Studies show that you can increase your life expectancy by ten years if you stick to healthy dietary patterns. The problem is that the diet and lifestyle changes that work for one person may not work for another — and that’s where InsideTracker comes in.

InsideTracker is all about leveraging biohacking for better health. You get recommendations to make small, incremental changes to your diet and lifestyle aimed at improving your body’s performance. So, does InsideTracker offer any real value, or is it another potentially expensive wellness brand?

This platform uses your blood, DNA, and lifestyle data to determine how your health is genetically predisposed and pinpoint scientifically-driven lifestyle changes. While that looks like a great package, it’s important to understand where the data comes from and how dependable or practical it is. Our InsiderTracker review will cover all the key aspects of the service and help you decide whether it is what you’re looking for. 

InsideTracker: What it has to offer

InsideTracker is a direct-to-customer (DTC) health testing platform that combines blood and on-demand genetic testing data, your demographics, as well as insights from your wearable tracker to provide recommendations for health optimization.

The company’s current offerings can be broadly categorized below:

1. Blood tests: InsideTracker is primarily a health program informed by your bloodwork. The company analyzes up to 48 unique blood biomarkers (that put you at risk for various diseases) to give you a clear picture of health markers like stress and cholesterol levels.

2. DNA reports: You can also purchase a DNA test to see how select genetic markets might impact your performance and longevity. This service isn’t available outside the U.S. due to data privacy laws.

3. Fitness tracker integration: You can sync your fitness tracker feed with the platform and get integrated insights.

4. Biological age calculator (InnerAge 2.0): InsideTracker’s InnerAge algorithm is mostly based on its own customer dataset. It claims to identify blood biomarkers linked to aging and provide tailored recommendations such as getting more sleep or reducing your salt intake.

Source: InsideTracker

How does InsideTracker work?

Using InsideTracker’s services is straightforward — you start by purchasing one of the plans and uploading your blood test results. You can also order a blood test separately and provide your sample either at home or at a local lab. In states like Hawaii, Rhode Island, Arizona, New York, and New Jersey, you’ll need to get a mobile blood draw by a phlebotomist, as mandated by state laws.

If you’ve previously taken a DNA test, such as through 23andMe, you can upload your results to InsideTracker. You can also purchase a DNA kit directly from the company.

After your blood and DNA data are processed, you’ll gain access to detailed reports in your InsideTracker account, color-coded to show health aspects that are already optimized, need improvement, or are at risk. 

Source: InsideTracker

InsideTracker recommends rescheduling your blood test two to four times a year to ensure your reports are relevant to your current health. 

Bonus reads: Here are the reviews of some health-focused DNA testing services you can explore:

• CRI Genetics vs 23andMe

• MyHeritage vs 23andMe

• 23andMe alternatives

• tellmeGen review

• Rupa Health review

InsideTracker review: 5 factors to consider before trying

InsideTracker combines blood analysis, fitness tracking, and DNA data to provide personalized recommendations — something that not many wellness companies do. While that’s a great advantage, its quality of services may not be to everyone’s liking. 

In the sections below, we’ll explore InsideTracker from five key angles: 

1. Blood testing service

2. Quality of DNA testing 

3. Data privacy 

4. Affordability

5. Customer support

1. Blood testing service

InsideTracker draws most of its insights from bloodwork. It currently offers two blood testing plans: Foundation and Ultimate. The Ultimate plan is InsideTracker’s flagship blood test because it analyzes 8+ health categories that include up to 48 biomarkers. You can find some key biomarkers outlined in the following table:

| Health category | Biomarkers                                                  |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| Heart health    | • LDL cholesterol <br> • HDL cholesterol <br> • Triglycerides            |
| Metabolism      | • HbA1c <br> • Alanine Aminotransferase <br> • Insulin                   |
| Sleep           | • Magnesium <br> • RBC magnesium <br> • Vitamin D                         |
| Inflammation    | • Neutrophils <br> • Lymphocytes <br> • WBC count                        |
| Endurance       | • Ferritin <br> • Iron <br> • Platelets

Keep in mind that the Foundation plan analyzes only four health categories. You’ll get an Action Plan based on the depth of analyses you choose.

