Youâve decided itâs time to do something about your weight. But looking for a sustainable way to shed those extra pounds has led you down a rabbit hole of information. As you read about various diets and weight loss methods, you find the same names: Noom and MyFitnessPal. Both programs seem to have extensive followings and positive reviews, making you think one could help you reach your goals. But which one? In this article, weâll compare Noom vs MyFitnessPal to help you confidently choose the weight loss app that best aligns with your personal goals and lifestyle, ensuring long-term success in achieving a healthier, sustainable lifestyle.
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What Are Noom and Myfitnesspal and Why Theyâre Popular
Noom and MyFitnessPal are the most popular apps for tracking calories and losing weight. Noom focuses on changing your relationship with food, while MyFitnessPal is more about the numbers.
Both have free versions, but Noomâs approach requires a subscription after a two-week trial, while MyFitnessPal has a free version with ads and a premium version that removes ads and unlocks extra features.
Overview of Noom
Noom is a psychology-based weight loss program and app that has helped over 3.5 million people lose weight. Noom says you donât need a strict diet to lose weight healthily. The goal is to help you change your habits, behaviors, and attitudes towards food so that you can sustain your goal weight.
How Noom Works
Noom claims that getting to your goal weight only takes about 15 minutes a day. Typical Noom users who add other healthy habits to their lifestyle lose one to two pounds weekly.
1. Answer Questions So Noom Can Customize Your Program
Noomâs quiz takes about ten minutes to complete. Noom dives more profoundly than your age, weight, and gender. Youâll talk about why you want to lose weight, your activity level, other healthy habits, and what life events led to your weight gain.
2. Download the App and Choose a Subscription
The Noom app is available on iOS and Android phones. You can put it on a tablet, but the step-counting feature only works on your phone.
3. Take the Classes
Most of the Noom program is about your psychological relationship to food. Ten mini-psychology lessons help change your outlook and food habits and only take five to 15 minutes daily. A goal coach will connect with you twice weekly to check your progress and help keep you motivated.
Noom also assigns you to a group and group coach who moderates the chat, posts tips, and interacts with some posts.
4. Follow the Plan
While you get a unique plan for your wellness goals, the basic idea is to record your calories and activity to achieve a calorie deficit. Noom employs a Green, Yellow, and Red system to categorize food.
Green foods are fruits, veggies, and anything with a high nutrient concentration and low-calorie count. Yellow foods have less nutrient density and more calories than foods in the green category. Red foods have the most calories and the least nutritional value.
Overview of MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal is a popular calorie-counting app that offers several free features. Before the paywall, you can count calories, keep track of your exercise, look at hundreds of recipes and workouts, and talk to other users.
Easy Food Logging & Recipe Importing
The most convenient feature of MyFitnessPal is easy food log entries. You can quickly enter food diary entries by scanning food packagesâ barcodes. The most unique part is the Import Recipe feature. It lets you put in the URL of an online recipe and accurately record the nutritional information. These features are behind the paywall.
How MyFitnessPal Works?
Getting started on MyFitnessPal is a quick and straightforward process.
1. Download the App and Make a Profile
Youâll answer basic questions about your current weight, age, gender, and target weight. MyFitnessPal will prescribe a daily Net Calorie target.
2. Log Your Food and Exercise
Tracking the calories you eat and what you burn through exercise allows you to see whether you meet your Net Calorie goal. The app remembers foods you eat frequently, logging as quickly as 30 seconds.
3. Log Your Progress
MyFitnessPal recommends periodically weighing yourself and logging your weight on the Check-In feature. The program automatically adjusts your Net Calorie goal as you lose weight.
4. Engage With the Community
You can get support from other users on the Facebook-like social feature in MyFitnessPal. Users share workout plans, recipes, and inspiring stories to help everyone stay motivated.
