Weight Watchers (WW) is one of the most popular weight loss programs, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone. If you’ve tried WW and didn’t find it helpful, or if you’re just looking for something different, plenty of Weight Watchers alternatives might fit your lifestyle better. This article will help you find a Weight Watchers alternative that works for you so you can lose weight effectively and keep it off for good. One way to pinpoint the best Weight Watchers alternative is to track your calories and understand your eating habits. So, how are calories measured with the best app?
Cal AI's calorie tracker can help you with this. The simple tool quickly calculates the calories in the foods you regularly eat so you can discover any hidden patterns that might be derailing your weight loss efforts.
The WW program (formerly known as Weight Watchers) is a weight loss plan that aims to help people make healthier food choices without having to follow a strict diet. Instead of counting calories, WW assigns points to different foods based on nutritional value. When you sign up for WW, you’re given a daily and weekly Points Budget to “spend” on foods of your choice.
This means you can enjoy treats, such as a scoop of ice cream, as long as you stay within your points limit. The idea is to encourage balanced eating while still allowing for flexibility. The program also rewards exercise with activity points added to your weekly food points. Depending on your chosen plan, you can also access workshops, one-on-one coaching, or guidance from registered dietitians.
Not all calories are equal, explains Gary Foster, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of WeightWatchers in New York. Rated the No. 1 diet for weight loss by U.S. News in 2024, Foster says the Weight Watchers Points Program assigns every food a “point value” based on calories and factors like:
Participants get a personalized “points budget” to spend on any foods they track in an app. They need to stay within their budget of points to lose weight, a system “backed by decades of research, demonstrating efficacy for both short—and long-term weight loss and maintenance without medication,” per Foster.
In theory, no food is off the menu, but you’d have to drastically reduce how much you eat if you’re eating food high in points so you don’t exceed your daily limit. Points are counted by entering meals and their ingredients into the app. The app then calculates a summary score for the meal. The basic principle is to achieve a calorie deficit.
They consume less energy through food than through physical activity and exercise. This is also designed to encourage new eating habits. Many participants report that WW‘s approach works for them, especially if they aren’t sure how to lose weight. Weight Watchers is best suited to losing a little excess weight.
As the reasoning behind food points and meal calculation isn’t straightforward, Weight Watchers has met with criticism. WW has also been criticized for not educating users on nutrition or habit change, making them dependent on the program if they want to continue their weight management journey.
Pros
Cons
Cal AI transforms calorie tracking with cutting-edge AI technology. Just snap a photo of your meal, and we'll do the rest.
Our app combines your phone's depth sensor with advanced AI models to:
With 90% accuracy on visible foods and multiple tracking options like:
We've made nutrition tracking effortless. Whether you're scanning a full meal or a quick snack, Cal AI
Our AI learns from your feedback to improve accuracy. It includes personalized insights and smart reminders to keep you on track. Cal AI makes achieving your fitness goals simpler than ever. Track your calories with your camera using Cal AI's calorie tracker today!
The Mayo Clinic Diet focuses on eating healthy foods by teaching how to estimate portion sizes and plan meals while increasing physical activity. “It is a lifestyle change program,” Dr. Donald Hensrud, editor of The Mayo Clinic Diet, explains. He adds that the only necessary costs are “The Mayo Clinic Diet” book and, if desired, “The Mayo Clinic Diet Journal.“ Digital resources include:
“By consuming generous amounts of foods that are high in bulk but low in calories, such as vegetables and fruits, people can feel satisfied yet consume less calories,” adds Hensrud, an internal medicine physician specializing in nutrition and weight management.
The diet is divided into two phases:
“In the two-week ‘Lose It!’ phase, participants change 15 habits, and in the ‘Live It!’ phase, people take these habits and turn them into a long-term change program,” Hensrud explains.
Healthline rated Noom the best weight loss app with coaching in 2023. Noom is a virtual weight management program that helps users lose weight by focusing on the mental aspects of weight loss. After taking an online quiz, the app provides a plan (often for 16 weeks) with suggested caloric intake, complete with daily lessons to help users change how they think and feel about eating, according to the company website.
The user tracks everything they eat, which is categorized into green, yellow, or orange foods, to eat a balanced amount of all the colors, according to its website. “We help our users better understand their relationship with food, how to be more mindful of their habits, and give them the knowledge and support they need for positive health outcomes—including guiding them through lessons and habit-forming exercises to enhance understanding and integration of our ‘four pillars of health' (sleep, exercise, nutrition, and stress management),” a Noom spokesperson explains.
While Forman doesn’t endorse any specific weight loss programs (and does not have any current financial ties to any), he says that Noom is "one of the only programs" that help teach "cognitive behavior skills," like how to manage cravings and create an environment with food that reduces temptation.
