Quick Verdict
Choose Hims if you want more treatment options (especially combination chewables), a slicker app experience, and don't mind paying slightly more for premium formulations.
Choose Roman if you want a broader telehealth platform that covers more conditions, prefer their sublingual "Sparks" format for ED, or plan to use multiple services like weight loss alongside ED or hair.
For most guys: Hims edges out Roman for ED and hair growth specifically. Roman wins if you want an all-in-one digital health clinic.
In This Guide
Hims and Roman (now called "Ro") are the two titans of men's telehealth. Both launched in 2017, both went public, and both offer similar services: ED treatment, hair growth solutions, and more. At first glance, they're nearly identical.
But once you dig into the details — pricing structures, medication formats, user experience, and what else they offer — meaningful differences emerge. We've compared both platforms extensively to help you decide which one actually makes sense for your situation.
| Feature | Hims | Roman (Ro) |
|---|---|---|
| ED Starting Price | $2/dose (sildenafil) | $2/dose (sildenafil) |
| Hair Starting Price | $16/mo (finasteride) | $17/mo (finasteride) |
| Consultation Fee | Free | Free |
| Chewable ED Meds | Yes ✓ | Sublingual only |
| Oral Minoxidil | Yes ✓ | Yes ✓ |
| Combo ED+Hair Chewables | Yes ✓ | No |
| Weight Loss (GLP-1) | Yes ✓ | Yes ✓ |
| Mental Health | Yes ✓ | Yes ✓ |
| Shipping Speed | 2-5 business days | 2-5 business days |
| App Experience | Excellent | Good |
Company Overview
Hims & Hers
NYSE: HIMS
Founded in 2017, Hims started as a men's health brand before expanding to women's health (Hers). They've positioned themselves as a lifestyle/wellness brand first, medical provider second. Their branding is modern, their app is polished, and they've invested heavily in compounded formulations like chewables.
Revenue (2024): $1.48 billion (+69% YoY)
Subscribers: 2.2 million+
Ro (Roman)
Private
Also founded in 2017, Roman started with ED and has expanded to become a full "digital health clinic." They now offer Ro Body (weight loss), Ro Mind (mental health), and Rory (women's health). They position themselves more as healthcare than wellness.
Valuation: $7 billion (2022)
Focus: Full-spectrum digital health
Both companies are legitimate, publicly-visible operations with licensed physicians and pharmacies. Neither is a scam (a common concern for first-time users). The difference is in positioning: Hims leans lifestyle, Roman leans clinical.
Pricing Comparison
Let's cut through the marketing and look at what you'll actually pay. Both companies use subscription models with discounts for longer commitments.
ED Medication Pricing
| Medication | Hims | Roman |
|---|---|---|
| Generic Sildenafil | $2-4/dose | $2-4/dose |
| Generic Tadalafil (daily) | $8-12/mo | $8-11/mo |
| Hard Mints (chewable) | $8-10/dose | N/A |
| Sparks (sublingual) | N/A | ~$12/dose |
Hair Growth Pricing
| Treatment | Hims | Roman |
|---|---|---|
| Finasteride (oral) | $16/mo | $17/mo |
| Minoxidil (topical) | $15/mo | $15/mo |
| Oral Minoxidil | $20-30/mo | $20-35/mo |
| Combo (Fin + Min) | $30-45/mo | $30-45/mo |
Bottom line on pricing: They're essentially the same for standard generics. Hims pulls ahead if you want their proprietary chewable formats. Roman's pricing is slightly more straightforward with fewer upsells.
ED Treatments Compared
Both offer the same core medications (sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil). The real difference is in the delivery formats.
Hims ED Options
- Generic sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil (pills)
- Hard Mints: Chewable sildenafil + tadalafil combo
- Stendra (avanafil) available
- ED + premature ejaculation combos
Hims' chewables use compounded formulations that combine multiple active ingredients
Roman ED Options
- Generic sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil (pills)
- Ro Sparks: Sublingual tablets (dissolve under tongue)
- Brand Viagra and Cialis available (expensive)
- Daily tadalafil for continuous coverage
Ro Sparks claim 15-minute onset due to sublingual absorption
Winner for ED: Hims — The Hard Mints chewables are genuinely differentiated. Combining sildenafil (fast-acting) with tadalafil (long-lasting) in one tablet gives you the best of both. Roman's Sparks are good but don't offer the same combo advantage.
Hair Growth Compared
Both platforms offer the standard treatments: finasteride (oral), minoxidil (topical and oral), and combination products. The differences are subtle.
Key Differences for Hair
Oral Minoxidil
Both offer it. This is the big advancement — oral minoxidil bypasses the scalp enzyme issue that makes topical fail for 30-40% of men. If you've tried Rogaine without results, oral is worth trying. Pricing is similar at both (~$20-35/month).
Topical Finasteride
Hims offers topical finasteride spray for those worried about systemic side effects. Roman has been slower to add this. If side effect concerns are holding you back, Hims has more options here.
Compounded Combos
Hims has more creative compounded formulations (finasteride + minoxidil + biotin chewables, for example). Roman sticks closer to standard prescriptions.
Winner for Hair: Hims (slightly) — More formulation options, especially if you want topical finasteride or compounded combos. If you just want basic finasteride + minoxidil, they're equivalent.
The Consultation Process
Both use the same general model: asynchronous telemedicine. You answer questions online, a doctor reviews your info, and you get a prescription (or don't) without a video call in most cases.
Hims Process
- 1 Complete online questionnaire (5-10 min)
- 2 Upload photos if required (hair loss)
- 3 Doctor reviews within 24 hours (often faster)
- 4 If approved, prescription ships to your door
Roman Process
- 1 Complete online questionnaire (5-10 min)
- 2 Upload photos if required (hair loss)
- 3 Doctor reviews within 24 hours
- 4 If approved, prescription ships to your door
Tie. The process is nearly identical. Both are fast, both are easy, both are legitimate. Neither requires an awkward video call for standard ED or hair prescriptions.
Shipping & Packaging
Both ship in discreet packaging with no indication of what's inside. This is standard across the industry — your mailman won't know you're getting ED meds.
- Hims: Plain white or brown boxes. Return address says "Hims" but no indication of contents.
- Roman: Similar discreet packaging. Return address says "Ro."
- Timeline: Both typically ship within 1-2 days of approval, delivery in 2-5 business days.
Tie. Both handle discretion well. Free shipping is standard on subscriptions for both.
Final Verdict: Hims vs Roman
Choose Hims If:
- • You want the most treatment options
- • Chewable/combo ED formulations appeal to you
- • You prefer a polished app experience
- • You want topical finasteride options
- • Branding/aesthetics matter to you
Choose Roman If:
- • You want a full-service digital health clinic
- • You plan to use weight loss (GLP-1) services too
- • You prefer sublingual tablets (Sparks)
- • You want less upselling in the experience
- • You might use their women's health (Rory) for a partner
Our pick for most guys: Hims. For ED and hair specifically, Hims offers more innovative formulations and a slightly better user experience. Their chewable combos are genuinely useful, not just gimmicks.
That said, Roman is excellent too. If you're looking at the bigger picture — maybe you want weight loss support alongside ED treatment, or you prefer a more "clinical" feel — Roman delivers. You can't go wrong with either.