It’s the start of 2025, and like so many others, you might have set weight loss resolutions to kick off the new year. But with so much information out there—fitness plans, diet tips, and health advice—it can be hard to figure out where to begin.
The good news? Even if you’re DIY-ing things, you don’t have to go it completely alone. There are tons of weight loss apps available that can help simplify the process, keeping you on track and motivated as you work toward your goals.
Whether you’re looking to track calories, monitor your workouts, or simply stay accountable, there’s an app out there for you.
What types of weight loss tracking apps are there?
When it comes to weight loss apps, there’s no shortage of options. But understanding the different types can help you choose one that fits your goals and lifestyle. Here are the main categories of weight loss tracking apps:
- Calorie and Food Trackers. These apps help you log your meals and track calorie intake. They often include a food database and barcode scanning features for easy tracking.
- Exercise and Activity Trackers. These apps focus on logging workouts, tracking steps, and monitoring physical activity levels to help you stay on top of your fitness goals.
- Comprehensive Health Trackers. Some apps combine food tracking, exercise logging, and even sleep and stress management. These provide an all-in-one approach to improving your overall health.
- Habit-Tracking Apps. These focus on helping you build healthier habits over time, from drinking more water to practicing mindfulness or getting more active.
- Diet Plan Apps. If you’re following a specific diet like keto, intermittent fasting, or a plant-based lifestyle, these apps provide meal plans, recipes, and support tailored to your diet.
- Weight Loss Challenge and Competition Apps. These apps often feature weight loss challenges where you can compete against others for a prize or simply for the fun of it. They provide added accountability and support while encouraging friendly competition to reach your goals.
- Exercise Routine Apps. These apps offer a database filled with different workout routines and programs, making it easy to follow along. Some are focused on specific activities like yoga or dance, while others offer a variety of routines, from strength training to cardio and flexibility exercises.
Benefits of a simple weight loss app
Sometimes, less is more. While many weight loss apps come packed with complex features, a simple app can be just as effective, if not more so, for helping you reach your goals. Here are some key benefits of using a straightforward, no-fuss weight loss app:
- User-Friendly Interface. A simple app typically has a clean, intuitive design, making it easy to log meals, track progress, and stay on top of your goals without feeling overwhelmed by too many features.
- Reduced Decision Fatigue. Sometimes, too many options can lead to decision fatigue. A straightforward app offers fewer distractions, allowing you to make quick decisions and take action toward your weight loss goals without hesitation.
- Helps You Stay Consistent. Because a simple app is easy to use and doesn’t require constant maintenance or input, it encourages consistency. With less friction, it’s easier to stay on track and build sustainable habits.
Best apps for weight loss
There are plenty of apps out there designed to support your weight loss journey, whether you’re looking to track food, exercise, or both. We’ve rounded up some of the best apps to help you stay on track and make lasting progress toward a healthier you.
Best Free App for Weight Loss: MyFitnessPal (Tie)
When it comes to calorie-counting apps, MyFitnessPal is easily the most popular. With its large food database, simple interface, and the ability to track calories and macros with ease, MyFitnessPal has become a go-to for many people on their weight loss journey.
Key Features:
- Extensive food database with nutritional information, making it easy to log meals and stay on top of your intake.
- User-friendly interface for quick food tracking, perfect for those who are new to calorie-counting.
- Connect with fitness trackers and wearables, so you can sync your activity data and get a more comprehensive view of your progress.
- Social features allow you to add friends, share your achievements, and stay motivated.
- Free basic version with core features, providing great value for those who want to track their diet without any cost.
While MyFitnessPal offers a premium version with expanded features (like the ability to customize your macro goals), the free version provides all the essential tools needed to get started.
Premium Cost
$19.99 monthly or $79.99 annually.
Best Free App for Weight Loss: LoseIt! (Tie)
Lose It! is another top choice for calorie tracking, offering a robust, easy-to-use platform for those looking to lose weight. With a strong focus on food tracking, this app provides access to a large food database, including restaurant and fast food options.
Key Features:
- Extensive food database including restaurant and fast food options, making it easy to log meals and stay on top of your calorie intake.
- Free basic version with essential features that help you track calories, meals, and exercise without any cost.
- Connect with fitness trackers and wearables, so you can sync your activity data and get a more comprehensive view of your progress.
- Community support, where you can interact with other users for motivation, advice, and accountability.
Like MyFitnessPal, the basic version has everything you need to get started. The premium version does have expanded features including the ability to track macros (protein, carbs, fats), micronutrients (such as sodium and saturated fats), and health measurements like blood pressure and cholesterol. It also offers meal and exercise planning to make your weight loss journey more personalized.
Premium Cost
$39.99 annually, or $149.99 lifetime.
Best Diet App for Weight Loss: Noom
Noom takes a unique approach to weight loss by focusing on behavioral psychology and educating users about food choices. Unlike traditional calorie-counting apps, Noom is designed to help you understand the “why” behind your eating habits, offering a color-coded system and daily lessons that promote mindful eating and healthy lifestyle changes.
Key Features:
- Behavioral psychology focus, with daily lessons designed to teach you how to make better food choices and understand the psychology behind eating habits.
- Color-coded system that categorizes foods into green, yellow, and red to help guide users towards balanced eating without feeling deprived.
