Medically reviewed by: 
Which is best - Hims, Keeps or Roman?
While all three of these telemedicine providers offer legit hair loss medicine. Which is best for you will depend on what you are trying to accomplish. We’ll dig into the details below, but cutting to the chase, here are our picks for best hair loss provider (and best ED service, which many people may be interested in if they are comparing Hims vs Roman):
Hims offers the best hair loss bundle with multiple treatments.
Hims offers a Prescription Hair Power Pack to help you tackle thinning from multiple angles. It includes oral finasteride, topical minoxidil, biotin gummies, and a thickening shampoo all for less than $50 per month.
It’s our medical advisory team’s top choice for those who are brand new to hair loss treatment and unsure where to start. For guys who want to avoid Rx meds, they also offer a non-prescription hair kit. Keep reading to learn how each of these hair loss meds works to help keep hair on your head.
A Word From Our Expert
— Dr. Jonathan Rick
For individuals wanting to approach hair loss from several directions, Hims allows quick access to prescription medication and full treatment plans. However, it should be noted that not all hair loss is androgenic and there are several important conditions that can cause hair loss and require attention from a medical professional to diagnose.”
Keeps offers the best introductory discount.
As a happy and long-term customer, I can personally vouch for Keeps’ results (thicker hair) and convenience (low-cost meds delivered discreetly). Jump ahead to my personal experience using all three brands (Hims, Ro, and Keeps) for hair loss.
For overall value and efficacy, Keeps is our medical advisory team’s #1 pick for best men’s hair loss long-term.
They offer a generous introductory discount of 50% off your first three months, which is enough time to see if it works as well for you as it did for me. Their topical finasteride and minoxidil 2-in-1 gel has helped me keep my hair, but don’t just take my word for it. Check out these Keeps before and after photos to see the results yourself.
Roman is best for other conditions (like ED).
Of the three, Ro is my #1 pick for sexual health, but not hair loss. While their hair loss medications are clinically proven, they don’t offer the best topical finasteride, our preferred method of application. Their formulation includes Tretinoin, which our dermatology advisor Dr. Jon Rick admits isn’t necessary for regrowth.
Thus Ro’s 3-in-1 topical hair loss product is legit, they stand out more in the sexual performance category, with a wide range of options – Rx and over the counter – for:
Hims vs Roman vs Keeps: Which is Best for Hair Loss? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Online Doctor's Visit? | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Finasteride Price (Oral 1mg generic Propecia®) | $26 per month | $20 per month | $20 per month |
| 5% Minoxidil Price (Topical 2 fl oz bottle) | $15 per month | $7-10 per month (Liquid solution OR aerosol foam) | $16 per month (Liquid solution) |
| Bundled Price (Topical Minoxidil + Oral Finasteride) | $44 per month (includes biotin gummies + thickening shampoo) | $35 per month | $35 per month |
| 2-in-1 Price (Topical Finasteride + Minoxidil) | ✅ Spray ($50 per month) | ✅ Gel ($40 per month) | ✅ Spray ($50 per month) |
| Biotin Gummies (Vitamin B7) | $16 per month | ❌ | ❌ |
| Refund Policy | 90 day money back guarantee | ❌ | ❌ |
| Website |
After a brief online consultation with a licensed doctor, Hims, Roman, and Keeps will recommend a personal hair loss treatment plan. All three generally offer the same remedies to be taken daily:
- Finasteride — 1mg pills ingested orally or a solution, cream, or gel that’s applied topically to scalp to halt hereditary balding.
- Minoxidil — the generic version of Rogaine, typically applied topically to the scalp to fight alopecia.
- Biotin — a chewable gummy vitamin that guards against any diet deficiencies that may be at the root of your thinning.
- Tretinoin — a topical retinoid that is believed to enhance your scalp’s ability to absorb minoxidil.
Related reading: Keeps vs. Bosley- Which Is Better for Hair Loss?
My personal experience with Hims, Roman, and Keeps.
As a guy who started noticing my thinning scalp at age 16, I’ve (unfortunately) had lots of experience with various hair loss treatments. In fact, I’ve tried hair loss treatments from all three brands – Hims, Roman, and Keeps – and can attest that each offers quality medications that worked for me, as they do for most men.
I started my hair loss treatment journey as so many do with 5% minoxidil solution (Rogaine and hims, then Keep’s foam option). Soon I graduated to an oral Finasteride prescription (first via Roman, then Keeps). I noticed more results using finasteride than just minoxidil, and my best regrowth resulted from using both active ingredients in combination.
Wary of potential long-term side effects like ED and low sex drive, I recently switch from oral pills to topical finasteride (that doesn’t enter your blood stream). Even though it’s a bit more expensive than oral finasteride, I’ve been using a 2-in-1 topical finasteride + minoxidil (i.e. “finoxidil“) ever since because I only have to apply it once to get healthy doses of both.