U.S. News and World Report rated The program among the top five diet programs 2023. “Optavia provides personalized, holistic support to help transform your lifestyle—with everything in one place: one-on-one coaching, active community, healthy habit creation, the right easy-to-adhere-to nutrition and activity guidance,” Jonnalagadda, Ph.D., who is also vice president of scientific and clinical affairs at Medifast, the parent company of Optavia, explains.
The goal is to eat six small meals a day with a combination of prepackaged Optavia branded products called “fuelings” and homemade meals prepared on your own called “lean and green” meals. Clients eat five "fuelings" every two to three hours, then make one home-cooked "lean and green" meal.
“Optavia 'fuelings' are pre-portioned, nutrient-dense, calorie and carbohydrate controlled, made with high-quality protein, fortified with vitamins and minerals, fiber and probiotics, and contain no colors, flavors or sweeteners from artificial sources—making it simple and convenient to follow,” a company rep discloses.
“At the program’s foundation are the Habits of Health Transformational System, which focuses on six key healthy habits, including weight management, eating and hydration, motion, sleep, mind, and surroundings,” Jonnalagadda adds.
TOPS Club, which stands for Take Off Pounds Sensibly, has been around since 1948 and now has about 6,000 chapters across the U.S. and Canada. “In a nutshell, TOPS connects people of all backgrounds, many of whom cannot afford expensive commercial programs, through our network of weight-loss support groups,” Michelle Ganley, director of communications of TOPS Club, explains.
“When you become a chapter member, you join a group of people with similar healthy living goals. It’s that accountability that our members swear by—showing up for one another week in and week out, at regularly scheduled meetings.” The program has no formal counseling as it’s centered on peer-to-peer support.
Members can access various meal plans on the website, with a 28-day meal plan recommended for new members when they first join. Ganley notes that there’s no official diet to follow, but many follow the Food Exchange System created by the American Diabetic Association.
“The National Diabetes Prevention Program’s lifestyle change program helps people who are at high risk for Type 2 diabetes to make healthy changes—including losing a modest amount of body weight—that can prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes,” Christopher Holliday, Ph.D., director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control's Division of Diabetes Translation, explains.
“The lifestyle change program helps participants eat healthier, get more physical activity, manage stress, and cope with life’s challenges that can make it difficult to stay on track.”
He adds that participants have access to CDC-approved resources, support groups, and a lifestyle coach to help them build healthy habits that last a lifetime. “Research shows that people who participate can cut their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by more than half,” Holliday says.
“The year-long program is offered in-person, as well as... virtually, and it is covered by many employers and insurance providers, including several state Medicaid programs."
According to its website, U.S. News and World Report rated it among the top five diet programs in 2023. The program centers on balanced, premade meals and controls calories and hunger by eating frequently throughout the day. You first select a plan based on your age and sex.
Then Nutrisystem delivers meals and snacks to your home. You then follow their app to know exactly what to eat and when (usually six times a day) while having access to coaches as needed daily. According to the company’s website, the pre-made meals focus on lean proteins, healthy fats, and certain carbohydrates combined with fiber and vegetables.
Rated among the top 10 diet programs by U.S. News and World Report in 2023, the Keyto diet is a low-carbohydrate diet that emphasizes Mediterranean foods and fats that help people “lose weight with no hunger,” according to its website.
You create your personalized plan with a short questionnaire and then get the Keyto app. It includes:
Per its website, all members get coaching from a goal specialist, dietitian, and personal trainer.
Jenny Craig is an entirely virtual program of prepackaged meal plans that incorporate the principles behind intermittent fasting to achieve weight loss. In 2023, U.S. News and World Report rated it the second-best diet program, but the company has now shifted into a virtual model after it was bought by the owner of Nutrisystem earlier this year.
People first choose among several meal plans, and then the food is delivered to their door in two-week shipments. They eat during a 10-hour “nourishment period” window, then take a break for a 14-hour “rejuvenation period,” which includes sleep. To curb hunger, members also get “recharge bars” to eat in the last two hours of fasting. Weekly coaching is also available.
For a free app that is most similar to WW, I recommend Healthi (formerly named itrackbites). This app allows users to track points (called “bites”) and even gives the option of plans similar to previous WW plans. When people email me and tell me they lost weight better on an earlier WW plan like Weight Watchers Blue, Green, Purple, Smart Points, or other plans, I recommend they check out Healthi.
Healthi is free, although many upgrade for a modest (cheap) fee. This fee includes additional options, meal plans, a recipe database, and community support like online meetings. With Healthi, your zero-point foods will change depending on your chosen plan.
Like Weight Watchers, MyFitnessPal is a popular health and fitness app that allows users to track their daily food intake, exercise, and overall health and wellness. The app provides an extensive database of foods and drinks, allowing users to track their easily:
Like WW, MyFitnessPal offers features such as barcode scanning, recipe tracking, and integration with wearable devices. MyFitnessPal allows users to set personalized goals and provides insights and progress tracking to help users stay on track with their health and fitness journeys.
