✅ Get an Oura Ring here: aferg.co/ourar3349f The sponsors of today's videos are Opti Nutra, which offers the highest quality ingredients that are created in a natural way and I personally use. Here are some of my favorite products: ✅ The Performance Lab Energy supplement: aferg.co/energy-yt - this supplement is great because it naturally boosts mitochondrial function without stimulants, and, thus improves your energy levels naturally over time ✅ The Nutrigenesis Multi For Men Multivitamin I use: aferg.co/multim-yt ✅ The Testo Lab Pro Testosterone booster I use: aferg.co/testo-yt ✅ The Performance Lab Vision for improving eye health that I use: aferg.co/vision-yt Also, let's consider some of my earlier content on the Oura Ring 3: ✅ My epic Facebook group on red light therapy and more: aferg.co/fb-group ✅ Oura Ring 3 first impressions & unboxing: aferg.co/oura-3-impressions ✅ Oura Ring 3 sizing kit: aferg.co/oura-3-sizing ✅ Oura Ring 3 first review: aferg.co/oura-3-review ✅ For my previous full blog review of the Oura gen 2, check: aferg.co/ourareview ✅ The wearables comparison including the Biostrap, Oura, and Polar Vantage: aferg.co/wearables-comparison ✅ A video of me exploring the Oura Ring 3 features: aferg.co/oura-features
I still have a Oura Gen 2, was thinking of upgrading, but with out lifetime for free it makes no sense to me. thanks for the insight. No never will upgrade mine, except they have a promo again like at the beginning.
@@mabizu Same here. I was considering buying the 3rd gen without the subscription, but after seeing what they offer you after you spent (at least) 314 EUR, it feels like middle a finger to the customer. Well, Apple Watch, here I come... I guess.
Excellent perspective from Alex Fergus on the Oura ring. There is no point in spending $300 and six months later having no access to any significant data if you decide not to pay the $7/month subscription. The company should offer lifetime memberships for a reasonable fee, with significant $ breaks for certain groups. Having to shell out $84/year is a considerable burden for those of us who don't have high incomes and lots of expendable money. That's especially true of low-income folks or seniors on fixed incomes. As with so many things, this product is really only available for folks in the higher/est economic levels-upper middle class and upper class. That speaks poorly of the people who own the Oura ring.
Thank you so much I almost just bought an Oura ring and I missed this fine print. I don't want to get into a membership, so thank you for helping me dodge a bullet!
Hey Alex, I want to thank you for your helpful videos. I bought my BioMax 900 through your link and love it. I was going to get the Oura ring but their business model sucks. A better solution would be $349 with lifetime membership or $99 for the ring and $7 a month makes more sense
Thanks for the support. Regarding Oura - I agree. Though my main disappointment with Oura is how they have rolled things out - they should have just came out and said look we're moving to a membership model, this is how it will work.
I had gen 2 and did same upgrade to gen 3 with free lifetime membership (which I had no idea what it was about) like yourself. I can tell you, if I bought it now, I would be so pissed paying all that money and then having to pay monthly fee. The way the company have gone about leaves a bad taste and not to mention how they keep prompting us to “refer a friend” to get a discount Yada yada - they’re missing the point of good marketing by actually having a good product that people are excited to share and talk about.
Yeah I agree, they've really stuffed up with this. The first issue was the rushed product launch - getting people to upgrade despite most of the new features not being available (I thought it was rather cheeky, as they used those promos 'upgrade now for free access etc' but people didn't even know what they were really getting). Then rolling out the membership plan for new customers... now seeing that effectively they have tricked us - it's now a membership product. You need to pay to benefit from having the ring. Of course you and I are lucky in the sense that we were in early and don't have to pay the ongoing fees (though I have just noticed Oura have charged me $7 so I need to chase up with them on this!!) But in the past when I would tell people about the ring we all knew it was a $300 one off fee - now it's $300 (minimum, I see their new style is $349) plus $7 a month... for features that everyone had for free 12 months ago.
Glad I found this out. I was just about to pluck down $400 because I thought in long run it would be worth it, being able to monitor blood pressure, heart rate, etc. But now knowing that after spending that amount of money, I must spend more every month to be able to have this information. No WAY.
There is a HUGE amount of information every day about YOUR body : how you’re sleeping, how your heart is responding, how your body is working - and why would they do this for free?
Thanks for getting the word out Alex! I've been an Oura user since 2018 but didnt realize I had to upgrade and missed the cut off when my gen 2 died and i had to get the new gen 3 that cost over $400. The six mo trial expired today and I too was in shock when all I saw was the 3 scores and nothing else! 😢 I shot off my last help ticket to those dirty basturds and told them to f$ck off. It felt good. I'll sell my ring before I ever pay a monthly fee for my data. Oura has the MOST pathetic customer service I've ever seen, ever! AND the sleep data was never accurate! My fitbit tracked it much better. AND everyone knows that steps are not accurate as well. There I'm done. Love you though Alex. 😘
Lol. I know I shouldn't laugh but I did enjoy the passion behind this comment (btw, it actually ended up in my spam/to be reviewed comment section!) You're right though, they are all about $$ now. It's a shame really, as early on the company (and product) was all about working with and helping the customer. Now it feels like they don't need (care?) about us anymore, and it's all about max sales. I still use my Oura - though I see i'm still being charged and the promised 'we'll respond to you in 24 hours' customer care department still hasn't gotten back to me - because I like seeing the sleep/readiness trends (helps with my training). I know there are better devices out there, but I can't do wrist bands. So I'm limited to rings (in good news though, there are 3 new smart rings coming out int he next 6 months!). But if they keep charging me $7 a month I may have to reconsider...
@@LightTherapyInsiders Well said, Fergus. That is exactly how I feel: Oura are indeed JUST about money now. They do take ages to come back. The emails they send can't be replied to, as you get notification back, saying something about that email address not being monitored, and directs you to their website, which you have to damned well read for AGES, JUST to work out WHO you need to contact, in what department, under what heading. ALL hassle. It's JUST like these other so-called 'customer service' companies, with all their soothsaying tones, making it all sound so EASY, but no, press this, press that, then 'you can go to our website' (yes, I've just BEEN there and it told me to come here!). Put as many barriers in your way as possible as they don't REALLY want or care about customers at all! They want you OFF their back really. Well the more trouble I have to go to, the more determined it makes me. How dare these companies behave in such a cavalier fashion!
Well said, @Sherylyn01. My impression of Oura is just the same as you (as I posted above). I will NOT go quietly, rest assured. They'll need to exercise damage limitation strategy if they don't want to lose custom/money, as this company are fast becoming too big for their boots and high-handed. Having an Oura ring & membership costs a SIMILAR amount over 2yrs as a mobile phone - and look how many things THAT can do, and all the technology involved; it's WAY more than this ring! I just compare across devices and tech to get a sense of 'value' and Oura is NOT it! RIP Oura!
i love the idea of the ring and in terms of data insights it looks really good. however, im not paying them $7/month for processing my health data. the app should be able to do everything with my data locally and only need internet for updates (which i might consider paying for if features arent locked out without a subscription)
Yeah I'm with you. I mean if that monthly fee unlocked some new, really neat features - and maybe some other benefits (like in-depth data correlations or something) then yeah, thats cool, take my money. But now you're paying for features that Oura Ring users have had for years.
I agree, the whole point of oura was to pay once and forget about it. Whereas whoop was like here is a free device, but you gotta pay for membership. Honestly whoop gives me more actionable info, where oura just collects info silently and you gotta figure out what’s going on. I’ve lifetime oura subscription, but I got a ring for my partner and his is going to turn into a pumpkin really soon (he’s not getting a subscription for sure).
I got it as a gift and my membership just expired, I was blown away by the base app! Guess I’ll be using my Apple Watch for sleep tracking now. I can’t justify paying $84/ year for Oura ring while having an Apple Watch.
