HRV4Training Reviews

They sensor on the Apple watch has been proven to be accurate. (Yet no watch integration) A cardiologist actually laughed at the fact that HRV4Training uses a camera. We measured simple heart rate and found HRV4Training to be extremely off base. If it uses heart rate as a measurement in the hrv calculations, but it can’t accurately measure that, then how can they claim any accuracy at all?

I appreciate the response. Maybe it would be helpful to inform users before they buy HRV4Training that to get a true measurement, you need to have a Bluetooth monitor. Also I will add that I did not say anything about the health app measuring hrv. I just said that when i discusses it with my cardiologist, the cardiologist and I checked the heart rate before and after a stress test on my watch and then tried the hrv app with the camera. this app was very inaccurate. (If I can’t get an accurate bpm from your app (it was generally at least 20 bpm or more off while measuring with optimal connection) then how can it be trusted to measure R-R intervals?

I have an Apple Watch and use both workouts and the Strava app. I’ve experimented with only using Strava to try and get HRV4Training to give any useful data, to no end. Giving up on it. Not user friendly, resulting in no useful data.

Point in case - the volume of responses to user complaints in HRV4Training reviews. They speak to the flawed app design. It shouldn’t require myriad personalized responses. If HRV4Training was clearly designed to communicate intent and method, it would be clear that you need additional equipment, that they’re unable to use the Apple Watch because of API restrictions, and that this requires readings to be done in a specific and consistent way (best I can piece together).

The frustration and research necessary to successfully use this tool are simply too high for many users. The developers seem to understand the science they’re working with, but not how to effectively communicate about it.

After about two weeks of using HRV4Training, I feel I have wasted my money too soon and I wish I could have my money back!

HRV4Training is not worth $9.99 for the following reasons:
- Data presentation is not great. You only see one number which is emphasised, however, it doesn’t seem to reflect recovery in real life for me. If you want to see other data like resting heart rate or other calculated parameters, you have to see them in the graph only. At least two or three main parameters can be presented on the main screen.

- Most of the other features are not of use. For example, I do not use Strava premium or Training peaks. So it doesn’t use heart rate data to calculate Training load as Suffer score or TSS is not available. I would at least expect TRIMP to be calculated. All I get is Training load with Distance/Duration!!!

- You cannot take snapshot HRV readings. You can take only one reading and save it.

HRV4Training seems to be limited in potential as of now. I would really be happy if I could have my money back.

I was an early HRV adopter and used a Whoop before they moved to a monthly subscription model. I wear an Apple Watch and don’t really want to add another fitness tracker to that, so I hoped HRV4Training would give me a way to track my HRV. I haven’t found it accurate or helpful. The values calculated don’t seem to be even from the same planet as the values I got from Whoop. Despite always syncing my Strava HRV4Training never seems to find my workouts, and the information input seems wonky. Sometimes I get the Q&A about my sleep, whether I’m sick, etc., sometimes I don’t. Disappointed overall. Hoping that the next Watch iteration has a built in HRV feature that works for me.

Using the camera sensor on an iPhone, I find that my readings are very different than my subjective feeling. On days I know I'm well rested I get very low scores, and on days when I'm very tired I get my highest scores. I wish I could return HRV4Training after about a week of use, but since I can't, I submit this feedback instead. Buyer beware.

Also, if you're looking to sync with TrainingPeaks, note that it only sends it's proprietary score, not the standard hrv measurement. This may be useful to know if you have a history using other apps or devices. Of course, you can see the standard score on HRV4Training , but it doesn't push that number to TrainingPeaks.

Used HRV4Training for a bit, the HRV insights are fine, but I was put off by HRV4Training requiring that I register an account to use it. The rationale as described on the registration page sums up to ‘You need to register because registration is necessary’. When I tried to delete my account, HRV4Training threw an error indicating that I need to send them an email to complete the process. I used Hide My Email during registration which can only be used for receiving emails, so I needed to change my email before I could send them a message. The place where a change email form would be ended up being another log in screen which takes you back to HRV4Training start screen.

HRV4Training requires an investment in time. And the ROI when using the camera as your sensor isn’t great since the measurements are not repeatable and are highly suspect.