Another app like Weight Watchers is LoseIt! Lose It is a weight loss and fitness app that provides a comprehensive solution for tracking food intake, physical activity, and progress toward weight loss goals. The LoseIt app has an extensive food database with nutrition information, allowing users to easily track their calorie and macronutrient intake.
Like Weight Watchers, LoseIt! offers features such as barcode scanning, recipe tracking, and integration with wearable fitness devices. LoseIt! also provides personalized feedback, progress monitoring, and similar tools for setting and tracking weight loss goals. Like Weight Watchers the LoseIt! app also has a social component, allowing users to connect with friends and share:
Like Weight Watchers, MyPlate by Livestrong is a food-tracking and nutrition app designed to help users improve their overall health and wellness. The app is based on the USDA’s MyPlate recommendations for balanced nutrition and healthy eating habits and allows users to track their daily food intake and nutrients.
The MyPlate app features an extensive database of foods and drinks, as well as the ability to scan barcodes and track recipes. Like WW, the MyPlate app also provides personalized insights, progress tracking, and goal-setting tools to help users stay on track with their healthy eating habits, making it a good Weight Watchers alternative.
PlateJoy is a meal-planning and healthy-eating app that provides personalized meal plans and grocery lists to help users reach their health and wellness goals. Like Weight Watchers, the PlateJoy app features a comprehensive database of foods and ingredients and provides personalized meal plans based on user preferences and dietary restrictions.
PlateJoy also offers features such as recipe recommendations, grocery list creation, and the ability to track progress toward health and wellness goals. The app aims to make healthy eating more straightforward and convenient by offering users:
Like Weight Watchers, Fooducate is a food tracking and nutrition scanner app designed to help users make healthier food choices and improve their overall health and wellness. The Fooducate app provides a comprehensive database of foods and drinks, allowing users to track their calorie and nutrient intake easily.
It also features a unique barcode scanning technology that provides detailed nutrition information, including information on:
The app provides:
It helps users make healthier food choices and reach their health and wellness goals, including keto.
While Weight Watchers, through its points system, focuses primarily on calorie counting, Yolohealth takes a more holistic approach to weight loss.
Key Features:
Yolohealth combines medical expertise with comprehensive lifestyle support, offering a more well-rounded approach than Weight Watchers' primarily nutrition-focused program.
Ro offers a medically supervised weight loss program focusing on prescription medications and virtual doctor visits.
Compared to Weight Watchers:
While Ro's medical approach can be helpful for some, it lacks the comprehensive support and lifestyle changes that both Weight Watchers and Yolohealth provide.
Calibrate combines doctor visits, medication, and coaching to improve metabolic health and promote weight loss.
Compared to Weight Watchers:
The emphasis on calibrate metabolic health is commendable, but its program is more limited in scope than Yolohealth's comprehensive approach.
Flyte Health offers virtual coaching and tracking tools to help users lose weight and improve overall health.
Compared to Weight Watchers:
While Flyte Health offers some valuable features, it doesn't provide the same level of comprehensive care as Yolohealth or Weight Watchers’ structured approach.
Found claims its weight loss programs are designed to work with an individual’s “unique biology,” and use one-on-one online consultations, recipes, weight loss medications (when deemed appropriate), and more to help an individual “address weight at the cellular level.”
One expert, Dr. Youdim, recommends Found because it’s “an evidence-based program” that employs board-certified weight loss physicians who can prescribe FDA-approved weight loss drugs in the appropriate circumstances. “They also incorporate behavioral counseling and individual coaching,” notes Dr. Youdim.
Fitbit is a well-known fitness tracking device that has expanded its features to include weight loss support. The Fitbit app allows users to track their food intake, exercise, sleep, and progress towards their weight loss goals.
The app also provides personalized recommendations, challenges, and a supportive community to keep users motivated and on track. Regarding pricing, Fitbit offers a range of devices at different price points, from $69.95 for the Fitbit Inspire to $229.95 for the Fitbit Sense.
In addition to the device’s cost, users can subscribe to Fitbit Premium for more advanced features like personalized coaching, advanced sleep tracking, and guided workouts. Fitbit Premium costs $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year. While this may be more expensive than Weight Watchers, the integration of fitness tracking and weight loss support makes Fitbit a compelling option for individuals looking for a holistic approach to weight loss.
Cal AI changes how we track calories. Just snap a photo of your meal, and we handle the rest. Our app combines your phone's depth sensor with advanced AI models to:
With 90% accuracy on visible foods and multiple tracking options like barcode scanning, food label recognition, and manual description for complex items like smoothies, we've made nutrition tracking effortless. Gone are the days of tedious manual logging calorie-tracking apps.
Whether scanning a full meal or a quick snack, Cal AI gives you accurate nutritional information in under 15 seconds. Plus, our AI learns from your feedback, continuously improving its accuracy. Stay on track with personalized insights and brilliant reminders. Cal AI makes achieving your fitness goals simpler than ever. Track your calories with your camera with Cal AI's AI calorie tracker today.
