Hims Testosterone Alternatives: 8 Options Compared — and What Hims Is Actually Prescribing

Hims testosterone alternatives include Strut for shorter enclomiphene commitments, Hone for live physician visits, and a clinician who can evaluate FDA-approved testosterone options. Hims' $99 monthly rate requires $990 upfront for ten months. Enclomiphene is not TRT. Fertility plans, your diagnosis, state, and complete bill can change the right next step.

Best for: U.S. adult men comparing Hims' product, payment plan, or care with another option. Not for you if: you need a diagnosis, have urgent symptoms, or need fertility care before choosing a subscription.

Last verified: September 2026. Public sources checked September 14, 2026. Educational information, not medical advice.

By TRT Provider Guide · How We Review TRT Providers

Which Hims testosterone alternatives fit your reason for switching?

Start with the problem you need an alternative to solve: the medicine, the bill, the care, or access. A different company does not necessarily mean a different treatment, and two of these situations may not require leaving Hims at all.

Provider details are provider-stated: Hims, Strut, Maximus, Hone Plus, Male Excel's FAQ, and Taurus' offer. The fertility care route follows the AUA/ASRM guideline.

Two different kinds of alternative

If you are looking for Hims testosterone alternatives, start with a fact that changes the whole search: Hims' public testosterone offer is still enclomiphene, not a confirmed launch of TRT. Testosterone Rx+ is compounded enclomiphene, with supplements and sometimes tadalafil. Hims lists injectable testosterone and the oral capsule Kyzatrex as "Coming in 2026," and its FAQ says it does not currently offer TRT injections. Check Hims' current product lineup.

So "alternatives" means two completely different things, and the right one depends on which you actually want.

• For testosterone replacement, compare the clinician, the exact product, and the complete bill. Male Excel publishes injection and cream prices plus an eleven-state exclusion list, but its membership charge must be added and its live pages conflict. A compounded cream is not an FDA-approved gel.
• For an enclomiphene option without Hims' ten-month commitment, Strut lists 30-day orders from $79, with testing separate. The drug category is similar; that does not establish identical ingredients or clinical equivalence.
• If you and your partner are trying for a baby soon, do not pick a subscription at all. That is a urologist conversation, and we explain why below.

Here is the part almost nobody tells you: the medicine can cost much less than the program. Our public GoodRx check showed $27.92 for one 1 mL vial of generic testosterone cypionate, 200 mg/mL, before any visit or testing. That is a changing coupon price, not a treatment quote or a month's supply. What you are really shopping for is the care wrapped around the molecule — the evaluation, the labs, the dose changes, and somebody who answers when something feels off. Once you see that clearly, the price tags stop being confusing. Medication-only price source.

TRT Provider Guide is the independent decision resource for testosterone replacement therapy — helping U.S. adults understand how low testosterone is evaluated, compare online and local care models and providers, and choose the next step that fits their health needs, fertility plans, budget, state, and care preferences, with every material claim verified and dated.

What we actually verified

We checked accessible public product, pricing, testing, FAQ, terms, and refund pages for Hims, Male Excel, Taurus Meds, Strut Health, Maximus, and Hone Health on September 14, 2026. We also checked FDA and DEA material, current Endocrine Society guidance, and the AUA/ASRM infertility guideline. Prices and policies are provider-stated unless we label them as our own arithmetic or our editorial judgment.

We did not enroll, place an order, contact support, test a cancellation, or verify which clinician or pharmacy any individual patient would be assigned. This is dated public-source research, not a hands-on review and not a medically reviewed treatment recommendation.

What remains unresolved: Male Excel's membership and oral-ingredient conflicts; Taurus' recurring-fee and guarantee conflicts; Hims' complete first-year bill; and the exact clinician, pharmacy, and appointment available to an individual patient. Hone now publishes current Plus pricing, but some of its testing-fee pages still disagree. These limits appear beside the affected claims, not as hidden footnotes.

Commercial relationships

TRT Provider Guide has commercial relationships with Male Excel and Taurus Meds. We may earn a commission through qualifying compensated links. The provider links on this page are direct public information links, not a claim that a visit or prescription is available to you. We earn nothing from Hims, Strut, Maximus, Hone, or the independent clinician-and-pharmacy option. See our affiliate disclosure.

Before you go further

The right TRT provider is not the same for every person — it depends on whether low testosterone has been properly evaluated, your symptoms and health history, your fertility plans, your state, your insurance or cash-pay preference, your treatment-format preference, your budget, and whether online or in-person care is the better starting point. Some situations belong with primary care, urology, endocrinology, reproductive urology, or urgent or emergency care when the symptoms warrant it. Because a general answer cannot resolve those for you, use TRT Provider Guide's Find My TRT Path tool to map your situation to the right care route and the questions to ask before you pay.

→ Map your situation with Find My TRT Path — free, educational, and it does not diagnose anything or promise a prescription.

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What is Hims actually prescribing for testosterone?

Answer: Hims' public Testosterone Rx+ offer contains compounded enclomiphene, with supplements and an option that includes tadalafil. Enclomiphene is not testosterone, and there is no FDA-approved enclomiphene product in the United States. Injectable testosterone and Kyzatrex remain announcements on the public page we checked, not verified access for a new patient. Hims product details; FDA's enclomiphene record.

Let's slow down on this, because it is the thing that can make a price comparison misleading.

Here is what Hims publicly lists, and what each name means:

That second row can catch a reader out. "Sex Rx + Testosterone Support" sounds like a testosterone product. It lists tadalafil and zinc — not testosterone replacement. Check the name on your prescription rather than assuming that the similar branding means the same evaluation or treatment. Hims' current homepage offer.

The asterisk on rows three and four is Hims' own. It footnotes to language saying the expected launch depends on factors that may be outside the company's control and may change. That is a fair disclosure. It is also the reason we will not treat an announcement as proof that a new patient can get injectable testosterone or Kyzatrex through Hims. Hims' launch disclosure.

Do not assume an exclusive Kyzatrex partnership. Hims' own page says it is not affiliated with or endorsed by Marius Pharmaceuticals, Kyzatrex's manufacturer. That statement does not mean Hims could never prescribe the product; it means an endorsement or exclusive relationship should not be inferred from the product card. Hims' manufacturer disclaimer.