Yes I’ve studied the blog post on using the camera. Back to back measurements under the same conditions result in a range 7.1 - 8.5. Heart rate is reasonably close to what Apple Watch reports.

App is good at manufacturing a signal from the noise. Too good. My pillow and bed sheets have scored 9.1, 9.5, and 12.3. Bpm tends to be way off at 2-3x actual and fluctuates wildly when I suspend phone above the bedding and the signal looks nothing like a heartbeat. Still, app reports good and optimal signal quality when camera is aimed at goldenrod colored sheets.

Longtime this app user (57.5 week average; since 2020) and just purchased an iPhone 17 Pro. With the flashlight/flash moved away from the main fusion iPhone lens by approximately 3cm, there is a trick for HRV4Training to work with the new camera lens lens arrangement.

The trick is to place your index finger on the closest lens to the flash rather than on the lens in the corner of the lens arrangement.

Once I figured this out, HRV4Training works consistently (similar to earlier versions).

I’ve been tracking my data for 14-15 months now. My workouts are uploaded from Training Peaks or Strava, but those apps lean heavy toward triathlon training.

I am not focused on triathlons, so many of my workouts do not register in Training Peaks and therefor do not register on this app. Also, hard to recognize overall or individual sport body-stress/recovery as this app doesn’t separate different daily workouts. (If you run and then later in the day ride a bike, HRV4T registers it as a brick Run/Bike workout - not always the case).

Considering seeking a new platform.

HRV4Training has changed my training for the better. I know I recover unusually quick but it’s hard to convince your coach without the data. HRV4Training has allowed me to train smarter and harder and on fewer rest days. The past two months, I’ve had a suggested take it easy day and it was spot on with how mentally and physically tired I was. However, the days when you get the ok to push hard is the best feeling. I love HRV4Training but it holds me accountable to really push or pull back when needed (hence the love/hate relationship).

I use HRV4Training every morning to get a quick snapshot of my resilience. I use other tools such as an Apple Watch and Oura ring, but I’m convinced that an on demand reading first thing in the morning is a great idea. HRV4Training does that and allows tracking subjective feelings. It’s not sexy, it’s functional. Exactly as it should be. Give it a try.

And check out HRV4Training Creator Marco’s Substack. He’s a reliable sports scientist who writes about topics that matter.

I supplement my Apple Watch data with this manual HRV reading every morning to monitor my parasympathetic system that's affected by a chronic neurological health condition. I've taken my reading every morning for more than a year under consistent conditions, same finger on the camera at the same time every morning prior to any external stimulants like food, coffee or activity, and I find the reading to be an accurate predictor of how I'm going to feel and fare for the rest of the day (low parasympathetic frequency means my body is struggling.) I've also had times where my HRV reading is super low but I feel fine and I think pffft this thing is off, and then I come down with a virus three days later, proving again that the HRV app knows if I'm sick before I know I'm sick!!
I've taken measurements with HRV4Training while simultaneously checking heart rate with both an oximeter and my Apple Watch, and HR has been accurate so maybe those reviewers who had accuracy issues had older phones. Even my doctors find this data fascinating, since the correlation to my neurological symptoms has proven time and again to be accurate. Another great tool to have in my health management toolbox!

This is an amazingly useful app for tracking your HRV. In particular, HRV4Training unlocks the ability to collect HRV for anyone with an iPhone. HRV is a fantastic biofeedback indicator that everyone should be tracking.

Especially now during the Corona Virus outbreak, I monitor my HRV daily for signs of immunity imbalance, as part of an advanced biofeedback monitoring and supplementation regime, so I can take steps to not get sick. Accounting for other variables that contribute to reduction in HRV, I’ve noticed I can get at least a 12-24 hr warning signal in advance of feeling symptoms.

HRV4Training does require some diligence taking your HRV readings and grabbing them from Apple Health. Apple doesn’t make it easy and clearly hasn’t figured out how important HRV is yet. But that’s not the developers fault.

I personally take readings using my Apple Watch, and do a 3 minute session with the breath app to get the HRV reading.

