Garmin Now Owns TrainingPeaks: Does It Change Which GPS Watch to Buy?
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The short answer
Garmin has acquired TrainingPeaks and TrainHeroic, two of the biggest names in endurance and strength-training software.
Should it change which GPS watch you buy? For most people: no. Here is what actually changed, what didn't, and the one group who might want to think twice.
Garmin announced the deal on 22 July 2026. Around 120 staff move across from Peaksware Holdings in Colorado, and the financial terms were not disclosed.
It strengthens Garmin's fitness ecosystem. It does not suddenly make every Garmin watch the right choice, or turn a perfectly good COROS or Suunto into the wrong one.
Read Garmin's official announcement
What Is TrainingPeaks?
If you have followed a marathon plan, trained for an ultra or worked with a coach, you have probably come across it. TrainingPeaks lets athletes and coaches:
Plan training
Build structured plans around a race, event or goal.
Schedule workouts
Set sessions weeks ahead and push them to a compatible watch.
Review progress
Analyse completed sessions, training load and recovery.
Track performance
Use metrics such as Training Stress Score to measure the work.
The reason it became so widely used is that it never belonged to one watch manufacturer. It connects to well over a hundred devices and apps, including Garmin, COROS, Suunto, Polar, Wahoo, Hammerhead and Apple. A coach with thirty athletes on five different brands could run one calendar for all of them.
The important bit
You do not need a Garmin watch to use TrainingPeaks. That is still true today.
What Changes Right Now?
If you already use TrainingPeaks: very little
- Your account stays where it is.
- Your coach relationship continues.
- Existing plans and training history remain available.
- Garmin, COROS, Suunto, Polar and Wahoo devices all still work with it.
- No subscription price change has been announced.
TrainingPeaks emailed its customers on the day of the announcement to confirm the cross-platform ecosystem continues. Worth noting, though, that Garmin itself has not made a public commitment either way about non-Garmin device support.
DC Rainmaker's analysis of the deal
What Could Change Later?
Garmin now owns the hardware and one of the largest coaching platforms in endurance sport. The obvious upside for Garmin owners is tighter integration: workouts landing on the watch faster, completed sessions syncing back more cleanly, TrainingPeaks data feeding Garmin's recovery advice.
Several analysts read the deal as a play to strengthen Garmin Connect+, Garmin's paid subscription tier. That would point towards more capability sitting behind a Garmin subscription over time.
A note of caution, honestly given
There is a precedent worth knowing. When Garmin bought Firstbeat Analytics in 2020, it gave similar assurances about continuing to license to third parties. That licensing has since wound down, and Firstbeat no longer takes on new third-party customers.
That is not a prediction, and keeping TrainingPeaks open makes obvious commercial sense given how many non-Garmin athletes use it. But if your entire training life runs through TrainingPeaks and a coach, Garmin is arguably the safest long-term bet.
So Which GPS Watch Should You Buy?
Your watch should still match how you train, where you go and which features you will actually use. All three brands we stock work with TrainingPeaks today.
| Brand | TrainingPeaks fit | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Garmin | Deep integration today, with the potential to get tighter | Athletes wanting the smoothest coach-to-watch setup |
| COROS | Syncing remains available | Ultra and endurance athletes wanting battery life and value |
| Suunto | Syncing remains available | Walkers and adventurers wanting mapping and strong screens |
You can see the current range across all three in our multisport GPS watches collection, and if you would rather have the decision narrowed down for you, our AI Sales Executive will ask a few questions and point you at the right model.
Who Does Not Need to Think About This At All?
If you are happy with your current watch, keep using it. There is no reason to replace a good COROS or Suunto because Garmin now owns a piece of training software.
And if you mainly use a GPS watch for walking, hiking, navigation, battery life or everyday fitness, this announcement barely touches you. Pick on mapping, screen, battery and comfort instead — our guide to choosing a GPS unit or watch covers what actually matters.
The five questions that still matter most
- Is the battery life enough for your longest day?
- Does it have the maps and navigation you need?
- Can you read the screen easily?
- Is it comfortable enough to wear every day?
- Will you genuinely use the training features?
Those answers matter far more than which company owns a piece of training software. If you are choosing between models for ultra and trail running specifically, our best GPS watch for ultra runs and trail running review goes into the detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Garmin watch to use TrainingPeaks?
No. TrainingPeaks continues to work with Garmin, COROS, Suunto, Polar, Wahoo and many other devices.
Will TrainingPeaks stop supporting other brands?
Nothing announced on 22 July 2026 changes device compatibility, and TrainingPeaks told customers the cross-platform ecosystem continues. Garmin has not commented on the long term either way.
Is TrainingPeaks free?
There is a free version alongside paid Premium plans. The subscription is separate from the cost of your watch, whichever brand you buy.
I just want a watch for walking. Does any of this matter?
Not really. Choose on mapping, navigation, battery life, screen and comfort rather than TrainingPeaks integration.
Should I wait before buying a GPS watch?
No. This is a change of software ownership, not a new generation of hardware. If you have found the right model, there is no reason to delay.
The Bottom Line
Garmin buying TrainingPeaks is a big fitness technology story. For most buyers, nothing changes overnight.
Garmin owners may eventually get even tighter integration. COROS, Suunto and the rest work with TrainingPeaks today, and there is no indication that is about to stop.
Buy the GPS watch that fits how you train and where you explore, not the one in the headline.
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