SimpleHR vs WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SimpleHR
Displays your current heart rate in large, easy-to-read text on your Apple Watch. Integrates with Apple HealthKit to provide real-time heart rate data, ideal for activities like running or cycling. Customize target zones and activity settings via the companion iPhone app.
- Large heart rate display
- Apple HealthKit integration
- Customizable heart rate zones
- Activity and location settings
- Companion iPhone app
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Just your heart rate on your Apple watch in the largest text that will fit! When you are running or cycling and you want to see your heart rate, tiny text just will not do. That's why we built Simple Heart Rate to provide easy-to-read access to your current heart rate by integrating with Apple HealthKit. You use the iPhone app to create multiple heart rate target zones with optional settings for activity and location to enhance your training experience. Simple Heart Rate makes a great companion app to a workout tracker running on your iPhone.
WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast
This app allows your Apple Watch to broadcast heart rate data to compatible fitness equipment. Connect to treadmills, bikes, rowers, and more from popular brands. Requires a separate WATCH LINK device to function.
- Broadcast Apple Watch heart rate
- Connect to smart fitness equipment
- Supports Peloton, Garmin, Wahoo, and more
- Stream to ANT+ compatible devices
- Stream to Bluetooth compatible devices
- Save heart rate to Health/Activity
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Turn your Apple Watch into a connectable heart rate monitor! Broadcast your Apple Watch heart rate directly to smart equipment consoles. Connect to bikes, treadmills, rowers, and more from brands you know and love: Peloton®, Woodway®, Garmin®, Wahoo®, Hydrow®, Concept2®. The WATCH LINK® Pod enables you to stream heart rate from your Apple Watch to any ANT+ compatible bike computer. The WATCH LINK® USB enables you to stream heart rate from your Apple Watch to any ANT+ or Bluetooth-compatible equipment. *IMPORTANT INFORMATION* The Watch Link app requires a WATCH LINK® device. Visit watchlink.app to learn more. Connect a WATCH LINK® to the app easily with step-by-step instructions. Once connected, your Apple Watch can stream heart rate to your workout gear. Enable 'Save to Health/Activity' in the app to fill your rings! APPLE WATCH REQUIRED This app requires a connected Apple Watch to function properly. Requires Apple watch series 3 or later.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast at Free against SimpleHR's $0.99. WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast also leads on review sentiment (74% vs 43%) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast is free to download; SimpleHR costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast has 154 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of SimpleHR's written reviews are positive against 74% of WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast's.
SimpleHR ships an update every 4 months, WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SimpleHR | WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.8 (14 ratings) | 4.0 (154 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | 73.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 14 | 154 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 85 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Aaron Sullivan | Bred Ventures Inc |
Customer experience
SimpleHR
WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast
Bugs and requests
SimpleHR
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast
Reported bugs
2 issues- App crashes on latest iOS version
- Disconnects during workouts
Requested features
3 requests- Customizable app interface
- Compatibility with more fitness equipment
- Ability to use Apple Watch workout app in background
In-app purchases
SimpleHR
No in-app purchases
WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SimpleHR free?
Is WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast free?
Which has better reviews, SimpleHR or WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast?
Do SimpleHR or WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast have ads?
Which is updated more often, SimpleHR or WatchLink Heart Rate Broadcast?
Other comparisons