Oh yeah I never thought about people who receive them as a gift!!! Curious - can you still see your Oura data through Apple Health when it's in basic mode? What will you do with your ring? Can you return it?
When I bought our gen 2 Oura rings we recommended them to all our friends. We took the lifetime gen 3 upgrade but we never recommend the Oura to people when they ask about our rings.
Yeah it's a bit like that. Hey but I have good news, I have heard whispers of a new product that is meant to be a lot better than the Oura Ring. Hopefully I'll know more about it later this year :)
Thanks for your video. Bought a gen 3 8 months ago. In the last 2 months, I stopped checking because it became boring and pointless. I like the idea of a ring over a watch, but my friend's watches (all brands) display good info without any membership cost.
Hey, did you sign on to the membership plan or just the base (free) option. I personally like tracking my sleep and HRV/Readiness data, but I can see how some people don't find the data useful.
This was such a horrible change. I've stopped using mine. I'm using my Fenix full time for all my sleep, readiness and HRV tracking. Garmin have really improved those aspects in the last 6 months.
Yeah it's going to leave a bad taste in the mouths of many people. I can see why they're making the change (from a business point of view), but I think they went about it the wrong way. They should have just came out and said ' from this generation, we're moving to a membership model. In order to use the ring you need to pay the monthly fee'. Because now people who spend $300 and don't want to pay the monthly fee when it kicks in 6 months later soon realise they have nothing more than a piece of jewellery. OR - if they didn't want the above scenario to play out, then at least let non-membership users still see useful metrics. Not just 3 numbers.
@@Missgevious Currently it's only nighttime HRV tracking but it's only started rolling out to Garmin devices recently. I wouldn't be surprised if it eventually has the option for day and night. As with the SpO2 tracking, you can track it only whilst you sleep or all day. The Fenix would have the battery that would be able to handle it. We'll see in time
Alex, and everyone else who's having this problem: I've had this EXACT same problem. I and my wife have had the Oura ring since the Gen2 model. I find this sort of behaviour from companies is really NOT on! One already has to pay more for the Gen3 than the Gen2 (because of the extra features, which TBH I do not want anyway). I was HAPPY with my Gen2 (though the ring's battery life cycle is less than 2yrs before the whole ring needs replacing - which in itself isn't too impressive for something costing as much as this). Oura were good to replace my previous ring, under warranty, but again after the first year has passed, the battery starts failing, needing to be charged after only 2-3 days. So before I decided to upgrade, especially at the now increased price, for features I didn't wish for nor really want (like having a Ferrari to go shopping, when a standard car would suffice) I was feeling miffed at being forced to pay for technology I didn't need nor wanted to use (why don't they offer Gen2 rings for those happy with existing data?). I considered whether it was really worth even paying for, and certainly I had no intention of paying each and every month on TOP of the cost of the ring, making it almost $200 (£200 in my case, being in the UK) MORE over 2 years (even if the ring last that long, which they usually don't!). However, because we had trouble with my wife's ring when her 'membership' expired, and EVENTUALLY got it sorted out, giving ALL the data we had before, I decided to go ahead and order the Gen3 ring (with a discount because of the hassle we had and it failing before its time etc). But now, after this initial 1-month 'free membership' all of a sudden the display jumps to what you have, Alex - and I'm NOT pleased! I asked Oura, and they confirmed, that I'd still have the 3 data readings I used to, but now with just the score TITLES and NO data, I'm getting LESS than I did before! I am NOT happy at all! It feels like sleight of hand. One feels duped! Oura KNOW what I meant when I said I was happy with the 3 data groups I had, but no where did they say that it would be LESS data, so I'm going to challenge them. My wife's Gen3 is working fine and she HAS all the data as she used to, displayed in the exact same way (save a few tweaks). Oura either has to GIVE me back my data, without further ado, or I'm going to demand a FULL refund! I'm that annoyed. I will post on many discussion boards what is actually going on and how they've WITHDRAWN data from me, despite having paid MORE for this ring in the first place. It's WHOLLY unacceptable, it really is. ANY way to boost their income, and squeeze every bit out of people as they can, by short-changing people, almost FORCING them into giving them more money. This is no way to treat someone who has been a loyal customer for a few years now. I'm NOT putting up with it! They either give me my data back, or I demand a FULL refund (and that would include the import tax I had to pay too, or I'll be out of pocket!). Shame on you Oura!
Hey. Yeah i feel your pain. I've noticed my Gen 3 battery life is only good for 2 days now. And yes I totally understand where you are coming from. A few people have said to me 'oh boo-who, it's only $6 a month' - but that is not the point - the issue is how they rolled it out and almost 'trick' one into buying a $300 ring which turns out to be useless if they don't sign on for the subscription. I would prefer they market it like Whoop - it is clear that their device is a subscription only deal. In fact because of the battery issues Oura could even charge a higher amount - say $20 a month - and you get the ring for free and send it back for a new one every 2 years (or they send you the new model and you dispose of the old one). Then you know you're paying to 'use' their gear. I know some people wouldn't like it, but at least it's clear how things work - you pay and you get their product and their software. You don't pay you are then left with some expensive jewellery. It's been 2 weeks since you left this message - have you had any updates?
@@LightTherapyInsiders Hi Alex - Thanks for your sympathy; and I totally agree with the style of marketing you're suggesting. I also suspect (know!) that Oura are probably watching and reading comments like this (at least they ought to, or they'll be history very soon). But yes, Oura have come back to me. We've had several exchanges, but they are resolutely digging their heels in, refusing to honour what I thought I was buying into. Let me just say that my wife and a good friend (and his wife) also bought rings (as did my neighbour) as a direct result of my recommendation. I've told them this too. What miffs me the most though, is that my wife AND buddy got their Gen3 rings AFTER the so-called 'cut off date) 21st November, 2021, but STILL have their data as they are regarded as Lifetime Members. I even sent a screenshot PROVING this. They didn't mention ANYTHING or even acknowledge this (we know why, eh?). Also NO appreciation for me having earned them more sales. Nope. None of it. So my messages became less polite as time wore on and I got very firm (no profanity though) with them, but to no avail. So it just goes to SHOW you what an appalling and arrogant outfit they are. They have used all their customers to build up a business, which is truly unethical, lax, tardy, and above all 'greedy'. So I aim to take them up legally, as they are low-life charlatans ONLY out to make money. I will NEVER buy another product from Oura, and both I and my wife, plus good buddy and his wife too, will cease purchasing their products. So let this be a warning to others. TO have the carpet pulled AFTER you've signed up, is VERY underhand indeed. I shall be warning others of this too, in the media. They WILL suffer financially, and they deserve it! As you say, people who say 'oh it's only £/$X a month, are MISSING the point. It's a matter of principle. You either charge upfront OR have a monthly membership, not BOTH (greedy swines!). I look forwards to the other wearables soon to be released. Meanwhile we shall sell our rings, but may keep ONE going until an alternative comes along. But I have NO respect for these arrogant low-life people, sorry to have to say. AVOID OURA ALTOGETHER is my advice!
Thank you for keeping me away from buying this ring. I was almost about to place an order. I also assume apple health app won't receive any data? like steps, HR, etc?
Thanks Alex, I was contemplating purchasing one but no longer after your review. I agree companies need a revenue stream, but this is pure gouging. A reputable company would not do so.
Starting in November 2022, Oura is only providing 1 month of premium membership vs 6 months prior. As well, the prices of Gen 3 rings have also gone up.
Currently on my first week with a Whoop 4.0 after returning the Oura. At least with Whoop, the upfront cost is lower and you’re likely to see new hardware updates within the first 1-2 years of membership.
Oh wow, it gets worse! I just hope that they make it clear that it's now a membership/subscription product. And not try and spin it as an option between the premium plan or the free/no plan option. At least with Whoop (which is pricey) you know when you buy it - theres an ongoing fee.
