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Jun 13

Best Intermittent Fasting Apps of 2024 – Fortune

Lose Weight Comments Off on Best Intermittent Fasting Apps of 2024 – Fortune

How we test

Our rigorous testing process for intermittent fasting apps involved evaluating over 20 services across 14 key factors, including usability, features, accuracy, cost, and more. Each app was carefully scored to ensure only the top seven apps, proven to effectively support your body composition goals, made it into our review.

Learn more

In order to provide the best recommendations and guidance, we consulted with Chris Mohr, Ph.D., a registered dietitian and performance coach, and Victoria Burgess, Ph.D., a certified sports nutritionist and certified strength and conditioning specialist. The information in this article was reviewed for accuracy by Kelly Uhler, a professional fact checker.

Intermittent fasting involves cycling between eating and fasting periods, offering potential benefits like weight loss, better sleep, and improved metabolic health. To simplify this journey, dedicated intermittent fasting apps have emerged. These apps help manage fasting schedules, track progress, and provide expert support.

In this article, we explore seven of the best intermittent fasting apps and highlight their unique features. These selected apps have earned spots on our list for their user-friendly interfaces, customizable features, and innovative tools designed to streamline your fasting routine.

Simple App is our top pick for the best intermittent fasting app because of its ability to help users easily adopt and maintain a fasting regimen. The user-friendly app features customizable fasting schedules, insightful tracking capabilities, and educational resources to support users on their path to success. In addition, Simple provides AI-driven insights to help users improve their diet, plan workouts, and even answer questions or requests like, Please give me three high-protein snack ideas for my road trip.

Simple App is a comprehensive health app designed to help you lose weight and improve your relationship with food.

AI functionality Coach Avo

Fasting tracker 16/8 and more

Food logging Nutrition score

Nutrition Healthy recipes

As a fitness and nutrition coach, Simple offers everything I want in an intermittent fasting app. You can use it to keep track of your fasting time, food intake, and hydration, along with access to recipes, workout plans, informational articles, and even videos.

Pros

Customizable fasting tracker with notification reminders

Tracker for food intake, water intake, and activity level

Offers healthy recipes and workout plans

Free version of the app is robust

Cons

Nutritional information may not be completely accurate since you arent inputting the exact food into the tracker, and the app doesnt take portion sizes into consideration

Some users have found it difficult to connect with customer service

Several reviewers complain that the app glitches, creating difficulty logging meals or editing previous entries

Simple easily stands out as the best guided intermittent fasting appits designed to help you lose weight, improve your relationship with food, and build a healthier lifestyle through guidance, education, and accountability.

When I downloaded Simple, I was prompted to answer a series of questions about my age, current weight, dietary preference, eating habits, sleep patterns, activity level, and goals. This information helps Simple recommend a plan tailored to your specific needs.

If you have weight loss goals, you can enter your goal weight with the option to include a date or an event youre trying to get in shape for. I set an upcoming 5K run event as my deadline, and Simple created a timeline for when I would expect to meet that goal if I followed the apps guidance. While achieving this goal depends on various factors beyond the app, this feature is a helpful tool for establishing a timeframe for success.

Simple offers a single plan for fasting: a 16-hour fasting window followed by an 8-hour eating window. I chose to eat my first meal at 10:00 am and my last meal at 6:00 pm, but you can adjust this to fit your schedule.

One feature I really liked about Simple is the option to log your food, which many other fasting apps lack. Logging meals is quick and easy. Instead of entering each item separately, you can type in your entire meal, like Greek yogurt, blueberries, and granola. Simple then gives the meal a score of low, fair, good, or optimal, providing insights into protein, fiber, sugars, saturated fat, and vitamins or minerals. However, the app ends your fast if you try to log a meal after starting a fast. To avoid this, edit an already-logged meal to include the new food.

Rating scales have been used to assess the quality of foods and the overall diet, however these food scales do have limitations. For example, a fortified food could provide many vitamins and minerals, but also be higher in sugar, giving it a lower rating. That said, the idea that Simple gives meal scores is okay, yet some may be turned off by the ratings themselves. ( 1 )

Chris Mohr, Ph.D., RD, Fortune Recommends Advisor

Another standout feature of Simple is its AI assistant, which can answer questions and provide guidance on healthy recipes, workout ideas, and improving your meal scores. You can log your meals by taking photos or describing them in the app. Simple also offers easy-to-read articles written by a dietitian that provide extra guidance on nutrition and fasting.

Studies have shown that when apps have good usability, they can be very helpful for users to achieve their health goals. ( 2 )

Overall, Simple is a great choice for anyone wanting to try intermittent fasting with additional support for their nutrition or weight loss journey. While Simple offers premium personalized plans, the free version is robust and lets you experience the apps interface. This helps you decide if upgrading to a paid subscription for additional personalized guidance is worthwhile.

