TL;DR – Our pick: Nutrisystem
Nutrisystem and Weight Watchers offer two very different approaches to weight loss. We choose Nutrisystem as our top pick because their home-delivered meals make it easy to stick to your plan.
By Dieting.org
When to Invest in Your Weight Loss Journey
Deciding to lose weight is an admirable goal. Of course, there are plenty of resources online to diet and exercise, so you might wonder when it’s worth actually buying a plan. If you’ve unsuccessfully tried to lose weight before, using a formal program can give you the structure you need to stick with it.
Start the selection process by identifying your dietary hang ups. Are you too busy to prep your own meals? Are you not sure how much from different food groups you should be eating? Be honest with yourself so that when you are ready to pick a weight loss program, you ultimately choose the right one.
With those tips in mind, let’s dig into learning more about Nutrisystem vs. Weight Watchers. We’ll go over what each plan entails and what you actually get for your money.
 |  | |
| Pre-packaged food home delivery | Yes | No |
| Average Daily Cost | $10 | N/A |
| Mobile App for Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| In-Person Support | No | No |
| Average Weekly Weight Loss | 1-2 pounds | 1-2 pounds |
| Get 50% Off | Visit Website |
Nutrisystem or Weight Watchers? Here’s How to Pick
Nutrisystem and Weight Watchers may seem alike at first, but they’re actually quite different. From what you pay to what you get, they’re really aimed at different types of dieters. Here’s a breakdown of the three biggest differentiators between the two programs.
Structure of Each Program
As you may have gathered, Nutrisystem and Weight Watchers come with very different offerings. With Nutrisystem, you’ll receive fully prepared meals and snacks that are delivered to your door. You can select from a variety of plans in terms of what amount of food you’d like each week and how many varieties you’d like to choose from.
The more basic options come with shelf-stable meals and snacks. With one of the upgraded plans, you can also receive frozen meals with more options. There are also selections available for vegetarians and diabetics.
Weight Watchers doesn’t have meal delivery. Instead, you receive a personalized points system (called SmartPoints) to help you track how much you’re eating each day. It comes with great perks, including an in-app scanner that lets you scan any food item barcode and directly track it.
You can set a weight loss goal for yourself and also track FitPoints when you exercise. You can even trade some of those in for additional SmartPoints. While it may sound complicated, Weight Watchers is extremely user-friendly, making it easy to lose weight eating foods you like.
Costs to Expect
Because the plan offerings are so different, the costs of Nutrisystem vs. Weight Watchers also differ greatly. There are many meal plans through Nutrisystem, which start at about $11 per day if you choose three meals a day and sign up for four-week auto-delivery. It’s a little more expensive for male customers since they need more calories each day.
Weight Watchers offers three types of monthly subscription plans: Digital; Workshop; and Coaching. The Digital program gets you access to the app and website, both of which come with a lot of content plus all of the tracking tools you need. This plan starts at $3.07 per week.
The Workshop option includes digital access plus lets you weekly meetings at WW studios. This plan starts around $6.92 per week. Finally, the Coaching plan costs $8.46 weekly and includes unlimited calls and messages with a personal coach. Weight Watchers also has a $20 sign up fee, but you can get that waived if you commit to a 3-month plan with autopay.
Support Options
Nutrisystem’s support doesn’t involve a dedicated coach, but it does include a pretty awesome team of experts that are just a phone call away. You can talk to trained weight loss coaches and nutritionists in order to get all of your questions answered by a real professional.
A strong support system is a vital part of the weight loss process. Find your support whether it’s through one of the pros, friends, or social media groups.
Weight Watchers gives you access to mentoring and a group with the Workshop option, since those meetings are held in person – complete with a weekly weigh-in. If you want to pick up the phone and call your coach when you need them, then you may prefer the Coaching package. But even with WW’s Digital package, you can use the built-in social media portion of the app to interact with other users and keep the momentum going.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nutrisystem better than Weight Watchers?
You may find more value with Nutrisystem, especially if you have a hard time sticking to a diet on your own. However, both weight loss programs have their own merits and it’s really up to how you prefer to spend your time.
If you’re more likely to order takeout than chop up a salad, Nutrisystem may be a better choice. If you like to cook and just need guidance, inspiration, and a little accountability, then you may prefer Weight Watchers.
Do I get food with Weight Watchers?
Weight Watchers does not come with food. Instead, you prep your own meals based on what you like to eat and want to eat, as long as you stay within your allotted points. Nutrisystem, on the other hand, does provide complete meal plans. Most options still allow for two days of cooking or eating out on your own.