Source: InsideTracker

While these insights are interesting, many customers think InsideTracker’s blood testing service doesn’t offer much value beyond a regular blood test or medical examination. Here is what a customer had to say:

[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/PeterAttia/comments/158q7gm/inside_tracker/)

2. Quality of DNA testing

Both Foundation and Ultimate plans don’t come with a DNA analysis — but you can bundle it as an add-on. InsideTracker offers the test in partnership with Helix, a personal genomics company, and you can send your sample via an at-home cheek swab. 

Unlike the more frequent blood tests recommended by the company, DNA tests are a one-time process. You have two options to choose from: buy a new kit or upload your third-party DNA results — here’s what to expect:

| Feature                 | DNA kit                   | Upload                                         |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| Sample collection       | At-home cheek swab       | NA                                             |
| Data points viewed      | 20,000 genetic biomarkers  | 20,000 or fewer genetic biomarkers             |
| Action Plan integration  | No                       | No                                             |
| Price                   | $249                      | Free (after you get the membership worth $149) |
| Result format           | PDF report                | PDF report

InsideTracker’s DNA test results are incomplete because they are based on limited data points — about 20,000 genetic markers, which is less than 0.1% of your genome. The data is not enough to pinpoint disease risks accurately or detect rare genetic variants that cause chronic conditions.

Many users have been left unimpressed by the sparse genetic insights available:

[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/HubermanLab/comments/ugtphv/comment/i7268db/)

Tip 💡

You can get the most accurate health insights from DNA testing only when you analyze your entire DNA. If you’re looking for more actionable health insights, consider getting a Nucleus DNA test kit.

Nucleus uses whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to look at nearly 100% of your DNA instead of just specific points. The platform offers clinical-grade, physician-approved tests that ensure 99.9% accuracy. It then incorporates your lifestyle factors to prepare personalized reports providing practical health insights, including information about your genetic predispositions and heart, mental, and neurological health. Order your at-home kit today!

[X](https://x.com/Exploringfornow/status/1781433526140743900)

3. Data privacy 

When it comes to data privacy and security, InsideTracker is:

• HIPAA compliant

• Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act (GINA) compliant

• SOC 2 Type II certified

However, like other DTC testing services, InsideTracker does collect some data for research after you provide consent.

4. Affordability 

InsideTracker offers more variety in pricing plans than most of its competitors, but you have to sign up for one of the more expensive options (starting at $489) if you want benefits like biological age tracking and personalized health plans. Here’s an overview of the active plans on the website: 

| Plan                                       | Cost   |
| ------------------------------------------ | ------ |
| InsideTracker Membership                   | $149   |
| InsideTracker Membership + Foundation test | $348   |
| InsideTracker Membership + Ultimate test   | $489   |
| Membership + 2 Ultimate Tests              | $730   |
| Membership + 4 Ultimate Tests              | $1,283 |
| Ultimate — Membership Exclusive            | $340   |
| 2x Ultimate Bundle — Membership Exclusive  | $586   |
| 4x Ultimate Bundle — Membership Exclusive  | $1,116 |
| Foundation — Membership Exclusive          | $199

As you can see, each plan has a compulsory membership. If you choose to add only DNA testing ($249) to your cart, you’ll still need to pay for the membership.

Source: InsideTracker

InsideTracker’s recommendation to get bloodwork every 3–6 months also adds to the cost, which can rise to thousands annually. For many people, this raises the question of whether the features offered justify the price tag, especially because there are cheaper and more extensive DNA tests available on the market.

