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Software · head to head

Noom vs Strava

Noom logo

Noom

Software

Psychology-based weight loss

From
$17/month
Rated
-
Strava logo

Strava

Software

The social network for athletes

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Strava 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; Strava segment leaderboards, custom goals, workout analysis, offline routes and fitness scoring all require a subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Noom covers Psychology-based curriculum, Strava covers GPS activity tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Noom and Strava actually diverge.

Attributes where Noom and Strava differ
AttributeNoomStrava
Starting price$17/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidiOS, Android, Web, Apple Watch, Wear OS
Founded20082009

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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
  • Apple Health
  • Google Fit

Only in Strava

  • GPS activity tracking
  • Segment leaderboards
  • Route discovery
  • Training analysis
  • Social feed and clubs
  • Wahoo
  • Apple Watch
  • Zwift

Both cover

  • 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 trackingnot Strava
  • Nutrition managementnot Strava
  • Health monitoringnot Strava
  • Fitness coachingnot Strava
  • Wellness improvementnot Strava

Strava

  • Recording runs and rides from a phone or watchnot Noom
  • Segment leaderboards and competing on routesnot Noom
  • Training analysis and fitness tracking on the subscriptionnot Noom
  • Route planning with offline mapsnot Noom
  • Following friends and clubsnot Noom

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

Strava

  • Segment leaderboards, custom goals, workout analysis, offline routes and fitness scoring all require a subscription
  • The $5 a month headline is the annual rate, billed as $59.99 a year
  • The student rate and the Runna bundle are annual only, with no monthly option

Pricing, plan by plan

Noom

$17/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Noom review.

Strava

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Activity tracking
    • GPS recording
    • Basic segments
  • Strava+$11.99/month
    • Full segment leaderboards
    • Training zones
    • Heart rate analysis

Which should you pick?

Choose Noom if

  • You need psychology-based curriculum.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want personal coaching.

Choose Strava if

  • You need gps activity tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, Apple Watch, Wear OS.
  • You also want segment leaderboards.

Questions people ask

Is Noom or Strava better?
Neither clearly leads. Noom starts at $17/month and Strava at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Noom or Strava?
Strava has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $17/month for Noom and Free for Strava.
Does Noom or Strava run on more platforms?
Noom runs on Web, iOS, Android. Strava runs on iOS, Android, Web, Apple Watch, Wear OS.
Can I use Strava for free?
Yes. Strava 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. Of those, workout tracking and nutrition management are not what Strava is typically brought in for.
What can Noom do that Strava cannot?
Noom covers Psychology-based curriculum, Personal coaching, Food color system, Progress tracking. Strava covers GPS activity tracking, Segment leaderboards, Route discovery, Training analysis. Both handle Fitbit, Garmin, Ios support, Android support.

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.

Source
Strava: Does Strava offer a free tier?

Yes. Strava Free includes basic activity tracking, GPS recording, activity feed, following other athletes, giving kudos, and basic segments with top 10 leaderboard access. The free tier does not include full segment leaderboards, training zones, or heart rate analysis.

Source
Noom: 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.

Source
Strava: What does Strava Premium cost?

Strava costs $11.99 per month or $79.99 per year for individual users. A Family Plan costs $139.99 per year. Students receive 50% off at $39.99 per year with verification.

Source
Noom: 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.

Source
Strava: Can I export my data from Strava?

Yes. Every Strava athlete can download their data for free at any time through the app, website, or direct download. However, API access now requires a paid subscription for Standard Tier developers costing $12 per month.

Source
Noom: 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.

Source
Strava: Does Strava work offline?

Strava records activities offline using GPS on your device, but viewing historical data and accessing most app features requires an internet connection to sync and display data.

Source

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