Do not buy Oura. Buying their ring is like buying a thermometer where you can only see "cold" or "hot" unless you pay to read the actual numbers. I felt completely cheated by this unethical, if not illegal, Finnish company.
If Garmin ever made a ring like this similar to how they made an elegant Garmin lily dor sleep tracking steps etc it would probably blow oura out of the market and they’d have to make its membership free or offer something good worth that price. They don’t have real competition in the ring aspects since the other two like ring con and ultra human were not as marketed.
I'm going to return it. I'll take one of these things in the future without a forced monthly subscription. Was excited then realized it's useless without the subscription.
I don’t see where this is deceptive. They tell you right upfront you’ll need a subscription. No different from hundreds of thousands of app subscriptions on the App Store. Yeah, it’s irritating but don’t say you weren’t warned. There is quite a lot of information available every day on the app. They should do this for free?
Oura mentioned that you couldn't access the data on the app without the membership, but curious if you've explored the website option. Having been a Gen2 user before, and a premium subscription member for 6 months on Gen3, you'd likely be able to give a great review on what is available on the website vs. what you experienced previously in the app while on the membership plan. Would it be a reasonable substitute to use the free version of the website vs. the paid app subscription? Do you have to sync daily for the data to be accurate on the website?
I came to your video when I searched for “is it possible to use an Oura Ring without a subscription?” and I’d like to thank you for the information you provided. I am no longer interested in an Oura ring and here’s why: I have been somewhat intrigued by smart ring tech ever since I had heard of it but had never bought into it. I decided to look into what an Oura ring could do for me that my iPhone and Apple Watch couldn’t and quickly found that the answer was “nothing”. However, my penchant for gadgetry kept me somewhat attracted to the idea. After a bit of research, I started noticing how most Oura ring users wear their ring on their index finger. This was my first major turnoff. It simply looks strange and even a bit pretentious to me. I know why and I know it is not absolutely necessary, but nevertheless, Oura recommends the index finger for full functionality. This was turnoff number two. The third strike was a combination of the pricing and the subscription. I am fully entrenched in the very expensive Apple ecosystem and accustomed to paying the high price but I found the price of the base model Oura ring to be ludicrous. Three hundred bucks, plus a monthly fee for a ring worn on my index finger that doesn’t do anything my Watch or iPhone does successfully closed the door on any intrigue I may have still had.
Hey, yes valid points!! I have been an Oura user since day 1 and actually don't mind wearing it on my index finger. But I totally get all your points!!
It's surprise for about the same price you can get apple watch without subscription that fives you way more data. The only thing Oura has is battery life. I hope the new Samsung Galaxy Ring won't ask for subscriptions when it comes out by the end of the year, I would definitely buy one if Samsung Ring doesn't do the subscription model. Oura ring needs to have some competition.
Alex thanks for the info. I was actually going to buy three of these things. One for myself and two others for family. This subscription model is a total rip-off. They could have gone with a model where they sell the device for a lot less and charge a monthly subscription fee. I am not buying this. Thanks again.
this is scandalous, should have been explained very clearly up front. I will be switching to another product that doesn't require ongoing monthly payments
Yeah I think they should have just been upfront - i.e. we're moving to a membership model. The ring requires ongoing payment to use. But we'll give you 6 months free to get started. Because if people knew this prior to placing an order, I think a lot of people would have decided not to go through with it. And now you're going to have a lot of people get to the end of the 6 month trial, decide they don't want to pay the fee and are happy losing the 'premium features' only to soon discover that they have a lemon. They may (rightly so) feel conned. It is a shame really.
@@LightTherapyInsiders I use Oura purely as a sleep tracker. I already own a Fitbit and have decided to upgrade to Sense 2 in a few months once they have addressed any issues arising from the new version. As an Oura 1, 2 and 3 Gen owner, I think I have demonstrated loyalty and that has not been matched in return. It's crazy that I go back to using my Gen 2 ring and get all the data I need regarding my sleep for no further cost. I now view Oura's approach as predatory and contemptuous.
@@DJRonnyRon1200 I don't blame you. there is a channel on YT that accesses all fitness devices and the Oura 3 doesn't rank that highly in any aspect. I brought a Sense 2 which is not the greatest but at the price, I got it in a sale was a bargain and gives me all the information (that I generate) that I require. My subscription will be done soon but I will revert to my Oura 2 and still get the data I want. I'm sure its only a matter of time before they cut off access to Oura 2 users
I just received the Oura Ring Gen 2 for participating in a study. And was trying to learn more about there different offerings honestly learning this, it almost incentivizes you to find an older gen 2 ring you can purchased used or from a 3rd part seller since you get more information with no subscription model. Granted it does not receive all the same data a gen 3 on subscription gets, but it gets more than just the three scores.
You're on the money! I said this exact same thing (buy a second hand gen 2) when they first announced the new pricing model last year. The only downside (other than a few features that you miss out on with the 2nd gen ring over the 3rd) is you will be out of warranty sooner than ideal, AND if it's a well used Oura 2 - the battery life may not be as great.
I won’t buy the ring because of the membership fee. Absolutely ridiculous. Say you upgrade your ring every 3 years, paying the membership fee turns a $300 ring every 3 years into an almost $600 ring! No thanks.
I got a g3 oura ring 2 years ago. The hype by the company is overly commercial in nature. It always underestimates sleep time by ~an hour. Its bluetooth connection is painfully slow most of the time, and worse yet occasionally fails to connect the ring even on strong wifi signals. The sleep efficiency is erroneous by overestimating the sleep movements by including wake time movements in bed. The membership requirement for using the ring despite the hefty purchase $$ is kind of against most business models. When purchasing the ring the $5.99 monthly fee did not sound like a big deal. But over time it became clear that it's a good example of corperate greed because the ring operation and data download don't require intervention by the Co. So the monthly fee is completely an extra profit. And, the ring is bulky that interferes many daily activities.
Is the data still recorded, if you don't have a membership? Just curious if you can access the past data from the "membership free" time, if you decide to get the membership again 🤔
Thanks for the information about the membership, I didn't even realize that was a thing since they not exactly giving this away at $350. I'm gonna skip it as I don't want yet another subscription in my life and the ring looks very useless without it.
Wish I would've seen this video before I bought it. Loved the ring and understand the business decision, but come on! Three numbers and that's it?! At least let us see historical data and heart rate.
What about the google Fit App - doesn't it sync to that? I can see all my previous sleep data and heart rate and it also is also displayed in a different way that's kind of nice. Oura doesn't seem to share other data like blood oxygen or HRV though. My question there is: does it stop sharing this data at all, after the subscription ends?
I got the same question. Let me know if u find an answer. If it still syncs and i just need to use my health/fit app on the phone to view it instead of the Oura app, im fine with that.
I have waited to be able to afford an oura ring and I was going to buy one now but after seeing that one is forced to pay a monthly fee, I'm not going to do it. I live on the margin as it is, I refuse to be forced into a monthly subscription!! But what should I then buy? Any suggestions? I heard about Odo ring, seems similar to Oura but I don't know if they have a subscription? I don't want a watch btw.
Thanks for the video Alex, not sure what is different now, but I just went to the shopping cart for a gen3 ring and only 1(not 6) month of membership is included with the purchase. That seems crazy.
Oh gosh that is surprising. But maybe it's a good move as it means more people will think about the membership plan at the time of checkout rather than ignoring it and 6 months later getting a shock!
Oura is marketing a product but actually selling a service... this is boarderline illegal! You should be able to at the very least, access your data without their software doing independent analysis. Im really surprised no one has sued them yet.
Thank you very much for this video ! It's good to see that I'm not the only one downright shocked by this dubious marketing. When you buy a health tracker for more than €300, the least you can do is be able to track using a free app... And now it's only free for one month 🤣 I have a Mi band 5 watch at 50€ which is almost the same thing except HRV and temperature... I will quickly get rid of this infamy!!!
