Maximus vs. Marek Health
Marek Health sells lab work on its own. Maximus treats in more formats.
Maximus prescribes testosterone as a pill, a cream, or an injection, from $99.99/mo, with medication included. Fertility-friendly enclomiphene and hCG options come as part of the protocol, and panels run to 146 markers. Marek Health sells panels and visits separately, with no monthly plan and no published medication prices. Either way, it starts with a blood test.
What Maximus prescribes
Oral · Cream · Injection
- ✓Oral, topical, and injectable testosterone, plus fertility-friendly combinations
- ✓At-home testosterone test, 10 markers, $99.99, no lab visit
- ✓A board-certified U.S. physician sets the dose. Message them 24/7.
- ✓One monthly price with the medication included. No intake deposit, no lab minimum to clear first.
Lab-guided · Doctor-supervised
The three differences that matter
Where these two actually diverge
01
There is no membership to compare
Marek states it offers no set subscription plans. The published floor is a $299 intake deposit plus a required $450 minimum lab purchase, so $749 before any medication, and medication prices are not published. Maximus is $99.99/mo with the medication included.
02
Marek sells tests Maximus does not. It also takes far longer.
Marek panels run 80 to 130+ markers at $495 to $1,950, with 108 markers sellable individually. Every draw is in person at Quest, comprehensive results are quoted at 10 to 14+ days, and an in-person annual physical is required to start and to continue.
03
Who answers, and how fast
At Marek the day-to-day contact is a Health Coach, by email, weekdays 9 to 5 Eastern, and the coach cannot prescribe. A licensed provider changes the dose. At Maximus a board-certified physician can be messaged 24/7, and the physician changes the dose.
The short answer
One sells diagnostics. One sells a protocol.
Both are real options for the same symptom, and they are built for different buyers. The deciding question is whether the answer is testosterone at all.
Fit check
Choose Marek Health if…
- You want tests a testosterone clinic does not carry. Marek sells 108 individual markers separately, including androgen-receptor CAG-repeat testing, APOE, microbiome and heavy metals, and you can buy any of them without buying care.
- You want a provider with no reason to find you eligible. Marek sells labs and coaching rather than a subscription, and its own FAQ is unusually direct about ruling out thyroid, B12 and other causes first.
- You want lab work without buying care at all. A $150 essential panel, or a $9 lipid panel, with no membership attached. A bundled clinic cannot sell you that.
Fit check
Choose Maximus if…
- You want testosterone as a pill, a cream, or an injection. Marek publishes injections and cream only.
- You want to message a physician rather than email a coach. Marek routes day-to-day contact through a Health Coach, weekdays, 9 to 5 Eastern.
- You want to know the monthly price before starting. Marek publishes no medication prices at all.
By its own description, Marek is a platform that connects clients to independent providers, while Maximus prescribes and monitors directly. That one structural difference explains most of the rows below.
What each one costs
Marek prices per visit and per panel. There is no monthly plan.
A like-for-like table does not work here, and that is the Marek business model rather than a gap in the research. Marek says it plainly: “we don’t offer any set subscription plans and you can cancel whenever you want.”
There is no monthly Marek figure to set against a monthly Maximus figure, so the rows below compare only the numbers both companies actually publish.
| Maximus | Marek Health | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting cost* | $99.99/mo Enclomiphene or injectable testosterone, 12-month plan. Medication included. $149.99 or $109.99/mo Oral testosterone, or testosterone cream. |
$749 before any medication A $299 intake deposit plus the required $450 minimum lab purchase. Marek publishes no medication prices anywhere, so the figure above is a floor, not a total. |
| Lab cost | $99.99 one-time At-home testosterone test, 10 markers. $99.99, $199.99 or $349.99 Comprehensive panels of 73, 110 or 146 markers. |
$495 to $1,950 Named panels by tier. A 45-minute lab review is a $100 add-on rather than standard. 108 individual markers are also sold separately. |
| Billing term | 1, 3, 6 and 12-month plans Committed 3 and 6-month plans run the full term, and the remainder is not refundable. |
No recurring commitment Nothing renews, because nothing subscribes. All web sales are final and non-refundable. |
Maximus prices pulled from the Maximus prices API on August 3, 2026, unchanged from the July 31, 2026 pull. Marek prices as listed on marekhealth.com and marekdiagnostics.com on July 31, 2026.