What to do with this: if a Hims plan is otherwise working for you, ask their care team, in writing, which products are available to you today in your state. Announced is not available.

Hims' FAQ also uses the simpler phrase "just enclomiphene," while its product description includes supplements. Ask for the complete formula, not just whether tadalafil is present. Tadalafil adds its own interaction risks: its prescribing information prohibits use with nitrate medicines or riociguat because blood pressure can fall dangerously. Tell the clinician about every prescription and supplement you use. Hims' formula descriptions; tadalafil prescribing information, sections 4.1 and 4.3.

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Is Hims testosterone the same as TRT?

Answer: No. Testosterone replacement therapy adds testosterone from outside the body; testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance and requires a valid prescription. Enclomiphene acts on hormone signaling rather than supplying testosterone, and changing between them is a treatment decision, not just a brand switch. Testosterone labeling; AUA/ASRM guideline.

Here is the split, plainly:

Two terms worth knowing, because they do a lot of work on this page:

FDA-approved means the agency reviewed that exact product for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality, and approved a specific label. Compounded means a drug was prepared or changed by a pharmacist or clinician to meet a medical need. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved; a prescription does not, by itself, establish that every compounding practice meets federal and state requirements. FDA compounding explanation.

For the distinctions in the table, see the CLOMID label, the PREGNYL hCG label, and the AUA/ASRM guideline, statements 39–40. Off-label means use of an approved drug outside its approved labeling; it does not make compounded enclomiphene an FDA-approved product.

For the longer comparison of these two treatment categories, see our enclomiphene provider comparison. This page is about which one fits you.

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How much does Hims testosterone actually cost?

Answer: Hims advertises enclomiphene from $99 a month on a ten-month plan paid up front and in full: $990 for that term at the starting rate. The public pages checked do not establish a complete first-year total, the 3- or 5-month prices, or whether the initial lab kit creates a separate charge. Do not turn an undisclosed lab price into either a free test or a known extra fee. Hims' pricing FAQ.

Write down three numbers before you pay anyone — not one.

1. The monthly figure ($99)
2. The plan length (10 months)
3. The plan charge shown before any other charges ($990 at the starting rate)

They are not the same number. Only one of them leaves your account this week. That single habit works on every company here, including the ones we have commercial relationships with.

The ten-month price does not buy months eleven and twelve. Before paying, get the initial testing charge, follow-up testing charge, shipping, renewal term, and renewal price in writing. Hims publishes a three-month follow-up check and ongoing Care Team messaging, but a description of care is not a complete itemized bill. Hims' program and follow-up description.

The FTC case, stated carefully

On July 29, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission — joined by Utah and by California acting through the Los Angeles County Counsel — announced a lawsuit against Hims & Hers Health, Inc. in federal court in Northern California. The FTC's case page listed the matter as pending when checked for this article. FTC announcement; FTC case record.

The complaint alleges that the company charged people for prescriptions shortly after they submitted an intake form, before any consultation with a provider, and that many never received a consultation at all. It alleges the company failed to clearly disclose when prescriptions would refill each month, which made it hard to cancel before the next charge. It alleges that before 2023, most customers could only cancel by phone, email, or chat, and that after an online cancel option arrived, the button was hidden behind an "add or remove items from order" menu and several further steps. It also alleges the company shared sensitive health information with advertising platforms including Meta and Snap, despite privacy promises. Read the FTC's complaint.

The allegations are not findings. Hims & Hers publicly disputed the claims the same day and said it would defend the case. Company response. Separately, Gizmodo reported that the FTC received over 4,800 Hims & Hers complaints in five years. A complaint count is not a complaint rate or proof of a specific practice. Gizmodo's reporting.

We are not telling you to leave Hims over a pending lawsuit. We are telling you what to do with it: get your refill date and your cancel-before date in writing, and save the confirmation. That advice is free, it applies to every subscription on this page, and it costs nothing if the case goes nowhere.

If you're already on a Hims plan

Six practical steps, in order, none of which require you to cancel anything:

1. Log in and find your next refill date, not just your "renews on" date.
2. Screenshot your plan terms — length, total paid, what remains.
3. Ask, in writing, for the exact active ingredients in what you are receiving and the name of the pharmacy that fills it.
4. Hims now says to cancel at least 48 hours before the next order is processed. Check the date in your account and save confirmation.
5. Request a copy of your lab results with the reference ranges, not a screenshot of one number.
6. Do not stop a prescription because of a billing decision. Cancelling a subscription is a money decision. Stopping a medicine is a medical one. Talk to a clinician about the second.

Hims' current cancellation instructions give separate app and website steps. We explain them in the cancellation section below.

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Which eight options can replace Hims—or make switching unnecessary?

Answer: These eight options cover different decisions: five named online services, an independent clinician and pharmacy, specialist care, and staying with Hims. They are not eight interchangeable TRT plans. The independent clinician-and-pharmacy option comes first because it lets you check insurance and an FDA-approved product before comparing cash-pay bundles.

Sources: Male Excel pricing, Taurus offer and terms, Strut medication and test, Maximus pricing, and Hone Plus. Unknown charges are not treated as zero.

1. Your own clinician and your own pharmacy

Check this path before you assume an online bundle is cheaper. We make no money telling you so.

The American Urological Association's guideline contains a statement most cash-pay websites skip: when possible, clinicians should prescribe commercially manufactured testosterone products rather than compounded testosterone. It is a conditional recommendation on limited evidence — not a rule. This preference concerns the product, not whether the visit happens online or in an office. AUA recommendation 28, reproduced in an official New York coverage decision; FDA's explanation of compounding.

The math is blunt, but it is not an all-in treatment quote. At our September 14 check, GoodRx displayed $27.92 for one 1 mL vial of generic testosterone cypionate, 200 mg/mL. Your pharmacy, location, coupon, product, and prescription can change that price. One vial is not automatically a month's treatment, and its label and discard instructions matter. Add the actual visit, lab, supply, and refill charges before comparing it with a program. GoodRx's current quantity-specific price; testosterone cypionate labeling.