In-Depth Noom vs. MyFitnessPal Comparison for Smarter Weight Loss Choices
App Store Rating:
- Noom: 4.7/5 based on 801,456 reviews
- MyFitnessPal: 4.7/5 based on 1.7 million ratings
Google Play Rating:
- Noom: 4.1/5 from 307,715 votes
- MyFitnessPal: 4/5 from 2,671,430 votes
Free Trial:
- Noom: 14 days free trial
- MyFitnessPal: 30 days free trial
Primary Focus:
- Noom: Psychological approach to weight loss and habit change
- MyFitnessPal: Calorie and macro tracking, food and exercise logging
Nutritional Tracking:
- Noom: Personalized based on user goals
- MyFitnessPal: Comprehensive database for detailed logging
Exercise Tracking:
- Noom: Basic tracking and integration with other apps
- MyFitnessPal: Detailed tracking with a wide variety of exercises
Community Support:
- Noom: Access to Noom groups and coach
- MyFitnessPal: Active online community and forums
Educational Content:
- Noom: Extensive, focusing on psychology and habit formation
- MyFitnessPal: Limited to general health and nutrition advice
Customization:
- Noom: Highly personalized program
- MyFitnessPal: Customizable goals and tracking settings
Unique Features:
- Noom: One-on-one coaching, behavior change courses
- MyFitnessPal: Extensive food database, barcode scanner, macro and nutrition breakdown
Device Integration:
- Noom: Limited
- MyFitnessPal: Extensive (including Apple Health, Fitbit, Garmin, etc.)
The Top 5 Unique Features of Noom
- Psychological Approach: Noom focuses on the psychological aspects of weight loss and habit change. The app helps users understand their eating triggers and motivates them to change their habits for long-term success.
- Personalized Health Coaching: Noom offers one-on-one coaching sessions with health professionals. Users can message their coaches at any time for support and guidance.
- Customized Weight Loss Plans: Noom makes weight loss plans tailored to each personâs goals and lifestyle. By answering questions about your preferences, desired goals, and daily routines, Noom creates a unique plan for you.
- Interactive Lessons: Noom provides over 1,000 interactive lessons focusing on the psychology of eating and healthy habits. Users learn why they eat the way they do and how to make lasting changes to improve their health.
- Behavioral Change Techniques: Noom utilizes behavioral change techniques to help users modify their lifestyle for long-term health benefits. The app encourages self-reflection, goal setting, and tracking progress to improve overall well-being.
The Top 5 Unique Features of MyFitnessPal
- Extensive Food Database: MyFitnessPal features a comprehensive database with over 14 million foods for accurate food tracking. This includes data on thousands of restaurant meals and popular recipes.
- Barcode Scanner: MyFitnessPal includes a barcode scanner for quickly and easily logging packaged foods. This feature simplifies the tracking process, especially for users who eat many packaged foods.
- Macro Tracking: MyFitnessPal offers detailed breakdowns of daily macronutrient intake. Users can set goals for calories and each macronutrient and easily see if theyâre on track throughout the day.
- Integration with Multiple Devices and Apps: MyFitnessPal syncs with a wide range of fitness trackers (Apple Health, Fitbit, Garmin). This allows users to see all their health data in one place and get a more accurate picture of their progress toward goals.
- Customizable Dashboard: MyFitnessPal allows users to personalize their dashboard to highlight the most relevant stats. This helps improve the user experience and makes tracking less overwhelming.
Breakdown of Features
- Personalized Coaching: Available on Noom, not available on MyFitnessPal.
- Behavioral Change Strategies: Offered by Noom, not by MyFitnessPal.
- Custom Meal Plans: Included in Noom, not in MyFitnessPal.
- Diet and Nutrition Tracking: Both Noom and MyFitnessPal provide this feature.
- Exercise Tracking: Both platforms offer exercise tracking.
- Community Features: Available on both Noom and MyFitnessPal.
- Customizable Goal Setting: Both Noom and MyFitnessPal support customizable goal setting.
- Fitness Tracker Integration: Both platforms integrate with fitness trackers.
- Subscription Required for Full Access: Both Noom and MyFitnessPal require a subscription for full access.
- Multi-language Support: Available on both platforms.
- One-on-One Coaching Option: Offered by Noom, but not by MyFitnessPal.
The Cost of Getting Fit: Noom vs MyFitnessPal
Letâs talk about whatâs in your walletâthe pricing of Noom vs MyFitnessPal. When it comes to health and fitness apps, knowing what youâre investing in is as important as knowing what youâre gaining.
Pricing & Trial
Noom isnât free. Noom subscription costs depend on how long you commit to the program. A six-month plan costs $39.99 per month, while a 12-month plan is $24.99 per month. The app also offers a four-day trial to decide if itâs right for you before committing. MyFitnessPal has free and premium versions. The free version includes basic calorie and exercise tracking. To unlock all the features, users can pay $19.99 per year or $9.99 for a month-to-month subscription.