Yeah it's silly. I can understand the move to a subscription model - and in turn unlocking premium features - but the way they've done it it's 'pay up or don't bother using the ring'. Which is sad.
Whoa cool thanks for sharing this. It's the first I heard about it. I might place a preorder. Though it looks like the features are the same as the Oura ring? Are you aware of any features it has over Oura?
In the US, it's $5.99 a month ($71.88/year), and that's just too much afaic. I'm tired of everybody having a shitty subscription and I think a $50 once a year price is a more reasonable price. It's also shitty that the matte black one is $60usd more than the polished ones, and when I asked them about it on Twitter, they gave me some bullshit answer about some process to get it matte black costing more, but wouldn't elaborate more. They also apparently got majorly butt hurt when Linus from LTT was accidentally mispronouncing it, he tried offer a fix, and they wouldn't except it. It sounds like they are just a bunch of children who just want to nickel and dime everyone and throw tantrums when they don't get their way.
Let me get this straight. They're gathering very personal user data AND you gotta pay them for it in bulk plus monthly? So not only they made profit from the ring, they also can gather + sell your data, plus they get a bonus with subscription fee too? Nuts
What’s your experience been with naps? Sometimes when I take a nap the data is captured but sometimes if I’m in a seated position and doze off the nap isn’t accounted for by the Oura ring. It’s minor but irritating when the strength of the Oura is sleep tracking.
Hey, yeah good question. I did a video comparing 3 wearables (incl the Oura) and looked at how some (including Oura!) failed to detect naps - ua-cam.com/video/-EB5y9vFZIU/v-deo.html I have found that if a nap is decent (30mins + ) it's usually picked up. It's often the short ones that don't get detected. Yesterday I had a nap, I synced my ring an hour later and there was no nap data. But then the next day when I synced my ring for the overnight data all of a sudden my Oura app detected the previous days nap. So yeah I'm not sure whats going on. But it is frustrating when a nap isn't detected - especially if you're relying on your sleep/readiness data for training etc.
I have the Oura v2 ring for over 4 years now (bought in May 2019). I always have the bluetooth turn off when wearing and only connect it to the app a few times a day to check in on the data. I think turning the bluetooth off helps prolong the battery life plus I want to avoid bluetooth/EMF while sleeping. I remember after the 1st year of owning I was running into issues where my daily nap times was not logged in. It happened after a software update and I reached out to their support team and they responded back saying "oh it's due to the ring's battery life". Like eventually I'll have to buy a new ring to fix this problem. Months later new software updates was release and my naps were logged consistently again. Even shorter than 20 min sessions, so it's most likely a software bug somewhere not the battery life naturally degrading. Glad to see this video cause I was planning on upgrading to the v3 once my v2 battery life is gone but it's still works fine after 4 years. I did experience the same bug where a nap on the previous day is reported on the next day lol. I do get a lot of Rest logged through out the day, sometimes naps would be logged as Rest with heart rate and HRV when it should have been a nap.
Hey, good question. I've since upgraded my account so I'm not too sure. It would be a neat way to get around the limitation if you can access the data in Apple Health!
thanks for this video...answered my questions.,..out of interest, if this feeds into the likes of Apple Health....can I see all the historic data there anyway?
Hey, sorry I wish I had an answer to this. I can't test it anymore as my account has been upgraded. Maybe someone else has the answers and can share their findings here?
In my opinion, this is unacceptable, especially for that much a month. I think that the subscription should only be for extra features and / or cost no more than $1 a month.
I just checking out the Ultrahuman ring, seems the best alternative. No subscription required. But before buying other I suggest waiting for Samsung's Galaxy Ring on July. I just hope they don't come up with some sort of subscription nonsense like in Oura's model.
I don't have an apple watch so can't comment there. But I do have a Polar Smart watch and I like that (plus there's no ongoing fee). Though it's sleep tracking isn't the best.
I like the concept as I love wearing my mechanical watches. I don’t like when a company offers free and paid and the free is just namesake. garmin does not charge a dime but their app is so good. I won’t buy this because tomorrow they can increase the monthly any time which users will be forced to pay as they are invested in the $299 ring. Hoping other comes up with a good ring and better app
No, which is a move I do recommend - buy a second hand Oura 2 - and you get most of the features of the Oura 3 and full access to the app.... without having to pay monthly fees!!
"If you were gonna buy an Aura ring," Let me stop you right there. If you have to pay money to make it work, you're not "buying" anything. You're renting.
really hope that they can at least showing the sleeping time. but i m thinking to just sell my ring instead of getting the membership. They never able to track my nap time or link it to my cycling report
I wonder what their return policy is? If it's 1 month I bet there are a lot of people wanting to return the ring after 1 month.. only to be told tough luck and then they're $300 out of pocket and forced into paying $6 a month to continue to use the ring! Crazy really.
You need to update this. My subscription just ended, and you no longer even get the scores. Just a blank page... yup, the ring is now 100% useless without subscription.
Hey yeah someone else asked me this and I'm not to sure what the answer is sorry. I have upgraded my account so I can't test it now. Maybe someone else can answer - or flick Oura support a question on this?
Such a great valid review! And I agree with the subscription as a downside. But that's the reason I protect my investment with a protector from OSleeve. So the subscription is the only expense I take towards my health and wellness goals. But all that is totally a worthy investment as I want to prioritize my health while I can.
Was just considering buying this expensive ass ring, noticed it had a subscription plan that most videos on youtube didn't mention. Seeing more details about how that's a requirement quickly nopped the fuck out of buying one. Lock some community features, interactive features, or something else behind a paywall... but to lock the basic function of why you bought the expensive device behind a paywall, I have enough of that in my life and there's isn't worth that, especially with how expensive the ring already is.
i was going to buy one...but when i ve heard Subscription i said No No...i will wait samsung galaxy ring to come kill oura scam ring 💁♀️ they rug pulled their users disgusting
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Having to pay monthly stops me buying it
Yeah I'm sure there are a lot of people thinking the same
Yeah same. It's so predatory
Same.
I still have a Oura Gen 2, was thinking of upgrading, but with out lifetime for free it makes no sense to me. thanks for the insight. No never will upgrade mine, except they have a promo again like at the beginning.
@@mabizu Same here. I was considering buying the 3rd gen without the subscription, but after seeing what they offer you after you spent (at least) 314 EUR, it feels like middle a finger to the customer.
Well, Apple Watch, here I come... I guess.
Excellent perspective from Alex Fergus on the Oura ring. There is no point in spending $300 and six months later having no access to any significant data if you decide not to pay the $7/month subscription. The company should offer lifetime memberships for a reasonable fee, with significant $ breaks for certain groups. Having to shell out $84/year is a considerable burden for those of us who don't have high incomes and lots of expendable money. That's especially true of low-income folks or seniors on fixed incomes. As with so many things, this product is really only available for folks in the higher/est economic levels-upper middle class and upper class. That speaks poorly of the people who own the Oura ring.
Thank you so much I almost just bought an Oura ring and I missed this fine print. I don't want to get into a membership, so thank you for helping me dodge a bullet!
The ring is good, just the pricey structure ain't great.
Hey Alex, I want to thank you for your helpful videos. I bought my BioMax 900 through your link and love it. I was going to get the Oura ring but their business model sucks. A better solution would be $349 with lifetime membership or $99 for the ring and $7 a month makes more sense
Thanks for the support. Regarding Oura - I agree. Though my main disappointment with Oura is how they have rolled things out - they should have just came out and said look we're moving to a membership model, this is how it will work.
I had gen 2 and did same upgrade to gen 3 with free lifetime membership (which I had no idea what it was about) like yourself. I can tell you, if I bought it now, I would be so pissed paying all that money and then having to pay monthly fee.
