Best Weight Loss Apps (2025): Worthy of Your Home Screen?

Why We Like It

If you’re turning to an app service to help you lose weight fast, we believe WeightWatchers to be the top candidate. This affordable service has memberships available starting at $23 monthly, and the brand routinely offers promotional periods where you can score discounted memberships as low as $10 per month for set commitment periods.

We rate the value at 4 out of 5, too, since WeightWatchers — now simply branded “WW” — can be covered by most insurance plans. “I’ve used a handful of fitness apps and diet trackers, and the cost of WeightWatchers, to me, is more than justifiable,” states Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1. Of course, though, another membership fee isn’t for everyone — if you’d prefer a free weight loss app, we suggest MyFitnessPal.

Unlike other calorie-counting services, WeightWatchers uses “Points” that signify each dish’s nutritional value. According to Meier, “I like this tactic as it removes the emphasis on calories and prioritizes some of the most nutrient-dense foods. However, there is no way to look at your macros for each meal, which may be a detriment to those with specific carb or protein goals each day.”

The WW app is simple to navigate, earning a 4-out-of-5 rating for ease of use. Meier states that everything is pretty intuitive, although newcomers to food tracking may experience a learning curve. “I do think the food database is expansive, though,” Meier adds, “And added conveniences like a barcode scanner and pre-loaded restaurants can make for easy tracking throughout each week.”

WeightWatchers is available under three membership options: Points Program, Workshops, and Weight-Loss Meds. While all plans offer food plan monitoring, access to dietitians, and a community forum for motivation across your weight loss journey, the Workshops and Weight-Loss Meds platforms can offer added guidance for improved support as well as access to popular weight loss medications. Accordingly, we rate the available features at 5 out of 5 and suggest thinking through which level of support is right for your needs.

Why We Like It

“Combining resistance training and aerobic exercises like cardio or walking can be an effective weight loss solution as you burn calories and build muscle,” states Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD. If you’re looking for one of the best workout apps to support your weight management aspirations, it can be beneficial to choose a service with available coaching, such as Future. The access to live personal trainers (and even dietitians, thanks to a 2024 partnership with Nourish) can be vital in ensuring your training is aligned with your goals.

Our tester rates the app service at 4.3 out of 5 overall, stating, “The instructors are well-versed in the training needs of different individuals, and I appreciate the level of accountability baked into the service. While your assigned trainer cannot physically make you hit the gym, the level of communication and daily check-ins do help you stay motivated in your fitness.”

Your Future experience can be customized based on your training experience level, available equipment, and personal goals. Plus, our tester notes that workout schedules can be customized to your available time — no need to alter your current regimen for the sake of hitting the gym. As such, we score the initial setup at 5 out of 5. “I also score the equipment demands at 5 out of 5, since you don’t need to have a full garage gym for your workout routine — your coach can work with you to ensure you’re working toward your health goals,” adds our tester.

Admittedly, we’ve yet to test the all-new Nourish partnership, but if the feature is similar to the experience we’ve seen with our assigned instructors and guides, we’re sure the service can be worthwhile for weight loss enthusiasts.

Unfortunately, the main pitfall to this primarily exercise tracking platform is the cost. You’ll need to shell out roughly $199 monthly for your Future subscription — a definite discount when compared to traditional in-person trainers, but a heightened price tag when compared to other weight loss apps. Accordingly, we rate the value at 3.75 out of 5. If you’d prefer a cheaper weight loss app offering a multi-layered platform for weight management, consider Noom, which uses habit-tracking services and food logging tools to help you get control of your diet and build a more positive relationship with nutrition and wellness.

Read our full Future App Review.

Why We Like It

Studies report that positive habit building can be key to weight loss and weight management. (1) For those in need of some digital assistance on this front, Noom can be an excellent tool for the task. Rather than a traditional calorie-counting service or nutrition planner, this subscription takes a psychological approach to dieting, utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy to help you learn positive food habits and develop positive changes to your lifestyle.

Like other weight loss apps prioritizing a calorie deficit each day, Noom serves as a daily food tracker that analyzes the nutritional information of each consumed dish or snack. Where Noom differs from other services, though, is the color-coded system symbolizing “good” and “bad” foods. “Green foods are less calorically dense than Yellow or Orange dishes,” notes our tester, who rates the tracking capabilities at 3 out of 5. “While this can be great for structure and developing a positive relationship with nutrient-dense foods, labeling specific dishes as ‘bad’ can lead to problematic outcomes.” For a more traditional calorie-counting experience, consider a service like MyFitnessPal.

