Nurx and Hers are two of the larger direct-to-consumer women’s health platforms in the US that offer birth control prescriptions through telehealth. They serve overlapping markets but with meaningfully different formularies, insurance integration, service breadth, and state availability. For patients comparing the two specifically for birth control, the differences matter — particularly for insured patients (who may pay far less at one platform) and patients seeking non-pill contraception. This nurx vs hers birth control comparison breaks down 2026 pricing, formulary differences, IUD coordination, and which platform tends to fit which patients. The short version: Nurx often leans toward birth control breadth and insurance, while Hers pairs birth control with a wider set of other services. Prices, fees, and offerings change frequently, so treat the figures here as a starting point and verify the current details on each platform.
One thing that applies to both: prescription birth control is a clinical decision, not a shopping choice. Both platforms use a health-history and blood-pressure screening, reviewed by a clinician (often a nurse practitioner), before prescribing. Not everyone is a candidate for every method — estrogen-containing options in particular are avoided or used cautiously in people with certain risk factors. The platform choice below assumes you and the clinician determine a given method is appropriate for you.
Insurance acceptance — Nurx’s clearer advantage
Nurx accepts many major commercial insurance plans for birth control through pharmacy benefits. Under ACA contraceptive-coverage rules, most ACA-compliant commercial plans cover prescribed contraception at no cost-sharing, which often means $0 birth control for insured Nurx patients. Coverage still varies by plan, state, and product, so confirm your own coverage.
Hers’ insurance acceptance for birth control is generally narrower. Many Hers birth control patients pay cash for the consultation and medication, even when their insurance might cover the same medication at $0 if prescribed and filled elsewhere.
For insured patients, this is often the central decision. Where Nurx produces $0 insurance-covered birth control and Hers charges cash for the same generic, the difference can add up over a year. Verify both your Nurx coverage and whether your plan would cover a Hers prescription before assuming one is cheaper.
Formulary breadth — Nurx tends to be wider
Nurx advertises a wide birth control formulary spanning many pill brands across categories:
- Combination pills (estrogen + progestin) in most common formulations
- Progestin-only pills (mini-pills) for patients who should avoid estrogen
- The patch
- The contraceptive ring
- Emergency contraception (such as levonorgestrel and ella)
- IUD prescriptions for in-office insertion
Hers’ formulary is generally focused on combination and progestin-only pills, and it does not currently emphasize non-pill methods such as the patch, the ring, or IUD coordination. Exact brand counts and offerings change over time and are marketing figures rather than fixed facts, so check each platform’s current brand list. The practical takeaway holds: for patients who want non-pill contraception or who have had side effects on standard pills, Nurx is usually the broader option; for someone continuing a common generic combination pill they have taken before, either platform can typically prescribe it.
Nurx vs Hers for birth control — pricing in 2026 (verify before you buy)
Pricing changes often and varies by product, state, and whether insurance is used. As of 2026, published figures are roughly:
Nurx birth control (verify):
- Often $0 with most ACA-compliant insurance for covered generics
- Cash pricing in the mid-teens to low-tens of dollars per month for many generics
- Higher cash pricing for branded options
- A consultation fee (recently around $28) when a visit is not covered, plus a small monthly support or dispensing fee — confirm the current amounts
Hers birth control (verify):
- Cash pricing starting around $15/month for generic combination pills
- Higher pricing for branded options
- Limited insurance acceptance — many patients pay cash
For insured patients, Nurx is frequently cheaper for birth control specifically. For uninsured patients, the platforms are similar for the medications they have in common, with Nurx’s broader formulary fitting more situations. Because these numbers move, check the current fees on each site. See our individual Nurx review and Hers review.
An over-the-counter option to know about
Separate from either platform, the progestin-only pill Opill is now available over the counter in the US without a prescription, following FDA approval. It is a daily pill (not emergency contraception) and, like all progestin-only pills, is not right for everyone. Nurx and some retailers also carry it. If cost or getting a prescription is a barrier, an OTC option may be worth discussing with a pharmacist or clinician — and it is a useful reference point when weighing the telehealth services here.
The IUD coordination service
Nurx’s IUD coordination has been one of its distinctive offerings: the platform writes the IUD prescription, the patient picks up the device, and arranges insertion with an in-person provider. This works around the reality that IUDs require a physical insertion that telehealth cannot perform directly. Hers has not generally offered IUD coordination, so patients seeking an IUD through Hers would need a separate path. Confirm current offerings, since service menus change; for patients specifically interested in an IUD, Nurx has typically been the more relevant of the two.