The way the company have gone about leaves a bad taste and not to mention how they keep prompting us to “refer a friend” to get a discount Yada yada - they’re missing the point of good marketing by actually having a good product that people are excited to share and talk about.
Yeah I agree, they've really stuffed up with this.
The first issue was the rushed product launch - getting people to upgrade despite most of the new features not being available (I thought it was rather cheeky, as they used those promos 'upgrade now for free access etc' but people didn't even know what they were really getting).
Then rolling out the membership plan for new customers... now seeing that effectively they have tricked us - it's now a membership product. You need to pay to benefit from having the ring.
Of course you and I are lucky in the sense that we were in early and don't have to pay the ongoing fees (though I have just noticed Oura have charged me $7 so I need to chase up with them on this!!) But in the past when I would tell people about the ring we all knew it was a $300 one off fee - now it's $300 (minimum, I see their new style is $349) plus $7 a month... for features that everyone had for free 12 months ago.
Glad I found this out. I was just about to pluck down $400 because I thought in long run it would be worth it, being able to monitor blood pressure, heart rate, etc. But now knowing that after spending that amount of money, I must spend more every month to be able to have this information. No WAY.
There is a HUGE amount of information every day about YOUR body : how you’re sleeping, how your heart is responding, how your body is working - and why would they do this for free?
Thanks for getting the word out Alex! I've been an Oura user since 2018 but didnt realize I had to upgrade and missed the cut off when my gen 2 died and i had to get the new gen 3 that cost over $400. The six mo trial expired today and I too was in shock when all I saw was the 3 scores and nothing else! 😢 I shot off my last help ticket to those dirty basturds and told them to f$ck off. It felt good. I'll sell my ring before I ever pay a monthly fee for my data. Oura has the MOST pathetic customer service I've ever seen, ever! AND the sleep data was never accurate! My fitbit tracked it much better. AND everyone knows that steps are not accurate as well. There I'm done. Love you though Alex. 😘
Lol. I know I shouldn't laugh but I did enjoy the passion behind this comment (btw, it actually ended up in my spam/to be reviewed comment section!)
You're right though, they are all about $$ now. It's a shame really, as early on the company (and product) was all about working with and helping the customer. Now it feels like they don't need (care?) about us anymore, and it's all about max sales.
I still use my Oura - though I see i'm still being charged and the promised 'we'll respond to you in 24 hours' customer care department still hasn't gotten back to me - because I like seeing the sleep/readiness trends (helps with my training). I know there are better devices out there, but I can't do wrist bands. So I'm limited to rings (in good news though, there are 3 new smart rings coming out int he next 6 months!).
But if they keep charging me $7 a month I may have to reconsider...
@@LightTherapyInsiders Well said, Fergus. That is exactly how I feel: Oura are indeed JUST about money now. They do take ages to come back. The emails they send can't be replied to, as you get notification back, saying something about that email address not being monitored, and directs you to their website, which you have to damned well read for AGES, JUST to work out WHO you need to contact, in what department, under what heading. ALL hassle. It's JUST like these other so-called 'customer service' companies, with all their soothsaying tones, making it all sound so EASY, but no, press this, press that, then 'you can go to our website' (yes, I've just BEEN there and it told me to come here!). Put as many barriers in your way as possible as they don't REALLY want or care about customers at all! They want you OFF their back really. Well the more trouble I have to go to, the more determined it makes me. How dare these companies behave in such a cavalier fashion!
Well said, @Sherylyn01. My impression of Oura is just the same as you (as I posted above). I will NOT go quietly, rest assured. They'll need to exercise damage limitation strategy if they don't want to lose custom/money, as this company are fast becoming too big for their boots and high-handed. Having an Oura ring & membership costs a SIMILAR amount over 2yrs as a mobile phone - and look how many things THAT can do, and all the technology involved; it's WAY more than this ring! I just compare across devices and tech to get a sense of 'value' and Oura is NOT it! RIP Oura!
right on.... I refuse to buy one as a result of this money grab.
i love the idea of the ring and in terms of data insights it looks really good. however, im not paying them $7/month for processing my health data. the app should be able to do everything with my data locally and only need internet for updates (which i might consider paying for if features arent locked out without a subscription)
Yeah I'm with you. I mean if that monthly fee unlocked some new, really neat features - and maybe some other benefits (like in-depth data correlations or something) then yeah, thats cool, take my money. But now you're paying for features that Oura Ring users have had for years.
I agree, the whole point of oura was to pay once and forget about it. Whereas whoop was like here is a free device, but you gotta pay for membership. Honestly whoop gives me more actionable info, where oura just collects info silently and you gotta figure out what’s going on. I’ve lifetime oura subscription, but I got a ring for my partner and his is going to turn into a pumpkin really soon (he’s not getting a subscription for sure).
I got it as a gift and my membership just expired, I was blown away by the base app! Guess I’ll be using my Apple Watch for sleep tracking now. I can’t justify paying $84/ year for Oura ring while having an Apple Watch.
Oh yeah I never thought about people who receive them as a gift!!!
Curious - can you still see your Oura data through Apple Health when it's in basic mode?
What will you do with your ring? Can you return it?
When I bought our gen 2 Oura rings we recommended them to all our friends. We took the lifetime gen 3 upgrade but we never recommend the Oura to people when they ask about our rings.
Yeah it's a bit like that. Hey but I have good news, I have heard whispers of a new product that is meant to be a lot better than the Oura Ring. Hopefully I'll know more about it later this year :)
Thanks for your video. Bought a gen 3 8 months ago. In the last 2 months, I stopped checking because it became boring and pointless.
I like the idea of a ring over a watch, but my friend's watches (all brands) display good info without any membership cost.
Hey, did you sign on to the membership plan or just the base (free) option. I personally like tracking my sleep and HRV/Readiness data, but I can see how some people don't find the data useful.
This was such a horrible change. I've stopped using mine. I'm using my Fenix full time for all my sleep, readiness and HRV tracking. Garmin have really improved those aspects in the last 6 months.
Yeah it's going to leave a bad taste in the mouths of many people.
I can see why they're making the change (from a business point of view), but I think they went about it the wrong way.
They should have just came out and said ' from this generation, we're moving to a membership model. In order to use the ring you need to pay the monthly fee'.
Because now people who spend $300 and don't want to pay the monthly fee when it kicks in 6 months later soon realise they have nothing more than a piece of jewellery.
OR - if they didn't want the above scenario to play out, then at least let non-membership users still see useful metrics. Not just 3 numbers.
Can you get full time HRV tracking?
It really annoys me how Oura only have night time hrv stats
@@Missgevious Currently it's only nighttime HRV tracking but it's only started rolling out to Garmin devices recently. I wouldn't be surprised if it eventually has the option for day and night. As with the SpO2 tracking, you can track it only whilst you sleep or all day. The Fenix would have the battery that would be able to handle it. We'll see in time
@@Missgevious whoop has whole day hrv, switched to it from Garmin. Seems alright, it’s a hit pricey though
Alex, and everyone else who's having this problem: I've had this EXACT same problem. I and my wife have had the Oura ring since the Gen2 model. I find this sort of behaviour from companies is really NOT on! One already has to pay more for the Gen3 than the Gen2 (because of the extra features, which TBH I do not want anyway). I was HAPPY with my Gen2 (though the ring's battery life cycle is less than 2yrs before the whole ring needs replacing - which in itself isn't too impressive for something costing as much as this). Oura were good to replace my previous ring, under warranty, but again after the first year has passed, the battery starts failing, needing to be charged after only 2-3 days.
