I don't know about you, but I have been working on losing weight for many years. It is a long time struggle and despite my deep love for the Weight Watchers program I still like to research other programs when they come to my attention. I signed up for a trial of Noom and am going to do a Noom vs Weight Watchers comparison.
Noom vs Weight Watchers
Different people need different approaches for weight loss. I have had some success with Weight Watchers, but I know there are some people who truly work the program and don't have any luck.
I want to share what I know and my experience using Noom so you can decide for yourself if it would be beneficial for you or not!!
Free Trial of Noom
I love free trials for many, many things. It gives me a taste of something and I can hopefully determine if I want to invest my money in the program or product.
First things first…you DO have to give your credit card number in order to receive the 2 week free trial. The big KEY to this is to set an alert on your calendar phone, etc a couple of days before the 14 days is up so you can decide if you want to cancel or not. DO NOT FORGET or you will be charged!!
Some trials are only a few days and that isn't always enough time to get a true feel for the program. I felt like 14 days provided me with a good understanding of how the program would work for me.
There is a free version of Noom available.
The Bare Bones of Noom
I want to outline the basics of how Noom works. You can sign up via the app on your phone or on their website.
First you will answer a series of questions about your current height, weight, age, overall health, fitness level, goal weight, etc.
You start off your first few days getting information about how Noom works and getting your coach.
Yes you can connect other fitness programs to Noom so that it will track your activity level.
Noom has daily activities. These are tips, challenges and strategies to help you with your day and help you start taking action toward your goals. I like the daily activities and they don't take much time.
This program is customized for you and your goals. It is not a one size fits all plan.
Coaching
Everyone who signs up for Noom is assigned a personal coach. The pair you with a certain coach based on your profile. The coaches appear to have a lot of credentials. Many are registered dietitians, master's degrees, etc. The coach will tell you about their background when they introduce themselves to you.
This is more than an online coach. You are able to message the coach and also talk to them if you choose.
Weight Watchers does offer coaching with online subscriptions. These coaches are available to talk via phone or messaging. WW does not specify what credentials these coaches have so I am not sure.
I love the idea of coaching and think it can be a turning point for many people. Being able to connect to a real person who will encourage and guide me would really help!
Your coach can help send you reminders for certain goals you have. They may even send you relevant tips and articles to help you achieve these goals.
Group Support
I didn't have time to really get into groups during my 2 week trial, but it is a feature I love. You can join Noom groups and connect to people who have similar goals. This is another layer of accountability and encouragement during you journey.
Weight Watchers offers group support if you attend meetings online and also has the Connect program on the app where you can get encouragement and give encouragement to other members around the world.
It is a Wellness Program
Years ago I would not have really classified Weight Watchers as a wellness program. Luckily for us they changed their focus from solely weight loss to our overall health. That is one reason I love Weight Watchers.
Noom is also a wellness focused program. There is a big focus on the mental part of weight loss and how our minds matter more than we realize. I really loved this part.
The focus on research based psychology seems very sound and they have a lot of respected physicians who created this program.
This program has a serious focus of being able to change our mindsets, habits so that we can lose weight and keep it off. They do not want you to have to continue paying for this program for life. They are really trying to teach you what you need to know and you will be set!
Any Food is Okay
Weight Watchers is known for allowing you to eat any food, but in moderation. People who can't deal with deprivation (like almost anyone, LOL) like a program that won't restrict certain food groups.
Weight Watchers uses a point system to help you track your intake and help you realize if this is a high calorie food or if it is a healthier option based on how many points the item is.
Noom is the same way. It doesn't totally cut out any food group. It shows you the pros and cons of different foods and food groups, but you still make your own choices.
They have a really simple color coded food system. There are green foods, red foods and yellow foods.
The green foods are just what you guessed….green is for GO. These include things like veggies, fruits, whole grains and foods that are the least calorically dense. Noom wants you to eat at least 30% of your daily intake of green foods.
Yellow foods should make up about 45% of your daily intake. Yellow foods include dairy, meat, starchy foods, etc.
