Abbott
FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus
As of August 2026 we track 8 continuous glucose monitors available here, and the cheapest one you can buy without a prescription is the FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus at about £103.98 a month.
Specifications
| Wear time | 15 days |
|---|---|
| Warm-up | 60 minutes |
| Accuracy (MARD) | Not published |
| Readings | every 1 min |
| Alarms | Yes |
| Prescription | Not required |
What does the accuracy figure mean?
MARD is the average gap between what the sensor says and what a laboratory blood test says, as a percentage. A 10% MARD means readings are off by about 10% on average — so a true 7.0 mmol/L might show as anywhere around 6.3 to 7.7. Lower is better. Most current sensors sit under 10%; twenty years ago they were over 20%. No sensor is exact, which is why treatment decisions still get confirmed with a fingerstick when a reading does not match how you feel.
Pricing
£69.99
to try · 15 days
£1,703.09
per year
- per sensor · 15 days
- £69.99
- per month
- £139.98
The least you can spend to wear one sensor for its full life. For subscription products it is one month, because you cannot buy less.
Estimated from the sensor price and its wear time, assuming continuous use.
Prices last checked: 2026-08-05
What works well
- Fifteen days of wear per sensor, the longest of the mainstream medical sensors
- Continuous minute-by-minute readings with no scanning
- Optional high and low glucose alarms, usable up to about ten metres from the phone
What to watch out for
- Buying privately in the UK costs meaningfully more than the NHS route if you qualify for funding
- Abbott has not published a separate accuracy study for the Plus sensor
Our verdict
The most convenient of the Abbott sensors, and the longest wear time you can currently buy. If you qualify for NHS funding, get it that way — the private price is roughly £140 a month.
Read next
- CGM accuracy: what MARD means, and what it hides
MARD is the average gap between a sensor and a laboratory blood test. It is the standard accuracy figure, it is genuinely useful, and it is routinely compared between studies that cannot be compared.
Common questions
- Do you need a prescription for the FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus in the UK?
- Not to buy it privately — UK pharmacies sell it over the counter. You do need an NHS prescription to get it funded, which requires meeting the NICE eligibility criteria.
- How long does a FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor last?
- Up to 15 days, compared with 14 days for the original Libre 3 sensor.