Hims vs. Keeps: Which Hair Growth Subscription Service is Right for You?

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Online shopping makes life more convenient—access to medicine and doctor’s appointments included. These days, you'll find many telehealth services targeted toward men for easy access to both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) hair loss solutions. Two of the leading brands in this category are Hims and Keeps, which we’ve tested and reviewed.

Both brands have products formulated to help with elongating the growth cycle of hair, which can help reduce shedding and create mildly thicker and fuller hair strands while using them, says certified trichologist William Gaunitz. 

If you’re wondering which brand offers the best range of products for hair loss and men’s health care, you’ve come to the right place. Our extensive Hims vs. Keeps guide will break down pros and cons of each brand and what you should know about the safety of using hair loss medications to help you find a solution for your needs.

This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.

Hims vs. Keeps

Both Hims and Keeps are men’s health subscription services that offer products and treatments designed for hair loss. Depending on your needs, you can choose from prescription medications and topical treatments or non-prescription, OTC hair loss solutions. 

Related Post: The Best Supplements for Men

Hims Brand Overview

Hims is an online men’s health care service that, in addition to hair loss supplements, offers products and treatments for erectile dysfunction and other sexual health conditions, weight loss and mental health care for anxiety and depression.

We tested the Hims hair health care, here’s our experience.

How it works

First, Hims will ask you to take a short quiz to gauge your current hair loss and hair regrowth goals. From there, you’ll complete a free consultation with a licensed healthcare professional to talk about your treatment plan and receive a prescription (if needed). Not all hair loss concerns will warrant prescription medication, so the doctor will help you find a treatment that’s right for your concerns.

Following your online consultation, you’ll review your personalized products and select a subscription frequency (a one- or three-month supply). Prescriptions ship free, and you can also receive ongoing care from licensed providers if needed.

Cost

Depending on which treatments you order, you can expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $60 per month for your Hims products. While your initial consultation is free, future telehealth visits with a licensed provider will cost $39, so this is something to keep in mind for your budget if you plan on incorporating ongoing online care.

Insurance

As of now, Hims doesn’t accept health insurance, so you’ll need to pay for your products and services up front and out of pocket. However, Hims claims its prescription products cost 50 to 80 percent less than retail.

Keep in mind this is likely compared to the full cost of the drug without insurance. For example, a 30-day supply of finasteride (which has been shown to block a male hormone that contributes to hair loss) is available for around $76 full price; from Hims for $22 or you can use a GoodRX coupon to get it at CVS for $16.46. 

Doctor consultations

Hims wellness consultations can be completed from your smartphone, tablet or computer. The brand promises that once you submit a consultation request, you’ll be able to virtually connect with a doctor on the Hims platform within 24 hours.

Consultations can take place via chat, video or phone call. You’ll be able to talk through your hair loss symptoms, treatment options and potential side effects of any prescription medications.

Product options

Hims offers a number of products for healthy hair. These include finasteride, minoxidil (which may increase new hair growth), a topical finasteride and minoxidil spray, thickening shampoo and conditioner and biotin gummies.

Learn more about how biotin supplements can help promote hair growth.

Shipping and packaging

Shipping for Hims prescriptions is free, and the brand promises orders will ship in two to five business days after processing by the pharmacy. Most orders will arrive in discreet packaging, which customers may find preferable. 

If you need a prescription right away, Hims can also provide a prescription to print at home and use at a local pharmacy. 

Hims pros:

• Treats a wide range of men’s health needs in addition to hair loss
• Free initial consultation with a licensed healthcare provider
• Customized treatment plans depending on hair loss and goals
• Most orders arrive in discreet packaging
• Ongoing telehealth visits available (for a fee)

Hims cons:

• Must take quiz and create an account to view products and pricing
• Some customers report difficulty reaching customer service

Keeps Brand Overview

Unlike Hims, which offers products to treat a variety of conditions, Keeps is almost entirely devoted to men’s hair health and treating hair loss. The brand also sells two skincare products. Here’s what to know before using the Keeps telehealth service.

