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Weight Watchers (WW) vs. Nutrisystem 2024

In the struggle to lose weight, many individuals turn to Weight Watchers or Nutrisystem. Each of these well-established weight-loss programs guides users towards healthier eating, but deciding which is right for you can be as challenging as shedding those extra pounds.

I have taken a close look at both programs, comparing their approach to nutrition, exercise, mental wellness, and community support – all key pillars in achieving sustainable weight loss. My criteria for success were not just about the pounds you can lose but also how easy these programs are to follow and how well they can produce lasting weight loss.

Nutrisystem is the winner in my comparison. Nutrisystem’s scientific approach to portion control and user-friendly meal planning and delivery system are a more comprehensive and hassle-free way to lose weight. Weight Watchers (now known as WW) is a tried and tested service, but I think Nutrisystem is the winning choice for your weight loss journey. Read on to learn more!

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

💲 Price:

Weight Watchers (From $10 per month)

🍔 Menu Variety:

Nutrisystem (Over 130 meals)

⏰ Prep Time:

Nutrisystem (1-35 minutes)

🍴 Customization:

Weight Watchers

👍 Ordering and Delivery:

Nutrisystem

🙋 Customer Support:

It’s a tie

👑 Overall Winner:
Nutrisystem

Menu Variety: Nutrisystem Has a Complete Meal Plan

Nutrisystem wins this round by default, as Weight Watchers has no menu. With Weight Watchers, you buy your own food based on its recommendations. You have to do your own grocery shopping and follow the WW cooking instructions. This gives a WW dieter many possible failure points. Nutrisystem provides you with a complete meal plan, which helps you resist temptation and simplifies the dieting process.

A preview of Nutrisystem's menu

Nutrisystem offers over 20 breakfast options, 25 lunch choices, and 50 dinner alternatives. You get a variety of meal replacement snacks and optional protein shakes. Nutrisystem sends a whole month's worth of prepared meals at once, which greatly simplifies the task of keeping track of your calorie intake.

Nutrisystem meals are typically lower-calorie versions of beloved American dishes. While the menu might not take you on a global culinary adventure, Nutrisystem strives to ensure its meals are flavorful while supplying all the essential nutrients needed for a reduced-calorie diet.

Nutrisystem's Merlot Beef recipe in a dish

Despite being calorie-controlled, Nutrisystem meals are hearty and filling. For example, Nutrisystem’s Merlot Beef with Root Vegetables combines thick-cut beef, wholesome root vegetables, and potatoes simmered in a rich merlot reduction. With just 320 calories, this meal gives you steakhouse flavor without the fat and calories. It packs 20 g of protein and requires just 10 minutes in a skillet to heat it up. 

A WW Points calculator

Instead of meals, Weight Watchers provides you with 11,000+ low-calorie recipes. Each recipe comes with WW “Points.” You get a set number of points each day determined by your weight, height, age, gender, and desired weight loss. 

When I entered my information, I was given 35 points per day for the first 5 weeks. This dropped steadily to 31 points by week 25. A 200-pound 5’6” female with light activity seeking to lose 50 pounds gets 28 points, dropping to 24 by week 25. WW predicted we would each lose around 2 pounds per week. 

WW also gives you 35 extra points per week to allow for occasional indulgences. The Points should be allotted to healthy snacks and extra portions of low-calorie entrees.

WW's recipe page for Turkey Smash Burgers

The Turkey Smash Burger is a typical WW recipe made with ground turkey, reduced-fat cheddar cheese, and mustard. Sliced tomatoes and red onion and fresh lettuce make it a good substitute for calorie-packed fast food meals. With just 10 minutes of prep time and 15 minutes of cooking, it’s almost as fast as takeout and much healthier. Your whole family can enjoy Turkey Smash Burgers without feeling cheated. 

Meal Customization: Weight Watchers Has Thousands of Recipes

WW wins this round because it lets you choose from over 11,000 recipes. While this requires extra work and shopping on your part, it also means you can find exactly the meals you want. Nutrisystem has excellent filtering options to help you avoid meals containing common allergens, but as a prepared meal delivery service, its customization options are limited.

A WW page with allergy information

In addition to recipes, WW also provides ingredient substitution instructions for people with dairy, gluten, or other sensitivities. It also offers a selection of vegan recipes, though I would recommend that vegan dieters check out BistroMD’s vegan weight loss meal plan. 

Nutrisystem's extensive menu filter options.

Nutrisystem’s filters let you remove items containing common allergens like tree nuts, tomatoes, or dairy. Nutrisystem also offers a Diabetes-Friendly meal plan, as well as gender- and age-specific plans too. If you want a less structured option you can sign up for Advantage. For full details on these check out our full Nutrisystem review.

