Fitness and calorie-counting apps have helped many of my clients lose weight and achieve their body goals.
Two of the most popular apps available at the moment are MyFitnessPal and the Noom app. We researched these two options based on actual customer feedback. A number of our clients also used them, and the results were mind-blowing, to say the least.
Read on to find out how this debate about Noom vs. MyFitnessPal pans out.
What is Noom Coach?
Noom Coach is a smartphone app with an integrated dietary advice service.
According to the creators, they focus on “making healthy living easy,” and with over 10 million downloads on Android alone, there certainly seems to be something to this claim.
What sets Noom apart is its combination of technology and human touch. The app not only learns your eating habits over time for better food tracking but also provides the unique feature of assigning a personal coach to each user.
This human element, coupled with personalized meal plans and community support groups, enhances the weight-loss journey.
Additionally, Noom adopts a non-restrictive diet approach. It doesn't ban any foods; instead, it encourages a balance, promoting the consumption of nutrient-dense foods while allowing for occasional indulgences.
Another positive of Noom for many people is that it doesn’t ban any food. Rather, it encourages eating more nutrient-dense foods (labeled green), such as fresh produce, and minimizing the portions and/or frequency of yellow-tagged (proteins, starches) and red-tagged foods (the latter being pizza, candy, alcohol, and the like).
- Cynthia Sass, Registered Dietician
What is MyFitnessPal?
MyFitnessPal is an Android and iOS calorie-counting app that helps you log your food intake, like a food diary app.
When I started using MyFitnessPal on my iPhone, its effectiveness as a food diary app was immediately clear. It helped me focus on each meal, making me more mindful of my food choices.
According to the company that makes the app, the total weight loss of all its users has added up to over 200 million pounds.
From what we can tell from all the reviews we have read, it’s mainly the calorie-tracking functionality of the weight loss program that seems to be its big attraction.
The company claims they have health and nutritional values for millions of different healthy foods, and even easier than choosing from a list, you can actually also scan the barcode on the food you eat [1].
This is indeed a very cool feature that can make your life a lot easier.
Noom vs. MyFitnessPal: Key Differences
1. Calorie Tracking: Winner = Noom
In my personal use of both apps, I noticed a significant difference in the accuracy of the data, especially when integrating with my activity tracker.
Noom consistently provided more accurate calorie counts and synced seamlessly with my fitness devices, offering a more reliable overview of my daily activities.
According to a study in the National Library of Medicine, this approach results in positive results among people who use apps for weight loss [2].
From comparing the App and Play Store reviews, there is a definite indication that a lot of users find that MyFitnessPal is not as accurate and that Noom is a lot more reliable when it comes to counting calories for weight loss programs.
It seems that Noom can really live up to its tagline of “Calorie Counting Made Simple."
2. Free Trial: Winner = Noom
I downloaded both apps for free and explored their features. While many functionalities were accessible without a subscription, I found that the advanced features, especially in Noom, were worth the investment for the added depth they provided.
One of my clients who used Noom said that he opted for Noom's premium version, and the value of the actual weight loss coaching became evident.
The personalized guidance and support he received were crucial in helping him understand and overcome his weight loss challenges.
And that’s what Noom offers: a 1-week trial period for Noom Coach for only $0.50, where you don’t get billed the full amount if you cancel within 7 days.
MyFitnessPal doesn’t currently offer such a trial for its Premium version (but you can use the basic food diary version for free), so the point goes to Noom with an updated score of 2-0.
3. Support: Winner = Noom
Both apps have a dedicated online support service where you can post questions about anything from billing to technical problems. MyFitnessPal also has a forum where you can post questions, and apparently, it’s monitored by staff.
From looking through quite a few questions posted, it does seem like the response times on this forum are quite slow. This could be a bad sign since it means you might not get the help you need in a timely manner.
On the other hand, after testing the online support form with Noom, we saw a response within just 24 hours. And that is something we saw reported in a few fitness forums that we reviewed as well.
The promptness of their response is astounding, considering the size of their audience and the scope of their service.
So, again, the point goes to Noom, and the score is 3-0, so far in this Noom vs Myfitnesspal comparison.
4. Coaching: Winner = Noom
If you can afford a personal exercise coach and dietician, then fair play to you. For most people, though, that’s quite an expense, with professional nutrition advice easily costing a few hundred dollars a month.
First up, Noom offers a great one-on-one coaching service directly through the fitness app. You can ask questions and have your diet, recipes, and meal plan reviewed.
You’ll also get loads of tips on how to improve things, and the company claims that they really help people stay motivated through their coaches.
MyFitnessPal, unfortunately, doesn’t have such a service included at the moment. So, again the point goes to Noom, 4-0.
5. Ease of Use: Winner = MyFitnessPal
One reason so many people fail to reach their goals is that they either lose motivation or have difficulty keeping accurate data.
If you can easily track all your food intake and add every little snack in a matter of seconds, then you should be able to set yourself up for success.
