Withings users can bypass new Plus fees with free open-source tool

Withings customers who do not want to pay for the new Plus subscription can now sync their health data to other applications for free. An open-source tool called YourOwnWeigh intercepts data from compatible scales and sends it directly to third-party platforms. This removes the need to route information through Withings servers, which now charge new users for external data sharing.

Tom Anthony developed the project after learning about the upcoming subscription requirement. Anthony described the official mobile app as a "bloated mess" and decided to create a solution to free the hardware from platform lock-in. The project is available on GitHub, where it includes quick-start guides for setup.

The tool operates as a web app that runs on a user-selected server. Anthony noted that the system requires minimal data transfer and can run entirely on a free CloudFlare account. The web app uses Bluetooth to update the scale with alternate firmware. This process configures the device to upload data to a non-Withings server of the user's choice rather than the manufacturer's infrastructure.

The system does not host a static copy of the original firmware. Instead, it downloads and patches the firmware as needed. The application also imports current scale settings and existing user profiles. It handles the download of health data generated by regular weigh-ins.

To move this data into Apple Health, Anthony used Apple Shortcuts to create a scheduled automation. This script pulls data from the alternate server and imports it into the health app. Anthony hopes the community will develop similar methods for other platforms, including Google Health.

YourOwnWeigh is currently limited to two older models of Withings scales. The project assumes that newer models can be patched in a similar manner to expand compatibility. Users can begin using the tool immediately by following the documentation on the project's GitHub page.

The next step for the project involves community development to support additional devices and integrations. The codebase remains open for contributors to submit changes and improvements.