Nurx and Hers are the two largest direct-to-consumer women’s health platforms in the US offering birth control prescriptions through telehealth. They serve overlapping markets but with meaningfully different birth control formularies, insurance integration, and service breadth. For patients comparing the two specifically for birth control, the differences matter — particularly for insured patients (who pay dramatically less at one platform) and patients seeking non-pill contraception (only one platform offers comprehensive options). This nurx vs hers birth control comparison breaks down 2026 pricing, formulary differences, IUD coordination, and which platform fits which patients better. The summary: Nurx for birth control specifically, Hers for broader women’s health categories alongside birth control.
Insurance acceptance — Nurx’s clearer advantage
Nurx accepts most major commercial insurance plans for birth control through pharmacy benefits managers. Under ACA contraception mandates, most commercial plans cover Nurx birth control at $0 cost. Insurance handling is well-established and runs smoothly for most patients.
Hers’ insurance acceptance is narrower. Most Hers patients pay cash-pay for the consultation and medication, even when their insurance would cover the same medication at $0 if it were prescribed elsewhere.
For insured patients, this is the central decision. Nurx routinely produces $0 birth control while Hers charges $15-30/month for the same generic. Over a year, this is $180-360 in unnecessary spending if a patient with insurance chooses Hers over Nurx for birth control specifically.
Formulary breadth — Nurx wins
Nurx’s birth control formulary covers 100+ pill brands across categories:
- Combination pills (estrogen + progestin) in most common formulations
- Progestin-only pills (mini-pills) for patients with estrogen contraindications
- The patch (Xulane)
- The contraceptive ring (Annovera, NuvaRing)
- Emergency contraception (Plan B, Ella, generics)
- IUD prescriptions for in-office insertion
Hers’ formulary covers ~50-60 pill options primarily across common combination and progestin-only pills. Hers does not currently offer:
- The patch
- The contraceptive ring
- IUD prescription coordination
For patients who want non-pill contraception or have had side effects on standard pills, Nurx is dramatically broader. For patients seeking the standard generic combination pill they’ve been taking for years, both platforms can prescribe it.
Nurx vs Hers for birth control — pricing in 2026
Nurx birth control:
- $0 with most major insurance for generics (covered under ACA contraception mandate)
- $15-30/month cash-pay for generics
- $30-60/month cash-pay for branded options
- $25 consultation fee if insurance doesn’t cover the visit
Hers birth control:
- $15/month cash-pay for generic combination pills
- $30+/month for branded options
- Limited insurance acceptance — most patients pay cash-pay
For insured patients, Nurx is dramatically cheaper. For uninsured patients, the platforms are similar in pricing for the medications they have in common, but Nurx’s broader formulary fits more patients. See our individual Nurx review and Hers review.
The IUD coordination service
Nurx’s IUD coordination is one of its distinctive offerings. The platform writes the IUD prescription, the patient picks up the IUD at a pharmacy, and arranges insertion with an in-person provider. Nurx coordinates the prescription side; the patient arranges the insertion separately. This works around the limitation that IUDs require physical insertion that telehealth can’t handle directly.
Hers does not currently offer IUD coordination. Patients seeking IUDs through Hers would need to find a separate path. For patients interested in IUDs, Nurx is the appropriate choice between the two platforms.
Clinical screening and contraindication assessment
Both platforms screen appropriately for birth control contraindications per CDC Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use. Patients over 35 who smoke, those with history of blood clots, migraine with aura, or uncontrolled hypertension are screened out of estrogen-containing pills with appropriate counseling.
The clinical model at both platforms uses asynchronous prescribing with clinician (typically nurse practitioner) review. Both produce safe, appropriate prescribing for the conditions covered. The difference is the formulary and insurance integration, not the safety of the prescribing process.
Beyond birth control — broader services
Hers offers more services beyond birth control:
- Hair loss treatment (topical minoxidil, off-label spironolactone)
- Mental health prescriptions (SSRIs, SNRIs)
- Custom dermatology formulas
- GLP-1 weight loss program
- Sexual wellness products
Nurx offers different services beyond birth control:
- Comprehensive at-home STI testing kits
- Migraine treatment program
- HIV PrEP
- Limited mental health and dermatology
For patients consolidating multiple women’s health services on one platform, Hers covers a broader menu including weight loss and hair loss that Nurx doesn’t. For patients focused on reproductive and sexual health (birth control + STI testing + PrEP), Nurx is more focused.
Specific use cases — when each platform wins
Choose Nurx for birth control if: You’re insured (so you can take advantage of $0 ACA coverage). You want non-pill contraception (patch, ring, IUD coordination). You want broader pill formulary options. You need STI testing or PrEP alongside birth control.
Choose Hers for birth control if: You also need hair loss treatment, mental health prescriptions, weight loss, or other services Nurx doesn’t offer, and want consolidation on one platform. You’re uninsured and the formulary breadth doesn’t matter as much.
Use both if: You want Nurx for insurance-covered birth control specifically and Hers for hair loss, weight loss, or other services. Many patients use both for different needs without conflict. See our broader Hers vs Nurx comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nurx accept insurance for birth control?
Yes. Nurx bills most major commercial insurance plans through pharmacy benefits managers. Most ACA-compliant plans cover Nurx birth control at $0 cost.
Does Hers accept insurance for birth control?
Hers’ insurance acceptance is narrower. Most Hers birth control patients pay cash-pay. Some plans may cover Hers prescriptions through pharmacy benefits, but it’s less consistent than Nurx’s coverage.
Can Nurx prescribe IUDs?
Yes. Nurx writes IUD prescriptions that patients pick up at a pharmacy and bring to an in-person insertion appointment. This is a service Hers does not currently offer.
Which has better birth control selection?
Nurx has the broader formulary with 100+ pill options plus the patch, the ring, and IUD coordination. Hers has ~50-60 pill options without non-pill methods.
Can I switch from one platform to the other?
Yes. Patients can move prescriptions between platforms with appropriate documentation. Some patients use Nurx for birth control specifically and Hers for other categories.
The bottom line on Nurx vs Hers for birth control
For birth control specifically, Nurx is the clearer choice for most patients. The broader formulary, IUD coordination, and $0 cost with most insurance produce meaningful advantages over Hers’ narrower offering. Hers’ birth control is adequate for patients seeking common generic pills they’ve used before, particularly those already using Hers for other categories. For patients who want best-in-class birth control care, Nurx is the right choice. For patients consolidating multiple services on one platform with birth control as one of many needs, Hers may fit better. Many patients use both platforms for different services to optimize each category.