We know that losing weight isn’t an easy feat. It requires a ton of motivation and support, and at the end of the day, shedding pounds isn’t just about the number on the scale. It’s about overhauling your lifestyle and making positive, long-lasting changes. That’s where the help of an app comes in.
Weight loss apps can connect you with dietitians, doctors, and trainers to help you navigate everything from what to buy at the grocery store to choosing a healthy dish at a restaurant. They can also be a great source of motivation, providing support through active online communities.
And if you need some help on the fitness front, the best weight loss apps are equipped with on-demand workouts from top trainers that you can do right at home. Best of all, they connect to smart watches and wearables, like an Apple Watch or Fitbit, so you can keep track of your progress and make informed health decisions—everywhere and at any moment.
To help you make the most worthwhile downloads, we tapped experts and waded through online reviews for the best weight loss apps out there.
MyFitnessPal
Free with in-app purchases | iOS and Android
MyFitnessPal
This top-rated weight loss app pairs your workouts with a nutrition plan. With a database of more than six million foods, a barcode scanner, food log, and more than 350 exercises, you get a 360-degree picture of your overall health. Plus, you can connect with the online community for motivation, support, and tips. It’s also compatible with Fitbit, Jawbone, Runkeeper, MapMyFitness, Strava, and the Health app on an iPhone.
“I spend maybe five minutes a day total logging my food intake,” one reviewer writes. “I like that it includes nutrition breakdowns, so I can pinpoint when I’m lacking iron, calcium, etc. in my overall diet.”
WW (Weight Watchers)
Free with in-app purchases | iOS and Android
WW
There’s a reason WW is one of the top-rated wight loss apps: This app gathers all the best aspects of the program in one convenient spot. You can track your food and fitness progress and even chat with others in the community for motivation and support, says Rebecca Gahan, C.P.T. and owner of Kick@55 Fitness in Chicago. You can also sync it to any smart watches or devices to convert daily steps into points.
An iOS reviewer raves, “With the ability to walk into a grocery store, scan a barcode and instantly know the points value of a food, I can shop healthy and proactively without fear. I can also pair my activity tracker so I know the value of each activity I complete.”
Noom
Free with in-app purchases | iOS and Android
Noom
With Noom, there’s a weight loss coach by your side throughout your journey. Using psychology-based approaches, the app reveals your weight loss obstacles and provides adjustments to make better progress, making it a terrific tool for personalized attention. What’s more, if you have medical conditions, like diabetes or heart disease, the app tailors its program accordingly.
“This app is helping me change small habits one day at a time and it’s doing more for my brain than my body right now,” one iOS user writes. “I am moving more and making better food choices. I have not lost much weight yet, but my mind is definitely changing, and I truly believe that weight loss and a healthy body is in my near future.”
Fooducate
Free with in-app purchases | iOS and Android
Fooducate
It’s can be impossible to feel confident in your weight loss journey if you’re unsure of what “healthy” really means. Fooducate offers 50,000 recipes and educates users on what to look for in a nutrition label so that they can keep nutrient-rich foods in their pantry and fridge. Simply scan the label to see a list of ingredients in any product, plus its health grade compared to other options. Beyond food, you can also track sleep, mood, and fitness.
An iOS reviewer writes, “Fooducate helps me be more aware of every bite I put into my mouth because I know I will have to enter it into the app. I like that it also helps me understand more about the quality of ingredients and nutrients I’m consuming.”
Lose It!
Free with in-app purchases | iOS and Android
Lose It!
Goal-setting is one of the most important aspects of a weight loss plan, and Lose It! gives users the tools to set the measures that are right for them. The app includes a custom daily calorie budget, plus a barcode scanner and food database to give you an accurate idea of the calorie and nutrient content of every meal. It even has calorie counts for dishes from popular restaurants.
“I’ve tried all the calorie counting apps. This one is significantly better than them all,” one user says. “If you’re *serious* about losing or maintaining weight, pay the $30 yearly subscription. Trust me. I used the free version for a while. Once I ponied up, I began to learn so much more about where my nutrients were coming from. And it wasn’t information overload. And that enabled me to make better food choices.”
Healthie
Free | iOS and Android
Healthie
Healthie was practically made for this moment in history: The app connects users with dietitians, personal trainers, and other experts for digital appointments. It also allows you to track your meals with photos, not a diary, allowing for better recall, says Brooke Zigler, R.D.N., L.D. “I am able to give immediate photo food journal feedback to clients instead of waiting two to three weeks in between appointments to go over a written food journal,” she says.
“I was new to using telehealth, but the Healthie app was very easy to set up and to use,” one Android user says. “It’s so convenient to get in touch with my son’s doctor to make sure he is staying healthy. As a mom I always feel reassured after having used it.”
All / Out Studio
Free with in-app purchases | iOS and Android
All / Out Studio
Whether you’re looking for a 15-minute HIIT workout or a kettlebell routine, the All / Out Studio app is filled with hundreds of on-demand videos that are perfect for home workouts, from yoga to strength training to cardio. No equipment? No problem—you can choose programs that fit your unique requirements. And every video is approved by top fitness brands like Women’s Health, Runner’s World, and Prevention.