Now, both apps claim to have a huge food database, and the input is done through a simple search-and-add feature.
However, this is one area where the MyFitnessPal app does stand out quite a bit. They have an added barcode reading functionality, and they claim to be able to automatically query their food database for the exact nutritional info, simply by scanning the barcode with your phone.
That is a cool feature, so the score now is 4-1.
6. Nutritional Education Content: Winner = Noom
Noom is renowned for its holistic approach, focusing not just on calorie counting but also on educating users about healthy eating habits.
It offers a wealth of articles, tips, and daily lessons that delve into the psychology of eating, the importance of nutrient-dense foods, and strategies for making sustainable dietary changes.
This educational approach is designed to empower users with knowledge, helping them make informed decisions about their diet beyond the app's usage.
On the other hand, MyFitnessPal primarily serves as a robust food tracking tool, offering a vast database of foods and their nutritional information. While it provides basic guidance on nutrition and calorie goals, its educational resources are more focused on tracking and less on the whys of nutrition.
The winner in this category is again Noom. Its comprehensive approach to educating users about healthy eating habits, the psychology of eating, and sustainable dietary changes gives it an edge.
7. Customization and Personalization Features: Winner = Noom
Noom stands out for its highly personalized approach. Upon signing up, users go through a detailed questionnaire that assesses their lifestyle, dietary preferences, health goals, and psychological factors.
This information is then used to create a customized weight loss plan, complete with tailored meal suggestions and workout plans. The app also adjusts these recommendations over time as it learns more about the user's habits and progress.
My client, a long-time user of MyFitnessPal, appreciated its customizable tracking features. Although it offered less personalized planning compared to Noom, the flexibility in setting his own calorie and nutrition goals helped him tailor the app to his specific dietary needs.
This flexibility makes it a favorite for those who already have a clear understanding of their nutritional needs and prefer to manage their health goals independently.
Our vote once again goes to Noom due to its ability to create a highly personalized weight loss plan tailored to the user's specific needs, preferences, and goals.
8. Price: Winner = MyFitnessPal
Keep in mind that with Noom, your monthly subscription will include a one-on-one instructor, so simply looking at the dollar amounts doesn’t tell the whole story.
According to the Google Play Store, the monthly subscription for MyFitnessPal is $19.99 (or $79.99 annually).
Noom, on the other hand, offers its services for $59.99 per month (or $199 annually). They quite clearly say that “The longer you commit, the more you save.”
As already mentioned, Noom goes beyond counting calories and providing some recipes. However, purely from a value perspective, the point goes to MyFitnessPal, and the final score is 6-2 in favor of Noom.
Targeted at millennials, Noom is a health app designed by behavioral psychologists to help you lose weight for the long run. It focuses on making tangible, sustainable lifestyle shifts rather than encouraging more extreme styles of eating.
- Jaclyn London, Dietician
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can Noom sync with MyFitnessPal?
Noom can’t sync with MyFitnessPal, as they are completely separate and competing services. You can use Noom to sync with a load of other activity tracking apps, which the company highlights as a major feature on its website.
Want to know what apps can sync with Noom? Read our article here.
How much is MyFitnessPal a month?
MyFitnessPal is $9.99 a month. You can also sign up for their annual subscription, which will cost you just $49.99.
Is MyFitnessPal accurate with weight loss?
Yes, MyFitnessPal is accurate with weight loss, but it’s only as accurate as the data you enter.
However, there are a lot more customer reviews that say that Noom tracks your progress and calculates the calorie amounts a bit more accurately.
Can MyFitnessPal adjust calories as you lose weight?
Yes, MyFitnessPal will adjust calories as you lose weight, and your current weight is updated. Ideally, through a rigorous exercise and workout routine, you should be able to burn some fat reserves. As you update your weight on a daily or weekly basis, the app will adjust and provide you with new goals to aim for.
References:
1. https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com/how-to/scan-food-drink-labels-myfitnesspal-when-cooking-home-for-more-accurate-nutrition-calorie-info-0191419/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7326765/
About The Author
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So I searched the web to for the best fitness app and now I can’t choose from noom coach vs myfitnesspal. Let me consider your opinion so I can move on lol
While I was eager to have a go at something new and was energized by the idea of a mentor, I couldn’t effectively explore the application on the little screen of my telephone. I quit following using it after three days when my disappointment overpowered me. I would have been increasingly intrigued had they offered an organization I could have utilized on my PC with a bigger screen. I am 68 years of age. Maybe, I don’t fit the versatile application profile of glad application clients as it is hard for me for my age. In any case, thanks again for your incredible correlation. Still on my way to discover the program that best fits me.
I love both! I can’t decide which one I like better — they both do it differently for me. For example, I love the first one because of the mentorship and accountability, but the second is great of track ing my intake. It has a massive list of options. It’s very helpful because almost everything in my kitchen is in there. Makes recording my lunches and dinners very convenient. Overall, I use both and am satisfied. I like the c oaching part of the software although I’ve read somewhere that not all of the c oaches are good and some don’t check in consistently. In that case, they have to make sure that all clients get the same experience.