So before I decided to upgrade, especially at the now increased price, for features I didn't wish for nor really want (like having a Ferrari to go shopping, when a standard car would suffice) I was feeling miffed at being forced to pay for technology I didn't need nor wanted to use (why don't they offer Gen2 rings for those happy with existing data?). I considered whether it was really worth even paying for, and certainly I had no intention of paying each and every month on TOP of the cost of the ring, making it almost $200 (£200 in my case, being in the UK) MORE over 2 years (even if the ring last that long, which they usually don't!).
However, because we had trouble with my wife's ring when her 'membership' expired, and EVENTUALLY got it sorted out, giving ALL the data we had before, I decided to go ahead and order the Gen3 ring (with a discount because of the hassle we had and it failing before its time etc). But now, after this initial 1-month 'free membership' all of a sudden the display jumps to what you have, Alex - and I'm NOT pleased! I asked Oura, and they confirmed, that I'd still have the 3 data readings I used to, but now with just the score TITLES and NO data, I'm getting LESS than I did before! I am NOT happy at all! It feels like sleight of hand. One feels duped! Oura KNOW what I meant when I said I was happy with the 3 data groups I had, but no where did they say that it would be LESS data, so I'm going to challenge them. My wife's Gen3 is working fine and she HAS all the data as she used to, displayed in the exact same way (save a few tweaks).
Oura either has to GIVE me back my data, without further ado, or I'm going to demand a FULL refund! I'm that annoyed. I will post on many discussion boards what is actually going on and how they've WITHDRAWN data from me, despite having paid MORE for this ring in the first place. It's WHOLLY unacceptable, it really is. ANY way to boost their income, and squeeze every bit out of people as they can, by short-changing people, almost FORCING them into giving them more money. This is no way to treat someone who has been a loyal customer for a few years now. I'm NOT putting up with it! They either give me my data back, or I demand a FULL refund (and that would include the import tax I had to pay too, or I'll be out of pocket!). Shame on you Oura!
Hey. Yeah i feel your pain. I've noticed my Gen 3 battery life is only good for 2 days now.
And yes I totally understand where you are coming from. A few people have said to me 'oh boo-who, it's only $6 a month' - but that is not the point - the issue is how they rolled it out and almost 'trick' one into buying a $300 ring which turns out to be useless if they don't sign on for the subscription.
I would prefer they market it like Whoop - it is clear that their device is a subscription only deal. In fact because of the battery issues Oura could even charge a higher amount - say $20 a month - and you get the ring for free and send it back for a new one every 2 years (or they send you the new model and you dispose of the old one). Then you know you're paying to 'use' their gear. I know some people wouldn't like it, but at least it's clear how things work - you pay and you get their product and their software. You don't pay you are then left with some expensive jewellery.
It's been 2 weeks since you left this message - have you had any updates?
@@LightTherapyInsiders Hi Alex - Thanks for your sympathy; and I totally agree with the style of marketing you're suggesting.
I also suspect (know!) that Oura are probably watching and reading comments like this (at least they ought to, or they'll be history very soon). But yes, Oura have come back to me. We've had several exchanges, but they are resolutely digging their heels in, refusing to honour what I thought I was buying into.
Let me just say that my wife and a good friend (and his wife) also bought rings (as did my neighbour) as a direct result of my recommendation. I've told them this too.
What miffs me the most though, is that my wife AND buddy got their Gen3 rings AFTER the so-called 'cut off date) 21st November, 2021, but STILL have their data as they are regarded as Lifetime Members. I even sent a screenshot PROVING this. They didn't mention ANYTHING or even acknowledge this (we know why, eh?). Also NO appreciation for me having earned them more sales. Nope. None of it.
So my messages became less polite as time wore on and I got very firm (no profanity though) with them, but to no avail.
So it just goes to SHOW you what an appalling and arrogant outfit they are. They have used all their customers to build up a business, which is truly unethical, lax, tardy, and above all 'greedy'.
So I aim to take them up legally, as they are low-life charlatans ONLY out to make money. I will NEVER buy another product from Oura, and both I and my wife, plus good buddy and his wife too, will cease purchasing their products.
So let this be a warning to others. TO have the carpet pulled AFTER you've signed up, is VERY underhand indeed.
I shall be warning others of this too, in the media. They WILL suffer financially, and they deserve it!
As you say, people who say 'oh it's only £/$X a month, are MISSING the point. It's a matter of principle. You either charge upfront OR have a monthly membership, not BOTH (greedy swines!).
I look forwards to the other wearables soon to be released. Meanwhile we shall sell our rings, but may keep ONE going until an alternative comes along. But I have NO respect for these arrogant low-life people, sorry to have to say.
AVOID OURA ALTOGETHER is my advice!
Thanks for the video. I was about to get one, but I hate getting nickel and dimed, and I will be passing on the Oura ring.
Fair enough
Thank you for keeping me away from buying this ring. I was almost about to place an order. I also assume apple health app won't receive any data? like steps, HR, etc?
This is exactly what I needed to know. Thank you so much for your candidness.
You are so welcome!
Thank you for letting us know.
Thanks Alex, I was contemplating purchasing one but no longer after your review. I agree companies need a revenue stream, but this is pure gouging. A reputable company would not do so.
Glad to help!
Same I wanted one but I’ll stick to my watch
Starting in November 2022, Oura is only providing 1 month of premium membership vs 6 months prior. As well, the prices of Gen 3 rings have also gone up.
Currently on my first week with a Whoop 4.0 after returning the Oura. At least with Whoop, the upfront cost is lower and you’re likely to see new hardware updates within the first 1-2 years of membership.
Oh wow, it gets worse! I just hope that they make it clear that it's now a membership/subscription product. And not try and spin it as an option between the premium plan or the free/no plan option.
At least with Whoop (which is pricey) you know when you buy it - theres an ongoing fee.
Oh so wth whoop - if they launch a new product, do you get the new version for free as part of your membership fee?
Do not buy Oura. Buying their ring is like buying a thermometer where you can only see "cold" or "hot" unless you pay to read the actual numbers. I felt completely cheated by this unethical, if not illegal, Finnish company.
If Garmin ever made a ring like this similar to how they made an elegant Garmin lily dor sleep tracking steps etc it would probably blow oura out of the market and they’d have to make its membership free or offer something good worth that price. They don’t have real competition in the ring aspects since the other two like ring con and ultra human were not as marketed.
I'm going to return it. I'll take one of these things in the future without a forced monthly subscription. Was excited then realized it's useless without the subscription.
I don’t see where this is deceptive. They tell you right upfront you’ll need a subscription. No different from hundreds of thousands of app subscriptions on the App Store. Yeah, it’s irritating but don’t say you weren’t warned. There is quite a lot of information available every day on the app. They should do this for free?
Oura mentioned that you couldn't access the data on the app without the membership, but curious if you've explored the website option. Having been a Gen2 user before, and a premium subscription member for 6 months on Gen3, you'd likely be able to give a great review on what is available on the website vs. what you experienced previously in the app while on the membership plan. Would it be a reasonable substitute to use the free version of the website vs. the paid app subscription? Do you have to sync daily for the data to be accurate on the website?
Hey. Oh good question. I am back to being a premium account holder so I can't test it - but maybe someone who is still a basic member can answer?
@@LightTherapyInsiders I just checked the web - you can only see the same 3 scores that you see on your phone.
I came to your video when I searched for “is it possible to use an Oura Ring without a subscription?” and I’d like to thank you for the information you provided. I am no longer interested in an Oura ring and here’s why:
I have been somewhat intrigued by smart ring tech ever since I had heard of it but had never bought into it. I decided to look into what an Oura ring could do for me that my iPhone and Apple Watch couldn’t and quickly found that the answer was “nothing”. However, my penchant for gadgetry kept me somewhat attracted to the idea. After a bit of research, I started noticing how most Oura ring users wear their ring on their index finger. This was my first major turnoff. It simply looks strange and even a bit pretentious to me. I know why and I know it is not absolutely necessary, but nevertheless, Oura recommends the index finger for full functionality. This was turnoff number two. The third strike was a combination of the pricing and the subscription. I am fully entrenched in the very expensive Apple ecosystem and accustomed to paying the high price but I found the price of the base model Oura ring to be ludicrous.