Red foods are foods with the highest caloric density. You can have them each day in smaller portions up to 25% of your daily intake. No one is saying that red foods are bad, but they just shouldn't be eaten in large quantities due to the high number of calories they contain. Foods like peanut butter fall into the category and it is not unhealthy, but it is high in calories.
Extra Information Available
The Noom app has a lot of great information.
You will receive a daily article and I found these to be very informative and helpful. The articles aren't very long so it doesn't take but a few minutes to read.
I also like the logging capabilities with Noom. Besides tracking my weight, food intake and exercise it also has a place for me to track my blood pressure!
The app actually has a built-in pedometer so if you are walking and you have your phone on you it will automatically track your steps. This didn't benefit me very much because I don't carry my phone with me at all times.
Weight Watchers has a living section where you can find new recipes, get tips and read articles.
What I Liked, What I Disliked
One thing I didn't like about Noom is that you can only use it on the app. I do not like using my phone for everything. Small screens are not my thing. I prefer to do things on the computer and unlike Weight Watchers…there is no option to use the actual website. Long term use of an app for me probably wouldn't last.
Now I know that this will not be an issue for many people, but it is for me.
I love the fact that Noom really focuses its attention on changing underlying behaviors and habits for lifelong wellness. They want you to look at the big picture goal and it doesn't have to be a number on a scale.
Noom Pricing
The pricing I am listing is what I see on the website TODAY. Obviously this can change at any time and they may have specials running too. For the most current pricing go to their website.
You will pay much, much less when you sign up for a longer commitment. They really push their 4 month plan, but I know for me that would not be long enough. 🙂
- Month to Month is most expensive at $59 per month.
- 2 Month plan is $99.
- 4 Month plan is $129.
- 6 month plan is $149.
- 8 month plan is $159.
- 12 month plan is $199.
If I was signing up I would definitely choose the 12 month plan. I feel like the longer plans are somewhat comparable to WW pricing, but are a little higher.
I can tell you that the Weight Watchers pricing changes OFTEN. I receive emails about promos they are doing almost every week. They have the digital (online) program, the digital and meetings program and the digital and coaching program. Typically prices are listed per week. You can check the current pricing for your area HERE.
My Verdict
I was very impressed with Noom. This is the perfect program for people who do not do well on DIETS. It really isn't a diet per se.
There is no doubt that the younger generations will enjoy this totally app based program. How many young adults want to go to the same Weight Watchers their parents and grandparents went to? So I do see it being something younger adults would benefit from.
There are many similarities between Noom and Weight Watchers. Honestly my Noom vs Weight Watchers verdict is split. If I wasn't already so familiar with Weight Watchers I would definitely consider using Noom!
Let me know if you have tried Noom and what you think! By the way…this was NOT a sponsored review…I just wanted to share my experience with YOU!
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Thank you so much for doing such a complete comparison. This was wonderful. The price alone I will stick with WW. I love your site, keep up the great work.
Thanks for your kind words Tracy!
I like the flexibility of phone and computer as well. I like WW mainly because of the group meetings, leader encouragement and member interaction with ideas. To be honest, I love using my Fitbit and their app/web page for tracking. My main dislike of WW app/web is not knowing my total daily intake of calories, protein, carbs, fat, fiber, water at a glance. A point doesn’t educate me. So I sort of do both. Slowly losing, so for me it’s working.
I agree with you about the points…that is one thing I liked about Noom…it showed your the nutrition behind what you are eating. Glad you are doing so well!
Thanks Jamie. I am a WW member and have done relatively well…I love the meetings, the Coach and weekly meetings where we exchange ideas, recipes, etc.
Our Coach really keeps us all motivated and we owe her our successes! Again thanks, love your site!
A good leader makes all the difference when it comes to the meetings. So glad you have a good one!
I do WW also. I’m also on a pear kick! I’ve been baking with a few sprays of spray butter, Walden Farms caramel syrup, and chopped walnuts. Delicious!
I have never thought to do that with pears! Sounds amazing…will have to try it!