Between iOS and Android users, Simple has been downloaded over five million times and has almost 300,000 reviews. This is very impressive for a health and wellness app, especially since Simple has garnered an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on the Apple App Store and 4.5 out of 5 stars on Google Play.

Simple is really simple. I love the fact that it is easy to use. The fact that the app is always giving options on food choices or being creative using almost the same food choices to create better for you choices. This is a non judgemental app with helpful insight as to what you eat, hydration, and movement.

Jean B, Google Play reviewer

Users also really seem to enjoy the accountability that the Simple app provides. Verified Trustpilot reviewer Jina W writes, I love this app, it keeps me accountable. I have lost weight without a ton of effort just by fasting 16 hours and tracking my food. It gives great ideas for healthy replacements.

Another Trustpilot reviewer, Tracey H, says, I feel accountable for my food choices in this app. If I choose unhealthy food, the app gives me some polite encouragement. I feel like Im letting down a little person inside the app when I eat the wrong food.

In terms of the less positive reviews, users have expressed issues when dealing with customer service, especially when attempting to get a refund. Trustpilot reviewer Michelle R writes, There is mention when you sign up that the app will remind you before your trial period is over. They did not do this and instead auto-renewed meand then did not want to assist me when I contacted them after the auto-renewal.

Nonetheless, its important to read the terms and conditions before paying for the app. This is why you may want to start with a free plan, ensuring you enjoy the app before paying for a full subscription.

Noom uses a stoplight approach to represent the foods that should be prioritized or eaten in moderation.

Personal coaching 1:1 and group

Food logging Tracks calories

Nutrition Recipe database

Educational Daily lessons

Weight loss app Noom combines personalized coaching, behavioral science, and educational content to help users lose weight.

Pros

Promotes behavioral change and healthy eating habits instead of overly restrictive diets

Provides educational content and daily lessons on nutrition, fitness, and mental health, helping users build knowledge and stay motivated

A subscription includes a 10 mini-course series that you can complete at your own pace, and includes lessons on goal setting, stress relief, gratitude, joyful movement, breathing exercises, self care, types of hunger, and more

Provides support to users through both one-on-one and group coaching from certified health coaches

Emphasizes eating whole foods

Cons

Pricier compared to other apps

Doesnt include an intermittent fasting timer

Tracks calories but doesnt provide the macronutrient profiles of the foods

Noom is a great weight loss app designed to help users make impactful changes in their diet and lifestyle to achieve health and fitness goals. Instead of restricting specific foods, Noom uses a stoplight approach to indicate which foods to prioritize and which to eat in moderation.

Green foods in Noom are the least calorically dense and have high nutritional value, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nonfat dairy. Yellow foods, which should comprise most of your diet, include lean meats, eggs, beans, and low-fat dairy. Orange foods have the highest calories and should be eaten sparingly, such as oils, fried foods, nuts, seeds, pastries, sweets, and meats like bacon, ham, sausage, and pepperoni. The color designations do not indicate good or bad foods, but suggest how much of each type should be in your daily diet.

Some research has shown that this traffic-light method of labeling foods can be an effective way of encouraging people to decrease unhealthy food choices. ( 3 , 4 )

Color coding foods is one strategy that can be used with success, though its not a perfect tool and does come with some limitations, since foods arent just good or bad from a nutrition standpoint. Avocados, nuts, and nut butter, for example, have a wide variety of nutrients but are also higher in fat and calories, so a blanket color coding may not translate to some foods, like these.

Chris Mohr, Ph.D., RD, Fortune Recommends Advisor

Noom complements various intermittent fasting programs. Its three-colored food system teaches what to eat during non-fasting periods and helps overcome challenges like food cravings, dehydration, and overeating. Although Noom lacks an intermittent fasting timer, its comprehensive support and educational resources make it valuable for anyone looking to succeed with intermittent fasting.

Noom has conducted observational studies demonstrating their weight loss programs effectiveness. One study showed that, on average, 65% of the initial weight loss achieved with Noom was maintained after one year. ( 5 ) The study highlighted behavior changes like choosing healthy snacks and regular exercise as key factors in overall success. Although funded by Noom, the company claims it did not influence the studys design, execution, analysis, interpretation, or publication of the results.

Based on the number of customer reviews Ive read, its clear that many users have tried countless diets before discovering Noom. The common theme of these reviews is that Noom is different from most overly restrictive diets, prioritizing educational content and teaching users how to build healthier lifestyle habits.

What can I say! Theyve got all the bases covered. The everyday learnings and psychology are priceless. Im actually having a big aha awareness due to Noom. I recommend Noom to everyone I know whos trying to lose weight and have a healthier overall life.