I love my software!!! I think it’s a good way to monitor my system and overall eating habits on my phone, so easy and convenient. Personally, I like the first one because I’m able to speak to someone regarding my concerns. I’m very new with this whole thing and am conscious about going to the g y m so at least I have someone I can talk to online. I like the accountabilit y part of the product despite the fact that some users actually complain that their buddy isn’t that helpful at all. But personally for me, I enjoy talking to mine, I like the support, and I’m looking forward to our sessions together.
Appreciate your insight. I’ve been contemplating on these two products, I’ve read tons of other blogs comparing the two and I get more confused! It seems like both are good. But after reading yours, I think I will go with the first. I like the idea of having a co ach because I have tried soooo many fads and none of them worked for me because I lose motivation after some time. I need someone to look after my progress and be able to motivate me to go for it! Besides, the price isn’t that much either, so I think it will be worth it. I mean, compared to having someone in person. Aside from that, I really like the simplicity of the user interface. It’s friendly and functional overall
I value your blog so much. Really helpful for people like us! I’ve been examining these two items, I’ve perused huge amounts of different online journals contrasting the two and I get progressively befuddled. It appears as though both are acceptable. But I like having a co each, I have attempted numerous di ets and I lose inspiration quickly after some time. I need somebody to take care of me and have the option to inspire me to take the plunge! I figure the cost will be justified, despite the other being free. That is to say, contrasted with having somebody face to face. and I truly like the straightforwardness of the UI of the software
I’m a runner and I’m very conscious of what I put in my body, I love using my cellular phone for my health and regimen because it’s so convenient and easy and there’s no better way to do it than on the mobile. I like the very basic interface, it’s easy to use and there are so many functions I can do! I’m also even able to talk to someone to track my progress. I even recommended it to my friends in the track and field community! Most of them love to use it as well. I am looking forward to the next update
Hi, my name is Van, I’m 21 and am struggling to bulk up. I have been reading your page since the start of this year. I really really want to build some muscles and gain some pounds and your tips on your blog have helped me jumpstart my journey! I am also looking at starting my own blogging space! I want to document my life and have a memory of how I start with this journey. And maybe even be one of your colleagues here online. I appreciate the time and effort you put into this blog, you inspire me and am looking forward to more learning from you
My friend recommended this application to me because he lost over 40 pounds using it for about 6 months. He has gotten so lean and healthy and I was inspired to follow suit. He now looks 10 years younger and has a lot of vigor and strength and really looks good overall. He’s been exercising a lot, maybe around 3-4 times every week, and his muscles are slowly becoming more defined. He credited the app and told me it has changed his life and the way he views exercise and food. I am just about 15 lbs over weight and I can’t wait to lose all the excess pounds using it.
I am loving this page!!! Thank you for putting up such great content. So much valuable information and I am learning a lot. I’m new to bodybuilding and my goal is to join my first competition next year! I am working with a coach and have been doing my exercises religiously and have also been tracking my intake. I love it. It gives me the figures I need to track and makes me more aware of my progress. I’m excited to finally join my first competition!!! Thank you totalshape and to my coach and to the app, you all have been so helpful in my journey
Hi Van, we are on the same page right now. I am also trying to gain weight and build some muscles and this app has helped me a lot. It has only been 4 months since I started but I have gained significant muscle already. My girlfriend loves it and my friends have been noticing the changes. I feel good and I am continuing my efforts to bulk up even more. I am so happy because I have been under weight since I was 12 and now 10 years later, my pectorals and abs are showing! I have more energy during the day too.
I like Noom for accountability, but it’s food tracking is FAR inferior to My Fitness Pal. It has the wrong calorie count for almost everything I’ve tracked my first two weeks. Raisins showed less than 1/4 of the true calorie count! I wish Noom would sync with MFP, so I can use Noom’s other good features but log meals in MFP. I have flagged every error in Noom because the calories are so far off, but it gets annoying. If accuracy is important to you (and it should be), understand that Noom would have underestimated my calories by several hundred per day. That could completely derail weight loss plans.
I totally agree that NOOM’s calorie counts are way off. I’m confused by reviews that say differently. I’m on my NOOM trial week, and I’ve been using both apps for my food diary, so doing a daily direct comparison. MFP is much more accurate with the calorie counts, so I’ll probably stick with this app.
Agree! MFP is much more accurate with calorie counts. NOOM is off 10-20% on most everything.
What are other apps similar to Noom and My Fitness Pal?
What fitness trackers are compatible with MyFitnessPal?
Yes you can use my fitness pal and it transfers to Noom, you have to allow your health app to read and write the information. Neither app is perfect, but Noom has changed my life and view of food and weightloss. 45 lbs down, I’ll always recommend it to others.