Blood draw
A single moment
- What it measures
- Total cortisol, bound and free.
- What it shows you
- A single moment, usually taken in the morning.
- Where
- Collected at a lab or physician’s office.
How to check your cortisol levels.
What testing with Eli looks like, what you’ll learn, and when to follow up with a practitioner.
As seen in
Step 01Understand what you’re measuring
Cortisol isn’t one number. It’s a daily rhythm.
Cortisol typically peaks after you wake up, then tapers through the evening. Sleep, lifestyle habits, and travel can shift that pattern, so it’s important to test at these two moments that anchor your day.
Factors that impact your rhythm
- Sleep duration and quality
- Light exposure
- Travel
Step 02Learn about sample types
Three samples, three views of the same day.
Blood, urine, and saliva each capture cortisol differently. Saliva reflects free cortisol, the active portion your body uses, and is easy to test regularly at home. Blood and urine tests are usually ordered by a doctor.
Urine (24-hr)
One total for the day
- What it measures
- Free cortisol, added up over 24 hours.
- What it shows you
- One total for cortisol collected over the day.
- Where
- Collected at home, analyzed in a lab.
Saliva
Biologically relevant moments
- What it measures
- Free cortisol, as reflected in saliva.
- What it shows you
- Your cortisol rhythm from morning to night.
- Where
- Collected at home or on the go.
Step 03Time your sample correctly
When you test matters.
Cortisol follows a daily rhythm, so the time of day that you test shapes each reading.
We recommend taking your morning test within an hour of waking, and your evening test between 5-11pm.
Step 04Interpret your results
One reading is a snapshot. A pattern tells the story.
Test at the same times over several days to establish your cortisol baseline. Then, using Tag Trends, the Eli app helps you identify what can shift it—like a rough night or a week of travel.
One test
A single reading: one point on one day.
Several days
The same moments, repeated: the pattern appears.
How It Works
Three simple steps to see your cortisol.
From saliva to phone in just 20 minutes.
step 01
Collect your saliva.
Saliva contains dozens of unbound hormones including cortisol.
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.
- 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.
Unique antibody
formula binds
to cortisol
Scans with iPhone,
no additional hardware
97% test accuracy*
*benchmarked against laboratory
reference methods.
Collects saliva
in 60 seconds
The Eli Cortisol Hormometer is a wellness product and is not a substitute for laboratory or clinical testing.
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.
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, answered.
Is Eli ordered by a doctor?
No. Eli is a wellness tool for tracking cortisol, not a diagnostic medical device. If you have symptoms that concern you, consult a physician, who can order clinical testing and evaluate you.
Is testing once enough?
No. A single reading shows one moment, but regular testing—morning and evening—is what captures your actual cortisol rhythm and its fluctuations.
Does the app work on Android?
Yes. The Eli app is available for Android on Google Play.
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.”
Gabriella
Verified customer
Awards
Award-winning cortisol testing.
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
14 peer-reviewed references showhide
- 1El-Farhan N, et al. (2017). Measuring cortisol in serum, urine and saliva — are our assays good enough? Annals of Clinical Biochemistry.(opens in a new tab)
- 2Kirschbaum C, Hellhammer DH (1994). Salivary cortisol in psychoneuroendocrine research: recent developments and applications. Psychoneuroendocrinology.(opens in a new tab)
- 3Perogamvros I, et al. (2012). Regulation of cortisol bioavailability — effects on hormone measurement and action. Nature Reviews Endocrinology.(opens in a new tab)
- 4Inder WJ, et al. (2012). Measurement of salivary cortisol in 2012 — laboratory techniques and clinical indications. Clinical Endocrinology.(opens in a new tab)
- 5Stalder T, et al. (2016). Assessment of the cortisol awakening response: Expert consensus guidelines. Psychoneuroendocrinology.(opens in a new tab)
- 6Oster H, et al. (2017). The functional and clinical significance of the 24-hour rhythm of circulating glucocorticoids. Endocrine Reviews.(opens in a new tab)
- 7Segerstrom 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)
- 8Hellhammer 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)
- 9Wood P (2009). Salivary steroid assays — research or routine? Annals of Clinical Biochemistry.(opens in a new tab)
- 10Vining RF, et al. (1983). Hormones in saliva: mode of entry and consequent implications for clinical interpretation. Clinical Chemistry.(opens in a new tab)
- 11Li D, et al. (2017). Association of biotin ingestion with performance of hormone and nonhormone assays in healthy adults. JAMA.(opens in a new tab)
- 12Hellhammer DH, Wüst S, Kudielka BM (2009). Salivary cortisol as a biomarker in stress research. Psychoneuroendocrinology.(opens in a new tab)
- 13Laudat 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)
- 14Huang 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)