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Software · head to head

Noom vs Zen Planner

Noom logo

Noom

Software

Psychology-based weight loss

From
$17/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zen Planner logo

Zen Planner

Software

Member management for fitness businesses

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Noom coaches deliver automated, canned responses without personalization and most lack formal qualifications as registered dietitians; Zen Planner limited staff app features compared to desktop version
  • They diverge on capability: Noom covers Psychology-based curriculum, Zen Planner covers Member management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Noom and Zen Planner actually diverge.

Attributes where Noom and Zen Planner differ
AttributeNoomZen Planner
Starting price$17/month$99/month
Founded20082006

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), free tier (No), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), 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
  • Fitbit

Only in Zen Planner

  • Member management
  • Automated billing
  • Class scheduling
  • Workout tracking
  • Marketing tools
  • Stripe
  • Mailchimp
  • SugarWOD

Both cover

  • 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

Zen Planner

  • 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

Zen Planner

  • Limited staff app features compared to desktop version
  • System crashes and occasional bugs reported by users
  • Integration difficulties with certain third-party platforms
  • Customers report continued charges after completed cancellation

Pricing, plan by plan

Noom

$17/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Noom review.

Zen Planner

$99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Zen Planner review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Noom if

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

Choose Zen Planner if

  • You need member management.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want automated billing.
Zen Planner review

Questions people ask

Is Noom or Zen Planner better?
Neither clearly leads. Noom starts at $17/month and Zen Planner at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Noom or Zen Planner?
Noom starts at $17/month and Zen Planner at $99/month.
Does Noom or Zen Planner run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 Zen Planner cannot?
Noom covers Psychology-based curriculum, Personal coaching, Food color system, Progress tracking. Zen Planner covers Member management, Automated billing, Class scheduling, Workout tracking. Both handle Ios support, Android support, Web 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
Zen Planner: Does Zen Planner have a free tier?

No, Zen Planner does not offer a free tier. Pricing starts at $99 per month with no free trial mentioned in their standard offerings.

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
Zen Planner: Can Zen Planner integrate with ClassPass?

Yes. ClassPass seamlessly integrates with Zen Planner, allowing gyms to sync their schedule and avoid overbooking when offering ClassPass to members.

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
Zen Planner: Does Zen Planner work with SugarWOD?

Yes. Zen Planner integrates with SugarWOD, making it a popular choice for CrossFit gym owners who want to manage both WOD tracking and gym operations in one system.

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
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