SlimFast vs. Nutrisystem 2023: Which Is Best for Weight Loss?

Nutrisystem and SlimFast are both popular weight loss meal delivery plans, and each has a long track record in the diet industry. Both offer restricted-calorie diets supplemented with meal-replacement shakes and bars. The challenge is deciding which is better for your own needs.

I have examined these companies closely, paying particular attention to their nutritional information and ingredients. I’ve scanned reviews, consulted my colleagues, compared prices, and contacted their customer support teams. And after all my research, I’m prepared to say that there is a clear winner in this contest. 

Nutrisystem is the best choice for serious weight loss dieters. It has a more comprehensive and personalized approach to weight loss and provides more balanced meal plans with access to dietitians and online communities for support. SlimFast’s shakes are simply no match for a complete diet program. 

Read on to find out more and discover if Nutrisystem is a good choice for you!

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Menu Variety

Winner: Nutrisystem

Nutrisystem wins this round by a mile. While both companies offer meal replacement snacks, Nutrisystem also gives you complete plans that can cover all your meals. Dieting is hard, but having all your meals planned out for you in advance makes it a lot easier. 

SlimFast became famous for its meal replacement shakes. Its Creamy Milk Chocolate Meal Replacement Shake contains just 180 calories. 10g of protein and 5g of fiber help make these shakes filling, and each shake contains 24 vitamins and minerals like A, C, D, E and Zinc.

On the SlimFast plan, you are responsible for cooking 1 meal a day. SlimFast provides recipe suggestions for 500-calorie suppers like Feta and Spinach Pie with a Chopped Salad or a Chicken & Broccoli Pasta Bake. The rest of your nutrition comes from SlimFast meal replacements

You can also order smoothies, meal replacement bars, and sweet and savory snacks in addition to shakes. But it’s very hard to stick to a diet that lets you have a single 500-calorie meal per day and expects you to shop for it. And with just 4 flavors of shake and 2 flavors of meal replacement bars, you’re soon going to find yourself growing tired of the same old thing. 

Nutrisystem offers over 20 breakfast items, 25 lunches, and 50+ dinners in addition to its snacks. You can order a full month’s supply of meals with Nutrisystem, which makes it a lot easier to watch your calories.

Nutrisystem meals are generally low-calorie takes on American favorites. It’s not the most adventurous menu, but Nutrisystem makes an effort to provide tasty meals that will provide the nutrients you need on a restricted-calorie diet. 

Bistro-Style Toasted Ravioli is a light supper that contains just 230 calories with 7 g of fat. You might think the portions are small, but the Nutrisystem plan lets you eat 6 times a day. This helps you avoid blood sugar spikes and control your cravings. And breaded ravioli stuffed with ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella is definitely more appealing than a shake!

Getting in the habit of eating smaller meals is also a good way to keep weight off. You can definitely lose weight on the SlimFast plan. But when you go off the plan, you may soon find yourself sliding back into your old eating patterns, with predictable results. 

Meal Customization

Winner: Nutrisystem

Once again, Nutrisystem wins this round. SlimFast’s limited selection of products doesn’t stand a chance against Nutrisystem’s more extensive menu. 

Nutrisystem has several specialized plans tailored to dieters with special needs. Because men and women have different calorie requirements, Nutrisystem offers different men’s and women’s plans. You can also select a diabetes-friendly plan, as well as a Complete 55 plan for women over 55 and a Complete 55: Max Vitality menu for men over 50. 

Dieting couples and friends will also enjoy Nutrisystem’s Plans for 2, which provide meals for 2. Losing weight is easier when you have a partner. 

Nutrisystem also provides filters that help you avoid ingredients. If you are sensitive to items like tree nuts, tomatoes, or dairy, Nutrisystem lets you remove items containing those ingredients from your menu. While the list is extensive, those with serious allergies or sensitivities may want to check out our list of the best allergy-friendly meal delivery services instead.

When I reviewed Nutrisystem, I was very impressed by the number of plans it offered and its filtering options. 

SlimFast has a few keto-friendly products, including Keto Shakes and Fat Bomb meal replacement bars. But if you are serious about losing weight on a keto diet, I’d recommend checking out our list of the best keto meal delivery services instead.

Ordering, Delivery, Unboxing

Winner: Nutrisystem

Nutrisystem wins this round because its boxes have more to offer. Monotonous meals increase your temptation to cheat. You get more variety and more surprises in a 30-day Nutrisystem box than you do in SlimFast’s largest offering, its 14-Day Starter Kit.

You can buy SlimFast meal replacements at many retail outlets or on the SlimFast website. SlimFast offers a 12% discount if you subscribe on its website for recurring deliveries. But you have such a small selection to choose from. And if you’re going to your grocery store to pick up yet another container of SlimFast shake powder, you’re going to be passing several aisles full of tempting treats. 

With Nutrisystem, you get a complete 30-day supply of food every month. This keeps your grocery trips to a bare minimum and makes it unlikely you will run out of Nutrisystem meals. It also takes the guesswork out of portion sizes and calorie counts. 

