What is the best at-home sperm test?
The best at-home sperm test depends on what you need: YO offers an FDA-cleared one-off motility check, ExSeed a CE-marked device test, Legacy and Fellow lab-grade mail-in analysis, and LOAD pairs an at-home test with an app that tracks a 0-100 Sperm Health Score over time.
At-home sperm tests and wellness scores — including LOAD's Sperm Health Score — are not a substitute for clinical evaluation. If you have concerns about your fertility, speak to a qualified healthcare professional.
How we compared
Regulatory status and accuracy claims
We state each product's clearance exactly as it holds it — FDA clearance, CE marking, or lab certification — because these are different regimes that guarantee different things.
What it actually measures
Some tests report a single parameter (motile sperm concentration); others report the full WHO panel — concentration, motility, morphology and volume.
Snapshot vs tracking over time
Sperm regenerates on a roughly 70-90 day cycle, so a single test is a snapshot. We weigh whether each option helps you see change over time.
Price and repeat cost
One-off kits, refills, and subscriptions are priced very differently once you test more than once.
Privacy and logistics
Where it ships, whether your sample leaves your home, and turnaround time.
Side-by-side comparison
| LOAD | ExSeed | YO | Legacy | Fellow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | At-home sperm test + tracking app (0-100 Sperm Health Score) | At-home smartphone-based sperm test device | At-home smartphone-based sperm test device (app plus optical test device) | Mail-in clinical semen analysis + sperm freezing/long-term storage | Mail-in lab-grade (diagnostic) semen analysis |
| What it measures | Concentration, Motility, Progressive motility, Morphology, Volume, 0-100 composite Sperm Health Score | Volume, Concentration, Motility, Total motile sperm count | Sperm concentration (M/mL), Sperm motility (%), Progressive motility (%), Motile sperm concentration (M/mL), Progressive motile sperm concentration (M/mL) | Semen volume, Sperm concentration, Sperm count, Motility, Morphology, DNA fragmentation (advanced), Total motile count (post-thaw) | Volume, Concentration, Count, Motility, Total Motile Count, Morphology |
| Regulatory status | The Sperm Health Score is an indicative wellness metric, not a clinical diagnosis or fertility assessment — it does not diagnose or rule out any condition and does not replace a clinical semen analysis. | CE-certified home sperm test (CE-marked, EU); not FDA-cleared | FDA-cleared home sperm test; WHO 6th Edition compliant (Class II medical device) | "Legacy provides clinical-quality semen analysis and cryopreservation services through CLIA-certified, CLEP-approved laboratories." Not a diagnostic device; lab-based service (CLIA ID 31D2285605, CLEP PFI 6002). | Mail-in kit analyzed in a CLIA-certified lab (CLIA #05D2177822, COLA #31245); marketed as the only peer-reviewed, clinically validated mail-in semen analysis (validation study published in Fertility and Sterility). Optional sperm storage is CLIA-certified, FDA-registered. |
| Price | At-Home Sperm Test Kit: £68.99 | Home Sperm Test Kit (2 tests): £94.99; Home Sperm Test Kit (5 tests): £149.99; Home Sperm Test Kit (10 tests): £219.99; Refill Kit (5 tests): £31.99 | YO Home Sperm - 3 Test Kit: $99.95 | Basic Semen Analysis (count + motility): $145; Standard Semen Analysis (volume, concentration, count, motility, morphology): $375; Advanced Semen Analysis (adds DNA fragmentation + Sperm Score): $495; For Today freezing bundle — 1 yr storage, 1 sample ($245/yr renewal): $540; For Tomorrow freezing bundle — 3 yr storage, 2 samples: $1,495; For The Future freezing bundle — 10 yr storage, 2 samples: $2,095; Forever freezing bundle — 25 yr storage, 3 samples: $4,995 | Mail-in semen analysis kit: $199; Kit + sperm freezing (cryo): $199 + $240/year storage (billed only after freezing); Mail-in vasectomy test kit: $149 |
| Tracking & app | Daily longitudinal tracking in the LOAD app — lifestyle data (sleep, exercise, stress, hydration, body composition) plus at-home test results feed a 0-100 score that recalibrates over time. | Companion app analyses the sample via the smartphone-mounted device, returning results in ~15 minutes (>95% accuracy claimed vs lab equipment) with an ExSeed Health score and personalized lifestyle programs; repeat tests via refill kits. | App reports per-test results and records a live video of the sample that can be saved or shared with a provider; designed around one-off or repeat snapshot tests rather than continuous scoring. | Lab report per test plus an online Insights dashboard with a Sperm Score; no continuous daily scoring — repeat kits for follow-up snapshots. | Lab report per test (results in 1-2 business days after the lab receives the sample); no continuous daily scoring. |
| Logistics | App on the App Store (UK storefront, 'LOAD - AI Sperm Coach'); test kit ships from the LOAD shop. | Free UK & EU shipping; also ships to broader Europe (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Serbia) and Canada. Test performed at home with a smartphone-mounted device. | US-based (Medical Electronic Systems, Encino, California); ships within the US, international availability not specified. Test performed at home with the YO device and a smartphone app for iOS (iOS 15+ on the App Store) and Android (Android 6+). | US mail-in kit; sample shipped to a CLIA-certified/CLEP-approved lab, results returned online; freezing samples split and stored at multiple cryo labs. | US mail-in kit; sample ships to the lab overnight (two-way shipping included), results online. Optional sperm freezing/storage offered via a kit-plus-cryo product. |
Facts sourced from each brand's own materials — see the numbered sources below. Prices and features change; we re-verify quarterly.
