Where to Buy a CGM Over the Counter (2026 Guide): What’s Actually in Stock and What’s Still Online-Only
Where to Buy Each OTC CGM in 2026
Dexcom Stelo: Mostly Online, Slowly Expanding to Pharmacy
This trips a lot of people up. Stelo was the first OTC CGM cleared by the FDA in March 2024 and started shipping August 26, 2024. It improves access to glucose monitoring for people with Type 2 diabetes not using insulin and those with prediabetes who might not have insurance coverage for prescription glucose biosensors.
For the first ~18 months Stelo was strictly direct-to-consumer through stelo.com and Amazon. As of 2026, Dexcom has started rolling Stelo into select pharmacy partners – but availability is uneven and most Stelo customers still buy direct. Their own FAQ confirms it: at this time, Stelo is available primarily at stelo.com and on Amazon.
Two ways to order:
- One-time purchase: $99 for a 2-pack (two 15-day sensors = roughly 30 days of wear)
- Monthly subscription: $89/month, same 2-pack, ships every 30 days. You can save more on the 3-month autoship – about $84/month effective price
Free shipping in the continental US. Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico pay extra and don’t qualify for subscription orders. The sensor is small (about the size of two stacked nickels), worn on the back of the upper arm, waterproof up to 8 feet for 24 hours, and pairs with the Stelo app on iOS or Android.
Buy direct from Dexcom’s Stelo store
One thing I learned the hard way: if you sign up for the Stelo subscription, set a calendar reminder for day 25 of each cycle. Otherwise the next 2-pack ships before you’ve finished wearing the previous sensors, and you end up with a stockpile of sensors expiring at the same time.
Abbott Lingo: Wider Retail, Wellness Focus
Lingo has the most flexible buying options in 2026. Abbott has been pushing this one harder into retail because it’s positioned as a wellness product, not a medical one. Abbott made its Lingo OTC continuous glucose monitor available at Walgreens, with people able to purchase the Lingo biosensor both in Walgreens brick-and-mortar stores and online. This was the latest expansion after Lingo first launched through Amazon, then Walmart as the first brick-and-mortar retailer.
Where you can actually buy it:
- hellolingo.com – direct from Abbott
- Walgreens – online and select brick-and-mortar stores (rollout started December 2025; check store locator before driving over)
- Walmart – both online at walmart.com and in select physical stores
- Amazon – single sensor and multi-packs
Pricing structure is different from Stelo. You buy by sensor count, not subscription:
- 1 sensor (14 days): $49
- 2 sensors: $89 – matches Stelo’s monthly cost
- 6 sensors (84 days, ~3 months): $249, which works out to about $41.50 per sensor
The big trade-off: Lingo can only measure glucose levels between 55 mg/dL and 200 mg/dL. People with diabetes sometimes have glucose levels outside of this range. That’s why it shouldn’t be used for diabetes management. If your glucose ever spikes above 200 or drops below 55, Lingo will just flatline – you won’t see how high or low. For metabolic optimization, food experiments, and figuring out what your post-lunch crash actually looks like, that range is fine for most non-diabetics. For anyone with actual diabetes, this is a hard no.
See Lingo pricing on Abbott’s official store
Abbott Libre Rio: Still Not Commercially Available in 2026
Libre Rio got FDA clearance back in June 2024 alongside Lingo, but it’s a different beast – designed specifically for type 2 diabetics who don’t use insulin, with the same 40–400 mg/dL range as Stelo and prescription Libre sensors.
Here’s the catch. Stelo and Lingo are currently available for purchase. Libre Rio still hasn’t launched commercially. Multiple industry sources confirm it. Originally expected late 2024, then 2025, then “soon” – and we’re now into the back half of 2026 with no launch date or pricing announced. Abbott has stayed quiet on the timeline.
If you’ve seen a third-party site claiming to “pre-order” Libre Rio, be careful. Until Abbott officially launches it through their own channels or a verified retail partner, those listings are unreliable. The FDA clearance is real (510(k) K233861), but cleared and commercially available are two different things.
What this means for your 2026 buying decision: stick with Stelo if you want type 2-appropriate accuracy and the wider measurement range, or Lingo if you want wellness-focused tracking. Don’t wait on Rio.
