Medichecks vs Forth: Which UK Blood Test Provider Should You Choose?
Medichecks and Forth both let you order a private blood test in the UK, take a finger-prick sample at home, post it to a lab, and read the results on your phone. On the surface they look like the same service. Dig in and they run very different shops, and the difference decides which one you will actually enjoy using.
Medichecks has been around since 2004 and is one of the biggest names in the country, with around 75 single tests covering everything from cholesterol to fertility and heart health. Forth launched in 2016 and does fewer things but does them with more polish around the app: it turns your raw results into scores across ten health areas, adds personalised targets, and leans hard on regular tracking. It also throws in things Medichecks does not offer, like a build-your-own test and a multi-cancer screening kit.
Pricing: Medichecks wins on single markers
For a one-off test, Medichecks is almost always cheaper. Here are same-marker current prices on both sites:
| Test | Medichecks | Forth |
|---|---|---|
| Testosterone | £19 | £29 |
| Vitamin D | £39 | £50 |
| Ferritin | £39 | £39 |
| PSA (prostate) | £45 | £49 |
| Thyroid function | £45 | £50 |
| Liver function | £39 | £49 |
| AMH (ovarian reserve) | £79 | £99 |
| Menopause check | £69 | £129 |
That is not a rounding error. A menopause check runs nearly twice the price at Forth, and even the tests where they tie, like ferritin and HbA1c, sit at the same level. If you are buying a single marker out of pocket, Medichecks is the value pick in almost every row.
The catch is that Forth’s prices carry its tracking model. Forth expects you to test more than once and watch how your numbers move, so a standalone price matters less than the ongoing story. If that is how you plan to use it, the higher entry price is buying the scoring and comparisons over time. If you just want your thyroid checked today and nothing more, Forth is the pricey way to do it.
Test range: breadth vs build-your-own
Medichecks keeps the widest catalogue of anyone in the UK, with cheap single markers plus broader profiles across general health, hormones, vitamins, heart, fertility, sports and sexual health. You can also get a venous draw at one of its clinic network if you would rather not do the finger-prick yourself.
Forth runs about 40 tests and concentrates on fitness, hormones and general health. Its standout is a build-your-own test from around £39 where you pick the biomarkers you want rather than settling for a fixed panel. That is genuinely useful if you have one specific number in mind that no ready-made kit matches. At the top end it also sells the TruCheck multi-cancer screening kit at £1,169, which Medichecks has nothing like.
The app and results experience
Here is where Forth pulls ahead. Results return in about two working days, and Forth’s app does more than list them. Its HealthCoach model scores each biomarker and groups them into ten health areas, so instead of a line of numbers you get a picture of where you sit and what to nudge. That presentation is the best in the category for anyone who finds a raw lab report overwhelming.
Medichecks is faster on the lab side, with results in 24 to 48 hours, and its reports are clear enough, but they are more traditional. You get the numbers, a plain-English note per marker, and a flag telling you to see a GP if something is out of range. Forth’s report does the same clinical flagging, then layers the scoring and targets on top.
| Medichecks | Forth | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 | 2016 |
| Single tests | ~75 | ~40 |
| Cheapest single test | £19 (testosterone) | £29 (testosterone) |
| Results time | 24–48 hours | 2 working days |
| Sample method | Finger-prick or clinic | Finger-prick only |
| Standout feature | Clinic network, huge range | Health scores, build-your-own, cancer screen |
| Trustpilot | 4.5 (28,000+) | 4.1 (8,500+) |
Both use UKAS-accredited ISO 15189 labs and both tell you to treat results as a starting point, not a diagnosis.
Which one should you pick?
There is no universal winner because the two suit different habits:
- Choose Medichecks if you want one cheap test now, need a marker Forth does not sell, or would rather have a clinic draw your blood than prick your own finger. For single purchases it wins on price nearly every time.
- Choose Forth if you plan to test regularly and want an app that actually helps you interpret the results, or if you fancy building a custom panel or the multi-cancer screening. You pay more per test and the tracking layer earns it.
I would buy a one-off thyroid or testosterone test from Medichecks and pocket the difference. If I wanted to check the same biomarkers every few months and watch them trend, I would probably spend the extra on Forth’s scoring.
Compare across all providers
To see how these two sit against every other UK provider for the same marker, visit our compare page and search for the test you care about, for example testosterone or thyroid blood tests, sorted by price to find the cheapest option.
| Provider | Cheapest typical single test | Results time | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medichecks | £19 (testosterone) | 24–48 hours | Home kit or clinic |
| Forth | £29 (testosterone) | 2 working days | Home kit only |
Header image from Pexels
Prices checked 28 August 2026. They change often, so always confirm the current price on the provider’s site before you buy.