What can I say I’m impressed. I’ve tested and downloaded several other HRV apps but they either required an external or didn’t support the new Apple Watch feature that supports HRV. Even though HRV4Training doesn’t support the Apple Watch either, it still offered the ability to use my existing iPhone. Don’t be fooled, the iPhone camera works just as great. I used to use the camera for other things to measure HR and I found it to be just as accurate. The HRV was spot on at least referencing against the Apple Watch readings.

As for HRV4Training , there are some bugs that I’ve worked with Marco to resolve so while minor he has worked with me. I do acknowledge that most of these HRV apps tend to favor runners, cyclists, or triathletes. Fitness and CrossFit folks are just as interested in peak training. Remember us too!

Lastly, the insights are great and this is the kind of easy advice I was looking for. Integration with other apps to include Strava and Training Peaks is a plus. A negative is the inability to get into the weeds with your data or edit but I just found out they have a Coach app that will allow you to do that and I might have to investigate that!

Overall very impressed and hope they keep developing HRV4Training.

I’ve been using this app daily for almost a year now to track my heart rate and many other aspects of my health, life, and training. HRV4Training has become an indispensable part of my training process.

this app is based on reviewed, validated research, and Marco uses his personal expertise and his experience as a serious runner to make HRV4Training focused and effective. His blog posts about the workings of HRV4Training and the science behind it are a tremendous resource. And he’s been unbelievably available in answering questions and helping me fine-tune my usage of HRV4Training .

I recently began training for an Everesting attempt and decided to begin tracking my training readiness more closely. HRV4Training is highly endorsed by some of the best minds in endurance training (Dr. Stephen Seiler, Alan Couzens, M. Sc.) so I decided to give it a try. I’ve been very happy with it! I’m a data guy, so I geek out with it daily. 😁 It gives me a comprehensive view of my resting heart rate and HRV trends, as well as a recommendation on how hard to train that day. And with all the additional metrics provided under “Insights” it gives me a really comprehensive view of my training load and overall fitness.

This is the best way to implement HRV. It’s not the easiest way, you have to take an intentional action every morning. But I believe it’s the best way. I don’t actually know yet how important it is to my training, but I do believe the data is good, and I think that down the line I will be happy that I took the opportunity to collect it. The founder Marco Altini is brilliant, and it feels very much like he is involved every step of the way. Follow him on twitter (X) and you’ll learn so much. He’ll even answer your questions directly. Highly recommended if you want to better understand HRV.

I am now a two year user of HRV4Training. Initially I used HRV4Training and two other HRV tracking apps, but have long since deleted the others and rely on this and Marco’s HRV Logger for HRV. I’ve used it with the camera, a Polar H10 strap and now in combination with an Oura ring. Always accurate results, but more importantly, solid training perspective on how ready I am to really push myself. HRV4Training seems to know my readiness to perform better than I sense it myself, which I find amazing. Only improvement I can think of is that it needs a category for athletes older than the “50 and older” for those of us very senior athletes. Best HRV app available.

I’m loving HRV4Training!! Deceivingly simple to use. Incredibly useful insights. To get this level of physiological insight for $10 bucks is simply AMAZING. The fact that it can all be done with the phone you already have is downright awesome. Hats off to the developers!!

Athletic improvement comes from stressing the body and then allowing the body to recover and adapt.

The whole point of training is to give the body the maximum amount of training stress it can recover from before the next workout. But how much is too much? Training and life stress can accumulate in quite unintuitive ways. Especially over time. That’s what HRV4Training helps you to understand and it does it with a direct measurement of your particular physiological “state”, and then tracks that over time.

I linked it to Strava and Training Peaks (super easy) to pull in workout data and now have a single point of reference for monitoring fatigue. Just great.

If you want to optimize your training time and efforts this is absolutely HRV4Training to get. Incredible value for the $$.

I’ve used it every day for the better part of a year now first thing in the morning and I have no complaints. I was leery of the claim that the phone camera would give the same quality data as a HR chest strap but I’ve done a bunch of comparisons and yeah they give basically the same results. Which is nice because my hr strap goes on the fritz sometimes.

It’s worth the money and it’s not a subscription thank god.