Thanks Jamie, I’ve been wondering about Noom since it keeps showing up on Facebook. I’m currently doing WW but my progress has been slow. I need to resolve myself to the fact that I’ll be paying weekly fees for a very long time before reaching my goal!!! There is no short cuts, just a total attitude shift about my relationship with food and exercise.
So very true!
Thank you so much for taking the time to compare Weight Watchers to Noom. Noom gives you very little information about how their program works. I have been a member of Weight Watchers for several years. I did great and lost 30 lbs, but then they changed the program (without asking if you were interested in changing to a different version of the plan.) I have not had very good luck staying on the new version of Weight Watchers, and now I’ve gained weight on a vacation. I have thought about giving Zoom a try, but I am so glad that I read the information that you have posted. I only have a flip phone, and have no desire to have a smart phone… so obviously, Zoom would not work for me at all! Thank you so much for outlining how Zoom works! Best to you, Patricia
I would caution anyone signing up for Noom to really read the cancellation terms. It’s difficult to cancel and you are likely to be charged even if you try to cancel during the trial period. It’s a fishy little app and I’ve read some cancellation horror stories. Be careful!
Thank you.
thanks for sharing your well-thought-out assessment and comparison of Noom and WW. I tried Noom using the free trial – I found the app-only aspect to be a big negative. While I was excited to try something new and was encouraged by the concept of a coach I wasn’
t able to successfully navigate the app on the small screen of my phone. I quit after three days when my frustration level regarding the technology aspect just overwhelmed me. I would have been more interested had they offered a format I could have used on my laptop with a larger screen. I am 63 years old – so I probably do not fit the Noom profile of happy app users. Oh well – WW will be my next stop. Thanks again for your great comparison. Hapy New Year!
Noom is 90% off till 1/6
I signed up for the Noom trial. I too have problems with the small screen on my phone. I like ww because I can use my computer and look up receipts.
This is kind of long, but since I’m not finding a lot of information about Noom online, I hope someone finds this helpful. 🙂
I’ve tried the 14-day trial with Noom twice now (1-2 years apart). I’m 30, so probably in their target demographic. However, both times I ended the free trial early for a few reasons. 1) I may be young with good eyesight, but I need to be able to access my account on a computer. It’s easier on my eyes and also more realistic to log while at work. 2) It seems you truly don’t get the full experience during the trial. Apparently after the 14 days, you are paired with a a group that supposedly is customized to your needs. 3) I love the idea behind Noom—focusing on the mental and habits aspect of wellness. And, at the same time, as someone who has clinical anxiety, Noom was ironically NOT good for my mental well-being. It was completely overwhelming. 4) Lastly, during the trial period you are paired with a “coach,” but I’m starting to think the coaches are just an automated system. I could be totally wrong, but based on some of the messages and response to messages I received, it was clear the message was not from a real person.
I have done WW a few times before and had success, and after trialing Noom, I am definitely going back to WW.
Thanks for the article I will stick with WW. Your article convinced me that there is not enough of a difference between the two and I really enjoy the online program I use the recipe section and recipe builder often I find it very useful.
I was a chronic WW participant, and I lose and gain. I join and quit. I can’t stick with the program because they change annually. They say they change, but it’s relearning over and over. I decided to try NOOM. I loved it. I left ONLY because I had a major family issue and couldn’t stay focused on anything. I loved the daily tools – they were whimsical and kept my attention The coaches were great and the group I was assigned to were from all walks of life. Yes, similar to WW, but instead of weekly, this was daily, so it did keep me more on track. I’m so sorry I had to leave it – but my husband and I will be NOOM nerds together. We’re joining together this evening.
I have never subscribed to any weight loss programme (like WW) – not my style at all. However, I decided to start Noom 13 weeks ago – first weight loss programme ever (I’m 60 this year – decided I needed to get fit before then because I was carrying WAY too much weight). I love it! I have lost 21 kilos in 13 weeks – over 46 pounds. Even though I am Australian and generally find US-style therapy and coaching not really my thing culturally, I read everything Noom sends me daily and it is definitely helping me change my thinking. I also really like the group chat (and my coach is a person – LOL!) I use my phone extensively, and find the app easy to negotiate. I would highly recommend it and I will be continuing with it – I have another 30 kilos that I could afford to lose.
