Garmin Connect Challenges vs Meryus
Quick answer
Garmin Connect challenges work well if everyone in your group owns a Garmin and one of the preset formats matches your goal. Meryus is the better choice when you want to set your own goal, track something other than steps and distance, or include friends who use another device or no wearable at all. Garmin data still syncs into Meryus automatically.
| Feature | Meryus | Garmin Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Built around the challenge | Yes, the whole product | No, a tab inside Garmin Connect |
| Cost | Free | Free with a Garmin device |
| Works for Garmin users | Yes, native sync | Yes |
| Invite friends without a Garmin | Yes, join by code | No, Garmin users only |
| Works for friends with no wearable | Yes, quick manual logging | No |
| Works for Apple Watch or Fitbit friends | Yes, manual logging | No |
| Private small groups | Yes, private by default | Yes, inside Garmin |
| Custom goals | Yes, any metric and amount | No, preset formats |
| Step challenges | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep challenges | Yes | No |
| HRV / stress / weight challenges | Yes | No |
| Custom metric challenges | Yes | No |
| Real-time leaderboard chart | Yes, shared chart | Ranked list only |
| Share a challenge with a link or code | Yes, 8-character join code | Invite inside Garmin only |
| Share progress outside the app | Yes, public read-only link | Screenshots |
| App install required | No, works in any browser | Yes, Garmin Connect app |
Where Garmin Connect wins
The data is already there. If your whole group wears Garmin watches, a Connect step challenge takes about ten seconds to set up and nobody has to connect anything. Badges are fun, and the expedition-style challenges are a nice touch.
Where it runs out of room
- Ecosystem lock. One friend on an Apple Watch and your leaderboard is incomplete.
- Fixed formats. You pick from what Garmin offers. "Run 100 miles by March 31" or "meditate every day for 30 days" is not on the menu.
- Steps and distance only. Sleep, HRV, stress, weight, and reps are tracked by the watch but cannot be the basis of a group challenge.
- Nothing to share. There is no link you can send someone outside Garmin.
Private challenges for the people you invite
Meryus is built for small groups. Create a private challenge, choose any goal and amount, then share an 8-character join code. A friend does not need a Garmin to take part. They can log manually and appear on the same chart as your automatically synced Garmin progress.
How Meryus uses your Garmin data
Connect Garmin once from your profile and matching activities, steps, sleep, and health data flow into active challenges automatically. Your friends can log by hand or use another available option. Everyone lands on the same chart. See the Garmin integration guide for the full setup and supported data.
Start a challenge in about a minute
Pick a goal, share the join code, connect Garmin if you want the logging done for you.
See also: Strava Clubs vs Meryus · Garmin Connect group challenges explained · All comparisons