How it works

Keeps offers two options to customers. If you’re familiar with hair loss treatments, you can choose one of several plans that include finasteride, minoxidil or a combination of both. You’ll also be asked to take a short quiz. Depending on your product choices, you may or may not need a prescription, and if you do, Keeps will send your plan to a licensed doctor for review.

Alternatively, if you’re seeking care for hair health concerns for the very first time, you can take a quiz about your hair loss symptoms and hair growth goals to help point you in the right direction.

You’ll also be able to upload photos of your hair and send everything off to a licensed doctor to review. (Note this will also require a photo of a government-issued ID like a driver’s license.) From there, you may receive a prescription if the reviewing doctor determines you’re eligible.

Some products, like Keeps Thickening Shampoo, are OTC products and won’t require a prescription. Select products are offered as one-time purchases, but most are subscription-based and can be delivered to your home every three, six or 12 months.

Related Post: The Best Shampoos for Thinning Hair in Men

Cost

Keeps products have a wide price range of as low as $18 to as high as $130. Your final monthly cost will depend on what products you select or are prescribed and how many products you’re buying.

You’ll need to pay for all products and services up front, but the brand claims their products cost half of what competitors charge. However, this will depend on a wide variety of factors, including whether you’re getting a prescription drug or an OTC product and what your insurance covers.

Some medications, such as finasteride, are similar in price to competitors. For example, you can get a 30-day supply of the drug for $22 and free shipping from Hims, while a three-month supply will cost $13.33 per month ($39.99 up front) plus $5 shipping from Keeps.

Your initial consultation with a Keeps healthcare provider is free, but any additional telehealth visits will cost $5, so be sure to factor this into your budget.

Insurance

Since Keeps products are considered cosmetic, insurance likely won’t cover them. As such, Keeps doesn’t accept insurance. 

It also promises you’ll save an estimated $100 per visit on provider consultations when compared to other telehealth services, so while health insurance isn’t accepted, you could still save money, though it’s hard to say for certain because this would vary based on what’s covered by an individual’s healthcare plan.

Doctor consultations

Medical providers with Keeps typically review and respond to hair loss consultations within 24 to 48 hours. Once your treatment plan has been approved, you’ll receive an email notification, or you’ll be prompted to provide additional information if your provider has more questions for you. As we mentioned earlier, your first consultation is free, but any additional consultation will cost $5.

Product options

Keeps sells eight products that range from topical solutions to dandruff-reducing shampoo. Prescription-strength products include a topical finasteride and minoxidil gel, oral finasteride pill and ketoconazole shampoo (which can treat scalp issues like flaking).

OTC options include minoxidil foam, a minoxidil solution, thickening pomade, thickening shampoo and thickening conditioner (which can be bought separately or as a set).

Related Post: The Best Shampoos and Conditioners for Men

Shipping and packaging

Keeps states orders will ship within one to two business days of placing your order, and arrive at your home within five to seven business days, depending on your location. Shipping costs $5 per shipment, and products arrive in discreet packaging.

Keeps Pros

• Free and low-cost provider consultations
• Mix of prescription and OTC products
• Treatments are FDA-approved
• Multiple shipping frequencies available
• Arrives in discreet packaging

Keeps Cons

• Most products aren’t available as a one-time purchase
• Providers can take up to two days to review requests

Products: Hims vs. Keeps

For the most part, Hims and Keeps offer similar products for men with hair loss. Here’s how they stack up against one another.

Shampoo

Keeps has two shampoos for thinning hair on its roster: a prescription ketoconazole shampoo, which helps fight dandruff, and a non-prescription thickening shampoo, which is fortified with biotin and saw palmetto. 

Studies show biotin supplements can help promote hair growth (though research is still limited), and saw palmetto is being studied for its ability to prevent testosterone from converting to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a process which may cause hair loss.

Hims also offers a thickening shampoo that uses saw palmetto as its main ingredient. The brand claims its thickening shampoo can help wash away excess sebum, which can help new hair follicles start to grow. 

