Levels alternative: how Helsa compares with Levels
Levels no longer requires a CGM: its app membership costs $15 a month or $80 a year, with Stelo or Dexcom G7 sensors and lab panels as paid add-ons. Choose Helsa if you want a free starting tier, a 24/7 AI coach you can chat with, and photo or voice meal logging. Choose Levels if you want to buy glucose sensors and lab tests through the same service.
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Disclosure: Helsa is our product. We aim to be fair: every fact about another app links to the public source we checked, and we point out where other apps are the better fit.
Helsa vs Levels at a glance
| Feature | Helsa | Levels |
|---|---|---|
| CGM required | No — works from logged meals and habits, plus Apple Health data | Optional — the app works without sensors; Stelo or Dexcom G7 can be added, or you can bring your own CGM |
| Price | Free tier; Premium subscription unlocks all features (US App Store lists $12.99/month or $79.99/year; 7-day free trial on yearly) | App membership $15/month or $80/year; Core ($399/year) and Complete ($1,329/year) bundles add CGM and labs |
| Platforms | iOS and Android | iOS and Android, plus a view-only web dashboard |
| AI coach | Yes — AI coach chat that knows your medication, dose and how you've been feeling | AI meal and glucose insights; Core and Complete add a licensed clinician’s review |
| Meal logging | Photo, barcode or voice, with calories, protein and fiber, a meal score and the meal's likely blood sugar impact | Typed or spoken description (AI), photo, barcode and search |
| Blood markers / labs | Yes — analyzes lab results such as A1C, cholesterol and triglycerides | Yes — sells lab panels (Basic $99 with 28 markers incl. A1c; Comprehensive $399 with 110+) |
| Sleep & stress | Yes — tracks sleep and stress; syncs with Apple Health | Reads sleep from Apple Health or Health Connect (no in-app sleep logging) |
| Insurance / HSA | Self-pay in-app subscription through Apple or Google | Not covered by insurance; HSA/FSA payment through TrueMed |
“Not verified” means we couldn’t confirm it from a public source, so we left it out rather than guess.
Who should choose which?
Choose Helsa if…
- You want to start free and upgrade later
- You want a chat-based AI coach you can ask questions at any time
- You want sleep, stress and blood markers in the same score as your meals
Choose Levels if…
- You want to try a CGM (Stelo or Dexcom G7) and see your real glucose curve
- You want to order lab panels without going through a separate provider
- You want a clinician to review your glucose and lab data (Core or Complete plans)
Pros and cons
Helsa
GLP-1 companion app: AI meal logging with calories, protein and fiber, a daily protein target, dose and side-effect tracking, and an AI coach that knows your medication; works without a CGM.
Pros
- Food-first: logs calories, protein and fiber from a photo, a barcode or what you say
- Daily protein target from your weight: 1.2 g per kg, within 80–120 g a day
- Logs GLP-1 doses with dose-day reminders and injection-site rotation, plus a side-effect log
- No CGM or wearable needed to get started
Cons
- Doesn't measure glucose itself — a meal's blood sugar impact is estimated from what you log, so it's less precise than real CGM readings
- A Premium subscription is required to unlock all features
- For tracking and education only — no medical advice, and it never recommends dose changes
Levels
Metabolic health membership app; continuous glucose monitoring and lab panels are optional add-ons.
Recent change: Levels no longer requires a CGM — it now sells an app-first membership with sensors and labs as optional extras.
Pros
- Low-cost app-only membership, with CGM and labs optional
- Works with glucose monitors that write to Apple Health or Health Connect, including Dexcom G6
- Its own lab panels, available in all 50 US states
Cons
- Available in the United States only
- No detailed micronutrient tracking
- Dexcom G7 glucose data appears in Levels with about a 1-hour delay
Frequently asked questions
Does Levels still require a CGM?
No. Levels' help center says sensors and lab panels are optional add-ons and aren't required to use the app. You can add a Stelo or Dexcom G7 sensor, or connect a CGM you already have through Apple Health or Health Connect.
How much does Levels cost compared with Helsa?
Levels' app membership is $15 a month or $80 a year; its Core ($399 a year) and Complete ($1,329 a year) bundles add CGM time and lab panels. Helsa is free to download with a free tier, and Helsa Premium is listed on the US App Store at $12.99 a month or $79.99 a year.
Can Helsa analyze blood tests like Levels?
Helsa analyzes lab results you already have, such as A1C, cholesterol and triglycerides, but it doesn't sell lab tests. Levels sells its own lab panels, Basic for $99 with 28 markers and Comprehensive for $399 with 110+, and also accepts uploads of past bloodwork.
Is Levels covered by insurance?
Levels says its memberships aren't covered by health insurance, but you can pay with HSA or FSA funds through TrueMed. Helsa is a self-pay subscription billed through Apple or Google.
Is Levels available outside the US?
Levels says it's currently available in the United States only, and its lab panels can be ordered in all 50 states.
Sources
Prices and features change. We checked each source on the date shown; please confirm current details on the company’s own site.
- apps.apple.com/us/app/helsa-blood-sugar-coach/id6736939841 — checked
- play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=helsa.health — checked
- support.levels.com/article/720-levels-pricing-and-plans — checked
- levels.com — checked
- support.levels.com/article/100-compatible-devices-with-levels — checked
- levels.com/blog/how-levels-uses-ai — checked
- support.levels.com/article/463-how-to-log-food-in-the-levels-app — checked
- support.levels.com/article/563-basic-vs-comprehensive-panel — checked
- support.levels.com/article/382-how-to-add-sleep-data — checked
- support.levels.com/article/48-insurance-coverage — checked
- support.levels.com/article/451-using-your-own-sensors-with-levels — checked
- support.levels.com/article/601-where-levels-labs-is-available — checked
- support.levels.com/article/21-where-levels-is-available — checked
- support.levels.com/article/770-what-health-and-nutrition-data-levels-tracks — checked