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Circle Medical vs PlushCare: Which Is Better?

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

Our Verdict

PlushCare scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (68.3/100 vs 60.2/100), leading on trust & safety, value, experience, reputation. Circle Medical comes out ahead on product range. Circle Medical has the lower entry price (from $0/mo vs $20/mo), so the better value depends on which treatment you need.

60

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.

Visit Circle Medical
68

PlushCare is a virtual primary-care membership service that layers weight-loss visits and branded GLP-1 prescriptions onto its core telehealth offering, rather than running a dedicated compounded-GLP-1 program.

Visit PlushCare

Score Breakdown

DimensionCircle MedicalPlushCare
Overall Score60.2/10068.3/100 ✓
Trust & Safety30%62/10078/100 ✓
Value25%55/10062/100 ✓
Experience20%55/10062/100 ✓
Product Range15%72/100 ✓65/100
Reputation10%60/10072/100 ✓

At a Glance

Founded20152014
HeadquartersSan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
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 MedicalPlushCare
Primary CareFree–$120
Primary Care Video Visit
$20–$129
PlushCare Membership + Weight-Loss Visit

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 →

PlushCare

+Low $19.99/mo membership with first month free, and insurance-eligible visits as low as a $30 copay
+Accepts major insurance plans (Aetna, Cigna, Humana), broader than most single-purpose GLP-1 telehealth startups
+Physician-led primary care model covers ongoing and chronic care beyond a single weight-loss funnel
−Branded GLP-1 medication (Zepbound, Wegovy) is billed separately at the pharmacy — without insurance coverage this can run roughly $1,000+/month, dwarfing the low membership fee
−No compounded GLP-1 option, so cash-pay patients without drug coverage face full retail brand pricing
−Trustpilot pattern of unexpected recurring membership charges and difficulty cancelling
Read the full PlushCare review →

Circle Medical vs PlushCare — FAQ

Is Circle Medical better than PlushCare?

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PlushCare scores higher overall in our independent evaluation (68.3/100 vs 60.2/100), leading on trust & safety, value, experience, reputation. Circle Medical comes out ahead on product range. Circle Medical has the lower entry price (from $0/mo vs $20/mo), so the better value depends on which treatment you need.

Is Circle Medical or PlushCare cheaper?

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Circle Medical has the lower starting price (from $0/mo vs $20/mo for PlushCare). 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 PlushCare both offer?

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

Still deciding?

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