Hume Body Pod vs Withings Body Scan: Which Is Better?

Hume Body Pod vs Withings Body Scan: the Hume Pod is the cheaper body composition scale and, as of mid-2026, the one with an independent lab study behind it. The Withings Body Scan costs more but adds an FDA-cleared 6-lead ECG and Wi-Fi syncing. Both are smart scales with a pull-out handle that estimate body fat, muscle and water for your whole body using bioelectrical impedance (BIA). Neither replaces a DEXA scan, a doctor’s visit or medical testing.

We haven’t tested either scale ourselves. This comparison is based on each brand’s product pages, specs, help-center articles and accuracy reports, an FDA database record, and an independent research preprint, all checked on October 21, 2026. Prices change often, so confirm before you buy.

Quick verdict

• Pick the Hume Body Pod if you mainly want to track body fat and muscle trends at a lower price ($366 list on Hume’s site), you want a free app with up to 24 users, and you value an independent university study of the device.
• Pick the Withings Body Scan if you also want heart features: an FDA-cleared 6-lead ECG that can detect atrial fibrillation, plus vascular age and an electrodermal activity score. It also syncs over Wi-Fi and comes with a 2-year guarantee. It lists at $499.95.
• Either way: use the numbers to follow trends over weeks, not to diagnose anything. Weigh in at the same time of day and under the same conditions.

See the Hume Body Pod

Hume vs Withings at a glance

What each one measures

Hume Body Pod: you stand barefoot on the platform and hold the handle at about waist height while the scale reads your torso, arms and legs. Hume says the Pod reports 45 metrics, including body fat, visceral fat, muscle mass, body water, bone mass and metabolic age, plus heart rate and body symmetry. Hume describes the sensors as “8-frequency,” though its spec list also says “dual-frequency body fat scale,” so the published hardware description isn’t consistent.

Withings Body Scan: it also uses a retractable handle, for 8 electrodes in total, and multi-frequency BIA up to 250 kHz, according to Withings. It splits muscle and fat into five body zones and adds a 6-lead ECG, vascular age and an electrodermal activity score. Withings says the electrodermal score is a wellness indicator and isn’t meant to diagnose anything. Withings also offers Athlete, Pregnancy, Baby and Eyes Closed modes.

Accuracy vs DEXA (what the studies say)

Both brands compare themselves to DEXA, the X-ray scan clinics use for body composition. Here’s what each source actually shows.

Withings (internal study): Withings says a 2025 internal study with the sports-health center Mon Stade tested 80 participants, each scanned by DEXA and then measured three times on Body Scan. It reports correlations of r=0.99 for total fat mass, 0.98 for muscle mass and 0.95 for water mass. Withings itself notes that a 99% correlation “does not mean that a single body fat measurement taken with Body Scan will be within ±1% of a DEXA measurement.” We didn’t find an independent, peer-reviewed validation of Body Scan.

Hume (manufacturer claims): Hume’s product page makes several different accuracy claims, including “98% DEXA accuracy,” “+/- 2% from a DEXA scan” and “within ±3% accuracy” in a study by Socotech, and “within 0.2% for body fat percentage.” These numbers don’t agree with one another, so treat them with caution.

Hume (independent preprint): in July 2026, researchers at Texas Tech University’s Energy Balance & Body Composition Laboratory posted a study of 67 adults that compared the Hume Pod with a four-compartment (4C) reference model and with DXA. The researchers bought the Pod online and report no funding from Hume. Their key findings:

• Against the 4C model, Hume’s body fat percentage was statistically equivalent, with an average absolute error of 2.6 percentage points and 95% limits of agreement of ±6.1 points.
• Against DXA, Hume read lower (27.1% vs 28.9% body fat on average), with an average absolute error of 3.0 points. Body fat estimates were not statistically equivalent to DXA.
• Repeat readings taken about 10 minutes apart were very consistent, with a technical error of 0.8 percentage points for body fat.

The study is a preprint and hasn’t been peer reviewed yet. It tested generally healthy adults under fasted lab conditions, which is stricter than a typical morning weigh-in at home. Per-person error of several percentage points is normal for BIA, so focus on trends rather than any single reading.

App, subscription and data

Hume: the Hume Health app is free and shows all 45 metrics over time. An optional premium tier costs $9.99 a month and adds a nutrition plan and tracker, coaching and a weekly full-body health report. Hume says there’s no commitment and you can cancel anytime. The app syncs with Apple Health and Google Health Connect, and Hume lists Fitbit and Garmin. The Pod connects by Bluetooth, which Hume says pairs with one phone at a time.

