Comparison

23andMe vs Stelo by Dexcom

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

23andMe

Explore your genetic heritage and potential health predispositions. Connect with DNA relatives and gain personalized insights into your ancestry and wellness. Offers tiered services for deeper health analysis and research participation.

Highlights
  • Ancestry exploration by region
  • Personalized health insights
  • Connect with DNA relatives
  • Premium health reports
  • Research participation option
  • Data privacy controls
Features
Read full description

Start your DNA-powered journey with the 23andMe app. Explore your ancestry, connect with your DNA relatives, review personalized health insights and more. ANCESTRY SERVICE: Explore where in the world your DNA is from across 3000+ regions. HEALTH + ANCESTRY SERVICE*: Get a more complete picture of your health with insights from your genetic data and find out what you may pass on to your future children. Includes everything in Ancestry Service.¹ 23ANDME+ PREMIUM™*: Access new premium reports and features throughout the year to keep fueling your health journey and exploring your ancestry. You can also opt in to Health Action Plan for a more personalized experience and recommendations. Includes everything in Health + Ancestry Service.² 23ANDME+ TOTAL HEALTH™**: Optimize your health with physician initiated whole exome sequencing, biannual blood testing and genetics-informed clinical care. Includes everything in 23andMe+ Premium.³ PRIVACY: You are in control of your data. When you explore your DNA with 23andMe, you entrust us with important information. That’s why, since day one, we’ve committed ourselves to protecting your privacy. We provide robust controls that give you options for your genetic data. RESEARCH: You can also choose to participate in 23andMe research. If you opt to do so, the answers you provide could help drive scientific discoveries. HOW YOUR KIT AND THE APP WORK TOGETHER: All services require purchasing a kit, registering and submitting a saliva sample using the collection tube provided. Log into your account to track your sample’s progress. Once your reports are ready, open your app to view your reports. NOTIFICATIONS: Stay in the know with notifications about personalized recommendations, new product updates, research surveys, family connections and more. TERMS OF SERVICE US (https://www.23andme.com/legal/terms-of-service) UK, IE, FI, DK, SE, NL (https://www.23andme.com/en-eu/legal/terms-of-service) Canada (https://www.23andme.com/en-ca/legal/terms-of-service/) All other countries (https://www.23andme.com/en-int/legal/terms-of-service/) Consumer Health Data Privacy Policy (https://www.23andme.com/legal/us-privacy/#washington-consumer-health-data-privacy-policy) AVAILABILITY ¹ Health + Ancestry Service is available in US, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, and Sweden. ² 23andMe+ Premium Membership is available in US, Canada, and United Kingdom only. Health Action Plan is available in the US only and requires opting in to personalized recommendations. ³ Total Health Membership not available to residents of AL, GA, HI, LA, MS, NJ, NY, RI, SC, TN, and US territories. *The 23andMe PGS test includes health predisposition and carrier status reports. Health predisposition reports include reports that meet FDA requirements for Genetic Health Risks and wellness reports which are based on 23andMe research. Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report. Each Genetic Health Risk report describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing a disease, but does not describe their overall risk of developing the disease. The reports do not detect all variants. The reports are not intended to diagnose any disease, tell you about your current state of health, or for use in making medical decisions, including whether to take medication, or how much medication to take. This test is intended for use in adults. Visit https://www.23andme.com/test-info for additional important limitations about each report. **Total Health membership includes services initiated and performed by third-party clinicians and lab providers through the 23andMe platform. Additional terms and conditions also apply. Exome Sequencing is analyzed by a CLIA- and CAP-accredited laboratory. All telehealth services are provided in accordance with the Telehealth Terms (https://www.23andme.com/legal/telehealth-tos/) and Consent to Telehealth (https://www.23andme.com/legal/telehealth-consent/).

About

Stelo by Dexcom

Easily track your glucose levels 24/7 without fingersticks or a prescription. Gain personalized insights to understand how diet and exercise impact your health. This app empowers you to build healthier habits and take control of your well-being.

