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Home arrow Nutrition arrow Weight Management arrow Noom vs. Weight Watchers: A Battle of Weight Loss Giants

Noom vs. Weight Watchers: A Battle of Weight Loss Giants

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Written by Edibel Quintero, RD
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Fact checked by Rosmy Barrios, MD
Last update: September 14, 2023
10 min read 1130 Views 0 Reviews
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The heavyweight showdown in the battle for weight loss success

Noom vs Weight Watchers

How do we vet brands and products? Learn more.

There are many apps that claim to help people lose weight.

Of course, when a brand sounds confident, you’re more likely to gravitate toward its program. This is a trap that some people fall into when searching for suitable diets. It’s important to look out for the pros and cons before making such a big financial commitment.

Both Noom and Weight Watchers could be ideal candidates for your goals. They are weight loss apps designed for eating healthy foods and getting more physical activity. Are you interested to learn how effective they are when comparing the differences?

Keep reading our article to determine the pros, cons, and benefits of Noom and Weight Watchers.

Which Is Better: Weight Watchers or Noom?

WW and Noom both have distinctive features that suit different people, but our team chose Noom after reviewing both.

Those who need long-term support and personal coaching should choose Weight Watchers. You have unlimited access to community support groups and options to visit in-person workshops, so it’s worth trying when holding yourself accountable.

Alternatively, the Noom app encourages people to make their own decisions when it comes to eating food. For those who want to build a routine on their own, Noom may be an option. This app also strays away from strict programs and continued food tracking.

4.3
stars
4.1
stars
Brand
Weight Watchers
Noom
Pros

Plenty of focus on exercise and staying active

Easy-to-follow diet

You get a comprehensive overview of your daily meals

Balanced and flexible program

People can read educational resources for support

Encourages users to measure food portions

Focuses on sustainable and healthy weight loss

Contains educational content

Does not exclude food groups

Counts your steps for daily exercise

Promotes behavioral changes

You can adjust your goals and food preferences

Cons

The app’s interface is hard to navigate

People may not feel comfortable with in-person workshops

Not a physician-run program

Meal plans can be too lenient

Quite expensive

Logging food can be time-consuming

Not everyone wants to weigh themselves daily

No coaching

What Is Noom?

noom-logo
Our rating:
4.1
stars
  • Helps create better diet and exercise habits
  • Encourages better food choices
  • Focuses on enjoyment rather than restriction
Learn More

Noom is a weight loss app that focuses on encouraging behavioral changes. You can learn to build a positive relationship with food rather than being restricted. The creators of this app release educational content that determines the right food choices.

People can build healthy habits that help them to lose weight. The dedicated blogs cover topics like calorie reduction, exercise tips, and motivation. Reading important information about sustainable fat loss is key to protecting your health.

You’ll be encouraged to answer a few questions regarding your age, gender, height, dietary preferences, current weight, and fitness level. This is necessary for the app to create a program that suits your needs and provides the best daily eating routine.

What Is Noom Weight Loss?

Using Noom’s weight loss method, individuals are supported in achieving their weight loss goals with personalized coaching, behavior change, and tracking tools. To achieve long-term weight loss, this program emphasizes developing healthier habits, eating mindfully, and changing lifestyles to make sustainable changes.

Pros
  • checkmark
    Sustainable weight loss plans
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    Lots of educational content for beginners
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    No banning of certain food groups
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    Counts your daily steps
  • checkmark
    Promotes healthy habits
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    Allows to personalize and change diet goals and preferences
Cons
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    Expensive subscription
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    Time-consuming when food logging
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    No face-to-face coaching options
  • checkmark
    Requires financial commitment

What Is Weight Watchers?

Weight Watchers logo
Our rating:
4.3
stars
  • Tracks your food intake via a daily point system
  • Personalizes meal plans for weight loss
  • Encourages an active lifestyle and healthy diet
Learn More

Weight Watchers is a doctor-recommended weight loss program. People can lose stubborn weight and measure the food they eat daily. The creators of WW encourage users to learn about nutrition and how certain meals will boost their long-term results.

You can sign up for one of three plans depending on how much support you want. The app tailors your experience to match your target weight, current weight and eating goals. From there, you’ll be given a specific plan that contains a dedicated point system.

The points represent how nutritious certain foods are. Junk food will have more points, while fruits, vegetables, and chicken usually have none. You can eat as many zero-point foods as you want on the WW program since they’re low in calories and saturated fats.

Pros
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    Promotes the importance of exercise
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    Easy-to-follow programs
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    Comprehensive guides on tracking meals
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    Balanced diets for weight loss
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    Lots of educational content for support
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    Heavy focus on measuring food portions
Cons
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    Hard-to-navigate app interface
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    Not everyone wants in-person workshops
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    The app is not run by physicians
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    Certain meal plans are too lenient

Key Features

Each app contains unique features that aim to support your weight loss journey. You should learn more about each app and how it will contribute to your long-term goals.

