What Apple's Readiness is
Readiness is an Apple Watch app. Each day it gives you one score from 0 to 10 and a recommendation that goes with it:
| Score | Label |
|---|---|
| 8 to 10 | Go For It |
| 5 to 7 | Ready |
| 2 to 4 | Pace Yourself |
| 0 to 1 | Recover |
The score isn't fixed in the morning. It updates through the day as new data comes in, so it can drop after a hard workout. Apple says the scoring was developed using data from the Apple Heart and Movement Study.
What it measures
- Activity: today's and recent activity, including active calories, workout effort ratings and Training Load. More activity generally lowers the score.
- Vitals: overnight heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, heart rate variability and blood oxygen where available, plus daytime heart rate.
- Sleep: last night's sleep score and your recent sleep history.
Which Apple Watch it needs
Readiness is only on Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, with watchOS 27, for ages 13 and older. watchOS 27 itself also runs on Apple Watch SE 3, Series 9, 10 and 11, and Ultra 2 and 3, but those Watches don't get Readiness.
Before you see a score, Apple asks you to:
- Enter your height, weight and age in your health details
- Set up Activity
- Set up Sleep, and sleep with your Watch on
- Set up overnight vitals, and wear your Watch to sleep for at least 7 nights
Apple also notes that Readiness doesn't account for every health factor, such as existing conditions or medications, and shouldn't be the only thing you rely on to decide whether it's safe to exercise. That's true of any score like this, Auralo's included.
How Auralo is different
Both start from the same idea: compare your body today with your own normal, then suggest how hard to go. The differences are in what you need and what happens after the score.
| Apple Readiness | Auralo | |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | Apple Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4 | Any Apple Watch that saves to Apple Health, other wearables that sync there, or iPhone alone |
| Score | 0 to 10, four labels, updates through the day | Recovery, sleep, strain and stress, each against your own last 30 days |
| After the score | A recommendation: Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready or Go For It | A plan for the day that ticks itself off from Apple Health, a strain band for your workout and a bedtime |
| Tomorrow | Not in Apple's Readiness guide | A "what if" forecast: move bedtime and see tomorrow's recovery, with a range |
| Experiments | Not in Apple's Readiness guide | One personal experiment at a time, such as no caffeine after 2 pm for 14 days |
| Thin data | Needs at least 7 nights of overnight vitals first | Starts with what's there, and every score says how sure it is and why |
| Cost | Built into watchOS 27 on supported Watches | Free core app, no account. Auralo+ optional: $0.99 a month or $9.99 a year |
It works without the newest Watch
Older Apple Watches keep saving heart rate variability, resting heart rate and sleep to Apple Health. Auralo reads that and builds your scores from it. If you wear an Oura, Garmin, Fitbit or another wearable that syncs to Apple Health, Auralo uses what it shares; most don't share HRV, so recovery leans on resting heart rate and sleep instead. See what each wearable shares.
With iPhone alone, Auralo uses your steps, activity and sleep from any app that writes to Apple Health. Recovery is a rougher estimate without overnight heart data. In 1.6 you can also rest a fingertip on the rear camera for a minute to get a heart rate and HRV reading (Beta). It's a wellness estimate, not a medical measurement.
It plans the day, not just the morning
Auralo gives one word for today (rest, easy or build) and the reason in one line. Then a short plan: a workout, steps, breathing, a bedtime. Each item ticks itself off when Apple Health records it, so there's nothing to log. If you do more or less than planned, the evening adjusts: a harder day moves bedtime earlier and tomorrow starts easier.
It looks ahead
On the evening review, slide your bedtime and see tomorrow's recovery forecast move, shown as a range because it's a forecast. Run one experiment at a time, and after two weeks Auralo tells you whether it changed your sleep or recovery.
It says when it's guessing
In the first couple of weeks, after a night without your Watch, or with iPhone alone, Auralo's scores come with a lower confidence and the reasons for it. Tag a cold or a long flight and it stops judging and plans a gentler day. More on how the recovery score works.
Using both
If you have a Series 12 or Ultra 4, use both. Readiness gives you a quick score and label on your wrist that keeps up with your day. Auralo turns that kind of morning check into a plan, a forecast and experiments, and keeps working if you switch Watches or leave yours on the charger.
Expect the numbers to differ. Readiness runs from 0 to 10 and counts today's activity as you go. Auralo's recovery compares last night with your own last 30 days, and a normal day sits at about 60. When they disagree, read the reasons each one gives, and trust how you feel too.
Auralo works everything out on your iPhone. There's no account and nothing is uploaded. See the privacy policy.
FAQ
Which Apple Watch models have the Readiness app?
Apple lists Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, with watchOS 27, for ages 13 and older. Other Watches that run watchOS 27 don't get it.
Can I get a readiness score on an older Apple Watch?
Not Apple's. Auralo gives a recovery score from what an older Watch already saves to Apple Health: HRV, resting heart rate and sleep. It also works with other wearables that sync to Apple Health, and with iPhone alone at a lower confidence. Here's how HRV works on an older Apple Watch.
Should I use Readiness and Auralo together?
If you have Readiness, yes. Readiness gives you a score and a label on your wrist. Auralo turns the morning into a plan for the day, a forecast for tomorrow and experiments. They use different inputs and scales, so don't expect the same number.
Why don't Readiness and Auralo agree?
They're different scores. Readiness runs from 0 to 10 and counts today's activity as the day goes on. Auralo's recovery compares last night with your own last 30 days. When they disagree, read the reasons each gives, and how you feel.
Does Auralo cost anything?
The core app is free, with no account. Auralo+ is optional, at $0.99 a month or $9.99 a year. Auralo is in public beta on TestFlight now.
Try it on the Watch you have
Auralo's scores, daily plan, forecast and Watch app are free. Try it now in the public beta on TestFlight. Comparing other apps? See Auralo vs WHOOP, Oura and Bevel.
Sources, checked 7 October 2026
- Apple Support. Understand your readiness score on Apple Watch.
- Apple Support. Use the Readiness app on Apple Watch (Apple Watch User Guide).
- Apple Newsroom. Apple advances health and fitness capabilities using Apple Intelligence (September 2026).
- Apple Newsroom. Introducing Apple Watch Series 12, with the all-new Health Sensing System (September 2026).
- Apple. watchOS 27 (compatible models).
Apple, Apple Watch, iPhone and Apple Health are trademarks of Apple Inc. Auralo isn't affiliated with Apple. Auralo gives wellness information, not medical advice. For medical concerns, contact a health professional.