Device tests vs mail-in lab analysis
At-home options split into two families. Device tests (ExSeed, YO, LOAD) analyse your sample at home, usually with a smartphone-based reader — results in minutes, nothing shipped. Mail-in kits (Legacy, Fellow) send your sample to a certified lab for a full semen analysis — closer to a clinic report, but slower and typically pricier per test.
Neither family is simply better. Lab analysis reports more parameters per sample; device tests make repeat testing practical, which matters because semen parameters fluctuate meaningfully between samples — the WHO recommends more than one sample before drawing conclusions.
One-off results vs tracking change
Most at-home tests are built around a single question: what are my numbers today? That is genuinely useful before a clinic visit or a freezing decision. But sperm responds to lifestyle on a roughly three-month cycle, so a single reading cannot tell you whether things are improving.
This is where LOAD differs structurally: the test feeds an app that tracks a 0-100 Sperm Health Score daily, so retests recalibrate a trend line rather than producing another isolated snapshot. The Sperm Health Score is a wellness metric, not a diagnostic.
Where LOAD fits: tracking, not snapshots
Every product above answers “what are my numbers today?” LOAD is built for a different question: “are my numbers improving?” The app combines at-home test results with daily lifestyle data into the Sperm Health Score — a 0-100 composite that updates over time, so a retest recalibrates a trend line instead of producing another isolated snapshot.
The score is a wellness metric, not a diagnostic — it does not replace a clinical semen analysis, and it does not diagnose or rule out any condition.
Which should you choose?
- YO: Choose YO if you want an FDA-cleared, one-off motility check in the US with results in minutes.
- ExSeed: Choose ExSeed if you are in the UK/EU and want a CE-marked device test with concentration and motility from home.
- Legacy: Choose Legacy if you want lab-grade analysis of the full parameter panel plus the option to freeze and store sperm.
- Fellow: Choose Fellow if you want a mail-in lab analysis and are comparing lab options on price and turnaround.
- LOAD: Choose LOAD if you want to track sperm health over time — an at-home test plus a daily 0-100 score that shows whether lifestyle changes are working.
Getting started
If you choose LOAD: download the app to start tracking from day one — the Sperm Health Score begins with your lifestyle data, and adding an at-home test kit anchors it to measured results. Retesting every 2-3 months matches the sperm regeneration cycle.
Frequently asked questions
Are at-home sperm tests accurate?
It depends on the test and the claim. FDA-cleared and CE-marked device tests have demonstrated accuracy for the specific parameters they measure; mail-in kits analysed in certified labs report the full panel to lab standards. No at-home test replaces a clinical semen analysis, and results should be discussed with a clinician if you have fertility concerns.
What does an at-home sperm test measure?
It varies widely: some report only motile sperm concentration, others add concentration and motility, and mail-in lab kits report concentration, motility, morphology and volume. Check the parameter list before buying — it is the biggest practical difference between products.
How often should I test my sperm?
Sperm regenerates on a roughly 70-90 day cycle, and parameters fluctuate between samples, so a single test is a snapshot. If you are tracking improvement, retesting every 2-3 months is a sensible cadence.
Is an at-home sperm test a substitute for a fertility clinic?
No. At-home tests are screening and tracking tools. If you have been trying to conceive without success or have concerns about your fertility, see a qualified clinician for a full evaluation.
Sources
- WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, 6th ed. (2021)
- LOAD — official site (facts accessed 2026-07-12)
- ExSeed — official site (facts accessed 2026-07-12)
- YO — official site (facts accessed 2026-07-12)
- Legacy — official site (facts accessed 2026-07-12)
- Fellow — official site (facts accessed 2026-07-12)
How this page was produced, sourced, and updated is described on our science page. Facts about compared products come from each brand's own published materials and are re-verified quarterly.