Apple Expands Fitness+ as Gyms Bounce Back

Apple Fitness+ is expanding to 15 new countries as the at-home fitness movement persists alongside the return of gyms.

The company has paired its subscription workout program with its signature wearable, offering six months of Apple Fitness+ with an Apple Watch purchase. The Watch tracks biometrics such as heart rate, blood oxygen levels, movement activity, and sleep.

Apple’s program will roll out in Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and across Europe on Nov. 3.

The expansion comes during a time when many consumers are now choosing to take a hybrid approach to working out — at home and returning to gyms.

• Peloton is ramping up efforts to bring in a broader audience. The company dropped the price of its connected bike to $1,495 from $1,895 in August and spent 24.5% of its revenue on sales and marketing in the second quarter.
• The at-home fitness market is still growing, with equipment sales up 20% year-over-year in August, according to the NPD Group. Fitness equipment sales hit $3.7 billion in 2020, 85% above the previous year.

Foot traffic to brick-and-mortar chains like Planet Fitness, 24 Fitness, Gold’s Gym, and Crunch was up 82.2% year-over-year in the third quarter, according to Placer.ai.