Dexcom
Dexcom Stelo
As of August 2026 we track 6 continuous glucose monitors available here, and the cheapest one you can buy without a prescription is the Dexcom Stelo at about $99.00 a month.
Specifications
| Wear time | 15 days |
|---|---|
| Warm-up | 30 minutes |
| Accuracy (MARD) | Not published |
| Readings | every 15 min |
| Alarms | No |
| Prescription | Not required |
What does the accuracy figure mean?
MARD is the average gap between what the sensor says and what a laboratory blood test says, as a percentage. A 10% MARD means readings are off by about 10% on average — so a true 7.0 mmol/L might show as anywhere around 6.3 to 7.7. Lower is better. Most current sensors sit under 10%; twenty years ago they were over 20%. No sensor is exact, which is why treatment decisions still get confirmed with a fingerstick when a reading does not match how you feel.
Pricing
$99.00
to try · 30 days
$1,188.00
per year
- per sensor · 15 days
- Not published
- per month
- $99.00
The least you can spend to wear one sensor for its full life. For subscription products it is one month, because you cannot buy less.
Estimated from the sensor price and its wear time, assuming continuous use.
Prices last checked: 2026-08-05
What works well
- No prescription needed and no subscription — you buy sensors when you want them
- Fifteen days of wear, the longest of the over-the-counter sensors
- Thirty-minute warm-up
What to watch out for
- No hypoglycaemia alarms, so it is not a substitute for a medical CGM if you use insulin
- Dexcom says roughly one in five sensors may not last the full fifteen days
- No published peer-reviewed accuracy study
Our verdict
The most flexible way to try a CGM in the US without involving a doctor. If you take insulin, you want a sensor with alarms instead — this one has none.
Common questions
- Do you need a prescription for Dexcom Stelo?
- No. It is sold over the counter in the United States.
- Does Stelo have low glucose alarms?
- No. It is designed for people not using insulin, and does not provide hypoglycaemia alarms.