Worried about side effects because you have to take these products every day indefinitely, I researched Dutasteride and other popular finasteride alternatives to see if they were any safer, but ultimately decided the low risk was worth the results I experience first hand from Keeps topical finasteride. It’s price point and gel application make it my favorite topical finasteride, even though both Ro and hims offer similar products.
As a customer of Hims, Keeps, and Ro, I appreciate how they carefully designed their packaging, and luckily all three send medicines in discreet boxes. See for yourself in my Hims and Keeps “unboxing videos” below.
How Does Finasteride Work to Stop Hair Loss
Finasteride works by blocking DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone derived from testosterone that is known to shrink hair follicles and cause male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia).
Hair follicles begin shrinking again the minute you stop taking finasteride, which is why patients often report hair loss immediately after pausing treatment. The key takeaway is that while you’re likely to see results from diligent application, continued use of finasteride is required to maintain your results. Since you have to take it likely indefinitely, the choice of who to buy it from — Hims, Keeps, or Roman — is that much more important.
How effective is Finasteride for hair loss?
In a clinical study involving ~1500 balding men over two years, 1 mg/d of finasteride slowed the progression of hair loss and increased hair growth in the balding vertex (i.e. the crown area most commonly associated with male pattern hair loss). Meanwhile, the control group experienced progressive hair loss. Efficacy was evaluated by scalp hair counts, patient and investigator assessments, and review of photographs by an expert panel.
A similar study demonstrated an equally significant increase in the hair count in the frontal scalp of finasteride-treated patients (i.e. the hair line neat the forehead region, not just below the crown).
How Minoxidil works for hair loss prevention
Is Minoxidil effective?
Learn more about minoxidil with Dr. Jonathan Rick.
The Verdict - Which is Best: Hims, Roman, or Keeps?
1. Clinically-Proven Results
2. Personal Own Personal Experience
3. Positive Reviews from other customers
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Keeps vs Hims - Which is better?
We’ve been asked a lot about the differences between two of the major online hair loss providers, Keeps and Hims. Since we’ve reviewed (and personally tried) both, we’ll lay out the difference between these two major players. You can see the Keeps and Hims unboxing videos above, but the primary differences that you’ll find between the two companies are:
- Focus on Hair vs the entire body – By far the biggest difference between Hims and Keeps is that Keeps ONLY does hair loss, whereas Hims offers ED treatment, primary care, dermatology, and therapy, among other online treatments.
- Price – Hims is $44 per month for the “complete hair kit“, which includes finasteride + minoxidil + biotin gummies + thickening shampoo. If you want to get fin and liquid minoxidil from Keeps, it’s only $35 per month. Depending on how tight your pocketbook is, and what you’re looking for, Keeps can help you squirrel away a healthy savings over time.
- Biotin and other supplements – Hims has supplements beyond the FDA approved drugs: biotin gummies (which are yummy!) and a special shampoo. If you review the medical research, neither has the same level of scientific backing as the FDA approved meds, but you can only get them from Hims.
- Types of minoxidil available – This is kind of a big deal if you prefer a topical FOAM aerosol to apply your minoxidil instead of a liquid dropper. Only Keeps offers foaming minoxidil, while you can get the same concentration (5%) topical solution at either Hims or Keeps.
- Topical Finasteride – Hims and Keeps now offer 2-in-1 Topical Finasteride, which is a less-risky, non-pill way to treat your scalp directly without any chemicals getting into your blood stream. Keeps recently launched their own topical fin in gel format. If you prefer a spray, consider Hims. Long story short: if a gel that you rub in sounds just as good, go with Keeps.
So, which do we ultimately recommend, since both Him and Keeps are pretty legit? Hims is better for guys who are new to hair loss and don’t know where to start. Their complete hair kit offers a smorgasbord of treatments at a reasonable cost and can help you learn what works for you, and their 90 day money back guarantee allows you to experiment risk-free.
Keeps is better for guys looking to save in the long-run. After all, hair loss prevention is a marathon, not a sprint. Once you find a regimen that works, Keeps can likely help you save.
Keeps vs Roman - Which is better?
Keeps is focused on keeping men from going bald, with online doctor’s visits and FDA approved medicines. Their 1st doctor’s visit is free, and a Finasteride and Minoxidil bundle is pretty affordable. Keeps also has a foam Minoxidil, which is a big differentiator vs Roman, which only offers liquid droplet form, as well as a topical finasteride in a gel form, which Ro does not.
Roman offers a variety of doctor consultations and treatment options for men beyond just male pattern hair loss, including problems in the bedroom. Roman’s first online doctor’s visit is free, as is the first month of treatment. Fin and Minoxidil together are $96, or just $36 a month ($24 a month for the 1st three months, with the introductory offer). Both companies offer 3 month subscriptions. Thus Roman offers quality hair loss meds, but is more expensive than Keeps given a more generous discount.