- Flexibility to choose your meal plan without restriction by encouraging balanced eating and portion control.
- Weekly challenges and activities designed to keep users engaged and motivated throughout their journey.
- Virtual coaching team to provide ongoing support and personalized feedback as you progress.
While Noom doesn’t technically have a free version, the app itself is free to download, and you might be able to use some basic features without paying. However, to unlock the full benefits, such as the daily lessons, coaching, and in-depth tracking, you’ll need to pay for the full plan.
Some users have found Noom to be time-consuming, and while it’s not restrictive, the calorie counts recommended can sometimes be quite low.
Noom also offers NoomMed, which provides access to weight loss medications, and NoomMove, which focuses on fitness tracking for a more holistic approach to weight loss.
Noom Cost
$70 monthly, or $209 annually. If you opt for multi-month subscriptions, these are offered at a discounted rate.
Noom also offers a paid 7-day trial. Users can choose a price for your trial period, which is an interesting feature for those looking to test it out before committing.
Fitbit
While Fitbit is more of a fitness tracking app than a dedicated weight loss tool, it’s still an excellent choice for those who want to focus on improving overall health and activity levels. There is a prerequisite: you need to have a Fitbit device to sync.
The app syncs with Fitbit devices to track steps, exercise, heart rate, and other fitness metrics, providing an in-depth view of your physical activity.
Key Features:
- Fitness tracking: Syncs with Fitbit devices to track steps, distance, calories burned, heart rate, sleep, and more.
- Free version: The free version allows you to sync your Fitbit tracker, view basic activity data, and track your progress over time.
- Premium version includes additional features like personalized workouts, mindfulness exercises, healthy recipes, and access to more data points from your Fitbit device.
Some Fitbit devices offer a free period of premium membership, so you can try out the full range of features before committing.
While Fitbit is primarily geared toward fitness tracking rather than weight loss specifically, it provides valuable insights into activity levels and overall health. he premium version can enhance your experience with personalized workouts and additional resources.
Premium Cost
$9.99 monthly, or $79.99 annually.
AppleHealth
The Apple Health app is different than some of the other apps on this list. It consolidates health data from your iPhone, Apple Watch, and third-party apps you already use. This makes it easy to view all your progress in one place, whether you’re interested in long-term trends or tracking your daily metrics.
The app allows you to monitor a wide range of health data, including steps, distance, sleep, nutrition, mental health, reproductive health, and much more.
Key Features:
- Centralized health hub that aggregates data from your iPhone, Apple Watch, and third-party apps (like Fitbit, Garmin, and more) to provide a comprehensive view of your health.
- Tracks steps and distance using your iPhone’s accelerometer, so you don’t need an additional fitness tracker to get this data.
- Apple Watch integration provides detailed metrics like calories burned, exercise minutes, standing frequency, heart rate, and more for users with an Apple Watch—or your Fitbit, Garmin, etc.
You can track your food intake, though it requires manual input of details such as specific nutrients (sodium, carbs, etc.). You also have the ability to track your measurements for comparison as you lose weight.
For users who already have an Apple Watch or use third-party health apps, this is a convenient and centralized platform to track and monitor progress over time.
SamsungHealth
Samsung Health is a versatile fitness tracking app that offers a wide range of features, including detailed activity monitoring, sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and workout programs.
Key Features:
- Activity and fitness tracking allows users to log workouts, track steps, active minutes, heart rate, and sleep patterns.
- Sleep and stress tracking helps users monitor their rest and relaxation, contributing to a balanced wellness plan.
- Meal and fitness goal tracking provides a comprehensive view of your diet and exercise progress.
- Community support connects users with like-minded individuals, offering a sense of accountability and encouragement.
- Fitness and mindfulness resources give users guidance and support, helping them stay motivated.
While Samsung Health may not sync with as many third-party apps as some other trackers, it’s a strong, all-in-one option for users with compatible devices looking to track a wide range of health metrics and receive extra resources to help reach their goals.
BetterMe
BetterMe is a Pilates-focused fitness app that also includes features for overall health and wellness. While the app centers on Pilates and bodyweight exercises, it offers additional tools like meal planning, calorie counting, intermittent fasting tracking, and personalized workout routines.
Key Features:
- Personalized fitness plans based on a quiz that helps you define your fitness goals, including weight loss, muscle building, or overall well-being.
- Pilates and bodyweight exercises are featured in video format, with coaching audio and rest periods to guide you through each workout.
- Meal plans, calorie counting, and intermittent fasting options to complement your fitness journey.
- Push notifications for encouragement, providing motivation to stay on track with your goals.
It’s a great option for users looking for a comprehensive wellness tool that can be tailored to their individual needs.
BetterMe Cost
Pricing for this pp varies and they often offer discounts to new users. Monthly costs typically range from $15-40. They offer a 7-day paid trial as well.
Finding the right weight loss path for you
While it’s entirely possible to take charge of your weight loss journey on your own, having the support of a healthcare provider can make all the difference. A healthcare professional can help you understand your individual needs, provide personalized guidance, and ensure that you’re taking a safe and sustainable approach.
Whether you choose a DIY method with the help of apps or explore other options, it’s important to find the path that works best for your body and lifestyle. With the right tools and support, you’ll be better equipped to reach your goals and maintain long-term success.
Good luck!
