Hims and Keeps are the two most popular DTC men’s hair loss platforms in the US. Hims is broader — offering ED, mental health, weight loss, and dermatology alongside hair loss — while Keeps stays narrow, focused exclusively on hair loss treatment. For patients comparing the two specifically for hair loss, the question isn’t which platform has more products; it’s which delivers the underlying medications (finasteride and minoxidil) more efficiently. This hims vs keeps comparison breaks down 2026 pricing, formula options, customer service track records, and the clinical considerations that should inform the choice. The summary: Keeps is slightly cheaper and cleaner for pure hair loss; Hims wins if you want hair loss alongside other treatments on one platform.
Hims vs Keeps pricing in 2026
Finasteride 1mg generic monthly cost:
- Keeps: $20/month, billed quarterly at $60
- Hims: $25/month, billed quarterly at $75
Topical minoxidil 5% monthly cost:
- Keeps: $15/month, billed quarterly at $45
- Hims: $15-19/month, depending on formulation
Combined finasteride + minoxidil bundle:
- Keeps: $35/month bundle
- Hims: $44-49/month with the standard hair kit (includes biotin gummies)
Stripped to just the two evidence-based medications, Keeps is consistently $5-10 per month cheaper than Hims. Over a year, that’s $60-120 in savings — meaningful for some patients, marginal for others. See our Keeps review and Hims review for individual platform breakdowns.
What’s actually in each platform’s hair kit
Keeps’ “Complete Hair Kit” includes:
- Finasteride 1mg oral tablets
- Topical minoxidil 5% (foam or solution)
- Ketoconazole shampoo (1%)
- Biotin gummies
- Thickening conditioner
Hims’ “Hair Kit” includes:
- Finasteride 1mg oral tablets
- Topical minoxidil 5% solution
- Biotin gummies
- DHT-blocking shampoo
- Vitamins
The two evidence-based medications (finasteride and minoxidil) are the same at both platforms. The supplemental products differ slightly. Keeps’s inclusion of ketoconazole shampoo is a slight clinical advantage — there’s modest evidence that ketoconazole shampoo provides some additional benefit for androgenic alopecia, though it’s far less impactful than the prescription medications. Biotin gummies, vitamins, and “thickening conditioner” have minimal evidence-based benefit for hair loss; they’re marketing fillers in both kits.
Clinical evidence — both platforms use the same medications
The clinical evidence behind hair loss treatment is well-established and applies equally to whichever platform delivers the medications. Oral finasteride works by blocking 5-alpha reductase, reducing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels and slowing or reversing male pattern baldness. The NIH StatPearls review documents 70-90% efficacy in slowing or reversing male pattern baldness with continued use.
Topical minoxidil produces hair regrowth in 30-40% of users with consistent application. The mechanism extends the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle. Combined finasteride + minoxidil produces better outcomes than either medication alone. This is true regardless of which DTC platform delivers the medications.
The customer experience — Keeps is cleaner, Hims is broader
Keeps’ platform experience is narrowly focused on hair loss. The intake doesn’t ask about ED, weight loss, or mental health. The app, communications, and account interface stay focused on hair loss management. Patients who want to manage hair loss without navigating around adjacent product offerings will find Keeps cleaner.
Hims’ platform is broader by design. Patients managing hair loss through Hims will see ED treatment, weight loss programs, and mental health offers in their account interface. For patients who want to consolidate multiple men’s health needs onto one platform, this is a feature. For patients focused only on hair loss who don’t want product upsells, Keeps is preferable.
Auto-renewal and customer service
Both platforms use auto-renewing quarterly subscriptions. Both have documented customer complaints about cancellation difficulty, surprise charges, and slow customer service responses. The complaint volume is similar at both platforms in absolute terms, though Hims has historically been the bigger target of public criticism partly because of its larger subscriber base.
Anecdotal evidence and Reddit threads suggest Keeps’ cancellation flow is slightly more straightforward than Hims, though both require active patient management. Patients should set calendar reminders before quarterly shipments and verify cancellation has been processed if ending the subscription.
Specific use cases — when each platform wins
Choose Keeps if: You only want hair loss treatment and prefer a focused platform without upsells. Pricing is slightly lower and the experience is cleaner. The narrow scope is a feature for hair-loss-only patients.
Choose Hims if: You want to consolidate hair loss with other men’s health treatments (ED, mental health, weight loss) on one platform. The slightly higher hair loss pricing is offset by the convenience of one account managing multiple conditions. Promotional pricing on Hims hair kits sometimes brings the price gap to zero.
Consider neither if: You want the cheapest possible path to generic finasteride and minoxidil. Buying generics through GoodRx at a local pharmacy can run $10-20 per month for the same medications, though without the convenience of auto-shipped subscriptions.
How both platforms compare to a dermatologist visit
For routine male pattern hair loss, both Hims and Keeps deliver clinically appropriate care. The asynchronous photo-based intake is sufficient for most uncomplicated cases. The American Academy of Dermatology recognizes telehealth as appropriate for routine hair loss prescribing.
For complex hair loss — patchy alopecia, scarring alopecia, female-pattern hair loss, or hair loss in the setting of other dermatologic conditions — in-person dermatology evaluation remains appropriate. Neither Hims nor Keeps performs scalp biopsies, scalp dermoscopy, or detailed scalp examination, all of which can be relevant for diagnosis in complex cases. For routine cases, both platforms work; for complex cases, see a dermatologist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Keeps cheaper than Hims for hair loss?
Yes, by approximately $5-10 per month at standard pricing. Annual savings are typically $60-120. Promotional pricing at signup sometimes narrows or eliminates the gap.
Do Hims and Keeps use the same medications?
Yes, both prescribe generic finasteride 1mg and generic topical minoxidil 5%. The active ingredients are identical. The supplemental products in each platform’s hair kits differ slightly but the prescription medications are the same.
Is Hims hair loss treatment effective?
Yes, when patients use the medications consistently. Hims delivers the same evidence-based finasteride and minoxidil that produce 70-90% efficacy for slowing or reversing male pattern baldness in clinical trials.
Can I cancel Keeps or Hims subscriptions anytime?
Yes through the account portal at either platform. Cancellation must happen before the next quarterly shipment. Both have documented complaints about cancellation flow; verify cancellation has been processed.
Which platform has better customer service?
Both have similar customer service complaint volumes proportional to their subscriber bases. Anecdotal evidence suggests Keeps’ narrow focus produces slightly more responsive support, but neither is excellent.
The bottom line on Hims vs Keeps
For hair loss specifically, Keeps is the cleaner, slightly cheaper option. The narrow focus produces a better experience for patients managing only hair loss. Hims has the advantage of consolidating multiple men’s health needs on one platform and runs aggressive promotional pricing that sometimes closes the gap. For pure hair loss treatment, Keeps wins on focus and small cost savings; for multi-condition men’s health, Hims wins on consolidation. Both deliver the same evidence-based medications, so clinical outcomes will be equivalent at either platform when patients use the medications consistently.