Jane E, Trustpilot reviewer

Verified Trustpilot reviewer Ola M writes, Ive tried many diets but this is something different. Noom is designed to prepare you for a whole weight loss journey and equip you with lots of tricks to support you on the way. Its been almost 2 months and Ive lost almost 5 kilos now. On my way to a healthier self.

Verified Trustpilot reviewer Jeffery G wasnt so pleased and wrote, I am currently in Noom and am frustrated beyond belief. I have questions for the coaches that are supposed to be assigned to me but cant get a coach to respond. I have contacted customer service twice in the past 5-6 days and still no response from a coach. I guess if you just want an online course then Noom may be okay, but it seems if you have questions or need help, forget it.

DoFastings primary feature is a customizable fasting schedule and timer, but also includes weight, water, steps, and calorie tracking.

Fasting tracker 16/8 and more

Food logging Tracks calories

Nutrition Healthy recipes

Accountability Challenge mode

The DoFasting app offers a variety of fasting plans, meal ideas, and workout routines to support users in their intermittent fasting journey. It also provides educational articles, daily motivational messages, and a progress tracker to help users stay informed and motivated.

Pros

Multiple fasting plans to choose from, allowing users to choose the method that best fits their lifestyle and goals

Access to over 5,000 healthy recipes

Daily reminders and motivational notifications

Workout routines suitable for all ages and skill levels, with video demonstrations

Weight, water, steps, and calorie tracking features

Cons

No free base version of the app

No option for personalized coaching

Quiz and email address required to see subscription plan pricing

The DoFasting app is intended to make intermittent fasting simple for beginners. The process begins with a short quiz that provides users with a personalized intermittent fasting plan to complement their current lifestyle. Individuals are then encouraged to use a fasting timer, an intermittent fasting meal plan, and their library of workouts to pursue their health and fitness goals .

The apps primary feature is a customizable fasting schedule and timer, but it also includes tracking for weight, water intake, steps, and calories. It offers over 5,000 healthy recipes and multiple online workout programs with video demonstrations. Users can access a library of articles on intermittent fasting, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle habits, helping them understand the science behind fasting to make informed decisions.

Overall, the apps information and content are impressive. Additionally, a retrospective analysis of data from DoFasting users showed that its interactive tools, goal-setting features, and weekly challenges significantly enhance user engagement, leading to increased weight loss. ( 6 )

However, the user interface leaves something to be desired. While the home screen is well designed, clearly displaying your fasting timer, fasting type, and current weight, many users wish the app had a better search feature for recipes and the ability to filter certain foods. Users with dietary restrictions have noted that, despite indicating their sensitivities or allergies in the initial quiz, the app still suggests meals and recipes that dont align with their needs. This can be confusing and potentially problematic, requiring users to carefully vet each recipe before deciding on a meal. Improving these aspects would enhance the overall user experience and make the app more accommodating for those with specific dietary requirements.

Despite a few flaws, I believe this app is worth the investment for those new to fasting. However, experienced fasters seeking additional features or one-on-one coaching might prefer other options.

Note that you will need to complete an informational quiz and submit your email in order to get a subscription and pricing quote. When we completed the quiz, the results (and customer service) indicated we were only eligible for a 3-month subscription, which contradicts the FAQ page that says users can choose their subscription length.

The general consensus regarding the DoFasting app is that its great for beginners who are new to fasting but lacks the functionality or additional coaching that more experienced users may be looking for.

So far, this app is helping me stay the course and making me aware of the actual nutrition in my meals. I did not realize how little protein I eat each day. Also, I forget to drink enough water but now am tracking it. And I really needed the fasting timer. I lose track of time while working and needed the heads up for getting my last meal in. I think I might have cut corners if I didnt have it all in one place with the constant fast clock popping up on my screen.

Rene T, Trustpilot reviewer

Verified Trustpilot reviewer Brianna C writes, This app is okay, probably not worth the money for some people. The fasting timer is great with many different options, and I can see this app being good for beginners if it didnt require as steep of a money commitment. The recipes are great, but the calorie tracker is extremely difficult to use unless you have the packaging for your food right in front of you.

Cronometers food database includes a wide range of products, including branded goods and restaurant meals.

Fasting tracker 16/8 and more

Food logging Tracks calories

Nutrition Nutrient search

Cronometer is a comprehensive nutrition tracking app that offers detailed insights into your daily dietary intake. With its extensive food database and precise tracking features, it helps users monitor their nutrition and make informed decisions about their diet.

Pros

Provides comprehensive tracking of daily dietary intake, including calories, macronutrients, and micronutrients

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Best Intermittent Fasting Apps of 2024 - Fortune

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