Hims vs. Roman 2023: What to Know About These Men’s Health Services

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Hims and Roman are two telemedicine brands offering treatments for erectile dysfunction, hair loss, and other men’s health issues. We found that Hims offers more treatment options, while Roman may offer lower prices. Here are all the details.

Hims and Roman are both rising telemedicine brands that seek to give customers treatment services for erectile dysfunction (ED), premature ejaculation (PE), and other health issues without relying on traditional healthcare systems.

One of the most important and most popular changes to the health insurance landscape brought about by the passing of the Affordable Care Act was the prohibition against denying patients health insurance, or charging them more, if they had preexisting conditions. Research shows that 27% of Americans in the 18 to 64 age group have what would have been considered a “declinable medical condition” before the Affordable Care Act took effect, and in some regions, the percentage of patients with preexisting conditions rises to nearly four in 10, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

But how do these two companies, their products, and their services stack up against one another?

We do a deep dive into each company, how they compare, and how you can decide which one may work for your needs.

Hims is a men’s health brand founded in late 2017 when, as the story goes, the sister of founder Andrew Dudum commented on Dudum’s skin issues.

Focused on full-service telemedicine for men’s health, Hims provides digital management tools for appointments, prescriptions, and generic medications for common ED treatments, like sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis).

Hims also has services and treatment offerings for:

Hims has also created partner brand Hers, which addresses women’s healthcare needs through the digital management of appointments, prescriptions, and treatments.

Looking for more info on Hims? Read our full Hims ED review.

Roman is an offshoot of a company called Ro. It was founded in 2017 as an “end-to-end” healthcare service. Their services are aimed directly at consumers, with minimal obstruction from healthcare professionals, physicians, and pharmacies.

Since their founding, Roman has aggressively advertised this service. They’ve become a recognized brand in the men’s health space, especially for their generic Viagra (sildenafil) and generic Cialis (tadalafil).

Roman’s primary service is helping you access healthcare on their platform. This includes:

• making appointments
• getting prescriptions
• having easy access to a physician to guide you through your questions and concerns

Ro also operates two other major brands:

• Rory for women’s health
• Zero for quitting smoking

Looking for more info on Roman? Read our full Roman ED review.

In addition to their telemedicine services, both Hims and Roman offer ED treatments. Here’s a brief overview of what each company offers.

Keep in mind that many of these ED treatments are similar in how they work, but they may come in different dosages. These dosages may take different lengths of time to work and may be taken at different intervals, such as daily or weekly.

Some medications used to treat ED are prescribed off-label . This means physicians have found therapeutic use for a medication outside of what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it for.

A good rule of thumb when taking any medication you haven’t used before, whether it’s completely new to you or from a different manufacturer or supplier, is to note how you feel and any side effects. Discuss these with your doctor in a follow-up appointment.

Though the FDA may approve a category of medications with active ingredients like sildenafil or tadalafil, versions on the market may contain additional ingredients or have different dosages that can affect you differently.

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Hims treatments for ED and PE

• Sildenafil (Viagra): This oral tablet was created to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. Known as a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, Viagra treats the inability to get an erection, or ED. It helps the smooth muscles relax, so blood vessels allow more blood flow into the penis for an erection.
• Tadalafil (Cialis): This is another PDE5 inhibitor oral tablet for ED.
• Avanafil (Stendra):Avanafil is another PDE5 inhibitor oral tablet for ED.
• Sertraline: This oral tablet used off-label for PE has the same active ingredient as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant Zoloft. For PE, sertraline helps you last longer before ejaculating during sex or masturbation.
• Lidocaine spray: This spray-on numbing agent helps reduce nerve sensation so you can potentially last longer before you ejaculate.

Roman treatments for ED and PE

• Sildenafil (Viagra): This PDE5 inhibitor treats ED and is sold as an oral tablet.
• Tadalafil (Cialis): Roman offers this popular PDE5 inhibitor for ED as well.
• Sertraline: Roman also offers a generic version of the SSRI antidepressant Zoloft as an off-label treatment for PE.
• Benzocaine wipes: Sold as “Roman swipes,” these wipes are pre-moistened with 4% benzocaine, a numbing agent that can reduce sensation in your penis so you last longer during sex.

