Blood draw
One moment.
Measures total cortisol, often in the morning.
Cortisol testing without the wait.
Test, scan, and see your results in 20 minutes, directly on your phone.
As seen in
How different cortisol tests stack up.
Not all cortisol tests measure the same thing. Each captures a different form of cortisol over a different stretch of time.
Urine (24-hr)
One daily total.
Measures free cortisol across one full day without time markers.
Saliva (Eli), repeated
Your extended rhythm.
Measures free cortisol across several biologically relevant points for days—weeks.
Curves are illustrative. Here’s how the details compare.
| Method | What it measures | What it shows you | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood draw | Total cortisol (bound + free) | A single moment, usually in the morning | Clinic or lab, typically ordered by a clinician |
| Urine (24-hr) | Free cortisol, added up over 24 hours | One total for the day, not its shape | Collected at home, analyzed in a lab, typically ordered by a clinician |
| Saliva Eli | Free cortisol, as reflected in saliva | Your daily rhythm, tracked over weeks | At home, results in 20 minutes |
Your options, side by side
Cortisol can be tested a few different ways. Each one answers a different question — here’s how they compare.
Blood draw
A single moment. One reading of total cortisol, usually in the morning.
- What it measures
- Total cortisol (bound + free)
- What it shows you
- A single moment, usually in the morning
- Setting
- Clinic or lab, typically ordered by a clinician
Urine (24-hr)
One total for the day. The day’s free cortisol added up: the amount stays, the shape is lost.
- What it measures
- Free cortisol, added up over 24 hours
- What it shows you
- One total for the day, not its shape
- Setting
- Collected at home, analyzed in a lab, typically ordered by a clinician
Saliva Eli
Your rhythm, over time. Free cortisol at several points in the day, repeated over weeks.
- What it measures
- Free cortisol, as reflected in saliva
- What it shows you
- Your daily rhythm, tracked over weeks
- Setting
- At home, results in 20 minutes
Curves are illustrative.
How It Works
Your cortisol, tracked on your schedule.
Test when you wake up, after a hard workout, during travel, or before bed. View your results in just 20 minutes.
step 02
Scan in your test.
The Eli app uses AI computer vision to analyze your test.
step 03
Visualize your data.
See what moves your cortisol rhythm and get personalized tips on how to improve it.
The science behind
every test.Cortisol testing made fast and easy.
- Measures free cortisol, the form your body actively uses.
- Backed by 6 years of R&D and 2,000 product iterations.
- Developed by clinicians, scientists, and medical experts.
- Grounded in peer reviewed cortisol research.
- No appointments, no travel, no waiting room.
- See your personal rhythm, not just one number.
- Personalized, actionable insight in the app after each test.
- Export and share results directly with your doctor.
Unique antibody formula binds to cortisol
Scans with iPhone, no additional hardware
Collects saliva in 60 seconds
97% test accuracy*
*benchmarked against laboratory reference methods.
Unique antibody formula binds to cortisol
Scans with iPhone, no additional hardware
Collect saliva in 60 seconds
97% test accuracy*
*compared to methods used in a medical setting
Expert-led, from research to results.
Fady Hannah-Shmouni, MD
Endocrinologist and geneticist at the University of British Columbia.
Focus: Longevity healthcare.
Alicia Robbins, MD
Board-certified OBGYN and Certified Menopause Practitioner.
Focus: Midlife transitions healthcare.
Olivia Lesslar, MD
Physician and lecturer working across brain health, trauma, and recovery.
Focus: Integrative longevity healthcare.
4.5
We stand behind every test.
Test replacement guarantee. If your test doesn't produce a readable result, we'll replace it.
Free onboarding call with an Eli team member to read your first rhythm in selected subscription plans.
Before you decide
Your questions about cortisol testing, answered.
Which cortisol test is right for me?
For a single clinical reading tied to a specific concern, talk to your doctor about a blood or urine test. If you’re interested in tracking your cortisol rhythm over time to see how different factors impact it, Eli is designed to create that visibility.
Can I use Eli alongside my doctor’s testing?
Yes. Eli is designed to sit alongside labs ordered by your physician, not replace them. Many users export their Eli data to share at appointments.
Does it work with Android?
Not yet. The Eli app needs an iPhone running iOS 15 or later. Android is currently in development.
The Science
The Eli difference.
Dr. Fady Hannah-Shmouni, MD, DABIM, AHSCP, FRCPC
Eli Health Medical Director: leader in endocrinology and longevity medicine for 15 years.