Nutrisystem uses color-coded packs to distinguish between breakfasts, main meals, and snacks. This makes it easy to find what you’re looking for in your pantry or freezer without sorting through boxes. Choosing between different entrees is more satisfying than opening yet another chocolate meal replacement shake, and Nutrisystem makes it easy to find what you are looking for. 

Meal Prep

Winner: It’s a tie

Neither SlimFast nor Nutrisystem meals are difficult to prepare. In the case of SlimFast, you add water or nonfat milk to its shake powder or open a bottle containing a premade shake or a wrapper containing a meal replacement snack. 

Nutrisystem offers a variety of 100+ prepared meals in addition to its meal replacements. You just put them in the microwave for a few minutes, and before you know it you have a hot low-calorie meal. Nutrisystem protein shakes are prepared like SlimFast shakes, and its meal replacement bars and snacks are equally easy to open and eat.

Customer Support

Winner: Nutrisystem

This is yet another runaway victory for Nutrisystem. Nutrisystem aids customers throughout their weight loss journey with resources that SlimFast just doesn’t offer. If you run into a rough patch on the Nutrisystem diet, you will find that Nutrisystem offers coaching and support as part of a full diet plan. 

The NuMi app helps Nutrisystem customers track meals, stay hydrated, and maintain an exercise routine. It tracks both Nutrisystem and non-Nutrisystem meals, so you can keep an eye on your daily intake of calories, nutrients, and water. It also encourages you to be more active and burn off calories by walking, swimming, or other healthy activities.

Nutrisystem also offers personalized assistance from its weight loss coaches. Nutrisystem coaches can answer any questions you may have and provide critical moral support. In combination with the NuMi app, Nutrisystem’s coaching gives you the encouragement you need to stay motivated in your diet. The app also provides recipes, articles, and diet pointers to encourage healthier eating habits.

You can cancel your auto-delivery program by calling 1-800-585-5483 or through Nutrisystem’s live chat feature. All cancellations must be made before 6 pm ET on the day before your order is scheduled to be processed.

SlimFast offers a customer support line if you have any problems with your order and guides users to its Facebook page where they can chat with other SlimFast users. But that is not a substitute for a weight-loss coach. And while its SlimFast Together app offers many of the same tracking features as NuMi, it has a much smaller selection of diet recipes and no personalized coaching.

Pricing

Winner: SlimFast

The SlimFast plan is considerably cheaper than Nutrisystem, so it wins this round. If you are struggling with both your weight and budget, SlimFast may be a cost-effective way to kick-start your weight loss. Because SlimFast is available in many retail outlets, you can try it for yourself without spending a lot of money.

SlimFast’s 14-Day Starter Kit costs $79.99, or $5.71 per day. By contrast, Nutrisystem’s cheapest plan, its Uniquely Yours plan for men and women, starts at $10.71 per day. But you get more food for that $5.00 and a more structured diet plan with more meal choices and more coaching and support. 

SlimFast offers free shipping on orders over $99, with a $9.95 to $14.95 charge for smaller purchases. Nutrisystem orders are free for larger, prepaid autoshipped orders (2-3 orders) and you’ll pay $7.99 a month for all other auto-shipped plans. While Nutrisystem offers à la carte orders, you’ll pay a hefty penalty for the privilege.

SlimFast vs Nutrisystem – Quick Overview

And The Winner Is: Nutrisystem

Nutrisystem wins thanks to its wide range of meal options and structured diet plan. Beyond aiding weight loss, Nutrisystem's structured plan educates you on portion control and balanced nutrition, ensuring sustained results.

SlimFast, while accessible, has limitations. It's budget-friendly and conveniently found in many stores, but its range is confined mostly to shakes and bars. This restricted variety, coupled with a lack of guidance on portion control and balanced nutrition, might cause you to revert to undesirable eating habits post-SlimFast.

Both brands promote restricted-calorie diets. While Nutrisystem and SlimFast can be effective for quick weight loss, it might not be ideal for those seeking lasting changes in their dietary habits.

There are alternative low-calorie meal services. If you're interested in less processed food and fresher ingredients, our curated list of best low-calorie weight loss meal delivery services might better align with your preferences.

FAQ

Which is cheaper, SlimFast or Nutrisystem?

SlimFast is less expensive than Nutrisystem. A SlimFast Favorite Foods 14-Day Starter Kit costs $79.99, or $5.71 a day, while Nutrisystem’s plans start at $8.54 per day.  

Does Nutrisystem have a diet plan for diabetics?

Nutrisystem has a diabetic menu for those who need to control their blood sugar and their weight. Nutrisystem’s Diabetic meals have low glycemic indexes to ensure your blood sugar levels remain stable and prevent uncomfortable sugar spikes and crashes.

Which program provides better dietary guidance, Nutrisystem or SlimFast?

Nutrisystem provides a more structured diet plan with portion control and nutrition guidance. It offers personalized counseling and support, helping individuals develop healthy eating habits. SlimFast, on the other hand, offers simplicity but may lack the same level of comprehensive guidance.