What you may give up: a single place to manage everything. You have to find a clinician who will engage with the topic, book the visits, and coordinate lab orders and pharmacy refills. That friction is one reason people compare online programs. We did not measure speed or support at an independent practice, so this is a care-model trade-off, not proof that local care is slower. Compare online and local care models.

Do this first if: you have insurance you'd like to use, you want an FDA-approved product, or your labs or history are complicated.

2. Male Excel — cash-pay formats, with two conflicts to settle

Why it's here: Male Excel publishes format-specific prices, the medication billing interval, and an exact list of states it excludes. Those details help you rule it in or out before paying. They do not settle the membership conflict or prove better care. Pricing; state and care FAQ.

What you actually get, from its own pages:

• $99 buys an online consultation and at-home blood-spot kit, with shipping both ways included. Male Excel lists testosterone, estradiol, DHEA-S, free T3, and PSA—five markers, not five hormone levels. Kit contents.
• Testosterone cypionate with thyroid, from $120/month, supplied every 60 days. Male Excel promotes small daily injections. That is its treatment model, not evidence that daily dosing is better for every patient or an instruction to change a prescription. Published pricing.
• Testosterone Lipoderm cream with thyroid, from $132/month, also every 60 days. Needle-free, but compounded and not FDA-approved. Cream and package description.
• Triclozene, an oral selective estrogen receptor modulator, or SERM, from $95/month on the pricing page; it is not TRT, and its ingredient conflict is explained below.
• HSA/FSA reimbursement may be available, according to Male Excel. It says no contract and cancel anytime; that does not mean a processed medication order is refundable. Payment and refill FAQ.
• States: Male Excel says it prescribes everywhere except Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Confirm availability for your actual visit and product. State exclusions.
• Its footer says that under DEA and state law, your treatment plan may require an in-person exam. We think that disclosure is useful; it is not proof that no other provider makes the same disclosure.

Three limitations you need before you decide.

First — the one that matters most. Male Excel does not bill insurance, and its Lipoderm testosterone cream is compounded rather than FDA-approved. Its site uses the term "bioidentical"; that term does not establish FDA approval or superior safety. The public program wording does not independently identify the manufacturer and approval status of the exact injectable product you would receive. Ask for that before paying. Male Excel's package descriptions; FDA compounding guidance.

If an FDA-approved product on your health plan is your priority, Male Excel's advertised cash-pay compounded-cream program is the wrong fit. Take your lab results to an in-network clinician and ask about an approved product your plan covers.

But here is why the trade-off can still make sense. Some readers prefer a direct-pay program with at-home testing and a clinician who can discuss a compounded cream. You're buying a care arrangement and a treatment format—not proof of better results. Approved testosterone gels also provide a needle-free option, so compounding is not the only way to avoid injections. FDA-approved AndroGel labeling.

The packages also mention thyroid treatment. That is a separate prescribing question, not an automatic part of treating low testosterone. Ask which condition it is intended to treat, why it is needed, and whether you can obtain a quote without an unnecessary add-on.

Second — its own pages disagree on the membership fee. The main cost page lists Medical Membership at $99/month. A second live Male Excel property lists $30 per 30 days. Twelve charges at those rates differ by $828, but we cannot establish that the cheaper terms apply to the current offer. Confirm the membership charge at checkout before you enroll. Main cost page; second pricing property.

Third — its oral product's pages contradict each other on the active drug. The pricing page describes Triclozene as clomiphene citrate with thyroid ingredients. The oral-treatment page describes enclomiphene citrate with thyroid ingredients. This is not a detail to average out. If you're considering the oral product, get the complete active-ingredient list in writing before you pay. Pricing description; oral-treatment description.

Clomiphene contains two isomers—molecules with the same formula but a different arrangement—called enclomiphene and zuclomiphene. Both have biological activity. Enclomiphene is not simply the only active part of an otherwise inactive drug. This ingredient conflict concerns the oral offer; it does not establish what is inside an injection or cream. CLOMID prescribing information.

Also note: the 90-day guarantee refunds three months of membership fees, not medication, for members who meet its conditions. The claim must be submitted within 30 days after the 90-day trial period, and continued participation and required appointments matter. That's Male Excel's own limitation, and it's smaller than a refund of everything you paid. Excel Advantage Guarantee terms.

Who should skip it: men in the eleven excluded states, men who want insurance to pay, men who require an FDA-approved topical product rather than a compounded cream, and anyone trying to conceive right now. The fertility concern applies to testosterone treatment, not simply the company name.

Does that sound like your situation? For cash-pay care and a discussion of injection versus compounded cream, read Male Excel's current medication and membership prices and check its state exclusions. Get one written total before starting the intake.

Male Excel is a commercial partner. These are direct public information links; the relationship did not decide the order of this page.

3. Taurus Meds — a low advertised entry price, and a refund policy to read twice

Why it's here: Taurus advertises a lab draw and clinician consultation without a large initial medication commitment. That may suit a reader who prefers LabCorp or Quest, but the advertised price is not enough to settle the total cost. Taurus' lab-and-consult offer.

What you get: the campaign page lists $49 for blood work and consultation. It names LabCorp or Quest and says it sends an at-home kit at no extra charge when a patient is more than 50 miles from either. If a clinician prescribes, the offer advertises $149/month with no membership fee. The homepage separately advertises a free-test offer, so ask which promotion applies to your purchase. Campaign offer; current homepage.

Taurus lists testosterone cypionate, testosterone gel, and compounded enclomiphene. The campaign also lists an oral sermorelin product; sermorelin is not TRT, and it is not a substitute evaluated in this comparison. The site's terms name OpenLoop Health as its partner medical-services organization. Taurus states plainly that it is not a laboratory or a medical provider. Enclomiphene product details; partner disclosures.

There is also a fee conflict. Section 28 of Taurus' live terms says there is a $17.99 recurring healthcare membership fee per billing period, unless different terms are stated at purchase. That conflicts with a simple reading of the campaign's no-membership-fee claim. The period and any waiver must be confirmed for your order; we will not assume the fee is either charged monthly or waived. Read section 28.

Now the part we'd want a friend to know.

Taurus' storefront advertises a 90-day results guarantee, with an exclusion for lab and pharmacy fees. Campaign guarantee.

Its own refund policy says something harder. It states that you may cancel at any time, but the request must be received at least 72 hours before your billing date. Other than cancellation following medical disqualification by its provider, it says cancellation does not generate a refund. Shipped prescriptions and blood work already submitted to the lab are non-refundable under the policy; services already rendered may still be charged. Refund policy.

Read those two documents together and it's hard to see what's actually left to refund after you subtract lab fees and pharmacy fees. We cannot resolve the conflict from those pages alone. Before you pay, ask Taurus in writing exactly what the 90-day guarantee returns, in dollars, and which policy controls. Keep the answer.

One more thing we noticed, and we'd rather you hear it from us than discover it mid-checkout. The Taurus campaign page gives its cypionate, enclomiphene, gel, and oral sermorelin cards the same injection description. Those are not all injections. It also uses two patient counts—over 100,000 and over 40,000—without explaining the difference. We did not validate either count or use it as proof of results. The page checked.

The practical lesson is the same one that runs through this entire page: don't take a storefront card's word for what you're being prescribed. Get the molecule, the format, and the pharmacy in writing.

Who should skip it: anyone who needs a clear product-specific state list, an agreed all-in bill, or an unambiguous refund promise before committing. Those questions are not resolved by the $49 headline.

Prefer a lab draw rather than collecting a sample at home? Read what Taurus' $49 lab-and-consult offer covers, then compare the recurring-fee terms and the refund policy. Take the fee and refund questions above with you before authorizing payment.

Taurus Meds is a commercial partner. These are direct public information links. We published the fee and refund conflicts anyway.

4. Strut Health — the closest category comparison, with shorter orders

We earn nothing from Strut. It's here because for one specific reader, it's the obvious answer.

If what bothers you about Hims is the ten-month prepayment, not the medicine category, Strut lists compounded enclomiphene with or without tadalafil. Its current offer lists $79–$119 for a 30-day order, depending on formula and prescribed strength, with consultations and shipping included. Discounted 90-day orders are also listed. You still pay for an order; this is a shorter commitment, not a no-prepayment service. Current enclomiphene offer; Strut Mojo details.

Testosterone labs are required before a prescription, and Strut says a second kit follows in three to six months to check your levels on treatment. Its materials also indicate you can upload recent lab results instead of starting from scratch — worth asking about if you already paid for testing. The published testosterone kit is $89; baseline plus one follow-up kit is $178 before any additional testing a clinician requires. Testing requirements; kit price and markers.

Same drug category. Same compounded status. Same "not FDA-approved" caveat. Different billing structure. That's the entire pitch, and for a lot of men it's enough.

5. Maximus — a published price ladder for flexibility

Also unpaid, and included for one reason: it shows you what flexibility actually costs, which makes every other price on this page easier to read.

For its enclomiphene-only plan, Maximus lists $199.99 month to month, $149.99/month on a three-month plan, and $99.99/month on either a six- or twelve-month plan. The corresponding advance plan charges are $199.99, $449.97, $599.94, and $1,199.88. Combination treatments are separate offers, not the same comparison. Maximus' plan table.

Its at-home kit is $99, not included in the medication subscription. The published schedule includes baseline, one-month, three-month, and twelve-month testing, with further tests when needed. Accepted outside labs must include the required markers and be no more than six months old. Lab costs and policy.

Look at what that ladder tells you. A lower monthly number can require a longer commitment—but the six- and twelve-month Maximus plans currently share the same monthly rate. Hims advertises its ten-month starting rate; Maximus shows several commitment prices. Neither fact proves that one service provides better care. But seeing the ladder lets you price your own freedom before you buy it, and that's a real difference in disclosure.

6. Hone Health — for the man who wants an actual appointment

Unpaid, and notable for a specific reason: Hone Plus publishes live physician visits, a separate TRT confirmation step, and ongoing lab schedules. That is a clearer care-process comparison than simply counting messages. It is still provider-stated, not a test of appointment availability or quality.

The current Plus page lists a $45 initial at-home test, $135/month membership, and medication billed separately. It includes follow-up labs, consultations, and shipping. For patients pursuing testosterone, its latest pricing page lists a confirmatory panel at $45 at a lab or $80 at home. Current Plus package.

There is a testing-price inconsistency to resolve. The separate TRT lab-schedule page says $50 for that lab-based confirmation, while the retesting FAQ says clinically necessary retesting has no extra charge. Ask whether the charge is for initial confirmation, a repeat of an unusable test, or testing already included in membership. Do not turn those different descriptions into a guaranteed free test. TRT lab schedule; retesting FAQ.

Hone's medication list includes testosterone cypionate priced from $28 per vial, compounded cream at $60/month, and compounded enclomiphene from $42/month, before membership. A vial price is not a monthly dose quote. Its men's Plus plan is listed in 35 named states, not every state where another Hone service operates. Medication list; plan-specific availability.

Why it matters even if you don't choose Hone: a separate membership price, medication price, and testing schedule show you which questions to ask everyone else. Ask for each part of the bill, not just the monthly headline.

Compare Hone's current membership details when live physician visits and published follow-up testing are the reason you are considering leaving Hims.

7. A urologist or reproductive urologist

Sometimes the answer isn't a subscription at all.

If you are trying to conceive, if your labs came back strange, if you have a history involving the pituitary gland or the testicles, or if your symptoms are severe, you don't need a better subscription. You need a diagnosis. A urologist, reproductive urologist, endocrinologist, or an engaged primary care doctor can order the right tests, find the cause, and tell you whether any of this is appropriate for you.

An online intake form alone cannot do that. A qualified clinician may provide parts of the evaluation by telehealth, but further testing, an examination, or specialist care may be needed. Some of the best money you spend here may be a copay. Endocrine Society evaluation guidance.

8. Staying with Hims

We'd be doing you a disservice if we didn't say this.

If a clinician has found enclomiphene appropriate for you, your state is covered, you're fine with a pill, and the plan genuinely fits your budget, switching companies might change nothing except who bills you. Hims requires lab testing before prescribing and lists a three-month follow-up check. That is a published care process, not proof that every required diagnostic or monitoring step is included. We could not confirm PSA and hematocrit as contents of the specific Rx+ kit from the program pages checked. Hims' testing and follow-up description.

Two situations where staying may be the smart move: you're mid-plan and the only thing bothering you is tadalafil—ask about the formula without it first, since Hims' FAQ describes one. Or you looked at the alternatives, found no meaningful improvement in your care or total cost, and would rather not repeat a suitable evaluation just to change the name on the bill. Confirm any formula change with the prescriber. Hims' treatment options.

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How does each provider's process compare with clinical guidance?

Answer: Low testosterone should be evaluated from compatible symptoms or signs plus consistently low results, with appropriate repeat early-morning testing—not from a quiz or one number. The table separates what providers publish from what this research could not confirm. A missing detail means ask, not that a clinician necessarily skips it. Endocrine Society's July 2026 statement.

This is the part of the page that matters more than the advertised price. It is a published-process comparison, not a clinical quality score. We did not inspect patient records or audit a clinician's practice.

In the table, LH means luteinizing hormone, a signal involved in testosterone production. Hematocrit is the share of blood volume made up of red blood cells; PSA means prostate-specific antigen, a protein measured when assessing prostate health. These results need clinical interpretation, not a pass/fail decision from this page. Clinical evaluation and monitoring guidance.

Table sources: Hims, Male Excel's kit and FAQ, Taurus' product/testing page, Strut's kit and follow-up description, Maximus' lab policy, and Hone's confirmation and TRT schedule.

Two rows deserve a paragraph each.

The two-sample question. Testosterone varies, and lab assays vary. The Endocrine Society's current statement calls for at least two early-morning fasting measurements using a reliable assay, together with the clinical picture. A single result below 300 ng/dL is not a diagnosis by itself. July 2026 statement.

Hims' published instructions describe one at-home kit where you collect two samples and ship them the same day. Those may not be the same thing—two tubes from one sitting are not two mornings. We're not calling it a shortcut. We're telling you to ask: does my process include a second, separate early-morning measurement when needed to confirm the diagnosis? Ask any program on this list. The answer tells you a lot. Hims' collection instructions.

The compounding row. A company can offer genuine medical care and still dispense a product that is not FDA-approved. That limitation applies to compounded options offered by our commercial partners, too. We could have left that row out. It is here because a comparison that hides a material product difference isn't a comparison. We also will not mark every cash-pay program as failing a guideline when the exact dispensed product is not established. FDA compounding explanation.

Monitoring is more than repeating testosterone. The Endocrine Society describes follow-up assessment, testosterone checks, hematocrit checks, and prostate monitoring where appropriate. Its guidance describes hematocrit at baseline, three to six months after starting testosterone, and then annually; a clinician may need a different or earlier schedule for a particular product or patient. An enclomiphene plan is not automatically governed by the same monitoring schedule as TRT. Official monitoring guidance. For the questions to take to a visit, see our blood tests for TRT guide.

Who will prescribe and dispense the medication?

Ask for the treating practice, clinician, and dispensing pharmacy, not just the platform's brand name. A published partner list is not verification of the professional assigned to you.

Get the names before authorizing treatment, then check the relevant state medical or pharmacy board. A site's badge, partner list, or prescription form is not a substitute for that check. Licensure or other legal authority depends on where the patient is located during care. HHS interstate-licensing guidance.

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What will the first year actually cost?

Answer: There is no verified all-in first-year price for every option here. Hims' $990 covers ten months at its starting rate, while other offers separate membership, medication, and testing. The ledger shows the arithmetic we can reproduce and the missing charges that stop it from being a complete quote.

Illustrative only — not a quote. Your price depends on your dose, your state, and what a clinician actually prescribes. An unknown charge is not a zero charge.

How we calculated it: starting prices are held constant for the model. We did not assume dose changes, discounts, tax exemptions, fee waivers, refunds, or insurance coverage. The Maximus model includes baseline plus the one-, three-, and twelve-month tests; stopping the count before the twelve-month review would subtract $99. The Male Excel model uses the main page's $99 membership—not the unresolved cheaper page. These are our calculations from Male Excel, Taurus and its fee terms, Strut's medication and kit, Maximus pricing and labs, and Hone Plus.

Two arithmetic traps worth naming, because they're everywhere in this category:

Twelve 30-day fills is 360 days, not a year. Six 60-day shipments also cover 360 days. That can trigger another charge before the first 365 days are over; the exact cash bill depends on when each order is charged and how much it supplies. Get the dated refill schedule rather than calling twelve monthly price units a complete first-year cost.

A ten-month plan is not an annual price. Anyone who divides $990 by twelve to get a monthly number is answering a question you didn't ask. Compare the same number of months, or don't compare.

For a full written quote, use: initial evaluation + all diagnostic tests + medication covering the full period + membership + follow-up visits and labs + shipping, supplies, and taxes − only confirmed discounts or refunds. Keep the first-year cash due separate from a monthly-equivalent price. Our TRT cost guide covers the broader online-versus-local budget.

Before you commit to a longer plan anywhere, price the shortest version first. See Male Excel's current medication and membership charges—then ask which membership terms apply, what each 60-day shipment costs, and what else can be charged. Do not use the lower conflicting figure as your budget until it is confirmed.

Male Excel is a commercial partner; this is a direct pricing-information link.

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Do I have to inject?

Answer: No. FDA-approved testosterone products include skin gels, nasal gel, and oral capsules, and compounded creams are another, non-approved category. The format changes the monitoring and practical risks; avoiding needles does not make a product safer or eliminate the need for diagnosis. AndroGel labeling; Kyzatrex labeling.

Sources: testosterone cypionate labeling, gel labeling, oral testosterone labeling, Androderm discontinuation record, Natesto labeling, Testopel labeling, and treatment-format overview.

The transference warning is the one people underestimate. FDA-approved testosterone skin gels carry a boxed warning about secondary exposure: children have developed signs of androgen exposure after contact with treated skin. If you have small kids at home, ask about this before choosing a topical product. Follow the exact product's handwashing, covering, washing, and contact precautions; clothing alone is not a blanket guarantee. A compounded cream does not have an FDA-approved label of its own. AndroGel's boxed warning and exposure precautions.

Testosterone products also require attention to blood pressure. FDA's 2025 class-wide labeling action added or strengthened blood-pressure warnings while removing the boxed cardiovascular-outcomes warning from affected products. That was not a declaration that testosterone has no cardiovascular risks. FDA labeling update.

More detail on choosing between these lives on our needle-free treatment formats page.

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Will my Hims labs and records transfer?

Answer: Ask before you pay for tests twice. Some programs accept recent outside lab results; others require their own, and a receiving clinician may need new or additional tests. HIPAA-covered providers generally must give you access to your medical records, but that does not require a new clinician to accept an earlier evaluation as complete. HHS medical-record access guidance.

This is an easy cost to miss when switching. You pay for a lab panel, you leave, and the next company may require another one. Sometimes that repeat is medically needed; sometimes suitable outside results can save the extra charge.

Ask the receiving provider these four questions before you pay:

1. Do you accept outside lab results, and how recent must they be?
2. Which specific markers must appear in them?
3. What will you require me to repeat regardless?
4. Will you review my records before charging me for a new panel?

Strut's materials, for example, indicate you can upload recent lab results rather than start over. Maximus states that outside labs must be no more than six months old and contain the required markers. Neither promise guarantees that no repeat early-morning test or safety test will be needed. Strut's outside-lab information; Maximus' outside-lab policy.

When you request records from your current provider, ask for the full report with reference ranges and the collection date and time — not a screenshot of one number. The time of day matters, because morning values are the ones the guideline is built on. Include your current medication list and the prescribing and dispensing details, too. Ask the receiving clinician how to interpret results collected while already on treatment; do not change treatment to prepare for a test without their instructions.

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What if fertility is the reason?

Answer: Testosterone taken from outside the body can reduce or stop sperm production. The AUA/ASRM guideline advises against testosterone monotherapy for men interested in current or future fertility; selected alternatives may be considered by a clinician, but none comes with a fertility guarantee. If children are the priority, this is a specialist decision. AUA/ASRM, statements 39–40.

Nothing here is a purchase.

A few things to hold onto:

"May help preserve" is not "will preserve." Hims markets enclomiphene without a fertility compromise and points readers to a small retrospective study, with 46 men in the enclomiphene group. That is the study cited by Hims, not a promise about a patient's sperm count, pregnancy, or live birth. A retrospective comparison also does not establish long-term safety of Hims' exact compounded formula. Hims' footnote and study citation.

We won't give you a timeline either. You'll find pages claiming sperm production recovers in a specific number of months after stopping testosterone. Recovery varies, may take a long time, and is not assured for an individual. Nobody can put a date on your outcome from a provider comparison. AUA/ASRM fertility guidance.

What to actually do: if children are in your plans, talk to a urologist or reproductive urologist before choosing treatment. Ask whether you need a baseline semen analysis and which hormone tests, including LH and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), would help identify the cause. Those are pituitary hormones involved in testicular function, but a clinician—not this page—decides which tests apply. That conversation can change the entire plan. Endocrine Society evaluation guidance; TRT and fertility.

Do not add hCG or any other drug on your own to protect fertility. That's a prescribing decision, and it belongs with a clinician who knows your labs.

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Can I use insurance, HSA, or FSA?

Answer: The advertised packages compared here are cash-pay offers, not insurance benefit quotes. An in-network online or local clinician may be able to prescribe an FDA-approved product covered by your plan, but the visit, labs, drug, and pharmacy each need checking. HSA/FSA payment or reimbursement is separate from health-insurance coverage.

HSA means health savings account; FSA means flexible spending arrangement. Both can be used for qualified medical expenses under their rules, but neither is a health-insurance plan. IRS guidance on these accounts.

Coverage gets decided in three separate places. This is why men get surprised:

1. Are the visit and labs covered? (the clinician and laboratory network, deductible, and benefits)
2. Is the drug covered? (your plan's formulary, plus any prior authorization)
3. Is the pharmacy covered? (in-network dispensing)

Three questions, potentially different answers. Getting a yes on one tells you nothing about the other two.

Where each option stands, as published:

• Hims: its testosterone offer is cash-pay, and its FAQ says it does not take FSA or HSA plans as payment. Whether an expense can later be reimbursed is a separate question for your plan administrator. Hims' payment FAQ.
• Male Excel: does not bill insurance; says treatment may be eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement. Its explanation of insurance is the company's position, not your plan's coverage rule. Male Excel's payment FAQ.
• Taurus: the campaign describes cash pricing. Do not assume HSA/FSA card acceptance or reimbursement without confirmation for the specific charge. Taurus' insurance answer.
• Strut, Maximus, and Hone: this page compares their published direct-pay prices. It does not establish your insurance coverage or the eligibility of every membership fee for tax-advantaged reimbursement.
• Your own clinician: ask about an in-network online or office visit, a covered lab, and the exact drug on your plan's formulary—the plan's list of covered medicines.

A prior authorization may require diagnostic results, symptoms, prior treatment, and other plan-specific evidence. Ask the insurer for the actual criteria rather than treating a provider's explanation—or a single testosterone cutoff—as the rule. Prescription expenses and general subscription fees are not automatically treated the same for HSA/FSA purposes. IRS medical-expense guidance and HSA/FSA rules.

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Does it work in my state?

Answer: State availability can end a comparison before price matters. Male Excel publishes exact exclusions, and Hone publishes a plan-specific table; the Hims Rx+ pages checked say the service is not in all 50 states without naming them. Confirm the treatment, testing method, and location where you will attend the visit before paying.

A named exclusion list is useful. It is also a fast disqualification: if you live in one of those eleven states, Male Excel's published program is not your answer. Check a different provider's actual state availability or use an appropriately licensed local clinician; do not assume Taurus covers every state Male Excel excludes. Male Excel's exclusions; HHS licensing guidance.

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Is online TRT about to change in 2027?

Answer: The fourth DEA/HHS temporary extension permits qualifying telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances without a prior in-person examination through December 31, 2026. It does not waive legitimate medical-purpose, prescribing, or state-law requirements, and it does not settle what every patient will need in 2027. Ask about continuity of care before paying for a long plan. Current federal extension; Federal Register rule.

Here's the plain version. Testosterone is Schedule III. Federal law generally requires an in-person examination for prescribing controlled substances over the internet unless an exception applies. The current temporary rule preserves an exception for qualifying telemedicine care, including the required type of consultation and lawful prescriber authority. A prescription is not guaranteed, and state rules may be stricter. Federal Register rule; HHS interstate-licensing guidance.

This is not a reason to rush. The verified federal endpoint is December 31, 2026; we are not predicting the next rule or another extension. It is a reason to ask one question before you pay for a long plan:

"What happens to my prescription on January 1, 2027, and will I need an in-person exam to continue?"

A program can explain its transition plan, referral arrangements, and refund terms; it cannot promise what an unpublished future rule will say. The controlled-substance rule discussed here concerns testosterone, not enclomiphene. Enclomiphene still requires appropriate prescribing and compliance with applicable state and compounding requirements. DEA/HHS extension; FDA compounding policy.

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How do cancellation and refunds compare?

Answer: Stopping future charges and getting money back are two different questions. These providers publish cancellation or support routes, but prepaid terms, processing deadlines, and refund exclusions differ. Do not mistake a medication-return restriction for a universal legal ban on refunds.

How to cancel Hims using its current instructions

On the website, open Subscriptions → Manage → Get help → Additional options → Manage subscription → Discontinue plan → Cancel subscription, then complete the prompts. In the app, open your profile and Subscriptions, then follow Additional options → Manage subscription → Discontinue plan → Cancel subscription. Save the final confirmation and next-order status. Hims' instructions, updated August 25, 2026.

Use support when the account controls do not work or the order status is unclear. A request sent after the processing deadline may not prevent the next charge. The current refund page does not guarantee a refund once the pharmacy has processed the medication. Hims' refund policy, updated August 27, 2026.

Two rules that apply everywhere: cancel in writing and save the confirmation, and cancelling a subscription is never a medical instruction to stop a medicine. If you're stopping treatment, that's a conversation with a clinician, not a billing department.

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Who needs a clinician-first evaluation rather than a subscription?

Answer: Fertility plans, unexplained abnormal labs, and certain health risks need a proper clinical evaluation before a subscription decision. Some care may start by telehealth, but an examination, specialist assessment, or urgent visit may be needed. A comparison table cannot clear you for treatment. Endocrine Society guidance.

Put provider shopping second and seek the appropriate clinician if any of these apply:

• You and your partner are trying to conceive now
• You have a history of prostate cancer or breast cancer
• Your hematocrit—the share of blood volume made up of red blood cells—is already high
• You have untreated severe sleep apnea
• You've had a heart attack or stroke recently, especially within the past six months
• There's a known or suspected problem with your pituitary gland or testicles
• You've been told you may be infertile
• Your labs came back unusual in ways nobody has explained to you
• Your symptoms are severe, sudden, or getting worse fast

If symptoms feel like an emergency—chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden severe headache, sudden vision loss, or signs of a stroke—call 911 or seek emergency care. Don't wait on a telehealth queue. An erection lasting more than four hours also needs emergency care, including with a tadalafil-containing product. Tadalafil safety information.

A past cancer diagnosis or another complex condition calls for individual specialist judgment, not an automatic lifetime answer from this page. Tell the clinician about current treatment, fertility goals, sleep apnea, blood pressure, and any previous serious reaction.

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What should I write down before I switch?

Fill this in before you pay anyone. It separates your existing commitments from the alternative's real charges, testing, and care responsibilities. Print the page if it helps—the worksheet is on the page and needs no email address.

My reason for comparing: ingredients / upfront bill / ongoing cost / clinician access / labs / treatment format / state access / insurance / fertility / billing or privacy

Copy this into a message to any provider before you pay:

Please confirm in writing: the complete list of active ingredients in the treatment you would consider for me; whether it is FDA-approved or compounded; the name of the dispensing pharmacy; whether this service is available where I will be located; every charge, its date, and the period it covers; the minimum commitment; what I owe if I cancel; what refund, if any, is available and what is excluded; and whether you accept my existing lab results or will require new testing.

If a company won't answer that in writing, you've learned something useful for free.

Still deciding between two care routes, or not sure whether you belong on either? Map your situation with Find My TRT Path to organize the care-route decision and the questions to ask before paying. Educational guidance, not a diagnosis and not a promise of a prescription.

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How did we choose these eight options?

These options were chosen for the Hims stay-or-switch decision, not as a universal ranking of testosterone clinics. The comparison keeps published provider claims, regulator records, calculations, and editorial conclusions separate.

We didn't rank these by payout, and we didn't invent a score.

Our method is published as How We Review TRT Providers. It separates four things that usually get blended together: verified facts (such as a regulator's published rule or our reproducible arithmetic), provider-stated facts (what a company says about its service, attributed and dated), customer-experience signals (attributable reports about billing, support, or shipping—never proof of medical results), and editorial judgment (our conclusions, labeled as ours). Reading a provider's page verifies what it says; it does not independently verify that every patient receives that service.

For this page, options were included when they genuinely change the problem a reader is trying to solve. That's why the pharmacy route is listed first and the fertility route has no product attached — neither pays us anything, and both are the right answer for somebody reading this.

What we did not do: enroll, buy, test a cancellation, time a support response, or verify the clinician and pharmacy any individual patient receives. This comparison is not based on taking these medications. We also publish no testimonials on this page. First-name marketing quotes were not independently verified, and we're not going to launder them into editorial.

For the broader category, use our enclomiphene provider comparison. For how this site handles evidence and updates, see editorial standards, privacy, and corrections.

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Frequently asked questions

Hims' current public offer, a confirmed diagnosis, and the exact bill answer different parts of this decision. These answers separate those questions rather than treating every testosterone-related service as the same thing.

Does Hims prescribe real testosterone? Its public testosterone offer remains compounded enclomiphene-based Testosterone Rx+. The pages checked still label injectable testosterone and Kyzatrex as coming in 2026, and the FAQ says TRT injections are not currently offered. Ask Hims about actual access to the exact product today; an announcement is not a confirmed prescription pathway. Hims' lineup.

Is Hims testosterone legit? Hims is an identifiable telehealth platform, and its program says labs and clinician review are required. That does not make compounded enclomiphene FDA-approved or verify the license of the professional assigned to you. "Legit" and "what you thought you were buying" are different questions. Confirm the product category, treating practice, clinician, pharmacy, and state authority. Hims' process; HHS licensing guidance.

Is enclomiphene FDA-approved? No. FDA's May 14, 2026 update still lists enclomiphene citrate in Category 1, under evaluation for use as a bulk substance in section 503A compounding. Its advisory committee voted 8–4 against inclusion on the final list in June 2022; that advisory vote was not itself a ban. Category 1 is not drug approval or blanket permission for any pharmacy to compound it. FDA's interim enforcement policy has conditions, and other federal and state requirements still apply. Current FDA list; committee minutes, page 7; interim policy.

Is enclomiphene the same as clomiphene? No. Clomiphene contains enclomiphene and zuclomiphene, and both have biological activity. Clomiphene is FDA-approved for certain ovulatory problems in women; use in men is off-label. Compounded enclomiphene is not an FDA-approved version of clomiphene. CLOMID label; FDA enclomiphene record.

What's the cheapest legitimate way to get TRT online? This comparison does not establish one cheapest complete care route. Taurus advertises a $49 entry offer, but other promotions differ and its fee terms conflict; Strut's $79 starting order is for enclomiphene, not TRT. Compare a full written quote with an in-network online or local clinician plus pharmacy before deciding. Taurus' offer and fee terms; Strut's product.

Can I get testosterone without a blood test? A proper evaluation of suspected testosterone deficiency needs appropriate blood testing, symptoms or signs, and a clinician's assessment. A quiz or symptom list alone is not enough. The six platforms compared here describe lab testing, but their public descriptions do not all establish the same repeat-testing process. Endocrine Society's current statement.

Do I need two blood tests or is one enough? For a new diagnosis, the Endocrine Society calls for at least two early-morning fasting testosterone measurements, with compatible symptoms or signs and a reliable assay. Two tubes collected at one sitting are not two separate morning measurements. Tests obtained while already on treatment also need clinical interpretation; do not change treatment on your own to recreate a baseline. Endocrine Society statement.

Will TRT make me infertile? Testosterone can reduce or stop sperm production, but the effect and recovery are not the same for every person. AUA/ASRM advises against testosterone monotherapy when current or future fertility is a goal. Neither an enclomiphene subscription nor an added drug guarantees preserved fertility. Speak with a urologist or reproductive urologist before choosing treatment. AUA/ASRM guideline.

Can I use my HSA for online TRT? Ask about the exact expense, not just the company. Male Excel says treatment may be HSA/FSA reimbursable; Hims says it does not accept those plans as payment. Card acceptance, reimbursement eligibility, and insurance coverage are different questions, and a general membership fee is not automatically a qualified medical expense. Male Excel FAQ; Hims FAQ; IRS HSA/FSA guidance.

How do I cancel Hims? Use the subscription controls in your account and complete the cancellation prompts at least 48 hours before the next order is processed. On the website, Hims directs you through Subscriptions, Manage, Get help, Additional options, Manage subscription, and Discontinue plan/Cancel subscription. Save confirmation; contact support if the controls do not work. A processed prescription may not be refundable. Current instructions; refund policy.

Is online TRT going away in 2027? The current temporary federal telemedicine flexibility runs through December 31, 2026. That is not proof that online TRT will disappear, and it is not a promise that every patient can continue without an in-person visit. Ask the provider how it would handle a rule change, an examination, referrals, and prepaid charges. DEA/HHS extension.

Do these companies take insurance? The prices compared here are cash-pay offers. Hims and Male Excel do not present these programs as insurance-billed care, but that does not establish a universal rule for every service a company may offer. For covered care, check an in-network online or local clinician, the lab, the exact prescription, and the dispensing pharmacy with your insurer. Hims' payment FAQ; Male Excel's payment FAQ.

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What is the bottom line?

The right Hims alternative is the one that changes the problem you actually have—without creating a worse fit in treatment, care, access, or cost. Strut is worth comparing for shorter enclomiphene orders, Hone for a published live-visit and repeat-test process, and an in-network clinician for covered FDA-approved treatment.

You came here looking for Hims testosterone alternatives. The most useful thing we can hand you isn't a brand—it's the question that sorts everything: are you comparing enclomiphene care, or do you need an evaluation for testosterone replacement?

Answer that, and the rest falls out quickly. Considering cash-pay testosterone care or a compounded cream? Male Excel is worth a format-and-cost comparison, with its membership conflict resolved first. Prefer LabCorp or Quest? Taurus belongs on the comparison only with the fee, exact product, and refund questions answered. Want an enclomiphene option without a ten-month commitment? Strut offers shorter orders, and we make nothing telling you that. Want an FDA-approved product on your insurance? Start with your plan's clinician and pharmacy options—not a promise that one company is always cheapest.

And if you're trying for a baby, or your labs came back strange, or something about your symptoms doesn't sit right—put the subscription decision second. See the appropriate clinician: primary care, urology, reproductive urology, or endocrinology. That's not us being cautious. That's the answer.

Still not sure which TRT care route fits you? Use our free Find My TRT Path tool.

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TRT Provider Guide is not a clinic, pharmacy, laboratory, drug manufacturer, insurer, or medical practice. This page is educational information, not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for care from a qualified clinician. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance in the United States and requires a valid prescription. For severe symptoms or a possible medical emergency, seek urgent or emergency care rather than waiting to change providers.

Sources checked September 14, 2026 are linked beside the relevant claims and tables. Provider statements describe public offers, not a verified patient experience. Calculations are labeled separately; no clinician review, patient testing, rating, or outcome guarantee is claimed.