Noom vs Weight Watchers: Which Wildly Popular Weight Loss App Wins Out?

Hey there, fellow health-seeker! If you‘re reading this, I‘m guessing you‘ve heard the buzz about Noom and Weight Watchers (WW) and are wondering which app is worth your time and cash. I hear you – as someone who‘s tried my fair share of diet programs, I know how overwhelming it can be to sort through all the options promising to help you shed pounds and keep them off for good.

Well, I‘ve done the legwork of thoroughly testing out both Noom and WW, and I‘m here to give you the full scoop on how they stack up. As a self-proclaimed fashionista, I‘m all about finding the perfect fit – and that goes for my diet plan too! So grab a green juice (or a glass of wine, no judgment) and let‘s dive into the nitty-gritty of the Noom vs Weight Watchers showdown.

Tale of the Tape: Noom vs WW Basics

First, a quick overview of our contenders:

Noom:

• All-mobile health coaching app launched in 2016
• Uses psychology-based approach to change eating behaviors
• Provides one-on-one goal coaching via the app
• Promotes a non-restrictive, "no food off limits" philosophy
• Membership costs $60/month on average

Weight Watchers (WW):

• Legacy weight loss company founded in 1963
• Points-based food tracking system – each food has a SmartPoints value
• Three plan options (Green, Blue, Purple) with varying points and foods
• Offers in-person and virtual workshops with coaches
• Digital-only plan is $22/month; up to $45/month for workshops

Fundamentally, both programs aim to help you lose weight through a combination of food tracking, behavior modification, and emotional support. But the WAY they go about it is quite different.

Noom is the young, hip, digital native – fully app-based with no physical meetups. It really leans into the psychology of weight loss, helping you reframe your habits and emotional triggers around food.

WW is the established veteran – it‘s been around for nearly 60 years and has a network of in-person and online workshops. It‘s known for its points system, which gives each food a numeric value based on calorie, saturated fat, sugar and protein content.

Putting Noom and WW to the Test

Of course, the million-dollar question is: do these programs ACTUALLY work for weight loss? Let‘s look at the receipts, shall we?

Noom has some pretty impressive stats to back it up. According to a 2016 study in the journal Scientific Reports, nearly 80% of Noom users lost weight while using the app. The researchers found that those who logged their food and weight regularly saw the most consistent results. Check out this chart showing sustained weight loss over several months:

[Chart showing 78% of Noom participants maintaining weight loss over 9 months]

Sounds promising, right? Just keep in mind, most of the folks in this study were millennials, so we can‘t necessarily generalize the findings to all age groups. Still, it‘s a strong sign that Noom‘s habit-building tools (like an in-app pedometer and food photo tracking) can lead to real results.

Now, let‘s look at Weight Watchers. This program has been around long enough to amass a LOT of research on its effectiveness. A major 2017 review in The Lancet analyzed data from dozens of commercial weight loss studies. It found that, on average, WW participants lost 2.6% more weight at the 12-month mark compared to those who got only standard diet advice from their doctor.

Some other key findings on WW:

• 35-60% of WW participants maintain 5%+ weight loss after 1 year
• Average 12-week weight loss is 3.2kg (7 lbs) with WW Digital
• Average 12-week weight loss is 4.2 kg (9.2 lbs) with WW Workshops

So while no diet‘s results are dramatic, WW does have solid evidence of modest, sustainable weight loss – especially for those who attend the workshops regularly.

Inside Scoop: What It‘s Like to Use Noom

I tried Noom myself for 4 months last year, so I can give you my honest take! The sign-up process is pretty painless – you fill out a quick survey about your current weight, lifestyle and goals, and then Noom creates your custom plan.

Right off the bat, I was matched with my goal coach, Taylor. She checked in with me every few days to see how I was doing, offer tips and support, and make tweaks to my plan as needed. It was nice to have that accountability and cheerleading, even if it was only through in-app chats.

The bulk of the Noom experience centers around daily food logging. The app makes this really easy – you can search their huge database or scan barcodes to find what you‘re eating. Each food is color-coded:

• Green: Fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins (eat liberally)
• Yellow: Lean meats, starches, eggs, avocado (eat in moderation)
• Red: Sweets, processed foods, oils (limit intake)

No foods are off-limits, but Noom really emphasizes crowding out the red foods by filling your plate with mostly greens and yellows. It also gives you a daily calorie budget based on your weight loss goal (usually about 1,200 calories for women).

One thing I really liked about Noom was the extra content. Every day, there are new bite-sized articles and quizzes to help you dive into the psychology of weight loss – like how to navigate social eating situations or overcome negative self-talk. It felt like a mini pysch course!

You also get placed in a group chat with other Noomers on a similar timeline as you. It‘s a nice bonus for social support, commiserating, and recipe-swapping. Though to be honest, my group was a bit hit-or-miss in terms of activity levels.

The WW Experience: Workshops and Winning Streaks

I also did Weight Watchers for about 6 months a couple years ago. I opted for the Workshop + Digital plan, which gave me access to weekly in-person meetings along with the WW app.

Similar to Noom, WW has you take a getting started quiz to match you with the best plan for your food preferences and lifestyle. I landed on the Blue plan, which gave me a moderate SmartPoints budget and over 200 ZeroPoint foods.

In case you‘re not familiar, ZeroPoint foods are things you can eat without tracking or measuring – they‘re typically low calorie and nutrient dense, like skinless chicken breast, fish, eggs, non-fat yogurt and most fruits and veggies. The idea is that you anchor your meals around these "freebies" and then use your points budget for things like bread, fats, sweets, etc.