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved for safety, efficacy, or quality.
*Billed monthly or by plan term. Full billing, availability, and cost terms are at the bottom of this page. HSA and FSA eligible.
The $749 figure is a floor, not a total. It adds two numbers Marek publishes on four of its own pages, and it stops before the first dose of medication. Follow-up labs at 6 to 12 weeks, and again every 6 months, are separate purchases on top of it.
What each one prescribes
Marek publishes two testosterone routes. Maximus publishes three.
| Maximus | Marek Health | |
|---|---|---|
| Injectable testosterone | ✓ Offered | ✓ Offered, described as the preferred route |
| Oral testosterone | ✓ Offered | — Not listed |
| Topical / cream | ✓ Offered | ✓ Offered |
| Troche | — Not listed | ? Unclear |
| Enclomiphene | ✓ Offered | ? Unclear, discussed in Marek editorial but not sold as a product |
| Clomiphene | — Not listed | ? Unclear |
| hCG | ✓ Offered | ✓ Offered |
| Anastrozole | — Not listed | ? Unclear, discussed in Marek editorial |
| Peptides | ✓ Offered | ✓ Offered, filled through 503A and 503B pharmacies |
Marks reflect what each site published on July 31, 2026.
Read this grid as what each site publishes. It is not a list of what each company will prescribe. Marek does not publish a formulary, and says why: “While we have an extensive catalog of prescription medications, we’re not here to write you a script and end the relationship.” For any named medication, it says to contact one of its health coaches. So a dash here means the item was not found on the site on July 31, 2026. It does not mean Marek declines to prescribe it.
How each one keeps track
Maximus panels go wider. Marek sells more kinds of test.
| Maximus | Marek Health | |
|---|---|---|
| Panel size | 10 markers at home 73, 110 or 146 in a comprehensive panel. |
80+, 100+ or 130+ by tier Plus 108 markers pickable individually, including androgen-receptor CAG-repeat testing at $500. |
| Collection | At-home collection from the upper arm No lab visit. Bloodwork from the last 6 months can be uploaded instead. |
In-person draw at Quest only No at-home kit, and Marek does not accept outside labwork. |
| Cadence | Baseline, then 4 weeks after a dose change Annual at minimum after that. |
Baseline before the first provider visit Follow-up at 6 to 12 weeks, then every 6 months. |
| Provider | Board-certified U.S. physicians A physician reviews the labs and writes the prescription. |
A Health Coach, plus a partnered licensed provider Coaches are listed without clinical credentials and cannot prescribe. The roster of providers carries MD, DO, DNP and PA-C. |
| Messaging and dose changes | Message a physician 24/7 The physician adjusts the dose. |
Email the coach, weekdays 9 to 5 Eastern Async only. The licensed provider, not the coach, adjusts the dose. |
Marek details as published on marekhealth.com on July 31, 2026.
Marek is direct about preferring the in-person draw: “Don’t let your care be informed by cheap at home tests.” That is a fair position, and for the specialised assays Marek sells it is the right one. Maximus runs venous panels too, at 110 or 146 markers. The at-home test does a different job again: 10 markers for $99.99, with no lab visit.
Coverage and fertility
Two things worth checking before you commit
Where each one is available
State availability changes as regulations, formularies, and company policy shift. Check with Marek and Maximus directly for current coverage in your state.
Fertility support
- Maximus runs a dedicated fertility-friendly protocol category: oral testosterone with enclomiphene, topical testosterone with enclomiphene, enclomiphene alone, and injectable testosterone with hCG.[3]
- Marek has a fertility page and offers hCG, which it calls “a staple fertility treatment.” It is honest on its own TRT page that testosterone can lower sperm production temporarily. No fertility protocol pricing is published.