Internal Medicine, Endocrinology & Genetics · Longevity Docs member
University of British Columbia
Yale
Geneva College of Longevity Science
Test at your own pace.
1 month
Most Popular
$99
$129
8 tests • $12.37 per test
Enough to map your baseline rhythm and test one change
Free shipping on your first order
Pause, skip, or cancel anytime
Choose this if you're new to tracking your cortisol.
3 months
$199
$387
24 tests • $8.29 per test — 49% less
3x the data, at the lowest per-test price
Free onboarding call
Free shipping every 3 months
Pause, skip, or cancel anytime
Choose this if you're ready to track your cortisol regularly.
We stand behind every test.
Test replacement guarantee. If your test doesn't produce a readable result, we'll replace it.
Pause, adjust, or cancel at anytime. Complete control of your plan.
Testimonials
How cortisol testing supports our users.
Meaghan Praznik
Ironman competitor
“Easy to use tests and I exported the data and shared with my doctor as part of my health care plan.”
Lee L.
Verified customer
“Thanks to Eli, I gained a better understanding of my cortisol and what may be contributing to spikes. The valuable insights helped me have a more informed conversation with my doctor. Having access to this information has given me greater confidence in managing my health.”
Gabriella
Verified customer
Awards
The most awarded cortisol test.
CES 2025
Best of innovation
Fast Company
Best Health + Wellness Design 2025
Canyon Ranch
Wellness Gold List 2026
Shape
Best Cortisol Testing App
HLTH 2025
Best of innovation
Wareable 2025
Wearable Digital Health
Digital Health 2025
Digital Health Awards
Verified reviews
4.7
Customer reviews reflect individual experiences with wellness tracking. The Hormometer™ is not intended to diagnose, treat, or screen for any medical condition.
Sources
17 peer-reviewed references showhide
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- 2Vining RF, et al. (1983). Salivary cortisol: a better measure of adrenal cortical function than serum cortisol. Annals of Clinical Biochemistry.(opens in a new tab)
- 3Kirschbaum C, Hellhammer DH (1994). Salivary cortisol in psychoneuroendocrine research: recent developments and applications. Psychoneuroendocrinology.(opens in a new tab)
- 4Perogamvros I, et al. (2012). Regulation of cortisol bioavailability — effects on hormone measurement and action. Nature Reviews Endocrinology.(opens in a new tab)
- 5Inder WJ, et al. (2012). Measurement of salivary cortisol in 2012 — laboratory techniques and clinical indications. Clinical Endocrinology.(opens in a new tab)
- 6Stalder T, et al. (2016). Assessment of the cortisol awakening response: Expert consensus guidelines. Psychoneuroendocrinology.(opens in a new tab)
- 7Oster H, et al. (2017). The functional and clinical significance of the 24-hour rhythm of circulating glucocorticoids. Endocrine Reviews.(opens in a new tab)
- 8Segerstrom SC, et al. (2014). Variability and reliability of diurnal cortisol in younger and older adults: implications for design decisions. Psychoneuroendocrinology.(opens in a new tab)
- 9Hellhammer J, et al. (2007). Several daily measurements are necessary to reliably assess the cortisol rise after awakening: state- and trait components. Psychoneuroendocrinology.(opens in a new tab)
- 10Wood P (2009). Salivary steroid assays — research or routine? Annals of Clinical Biochemistry.(opens in a new tab)
- 11Vining RF, et al. (1983). Hormones in saliva: mode of entry and consequent implications for clinical interpretation. Clinical Chemistry.(opens in a new tab)
- 12Schwartz EB, et al. (1998). Assessing salivary cortisol in studies of child development. Child Development.(opens in a new tab)
- 13Li D, et al. (2017). Association of biotin ingestion with performance of hormone and nonhormone assays in healthy adults. JAMA.(opens in a new tab)
- 14Hellhammer DH, Wüst S, Kudielka BM (2009). Salivary cortisol as a biomarker in stress research. Psychoneuroendocrinology.(opens in a new tab)
- 15Yaneva M, et al. (2004). Midnight salivary cortisol for the initial diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome of various causes. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.(opens in a new tab)
- 16Laudat MH, et al. (1988). Salivary cortisol measurement: a practical approach to assess pituitary-adrenal function. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.(opens in a new tab)
- 17Huang T, et al. (2022). Correlations between salivary- and blood-derived gonadal hormone assessments and implications for inclusion of female participants in research studies. American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology.(opens in a new tab)