User Experience and Interface: Noom vs MyFitnesspal
This part is about how each app feels when used daily. Weâre talking design, navigation, and all those little details that can make your journey with a fitness app either a smooth ride or a bit of a bumpy road. Itâs like choosing between a sleek sports car and a dependable SUV â both get you to your destination, but the experience? Different. Letâs see how these two apps stack up in the usability department:
Support
Noom wins the support game for fitness apps. Youâll get classes, coaching, and community support to keep you striving toward your goals. MyFitnessPal offers some coaching and a social media-like community among users.
Activity Tracking
Noom can integrate with about 20 fitness-tracking devices, while MyFitnessPal connects with about 10.
Noom vs. MyFitnessPal: Pros and Cons
When choosing a fitness app, itâs not just about the flashy features; itâs also about understanding what works well and what might be a bit of a letdown. In this section, weâll lay out the pros and cons of each app.
This way, you can pick an app that fits your fitness goals and gels well with your lifestyle and preferences. Letâs take a balanced look at what Noom and MyFitnessPal have to offer and where they might fall short.
The Pros of Noom and MyFitnessPal
Noom Pros
Personalized Experience
Tailored coaching and individualized plans
User Engagement
Interactive lessons and personalized feedback
Behavioral Focus
Emphasis on psychology and habit formation for long-term change
Community Support
Access to personal coaching and supportive groups
MyFitnessPal Pros
Personalized Experience
Customizable goals and tracking settings
User Engagement
Extensive food and exercise database for comprehensive tracking
Behavioral Focus
Data-driven approach with detailed nutritional insights
Community Support
Large and active online community for peer support
The Cons of Noom and MyFitnessPal
Noom Cons
Pricing
Subscription can be relatively expensive
Device Integration
Limited compatibility with other fitness devices
Time Investment
Requires time commitment for maximum benefit
Community Size
Smaller online community compared to MyFitnessPal
Content Volume
The extensive amount of content may be overwhelming for some
MyFitnessPal Cons
Pricing
Premium features require subscription
Device Integration
Some users may find the interface overwhelming
Time Investment
Lacks a focus on behavioral change and psychological aspects
Community Size
Individualized support like coaching is not as prominent
Content Volume
Educational content is less comprehensive than Noom
What Real Customers Are Saying About Noom and MyFitnessPal
Knowing what real customers think of a product is one of the most helpful ways to make your choice. Sites like Trustpilot are noteworthy sources of information.
Noom
Trustpilot shows a 4.2-star rating for Noom. Customers enjoy learning about the psychology of food and how that knowledge helps them meet their goals. Jane from NZ on Trustpilot says, âI was skeptical, but now Noom has won me over. Iâve lost a kilo and a half in about six weeks, which is about half my goal loss.â
Doctor-Recommended & Focus on Psychology
Karin from CA says, âThe psychological aspect is fantastic. Itâs learning about your mental and physical health, helping to create healthier habits without expecting perfection or deprivationâŚâ
Julia on Trustpilot noted, âNoom was recommended by my doctor, who monitors my diabetes. She had heard good things from other patients, and I find it fits my lifestyle and helps me with food choices and the psychology supporting this.â
MyFitnessPal
Despite millions of downloads from Google Play and the App Store, MyFitnessPal doesnât have a great reputation on Trustpilot. Customers struggled to integrate their tracking devices and expressed frustration with ads and previously free features moving behind the paywall. Ben from GB said,
âWhat I cannot understand or accept is the removal of free-to-use services within the app (barcode scanner) that have been there for YEARSâŚâ Nevertheless, on the App Store, it has 4.7 stars, and customers seem to love it. Georg-o says, âI really like this app. I use it for calorie counting. It links to Garmin Connect for integrating exercise calories into the overall balance for the day.â
Customers on Trustpilot and the App Store noted a decrease in the quality of the user interface over time, though. Artigius stated, âSeveral years ago, this app was the best out there⌠The UI was dramatically changed, making it far more difficult to do the most basic tasksâŚâ
Which Is Better: Noom or MyFitnesspal?
Bottom line: Noom is an excellent program for those who have tried other programs with little success. The psychology element may unlock the door to long-term weight control. This program, though, will keep you glued to your phone.
MyFitnessPal has free features such as calorie tracking, exercise logging, and access to recipes and workouts. The app offers easy food log entries and a unique Import Recipe feature. However, free version users may experience ads and limited fitness tracker integration.
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