How long is the waiting list for ZOE?

November 18, 2025 •

5 min read

As of May 2025, a UK-based report indicated the typical waiting list for ZOE membership was between one and two months. While past wait times have fluctuated significantly, recent data suggests a more consistent, though still present, queue for the personalised nutrition program. This waiting period can be influenced by various factors, including regional availability and surges in new member sign-ups.

Quick Summary

The ZOE personalised nutrition program typically has a waiting period of one to two months before a test kit is dispatched. After signing up online and joining the queue, members receive their test kit, complete the tests, and wait for their results. The program uses biological data to provide personalised food insights.

Key Points

Current Wait Time: As of 2025, the typical waiting list for the ZOE personalised nutrition program is one to two months, though this can fluctuate with demand.
Signing Up: To join the waitlist, you must sign up on the official ZOE website, after which you'll receive an invitation to purchase the test kit and membership.
Onboarding Process: The full process involves waiting for an invitation, receiving the test kit, completing the at-home tests, and waiting for lab results, which can take several weeks.
Waitlist Fluctuations: Past waitlist sizes have been much larger (over 200,000) during periods of high publicity, demonstrating that demand heavily influences the queue length.
Preparation During the Wait: While on the list, you can use the free ZOE app features, listen to their educational content, and prepare your health information.
Eligibility and Location: Waiting times can vary by region due to different operational logistics and eligibility requirements, particularly for US-based participants.
Purpose of the Waitlist: The queue is in place to manage the logistics of manufacturing, shipping, and analysing the test kits, ensuring a quality experience for new members.

The ZOE personalised nutrition program has seen fluctuating waiting list lengths since its UK launch in 2022, but recent reports from 2025 indicate a typical waiting period of one to two months. In the past, the waiting list has reportedly swollen to over 200,000 people, particularly during initial launches and viral moments. The length of your wait can depend on several factors, including current demand and where you live, as eligibility and access can vary by region. To join, prospective members sign up on the official ZOE website, secure their spot in the queue, and are later invited to purchase the test kit and membership. The process is designed to manage demand for the comprehensive at-home test kits.

The ZOE Membership Onboarding Process

Once a prospective member signs up on the ZOE website and joins the queue, the onboarding process unfolds in several distinct stages:

Waitlist: The initial period where you are in the queue for an invitation. Based on 2025 information, this is typically a one- to two-month wait.
Kit Invitation & Purchase: After your wait, you'll receive an email invitation to purchase the test kit and your initial membership. The kit is a one-time purchase, while membership is a recurring subscription.
Kit Delivery: The physical test kit, which includes materials for a gut microbiome test, blood fat test, and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), is delivered to your home.
Testing Phase: You engage in a multi-day testing period, which includes wearing the CGM, eating specific test cookies, providing a stool sample, and conducting a finger-prick blood test.
Lab Analysis & Results: After sending your samples back, the ZOE labs analyse your biological data. This phase typically takes several weeks before personalised results are ready.
Personalised Insights: Your results are delivered via the ZOE app, providing you with personalised food scores and insights into how your body responds to fat, sugar, and various foods.

Factors Influencing the ZOE Waitlist

The length of the waitlist is not static and is affected by multiple operational and market factors:

Regional Availability: ZOE operates in specific regions, and eligibility criteria can differ. US-based users, for example, have specific conditions they must meet, which can affect the local queue.
Manufacturing and Logistics: The production and shipping of test kits, including the continuous glucose monitors, are critical for managing the flow of new members. Peaks in demand can strain these resources and increase wait times.
Marketing Campaigns and Publicity: Mentions on popular podcasts, social media trends, or news stories can cause a sudden and large influx of sign-ups, significantly increasing the waitlist size. This phenomenon has led to previous reports of much longer queues.
Ongoing Research Commitments: ZOE’s program is built on and contributes to scientific research. Managing the flow of new participants ensures that the studies and data collection remain robust and manageable for their team.
Product Updates: As seen with the September 2025 update, new versions of the app and test kits can create shifts in the onboarding process, which can temporarily affect the queue length.

What to do While on the ZOE Waitlist

While waiting for your invitation, there are several things you can do to prepare for the program:

Use the Free App Features: ZOE offers a free version of its app with an AI-powered food scanner and tracker. While it doesn't provide personalised scores without the test, it can help you get into the habit of logging your food intake.
Engage with ZOE's Content: ZOE produces extensive free educational content through its blog and podcast. Listening to these can provide valuable background information and insight into the scientific principles behind the program.
Read the FAQs: Reviewing the comprehensive FAQ section on the ZOE website will help you understand the full program, eligibility requirements, and potential limitations.
Organise Your Health Data: Consider gathering relevant information about your health history, medical conditions, and nutritional goals. This will make it easier to complete the initial setup questions once your kit arrives.