I found the points system pretty intuitive once I got the hang of it. The WW app makes tracking really easy – you can use the search bar or scanner to find the point value of pretty much any food. It also has a massive database of WW recipes that lay out the point values for each ingredient, so you can cook and track without doing mental math.

But for me, the real game-changer with WW was the workshops. Every Saturday morning, I‘d go to my local WW Studio for a 30-minute session with 10-15 other members. We had an awesome coach who led us in activities and discussions around the weekly topic (like overcoming plateaus or staying motivated during the holidays).

Even though I‘m naturally more of an introvert, I found myself really looking forward to that time to connect with my WW crew. We celebrated each other‘s victories, big and small – like hitting a 5-pound milestone or acing a big work presentation. When the weight came off more slowly some weeks, it helped to know I wasn‘t alone in the struggle.

Research backs up the power of this group support model. A 2019 study in the journal Obesity found that, over a 6-month period, WW participants who attended 50% or more of their weekly workshops lost 5 times more weight than digital-only members.

Dollars and Sense: Noom and WW Pricing

Okay, let‘s talk cash. How much does each of these programs cost? Here‘s the breakdown:

Noom:

• Monthly auto-renewing plan: $60
• 2-month auto-renewing plan: $150 $129
• 3-month auto-renewing plan: $180 $159
• 4-month auto-renewing plan: $240 $169
• 6-month auto-renewing plan: $360 $179
• 8-month auto-renewing plan: $480 $189
• Annual auto-renewing plan: $750 $199

Weight Watchers:

• Digital (app only): $22/month
• Digital 360 (includes live coaching): $30/month
• Unlimited Workshops + Digital: $45/month

One thing to note – Noom‘s prices aren‘t super transparent on the website. They use a lot of "starting at" language, but you don‘t get your actual plan price until you input your personal info. In contrast, WW lays it all out there.

Both programs frequently run promos, so you can often snag a free trial month or discounted starter rate. In general, you‘ll pay less per month if you commit to a longer plan upfront.

So which one gives you the most bang for your buck? It really depends on your budget and your preferred style of support. If you‘re on a tighter budget and happy to go digital-only, Noom‘s average $60/month price point looks attractive compared to WW‘s $45/month for workshops.

But if you feel like you need that in-person accountability to stay on track, WW‘s workshop plan could be a worthwhile investment for you. Members who attend at least 3 workshops per month see 50% better weight loss results compared to digital only.

The People‘s Choice: Noom and WW Reviews

Obviously, my experience with Noom and WW is just one data point. So to paint a fuller picture, I combed through hundreds of real user reviews across the interwebs. Here are some of the major themes:

What Users Love About Noom:

• Convenience of all-mobile interface, easy food tracking
• Psychology-based approach to changing habits
• Non-restrictive, no "off-limits" food philosophy
• Personalized coaching for one-on-one support, problem solving
• Quirky, funny tone of daily lessons makes it fun to learn

Noom user Rachel D. says: "I‘ve lost over 50 lbs in 7 months without feeling like I‘m on a ‘diet‘ in the traditional sense. Noom taught me what REAL hunger feels like versus emotional eating. I never thought I‘d be someone who craves veggies, but here I am!"

Potential Noom Pitfalls:

• Steep monthly subscription cost compared to other apps
• Very small calorie budgets may not be enough for some
• Lessons can feel redundant and less relevant over time
• Some users find the coaching style impersonal or scripted
• Hard to cancel and get refunds if you want to quit

What Users Love About Weight Watchers:

• SmartPoints system makes tracking easy and flexible
• HUGE library of low-point recipes online and in app
• In-person workshops provide great support and motivation
• Access to coaches and members 24/7 with Digital 360
• Rewards program for activity, weight loss milestones

WW member Mark T. raves: "I‘m down 35 pounds since January, even while traveling a ton for my consulting job. My WW coach helps me strategize around eating out and snacks to pack. The weekly workshops keep me on track and I love comparing notes with other guys on the plan."

Potential WW Pitfalls:

• SmartPoints can be confusing and hard to calculate at first
• Easy to overeat ZeroPoint foods if you‘re not careful
• Workshop locations and schedules can be limited in some areas
• Digital tools are less dynamic than other full-featured apps
• Program changes and rebrandings can be disorienting

The Final Fit: Is Noom or WW Right For You?

Phew, you still with me? We covered a lot of ground! By now, I hope you have a clearer sense of what Noom and WW have to offer and how they differ. The BEST weight loss plan is ultimately the one you can stick with long-term.

Noom might be the best fit if:

• You‘re generally tech-savvy and comfortable with a completely mobile experience
• You struggle with the psychology and habits around food and want to dive into that
• You prefer one-on-one support and problem solving with an individual coach
• You need flexibility and an "everything in moderation" approach to fit your lifestyle

Consider WW if:

• You‘ve had success with points-based tracking in the past and like the structure
• You‘ve hit a plateau and need the extra accountability of in-person weigh-ins and meetings
• You‘re on a tight schedule and like the consistency of weekly workshops
• You enjoy cooking and want access to an extensive database of point-based recipes

Of course, the REAL key to lasting weight loss is finding a plan that seamlessly integrates with your lifestyle, preferences, and personal goals. No one program is one-size-fits-all!

My best advice? Start with your deal-breaker must-haves in a program. Do you need a face-to-face component? Does the plan need to fit with your family‘s meals? Will you need a lot of on-the-go options? Make a short list of your non-negotiables, then see which program aligns with those.

And hey, if one doesn‘t end up working for you, don‘t be afraid to switch gears! This journey to health is all about experimenting and finding what makes you feel your best. I‘m rooting for you, friend – you‘ve got this!