Roman vs Hims - Which is better?
Comparing Roman or Hims – they both provide online doctor visits for a variety of medical conditions affecting men. When comparing Hims vs Roman, one of the biggest differences is the variety of conditions they treat. Hims has evolved to offer a number of Primary Care services, while Roman has stayed more focused on ED and hair loss.
Conditions Treated Costs – Hims vs Roman | ||
| Sexual Health Conditions Treated | Erectile dysfunction Premature ejaculation Testosterone support Cold sores & herpes | Erectile dysfunction Premature ejaculation Testosterone support Cold sores & herpes |
| Dermatological/Skin Conditions Treated | Hair Loss Acne Anti-aging Dark spots Eczema Hives Bug bites | Hair Loss Acne Anti-aging Dark spots Eczema Dandruff Hyperhidrosis |
| Mental Health Conditions Treated | Anxiety Depression Individual support Group therapy | ❌ |
| Other Conditions | Primary Care – $39 per visit Bronchitis Sore throat Hives Allergies Pink eye Ear infection Toenail fungus Migraines | Allergies Weight loss |
| Supplements Available | Collagen protein Immunity Sleep Biotin | Heart Health Bone Health Prostate Health |
| Online consultation cost | Varies | Free |
| Subscription Frequency | Generally monthly | Usually quarterly |
| Website |
For men going bald, Roman’s hair loss offering has a zero cost (free!) doctor’s visit, and can prescribe FDA approved Finasteride, as well as FDA approved Minoxidil – together $96, or just $35 a month.
For just $7 more per month, Hims offers a more robust bundle that includes biotin gummies and DHT blocking shampoo (in addition to Fin and Minoxidil). Thus if you’re brand new to hair loss, I’d choose hims. But if you want to save on finasteride, Roman is better. If you only want minoxidil, roman and hims cost the same. If you want topical finasteride, Hims is best. Their 2-in-1 topical combines finasteride and minoxidil in an easy-to-apply spray, offering a lower-side-effect-risk option NOT yet offered by Ro.
Which is better for ED, Hims or Roman?
Hims and Roman are both well known for their erectile dysfunction treatment options. The main drug they offer is basically generic Viagra – a medicine called Sildenafil.
We’ve tried both (no, not the same time!) It was simple and easy to get a prescription from both telemedicine companies after completing a quick online questionnaire. The medicine arrived quickly and in discreet packaging.
We slightly preferred Roman, as the ED pills came in tiny little pouches that would be easy to carry around (if we were cool enough to go out, this would be helpful!)
We got generic Sildenafil from both Roman and Hims so that we could compare the two head to head… but to be honest, we didn’t notice a difference! Each did it’s job. And while Sildenafil has a long list of possible side effects, the only one we felt is that we got a little congested about an hour after taking the medicines.
Other possible side effects that the providers mention include facial flushing (red face), headaches, stomach pain, nausea and dizziness. You can get a full run down on the ED meds in our review of Roman vs Viagra. Or go straight to Roman, as we like their pricing and packaging best:
What are the potential side effects of finasteride?
1. Loss of Libido and Sexual Dysfunction
2. Breast Cancer
3. Other Potential Side Effects
What are the potential side effects of minoxidil?
What's inside Hims hair loss meds?
The active ingredients in Hims’ two FDA approved medicines are Finasteride and Minoxidil. The Biotin gummies contain, well, Biotin, and the shampoo has a variety of DHT blocking ingredients like Salicylic Acid.
Breaking it down further, hims shampoo’s ingredients contain:
Purified Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocoamidopropyl Betaine, Trideceth Sulfate, Methyl Paraben, Sodium Benzoate, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Stimulating Growth Complex (Cocoamide MEA, Lavender Oil, Peppermint Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Citric Acid, Nettle Extract, Hops Extract, Grapefruit Extract, Biotin, Folic Acid, Yeast Brewer’s Extract, Yeast Extract, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B1, Rosemary Oil, Cedarwood Oil), Sodium Chloride, Lecithin, Polyquaternium-7, Phenoxyethanol, Water & Saccharomyces / Zinc Ferment & Saccharomyces / Copper Ferment & Saccharomyces / Magnesium Ferment & Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment & Saccharomyces / Silicon Ferment, & Blue #1
Is 4Hims the same company as hims?
Yes – if you hear 4Hims radio ads for ED or anti-balding medicine, 4Hims is the company we talk about in this review. The confusion in the name is likely because their website is forhims(dot)com, which sounds like “4 hims” in a radio advertisement. Hims, forhims, 4hims…all the same from our perspective.
Does Keeps Work for hair loss?
Clinical trials show that the generic, FDA-approved medicines Keeps uses are legit and do really work for the majority of otherwise healthy men experiencing a receding hairline, diffuse thinning caused by male pattern baldness.