Our product tester, Joe, notes Keeps Thickening Shampoo also lathered extremely well and made his hair feel super clean after just one wash. “It felt buttery smooth when I was washing my hair with it,” he explains. “I didn’t notice any leftover residue after rinsing.”

Conditioner

Similarly, both Keeps and Hims sell thickening conditioners that can be paired with thickening shampoo or used separately.

Keeps Thickening Conditioner is once again formulated with biotin and saw palmetto, while Hims Thick Fix Thickening Conditioner is made with B vitamins, including niacinamide (vitamin B3) and panthenol (vitamin B5).

Studies show that niacinamide may promote hair growth by preventing oxidative stress. And, panthenol seems to stimulate hair growth, according to research published in Current Issues in Molecular Biology. 

Serums and treatments

Keeps sells a variety of serums and treatments for hair loss. These include topical minoxidil serum, minoxidil foam and a combination finasteride and minoxidil gel that requires a prescription. Hims offers minoxidil in foam or solution form, in addition to a topical finasteride and minoxidil spray. Both brands sell three products in this category, but we like that Hims’ topical finasteride and minoxidil option comes in spray form, which is easier to apply.

Our product tester, Mark Moore, tried Hims’ minoxidil topical solution to get a sense of its feel and benefits. He used the solution twice daily and noted a slight “cooling sensation” on his scalp. While his scalp was a little itchy at first, Moore says the irritation didn’t last long.

“Hims minoxidil topical solution reminded me of tea tree oil on the scalp with a cool and minty sensation that was less intense,” he explains. Ultimately, Moore calls his trial with Hims a success. “The overall health of my scalp and existing hair quality was good while using the products,” he says.

Meanwhile, our product tester Joe didn’t have a great experience with Keeps Minoxidil Solution. “It made my forehead red and inflamed,” he says. “The solution had a strong, burning smell, almost like alcohol.”

While some tingling is normal, Joe's response wasn't normal, and most men should have an experience with minoxidil more like Moore's. If you have sensitive skin, dab a little bit of minoxidil solution (whether Hims, Keeps or another brand) on a small patch of skin to test for reactions before using on your scalp. 

Supplements

Both Hims and Keeps sell supplements that target hair loss. Keeps offers a once-daily prescription finasteride pill, while Hims also offers prescription oral finasteride in addition to biotin gummies. Though research is limited, biotin supplementation may promote hair growth, and having this product available as an OTC option gives more Hims customers access hair growth supplements. 

“The wild cherry biotin gummies had a pleasant sweetness that was mild and balanced in nature,” Moore says, who took the gummies once daily. “They didn’t taste artificial or leave a strong aftertaste.” With consistent usage, he explains, “I felt good about taking them.”

Reputation and Reviews: Hims vs. Keeps

Now that you’ve heard our take, here’s what customers have to say about Hims and Keeps.

More than 6,000 verified Keeps reviewers on the Keeps website give overwhelmingly positive ratings. Out of that group, more than 5,000 customers have given the brand a 5/5-star rating (Keeps doesn’t have individual product reviews). “My hair has improved greatly since I started using Keeps,” a satisfied customer writes. “It’s thicker, my hairline is better and my scalp is far less visible than it was.”

Keeps doesn’t have many negative reviews, but most of the negative feedback is surrounding no changes in hair growth or thickness, or issues with charges after canceling subscriptions.

Hims, meanwhile, has verified website reviews per product (rather than all around like Keeps), so we’ll take into account customer reviews for Hims’ non-prescription hair kit, which our product tester Mark tried. This kit includes a minoxidil topical solution, the Thick Fix shampoo and biotin gummies.

Out of 102 reviews for the hair kit, the average rating is 4.3/5 stars. “This has been a difference maker for me,” one customer writes. “The shampoo and minoxidil have drastically slowed my hair loss. The gummies taste great. Without these products, I was seeing drastic hair loss.”

Negative reviews for Hims’ non-prescription hair kit echo two main problems: that they haven’t experienced any changes (i.e.,, the products aren’t working for them), or that the system includes too many steps. Between the gummies, shampoo and minoxidil solution, one customer noted it was “a lot.” Another buyer describes the shampoo didn’t have “the best smell.”