Ordering, Delivery, Unboxing: Nutrisystem Offers Home Delivery

Nutrisystem wins another round by default. Since Weight Watchers doesn’t send food, there’s not really anything to unbox. 

A selection of items from WW's online store

You sign up for WW on its website or app and can choose from a 1-month, 3-month, or 6-month subscription. All plans give you access to WW recipes, but you have to shop for your own groceries. While the WW Store offers a selection of low-calorie snacks and pantry staples, you have to order these separately, and you will still need to buy most of your ingredients on your own.

A Nutrisystem package on someone's porch

On Nutrisystem, you eat 6 small meals a day. This means you don’t spend hours watching the clock and waiting for your next meal, and it also inhibits your temptation for a high-calorie snack to tide you over. All Nutrisystem boxes are labeled and color-coded, so you can distinguish between breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrees and snacks.

Side-by-side comparison of a Manicotti entree and an Oatmeal snack from Nutrisystem

Most Nutrisystem meals arrive frozen and will need to be kept in your freezer. Meal replacement bars and shake powder is shelf-stable and can be kept in your pantry. 

Meal Prep: Nutrisystem Provides Pre-Prepared Meals

Nutrisystem is the clear winner in this round. With all its pre-prepared meals and snacks, you can enjoy a low-calorie Nutrisystem meal in minutes. Weight Watchers expects you to shop for, prep, and cook your own meals. If you’re trying to shed some pounds but have a tightly packed schedule, Nutrisystem makes dieting much easier.

Example of a Nutrisystem meal that's easy to prepare

Every item on the Nutrisystem menu comes with cooking instructions, which are also available on the website. Most Nutrisystem meals are ready to eat or can be heated in a microwave or conventional oven. 

Some Nutrisystem meals may require a bit more preparation. For example, the Merlot Beef pictured above needs to be cooked in a skillet for 10 minutes. But overall Nutrisystem is a quick and convenient way to lose weight.

Customer Support: Both Have Great Support & Networks

Both Nutrisystem and Weight Watchers offer access to personalized coaching and have very good weight-loss support networks. I declare this round a draw. 

The level of support you get from Weight Watchers depends on which membership you choose. Weight Watchers offers 2 plans, Core and Premium. Only the Premium plan offers Workshops. You can attend these workshops virtually or in-person at over 3,000 studio locations nationwide.

WW's selection of weight loss coaches

Workshop coaches share techniques designed by WW's team of nutrition and behavioral scientists to cultivate long-lasting healthy habits. Workshops focus on weight-loss topics ranging from nutrition (for example, “what constitutes a serving of pasta?”) to mindset shifts that help you overcome problems like stress-eating or midnight snack cravings. 

You can cancel your WW membership on its website or through the app. When you sign up for a plan, it will automatically renew at the end of the period unless you cancel, so be sure to cancel before the renewal date if you don’t want to incur an additional charge.

Screenshots from Nutrisystem's mobile app

Nutrisystem’s proprietary app, NuMi, logs both Nutrisystem and non-Nutrisystem meals. This makes it easy to monitor daily caloric and nutrient intake, as well as hydration levels. NuMi also encourages physical activity by recommending calorie-burning activities like walking and swimming. It even provides resources like recipes, articles, and diet tips to promote healthier eating habits.

Alongside the NuMi app, Nutrisystem offers personal weight loss coaches who provide a layer of human interaction and personalized guidance. They are available to answer any queries, offer advice, and provide essential moral support. This combination of digital tracking and personal coaching helps keep motivation levels high throughout your Nutrisystem dieting journey. 

It's easy to ask about your order or cancel your subscription with Nutrisystem, as it offers easy access to its customer support reps via phone at 1-800-585-5483 or through the live chat feature. It's important to note that all cancellations must be done before 6 pm Eastern time on the day preceding your order's scheduled processing time.

Pricing: Weight Watchers Is Very Budget-Friendly

Joining Weight Watchers will cost you less than signing up for Nutrisystem, so WW wins this round. But keep in mind that your subscription does not include the price of groceries nor of any items you purchase at the WW Store. 

A 1-month WW subscription costs $43, which includes a $20 starter fee. The fee is waived if you sign up for a 3-month subscription at $15 per month or a 9-month subscription for $9.99 a month. After those subscriptions expire, your subscription price will go up to $23 a month, the standard monthly fee.

Weight Watchers offers several plans, of which the 9-month plan is the best value

While you have to shop for your own groceries, most WW recipes are for 4 servings. If you are feeding a family, this may be more economical than a Nutrisystem plan, which gives you single-serving meals. (Couples who want to lose weight together can take advantage of Nutrisystem’s Partner plans).

Nutrisystem prices start at $9.64 per day for its structured plans. Prices are higher for men due to their additional caloric needs. Nutrisystem also offers optional upgrades such as the full Hearty Inspirations menu and protein shakes for an additional cost.

