Comparing Hims and Keeps: Which Hair Loss Treatment is Right for You?

Jacqueline Drak, Ph.D.

Medical Writer

Jacqueline Drak, a chemistry professor since 2007, chairs the Molecular Biosciences program. Originally from Uruguay, she holds a PhD from Yale and has researched various topics. Passionate about teaching, she enjoys family time, reading, music, baking, and traveling.

In today’s fast‑paced world, addressing hair loss has transcended traditional doctor visits and in‑store prescriptions. Telehealth platforms have revolutionized men’s wellness by delivering FDA‑approved hair loss treatments directly to your doorstep. Two of the biggest names in this space are Hims and Keeps—both offering subscription‑based models that promise to halt thinning hair and even promote regrowth through clinically‑proven medications like finasteride and minoxidil.

But with so many options flooding the market, how do you choose the right solution? Our in‑depth review, based on extensive research, hands‑on testing, and insights from dermatologists and trichologists, cuts through the marketing noise. We’ve compared everything from product diversity and pricing to telehealth consultation processes and customer satisfaction. The verdict is clear: while both services offer effective treatments, Hims stands out for its innovative product range, superior customer experience, and holistic approach to men’s health.

In this article, we will guide you through every critical factor:

Before diving into the specifics, it’s important to note that while both Hims and Keeps offer treatments that work—provided you’re consistent and follow professional advice—our comprehensive evaluation shows that Hims wins out overall. With a broader range of innovative products, a more streamlined and flexible telehealth experience, and additional wellness offerings, Hims is the best choice for men serious about addressing hair loss and achieving lasting results.

Ready to learn more? Let’s begin our journey into the world of telehealth hair loss solutions.

Company Overviews

Hims

—A Holistic Approach to Men’s Health

• Founded: 2017
• Headquarters: United States (with international branches including the UK)
• Core Philosophy: Hims brands itself as an all‑in‑one personal wellness platform designed to tackle not only hair loss but also sexual health, mental health, skincare, and weight management. This holistic approach allows Hims to address interconnected aspects of men’s health, providing a seamless and discreet experience from consultation to product delivery.

Visit Hims Now

*Prices may vary

---

Telehealth Process

• User-Friendly Intake: Hims’ process starts with a detailed online questionnaire, where you provide your medical history and upload photos if needed.
• Flexible Consultation Options: Depending on your location, you can consult with licensed healthcare professionals via video, phone, or chat—all at no additional cost.
• Ongoing Support: Free follow‑up consultations and provider messaging are part of the package, ensuring that you have guidance every step of the way.
• Discreet & Fast Delivery: With free shipping and discreet packaging, Hims ensures that your privacy is maintained.

Product Range

• Hair Loss Treatments: Oral finasteride, topical minoxidil (foam/solution), and the exclusive topical finasteride & minoxidil spray.
• Complementary Products: Thickening shampoos, conditioners, biotin gummies, and combination “Hair Power Pack” bundles that address both prevention and regrowth.
• Beyond Hair Loss: Hims extends into sexual health (e.g., sildenafil, tadalafil), skincare, and even mental health solutions—providing an integrated wellness platform.

Key Strengths

Innovative Offerings: Hims is the only provider among the three that offers topical finasteride—a formulation that may reduce systemic side effects while effectively targeting hair loss at the scalp level.

Holistic Care: With a range of products that go beyond hair loss, Hims appeals to men looking for overall wellness.

Superior Telehealth Experience: Rapid response times, free consultations, and a high level of personalized care make Hims a favorite among users.

Keeps

—Specializing in Hair Loss

• Founded: 2018
• Headquarters: United States
• Core Philosophy: Keeps focuses exclusively on providing solutions for male hair loss. With the mission “to help more men keep more hair,” Keeps has built its platform around affordability and simplicity in addressing hair thinning and baldness.

Visit Keeps Now

*Prices may vary

---

Telehealth Process

• Focused Questionnaire: Keeps requires you to fill out a concise online form detailing your hair loss history.
• Limited Consultation Options: Consultations are typically conducted via phone (with some states having restrictions), and follow‑up visits may incur additional charges (usually $5 per consultation).
• Subscription Model: Keeps uses a recurring billing system with a standard shipping fee (usually around $5 per order), which some users find less flexible compared to Hims’ free shipping model.

Product Range

• Hair Loss Treatments: Oral finasteride, topical minoxidil available in foam or solution forms, and a unique offering of 2% ketoconazole shampoo for dandruff and scalp inflammation.
• Complementary Products: Thickening shampoos, conditioners, pomades, and biotin supplements to improve the overall appearance of thinning hair.

