Stelo vs Lingo: CGMs for People Without Diabetes

The short answer: Dexcom’s Stelo and Abbott’s Lingo are both over-the-counter glucose sensors for adults not using insulin. Stelo lists a subscription at $89 a month (struck from $99) with 15-day sensors and Apple Watch support; Lingo lists $54 for a two-week plan that does not auto-renew, with 14-day sensors. The first independent accuracy study of over-the-counter CGMs found 12.9% average error, fine for patterns, less reliable for exact numbers. No trial shows that wearing one improves health in healthy people. If you are worried about diabetes, see a doctor; a CGM does not diagnose it.

Side by side, from the brands

Attribute	Stelo (Dexcom)	Lingo (Abbott)
For	People 18 and older not on insulin, per Stelo’s site. FDA cleared it for ages 2 and up not on insulin on 12 June 2026	Users 18 and older not on insulin
Not for	People with problematic hypoglycemia	Diagnosis of any disease, including diabetes
Price shown 29 Sept 2026	Monthly subscription shown as $89 (struck from $99); one-time purchase also offered	$54 for a two-week plan, no auto-renewal (US site)
Sensor wear	Up to 15 days; brand footnote says about 20% of sensors may not last the full 15 days	Up to 14 days; Lingo’s UK page notes about 22.9% of sensors may not last the full 14 days
App	Tips and coaching, morning recaps, AI Coach (disclaimed as not medical advice)	Real-time glucose (data every minute per the site), Lingo Count, meal and exercise logging, Apple Health and Health Connect
Watch and phone	Apple Watch compatible	iOS and Android; Apple Health and Health Connect
Regulatory wording read	Cleared OTC integrated CGM (iCGM) to detect normal and low or high glucose	Clearance wording was not on the page text we read; states not for diagnosis

Prices and plans change and differ by country (Lingo’s UK shop lists pounds and multi-sensor plans). The FDA notice says Stelo “is not for people with problematic hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) because it is not designed to alert users when this potentially dangerous condition occurs.”

What studies say

• Accuracy. A September 2026 study of over-the-counter CGMs in 39 young adults without diabetes found a mean absolute relative difference of 12.9% against capillary meter readings, worse after a sugary drink (15.3% vs 10.6%). The authors concluded the sensors agree with overall trends but are less reliable for exact values and warn against using them for diagnostic thresholds. The abstract says no independent study had evaluated OTC CGM accuracy before it; it does not name the products in what we read.
• What is normal. A multicentre study of 153 healthy people wearing a Dexcom G6 found mean glucose of 98 to 99 mg/dL, 96% of time at 70 to 140 mg/dL, and a median of 2.1% (about 30 minutes a day) above 140. Many healthy people will see occasional highs, and readings depend on the sensor.
• Does it help? A 2024 meta-analysis of 25 trials found CGM feedback lowered HbA1c by 0.28% and raised time in range by 7.4 points, but the trials were mostly in diabetes and only 3 in obesity; 44% reported CGM-company conflicts of interest. We found no trial proving benefit for healthy adults.

Which to pick

• Try it for two weeks and stop: Lingo’s no-renewal plan fits a short experiment. Check the plan does not auto-renew before paying.
• Longer tracking, Apple Watch: Stelo, at a subscription price. See our Dexcom Stelo review. The official Stelo site has current plans.
• Broader comparison, including Libre and prescription models: best continuous glucose monitors.
• Reading the numbers: the CGM guide explains time in range and variability.

Ask your doctor first if you have or suspect diabetes, take glucose-lowering medicines, are pregnant, or have a history of disordered eating: Lingo itself says to consult a healthcare professional if you have an eating disorder or a history of one.

Method note

Researched from Stelo’s and Lingo’s own sites, an FDA press announcement and PubMed abstract records, all read 29 Sept 2026. We did not test either sensor. Brand pages change by region and date; re-check the price before buying. General information, not medical advice.