Quick Cost Snapshot (estimates)
- • TruDiagnostic TruAge: ~$499 one-time / ~$249 sub
- • Elysium Index: ~$499 one-time / ~$299 sub
- • Tally Health (TallyAge): ~$249 per test
- • Sample: blood (TruAge), saliva (Index), cheek swab (Tally)
- • GlycanAge: ~$499-$549 single (US estimate)
- • ~$849-$899 two-test bundle (estimate)
- • Measures IgG glycans, not DNA methylation
- • Includes a 1:1 specialist call
All figures are estimates that change with promotions and exchange rates — confirm the current price on each provider's own site before buying.
The Bottom Line
- • You are actively changing habits and want feedback
- • You will retest on the same platform over time
- • You can pay with HSA/FSA and treat it as wellness
- • You want one number out of curiosity
- • You expect a diagnosis or disease prediction
- • You will not act on or re-measure the result
What We'll Cover
A biological age test promises to tell you how old your body is, as opposed to how many birthdays you have had. The pitch is compelling and the price is real: most kits land somewhere between roughly $249 and $549. Before you spend it, it helps to know that "biological age" is not one thing — different tests measure different biology, with different accuracy, and the number you get is an estimate, not a fact. Here is the honest, cost-first breakdown.
What a Biological Age Test Actually Measures
Most consumer tests fall into two camps, and they measure genuinely different things.
DNA-methylation (epigenetic) clocks
These read chemical tags called methylation marks on your DNA. The pattern of those tags changes predictably with age, so an algorithm — an "epigenetic clock" — converts the pattern into an estimated biological age. Newer clocks go further: instead of a static age, DunedinPACE estimates your current pace of aging, like a speedometer rather than an odometer. TruDiagnostic, Elysium Index and Tally Health all sit in this camp, though they use different samples and different proprietary clocks.
Glycan (inflammation) clocks
GlycanAge takes a different route. It measures glycans — sugar molecules attached to your IgG antibodies — which reflect chronic, low-grade inflammation that builds over months. Because it integrates a longer-term signal rather than DNA methylation, it is a separate biology, and its number is not directly comparable to an epigenetic-clock result.
Why this matters for cost: you are not buying the same product at different prices. A blood-based methylation panel that reports organ-system ages is a different test than a saliva clock or a glycan inflammation score. Decide which biology you actually want before comparing dollar figures.
Cost Comparison by Brand
The figures below are estimates drawn from each provider's published pricing and third-party reviews, not live quotes. Subscription prices assume an ongoing plan; promotions move these numbers frequently. Confirm the current price on the provider's own product page before buying.
| Test | Single-test cost (estimate) | Sample | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| TruDiagnostic TruAge Complete | ~$499 one-time / ~$249 subscribe & save | Finger-prick blood | DNA methylation; DunedinPACE, OMICmAge, organ-system ages |
| Elysium Index | ~$499 one-time / ~$299 on subscription | Saliva | DNA methylation; biological age + nine system ages |
| GlycanAge | ~$499-$549 single (US); ~$849-$899 bundle | Finger-prick blood | IgG glycans (inflammation); includes specialist call |
| Tally Health (TallyAge) | ~$249 per test (membership ~$129/mo) | Cheek swab | DNA methylation; proprietary TallyAge clock |
The pattern: single-test pricing clusters near $499, with subscriptions and cheek-swab options pulling the floor down toward roughly $249. The cheapest sticker is not automatically the best value — a less-validated clock or a one-off test you never repeat may cost less but tell you less.
Subscriptions cut the per-test price — if you actually retest
Both TruDiagnostic and Elysium roughly halve the per-test price on a subscription, because the model is built around tracking change over time. That is genuinely the better use of these tests. But only commit to a subscription if you will retest; otherwise the one-time price is the honest number to compare.