Hims	Roman
ED treatments	• Viagra • sildenafil • Cialis • tadalafil • Stendra • paroxetine	• Viagra • sildenafil • Cialis • tadalafil
PE treatments	• sertraline • lidocaine spray	• sertraline • benzocaine wipes
Hair loss treatments	• finasteride and minoxidil spray • finasteride pills • thickening shampoo and conditioner	• finasteride pills • topical minoxidil
Price	starting at: • $10 per month for hair loss treatments • $3 per dose for ED treatments • $24 per month for PE treatments	starting at: • $16 for hair loss treatments • $4 per dose for certain ED treatments
Customer reviews (Better Business Bureau)	A+ rating	B+ rating
Shipping	free shipping, discreet packaging	free 2-day shipping, discreet packaging
Insurance	not covered by insurance	not covered by insurance

*Pricing and ratings as of March 2023.

Here’s how some medications that both Hims and Roman sell work for ED and PE.

Sildenafil and tadalafil

Typically, when your penis nerves are stimulated, smooth muscles around the spongy tissue in your penis called the corpus cavernosa relax and let blood flow into this tissue to engorge it. This results in an erection.

With ED, this process is disrupted.

Sildenafil and tadalafil are in a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors.

These medications stop the production of the enzyme PDE5 . This allows your body to produce higher levels of nitric oxide and relax your penis muscles, letting sufficient blood flow into the penis for an erection.

Lidocaine and benzocaine

Typically, stimulated nerves in your penis use sodium to communicate signals to the central nervous system called “action potential.” But you can get too stimulated and ejaculate earlier than you’d like.

Benzocaine and lidocaine help block sodium channels so nerve signals can’t take place. This means you’ll feel less sensation or none at all, so the sensation of sex or masturbation doesn’t overstimulate you.

Some people find this helps them with performance and lowers some anxiety around sex.

Here’s how these two companies generally use each of the ED medications:

Viagra	Cialis	Stendra
Generic available?	yes	yes	no
Generic name	sildenafil	tadalafil	avanafil
Strengths (milligrams)	25, 50, 100	2.5, 5 , 10, 20	50, 100, 200
Dosage	50 mg as needed	10 mg as needed, or 2.5 mg daily	100 mg as needed
Take it when?	30–60 minutes before sex	30 minutes before sex	15 minutes before sex for 100 mg and 200 mg; 30 minutes before sex for 50 mg
Length of effectiveness	4 hours	around 36 hours	6 hours

Each company has a slightly different process for setting you up with a doctor and getting you the ED medications you may need.

Here’s how each company’s process works:

Physician’s assessment via Hims

Here’s what to expect when you use Hims for medical consultations and prescription services:

1. You will answer a brief questionnaire about your symptoms and experience with ED products.
2. Hims will tell you whether you’re covered and whether a licensed physician is available based on your location.
3. You will create an online user account and provide a government-issued ID along with a brief medical history.
4. A licensed physician will contact you for a brief consultation with recommendations, prescriptions, or treatment plans.
5. Your prescription is submitted. You will get any approved medications through the mail.

Physician’s assessment via Roman

Here’s what you can generally expect when you consult with Roman and their physicians before receiving a prescription or any other treatment:

1. You will create an online user account with a user ID, blood pressure reading, and medical history.
2. Roman will connect you with a licensed physician or nurse practitioner for an appointment and evaluation via video chat.
3. Your healthcare professional will encourage you to get any necessary lab tests. They will examine them at no extra cost.
4. Your healthcare professional will reach out to you once they’ve analyzed your tests and give you a recommendation, treatment plan, or prescription.
5. Your prescription is created. You will receive your approved medications through the mail.
6. You can reach out to your healthcare professional anytime with questions, concerns, or for further consultation.

Here’s how the prices stack up between each company for common ED medications:

Hims	Roman
Sildenafil	$3 per use	$4–$10 per dose
Viagra	$139 per use	$90 per dose
Tadalafil	$82 per month based on daily doses	$8–$44 per dose
Cialis	$958 per month based on daily doses	$20–$80 per dose
Sertraline	$24 per month	$24 per month
Stendra	$53 per use	—
Lidocaine premature ejaculation spray (0.18 fl oz)	$31	—
Benzocaine wipes	$19 for starter pack	$22–$27 per month

*Pricing as of March 2023.

Although each company may promise easier alternatives to traditional healthcare, the marketing bluster can sometimes be deceiving.

It’s worth checking out official company websites and third-party review sites, such as Trustpilot. These can give you the broadest, unbiased sense of what to expect from these companies based on personal experiences.

Here’s what customers have to say about each of these brands.

Hims customer reviews: Is Hims worth trying?

Hims does not offer refunds on certain prescription medications due to regulatory controls around selling and reselling medications.

But as their website states, Hims does allow you to pause or cancel any subscription service without charge if you pause or cancel at least 48 hours before your next scheduled purchase or delivery.

As of March 2023, Hims has over 1,300 Trustpilot reviews and an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars.

Here is what reviewers on Trustpilot have to say about Hims and their products:

Hims pros, according to customers

• discreet packaging
• products work as intended, including unexpected effects like more stamina from ED products
• website is easy to use and understand
• orders and subscriptions are easy to start

Hims cons, according to customers

• late or unreceived shipments
• difficulty reaching customer service representatives, with waits of up to 2 weeks or longer for responses
• subscription charges that weren’t authorized and then not refunded for months
• difficulty canceling orders
• unintended side effects, such as rashes, from using skin care products

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As of March 2023, Hims is rated at 1.08 out of 5 stars on the BBB website and has over 80 customer reviews. Many of the reviews cover the same concerns listed above.

Roman customer reviews: Is Roman worth trying?

Like Hims, Roman does not offer refunds on prescription medications for regulatory reasons. However, if you feel that the company made an error filling your prescription, you can email them for a resolution.

Roman has only eleven Trustpilot reviews, with an average rating of 2.1 out of 5 stars, as of March 2023. Negative customer comments focus on shipping issues, trouble contacting customer service, and having some difficulty navigating the website and app.

Roman is rated at 1.75 out of 5 stars on the BBB website from 12 customer reviews at the time of publish.

Here is an overview of what customers have to say on the BBB:

Roman pros, according to customers

• products arrive quickly, usually within 1 week or less
• one customer’s experience with Viagra and supplements was very positive

Roman cons, according to customers

• lack of timely responses from customer service representatives
• unauthorized charges for canceled subscriptions
• subscriptions being charged but never delivered
• concerns about personal information privacy
• lack of flexibility in choosing a doctor for telemedicine appointments

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Both Hims and Roman are relatively young companies and don’t have extensive track records. This means most complaints and legal action against these companies may not be publicly available.

It can take years for enough consumer reports and evidence to build up before a lawsuit can be successfully filed and taken to court. But here’s what we were able to find that may be relevant to each of these companies.

Hims reputation

To date, the FDA has not released warning letters targeting any products or services from Hims. No lawsuits have been publicly filed against the company, either.

Roman reputation

As with Hims, no FDA warning letters or lawsuits against the Roman brand or the Ro company have been issued or filed.

Here are some common side effects to watch out for when using any of the medications offered by Hims and Roman.

PDE5 inhibitor side effects

Side effects of PDE5 inhibitors like sildenafil, tadalafil, and avanafil include:

• rashes
• flushed skin
• redness
• achy muscles
• sore throat
• back pain
• headache
• runny nose
• upset stomach
• erection longer than 4 hours (priapism)
• blurry vision

A serious side effect can occur when taking PDE5 inhibitors with nitrates that you might use to regulate blood pressure. These two medications are contraindicated and could cause potentially life threatening hypotensive (low blood pressure) effects .

If you are currently taking nitrates, blood pressure medication, or have a history of heart attacks or strokes, it’s important to share this information with your doctor before starting any PDE5 inhibitors.

Sertraline side effects

Side effects of sertraline can include:

• nausea
• appetite loss
• diarrhea
• upset stomach
• sleepiness
• difficulty falling asleep
• sweating a lot (hyperhidrosis)
• feeling shaky
• exhaustion
• agitation

Benzocaine side effects

Benzocaine is a common numbing agent and is generally considered safe. It’s even used to help numb you before dental procedures.

Here are some uncommon but possible side effects of benzocaine:

• skin flaking
• skin feeling tender where you wiped
• itchiness
• burning and stinging
• warmth or skin redness

Hims	Roman	Lemonaid	Keeps	BlueChew
ED treatments	• Viagra • sildenafil • Cialis • tadalafil • Stendra • paroxetine	• Viagra • sildenafil • Cialis • tadalafil	• sildenafil • tadalafil • Cialis	not offered	• chewable sildenafil • chewable tadalafil
PE treatments	• sertraline • lidocaine spray	• sertraline • benzocaine wipes	• sildenafil • sertraline	not offered	not offered
Hair loss treatments	• finasteride and minoxidil spray • finasteride pills • thickening shampoo and conditioner	• finasteride pills • topical minoxidil	finasteride	• finasteride minoxidil solution • minoxidil foam • ketoconazole shampoo • thickening shampoo • thickening conditioner	not offered
Price*	starting at: • $10 for hair loss treatments • $3 per dose for ED treatments • $24 per month for PE treatments	starting at: • $16 for hair loss treatments • $4 per dose for ED and PE treatments	starting at: • $60 for 3-month supply of hair loss treatment • $1 per pill for PE • $2–$8 per pill for ED	starting at: $10 per month	$20 for 6 doses
BBB rating*	1.08/5 based on 88 customer reviews	1.75/5 based on 12 customer reviews	3.41/5 based on 78 customer reviews	1.94/5 based on 50 customer reviews	2.33/5 based on 3 customer reviews
Shipping	free shipping, discreet packaging	free 2-day shipping, discreet packaging	free shipping, discreet packaging	$5 per shipment	$5 per shipment, discreet packaging
Insurance	not covered by insurance	not covered by insurance	not covered by insurance	not covered by insurance	not covered by insurance

*Pricing and ratings as of March 2023.

Looking for more in-depth reviews?

You can take a closer look at BlueChew and how it compares with Hims and Roman by reading our reviews:

• BlueChew vs. Hims: Products, Services, Pricing, and Reviews
• BlueChew vs. Roman: Which Is Better?

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One of the biggest benefits of Hims and Roman is that you can get an online consultation with a physician and be prescribed medications sent directly to your home.

However, there’s no substitute for meeting in person with a doctor, if you’re able to.

If you have any concerns or questions that you don’t think these online providers can address, consider talking with a primary care doctor. They can also order additional tests, if necessary, to rule out any other potential causes for what you are experiencing.

There may be a chance that recent changes to daily nutrition, mental health, or lifestyle may be contributing to your symptoms. If that’s the case, your doctor can help build a more personalized treatment plan for you. They can also recommend a local urologist or specialist who can meet with you.

Also, if you experience any concerning side effects as a result of medications received through Hims and Roman, your doctor would be a good resource to reach out to for help.

Are Hims and Roman the same?

No. Although they are both men’s health brands, Hims and Roman are not owned by the same parent company. Both companies provide healthcare services, medications, and treatment options for common issues, such as hair loss, skin concerns, and ED.

Does Hims or Roman have Viagra?

Yes, both Hims and Roman offer brand name Viagra as well as generic Viagra — called sildenafil. In fact, while many online ED medication companies just offer sildenafil, only a few reputable companies, like Hims and Roman offer brand-name Viagra to treat ED symptoms.

Are Roman and Hims covered by insurance?

No, Roman and Hims are not covered by insurance.

Do Hims and Roman work for ED?

Hims and Roman offer brand-name and generic medications for ED, such as Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), and avanafil. Whether those medications work for ED depends on the person and the cause of the ED.

Is Roman’s online pharmacy legit?

Yes, Roman’s online pharmacy is legitimate. While some products can be sold over the counter without a prescription — like at your local pharmacy — other products will require a prescription from one of Roman’s licensed healthcare professionals. They will discuss and review your medical history with you before prescribing and shipping the medication.

In addition, Roman offers brand-name and generic versions of some medications, like Viagra and Cialis, so you can choose to go with a trusted brand name if you’re unsure about using a generic.

You can have your medications discreetly sent to your home through Roman’s online pharmacy or your prescription filled through your local pharmacy if you prefer not to receive your medication through the mail.

However, prices may vary outside of Roman’s network. Your local pharmacy must be able to receive electronic prescriptions and be part of the Surescripts network.

Roman’s website also links to its advisory board of physical, psychological, and sexual health advisers who oversee the company’s medication and prescription procedures.

Roman is also certified through LegitScript, which ensures telemedicine companies aren’t engaged in any criminal activity or unethical practices.

Both Hims and Roman aim for the same goal: easing access to sexual health and wellness while helping remove the stigma around common health issues like ED.

The choice is ultimately up to you, as both companies have pros and cons. But the choice should be centered around what service works for you and which one you believe will address your specific health needs.

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Last medically reviewed on March 28, 2023