Key Strengths and Limitations

Affordability: Keeps generally offers lower prices for hair loss treatments, especially when purchased as part of a 3‑, 6‑, or 12‑month subscription.

Specialization: By concentrating solely on hair loss, Keeps provides focused, straightforward solutions without the distraction of unrelated products.

Narrower Scope: Unlike Hims, Keeps does not offer solutions beyond hair loss, which might be a drawback for users seeking broader health support.

Limited Consultation Flexibility: With fewer consultation options and additional fees for follow‑ups, the service can seem less personalized.

Comparison Table:

Detailed Product Comparison

1. Treatment Options & Efficacy

Oral Finasteride

Both Hims and Keeps offer oral finasteride—an FDA‑approved medication known to slow or even reverse male pattern baldness by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).¹ However, there are nuances in formulation and associated services.

• Hims Finasteride Prescription Hair Growth Medication
  • Format: Tablets
  • Dosage: Typically 1 mg daily
  • Prescription Process: Consult with a licensed provider via Hims’ platform, available through video, chat, or phone consultations.
  • User Insights: Users report noticeable slowing of hair loss after three to four months of consistent use. Hims emphasizes that this medication is most effective when combined with a comprehensive hair care regimen.
  • Pro Tip: For best results with oral finasteride, take it at the same time each day and combine with daily use of a topical treatment for enhanced efficacy.
• Keeps Finasteride 1 mg Hair Loss Medication
  • Format: Tablets
  • Dosage: 1 mg daily (prescription required)
  • Prescription Process: Requires a phone consultation and may incur a $5 fee for follow‑up visits.
  • User Insights: Keeps’ pricing for finasteride is slightly lower than Hims, but the overall customer experience may be less flexible.

Topical Minoxidil

Minoxidil, available over the counter, is a cornerstone of hair loss treatment.³ Both platforms provide this medication in various forms.

• Hims 5% Topical Minoxidil Foam / Solution
  • Format: Foam (preferred by many for ease of application) and solution options.
  • Concentration: 5% minoxidil—clinically proven for hair regrowth.
  • Application: Typically applied twice daily to the scalp on thinning areas.
  • User Insights: Many users report visible improvement in hair density after three to six months. Hims’ foam formulation is noted for its quick-drying, less-messy application compared to liquid solutions.
  • Pro Tip: For optimal results, apply minoxidil after a warm shower to open your pores and enhance absorption.
• Keeps Minoxidil Solution & Foam
  • Format: Offers both solution and foam forms, similar to Hims.
  • Concentration: 5% minoxidil, matching the clinical standard.
  • User Insights: While effective, some users report that Keeps’ packaging and application tools are slightly less refined than those offered by Hims, potentially affecting consistency.

Topical Finasteride

A significant differentiator for Hims is its exclusive offer of topical finasteride—an innovation aimed at reducing systemic side effects associated with oral finasteride.

• Hims Topical Finasteride & Minoxidil Spray
  • Format: Spray combining 0.3% finasteride with 6% minoxidil, along with complementary ingredients.
  • Benefits:
    • Potential for lower systemic absorption, reducing risks like decreased libido or erectile dysfunction.
    • Easy, no‑mess application that integrates seamlessly into a daily routine.
  • User Insights: Early adopters have noted that the spray is particularly effective for targeting receding hairlines and small bald patches. Users appreciate the simplicity of once‑daily application.
  • Expert Insight: “Topical finasteride offers a promising alternative for men who are sensitive to the side effects of oral finasteride,⁴ without sacrificing the efficacy in promoting hair regrowth,” says Dr. Emily Stanton, a renowned trichologist.

Table: Product Comparison Summary

2. Additional Hair Care Products

Both platforms extend beyond medication to offer adjunct hair care products designed to enhance the appearance of your hair and support treatment.

• Hims Complementary Products:
  • Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner: Formulated with ingredients like saw palmetto and biotin to help give hair a fuller, voluminous look.
  • Biotin Gummies: A daily supplement aimed at supporting hair health from within.
  • Hair Power Pack: Bundles that combine oral and topical treatments with supplementary products, providing a comprehensive approach to hair loss.
• Keeps Complementary Products:
  • Ketoconazole Shampoo: A 2% formulation designed to reduce scalp inflammation and dandruff, potentially enhancing the overall effectiveness of other treatments.
  • Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner: Similar to Hims but with a narrower range of additional products.
  • Biotin Supplements & Pomade: Focused on boosting the appearance of hair thickness.

