An FDA-cleared wrist ECG and a mature recovery app, tied to a $359 yearly membership that you cannot skip.
WHOOP MG Review: FDA-Cleared ECG, With a $359 Yearly Membership
WHOOP MG scores 92/100 on the four comparison categories: Measurement Accuracy 94, App Experience 94, Hardware and Wearability 92, and Overall Value 86. WHOOP announced the band on May 8, 2025 as the hardware for WHOOP Life. The company states 14 or more days of battery life, continuous heart rate, HRV, sleep, skin temperature, and blood oxygen, and an FDA-cleared ECG for AFib screening in adults 22 and older who do not have a pacemaker. Blood Pressure Insights is a separate wellness trend. The FDA warned WHOOP about that feature on July 14, 2025, then closed the warning after WHOOP changed the product and its labeling. The closeout is not a clearance to diagnose hypertension. The 92 is an editorial score of those published facts. It is not a second copy of the 12-week, eight-user protocol used for the Oxiline Band XS Pro.
Table of Contents
Clinical Summary
Clinical Performance Metrics
Quantitative assessment based on clinical testing protocols
Measurement Accuracy
The MG's optical set covers heart rate, HRV, sleep, skin temperature, and blood oxygen, and the ECG used for on-demand AFib screening is FDA-cleared. Blood Pressure Insights remains a wellness trend: the FDA's closeout letter covers the feature only as modified, and it is not a validated cuff. This 94 reflects that sensor set and the ECG clearance. Medgrade did not run a cuff or chest-strap comparison for this review.
App Experience
The WHOOP app is the entire interface. It shows strain, recovery, sleep, and Healthspan, and an ECG can be exported as a PDF. Membership is what unlocks it. There is no on-wrist screen to fall back on when the phone is away.
Hardware & Wearability
WHOOP states 14 or more days of battery, an IP68 rating to 10 meters, and a band about 7 percent smaller than the prior model. The clasp-style sensor is built for 24-hour wear, including sleep. Straps beyond the one in the membership are a separate purchase, and the band charges in a PowerPack rather than from a simple cable on the wrist.
Overall Value
Year-one cost is $359, and the same amount is due each year the membership continues. Over three years that is $1,077 before any extra strap. The ECG and the depth of the app are what the fee buys. Bands in this comparison that sell the hardware once, with no required fee, score higher on value even when their sensor list is shorter.
Quick Take
Key findings from our clinical evaluation
+
Strengths
- FDA-cleared ECG for on-demand AFib screening.
- 14 or more days of battery, rated IP68 to 10 meters.
- Strain, recovery, sleep, HRV, and blood oxygen in the app.
−
Limitations
- $359 a year. The band stops if the membership ends.
- Blood Pressure Insights is a trend estimate, not a cuff. ECG excludes under-22s and pacemakers.
Real-World Usage
Practical considerations for daily operation
Daily Routine Impact
The band is meant to stay on through sleep, work, and training. There is nothing to tap on the wrist. Strain, recovery, and sleep show up in the app after a sync. An ECG is a separate, deliberate check: you use the clasp contacts, then you can send the PDF to a clinician.
Learning Curve
Master in an hour
Maintenance
Charge it in the Wireless PowerPack on the cycle WHOOP's 14-day claim implies, sooner if workout tracking drains it faster. Rinse and dry the sensor after sweat or swimming. Keep the membership current, because a lapsed plan removes the service the hardware depends on.
Portability
A stated 14-day battery covers most trips without a wall outlet, and the PowerPack can be packed if the trip is longer. The band stores data until the phone is back in range. There is no screen for a quick glance through airport security or a workout abroad.
Manual Use
The MG keeps sensing without the phone nearby and syncs when Bluetooth returns. Every detailed reading, the ECG workflow, and any export requires the WHOOP app.
Cost & Coverage Analysis
Financial considerations and HSA / FSA eligibility
Pricing Breakdown
HSA/FSA Guidance
A fitness membership is generally not a health-insurance benefit. HSA or FSA eligibility, if a plan allows a consumer wearable at all, has to be confirmed with the plan before you pay. Keep the receipt.
Cost Comparison
At $359 a year, three years of WHOOP Life is $1,077 before extra straps. The Oxiline Band XS Pro is $149 once with no required fee. Garmin CIRQA and Polar Loop are $199.99 once. Fitbit Air is $99.99, with an optional Google Health Premium plan. Hume Band 2.0 was $249 once on Hume's site. WHOOP's fee is the reason Overall Value is 86 despite a 94 for accuracy and a 94 for the app.
Patient Suitability
Clinical indications and contraindications
Indicated For
- • People who want an FDA-cleared wrist ECG and will pay $359 a year for the membership that includes it.
- • Members already in the WHOOP app who want the MG sensor set rather than the 5.0.
- • Athletes who use strain and recovery scores and do not want a watch face.
Contraindications
- • Anyone who wants to own the hardware outright and stop paying.
- • People under 22, or anyone with a pacemaker, if the ECG is the reason for buying.
- • Anyone who needs cuff-grade blood pressure for diagnosis or medication decisions.
Age Considerations
WHOOP's ECG indication starts at age 22 and excludes implanted cardiac devices. The rest of the wellness tracking is a consumer feature. Pediatric accuracy was not established in this review.
Clinical Efficacy Assessment
Evidence-based evaluation of clinical performance
Heart rate
Optical heart rate through the day and during a workout.
Continuous optical heart rate. WHOOP says the sensor samples 26 times a second.
Sleep tracking
Sleep duration and stages, including time awake in bed.
Sleep stages feed the recovery score in the WHOOP app.
Recovery and HRV
Heart-rate variability and the readiness score built from it.
Strain and recovery are the center of the membership.
Overnight vitals
SpO2, skin temperature, and any blood-pressure trend.
SpO2, skin temperature, and Blood Pressure Insights as a trend, not a cuff.
Comparative Performance
Ranked #2 of 6 clinically evaluated screenless fitness trackers devices
Clinical Context
This device scored 3 points behind the highest-rated device in this category. Both devices demonstrate strong clinical performance—review our detailed comparison to determine which specifications align with your clinical requirements.
Clinical Recommendation
Final assessment and prescribing guidance
WHOOP MG scores 92/100. The ECG clearance and the app are the case for it. The $359 yearly membership is the case against treating it as a one-time buy, and Blood Pressure Insights should not be read as a cuff.
Recommend If
You want WHOOP's recovery app and an FDA-cleared wrist ECG, and $359 a year is an amount you have already decided to pay.
Avoid If
You want a one-time purchase, a wrist screen, or a blood-pressure number you can act on medically.
Clinical Summary
Composite Score
Recommendation
Price Point
Where to Buy
Verified purchase options and current availability
WHOOP
The $359 charge is one year of WHOOP Life, which includes the MG. It is not a one-time hardware price. The membership renews yearly. Multi-year prepay discounts have been offered; confirm the current rate at checkout. Extra bands cost more.
Important Information
- • Prices and availability subject to change
- • Some devices may require a prescription
- • HSA / FSA eligibility: Not Typically Eligible
- • Purchase from authorized retailers for warranty protection