“No joke, this app has changed my life,” an Apple reviewer says. “The workouts are scaleable, challenging, and adaptable. The training is precise and instructive. The UI is smooth and intuitive. The production is amazing and professional and there’s enough variety to keep me engaged and active past the point of new year’s resolution.”
Best Fitness App: Nike Training Club
Free with in-app purchases | iOS and Android
Nike Training Club
Whether you want to focus on improving endurance, strength, or mobility, the Nike Training Club app has the right workout for you. The beginner, intermediate, and advanced programs also offer low-impact modifications, last anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, and span categories like HIIT, strength training, and running. Plus, there are four- to six-week plans led by Nike Master Trainers for shedding pounds and building muscle.
One iTunes reviewer raves, “Love the workouts. Great variety, interface—it has everything you need to get or stay in shape. The content is absolutely fantastic. I haven’t found a better workout app!”
Jillian Michaels Fitness App
Free with in-app purchases | iOS and Android
Jillian Michaels Fitness App
Celebrity trainer Jillian Michaels is no stranger to helping people lose weight. Now, you can train with Michaels one-on-one with her app, which has customized daily workouts based on your fitness level and goals, plus meal plans designed by professional chefs and dietitians, including plans for vegans and Paleo diet followers.
“I just completed the 30-day beginner program with Jillian’s app, and can say that I lost about 15 pounds after a month of doing it,” one user writes. “The workouts are mixed and always leave me sweating but not feeling discouraged. I love that at the end of each workout, you can say whether it was easy, hard, or perfect so the app adjusts to your next workout.”
Fitbit
Free with in-app purchases | iOS and Android
Fitbit
While hitting 10,000 steps daily is a great goal, Fitbit knows that it takes more than that to lose weight and change your lifestyle. That’s why its app allows you to track your daily activity, sleep, calorie burn, weight, hydration levels, and food intake, too. For example, your all-day activity doesn’t just count your steps but your resting heart rate—the lower the number, the fitter you are—the number of miles you’ve walked or ran, and the calories you burned during active minutes.
“I love the fact you can challenge other friends and colleagues to weekend, or weekly challenges as well as track your own performance. It’s got me more motivated than any exercise book or personal trainer,” one iOS reviewer says.
Aaptiv
Free with in-app purchases | iOS and Android
Aaptive
From HIIT to running to cycling to yoga, Aaptiv’s audio-based fitness classes help guide you through every workout. Each one is tailored with a carefully curated playlist to give you a boost when you need it the most. And if you don’t have access to WiFi, you can download the classes to your phone and listen to them offline.
“Like many reviewers, I’ve been looking for something like Aaptiv forever,” a reviewer explains. “I’m not a fan of gyms, videos, or on-demand workouts. I find them distracting. Aaptiv is like having a trainer on call. So far I’ve used them for spinning and outdoor running. They push you while also being supportive. In addition, the music is great. I’m seriously smitten with this.”
AllTrails
Free with in-app purchases | iOS and Android
AllTrails
Hoping to get outside more this year? Harness the incredible power of walking with AllTrails, which lets users discover trails near them, track their progress and location, and download maps for offline use. You don’t have to worry about getting lost, timing your trip, or even keeping track of your favorite trails—it’s all in the app. All you need to do is get there in the first place.
“AllTrails is such a great resource for anyone who loves to hike!” an iOS user says. “I love even more that I can put my phone on airplane mode so that I’m not using data while on my hike and still use the record feature. I always check out the All Trails reviews from other hikers before heading out, and usually find that other hikers have great insight/feedback about trail conditions.”
Best Yoga App: Glo
Free with in-app purchases | iOS and Android
Glo
There’s nothing quite like completing a flow alongside other people in a yoga studio—but until we can return, Glo is the next-best option. Search yoga classes by type, intensity, and time limit, among other criteria, or even sign up for a live class to recreate the studio experience at home. Whether you want to warm up for exercise, use yoga as its very own workout, or prepare for bed, you’ll find the flow that’s right for you.
“As a person who lives with depression, anxiety, and addiction, YogaGlo has had a significant and lasting effect on my body, mind and spirit,” an iOS user writes. “Coming home from the gym, a bike ride or a hike, I can find recovery and restorative classes that fit the time I have.”
Strava
Free with in-app purchases | iOS and Android
Strava
If you’re feeling like you’re alone in your weight loss journey, download Strava. The app is almost like a fitness tracker inside of social network—runners, cyclists, swimmers, and other athletes can connect with people who like the same activities, plus race fellow users. Anyone who finds keeping up with their goals daunting will appreciate the community-based aspect of the app.
“Great app for tracking progress, training and connecting with like-minded individuals,” one Android user writes. “Overall I love the app and would recommend it to any sports enthusiast.”
Zero
Free with in-app purchases | iOS and Android
Zero
When done correctly, intermittent fasting can help spur your weight loss. Zero helps you keep track of your fasting plan, counting down the minutes until your next meal and showing you other people who are abstaining alongside you. It also boasts 4.9 and 4.8 stars on the App Store and the Google Play Store, respectively—one of the highest-rated apps on either platform.
“I tried a lot of apps for fasting and this is the most flexible,” one user says. “You can edit your start time after starting the fast so if you forgot to start the app, but remembered to fast, you’re all set. It has some scheduled routines and a lot of freestyle, so [it] lets you do you. Notifications are inspiring as it shows how many other people are fasting.”
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