What About CVS, Costco, Walmart, and the Big Retailers?
This is the question I see most often on Reddit, and the answers floating around are out of date. Here’s the current state as of 2026:
CVS
Stelo and Lingo aren’t widely stocked at CVS for OTC retail. GoodRx’s Stelo listing flat out states the device “isn’t available in pharmacies at this time” for OTC purchase, and that’s still accurate at most CVS locations. CVS does fulfill prescription Dexcom G6, G7, and Abbott Libre 2/3 sensors through their pharmacy, but those need a prescription and run through insurance.
If you want Stelo, don’t drive to CVS. Order online or check Walgreens.
Walgreens
Walgreens is currently the strongest pharmacy chain for OTC CGMs because of the Abbott partnership. Lingo is in select Walgreens stores and on walgreens.com. Stelo isn’t in Walgreens stores as of 2026.
Costco
Costco’s pharmacy lists prescription Dexcom G6/G7 and Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2/3 sensors at competitive cash prices through their Member Prescription Program (around $59–$67 per sensor depending on which one). But those are prescription sensors, not OTC. Stelo and Lingo aren’t on Costco shelves or in the warehouse pharmacy as of this writing.
If you have a prescription anyway, Costco’s pharmacy is one of the cheaper places to fill it. For OTC? Skip it.
Walmart
Walmart carries Lingo both online and in select physical stores. Stelo is not currently on Walmart’s site or in stores. This may change – Walmart has the shelf space and the diabetes-care focus to add it – but as of 2026 it’s Lingo only.
Amazon
Both Stelo and Lingo are on Amazon. Prime shipping makes this the fastest option for most people, especially if you don’t live near a Walgreens that stocks Lingo.
Image: Media Kit
HSA/FSA Eligibility: How It Actually Works at Checkout
Both Stelo and Lingo are FSA/HSA eligible. According to Dexcom, Stelo pay-as-you-go customers will pay $99 for a single pack of 2 sensors (total wear time up to 30 days), and subscribers can save 10% by paying $89 per month for an ongoing subscription of the same 2-sensor pack delivered every 30 days.
In practice this means two paths at checkout:
- Pay with your FSA/HSA card directly – most people’s debit cards from their FSA or HSA accounts work as standard Visa/Mastercard. Just enter the card number at stelo.com, hellolingo.com, Amazon, or Walgreens checkout.
- Pay with a regular card and submit for reimbursement – buy with your normal credit card, save the receipt, then submit it to your FSA/HSA administrator. This is the route I’d take if you’re trying to hit cashback or rewards on a credit card and just expense it back later.
The effective discount depends on your tax bracket – somewhere between 20–30% off for most people, since you’re paying with pre-tax dollars. On a $99 Stelo 2-pack, that’s a real $20–$30 in your pocket.
One thing nobody mentions: if you’re using HSA dollars, keep the receipt for years. The IRS allows HSA reimbursements for past medical expenses as long as you have documentation, so even if you pay out of pocket today, you can pull the money out tax-free later. That’s the move I make for stuff under $100 – credit card now, HSA reimbursement when I want the cash flexibility.
What Does an OTC CGM Actually Cost Per Month?
Honest math for a year of continuous wear, since this is what nobody puts in their guides:
Stelo (continuous wear, monthly subscription):
- $89 × 12 = $1,068/year
- 3-month autoship at ~$84/month effective = $1,008/year
- FSA/HSA pre-tax savings (assuming 25% tax): roughly $250–$270 back
Lingo (continuous wear, 6-pack):
- $249 every ~3 months (six 14-day sensors = 84 days) × ~4.3 cycles per year = $1,071/year
- Almost identical to Stelo in raw cost, but you’re committing to non-insulin, non-diabetes use
Reality check: very few people wear a CGM continuously for a full year. Most use cases are 30–90 day “experiments” – figuring out which foods spike you, dialing in pre-workout nutrition, getting a baseline before a diet change. For that use case, you’re looking at $99–$249 total, which is reasonable for medical-grade hardware that used to require a doctor’s visit and an insurance fight.
If you’re skeptical, the cheapest meaningful experiment is a single Lingo sensor for $49 over 14 days. That’s enough to catch your top 3 food spikes and one bad night of sleep. It’s not enough for trend analysis, but it’s enough to know if continuous data is worth more investment.