I love the fact that there is no ‘good food – bad food’. It’s just that lots of fruit and veg are much more filling than other choices – and portions are important. Logging every scrap is a real wake-up call.
Hi Jenny, thanks so much for sharing your experience with Noom! You are doing AMAZING!! Glad it is working for you!!
Hi, thanks for your insight. I did Weight Watchers for over 25 years and while it did work I always went back to eating again. Thus the 25 years! My daughter has lost over 50+ pounds on Noom and she loves it. I am trying it now and love it. I feel it really teaches you better choices in food and their system really works. Weight watchers has changed their program so many times it drove me crazy. I have learned more on the few months on Noom than the 20 years in Weight watchers. Change your way of thinking about food really makes a huge difference.
So far, I LOVE NOOM! It’s a sleeker version of Weight Watchers and I need the accountability with coach and chat groups!
Hello Jamie, thank you very much for your honest detail comparison of Noom and WW. Linda
Thank you for sharing your experience! I too have tried both WW and Noom. I did WW in the past and had some success. The last 10 pounds continue to be a challenge. After stopping WW and gaining another 5 I tried Noom for 4 months. I liked the daily articles UnTIL I fell behind a couple days and felt overwhelmed to catch up. The information though was great and my coach really helped me focus on weekly goals. That being said, I find the WW app much easier to log meals. In Noom you have to log out and then back in to select a new meal. At WW I could log all my meals in one app visit if I had been slacking during the day. Also, WW gives you a better overview of how you did for the week. You can see a graph of which days you stuck to your goal and tracked all your meals. noom doesn’t have that feature which I really need to be accountable fir weeks I gain.
I’ve tried a lot of weight loss programs and only had minor success and certainly no maintenance, that’s why I kept trying. Noom seemed to offer something different, an approach to changing how I use and react about food. The coaches are real and educated (dieticians, etc.) and that’s a major difference. The articles are daily and I’m super busy, but reading them and working through the activities has been great. I don’t usually like groups, but the articles and the group coach encourage your participation…the first two weeks I wanted to stop the groups and then I started to really just say what I think and share and it’s great. I’ve got people in this group that encourage and have shared some deep truths that encouraged me to do so as well. Talk about knocking that chip off the shoulder! It’s been great. Sure it’s a phone app, but I’m almost 60 and smart phones are here to stay…I just use my Dollar Tree magnifying glasses when needed. I love the step counter on the phone…it measures better than my smart watch. It’s working. In less than, 3 months I’ve lost 35lbs….I’ve never had this kind of success and I feel good about keeping this off because this app and coaches have taught me how to approach food in a healthy manner. I can’t rave about this program enough! What’s a few more bucks for lifelong health?
Wow..thanks for this info Jane! So glad you are having success…great information!
I have done WW many times and I decided to give Noom a try because WW wasn’t worth the money. Here’s what I found out about Noom: Your “coach” is mailing it in. I might get one message a week from my coach UNTIL I give some indication that I’m dissatisfied and might be cancelling my subscription. Then they are all over me. But they are still really pretty much unhelpful. I would say Noom might be a good option if you are somebody that has never done weight loss before and you don’t understand really basic things about calories in vs calories out or how to suppress your instinct to scarf down 4 plates of food at the next family reunion. But my experience was this: I lost 6 pounds in the first 10 days. Then, even though I continued to eat less (somewhat “better”) and exercise a LOT more than I even did in that first 10 days, I have lost ZERO for the next 6 weeks. My group coach does nothing other than post “Happy Friday how do you want to save the world?” type of BS and my personal coach checks in with really tepid “How is it going” types of messages. For weeks now I’ve been saying “It’s not really going well if you didn’t notice” and she’s basically worthless. I’m cancelling Noom and going back to see what the difference is with the points spread on WW – only this time I’m only getting the online subscription on WW because once again given my lifestyle I don’t need to sit through a meeting of people who are having a pow-wow about how to keep within your points when attending a church pot luck supper.