The Main Tests, One by One
TruDiagnostic — TruAge
- TruAge Complete is estimated at ~$499 one-time, dropping to ~$249 on subscribe & save; a TruAge + TruHealth combo runs ~$849
- Finger-prick blood sample; reports DNA-methylation clocks including DunedinPACE (pace of aging) and OMICmAge, plus organ-system ages and a methylation-based telomere estimate
- Results estimated in about 3-4 weeks (up to 4-6 for some panels) from lab receipt
- HSA/FSA accepted; not covered by insurance
- The most data-rich option of the group, which is why reviewers tend to frame it as the "track over time" pick rather than the curiosity pick
Elysium Health — Index
- Index is estimated at ~$499 one-time, or starting around ~$299 on an annual or semi-annual subscription
- Saliva sample analyzed for DNA methylation; reports a biological age plus nine system ages (brain, heart, metabolic, immune, inflammation, kidney, liver, hormone, blood)
- Results estimated about six weeks after the lab receives your saliva sample
- Does not include telomere length or DunedinPACE; focuses on system-level aging
- The saliva collection is the easiest of the methylation tests for the squeamish
GlycanAge
- US pricing is estimated around $499-$549 for a single test and ~$849-$899 for a two-test bundle
- Finger-prick blood; measures IgG glycans tied to chronic inflammation rather than DNA methylation
- Every plan includes a full report, glycan profile and a 1:1 specialist call
- Results estimated in about 3-5 weeks because the sample is run multiple times
- Best understood as an inflammation-aging signal, not an epigenetic-clock number
Tally Health — TallyAge
- TallyAge is estimated around $249 per test, or about $129/month for a membership that includes two tests a year plus supplements
- Painless cheek-swab sample; DNA-methylation based proprietary TallyAge clock
- Co-founded with longevity researcher David Sinclair; the lowest single-test entry price among the major players
- Caveat: the cheek-swab method is less validated than blood-based tests, and the proprietary clock is not independently peer-validated — weigh that against the lower price
How Accurate Are They Really?
This is where the honest answer matters most. Biological age is a model-based estimate, not a direct measurement like blood pressure. Two things follow from that.
First, the clock matters more than the brand. Reliability varies a lot by which algorithm a test uses. In technical-replicate studies, the pace-of-aging measure DunedinPACE was built from methylation sites pre-selected for stability and reported test-retest reliability (ICC) above 0.90 — roughly 0.96-0.97 in same-platform replicates. Several earlier-generation clocks showed only moderate reliability by comparison. So a test reporting DunedinPACE is using one of the more reproducible measures available.
Second, a single number is fragile. Reviews note that scores can differ by several years across different algorithms applied to the same sample, and TruDiagnostic itself reports roughly 95% reproducibility on repeat samples — meaning even the same test can wobble a bit run to run. The practical takeaway: the trend across repeat tests on the same platform is far more meaningful than any one absolute age.
The accuracy rule of thumb
Trust the direction, not the decimal. If your pace-of-aging or biological age moves steadily down across several same-platform tests while you change your habits, that is a credible signal. A one-time number that says you are "four years younger" is a fun headline and a weak fact. Never read these as a diagnosis.
HSA/FSA and Payment
Biological age tests are wellness products, so health insurance generally does not cover them. The good news is that several providers — TruDiagnostic among them — state you can pay with HSA or FSA funds, which effectively discounts the test by your marginal tax rate.
- HSA/FSA may apply: confirm eligibility with your plan administrator before assuming a kit qualifies
- Subscriptions lower the per-test price: useful only if you genuinely plan to retest
- Watch for add-ons: coaching, supplements and consultations can raise the all-in cost above the kit price
Is a Biological Age Test Worth It?
Honestly, it depends on how you will use it. A balanced view:
Worth considering if:
- You are actively changing diet, training, sleep or other habits and want molecular feedback
- You will retest on the same platform so the trend means something
- You can pay with HSA/FSA and treat the number as a wellness metric, not a verdict
Good fit for: data-driven people running a deliberate, trackable longevity routine
Probably skip it if:
- You want a single number out of one-time curiosity
- You expect a diagnosis, a disease prediction, or a guaranteed outcome
- You will not act on the result or measure it again
Better fit: put the $499 toward established basics first (bloodwork, a clinician visit)
A simple decision framework
- Decide which biology you want — DNA-methylation clock vs glycan inflammation score
- Check whether the test reports a well-validated measure (e.g., DunedinPACE) you can track
- Compare the all-in cost, including any subscription, coaching or supplement add-ons
- Commit to retesting on the same platform, or buy the cheaper one-off and keep expectations modest
- Confirm HSA/FSA eligibility and the current price on the provider's own site
Related Longevity Testing
An epigenetic age number is one data point. For most people, conventional biomarkers and a real clinician relationship do more, for less. A few companions worth comparing:
- Comprehensive biomarker panels: our Function Health review covers a ~100-biomarker membership that tracks the basics most clocks build on
- Full-service longevity programs: see the best longevity clinics guide for memberships that bundle testing with a care team
- Supplements in the longevity stack: our NMN vs NR (NAD+) guide weighs the evidence behind a common add-on
- Browse the category: the longevity hub and the full guides library cover more cash-pay options
Compare Cash-Pay Longevity Options
See biomarker memberships, longevity clinics and testing platforms side by side, with transparent self-pay pricing.