Noom is all about tracking and monitoring your goals. You can use certain tools to log your meals, exercise routine, and body weight. Biometric tracking is another great feature that measures blood sugar and blood pressure for those with health problems. Noom has a point system and you should focus on zero point foods like vegetables, fruits, etc. Noom’s tips help customers lose weight easily.

A study found that dietary tracking helps people achieve successful weight loss. When losing belly fat, you can stay aware of what you eat throughout the week. You’ll also get educational content on nutrition, stress management, and daily habits.

On the other hand, Weight Watchers has a point budget system that determines the value of each food. You can use the search bar to track food and recipes. A blue dot on the main page shows that you’ve stuck within the budget for that particular day.

WW also contains activity trackers that promote daily exercise. Research has proven that exercise helps you burn more calories. By logging your workouts on the app, you’ll earn more daily points, which can contribute toward additional food options.

Benefits

Many benefits derive from both apps. You can take a look at the advantages before making a decision. Just be aware that everyone will have a unique experience with the apps, so these benefits might not be the same for you.

Noom uses features that focus on changing your mindset. You can gain more educational guidance when it comes to losing that stubborn weight.

Noom encourages users to create better habits for their weight loss goals.

The virtual coaching team that comprises a goal specialist, group coach, and general support group will keep you on track. You can ask questions about your diet plans and join the community when discussing nutrition, weight loss, and counting calories.

Another great thing about Noom is that no food groups are excluded or banned here.

The Noom app has a list of foods separated into 3 color categories: green foods are fruits and vegetables, yellow are lean meats and poultry, and red comprises processed products that you should avoid when following this plan. You should focus on green foods here as they are nutritious and healthy.

When following this weight loss program, zero point foods are a priority.

The WW program has many benefits for healthy and lasting weight loss program. It’s all about eating nutrient-dense food and exercising regularly to reach your goals.

The WW app (formerly Weight Watchers) has a community that encourages motivation. People can share new meal ideas or talk about their weight loss journey. A study proves that support networks can improve your long-term mental health.

You can use WW to enjoy food and lose a few pounds simultaneously. There are no severe calorie restrictions or rapid weight loss methods. Monitoring the point value of each food is supposed to change your eating habits when preventing weight gain.

Downsides

There are bound to be disadvantages to using apps. Not all of them produce the same results or fit into certain lifestyles. Before making any financial commitment to Noom or WW, consider the negatives and how they might impact your decision.

The Noom app may not be suitable for those seeking personal guidance. This is something to consider when spending your money on a subscription.

Noom is an expensive app that requires a financial commitment. You have to use the features. Otherwise, you won’t see any results. Canceling the subscription is possible, but it would be a waste of money if you can’t see your plan through until the end.

Face-to-face coaching isn’t an option in the Noom app. This means you can’t speak to your coach or goal specialist in a dedicated meeting room. For people who need that personal guidance throughout their journey, Noom might not be a suitable program.

On the other hand, a dedicated weight loss program like WW isn’t always the best option. You could prefer simple apps that give you more freedom in terms of eating.

Following the WW program can be very expensive for some users. Not everyone can afford memberships when it comes to weihht loss and eating properly. You could also have a budget, meaning WW isn’t right for your personal goals in the long term.

Keep in mind that the WW program focuses on low-caloric density foods that most of the time don’t promote satiety. This means people are more likely to binge eat throughout the day. Studies have shown that not getting enough protein-rich foods can leave you feeling hungry after meals.

Cost

You can compare the costs of both Noom and WW. This is recommended for people who only want to spend a certain amount on weight loss apps.

The cost of WW depends on your personal program. You can get core or premium features that resemble weight loss goals, dietary preferences, and exercise routines. Just be aware that new accounts get a promotional rate of up to 50% off for 6 months.

Below are some pricing options for WW after the promotion ends:

  • Core (WW digital): $23 per month – $5.75 per week, or $276 per year
  • Premium (WW digital + workshops): $54.95 per month – $13.75 a week, or $659.40 a year

Mwanwhile, Noom has a free subscription with minimal features.

The official website states that beginners get a 4-month plan at $39.75 a month to use the app. However, every plan requires customers to pay upfront for auto-renewal. Those who choose the 16-week plan may need to pay $159 before using Noom.

Here are other auto-renewal pricing options:

  • 2 months: $119
  • 3 months: $149
  • 4 months: $159
  • 5 months: $164
  • 6 months: $169
  • 7 months: $174
  • 8 months: $179
  • 9 months: $185
  • 10 months: $189
  • 11 months: $195
  • Annual plan: $199

FAQs

Are Noom and Weight Watchers the same?