Our tester notes that the app’s user interface is simple and intuitive, rating the ease of use at 5 out of 5. “I appreciate the compatibility with my best fitness tracker, too, for logging calories burned during activities,” they add.

When it comes to price, Noom subscriptions can be difficult to assess since you’re offered membership rates based on how lengthy the app perceives your weight loss journey to be. Month-to-month rates, however, can hover at roughly $70, which may be too expensive for certain budgets. As such, we rate the value at 2 out of 5.

As a final note, Noom does offer a community-based forum for added support and motivation as you learn and adjust to healthy eating habits. According to our tester, “This feature was a nice touch that helped me stay focused on my goals. It showed that others were having similar struggles or successes and that we could rely on one another to persevere. Other apps, in my experience, don’t have this level of community (on the app, itself).”

Read our full Noom Weight Loss App Review.

Why We Like It

Perhaps your weight loss journey just needs a high-quality macronutrient counter for dialing in your weight management protocols. Of the bunch, we feel Cronometer is one of the best macros calculators thanks to its simple yet detailed user interface, approachable subscription costs, and additional trackers for activity, vitamins, and minerals.

“This is one of the most detailed trackers I’ve downloaded,” says our tester, a certified nutrition coach, who rates the tracking capabilities at 4.5 out of 5. “In addition to macronutrients and calories, you also have the power to focus on micronutrients — a feature less prevalent across other services.”

We also appreciate Cronometer’s easy-to-read visuals that provide bar graphs for each consumed macro- and micronutrient. This can make it easy to monitor food intake while also serving as a quick, simple way to stay informed of your consumption. According to our tester, though, this does mean that meals need to be added by ingredient rather than just as a general dish. “To me, this wasn’t a dealbreaker as I knew the end results would be well-detailed, but others on a weight loss journey may prefer a less-involved subscription service.” If you’d rather just enter a general dish and don’t care about pinpoint accuracy, consider services like WeightWatchers or MyFitnessPal.

There is a free version of Cronometer, which can be great for figuring out if the app is right for your tendencies and preferences. Premium memberships — which can cost up to $49.99 annually — unlock other dietary features like fasting trackers, nutrition scores, custom diary groups, and more. The service, available for iPhone and Android users, can also sync to popular wearables for more informed activity tracking and cross-device monitoring (perfect for when you don’t want to have your phone out during a meal).

As a final note, our tester says that the available tracking features can be overwhelming at the start. “It’s a ton of information, but all of it is worthwhile if you know what you’re looking at.” As such, we recommend trialing Cronometer through the free version prior to subscribing to more premium versions.

Why We Like It

When sticking to a meal plan or monitoring your nutrition for the sake of weight loss, your macronutrient intake is one of the most vital components to track. (2) That said, some may feel that expensive calorie counters and subscription-based weight tracking apps are too costly when what they seek are simple, effective weight management tools. Enter MyFitnessPal — our favorite free weight loss app.

Rather than calling for monthly membership fees to unlock specific features for keeping tabs on calorie intake and daily activities, a majority of MyFitnessPal’s features are free to users from the start. This can be excellent for athletes looking to maintain or lose weight on a budget, focusing their finances, instead, on worthwhile gym equipment or some of the best budget meal delivery services for wholesome, nutritious dishes each night.

As a former user of MyFitnessPal, I do appreciate the user interface and rate the experience at 4 out of 5. The included pie charts outlining daily macro intake can be helpful in understanding just what you’re taking in each day. Plus, I appreciate the vast food library that features a range of different meals and food items for easier logging.

Available features also earn a 4 out of 5 given the app’s available recipe library and activity tracking capabilities. That said, the activity tracker does not provide an elevated level of instruction. If you’d prefer a weight loss app with available coaching for resistance training, we recommend subscribing to services like Future.

Naturally, a free app is likely to earn a 5-out-of-5 rating for value, and that is definitely the case with MyFitnessPal. However, we do note that the free service does contain ads, so expect some scrolling and pop-ups as you begin to log your daily meals. A premium version is available ($79.99 annually) but the free version has virtually everything needed to warrant weight loss support.

