www.spikeapi.com/integrations](https://www.spikeapi.com/integrations) — Samsung Health on the integrations list (checked 2026-10-27)
- [sahha.ai/integrations/](https://sahha.ai/integrations/) — Samsung Health writes to Health Connect (checked 2026-10-27)
- [validic.com/features/supported-devices/](https://validic.com/features/supported-devices/) — Samsung not accepting new applications (checked 2026-10-27)

## FAQ

### Can I read Samsung Health data through Health Connect?

Yes, for the types Samsung syncs. Samsung's Health Connect FAQ says Samsung Health has synchronized data with Health Connect since version 6.22.5 (October 2022), lists activity data such as steps and exercise, heart rate and sleep, and says the user must grant Health Connect data permission. Galaxy Watch data reaches Health Connect through Samsung Health on the phone.

[Permalink](https://aifitnessapi.com/alternatives/samsung-health-api-alternatives#faq-1)

### Do aggregators remove the need for Samsung partnership approval?

Not always. Rook says that to integrate with Samsung Health, clients are required to create their own developer accounts, which can take several weeks, and Terra's table marks Samsung credentials as Required. Validic lists Samsung as not accepting new applications. The Health Connect route, which Samsung documents, avoids the Samsung partnership for the types it syncs.

[Permalink](https://aifitnessapi.com/alternatives/samsung-health-api-alternatives#faq-2)

### Can Health Connect read data on a Galaxy Watch directly?

No. Samsung says the Health Connect app can be installed on Android mobile devices and does not support Wear OS devices; Galaxy Watch data is sent to Samsung Health on the phone and synchronized to Health Connect from there. On the watch itself, use the Samsung Health Sensor SDK or Wear OS Health Services.

[Permalink](https://aifitnessapi.com/alternatives/samsung-health-api-alternatives#faq-3)

### What is the Samsung Health Sensor SDK for?

Apps that run on the watch. Samsung says it is compatible with Galaxy Watch4 series and later and provides both raw sensor signal data from the BioActive Sensor and processed data, for a watch application on Wear OS powered by Samsung. It complements, rather than replaces, the phone-side Data SDK.

[Permalink](https://aifitnessapi.com/alternatives/samsung-health-api-alternatives#faq-4)