Clinical screening and contraindication assessment
Both platforms screen for birth control contraindications using the CDC U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (2024). Patients over 35 who smoke, those with a history of blood clots or clotting disorders, migraine with aura, or uncontrolled high blood pressure are generally steered away from estrogen-containing methods, with counseling toward safer alternatives such as progestin-only or non-hormonal options. This is why a health and blood-pressure history is part of intake at both platforms.
The clinical model at both platforms typically uses asynchronous prescribing with clinician review. Both aim to prescribe safely for the conditions they cover. The main differences between them are formulary, insurance integration, and state availability — the underlying safety screening is broadly similar. If you have complex risk factors, an in-person visit with your own clinician may be the better route regardless of platform.
State availability — check your state first
Telehealth availability differs by company and by state. Nurx is not available in every state — it has historically excluded a number of states, including West Virginia and several others — while some competitors provide birth control services in all 50 states. Before comparing prices or formularies, confirm that a given platform actually operates in your state, since availability can change over time.
Beyond birth control — broader services
Hers offers more services beyond birth control, which is part of its appeal for consolidation:
- Hair loss treatment
- Mental health prescriptions
- Custom dermatology formulas
- A GLP-1 weight-management program
- Sexual wellness products
Nurx’s non-birth-control services have centered more on reproductive and sexual health:
- At-home STI testing kits
- Migraine treatment
- HIV PrEP
- Limited mental health and dermatology
For patients consolidating multiple services on one platform, Hers covers a broader general menu; for patients focused on reproductive and sexual health, Nurx is more targeted. Offerings evolve, so confirm what each currently provides.
Specific use cases — when each platform tends to win
Nurx may fit better if: you are insured and want to use $0 ACA coverage; you want non-pill contraception (patch, ring, or IUD coordination); you want a broader pill formulary; or you also want STI testing or PrEP. Confirm Nurx serves your state.
Hers may fit better if: you also want hair loss treatment, mental health prescriptions, weight management, or other services Nurx does not offer, and you value consolidation; or you live in a state Nurx does not serve.
Some patients use both: Nurx for insurance-covered birth control and Hers for other categories. See our broader Hers vs Nurx comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nurx accept insurance for birth control?
Often, yes. Nurx bills many major commercial insurance plans through pharmacy benefits, and most ACA-compliant plans cover prescribed contraception at $0 cost-sharing. Coverage varies by plan and product, so verify your own.
Does Hers accept insurance for birth control?
Hers’ insurance acceptance is generally narrower, and many Hers birth control patients pay cash. Some plans may cover Hers prescriptions through pharmacy benefits, but it is less consistent than Nurx’s coverage. Confirm before enrolling.
Can Nurx prescribe IUDs?
Nurx has offered IUD prescriptions that patients fill and bring to an in-person insertion appointment — a service Hers has not generally offered. Confirm current availability and whether Nurx operates in your state.
Is birth control safe to get through telehealth?
For many people, yes — both platforms screen your health and blood-pressure history against CDC eligibility criteria before prescribing. But not everyone is a candidate for every method, and people with certain risk factors (such as a clotting history or migraine with aura) may need alternatives or an in-person evaluation. The prescribing clinician makes that call.
Can I switch from one platform to the other?
Generally yes, with appropriate documentation. Some patients use Nurx for birth control and Hers for other categories. Any switch should still go through each platform’s clinical screening.
The bottom line on Nurx vs Hers for birth control
For birth control specifically, Nurx is often the stronger fit for patients who want formulary breadth, non-pill methods, or $0 insurance-covered pills — provided it operates in their state. Hers’ birth control is a reasonable choice for common generic pills, and it shines for patients who want to consolidate birth control with other services like hair loss or weight management. Because pricing, fees, formularies, and state availability all change, verify the current details on each platform before deciding — and remember that whichever platform you choose, the prescription itself depends on a clinician’s screening and judgment about what is appropriate for you.
Please note: This article is general educational information, not medical advice, and it is not a recommendation of any specific product or platform. Prescription birth control requires a clinician’s evaluation, and the right method depends on your health history and blood pressure; some people should avoid estrogen-containing methods. Prices, fees, formularies, and state availability change frequently — verify current details with each platform and your insurer. Talk with a qualified clinician about which contraceptive option is appropriate for you.
Sources
- CDC — U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2024
- CMS — Contraceptive coverage FAQs (ACA preventive services)
- FDA — Opill (over-the-counter progestin-only oral contraceptive) approval
- Nurx — pricing, brands, and Opill pages (verify current figures)
- Hims & Hers (Hers) — birth control pricing and services (verify current figures)