 Screenshot of Nutrisystem's plan options including comprehensive plans and adaptable plans

While Nutrisystem offers 1-time orders, you will pay a hefty additional fee.  If you opt for a structured plan it is recommended to pay upfront for at least 2 months to get the best value. Shipping is free with larger auto-shipped orders but will cost from $7.99 with 1-time orders.

You can also sign up for an adaptable plan with Nutrisystem Advantage. This is a subscription service that offers members discounts on meals, free shipping on non-frozen food orders, and access to personalized coaching and meal plans.

Weight Watchers vs. Nutrisystem — Quick Overview


Weight Watchers

Nutrisystem

Best for

Weight loss counseling and advice

Complete weight loss meal plans

Starting price

$10 per month

$9.64 per day

Shipping cost

None

Free when you pre-pay;

From $9.99 for one-time orders

Minimum order

1-month Core subscription

1 month plan

Menu variety

11,000+ recipes

130+ choices per week

Prep time

Depends on recipe

1 to 35 minutes

Low-prep options

Depends on recipe

Frozen prepared meals

Allergies catered to

Gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, shellfish

Wheat, milk, lactose, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, eggs, tomatoes, pork, pork gelatin, chocolate, sugar alcohols, onions, seeds, nuts, corn

Special diets

Diabetic, vegetarian, some vegan

Diabetic, vegetarian

Customer support

Insert text (e.g. 24/7 online chat, email, phone)

Text, chat, phone, NuMI app

Promotions

No active deal

50% Off Your First Week of Weight Loss 

And The Winner Is: Nutrisystem

Nutrisystem simplifies dieting with its pre-packaged meals. While the WW plan uses a Points system that might require constant tracking and can become complicated, Nutrisystem streamlines the process by providing portion-controlled meals.

The NuMi app enhances Nutrisystem's offerings. This app not only helps in tracking meals, exercise, and water intake but also offers access to dietitians and weight loss coaches, forming a robust support system for users.

I recommend Nutrisystem for a hassle-free weight loss journey. Its straightforward approach removes the intricacies often associated with other weight loss plans. Plus, there’s no confusing tracking of points like with the Weight Watcher’s system.

There are other meal delivery options for weight loss. If Nutrisystem doesn't fit your preferences, our list of the best weight loss meal delivery services contain more options for you to consider.

How to Choose Between Weight Watchers and Nutrisystem

  • Consider the menu: Nutrisystem is the only one of these services that has a menu. It provides you with a complete meal plan and sends you all the meals and snacks you need for at least a month. Weight Watchers gives you lots of recipes and guidance but still leaves it to you to do the planning and shopping.
  • Consider how much time you have: Nutrisystem sends you everything you need, and much of it is shelf-stable and ready to eat. Even the items that do require prep simply need a few minutes in the microwave. This is quite different from Weight Watchers where you must shop and cook all the meals, which requires much more of your time.
  • Choose between delivery or shopping: Nutrisystem will deliver all the meals and snacks you need, thus preventing you from making poor food choices or giving in to temptation. Weight Watchers has no delivery option and works on the basis of providing meal ideas and assigning points to them to let the user decide what they want to eat.

FAQ

Which program is better, Weight Watchers or Nutrisystem?

Nutrisystem is a better choice for those looking for short-term weight loss. Nutrisystem provides a complete plan that includes all your daily meals plus optional protein shakes. This helps you avoid calorie-counting and ensures that you will get a fully balanced restricted-calorie diet.

Why is weight loss so slow on WW?

On the WW Plan, you can expect to lose 1-2 pounds a week. WW’s goal is to teach you how to eat a healthy, sustainable diet for lasting results. While some diets you can shed pounds more quickly, you typically wind up regaining all the weight you have lost within a few months after going off those plans.  

Is Nutrisystem overpriced?

While Nutrisystem is not cheap, it provides you with a complete supply of meals, which ensures you get all the necessary nutrients on a restricted calorie diet. When you compare the cost of a Nutrisystem plan to what you spend every month on food, its prices are very reasonable. And you also get diet coaching and support on the Nutrisystem plan.

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We rank vendors based on rigorous testing and research, but also take into account your feedback and our commercial agreements with providers. This page contains affiliate links.Advertising DisclosureThis is a user-oriented comparison website, and we need to cover hosting and content costs, as well as make a profit. The costs are covered from referral fees from the vendors we feature. Affiliate link compensation does not affect reviews but might affect listicle pages. On these pages, vendors are ranked based on the reviewer’s examination of the service but also taking into account feedback from users and our commercial agreements with service providers. This website tries to cover important meal, coffee and pet food delivery services but we can’t cover all of the solutions that are out there. Information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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