Fitness & Wellness · head to head
Noom vs MyFitnessPal
The short version
- Only MyFitnessPal has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Noom coaches deliver automated, canned responses without personalization and most lack formal qualifications as registered dietitians; MyFitnessPal free tier limited to 5 food entries per day unless premium subscriber
- They diverge on capability: Noom covers Psychology-based curriculum, MyFitnessPal covers 14M+ food database.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Noom and MyFitnessPal actually diverge.
| Attribute | Noom | MyFitnessPal |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $17/month | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | iOS, Android, Web |
| Category | Fitness & Wellness | Sports & Recreation |
| Founded | 2008 | 2005 |
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Noom
- Psychology-based curriculum
- Personal coaching
- Food color system
- Progress tracking
- Community groups
Only in MyFitnessPal
- 14M+ food database
- Barcode scanner
- Macro tracking
- Recipe importer
- Exercise logging
- Strava
Both cover
- Apple Health
- Google Fit
- Fitbit
- Garmin
- Ios support
- Android support
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Noom
- Workout tracking
- Nutrition management
- Health monitoring
- Fitness coaching
- Wellness improvement
MyFitnessPal
- Workout tracking
- Nutrition management
- Health monitoring
- Fitness coaching
- Wellness improvement
Both are used for workout tracking, nutrition management, health monitoring, fitness coaching, wellness improvement, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Noom
- Coaches deliver automated, canned responses without personalization and most lack formal qualifications as registered dietitians
- App crashes and freezes frequently with issues saving data, and barcode feature for food tracking malfunctions
- Food database requires tedious manual data entry even for common items, discouraging consistent logging
- Difficult cancellation process requiring navigating multiple steps to opt out of auto-renewal
- FTC settlement in 2022 for $62 million over misleading auto-renewal and refund practices
MyFitnessPal
- Free tier limited to 5 food entries per day unless premium subscriber
- Limited offline functionality - cannot search new foods or scan barcodes without internet
- Database accuracy issues reported at approximately 15% error rate
- Data export only available via desktop web browser, not mobile app
Pricing, plan by plan
Noom
$17/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Noom review.
MyFitnessPal
Free- FreeFree
- Calorie and macro tracking
- 20.5M food database
- Weight tracking
- Premium$19.99/month
- Ad-free experience
- Unlimited food entries
- Barcode scanner
- Premium+$24.99/month
- All Premium features
- Meal planner with 1,500+ recipes
- Automated grocery lists
Which should you pick?
Choose Noom if
- You need psychology-based curriculum.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want personal coaching.
Choose MyFitnessPal if
- You need 14m+ food database.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want barcode scanner.
Questions people ask
- Is Noom or MyFitnessPal better?
- Neither clearly leads. Noom starts at $17/month and MyFitnessPal at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Noom or MyFitnessPal?
- MyFitnessPal has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $17/month for Noom and Free for MyFitnessPal.
- Does Noom or MyFitnessPal run on more platforms?
- Noom runs on Web, iOS, Android. MyFitnessPal runs on iOS, Android, Web.
- Can I use MyFitnessPal for free?
- Yes. MyFitnessPal has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Noom starts at $17/month.
- What is Noom best used for?
- Noom is most often used for workout tracking, nutrition management, health monitoring, fitness coaching.
- What can Noom do that MyFitnessPal cannot?
- Noom covers Psychology-based curriculum, Personal coaching, Food color system, Progress tracking. MyFitnessPal covers 14M+ food database, Barcode scanner, Macro tracking, Recipe importer. Both handle Apple Health, Google Fit, Fitbit, Garmin.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Noom: What are Noom's pricing plans?
Noom Weight app costs approximately $70 per month on a monthly plan, $42 per month on a 4-month plan, or $209 upfront for an annual plan (roughly $17 per month). A 14-day free trial is offered but auto-converts to paid subscription if not canceled.
SourceMyFitnessPal: Does MyFitnessPal have a free tier and what are its limits?
Yes, MyFitnessPal offers a free tier with access to calorie and macro tracking, a 20.5M food database, and weight tracking. However, free users are limited to 5 food entries per day and must endure advertisements.
SourceNoom: What does Noom's coaching include?
Noom provides access to human coaches for weekly check-ins, daily psychology-based lessons, interactive challenges, and food and weight tracking. Coaching is included in all paid tiers.
SourceMyFitnessPal: Does MyFitnessPal work offline?
MyFitnessPal has limited offline functionality. You can view previously logged foods and meal history without internet, but you cannot search the full food database or scan barcodes offline.
SourceNoom: How does Noom's food color system work?
Noom categorizes foods using a color system based on caloric density: green (low calorie density), yellow (moderate), and red (high calorie density). This encourages behavioral changes in eating habits rather than strict dieting.
SourceMyFitnessPal: Can I export my data from MyFitnessPal?
Yes. MyFitnessPal allows users to export full account data including all food logs, recipes, and weight entries through the web browser (desktop only, not available in the mobile app).
SourceNoom: What other programs does Noom offer?
Beyond Noom Weight, Noom offers five additional programs including Noom Med, a telehealth service with pricing ranging from $17/month for coaching to $279/month for GLP-1 medication plans with licensed clinicians.
SourceMyFitnessPal: What devices does MyFitnessPal integrate with?
MyFitnessPal integrates with 40+ health apps and devices including Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Health, Google Fit, Samsung Health, and Apple Watch, automatically syncing activity and calorie data.
SourceRelated pages
More on MyFitnessPal
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