Hims is the biggest name in telehealth ED treatment. They've spent hundreds of millions on advertising, they have the slickest website in the industry, and they've made it completely normal for men to order ED medication online. But does biggest mean best?
This is a genuinely independent review. We have no affiliate relationship with Hims — we don't earn a commission if you sign up. That means we can be completely honest about what works, what doesn't, and whether smaller competitors offer better value.
What Is Hims?
Hims (formally Hims & Hers Health, Inc.) is a publicly traded telehealth company founded in 2017. They offer prescription medications for ED, hair loss, mental health, skin care, weight loss, and premature ejaculation. The company went public via SPAC in 2021 and has grown into the most recognized name in direct-to-consumer men's health.
For ED specifically, Hims provides access to both generic and brand-name PDE5 inhibitors, compounded chewable formulations (Hard Mints), and multi-condition combination medications. Consultations are free and conducted asynchronously — meaning you fill out a questionnaire and a provider reviews it without a live conversation.
Every ED Medication Hims Offers
Generic sildenafil (generic Viagra) — Available in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg tablets. Hims' most popular ED product. As-needed dosing, taken 30–60 minutes before sex, effective for about 4–6 hours. Starting at approximately $4 per dose.
Generic tadalafil (generic Cialis) — Available for both daily and as-needed use. Daily dosing starts around $6 per dose (lower with annual billing). Tadalafil stays active in your system for up to 36 hours, making it the preferred choice for daily dosing and spontaneous sex.
Brand-name Viagra and Cialis — Hims carries actual brand-name medications for men who prefer them. Pricing is substantially higher — brand Viagra can run $135 per dose for chewable versions. Clinically identical to generics, but some men feel more confident with the recognized brand.
Hard Mints — Hims' proprietary chewable ED medication. Available in several formulations including sildenafil-only, tadalafil-only, and a combined sildenafil + tadalafil + vitamin B12 version. Starting from under $2 per day for daily formulations. These are compounded medications — not individually FDA-approved, though they use FDA-approved active ingredients.
Multi-condition medications — Compounded 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 options that combine ED treatment with hair loss medication (finasteride), PE medication, or cholesterol management in a single pill. Convenient if you're dealing with multiple conditions.
Pricing Deep Dive
| Medication | Starting Price | Best Price (Annual) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sildenafil tablets | ~$4/dose | ~$4/dose | 25–100mg options |
| Tadalafil tablets (daily) | ~$6/dose | Lower with annual | Best value with yearly billing |
| Hard Mints (daily) | ~$2/day | ~$1.63/day | Compounded; not FDA-approved as formulation |
| Brand Viagra (chewable) | ~$135/dose | — | Same ingredient as $4 sildenafil |
| Brand Cialis | ~$958/mo | — | Same ingredient as $6 tadalafil |
The pricing picture with Hims is nuanced. Their generic pricing is competitive — $4/dose sildenafil is in line with the market, and daily tadalafil at $6/dose drops further with longer billing commitments. Hard Mints starting under $2/day represent genuinely good value for daily ED treatment.
But the brand-name options reveal the markup potential. Brand Viagra at $135/dose versus $4/dose for the chemically identical generic is a 33x price difference for the same active ingredient. Hims offers these because some customers will pay the premium, but there's no clinical reason to choose brand over generic.
How the Consultation Works
Hims consultations are entirely asynchronous. You complete an online questionnaire about your symptoms, health history, current medications, and preferences. A licensed provider reviews your responses and either approves a prescription, asks follow-up questions, or determines you're not a candidate.
This process is efficient — most men receive a response within 24 hours. The questionnaire is thorough enough to screen for major contraindications (heart disease, nitrate use, etc.). You also get unlimited messaging with your provider and periodic check-ins.
The weakness is obvious: you never actually talk to anyone. For men with straightforward ED and no complicating conditions, this is fine. For men with complex medical histories, multiple medications, or ED that might signal underlying cardiovascular disease, the asynchronous model lacks the depth of a genuine physician conversation.
Where Hims Excels
Selection: No other platform offers this range of ED medications — generic tablets, brand-name options, proprietary chewables, multi-condition combos. Whatever format or medication you want, Hims probably has it.
User experience: The website and app are best-in-class. Ordering is seamless, subscription management is intuitive, and the overall experience feels modern and polished. This matters when you're dealing with a sensitive health topic.
Scale and trust: Hims is a publicly traded company with millions of customers. The brand carries built-in credibility, and the company has a track record of legitimate medical services.
Subscription flexibility: Multiple billing frequencies (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual) with decreasing per-dose costs for longer commitments. You can also pause, modify, or cancel through the app.
Where Hims Falls Short
Consultations are basic: The asynchronous questionnaire model is convenient but impersonal. There's no live physician conversation, no blood work, no comprehensive health evaluation. For complex cases, this is a legitimate gap.
Not the cheapest: At $4/dose for sildenafil, Hims is more expensive than pharmacy-owned platforms that sell the same generic for under $2/pill. You're partially paying for the brand and the user experience.
Brand-name upselling: Hims prominently features brand-name Viagra and Cialis alongside generics. While offering choice is fine, the massive price differential creates an upselling dynamic that may not serve the customer's financial interest.
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved: Hard Mints and multi-condition combos use FDA-approved active ingredients but are compounded formulations that haven't undergone individual FDA review. This is the same as BlueChew and BraveRX, but it's worth noting since Hims' marketing can blur this distinction.
Alternatives Worth Considering
If Hims doesn't feel like the right fit, several alternatives are worth exploring:
Consider These Instead
- Want a lower price for generic ED medication? — MyDrHank offers the same generics from ~$1.67/pill
- Want a compound formula with 24/7 physician support? — BraveRX provides multi-ingredient prescriptions with dedicated medical access
- Want simple flat-rate pricing? — Peter MD charges $90 flat — no subscription tiers to navigate
Our Honest Verdict
Hims deserves its position as the most popular telehealth ED platform. The medication selection is unmatched, the user experience is excellent, and the generic pricing is competitive (if not the absolute lowest). For most men with straightforward ED, Hims will work perfectly well.
But "most popular" doesn't mean "best value." If your priority is the lowest possible cost, you can get the same generic medications for less elsewhere. If your priority is a genuine physician relationship and compound treatment, smaller platforms offer more personalized care. And if you just want simple, predictable pricing without subscription tiers, flat-rate options exist.
Hims is a safe, solid choice — but it's not the only choice, and it's not automatically the best one.
Compare Providers
| Provider | Best For | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BraveRX | Compound formulas, 24/7 support | ~$119/mo | Visit Site |
| MyDrHank | Lowest per-pill cost | ~$1.67/pill | Visit Site |
| Peter MD | Flat-rate pricing | $90 flat | Visit Site |