How to Choose: Stelo vs Lingo Decision Tree
Buy Stelo if:
- You have type 2 diabetes (non-insulin) or prediabetes
- You want the full 40–400 mg/dL clinical measurement range
- You prefer the subscription model and don’t want to think about reordering
- You want the longer 15-day wear time
Buy Lingo if:
- You don’t have diabetes and you’re using this for wellness or performance
- You want to buy in bulk and avoid subscriptions
- You want a Walgreens or Walmart in-store option
- The 55–200 mg/dL range covers your expected glucose response (it does for almost all non-diabetics)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really buy a CGM without a prescription in the US?
Yes. The FDA cleared the first OTC continuous glucose monitor in 2024. The Dexcom Stelo Glucose Biosensor System is an integrated CGM intended for anyone 18 years and older who does not use insulin, such as individuals with type 2 diabetes treating their condition with oral medications, or those without diabetes who want to better understand how diet and exercise may impact blood sugar levels. Stelo (March 2024) and Lingo (June 2024) are both currently available without a prescription. You must be 18 or older.
Can I buy a CGM at CVS?
Not for OTC purchase as of 2026. CVS pharmacies fill prescription CGMs (Dexcom G6/G7, Abbott Libre 2/3) but don’t currently stock Stelo or Lingo for over-the-counter sale. Walgreens has Lingo. Stelo is mostly online.
Is Stelo or Lingo cheaper?
Per sensor, Lingo’s 6-pack ($249, ~$41.50/sensor) is cheaper than Stelo’s monthly subscription ($89/2-pack, $44.50/sensor). But Lingo sensors last 14 days vs Stelo’s 15 days, so on a per-day basis they’re nearly identical. Annual cost for continuous wear comes out roughly the same – about $1,000–$1,070. The real cost difference is feature-driven, not price-driven.
Does insurance cover Stelo or Lingo?
Generally no. Because you don’t need a prescription, standard health insurance plans and Medicare usually won’t cover the cost at the pharmacy. You’ll be paying out of pocket. Both products are designed to be paid out-of-pocket with FSA/HSA dollars. If you have type 1 diabetes or insulin-dependent type 2, you should be looking at prescription Dexcom G7 or Libre 3 instead – those are insurance-covered for ~90% of commercial plans.
Should non-diabetics use a CGM?
It’s a fair question and the medical community is split. The core counterpoint from endocrinologists is that for healthy people without metabolic issues, real-time glucose data may not change clinical outcomes – your body is already regulating glucose well. The case for it is behavioral: seeing your data in real-time can drive better food and exercise choices in a way that abstract advice can’t. I’m in the second camp, but I won’t pretend the first camp doesn’t have a point. Talk to your doctor, especially if you’re using a CGM as a starting point for major dietary changes.
When will Libre Rio be available?
Unknown. Cleared by FDA in June 2024, originally targeted for late 2024 launch, then 2025. As of mid-2026, Abbott still hasn’t announced a commercial launch date or pricing. Don’t wait for it – buy Stelo or Lingo now if you need a CGM.
What I’d Do (Bottom Line)
If I were buying my first OTC CGM today and I wasn’t diabetic, I’d grab Lingo’s 2-pack from Amazon for $89 and run a 28-day experiment. Cheap entry point, fast shipping, no subscription to cancel, and the data you’ll get from a month is enough to recalibrate how you think about food without committing to a year of wear.
If you have type 2 diabetes (no insulin) or prediabetes, go with Stelo’s monthly subscription at $89/month. The wider measurement range matters more for you, and the subscription pricing beats the one-time $99 if you’re planning to wear it for more than a month.
Do not order anything claiming to be Libre Rio from a third-party site. It hasn’t launched yet through Abbott’s official channels.
Quick recap of where to actually click:
- Stelo: stelo.com or Amazon
- Lingo: hellolingo.com, Walgreens, Walmart, or Amazon
- Libre Rio: don’t bother yet
Have a CGM question I didn’t answer? Drop it in the comments. I’ll update this guide as Abbott finally launches Rio (whenever that is) and as Stelo expands deeper into brick-and-mortar.
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