ZOE vs. Traditional Nutrition Services


Feature	ZOE Personalized Nutrition Program	Traditional Dietitian/Nutritionist
Personalisation Method	Uses at-home gut microbiome, blood fat, and blood sugar tests to generate personalised food scores via an app.	Conducts one-on-one consultations, reviews medical history, eating habits, and lifestyle to create a plan.
Core Approach	Science-backed, biological-based program focused on metabolic health and gut health.	Often focuses on habit formation, behavioural changes, and a holistic view of the individual.
Support	Primarily app-based with access to a team of nutrition coaches and AI-powered advice.	Involves direct, personalised, and ongoing support from a specific human professional.
Time-to-Start	Typically involves a waitlist, followed by a multi-week testing period.	Can often start much sooner, depending on professional availability.
Food Tracking	Required to track and weigh food intake to get accurate feedback and scores.	May or may not require food tracking, focusing instead on mindfulness or other methods.
Focus	Primarily on metabolic response and gut health, not explicitly marketed for weight loss.	Can be targeted towards specific goals like weight loss, disease management, or athletic performance.

Conclusion

The waitlist for ZOE, while significantly shorter than during its initial launch hype, is still an inherent part of the onboarding process, with recent estimates suggesting a wait of one to two months. This queue is a necessary step to manage the logistics of sending out specialised test kits and ensuring a manageable flow of new members for the scientific-based program. The waitlist allows ZOE to deliver its comprehensive, at-home testing and personalised nutrition advice efficiently to new subscribers. While waiting, prospective members can use the free app features and consume ZOE’s educational content to begin their journey towards better nutritional understanding. Ultimately, the wait time is a small part of a larger process that involves at-home testing, lab analysis, and ongoing app-based support. For the most current information and to join the waitlist, interested individuals should visit the official ZOE website.

Why is there a waiting list for ZOE? The demand for the personalised nutrition program often outstrips the supply of its specialised test kits and the capacity to process them, leading to a managed queue.

How can I bypass the ZOE waiting list? It is not possible to bypass the official waiting list. The process is managed by ZOE to ensure a smooth onboarding and testing experience for all members.

What is included in the ZOE test kit? The kit includes a continuous glucose monitor, materials for a finger-prick blood test, a stool sample collection kit, and specific test cookies or muffins.

How long does it take to get my results from ZOE? After sending your samples back to the lab, you can expect to wait several weeks for your personalised results to be available in the app.

Is the ZOE waiting list longer in the US than in the UK? Waitlist times can vary by region. For example, specific criteria for US-based clinical study participation may influence the local queue.

How do I sign up for the ZOE waiting list? You can sign up for the waiting list directly on the official ZOE website by navigating to the sign-up section and providing your information.

Do I need to be in a study to get the blood sugar sensor? Yes, to get the continuous blood sugar sensor included with your test kit, you must consent to participate in ZOE's clinical study.

Does the ZOE program work for weight loss? While some users experience weight loss, the program is focused on metabolic health and gut health, not explicitly marketed as a weight loss diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

To join the ZOE waiting list, you must go to the official ZOE website and provide your email address to register your interest. You will then receive an email inviting you to purchase the test kit when it is your turn.

Yes, new members are generally added to a queue after signing up on the website. This allows ZOE to manage the demand for its test kits and lab analysis services efficiently.

During initial launches and periods of high media attention, the waiting list has reportedly grown to over 200,000 members, creating much longer wait times than those reported in 2025.

Yes, you can download the free ZOE app and use some of its basic features, like the food scanner and tracker. However, personalised scores are only available after completing the test kit.

Yes, wait times and specific eligibility criteria can differ between regions. For example, participants in the US must meet specific conditions to receive a continuous glucose monitor as part of a clinical study.

After receiving your invitation, you purchase the test kit and membership. You then receive the kit, complete the tests over a specific period, and send your samples back to the lab for analysis.

Yes, your location can affect the waiting time due to variations in demand, operational logistics, and specific program availability in different countries or regions.

The exceptionally long waitlists in the past were often driven by intense public interest and media coverage, which created a surge in sign-ups that outpaced the company's capacity to fulfil test kit orders.