Three hundred bucks, plus a monthly fee for a ring worn on my index finger that doesn’t do anything my Watch or iPhone does successfully closed the door on any intrigue I may have still had.
Hey, yes valid points!!
I have been an Oura user since day 1 and actually don't mind wearing it on my index finger. But I totally get all your points!!
It's surprise for about the same price you can get apple watch without subscription that fives you way more data. The only thing Oura has is battery life. I hope the new Samsung Galaxy Ring won't ask for subscriptions when it comes out by the end of the year, I would definitely buy one if Samsung Ring doesn't do the subscription model. Oura ring needs to have some competition.
Alex thanks for the info. I was actually going to buy three of these things. One for myself and two others for family. This subscription model is a total rip-off. They could have gone with a model where they sell the device for a lot less and charge a monthly subscription fee. I am not buying this. Thanks again.
Yeah, or at least made it clear that they have moved to a subscription based model.
this is scandalous, should have been explained very clearly up front. I will be switching to another product that doesn't require ongoing monthly payments
Yeah I think they should have just been upfront - i.e. we're moving to a membership model. The ring requires ongoing payment to use. But we'll give you 6 months free to get started.
Because if people knew this prior to placing an order, I think a lot of people would have decided not to go through with it. And now you're going to have a lot of people get to the end of the 6 month trial, decide they don't want to pay the fee and are happy losing the 'premium features' only to soon discover that they have a lemon. They may (rightly so) feel conned.
It is a shame really.
@@LightTherapyInsiders I use Oura purely as a sleep tracker. I already own a Fitbit and have decided to upgrade to Sense 2 in a few months once they have addressed any issues arising from the new version. As an Oura 1, 2 and 3 Gen owner, I think I have demonstrated loyalty and that has not been matched in return. It's crazy that I go back to using my Gen 2 ring and get all the data I need regarding my sleep for no further cost. I now view Oura's approach as predatory and contemptuous.
My 6months is now done. I’m ready to give the ring away. I refuse to make monthly payments. Not fair at all
@@DJRonnyRon1200 I don't blame you. there is a channel on YT that accesses all fitness devices and the Oura 3 doesn't rank that highly in any aspect. I brought a Sense 2 which is not the greatest but at the price, I got it in a sale was a bargain and gives me all the information (that I generate) that I require. My subscription will be done soon but I will revert to my Oura 2 and still get the data I want. I'm sure its only a matter of time before they cut off access to Oura 2 users
I just received the Oura Ring Gen 2 for participating in a study. And was trying to learn more about there different offerings honestly learning this, it almost incentivizes you to find an older gen 2 ring you can purchased used or from a 3rd part seller since you get more information with no subscription model. Granted it does not receive all the same data a gen 3 on subscription gets, but it gets more than just the three scores.
You're on the money! I said this exact same thing (buy a second hand gen 2) when they first announced the new pricing model last year. The only downside (other than a few features that you miss out on with the 2nd gen ring over the 3rd) is you will be out of warranty sooner than ideal, AND if it's a well used Oura 2 - the battery life may not be as great.
I won’t buy the ring because of the membership fee. Absolutely ridiculous. Say you upgrade your ring every 3 years, paying the membership fee turns a $300 ring every 3 years into an almost $600 ring! No thanks.
Yes when you crunch the numbers that way it does get pricey!
I got a g3 oura ring 2 years ago. The hype by the company is overly commercial in nature. It always underestimates sleep time by ~an hour. Its bluetooth connection is painfully slow most of the time, and worse yet occasionally fails to connect the ring even on strong wifi signals. The sleep efficiency is erroneous by overestimating the sleep movements by including wake time movements in bed. The membership requirement for using the ring despite the hefty purchase $$ is kind of against most business models. When purchasing the ring the $5.99 monthly fee did not sound like a big deal. But over time it became clear that it's a good example of corperate greed because the ring operation and data download don't require intervention by the Co. So the monthly fee is completely an extra profit. And, the ring is bulky that interferes many daily activities.
1 year later, the checkout option doesn't offer any time free for the premium subscription unless you buy 12 months at $69.99.
Yes. We can't keep the videos up to date. Prices change unfortunately!
Looking into getting a ring rn, skipping Oura. Have to keep looking!
Is the data still recorded, if you don't have a membership?
Just curious if you can access the past data from the "membership free" time, if you decide to get the membership again 🤔
Hey I'm not sure sorry. You'd have to check with Oura on this :)
Thanks for the information about the membership, I didn't even realize that was a thing since they not exactly giving this away at $350. I'm gonna skip it as I don't want yet another subscription in my life and the ring looks very useless without it.
Yeah i think there would be a few people like you - not realising the extra costs etc.
Great updates on your experience with Oura 👍🏾
Glad you like them!
Wish I would've seen this video before I bought it. Loved the ring and understand the business decision, but come on! Three numbers and that's it?! At least let us see historical data and heart rate.
What about the google Fit App - doesn't it sync to that? I can see all my previous sleep data and heart rate and it also is also displayed in a different way that's kind of nice. Oura doesn't seem to share other data like blood oxygen or HRV though. My question there is: does it stop sharing this data at all, after the subscription ends?
It's a great question and unfortunately I don't have the answer. Maybe someone else who doesn't have the Oura membership can answer that?
I got the same question. Let me know if u find an answer. If it still syncs and i just need to use my health/fit app on the phone to view it instead of the Oura app, im fine with that.
I have waited to be able to afford an oura ring and I was going to buy one now but after seeing that one is forced to pay a monthly fee, I'm not going to do it. I live on the margin as it is, I refuse to be forced into a monthly subscription!! But what should I then buy? Any suggestions? I heard about Odo ring, seems similar to Oura but I don't know if they have a subscription? I don't want a watch btw.
Hey, sorry I haven't really kept up with wearables this year. Next year I may look into them more.
Thanks for the video Alex, not sure what is different now, but I just went to the shopping cart for a gen3 ring and only 1(not 6) month of membership is included with the purchase. That seems crazy.
Yea I only got one month it had it 3 days I like it will be paying the 6.99 but wld of loves to had the 6 months
Oh gosh that is surprising. But maybe it's a good move as it means more people will think about the membership plan at the time of checkout rather than ignoring it and 6 months later getting a shock!
wish this channel success & prosperity. amen
Cheers!
Oura is marketing a product but actually selling a service... this is boarderline illegal! You should be able to at the very least, access your data without their software doing independent analysis. Im really surprised no one has sued them yet.
Thank you very much for this video ! It's good to see that I'm not the only one downright shocked by this dubious marketing. When you buy a health tracker for more than €300, the least you can do is be able to track using a free app... And now it's only free for one month 🤣 I have a Mi band 5 watch at 50€ which is almost the same thing except HRV and temperature... I will quickly get rid of this infamy!!!
Yeah it's silly. I can understand the move to a subscription model - and in turn unlocking premium features - but the way they've done it it's 'pay up or don't bother using the ring'. Which is sad.
There is another player in this game : ultrahuman. Sooner they will release their ring which seems far superior to oura ring
Whoa cool thanks for sharing this. It's the first I heard about it. I might place a preorder. Though it looks like the features are the same as the Oura ring? Are you aware of any features it has over Oura?
@@LightTherapyInsiders I'll check and come back with an update . If they do not have subscription i think they will take oura clients also whoop
In the US, it's $5.99 a month ($71.88/year), and that's just too much afaic. I'm tired of everybody having a shitty subscription and I think a $50 once a year price is a more reasonable price. It's also shitty that the matte black one is $60usd more than the polished ones, and when I asked them about it on Twitter, they gave me some bullshit answer about some process to get it matte black costing more, but wouldn't elaborate more. They also apparently got majorly butt hurt when Linus from LTT was accidentally mispronouncing it, he tried offer a fix, and they wouldn't except it. It sounds like they are just a bunch of children who just want to nickel and dime everyone and throw tantrums when they don't get their way.