5. Customer support

InsideTracker’s customer support executives are generally friendly and easy to access. Customers can also reach out to them through: 

• Live chat (seven days a week from 9:00 am–5:00 pm EST, but you first need to go through an AI-enabled bot)

• Phone (Monday–Friday from 9:00 am–5:00 pm EST)

• Email (48-hour response time)

While the users mostly have a good experience with customer service, you’ll find plenty of negative reviews expressing disappointment in areas like:

• Bloodwork delays

• Incorrect lab work

• Generic and unhelpful reports

• Poor price-to-value

• Technical issues with the app

Here’s a quick summary of the main pros and cons of the service: 

| Pros                                                                                                                                                            | Cons                                                                   |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| • Comprehensive blood tests <br> • Convenient, at-home DNA testing <br> • HIPAA, SOC 2 compliance <br> • Personalized Action Plan <br> • Multiple pricing options                | • Expensive plans <br> • Limited DNA analysis <br> • Generalized reports

The verdict: Should you use InsideTracker?

InsiderTracker gives you some health areas to focus on, but they are mostly the same concerns a physician will point out to you based on a simple blood test. As a DNA testing service, the platform can be especially lacking because it only looks at an incredibly small portion of your DNA.

The human genome contains 6 billion data points — a test has to analyze ∼100% of this data to draw actionable medical insights from your DNA. The good news is that you can now get almost ALL your DNA analyzed with Nucleus, a physician-approved whole-genome DNA test kit.

Source: Nucleus

Nucleus all-in-one health test can give insights into areas such as:

• Cardiovascular health

• Mental health

• Focus and energy

• Food and diet

• Cancers

Nucleus also incorporates lifestyle factors (age, BMI, cholesterol, etc.) into its analysis to report how your genes and lifestyle impact your health. This is extremely helpful because lifestyle and environmental factors play a crucial role in determining whether disease-causing genes will get activated.

What makes Nucleus stand out is its ability to detect nearly all rare and high-effect genetic variants that can trigger severe health conditions down the line or impact the health of your children. Order your kit to start decoding your genes!

[X](https://x.com/nucleusgenomics/status/1787890704640860584)

Get personalized + relevant DNA health insights with Nucleus

Nucleus reports are far more detailed, accurate, and nuanced than most other DNA analyses available on the market. You get access to 20+ advanced analyses, including:

1. Absolute chance: Takes your DNA and lifestyle factors into account to provide a personalized risk assessment for various health conditions. 

2. Common genetic scores: Shows your genetic risk for specific diseases based on your ancestry. 

3. IQ analysis: Estimates your intelligence scores based on your genetic makeup.

4. Genetic traits and dispositions: Pinpoints specific traits you may have related to athleticism, alcoholism, sensory perception, etc.

[X](https://x.com/mndrix_/status/1781757918905307494)

Nucleus reports are easy to follow, but the platform can also connect you with the genetic counselors in its network if you want medical advice or would like to know more about specific outcomes.

With Nucleus, you can also opt to get updated results based on a single test. The updates are based on your lifestyle changes or new genetic research. This ensures that your reports remain actionable at all times.

Nucleus is fully regulated, backed by the following compliances and certifications:

• HIPAA

• CLIA

• CAP

Your samples will be processed in the U.S. and on U.S. machines for an added layer of security.

Improve your health and longevity outcomes with the Nucleus DNA kit

Nucleus’ at-home DNA kit is easy to use — simply collect your cheek swabs and ship them back. You’ll get your comprehensive WGS results (including all available reports) within 6–8 weeks at a single price point of $399. 

Source: Nucleus

Here’s how you can get started: 

1. Sign up for Nucleus Premium

2. Enter the required personal information 

3. Place your order

Nucleus is FSA/HSA eligible.

You may also like…

We have also reviewed a wide range of other DNA analysis platforms. Check out our reviews here:

• Ancestry.com alternatives

• MyHeritage vs AncestryDNA

• MyHeritage review

• Ancestry.com review

• Invitae review

• Nebula Genomics review

• Sequencing.com review

• AncestryDNA vs 23andMe

• Sequencing.com vs Nebula Genomics

Featured image source: Lisa Fotios