Finasteride and Minoxidil are well researched, FDA approved hair loss medicines that work for the majority of men when taken as instructed by a doctor; in fact, studies have shown that if used together in the dosage recommended by Keeps, 94% of men see results.
After testing the company’s finasteride + minoxidil products myself and seeing its results on my own head, I strongly believe that they are a solid and trustworthy hair loss treatment provider with products that really work. Thousands of happy customer testimonials on the web echo my lived experience as well.
Get 50% off Keeps →
How do you get hair loss refills from Hims, Roman or Keeps?
It’s actually surprisingly easy to get a refill for your Finasteride prescription from Hims, Roman or Keeps. The cost for a refill prescription is zero; it’s included in your subscription cost. And these companies are going to reach out to you to let you know that your it’s time for an online follow up doctor’s appointment to get a refill.
For example, Hims and Roman email and text to remind you that it’s time for a telemedicine doctor’s exam, which can usually be completed in a simple online questionnaire for most men.
Is Keeps Legit?
No review of Keeps is complete without mentioning that they are the only online hair loss player to offer both foam and regular liquid Minoxidil. So if you like the foam option, they are a great choice. Keeps is for men, not women, and their medicines have been shown to work for the majority of men losing their hair. And unlike Hims and Roman, they are 100% focused on combating male pattern baldness – no ED meds or anti-depression meds offered as well. So if you are trying to decide between Hims or Keeps, the foaming Minoxidil may be a good reason to look at the latter.
Another key difference is Keep’s new topical finasteride GEL. No other hair loss provider that we know of offers it in this format (Hims comes as a spray).
Our experience using Keeps was seamless, and that seems to be what we read in most Keeps reviews online as well. You can read our full Keeps Review to see how it’s worked for us. Click below to get 50% off for your first order — an exclusive discount we’ve negotiated for Fin vs Fin readers:
Is Ro legit for Hair Loss?
The medicines that Roman prescribes to fight male pattern baldness are legit and have been shown to stop or even reverse hair loss around 90% of men. And that’s vs a placebo, so using the best form of clinical trials available to modern medicine. They are FDA approved, and the company’s telemedicine specialists will help you determine if prescription hair loss meds are right for you. Read our full Roman review for even more details, but rest assured that Ro is one of the most popular hair loss treatment providers in the US.
For seasoned finasteride or minoxidil users looking for convenience at an affordable price, Roman offers a more cost-effective option than other legit competitors like hims. They take customer discretion seriously, and help maintain your privacy by sending meds in nondescript envelopes. Plus they offer steep discounts for buying in bulk. We recommend Ro for guys looking for inexpensive finasteride online.
Is Hims Legit for hair loss?
Hims (NYSE: HIMS) is one of the most popular mens health clinics online, helping thousands of balding men every day. They offer FDA-approved meds (prescription and over the counter) that clinical trials have shown work to prevent hair loss for over 90% of men. The company’s online reviews are mostly positive, and our own personal experience using Hims hair loss products has been extremely positive as well.
If you’ve just started to notice your hair thinning and don’t know where to start, Hims is an ideal place to start. With beautiful branding, a great user experience, and full cabinet of treatments available in topical, chewable, and swallowable forms, they offer the perfect way to ease into hair loss treatment.
Hims is for men, although their “sister” brand Hers offers treatments for women. Read our full Hims review, or click below to explore him’
Methodology
We conduct extensive research to evaluate the pricing, effectiveness, accessibility, overall quality, and user experience of every telehealth service we review. This also includes examining and comparing each provider to comparable telemedicine alternatives. We also evaluate usability, treatments, prescription delivery time, and more to determine the best value for those seeking fast and reliable telehealth services.
| Review Process | Key Metrics | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Sign up online | – ease to complete intake form – affordability – upfront commitment or subscription required? – money back guarantee or refund policy? | 0.5 |
| Vitual consult with provider / determine eligibility | – ease to get appointment to determine eligibility – need to leave house for labs or other in-person care? | 1 |
| Shipping + unboxing | – shipping cost – time from order to treatment delivery – discreet packaging to maintain privacy | 0.5 |
| Test + journal for 1-3 months | – ease of application – transition into habitual use – taste / smell / feel / pain | 1.5 |
| Results after 3 months of use | – efficacy / results – lack of side effects – ease of refill / reordering – quality of ongoing clinical support – responsive customer support – willingness to recommend to a friend | 1.5 |
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Dense Hair Experts Overview Price: £59.99 (or £47.99 on subscription) Prescription products: Finasteride, dutasteride OTC products: Minoxidil, shampoo, conditioner, vitamins, styling products Active ingredients: Finasteride, dutasteride, minoxidil Potential side effects: Itching, redness, flaking Who it’s best for: Individuals experiencing male pattern baldness Go to Site→