I have been thinking about Noom for a few weeks now. I think I am afraid of the possible automated system and also being paired with a coach and group – what if I don’t care for either can I change? I am having a difficult time on WW because I am not losing – nor have I lost in 3 years any significant weight. Yet NO ONE has stopped me at the scales to say hey how can we help change this. When I have complained I am offered a free month – that isn’t answering the questions. Also I have been a bit frustrated in our groups because if a member takes over with a situation in their life and time runs out for the topic – oh well read your WW material. Ugh I think it seems as if Noom would provide the daily incentive if I use the app everyday. I wish WW had a system like that. I love your review because it is so honest – no program is for everyone – yet WW has gone in that direction it seems. Maybe there is something to having professionals guide me through my journey – instead of members just like me. Maybe a bit of both would be good. I am still tossed up – can you tell?
I used Noom for a couple of months last fall. While I don’t think the coaches are automated – I do think they have a script with acceptable questions and answers they are advised to follow. I once got a terrible response from my coach about my goal for the week so I made some sort of sarcastic response to her. I can’t remember it all but it wasn’t hurtful – just sarcastic. She responded something like “ha – yeah I guess that was a silly thing for me to say” and further addressed it. It let me know she was real, but probably sticking to a script and not fully paying attention. There were some aspects I really liked about it, but once I got a day behind on keeping up with the items to read, I was lost forever and couldn’t catch up which lead to me giving up. I would try to tell myself, just start fresh and read today’s, but it would mention something that I had missed (or there would be a quiz over something I missed). Then I would try to just use it to track – because the tracking was truly easy to do – but I felt too much pressure to be perfect, and it just didn’t work for me. The group portion was somewhat helpful, but you get out what you put in – much like WW’s. I really didn’t find them to be all that different.
I’ve been doing Weight Watchers (it will never be “WW” to me) for years. This last *stint* I lost about 55 lbs. than got “stuck” on the Queen Mother of plateaus. I just started gaining and losing the same 7 lbs. for nearly 10 months. I couldn’t justify continuing with it at $45/month, so I logged in to cancel (to possibly switch to online only) and they of course offered me a month for free, so I agreed.
I’ve been intrigued by the Noom commercials. Than yesterday I get this email from them saying they are 80% off for Memorial Day, and I also used a promo code on top of that deal. I ended up enrolling for a 12 month plan for $139 and would renew at that same rate after a year. It seemed like a good deal, but now that I see the pricing structure in this article I’m not to sure! On the sign up page, they gave the impression that one year is usually $750. I guess if you only pay it month-to-month, it is. It’s a tad misleading.
In any event, I am willing to give them a try for the year. It will be weird no longer counting “points” but instead “colors.” I wonder why you can’t access the group portion until the THIRD week after they have already taken your money? That seems fishy. In any event, I like the app so far, my coach has reached out to me. We’ll see how it goes! I needed to “shake things up” and joining Noom seemed like a shake up.
Thanks for sharing Lisa! Let us know how it goes. I think it is one of those things where nothing is ever full price–kind of like Kohl’s, LOL! The plans are always on sale.
Thanks for this! The article and the comments have been helpful. It’s really hard to find anything about Noom vs. WW online, so I appreciate it. I’ve done WW in the past, and I did well on it, but I was frustrated when they changed their system. They change it every couple of years it seems, so I don’t want to have to relearn everything. I wanted to make sure Noom wasn’t some sort of scam. I will probably give it a try.
I’m just coming into my second week of noom, I love how it really makes you think about your relationship with food, I’ve used WW a few times but I don’t really like the programme, I also use MFP which is similar to noom where you have to log your food daily and I lost a huge amount using their free app (which you can access from a computer too), but I do like the way noom makes you really think about your eating habit and I think I might just sign up to their 4 month plan which they have offered to me for £99, this works out at £24.75 a month.
Guess it’s worth a try as the older I get the slower the weight loss is.