No, these two programs are not the same. They can both help you lose weight, but certain features are different when it comes to meal planning. Noom doesn’t exclude food groups, while Weight Watchers uses a point system to judge certain foods.

Which one is better for long-term weight loss: Noom or Weight Watchers?

Weight Watchers might be the better option for those needing ongoing long-term support. Some coaches can guide your weight loss journey and offer lifestyle advice. Knowing how much you eat is great for boosting future results, too.

Is Noom premium worth it?

Noom premium can be expensive for people who want to lose more weight. This is because the price is based on your personal goals. So, adding extra months to your Noom subscription may not be worth it compared to other inexpensive alternatives.

What is the difference between Noom and Weight Watchers?

Noom and WW (formerly Weight Watchers) have different methods for achieving weight loss. Noom is an app that focuses on changing behaviors, giving individual coaching, and using tracking tools. In contrast, WW uses a points system to track food intake and provides support through meetings or an online community. Although both programs have the same goal of helping with weight loss, they vary in their approaches and features.

Best in Weight Loss Apps Category

Comparison Winner: Perfect Body
4.4
stars
4.3
stars
4.1
stars
Brand
Perfect Body
Weight Watchers
Noom
Pros

Easy grocery shopping lists

1,000+ recipes

Meal plans created by professional nutritionists

Lots of workout plans and exercise routines

Affordable pricing plans for everyone

Both men and women can use the features

Very easy to use the app and website

Plenty of focus on exercise and staying active

Easy-to-follow diet

You get a comprehensive overview of your daily meals

Balanced and flexible program

People can read educational resources for support

Encourages users to measure food portions

Focuses on sustainable and healthy weight loss

Contains educational content

Does not exclude food groups

Counts your steps for daily exercise

Promotes behavioral changes

You can adjust your goals and food preferences

Cons

No free trial

May not be suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women

The app’s interface is hard to navigate

People may not feel comfortable with in-person workshops

Not a physician-run program

Meal plans can be too lenient

Quite expensive

Logging food can be time-consuming

Not everyone wants to weigh themselves daily

No coaching

How We Compared Noom and Weight Watchers

Testing the apps is important before making a financial commitment. You don’t want to pay for something that doesn’t work at all. By evaluating Weight Watchers and Noom, we determined the pros, cons, and benefits of their prominent features.

Here are 4 key factors we studied in more detail:

Quality

WW and Noom are high-quality weight management apps that help people reach their goals. The key features contain many useful tools for achieving weight loss. You only need straightforward apps that tell you exactly what to do when starting your journey.

Effectiveness

People can only judge the effectiveness when testing out the premium features.

Noom is great for creating better habits, while WW is all about tracking your food and planning new recipes. It just depends on what you wish to follow each day. The only way to lose weight effectively is by eating healthy food and exercising regularly.

Price

The price for both apps may let the score down. Not everyone can afford to pay a huge sum each month, especially during busy seasonal months. Other inexpensive apps use similar tools, so it’s worth checking them out before paying for a subscription.

Brand reputation

Both brands care about people’s health rather than the value of green foods or red foods. They hold features that change your mindset about just eating fewer calories. It’s all about enjoying your meals and not fretting over small treats now and then.

A Word From a Nutritionist

The best health app should take your goals, weight, and preferences into account. You need that freedom when it comes to diets. Certain apps in today’s wellness market care more about earning money, which is a big red flag for potential customers.

Think about what you wish to achieve when exercising and dieting. You might want to create better eating habits or consume more nutritious foods. Some apps focus on specific goals, so always determine their suitability before purchasing a subscription.

People with health conditions should consult with their doctors before seeking weight loss apps. A medical professional can determine whether the diets are suitable. Remember that it takes time to build a routine that promotes healthier food choices.

Also, don’t let apps control your relationship with food. Following a certain weight loss program just isn’t for everyone. Even though apps have become popular in the fitness industry, it’s important to build your own plan that isn’t restrictive or mentally damaging.

Conclusion

So, which weight loss program is better?

Both Noom and Weight Watchers are great for food tracking and counting calories. They focus on the importance of enjoying meals.

After testing both apps, our team decided that the Noom app is slightly better than Weight Watchers. Noom is suitable for those seeking a better relationship with food, and WW is better for long-term support from dedicated coaches.

Written by Edibel Quintero, RD
Edibel Quintero is a medical doctor who graduated in 2013 from the University of Zulia and has been working in her profession since then. She specializes in obesity and nutrition, physical rehabilitation, sports massage and post-operative rehabilitation. Edibel’s goal is to help people live healthier lives by educating them about food, exercise, mental wellness and other lifestyle choices that can improve their quality of life.
The article was fact checked by Rosmy Barrios, MD
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