Highlights
  • 24/7 glucose tracking
  • No fingersticks required
  • Personalized health insights
  • Diet and exercise personalization
  • Form healthy habits
  • No prescription needed
Features
Read full description

Welcome to the revolution in personalized glucose health. The Stelo by Dexcom Glucose Biosensor finally gives you an easy way to track your glucose and form healthy habits. No fingerpicks. No prescription. Just results. Stelo sets the standard in glucose innovation – delivering 24/7 access to personal glucose insights, empowering you to uncover what works for you. Our smartphone* app, gives you the power to personalize your diet and exercise choices, so healthy habits can become second nature.¹ With Stelo, you can revolutionize the way you track your glucose – giving you everything you need to become a healthier you. Stelo Glucose Biosensor required for Stelo by Dexcom app use – sold separately at www.Stelo.com Stelo is indicated for adults 18+ who don’t use insulin. STELO IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Consult your healthcare provide before making any medication adjustments based on your sensor readings. Do not use if you have problematic hypoglycemia. Failure to use Stelo and its components according to the instructions for use provided and to properly consider all indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and cautions in those instructions for use may result in your missing a severe hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) or hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) occurrence. If your sensor readings are not consistent with your symptoms, a blood glucose meter may be an option as needed and consult your healthcare provider. Seek medical advice and attention when appropriate, including before making any medication adjustments an/or for any medical emergency. *For Stelo app compatibility information, visit stelo.com/compatibility. ¹ Stelo User Guide: MT-1000421

Screenshots

23andMe4 screens
Stelo by Dexcom4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: 23andMe at 4.8 against Stelo by Dexcom's 2.4. 23andMe also leads on ratings volume (561K vs 672) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks). Stelo by Dexcom's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

23andMe holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 23andMe has 561K ratings behind it against 672, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of 23andMe's written reviews are positive against 18% of Stelo by Dexcom's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

23andMe ships an update weekly, Stelo by Dexcom every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
23andMe versus Stelo by Dexcom: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter23andMeStelo by Dexcom
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (561K ratings) — better2.4 (672 ratings)
Positive reviews39.7% of reviews — better18.0% of reviews
Number of ratings561K — better672
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank—#97 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size107 MB311 MB
Age rating12+17+
Developer23andMe, Inc.DexCom, Inc.

Customer experience

23andMe

All ratings560,856 ratings
Positive96.2%
Neutral2.2%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews692 reviews
Positive39.7%
Neutral7.8%
Negative52.5%

Stelo by Dexcom

All ratings619 ratings
Positive28.9%
Neutral10.7%
Negative60.4%
Written reviews748 reviews
Positive18.0%
Neutral19.8%
Negative62.2%

User reviews

23andMe

From 561K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Detailed ancestry and health reports
  • 👍 Easy to navigate app
  • 🎉 Found biological family members
  • 💡 Interesting genetic insights
  • 🧬 Confirmed family history

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy app performance
  • 📤 Difficult to download raw data
  • 💰 Expensive subscription fees
  • 🔍 Lacking in-depth ancestry details
  • 🚫 Does not recognize Palestinian ancestry

Stelo by Dexcom

From 672 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy sensor setup
  • 👍 Intuitive app interface
  • 🔍 Helpful for understanding glucose trends
  • 💡 Integrates with Apple Health

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Sensor accuracy issues
  • 🔍 Limited data history and analysis
  • 🤖 Lack of human customer support
  • 🔍 Inability to calibrate sensor
  • 🔍 Inconsistent Apple Watch integration

Bugs and requests

23andMe

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes and freezes frequently
  • Relatives not showing up in family tree
  • Messaging functionality unreliable
  • Inconsistent data updates across user profiles

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved family tree functionality
  • More detailed regional ancestry breakdowns
  • Better messaging and relative connection features
  • Ability to view health reports without additional fees

Stelo by Dexcom

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Sensor session ending prematurely
  • Inconsistent data syncing with Apple Health
  • App freezing and crashing issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to view and export historical glucose data
  • Option to customize glucose target ranges
  • Integration with more fitness/nutrition apps
  • Improved Apple Watch support with complications
  • Enhanced meal and activity tracking features

In-app purchases

None

23andMe

No in-app purchases

None

Stelo by Dexcom

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is 23andMe free?
23andMe is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Stelo by Dexcom free?
Stelo by Dexcom is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, 23andMe or Stelo by Dexcom?
23andMe is rated higher. 23andMe averages 4.8 out of 5 from 561K ratings, while Stelo by Dexcom averages 2.4 from 672 ratings.
Do 23andMe or Stelo by Dexcom have ads?
23andMe shows ads; Stelo by Dexcom does not.
Which is updated more often, 23andMe or Stelo by Dexcom?
23andMe ships an update weekly, and Stelo by Dexcom every 5 weeks. Most recently, 23andMe was updated on October 24, 2026 and Stelo by Dexcom on October 24, 2026.

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