Why We Like It

Just learning how to count macros? Nervous about the dietary changes associated with a weight loss journey? Consider Lose It! and the service’s free access to calorie tracking, barcode scanning, and multitude of push notifications — a positive feature for those struggling to maintain a sense of consistency during diets.

Our tester, a certified personal trainer, rates Lose It!’s ease of use at a perfect 5 out of 5, noting, “The app interface is very legible and provides all the necessary data in appealing charts and graphs.” Additionally, we appreciate the level of tracking available across calories and macronutrients. As a former Lose It! subscriber, however, I do rate the tracking capabilities at 4 out of 5 since the platform does not feature vitamin or mineral breakdowns. This lack of information may be a detriment to those prone to micronutrient deficiencies. For a more detailed tracking layout, we recommend services like Cronometer or MyFitnessPal.

In terms of the accountability, I was always pleased with the Lose It! notifications. They were attentive enough for daily reminders, but weren’t excessive in that you’d scroll past them like a spam call or text. While this can be a nice way to maintain consistency in food and calorie tracking, novice weight loss athletes may want more involvement through virtual coaching or customized meal plans. Accordingly, I rate the accountability at a conservative 3.5 out of 5.

As a final note, Lose It! does offer a community forum for additional motivation and support from like-minded users. However, this feature is an in-app purchase and only available to those with a premium membership. It can be a useful tool for novices, but it may be best to seek out online community support from other (free) communities before signing up for the costlier membership plan.

Why We Like It

Considering the keto diet for your weight loss program of choice? You’ll need an app that focuses on net carbohydrates — the amount of carbohydrates the body can actually digest from a food source. Carb Manager serves as a traditional calorie tracking app, but the emphasis is on net carb counts each day, making it a beneficial tool for keto-following athletes.

Having dabbled in keto myself, I have had Carb Manager across my home screen in the past. I really appreciate the ease of use, rating the service at 4 out of 5 for the category. In addition to the easy-to-read charts and measurements, the app also comes equipped with low-carb recipes for those interested in expanding their cooking skills.

When it comes to functionality, I had zero complaints, personally. However, we score this platform at 4 out of 5 since there is room for inaccurate inputs. “While the food directory is vast, I’d recommend scanning the macronutrients listed before finalizing your log,” notes Caine Wilkes, BarBend editorial team member and Olympian. “There were a few low-carb snacks that had inaccurate metrics, but they were quick to resolve in the app itself.”

Carb Manager does have the power to track other weight management factors including water intake, intermittent fasting times, and activity logs. That said, there are no available coaching tools for more informed training or meal planning. For such services, we suggest opting for an app like WeightWatchers or Future.

Finally, you can download Carb Manager for free, but a premium service is also available for micronutrient tracking. In my experience, the free version has all the necessary bells and whistles, so I’d recommend staying with the budget-friendly option. I rate the value at 4 out of 5, though, since the carb-conscious approach may not be ideal for everyone, especially those that routinely experience disordered eating habits.

Why We Like It

Another popular diet type for weight management is intermittent fasting. Studies suggest that practicing this regimented fasting for a set amount of time can potentially help with waist circumference, fat mass, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and other factors. (3) Our testers really enjoy the AI-powered efficiency of Simple for such needs, because, well, it’s simple!

Rather than logging each meal manually and setting regular timers, Simple’s AI-driven algorithm places alarms to notify you of when you can eat each day. Plus, our tester rates the ease of use at 4 out of 5, highlighting the intuitive meal logging. “You just snap a photo of your dish and the app uses its points system to grade your meal on a scale of 1 to 4,” they note. “From my experience, the app is fairly accurate in judging nutrient-dense foods, and I also like that the labeling is rather neutral — no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ meals that need to be obsessed over.”

Intermittent fasting, while trendy, can still be a rather new nutritional strategy for some, especially those accustomed to more traditional types of diets. Thankfully, Simple features educational articles for added information and beginner-friendly consoles outlining the basics of the program. Accordingly, we rate the access to information at 4 out of 5.

Unfortunately, Simple does not feature a community forum for extra motivation or praises, and the lone form of accountability is through the AI algorithm. “You do get worthwhile notifications for when to start and stop eating, but the lack of coaching or community can be a dealbreaker for some athletes,” notes our tester. As such, we rate the accountability at a modest 3 out of 5 and suggest those wanting more interaction from their weight loss app to consider platforms like Future, Noom, or WeightWatchers.