Explore Longevity TestingFrequently Asked Questions
How much does a biological age test cost?▼
Consumer epigenetic biological age tests are typically estimated at around $249-$549 for a single test as of 2026. TruDiagnostic TruAge Complete and Elysium Index both list near $499 one-time (each drops to roughly $249-$299 on a subscription), GlycanAge runs about $499-$549, and Tally Health's cheek-swab test is around $249. Most accept HSA/FSA but are not covered by insurance. These are estimates that change with promotions — confirm the current price on each provider's own site.
Is a biological age test worth it?▼
It depends on what you want from it. If you are actively changing your habits and want a molecular data point to track over time, a validated test can be useful feedback. For one-time curiosity, the value is weaker: biological age is a model-based estimate, the same sample can score several years apart across different algorithms, and no number diagnoses or predicts disease on its own. Treat it as a trackable wellness metric, not a medical test, and discuss anything concerning with a clinician.
How accurate are epigenetic age tests?▼
Accuracy varies a lot by which clock the test uses. Newer "pace of aging" measures like DunedinPACE were built from high-reliability methylation sites and report test-retest reliability (ICC) above 0.90 in technical-replicate studies, while several earlier clocks showed only moderate reliability. Because results are statistical estimates rather than fixed measurements, the most useful signal is the trend across repeat tests on the same platform, not a single absolute number. Verify what clock a test uses before buying.
What is the difference between TruDiagnostic, Elysium Index, and GlycanAge?▼
They measure aging differently. TruDiagnostic TruAge uses a finger-prick blood sample and reports DNA-methylation clocks (including DunedinPACE and OMICmAge) plus organ-system ages. Elysium Index uses a saliva sample and DNA methylation to report a biological age and nine system ages. GlycanAge uses a finger-prick blood sample but measures IgG glycans tied to inflammation rather than DNA methylation, so it is a different biology entirely. None is a substitute for clinical care.
Are biological age tests covered by insurance or HSA/FSA?▼
They are generally not covered by health insurance because they are wellness tests, not diagnostic ones. Several providers, including TruDiagnostic, state you can pay with HSA or FSA funds, which effectively discounts the test by your tax rate. Eligibility depends on your specific plan, so confirm with your plan administrator before assuming a test qualifies.
How long do biological age test results take?▼
Most providers quote roughly three to six weeks from when the lab receives your sample. TruDiagnostic and similar blood-based tests commonly estimate about 3-4 weeks (up to 4-6 for some panels), Elysium Index estimates around six weeks, and GlycanAge estimates about 3-5 weeks because it runs the sample multiple times. Turnaround is set by each provider — check the current estimate on the product page.
Medical & Pricing Disclaimer
This guide is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. We are not affiliated with TruDiagnostic, Elysium Health, GlycanAge, or Tally Health. Pricing is based on publicly available data and third-party reviews and is presented as estimates that vary by provider, subscription, region, and current promotions — always verify the current price directly on each provider's site before purchasing. Biological and epigenetic age results are model-based estimates for wellness and self-tracking; they are not diagnostic, do not predict or prevent disease, and are not a substitute for clinical care. Abnormal or concerning health questions should be reviewed with a licensed healthcare provider.
Sources & References
- • TruDiagnostic — shop.trudiagnostic.com (TruAge Complete pricing, clocks, sample type, turnaround, HSA/FSA)
- • Elysium Health — elysiumhealth.com/products/index (Index pricing, saliva sample, nine system ages, turnaround)
- • GlycanAge — glycanage.com (single/bundle pricing, IgG-glycan method, specialist call, turnaround)
- • Tally Health — tallyhealth.com (TallyAge cheek-swab test pricing and membership)
- • DunedinPACE, a DNA methylation biomarker of the pace of aging — eLife / PMC8853656 (test-retest reliability)
- • Third-party reviews (KnowYourDNA, GlycanAge, NOVOS) for cross-checked price ranges and reproducibility context