Losing weight can be hard because it takes work. You have to commit to a well-balanced diet and regular exercise to enjoy any type of long-term weight loss success. But, that doesn’t mean you have to go on the journey alone. Whether it’s a simple calorie counting app or an app that offers meal plans and prep, there are tons of weight loss programs and apps that you can use as tools to help you achieve your goals.
And two of the most well-known weight loss apps are Noom and Weight Watchers. Each of these programs has features and strategies that appeal to different groups, so it can be tricky to determine which is right for you. In this Noom vs. Weight Watchers review, we break down the unique features of both including a few pros and cons. So, if you want to see a Noom vs. Weight Watchers head-to-head comparison, read on.
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Disclaimer: Always make sure to consult with your doctor before starting a new diet. Any weight loss that totals more than 1 pound per week over a long period of time is unusual and should be monitored by a doctor.
Noom vs. Weight Watchers
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Noom
SPECS
- Platform: Website and app
- Payment Structure: $60 per month, or pay for a full plan with a custom length
- Dietary Accommodations: Vegan, gluten-free, low-carb
- Key Features: Emphasis on education and changing your relationship with food; based on calorie density
- Support: One on one coaching available through chat
Noom is a weight loss app that puts a heavy emphasis on education to change your relationship with food. Think of it as an app for people who are tired of yo-yo dieting. In addition to the stat and food tracking you find in most calorie counting apps, Noom sends you educational videos about why you may have developed certain habits with food, and how to change them.
Noom’s app is easy to use for anyone. You start by taking a quiz about your goals and the quiz ends with a personalized plan. Once you’re in the app, Noom makes food tracking easy with three options: a searchable database, the ability to create your own custom meals, and a scan feature if your item has a barcode. We also like that Noom helps you feel supported with a real person coaching you along the way.
What We Like About Noom
- Education-focused
- Easy to follow program and user friendly app
- Green, yellow, and red light classification system
- No food is off-limits
- Very personalized experience with support available
What We Don’t Like About Noom
- Tracking customized meals can be tedious
- Only one price option
BUY: Noom
Weight Watchers
SPECS
- Platform: Website and app
- Payment Structure: Monthly membership with discounts for longer commitment
- Dietary Accommodations: You can be on any diet and use Weight Watchers
- Key Features: Uses a points system and offers plenty of meal planning tools
- Support: Very large and active community of users
Weight Watchers has been one of the most recognizable names among weight loss programs for a long time. It is likely that you have heard of weight watchers and the point system they use to help you follow a balanced diet. WW is not a program that encourages rapid weight loss or food restriction because it is designed to help you form healthy habits for long-term success.
One of the best parts about Weight Watchers is the community. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a weight loss program with a community as active as this one. With the connect feature inside the app you can follow other members’ journeys, interact with them through comments, and receive encouragement back on your own posts. Weight Watchers wants you to succeed and gives you the best support to do so.
What We Like About Weight Watchers
- One of the biggest, most active user communities
- No food is off-limits which can help you stick to your goals
- Different levels of membership so it is accessible to more users
- 24/7 access to a coach with the upgraded plan
- Optional workout and meditation programs
What We Don’t Like About Weight Watchers
- Program is made to track every single thing you eat, which can be time consuming
- App has a lot of tools which is great, but it can be hard to navigate for new users
BUY: Weight Watchers
What is Noom?
Cost
Noom costs $60 per month. You can join with a monthly membership, or you can pay for a custom plan after you take the introduction quiz to set your goals. Some apps have tiered memberships so that you can choose which fits with your budget, but Noom is all or nothing unless you have a promo discount code.
Foods to Eat
Noom is a unique system when it comes to weight loss apps. The program places a heavy emphasis on changing your relationship with food to achieve long-term success. Noom accomplishes this with daily educational videos and their refusal to label any food as bad or completely off-limits.
Noom uses a red, yellow, and green system when you track your food, and foods are classified based on their calorie density. Red foods are those that have a lot of calories in small portions. Yellow foods are less calories per portion and have a good balance of nutrients. Green foods have low calories per portion. Based on your goals, Noom will recommend what percentage of your diet should be in each category each day.
Foods to Avoid
Technically, Noom does not have food restrictions. The red, yellow, and green classification is based on how many calories a food has in a serving. If you follow the recommended amounts of red, yellow, and green foods then you should expect to see results. Here are some examples of what types of foods fall into what categories:
Red
- Red meat
- Oils
- Nuts
- Dairy
- Bacon
- Sweets
Yellow
- Legumes
- Fish
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Lean meats
Green
- Whole fruits and vegetables
- Non-fat dairy
- Oats
- Whole grain bread
- Quinoa
What is Weight Watchers?
Cost
Weight watchers has multiple membership options that start as low as $3 per week. With the different membership types you’ll get access to more or less app features, but the basics are available in all memberships.
Weight Watchers also offers discounts when you commit to longer periods of time plus there are promo codes and discounts available around the holidays.
Foods to Eat
Weight Watchers is another weight loss program that does not have food restrictions. Where Noom is based on a red, yellow, green system, WW uses a points system to classify your food. Based on your weight loss goals you’ll be given a daily point budget that will guide your eating.
Every food and drink is given a point value based on nutrients like calories, protein, saturated fat, and sugar content. On this program you’re technically free to eat anything as long as you don’t go over budget. There is also a list of Zeropoint foods that you’re free to consume in as much quantity as you want. Here are a few examples of Zeropoint foods:
- Grilled chicken
- Avocado
- Non-starchy vegetables
- Popcorn
Foods to Avoid
Since you’re not technically restricted from eating any foods, you may be tempted to indulge. But the key thing to keep in mind is this: the more foods you eat that contain a lot of points, the less food you’ll get to eat overall. You’ll have to figure out the balance for yourself, but that’s a good thing because it will keep you engaged in the program.
Which is Better: Noom or Weight Watchers?
Whether Noom or Weight Watchers is a better program for you depends on your goals. If you find yourself trapped in a yo-yo diet cycle that you want to get out of, Noom gives you the most structure and education to help break you out of it. If you’re after overall wellness and a change of lifestyle for an affordable cost, then Weight Watchers is a great option.
But we know, that doesn’t exactly answer your question. Well, here it is: Weight Watchers is the program that appeals to the widest variety of users. The WW community is hard to beat and a good support system is one of, if not the most, important features of a successful weight loss journey.
FAQs About Noom vs. Weight Watchers
What is the success rate of Noom?
It is hard to say how many people are successful on Noom because there are a lot of factors to consider. But, there is one study from 2016 that followed 35,000 Noom users for 2 years and found that 78% succeeded in meeting their goals.
Which diet is best for long-term weight loss?
Long-term weight loss is hard because diets can be very restrictive. The best chance you have at keeping the weight off is changing your lifestyle. Both Noom and Weight Watchers are programs designed to help you do that.
Is Weight Watchers worth it?
The bottom line is that Weight Watchers has been around for almost 60 years because it works. If you’re willing to buckle down and commit then Weight Watchers is definitely worth it for you.