Can an $8 test really give you an accurate reading of your hormone levels? That’s the idea behind Eli Health’s Hormometer, which is an at-home saliva-based hormone test. Up until now you’ve only been able to test for cortisol levels, but in February the company is expanding to testosterone and progesterone.
I tried out one of the kits here at CES 2026 just to see what the experience is like, and it’s actually pretty simple. And my results were kind of surprising.
How the Hormometer works
The cortisol test works like this. You install the Eli Health app on your phone. Then you take the saliva collection cartridge out of the sealed package and put it in your mouth for 60 seconds.
From there, you pull on a tab so that the results can start “developing,” similar to a Covid test. You’ll need to wait 20 minutes for this part.
After that’s all done you use the app and your phone’s camera to snap a photo of the saliva stick, at which point the AI app kicks in and starts analyzing your results.
Once the processing was done I received a score for my cortisol level, which was in the 0.5 to 1 range. That’s actually good, because your cortisol levels are supposed to decrease as you get closer to bed time. And I performed the test after 9:30 pm.
Still, I thought my body clock might be out of whack because I was still wide awake and my body was still on East coast time. So in my mind it was after midnight.
Nevertheless, I got a score of 96 or Excellent.
If my results were not good, the Eli Health app can offer tips and insights into why your score might be low and offer suggestions, such as going to bed at a more consistent time or switching from a night-time workout to a daytime workout so your body can better calm down at night.
Testosterone and Progesterone tests on the way
If you’re curious about other hormone levels in your body, Eli Health will soon be offering tests for Testosterone and Progesterone — and they’re available for pre-order now.
Testosterone fuels strength, stamina, focus, libido, and drive, which Eli Health says is “core to how you perform, recover, and age.”
If you happen to get a lower score the app won’t just say you should look into supplements. If you’re on the younger side if might suggest that you exercise more or get more sleep. Getting less than 7-9 hours a night could lead to a testosterone drop.
The progesterone test could come in handy for women who want to look into cycle syncing and "decode their ovulation window."
Progesterone also regulates sleep quality, body temperature and cognitive clarity, so it could be helpful to know your level.
No, it doesn't replace your doctor
It should go without saying that the Hormometer is not a stand-in for seeing your doctor. But if you want to get a bit more insight into your health this test could be helpful to some users, whether you’re not sleeping well and want to look into why or if you’re athlete and are looking for better ways to measure your recovery.
The tests are $8 a piece, but you can get 8 tests for $99 or a 3-month supply for $225.
For more coverage see our CES 2026 live blog to check out all of the hottest new gadgets right now.
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