Samsung to Retire Samsung Free App and Certain Fitness Programs
Samsung has officially announced plans to discontinue the Samsung Free app worldwide starting December 16, marking the end of a service that offered news, podcasts, and games pre-installed on Galaxy phones. Alongside this, the company is also removing select fitness programs from its popular Samsung Health app to streamline the user experience and focus on updated, relevant content.
The End of Samsung Free
Originally launched as a successor to Samsung Daily and before that Bixby Home, the Samsung Free app never achieved widespread popularity, largely due to limited promotion by Samsung. In 2023, the Free app was replaced by the Samsung News app across key markets including the US, Canada, and the UK. While it has lingered in regions like India, Samsung has confirmed its global retirement is imminent.
Post-discontinuation, users can continue accessing news articles through the Samsung News app, while gaming content previously offered via the "Play" tab in Samsung Free will be accessible through the Gaming Hub. Samsung has also assured users that all personal data collected for Samsung Free will be deleted, except for information that must be retained temporarily for legal compliance.
Changes to Samsung Health Fitness Programs
Unlike the Free app, the Samsung Health app remains a widely used fitness and wellness tool among Galaxy users. Samsung is enhancing it with new features like ambient noise tracking, but is simultaneously removing certain outdated fitness programs.
Users have been notified that downloadable fitness programs, as well as any programs added before December 31, 2022, will no longer be supported, and attempting to access discontinued content may result in errors. However, fitness content available via live streaming will continue to be accessible. The exact timeline for these changes remains unclear, though they are set to take effect in December, with no definitive word on whether the update will be bundled with the upcoming One UI 8.5 update or delivered as a separate app update.
User Reactions and Final Thoughts
When surveyed, 70% of respondents said they did not use Samsung Free or the affected fitness programs, while 30% indicated they had relied on these services. The discontinuation has sparked mixed feelings but is largely seen as a sensible move.
The decision to retire Samsung Free is supported by the redundancy of its offerings, given Samsung’s existing News and Gaming Hub apps. Reports of high background data consumption by Samsung Free further justify its shutdown. Similarly, clearing out older fitness programs from Samsung Health allows the app to focus on updated, research-driven content that benefits users’ health more effectively. Recent enhancements rolled out in One UI 8.5, such as improved weekly reports and antioxidant tracking, highlight Samsung’s commitment to evolving its Health app experience.