Fertility preservation is not guaranteed. Injectable testosterone consistently suppresses sperm production without an enclomiphene or hCG adjunct.
Fit check
Who Marek Health is not for
01
Anyone who needs to know the cost before starting
$749 clears the intake and the lab minimum. After that, medication prices are not published on any Marek property, and the FAQ redirects the question to a health coach. The annual number is not knowable from the website.
02
Anyone who chose telehealth to avoid the waiting room
Marek requires a copy of an in-person annual physical, both to start treatment and to continue it. Every lab draw is at a Quest location, every six months, with no end date.
03
Anyone who needs a fast clinical answer
Contact is email only, weekdays 9 to 5 Eastern, with a coach between the client and the person who can change a dose. Comprehensive panel results are quoted at 10 to 14+ days.
Who is behind the care
Two different structures, and the difference is worth reading closely
Marek describes itself precisely. Its FAQ says: “Marek Health is not a healthcare clinic. We do not administer healthcare, nor do we prescribe treatments or medications.” It connects clients to independent providers instead.
That is a real structure rather than a dodge. The provider roster carries MD, DO, DNP and PA-C credentials, and Marek fills prescriptions through 503A and 503B pharmacies.
Maximus care is led by U.S. board-certified physicians. A physician reads the lab results, finalizes the prescription, and sets the dose. The Maximus site also states that it is one of the only direct-to-consumer telehealth companies that conducts and publishes its own peer-reviewed research.[5]
Measured deeply, or treated directly. Both are defensible. They are not the same purchase.
Bottom line: pick the clinic that carries the protocol you want
If the goal is a deep diagnostic picture and you are willing to pay per panel to get it, Marek is built for that. If the goal is testosterone in the format that fits your life, with fertility markers accounted for and one monthly price, that is what Maximus is built for. Either way, it starts with a blood test.
Enclomiphene
$99.99 to $199.99/mo*
Shop now →
Oral Testosterone
$149.99 to $249.99/mo*
Shop now →
Testosterone Cream
$109.99 to $209.99/mo*
Shop now →
Injectable Testosterone
$99.99 to $199.99/mo*
Shop now →
FAQ
Questions men ask when they are comparing clinics
Can a current Marek Health client switch to Maximus?
Yes. Maximus accepts bloodwork from the last 6 months showing total testosterone, SHBG or free testosterone, LH, PSA and hematocrit, uploaded during signup. Recent Marek panels typically cover all five.
Is a prescription transferred, or does it start over?
A Maximus physician sets the protocol and the dose from lab results and stated goals. It is a new prescription rather than a transfer.
Does insurance cover either one? What about HSA and FSA?
Neither is billed through insurance. Maximus is direct pay and its protocols are HSA and FSA eligible. Marek is cash pay with no CPT or ICD-10 codes and no letter of medical necessity, and accepts HSA and FSA through TrueMed at checkout.
Which states does each clinic serve?
State availability changes as regulations, formularies, and company policy shift for both companies. Check with Marek Health and Maximus directly for current coverage in your state.
What happens if the labs say testosterone therapy is not right for you?
A physician reviews the panel before prescribing anything. If testosterone therapy is not appropriate, the physician says so and discusses what else the markers point to. Marek is unusually direct about ruling out other causes first. Billing and cancellation terms are set out in full at the bottom of this page.
Why is there no monthly price for Marek Health in the table above?
Because Marek does not publish one. It states that it offers no set subscription plans, and every published Marek number is a one-time transaction.
Is Maximus testosterone compounded?
A licensed U.S. pharmacy compounds Oral Testosterone, Testosterone Cream, and Injectable Testosterone against your prescription.
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved for safety, efficacy, or quality.
Important safety information
Prescription testosterone requires a physician evaluation and ongoing lab monitoring. Reported effects across the class include acne or oily skin, libido changes, mood changes, fluid retention, elevated blood pressure, elevated hematocrit and hemoglobin, elevated PSA, testicular shrinkage, suppressed fertility, gynecomastia, and worsening of sleep apnea.