Still, both Hims and Keeps garner mostly positive reviews, and many customers are satisfied with their experience. As for which brand is ultimately best for you, this will depend on your hair care needs, budget and overall preferences.

Customer Service: Hims vs. Keeps

To get a sense of what Hims and Keeps customers have to say about the quality and efficiency of customer service, we checked out reviews on Trustpilot.

Hims customers report issues with closing their account, and that Hims continues to send them monthly shipments despite attempts to cancel (and talk to customer service about it). Others report issues with getting their prescriptions changed, or having prescriptions sent to the wrong address. When reaching out to customer service, these customers were either put on hold for long periods of time or their questions went unanswered.

Keeps customers report similar concerns with customer service. Some buyers also received shipments after canceling subscriptions, and had no luck solving this problem with customer service, while others returned products only to have their returns not accepted. Keeps customers call canceling a subscription “jumping through roadblocks,” so it’s important to be aware of the potential issues with both companies if you plan on subscribing to monthly shipments.

Safety and Potential Side Effects

Two main ingredients used in hair loss treatments—minoxidil and finasteride—may come with possible side effects. While not everyone will experience side effects, it’s important to be aware of them as some can be potentially serious.

Minoxidil can cause itching or skin rash, burning of the scalp, unwanted hair growth on other body areas and initial increased hair loss, cautions dermatologist Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami. 

“Minoxidil shouldn’t be used in patients with a personal history of heart disease, says” David Li, MD, an attending dermatologist in Boston. 

That’s because studies show that minoxidil can cause water retention, which can lead to heart failure in rare cases.

“Finasteride comes with the risk of potential sexual side effects such as decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, ejaculation disorder and potential risk of male breast cancer,” Chacon says. While these side effects may sound scary, Li says finasteride’s side effects are relatively rare and usually reversible.

If you experience any side effects, discontinue using Hims or Keeps products until you have a chance to speak to a healthcare provider. People taking prescription medication or who have known medical conditions should also exercise caution before starting a hair loss treatment regimen. Chacon also cautions that hair loss treatments “may not be effective for men with complete baldness or non-pattern hair loss,” such as hair loss caused by medical conditions.

When to See a Doctor About Hair Loss

“Hair loss treatments are most effective for men who are in the early stages of hair loss or those who want to prevent it,” Chacon says. So, it’s a good idea to see a doctor at the first sign of thinning hair, or if you have a family history of early male pattern baldness.

If you have complete baldness or more advanced hair thinning, treatments may not work as well. At that point, you may be a candidate for hair transplantation and restoration, so this is something you can speak to a doctor about if you’re concerned about your hair health.

Hims vs. Keeps FAQs

Are Keeps and Hims FDA-approved?

Treatments offered by both Keeps and Hims are FDA-approved. Still, if you have any concerns, it’s always a good idea to speak to a healthcare provider about the pros and cons of any products you're adding to your daily routine.

What’s the main difference between Hims and Keeps?

The main difference between Hims and Keeps is that Hims offers treatments for various men’s healthcare needs, including hair loss, while Keeps is almost exclusively focused on hair health and fullness.

Do Hims and Keeps products really grow back hair?

Many customers back up the purported hair health benefits of Hims and Keeps products. Research also confirms the benefits of ingredients like finasteride and minoxidil, which are the two most commonly used in these haircare lines. How well a hair growth product works for you will depend on your personal health and the extent of your hair loss.

Final Thoughts

Hims and Keeps are both reputable telehealth services that offer hair loss care and treatments for men. You may find one service is better-suited for your needs depending on its product line, pricing, doctor consultation options and shipping.

The brands’s services are similarly priced, although Hims follow-up consultations cost $39, while Keeps charges only $5. Hims offers more products and supplements for haircare, sexual health and general wellness, while Keeps is focused on hair growth and scalp health. If you want to focus only on hair thickness and reducing hair loss and are on a tight budget, Keeps is the better choice. If you want a more wholistic approach and can spend a little more for follow-up care, Hims is the better option.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.