Let me get this straight. They're gathering very personal user data AND you gotta pay them for it in bulk plus monthly? So not only they made profit from the ring, they also can gather + sell your data, plus they get a bonus with subscription fee too? Nuts
You've got it.
What’s your experience been with naps? Sometimes when I take a nap the data is captured but sometimes if I’m in a seated position and doze off the nap isn’t accounted for by the Oura ring. It’s minor but irritating when the strength of the Oura is sleep tracking.
Hey, yeah good question.
I did a video comparing 3 wearables (incl the Oura) and looked at how some (including Oura!) failed to detect naps - ua-cam.com/video/-EB5y9vFZIU/v-deo.html
I have found that if a nap is decent (30mins + ) it's usually picked up. It's often the short ones that don't get detected.
Yesterday I had a nap, I synced my ring an hour later and there was no nap data. But then the next day when I synced my ring for the overnight data all of a sudden my Oura app detected the previous days nap. So yeah I'm not sure whats going on.
But it is frustrating when a nap isn't detected - especially if you're relying on your sleep/readiness data for training etc.
I have the Oura v2 ring for over 4 years now (bought in May 2019). I always have the bluetooth turn off when wearing and only connect it to the app a few times a day to check in on the data. I think turning the bluetooth off helps prolong the battery life plus I want to avoid bluetooth/EMF while sleeping.
I remember after the 1st year of owning I was running into issues where my daily nap times was not logged in. It happened after a software update and I reached out to their support team and they responded back saying "oh it's due to the ring's battery life". Like eventually I'll have to buy a new ring to fix this problem. Months later new software updates was release and my naps were logged consistently again. Even shorter than 20 min sessions, so it's most likely a software bug somewhere not the battery life naturally degrading.
Glad to see this video cause I was planning on upgrading to the v3 once my v2 battery life is gone but it's still works fine after 4 years. I did experience the same bug where a nap on the previous day is reported on the next day lol. I do get a lot of Rest logged through out the day, sometimes naps would be logged as Rest with heart rate and HRV when it should have been a nap.
Well, I guess I will not purchase it. I do not want to be forced to purchase a subscription. Ugh. Does this only apply to Gen 3?
Yes Gen 3 only
does it stop syncing ALL data to Apple Health too? or does it sync something like Sleep Start/End times to Apple Health?
Hey, good question. I've since upgraded my account so I'm not too sure. It would be a neat way to get around the limitation if you can access the data in Apple Health!
No. I tired it once. It won’t show any data to original health app of iPhone.
thanks for this video...answered my questions.,..out of interest, if this feeds into the likes of Apple Health....can I see all the historic data there anyway?
Hey, sorry I wish I had an answer to this. I can't test it anymore as my account has been upgraded. Maybe someone else has the answers and can share their findings here?
Thanks, help me a lot ❤.
At first : Nice Vid 👍 :)
I also thought about buying one but now I am acually frustrated .
Thank you. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!
Do I need to have my phone at all time for the ring to get the data?
In my opinion, this is unacceptable, especially for that much a month. I think that the subscription should only be for extra features and / or cost no more than $1 a month.
Yeah or alternatively they just come out and say it's a subscription/membership model now. I.e it's clear that it's a subscription service.
Is there some third party software that can be used instead?
Alternatives…that DON’T req a monthly fee?
I just checking out the Ultrahuman ring, seems the best alternative. No subscription required. But before buying other I suggest waiting for Samsung's Galaxy Ring on July. I just hope they don't come up with some sort of subscription nonsense like in Oura's model.
Is it morally appropriate to deny me access to my own data if I don’t pay?
Yeah good point
Wouldn't an apple/smart watch be better value?
I don't have an apple watch so can't comment there. But I do have a Polar Smart watch and I like that (plus there's no ongoing fee). Though it's sleep tracking isn't the best.
Do you still have option to sync with health connect in the settings menu?
I like the concept as I love wearing my mechanical watches. I don’t like when a company offers free and paid and the free is just namesake. garmin does not charge a dime but their app is so good. I won’t buy this because tomorrow they can increase the monthly any time which users will be forced to pay as they are invested in the $299 ring. Hoping other comes up with a good ring and better app
Would you need to buy a membership even if you bought a used Oura ring 2?
No, which is a move I do recommend - buy a second hand Oura 2 - and you get most of the features of the Oura 3 and full access to the app.... without having to pay monthly fees!!
"If you were gonna buy an Aura ring,"
Let me stop you right there. If you have to pay money to make it work, you're not "buying" anything.
You're renting.
Fair point!!
really hope that they can at least showing the sleeping time. but i m thinking to just sell my ring instead of getting the membership. They never able to track my nap time or link it to my cycling report
Honestly I think the ring is a bit of a dud unless you're on the monthly membership.
You only get 1 month free with the ring now. I would’ve honestly bought the ring were the subscription free or like 2-3 bucks or something. Sad.
I wonder what their return policy is? If it's 1 month I bet there are a lot of people wanting to return the ring after 1 month.. only to be told tough luck and then they're $300 out of pocket and forced into paying $6 a month to continue to use the ring! Crazy really.
I was a user since 2018 but no longer 😢
You need to update this. My subscription just ended, and you no longer even get the scores. Just a blank page... yup, the ring is now 100% useless without subscription.
Oh gosh, that is terrible!
Does it write data to Apple health? So you can at least get an idea there?
Hey yeah someone else asked me this and I'm not to sure what the answer is sorry. I have upgraded my account so I can't test it now. Maybe someone else can answer - or flick Oura support a question on this?
They changed the bonus length to 1 month free instead of 6
Oh wow!
Such a great valid review! And I agree with the subscription as a downside. But that's the reason I protect my investment with a protector from OSleeve. So the subscription is the only expense I take towards my health and wellness goals. But all that is totally a worthy investment as I want to prioritize my health while I can.
Oura is coming to an end with their subscription business model.
Oh really? Thats a shame. I am still seeing Oura rings everywhere though
Avoiding monthly subscriptions..... soon head phones/ear buds will follow Subscriptions down the road
But it has Apple health, so what syncs thru Apple health? And you can get all the data from Oura web.
I'm not sure what data sync's through if you are only in the freebie mode.
@@LightTherapyInsiders cheers
Was just considering buying this expensive ass ring, noticed it had a subscription plan that most videos on youtube didn't mention. Seeing more details about how that's a requirement quickly nopped the fuck out of buying one. Lock some community features, interactive features, or something else behind a paywall... but to lock the basic function of why you bought the expensive device behind a paywall, I have enough of that in my life and there's isn't worth that, especially with how expensive the ring already is.
You've got it!
As of April 2023, only getting 1 month free before subscription costs applied, : (
EEEK! Pretty much you have to have the subscription model if you want to use the ring huh.
Wait, you buy an expensive ring and comes with an obligatory subscription?? LMAO!
Yeep
Hi, here in Germany you geht only 1 Months of Free Membership If you buy. Is it the Same in America at the Moment? I Hope you are from America.😂
I'm in New Zealand. But yeah I think 1 month free is standard now :(
I wish i got the lifetime subscriptionss
Yes it's quite valuable now.
Was the ring not enough? Geez haha
i was going to buy one...but when i ve heard Subscription i said No No...i will wait samsung galaxy ring to come kill oura scam ring 💁♀️ they rug pulled their users disgusting
Has anyone ever told you your a dead ringer for Andrew Tate?
Nope. I didn't know who he was so I googled him and I see he's locked up?!
Don’t waste your money on this piece of crap.
Harsh words. I still use mine. Just not a big fan of the subscription model