Withings: the Withings app’s baseline data is free. Withings+ costs $9.95 a month or $99.50 a year after a one-month free trial included with purchases from the Withings store. It renews automatically unless you cancel in the app. Withings+ adds health scores, an AI health assistant and cardiologist review of ECGs (four included). Body Scan syncs over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and can store up to 16 weigh-ins offline.

Price

• Hume Body Pod: $366 on Hume’s Body Pod page on October 21, 2026. Hume runs frequent promotions, and lower prices appeared elsewhere on its site. Hume lists free shipping, a 1-year warranty, an optional 10-year warranty ($46 at the time we checked) and HSA/FSA eligibility. Returns are accepted within 45 days in like-new condition, and you pay return shipping unless the unit is confirmed defective.
• Withings Body Scan: $499.95, HSA/FSA eligible, with free shipping and returns and a 2-year quality guarantee, per Withings. Withings also now lists a newer BodyScan 2 ($599.95) and a lower-cost BodyFit segmental scale ($279.95). We haven’t compared those here.

Our full Hume Health review covers the Pod, the Hume Band and the app in more detail.

Who each suits

The Hume Body Pod suits you if…

• your main goal is tracking fat loss or muscle gain over time
• you want the lower price and a free app that shows every metric
• several people in your home will use it (up to 24)
• independent validation matters to you, even from a preprint

The Withings Body Scan suits you if…

• you want an FDA-cleared ECG and heart-health features in the same device
• you prefer Wi-Fi syncing that doesn’t need your phone nearby
• you want a longer standard warranty (2 years)
• you’re comfortable paying more up front

Safety note: BIA scales send a small electrical current through your body. Hume’s own FAQ gives mixed guidance for people with pacemakers or other implanted cardiac devices, so if you have one, ask your cardiologist and read the manufacturer’s safety instructions before using either scale. Body composition readings are estimates. They’re not a diagnosis and not a substitute for medical care.

Shop the Hume Body Pod · View Withings Body Scan on withings.com

Frequently asked questions

Is Hume or Withings more accurate?

There’s no head-to-head study. An independent July 2026 preprint found the Hume Pod’s body fat readings statistically equivalent to a four-compartment lab model in 67 adults, but lower than DXA by about 1.8 points on average. Withings reports r=0.99 against DEXA for fat mass in its own 80-person study, which hasn’t been independently validated.

Do I need a subscription for the Hume Body Pod or Withings Body Scan?

No. Both apps show your core measurements for free. Hume’s premium tier is $9.99 a month, and Withings+ is $9.95 a month or $99.50 a year after a one-month free trial. The Withings trial renews automatically unless you cancel in the app.

Is the Withings Body Scan FDA-cleared?

Its ECG is. The FDA’s 510(k) database lists “Withings Scan Monitor 2.0” (K230812), an electrocardiograph cleared August 23, 2023. That clearance covers the ECG feature, not the body composition estimates. Hume’s pages that we read don’t claim FDA clearance for the Pod.

Can a smart scale replace a DEXA scan?

No. Both brands compare their scales with DEXA, but BIA readings can vary by several percentage points for an individual and are affected by hydration, meals and exercise. Smart scales are best for following trends at home. DEXA and your doctor remain the reference for clinical decisions.

How many people can use each scale?

Hume says the Body Pod supports up to 24 users, each with their own Hume account, though it connects to one phone at a time. Withings says Body Scan automatically recognizes up to 8 users.

Sources

All pages accessed October 21, 2026 (PKT).

• Hume Health, “The Hume Pod | At-Home Body Composition Scale” (price, specs, accuracy claims, app, warranty, returns): humehealth.com
• Tinsley GM, et al., “Validity and Test-Retest Reliability of the Hume Pod Bioimpedance Analyzer for Body Composition Assessment,” medRxiv preprint, posted July 20, 2026: medrxiv.org
• Withings, Body Scan product page (price, specs, Withings+ terms): withings.com
• Withings, “Body Scan vs. DEXA scan: Withings’ connected scale shows 99% correlation” (updated Sept. 14, 2026): withings.com
• Withings Support, “Withings+ – Subscribing to Withings+”: support.withings.com
• Withings store listing (BodyScan 2 and BodyFit prices): withings.com
• U.S. FDA 510(k) database, K230812, Withings Scan Monitor 2.0: accessdata.fda.gov

Image credits: Featured image based on a photo by Annushka Ahuja (Pexels); in-article photos by SHVETS production and Alesia Kozik (Pexels). All used under the Pexels License. Generic photos, not Hume or Withings products.

Disclosure: SaveMoreBrands may earn a commission if you buy through some links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Withings links are not affiliate links. This doesn’t change how we compare products.