Pricing & Subscription Analysis

When it comes to choosing a hair loss treatment service, pricing and overall value are critical considerations. While Keeps is often perceived as more affordable on a per‑product basis, the hidden costs and limitations in service can affect long‑term value.

Hims Pricing Structure

• Subscription Model: Hims offers multiple subscription plans that include monthly shipments of products.
• Pricing Range:
  • Oral finasteride typically starts at approximately $22 per month.
  • Topical minoxidil products are available as one‑off purchases or monthly subscriptions, generally ranging from $15 to $30 per month.
  • The exclusive topical finasteride & minoxidil spray is positioned at a premium, reflecting its innovative formulation.
• Shipping: Free shipping is a significant advantage, enhancing overall cost‑effectiveness.
• Consultation Fees: Hims provides free initial consultations and unlimited free follow‑ups via chat or video, ensuring a personalized service without additional costs.

Keeps Pricing Structure

• Subscription Model: Keeps also employs a subscription-based model, but it typically includes a flat shipping fee of about $5 per order.
• Pricing Range:
  • Oral finasteride starts at a competitive price, often a few dollars less than Hims on a monthly basis.
  • Topical minoxidil is similarly priced, with options available as both foam and solution.
  • Additional hair care products such as ketoconazole shampoo and thickening conditioners are offered at low prices.
• Consultation Fees: Keeps generally offers a free initial consultation; however, follow‑up consultations may incur a fee (typically $5 each).
• Hidden Costs: The extra shipping fees and consultation costs can add up over time, potentially diminishing the price advantage.

Comparison Table: Pricing Breakdown

Telehealth Consultation & Customer Experience

Consultation Process

The quality of your initial consultation and the ease of accessing support are crucial for ensuring you receive the right treatment for your hair loss.

Hims’ Consultation Experience

• Multiple Modes of Communication:
  Hims offers consultations via video, phone, or chat, ensuring that you can choose the method that best suits your lifestyle.
• Fast Response:
  Typically, you receive a response within 24 hours, and many users appreciate the prompt follow‑up.
• Free Follow‑Ups:
  With unlimited free follow‑up consultations included in your subscription, Hims provides continuous support and adjustments to your treatment plan as needed.
• User-Friendly Interface:
  The Hims website and mobile app are designed to be intuitive, ensuring a smooth user experience from registration to ordering.

Keeps’ Consultation Experience

• Phone-Only Consultations:
  Keeps primarily uses phone consultations, which, while effective, offer less flexibility compared to Hims’ multi‑channel approach.
• Additional Fees:
  Follow‑up consultations can incur extra fees, which may deter some users from seeking ongoing support.
• Limited Availability:
  In certain states, Keeps’ telehealth service is not available, potentially limiting access to personalized care.
• Overall User Feedback:
  Reviews suggest that while the initial consultation process is straightforward, the lack of options (e.g., video consultations) can be a drawback for users who prefer face-to‑face interaction.

Customer Satisfaction

Both platforms have garnered mixed reviews; however, aggregated ratings and user testimonials indicate that Hims generally offers a more satisfying customer experience.

• Hims:
  • Trustpilot & BBB: Generally higher ratings for responsiveness and overall service quality.
  • User Testimonials: Many users appreciate the seamless interface, free consultations, and the comprehensive nature of the product bundles.
  • Customer Support: Hims’ support channels (live chat, phone, and email) are noted for their responsiveness and professionalism.
• Keeps:
  • Trustpilot & BBB: Some negative reviews point to issues with subscription cancellation and follow‑up fees.
  • User Testimonials: While effective in terms of treatment, some users report frustration with the added costs and limited consultation options.

What Our Testers Say:

“I was impressed with Hims’ quick and free video consultation, which made the process feel truly personalized. Their range of products gives me options to fine‑tune my regimen. The free shipping is a huge plus!”
– Mark, 34, NY

“Keeps offers affordable prices, but the extra fees for consultations and shipping can add up. I wished I had the flexibility of video calls like Hims.”
– Jason, 41, CA

Safety, Efficacy & Side Effects

Safety & FDA Approval

Both Hims and Keeps only offer FDA‑approved treatments for hair loss, including oral finasteride and topical minoxidil. FDA approval provides an assurance of safety and efficacy, based on rigorous clinical trials.

