Does Tonic count steps from a Garmin, Fitbit, or other tracker?

Yes, as long as your tracker shares steps with Apple Health. Tonic reads your steps from Apple Health, not from any device directly. So a Garmin, Fitbit, Oura, or Apple Watch all count, as long as they are set to share steps with the Health app on your iPhone. And if you carry your iPhone, it already counts your steps on its own, with no tracker needed.

How Tonic sees your steps

Tonic does not connect to Garmin, Fitbit, or any tracker directly. It reads one number: the step total in your iPhone's Apple Health app, the same number you would see if you opened Health yourself. Anything that writes steps into Apple Health counts toward unlocking your apps.

Your iPhone already counts steps on its own, live, with no setup. So if your phone is usually in your pocket, your steps are already reaching Tonic. A separate tracker only matters when you walk without your phone, like a run with just your watch.

Turn on sharing from your tracker

If you want a separate tracker's steps to count, two things have to be switched on. You only do this once.

Share steps from your tracker to Apple Health.Open your tracker's companion app and turn on its Apple Health connection. In Garmin Connect: More, then Settings, then Connected Apps, then Apple Health, then Connect, and allow the categories with Steps included. This is off by default, so most people have to switch it on.
Let Tonic read your steps.The first time Tonic asks for Apple Health access, scroll down and turn on Steps under the Read section. It is easy to miss, because Read and Write are separate lists. You can change this any time in iPhone Settings, then Health, then Data Access & Devices, then Tonic.

That is the whole setup. After that, your steps flow in automatically. No daily steps, no manual entry.

Which trackers work

The short version: Apple Watch and your iPhone count steps automatically, with nothing to turn on. Garmin and Fitbit work once you switch on Apple Health sharing in their app. Oura and Whoop are not really step trackers, so a workout suits them better. For the full device by device breakdown across steps, workouts, and daylight, see which fitness trackers and smartwatches work with Tonic.

A short delay is normal

Steps from a separate tracker are not instant.

They reach Apple Health on a delay, usually a few minutes, sometimes longer during a busy day. They do not appear the moment you take them. If you want your steps to count right now, open your tracker's app, like Garmin Connect, to force a sync, and they will land in Health within a minute or two. Your iPhone's own steps are always live, so this delay only applies to a separate tracker.

Other ways to earn with your body

Steps are one option. A few notes so you pick the right one for your tracker:

Workouts. Any fitness app that saves workouts to Apple Health works, including Strava, Nike Run Club, Peloton, Strong, and the Apple Watch Workout app. The workout counts once you finish it.
Meditation. Use a meditation app such as Headspace, Calm, Waking Up, or Insight Timer, with Apple Health sharing turned on. A session counts once you complete it. One thing to know: breathwork from a Garmin or other watch does not count as meditation. Only a completed session from a meditation app does.
Sunlight. Time in daylight is measured by the Apple Watch only. No other tracker can record it.
Reading and other apps. Reading is not health data, so it does not come through Apple Health. Tonic counts that as time spent in the app instead.

Still not counting?

Check that sharing is on in your tracker's app. It is off by default.
Check that Steps is allowed under the Read section in iPhone Settings, Health, Data Access & Devices, Tonic.
Open your tracker's app to force a sync, then open Tonic, which re-checks everything when it opens.
Walk with your phone for a minute. If those steps show up, your phone is fine and it is the tracker's sharing that needs turning on.

Still stuck? Email [email protected]. A real person reads every message.