HomeCompareCircle Medical vs Paloma Health

Circle Medical vs Paloma Health: Which Is Better?

Head-to-head comparison of Circle Medical and Paloma Health based on our independent scoring across trust, value, experience, product range, and reputation — plus real pricing for the treatments they both offer.

Our Verdict

Circle Medical scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (60.2/100 vs 57.7/100), leading on trust & safety, product range, reputation. Paloma Health comes out ahead on value.

Circle Medical is a UCSF Health-affiliated video primary care practice with a large ADHD, anxiety, and depression practice, offering same-day visits and medication management including stimulants where permitted.

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A niche telehealth brand built specifically around hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's care, pairing at-home lab testing with endocrinology-informed treatment.

Visit Paloma Health

Score Breakdown

DimensionCircle MedicalPaloma Health
Overall Score60.2/10057.7/100
Trust & Safety30%62/10058/100
Value25%55/10062/100
Experience20%55/10055/100
Product Range15%72/10055/100
Reputation10%60/10055/100

At a Glance

Founded20152018
HeadquartersSan Francisco, CANew York, NY
Publicly tradedNoNo
Treatment categories22
Treatments listed23
Starting price$0/mo$20/mo

Pricing Where They Compete

Prices shown are based on our most recent research and may not reflect current pricing. Telehealth providers update their pricing frequently. Always verify pricing directly with the provider before purchasing.

CategoryCircle MedicalPaloma Health
Primary CareFree–$120
Primary Care Video Visit
$75–$99
At-Home Thyroid Test Kit

Circle Medical

+UCSF Health affiliation lends institutional credibility to its primary care and mental health practice
+Same-day video visits with flat $120 self-pay pricing when insurance isn't used
+Handles complex ongoing care (ADHD stimulant management, hormone therapy, weight care) that many async competitors avoid
Prescribes Schedule II-V controlled substances via telehealth, which depends on DEA telemedicine flexibilities currently extended only through 2026-12-31 — a future rule change could disrupt care continuity
Trustpilot rating (3.6 stars) is weak for the category, with roughly 30% one-star reviews concentrated on billing: incorrect insurance charges, no-show fees, and refund difficulty
Support access is largely limited to chat/bot channels, which reviewers say makes billing disputes slow to resolve
Read the full Circle Medical review →

Paloma Health

+Narrow clinical focus on hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's with endocrinologist-informed care teams and integrated at-home lab testing, nutritionist visits, and medication management in one program.
+Transparent flat membership pricing ($20/mo billed $240/yr) that bundles two test kits and two visits per year.
+One of the only brands to specialize specifically in DTC thyroid care rather than treating it as one line item among many.
Trustpilot rating is weak (2.6/5, though based on a very small sample of 4 reviews) with recurring complaints of care that didn't match advertised 'integrative'/'holistic' positioning.
At least one reported case of a patient with clearly abnormal labs (TSH of 58) alleging the prescribing clinician disregarded their reported symptoms before prescribing a medication that caused adverse reactions — a serious quality-of-care concern for a specialty-clinical brand.
Reviewers report membership fees and per-visit charges stacking in ways that felt like hidden costs.
Read the full Paloma Health review →

Circle Medical vs Paloma Health — FAQ

Is Circle Medical better than Paloma Health?

Circle Medical scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (60.2/100 vs 57.7/100), leading on trust & safety, product range, reputation. Paloma Health comes out ahead on value.

Is Circle Medical or Paloma Health cheaper?

Circle Medical has the lower starting price (from $0/mo vs $20/mo for Paloma Health). Starting prices are for the cheapest treatment each offers — compare the specific treatment you need, and check what each price includes.

What do Circle Medical and Paloma Health both offer?

Both platforms treat Primary Care. Circle Medical covers 2 treatment categories total and Paloma Health covers 2.

Still deciding?