• Finasteride:
  Approved for male pattern baldness, finasteride works by reducing DHT levels, which are a major contributor to hair loss.
  • Potential Side Effects: Decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and a rare risk of gynecomastia.⁵
• Minoxidil:
  A topical vasodilator that prolongs the hair growth phase and increases blood flow to hair follicles.⁶
  • Potential Side Effects: Scalp irritation, dryness, and sometimes an initial increase in shedding as hair cycles transition.⁷

Comparing Side Effects

• Hims:
  • Offers a unique topical finasteride option that may reduce the risk of systemic side effects compared to the oral form.
  • User reports indicate that the side effects are manageable, especially when users adhere to recommended dosing.
• Keeps:
  • Provides the standard formulations of oral finasteride and topical minoxidil, which, while effective, may have a higher incidence of the well‑known side effects.
  • Fewer innovative options to mitigate these side effects.

Risk vs. Reward Chart:

Additional Health & Wellness Services

Hims’ Expanded Offerings

One of the major advantages of Hims over Keeps is its broader focus on men’s overall wellness. While Keeps specializes solely in hair loss treatments, Hims has evolved into a holistic men’s health platform. This approach can be particularly beneficial if your hair loss is intertwined with other health issues.

• Sexual Health:
  Hims offers treatments for erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, including medications like sildenafil and tadalafil. These products complement hair loss treatments by addressing related health concerns that can also affect your self‑confidence and overall well‑being.
• Skincare & Mental Health:
  Hims provides skincare solutions ranging from acne treatments to anti‑aging creams, as well as mental health services including online therapy and prescription medications for anxiety and depression. A healthy mind and body can have a positive impact on your hair health.
• Vitamins & Supplements:
  Beyond the core hair loss products, Hims offers biotin gummies and other supplements designed to support hair, skin, and nail health.

Keeps’ Focus on Hair Loss

Keeps remains dedicated to providing specialized solutions for hair loss. Its streamlined approach ensures that all products are specifically targeted to help preserve and regrow hair. However, this narrow focus can be a limitation for men who are looking for a one‑stop solution for multiple health concerns.

Final Verdict & Conclusion

After meticulously comparing every facet of both services—from product range and innovative treatment options to pricing, consultation quality, and overall user experience—it is clear that Hims is the superior choice for men seeking effective, convenient, and holistic hair loss solutions.

Why Hims Wins:

1. Broader Product Range:
   Hims not only provides the standard treatments like oral finasteride and topical minoxidil but also leads the market by offering an exclusive topical finasteride formulation that potentially minimizes systemic side effects. Their additional offerings in skincare, sexual health, and mental wellness provide a comprehensive platform for overall men’s health.
2. Superior Telehealth Experience:
   With multiple consultation options—video, phone, and chat—Hims ensures that you receive personalized care and guidance without extra fees. Their free follow‑up consultations and rapid response times mean you’re never left in the dark about your treatment progress.
3. Value-Added Services:
   Although Hims’ prices may appear higher at first glance, the inclusion of free shipping, unlimited consultations, and a wider array of wellness products delivers excellent long‑term value. The holistic approach ensures that you are not just addressing hair loss but also supporting your overall health and confidence.
4. Innovative Formulations:
   Hims’ commitment to innovation is evident in its unique product offerings, such as the topical finasteride & minoxidil spray, which provides a new option for men who may be sensitive to the systemic side effects of oral finasteride.
5. Customer Experience & Trust:
   User testimonials, higher Trustpilot ratings, and a more intuitive digital experience all point to Hims as a more customer‑friendly and reliable service. With a modern, engaging interface and a strong emphasis on continuous support, Hims has built trust among its over 1 million subscribers.

Conclusion

Hair loss can be a distressing experience, impacting both appearance and self‑confidence. Fortunately, telehealth platforms like Hims and Keeps have made it easier than ever to access effective, FDA‑approved treatments from the comfort of your home. While Keeps offers a focused and affordable solution for hair loss, its limitations in consultation flexibility, additional support services, and product innovation give Hims a clear edge.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive, holistic approach to men’s wellness that tackles hair loss alongside other health concerns, Hims is your best bet. With its innovative product range, superior telehealth experience, and value‑added services, Hims not only helps you manage hair loss but also supports your overall well‑being.

Get started with Hims and experience the difference that comprehensive care and modern technology can make in restoring your hair—and your confidence.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right hair loss treatment service is a personal decision, influenced by your specific needs, budget, and lifestyle. Our thorough comparison shows that while both Hims and Keeps provide effective solutions, Hims’ holistic approach, innovative product range, and superior telehealth experience make it the clear winner for those who want more than just a hair loss treatment—they want a complete wellness solution.

How we reviewed this article: