Empirical Health vs Function Health
Empirical Health is cheaper to start ($190 vs $365 per year, lowest published plans). Function Health scores higher overall (9.0 vs 8.6).
By Julian Caraulani · prices checked
Quick verdict
Our pick between the two: Function Health
Function Health scores 9.0/10 against 8.6 for Empirical Health, ahead on access and reputation. Empirical Health can still be the better fit: it is best for heart-focused testers who want ApoB and Lp(a) with a doctor-written report for one payment.
Side by side
| Empirical Health | Function Health | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | $190/yr (one-time payment) | $365/yr (yearly membership, auto-renews) |
| Our score | 8.6/10 | 9.0/10 |
| Treatments | Longevity memberships | Longevity memberships |
| Medication in price | Not stated | Not stated |
| Drugs dispensed | Not stated | Not stated |
| Labs | Not stated | Not stated |
| Membership | Not stated | Not stated |
| Insurance | No; self-pay | No; self-pay |
| States | Not confirmed: no state list found on its own site (2026-10-31) | 48 states (not RI, HI), per its own site (2026-10-31) |
| Cancellation | $190 panel is a one-time payment. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled before period end by contacting Empirical; account closes at end of billing period. Refund policy for the panel not found. | Cancel and rejoin anytime; no pauses; no refunds for prior payments; auto-renews annually at then-current price. |
| FDA warning letters | None found (October 31, 2026) | None found (October 31, 2026) |
| Trustpilot | 3.5/5 (3 reviews) | 4.5/5 (3,102 reviews) |
| Best for | Heart-focused testers who want ApoB and Lp(a) with a doctor-written report for one payment. | People who want the widest yearly panel, retested twice, in one membership. |
| Prices checked | 2026-10-31 | 2026-10-31 |
Price by treatment
The lowest all-in plan each publishes for the treatments both offer, with the page we read it on.
| Treatment | Empirical Health | Function Health |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity memberships | $190/yr (one-time payment) source, 2026-10-31 | $365/yr (yearly membership, auto-renews) source, 2026-10-31 |
Empirical Health: a closer look
Heart-focused panel of 100+ items at Quest or BioReference, with a physician-interpreted report. We searched the FDA warning-letter database on October 31, 2026 and found no letter naming Empirical Health.
In its favour
- One-time payment, no auto-renewing membership for the panel
- ApoB and Lp(a) included
- Publishes its NY and NJ price
To weigh
- Doctor video visit and care plan only in the $399 program; the $190 panel gets a physician-interpreted report.
- Biomarker count includes calculated ratios and risk scores.
- Medical services in 'over 30 states' with no published exclusion list.
- Only 3 Trustpilot reviews; little independent feedback.
Function Health: a closer look
Yearly membership: 100+ markers at Quest, a mid-year retest and a clinician summary. We searched the FDA warning-letter database on October 31, 2026 and found no letter naming Function Health.
In its favour
- Measures ApoB, Lp(a), fasting insulin, omega-3 and heavy metals in the base price
- Two draws a year included
- Clinicians review every result
To weigh
- No refunds for prior payments, and membership auto-renews at the then-current price.
- '160+ lab tests' counts the mid-year retest; the annual draw is 100+.
- NY/NJ residents can be billed lab fees on top of the membership, amount not disclosed upfront.
- Not available in Rhode Island, Hawaii or Puerto Rico.
Which should you choose?
Choose Empirical Health
Best for heart-focused testers who want ApoB and Lp(a) with a doctor-written report for one payment. Its lowest all-in plan is $190/yr (one-time payment).
Check Empirical Health's priceChoose Function Health
Best for people who want the widest yearly panel, retested twice, in one membership. Its lowest all-in plan is $365/yr (yearly membership, auto-renews).
Check Function Health's priceEmpirical Health vs Function Health: questions people ask
Is Empirical Health or Function Health cheaper?
Empirical Health starts lower at $190 per year versus $365 at Function Health, comparing each program's lowest all-in plan.
Which is better, Empirical Health or Function Health?
On our published score Empirical Health rates 8.6 and Function Health rates 9.0. Empirical Health is best for heart-focused testers who want ApoB and Lp(a) with a doctor-written report for one payment; Function Health is best for people who want the widest yearly panel, retested twice, in one membership.
Do Empirical Health and Function Health offer the same treatments?
Empirical Health: Longevity memberships. Function Health: Longevity memberships.
Does either include the medication in the price?
Empirical Health: not stated. Function Health: not stated.
Blood Test Watchdog compares testing services. It is not medical advice, does not interpret results and does not publish reference ranges as advice. Talk to a licensed clinician about which tests you need and what your results mean. Partner links may earn us a commission; our score never depends on it. Compare other programs.