Serious risks include polycythemia or elevated hematocrit (CBC monitoring required), deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (rare), cardiovascular events in high-risk individuals, significant suppression of sperm production, and hypersensitivity reactions.
Read full safety information
Testosterone products carry a class-wide warning about increases in blood pressure, per FDA class-wide labeling changes announced February 28, 2025.[4]
Topical secondary exposure. Testosterone Cream can transfer to another person through skin contact. Wash your hands after applying it and cover the application site with clothing. The site can be washed after 2 hours. Keep children and pets away from the site.
Injection-specific. Injection site pain, swelling, or bruising. Hypersensitivity to the oil carrier is rare. Injectable testosterone is a controlled substance.
Review the Medication Guide for any FDA-approved testosterone product your physician prescribes. Full safety information: maximustribe.com/safety
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
References
This page compares two providers using each provider’s own published information, read on July 31, 2026. It is general information, not medical advice.
- 01Marek Health. Guided Optimization, Testosterone, Fertility, and Frequently Asked Questions. marekhealth.com
Source for the $299 intake deposit, the $450 minimum lab purchase, the no-subscription statement, the formulary evidence, the coaching and provider model, the messaging hours, the in-person annual physical requirement, and the fertility pathway. All pages read July 31, 2026. Marek changes pricing and formulary without notice; verify before deciding.
- 02Marek Diagnostics. Panel pricing and collection. marekdiagnostics.com
Source for panel pricing from $495 to $1,950, the $100 lab-review add-on, the 108 individually sold biomarkers, and the in-person Quest collection. Read July 31, 2026.
- 03Maximus Oral T HPTA Non-Suppression Study (N=34). maximustribe.com/white-paper-oral-native-trt
Open-label observational study with no placebo control. Source for the fertility-marker result behind the fertility-friendly protocol category. Group means, not per-client outcomes.
- 04U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA issues class-wide labeling changes for testosterone products. Drug Safety Communication, February 28, 2025. fda.gov/drugs/drug-alerts-and-statements/fda-issues-class-wide-labeling-changes-testosterone-products
FDA states that completed blood-pressure studies confirmed an increase in blood pressure across all testosterone products, class-wide. The same action retained the Limitation of Use on age-related hypogonadism.
- 05Maximus. Official information about Maximus. maximustribe.com/official-information-about-maximus
Maximus states here that it is one of the only direct-to-consumer telehealth companies to conduct and publish its own peer-reviewed clinical research. This is a Maximus-published page, so it is a record of what Maximus claims rather than independent verification.
- 06Maximus Topical Testosterone with Enclomiphene Study (N=45). maximustribe.com/white-paper-testosterone-cream
Open-label observational study with no placebo control. Its fertility-marker results apply only to testosterone cream paired with enclomiphene at 12.5mg or higher.
Compounded medications are prepared by licensed 503A/503B pharmacies using pharmaceutical-grade active ingredients. They are not FDA-approved finished drug products. Maximus protocols require a physician prescription.
Billing, availability, and cost
Billed monthly on the 1-month plan, or paid in advance or in installments across the full term on the 3-month and 6-month plans. At current rates a 6-month plan totals $899.94 for Oral Testosterone, $659.94 for Testosterone Cream, and $599.94 for Injectable Testosterone and for Enclomiphene, and a 3-month plan totals $599.97, $479.97, $449.97 and $449.97 respectively. New clients starting a 6-month plan get 50% off the first month, which lowers those totals. Lab testing is required, and any lab fee is disclosed in writing before your card is charged. Auto-renews on the day your current term ends, at the plan price and cadence shown at checkout. Cancel by turning off auto-renewal in your Maximus dashboard at app.maximustribe.com/login or by emailing support@maximustribe.com, with no phone call required. Committed 3-month and 6-month plans run through the full term you agree to at checkout. They cannot be ended early, and the remainder of a committed term is not refundable.
HSA and FSA eligible. Direct pay, no insurance billing.
Availability varies by state. Click into the product to see whether Maximus can ship to your state.
Maximus is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Marek Health. Marek Health is a trademark of its owner and is referenced here only to compare publicly available information about the two services, read on July 31, 2026.
