Function Health Review and Alternative – The Rise of Blood Testing and the Longevity Movement

Over the past few years, we’ve seen an explosion in direct-to-consumer blood testing and longevity-focused health services. More people want visibility into what’s happening inside their bodies instead of relying solely on a once-a-year physical that often says very little.

Function Health has clearly emerged as one of the leaders in this space.

Based on what we’ve seen, they’ve built a loyal audience by offering unusually comprehensive testing paired with a strong functional medicine philosophy. For people who want more insight than traditional healthcare typically provides, it’s easy to see the appeal.

That said, after spending time evaluating the platform and the broader landscape, we also came across Outlive Biology, which stood out as a compelling alternative.

Before diving in, here’s the quick takeaway.

Quick Takeaway

Function Health offers one of the most comprehensive lab testing experiences currently available. However, after comparing platforms, we found Outlive Biology to be a very interesting alternative.

It delivers a more streamlined experience, clearer prioritization, and additional capabilities like integrated wearables, coaching, genetic insights, and access pathways for metabolic support including GLP-1s. For many people, that balance may feel more practical.

Key Takeaways From Our Experience

✓ Function Health offers over 100 advanced lab tests for $499 per year, with additional services priced separately
✓ The process begins with blood draws at Quest Diagnostics locations
✓ Follow-up testing is typically scheduled at 3 or 6 month intervals
✓ Users receive clinician summaries and personalized action plans
✓ Founded in 2022 by Dr. Mark Hyman and Jonathan Swerdlin
✓ The platform is built around functional and preventive medicine principles
✓ We found the volume of data impressive but sometimes overwhelming
✓ Outlive Biology stood out as a more focused and integrated alternative

What Is Function Health and Who Is It For?

Function Health is a subscription-based preventative testing platform designed to give people deeper access to their health data. Founded by Dr. Mark Hyman and Jonathan Swerdlin, the company applies functional medicine principles to large-scale lab testing.

From what we observed, their core idea is straightforward. Test more markers, detect issues earlier, and give people access to data that typically stays locked inside medical systems.

Function Health runs over 100 biomarkers annually, spanning cardiovascular health, metabolic function, hormones, inflammation, nutrients, thyroid health, and autoimmune indicators. We think this approach will strongly appeal to people who enjoy data, health optimization, and proactive decision-making.

The Testing Process

Testing is handled through Quest Diagnostics, with more than 2,000 locations nationwide. From a logistics standpoint, we think this is one of Function Health’s biggest strengths.

The complete panel requires two blood draws within roughly ten days. Across both visits, around ten vials of blood are collected each time. Results generally appear in the dashboard within 7 to 10 business days, followed by a clinician summary a couple of weeks later.

We found the portal itself intuitive and well-designed. Results are color-coded, trends are easy to visualize, and each biomarker includes a short explanation of why it matters. There is also a safeguard in place where a physician will call if anything urgent appears, which we see as a reassuring touch.

What We Liked About Function Health

1. Comprehensive Testing Coverage

The breadth of markers is genuinely impressive. Compared to a standard annual physical, this level of testing is in a completely different category. Cardiovascular risk markers, full thyroid panels, inflammation indicators, hormones, nutrients, and metabolic markers are all included.

2. Thoughtful Clinician Context

Rather than simply presenting raw data, Function Health provides written clinician notes that connect patterns across biomarkers. We appreciated that recommendations covered diet, supplements with specific dosing, and lifestyle habits rather than generic advice.

3. Convenience and Accessibility

Scheduling labs, accessing results, and managing reports all felt smooth. Reports are easy to download and share, and the nationwide Quest network removes a lot of friction.

4. Trend Tracking Over Time

We think the longitudinal tracking features are one of the most useful aspects of the platform. Seeing markers plotted across time makes it easier to understand whether changes are meaningful or just noise.

Where Function Health Felt Less Complete

Cost Can Escalate Quickly

While the advertised membership price is $499 per year, we found that many commonly requested tests are not included. Cancer screenings, advanced brain health testing, allergy panels, and expanded hormone testing can significantly increase annual costs, often well beyond $2,000.

Data Without Clear Hierarchy

Testing this many markers creates a challenge. We felt it was not always obvious which results deserved immediate attention versus which could be observed over time. Borderline results may create unnecessary concern, especially without ongoing guidance.

Limited Daily Health Integration

Function Health focuses almost entirely on labs. There is no integration with wearable data, sleep, training, recovery, or stress metrics. For people thinking about health as a daily practice, we think this context matters.

No Built-In Coaching or Accountability

After reviewing the recommendations, we noticed there is little structure to support follow-through. Without coaching or prioritization, turning insights into long-term habits requires a high level of self-direction.

Why We Started Looking at Alternatives

After evaluating Function Health in depth, we came to the conclusion that more data does not always lead to better outcomes. While the platform excels at measurement, we felt the path from insight to consistent action could be clearer.

That search led us to Outlive Biology.

Why Outlive Biology Stood Out

Outlive Biology takes a more selective approach to testing, focusing on the biomarkers most closely tied to longevity, metabolic health, and long-term improvement. We think this “less but better” philosophy makes the results easier to act on.

What stood out most to us was how integrated the experience feels. Lab results are paired with wearable data, lifestyle habits, and coaching feedback, providing a clearer picture of what is actually moving the needle.

What We Think Outlive Biology Does Better

• A focused testing strategy built around outcomes rather than volume
• Integration with Apple Watch, Oura, Fitbit, and other wearables
• Ongoing coaching instead of one-time recommendations
• Clear prioritization of the highest-impact actions
• More transparent pricing with fewer unexpected add-ons
• Faster turnaround on insights
• Support for metabolic optimization, including structured pathways around GLP-1-style interventions where appropriate

Instead of handing users dozens of suggested changes, Outlive Biology typically prioritizes a short list of actions. We think that alone makes long-term adherence much more realistic.

Final Thoughts

We think Function Health plays an important role in shifting healthcare toward prevention and early detection. Few platforms offer this level of lab access at scale, and that alone makes it noteworthy.

At the same time, after comparing platforms, we found Outlive Biology to feel more practical for people who want guidance, integration, and clarity rather than just more numbers.

Both services aim at the same end goal. They simply take different approaches, and depending on what someone values most, one may fit better than the other.