Dexcom Stelo vs Withings Body Scan
Two devices, the same questions: what does it actually measure, how good is the data, what does it cost to keep using, and who is it for.
Dexcom Stelo
The first over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor in the US. A 15-day skin-worn sensor that turns a black-box variable — your glucose response to food, stress and sleep — into a graph you can act on.
Full review →Withings Body Scan
The most data-dense consumer scale you can buy: segmental body composition, six-lead ECG, vascular age and nerve activity in a single step-on.
Full review →| Spec | Dexcom Stelo | Withings Body Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 for two 15-day sensors | $399.95 + $9.95/mo Withings+ |
| Subscription | None (device is single-use) | Optional Withings+ unlocks vascular age and nerve activity |
| Form factor | Skin-worn sensor, upper arm, 15 days per sensor | Glass scale with retractable handle bar |
| Battery life | Sensor lifespan 15 days | 12 months rechargeable |
| Water resistance | Yes (shower/swim) | IPX3 |
| Platforms | iOS, Android | Same |
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| Data quality | MARD (mean absolute relative difference) in the ~10% range vs venous blood glucose — best-in-class for consumer CGM. Interstitial lag makes rapid spikes appear ~5 minutes late. | Bio-impedance accuracy is decent for trend, poor for absolute vs DEXA. ECG rhythm strip is FDA-cleared. PWV correlates with cardiovascular age but is not a diagnostic tool. |
| Ecosystem | Native Stelo app; data export to Apple Health and Google Health Connect. Third-party integrations via Dexcom API and platforms like Levels, Nutrisense and Signos. | Withings Health Mate; syncs with Apple Health, Google Health Connect, Strava, MyFitnessPal. |
| Privacy | Glucose data stored in Dexcom cloud; can be exported as CSV. HIPAA-aligned handling. | GDPR-compliant, EU-hosted. Full data export supported. |
Dexcom Stelo
- Otc — no prescription needed for non-diabetics in the US
- 15-day wear, waterproof, minimally invasive
- Turns diet and exercise into an immediate feedback loop
- Best-in-class sensor accuracy in the CGM space
- Not intended for insulin-dependent diabetics (see G7 for that)
- 15-minute readings vs 1-minute on G7 — smoother, less real-time
- Interstitial fluid lags blood glucose by 5–10 minutes
- Metabolic-optimisation users identifying personal glycaemic responses
- Anyone with pre-diabetes or a family history of type 2 diabetes
- People chasing zone-2 fitness or GLP-1 protocol optimisation
- Type 1 diabetics needing dosing decisions from the device
- Users unwilling to wear a visible sensor on the arm
Withings Body Scan
- Segmental composition = detect asymmetry that a wrist device cannot
- One of very few consumer devices tracking vascular age
- Long battery life, calm hardware design
- Bio-impedance is not DEXA — treat trends, not absolutes
- Some metrics gated behind subscription
- Standing measurement means hydration confounds accuracy
- Users tracking body-composition change under training or GLP-1 protocols
- People with cardiovascular risk who want daily vascular-age nudges
- Clinical body-composition assessment (use DEXA)
- Users who take multiple daily weigh-ins — hydration noise dominates
The lowest-friction way to turn glucose into an actionable metric. Non-diabetics should treat it as a 15–30 day learning tool, not a permanent wear.
The most sensor-rich consumer scale. Best used as a monthly baseline + trend tool, not a daily obsession.
Other comparisons
Scores reflect our own testing criteria — data quality, what the device measures that matters for healthspan, and total cost of ownership including subscription. Prices are manufacturer list prices and change often; check before buying. Some links are affiliate links, which never affect a score — see our affiliate disclosure.