Hims vs Maximus Testosterone: What Each Really Prescribes, Costs, and Locks You Into

Hims vs Maximus testosterone is not a like-for-like TRT comparison: Hims currently offers enclomiphene, not testosterone. Maximus offers compounded TRT and a one-month enclomiphene plan. Hims' lowest rate requires $990 for ten months, plus testing. Compare only after clinical evaluation; near-term fertility, insurance, or an FDA-approved product can point you elsewhere.

By TRT Provider Guide · Last verified October 2026 (sources checked October 14, 2026) · Editorial research, not clinically reviewed
Last updated October 15, 2026 · Last reviewed October 15, 2026

The 30-second comparison

Provider-stated offers and prices, checked October 14, 2026: Hims storefront, Hims price guide, Maximus plans, and Maximus lab policy. They are not a quote. Confirm every number at checkout before you pay.

Maximus may fit you if:

• A clinician finds testosterone appropriate, and you accept a compounded shot, cream, or oral product.
• You want a one-month payment commitment for clinician-prescribed enclomiphene, rather than a longer contract.
• You want to pay with an HSA or FSA card, or you already have recent lab work to upload.

Hims may fit you if:

• A clinician has confirmed low testosterone with a pattern enclomiphene is meant for.
• Enclomiphene fits your care plan, and you can prepay $990 for 10 months, plus the published $94 initial kit and any recheck cost.
• You already use Hims and want everything in one app.

Neither is your best first step if:

• You're trying to have a baby in the next year.
• Your low testosterone hasn't been confirmed with repeat morning blood tests.
• You need insurance to pay, or you want an FDA-approved testosterone product, whether brand-name or generic.

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 — October 14, 2026

What we checked:

• Hims: its testosterone page, both Testosterone Rx+ product pages, its January 2026 enclomiphene price guide, and its cancellation and refund help articles.
• Maximus: its testosterone hub, all four protocol pages, its August 2026 pricing table, its July 2026 lab-cost article, its cancellation article, its refund and subscription policy, and its company information page.
• Primary sources: FDA enclomiphene records and inspection observations, AUA/SMSNA and Endocrine Society guidance, the Federal Register's telemedicine extension, the FTC's case record, Hims & Hers' official response, and its SEC pharmacy disclosures.

What the companies say and we didn't test: how fast clinicians respond, what ships, whether tadalafil is included in a given Maximus plan, and how often check-ins happen. Published prices and care policies are provider-stated; our arithmetic and comparisons are editorial work, not checkout tests.

What we could not confirm:

• What Hims charges for its three-month recheck.
• A full state list for Hims, or for Maximus' testosterone protocols.
• The pharmacy and clinician assigned to an individual patient at either service, and their patient-specific licensing details.
• Your personal price, Hims' shorter-plan charge schedule, or a guaranteed all-in lab panel at Maximus. We didn't enroll, buy treatment, contact support, or complete a checkout.

Educational information, not medical advice. This comparison concerns U.S. adult men evaluating testosterone deficiency—not adolescent care, gender-affirming hormone care, or performance enhancement. Chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden vision loss, or a swollen, painful leg needs urgent or emergency assessment; do not wait for a portal reply.

---

Hims vs Maximus testosterone: which should you choose?

Maximus is the option to compare here when a clinician recommends testosterone and compounded treatment fits your needs and state. For enclomiphene, Hims offers a ten-month prepaid plan, while Maximus offers a one-month commitment and says it accepts HSA/FSA payments. Fertility plans, an incomplete evaluation, insurance, or a preference for an FDA-approved product can make neither the right starting point. (Published options; Hims plans)

Most people land on this page thinking they're comparing two testosterone programs. They aren't. One company sells testosterone. The other sells a pill that works on the signal to make it.

That changes the whole decision. So start with the row that sounds like you.

Find your row

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.

These are care-route judgments, not prescribing decisions. Fertility and diagnostic cautions follow Endocrine Society guidance; provider features come from the dated sources above. The tool is educational and non-diagnostic.

Found your row?

• Want testosterone? See Maximus' testosterone options and plan prices → A licensed doctor decides whether to prescribe after labs.
• Want enclomiphene and comfortable prepaying? See Hims' Testosterone Rx plans →
• Still not sure which row is you? Map your care route with Find My TRT Path →

---

Does Hims actually sell testosterone?

As of October 14, 2026, Hims prescribes enclomiphene, a pill that is not testosterone. Its injectable testosterone and its Kyzatrex oral testosterone are still listed as "Coming in 2026," and Hims says that launch could change. Its own FAQ says it does not currently offer testosterone injections. (Hims storefront and FAQ)

Here's the confusion in one picture. Hims' page is titled "Level up with testosterone." The product is called "Testosterone Rx." But what's inside is enclomiphene.

What enclomiphene is, in plain words

Estrogen helps tell the brain when to turn down the signal to the testicles. Enclomiphene blocks part of that feedback and can raise luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). LH supports testosterone production; FSH, together with testosterone inside the testes, supports sperm production. (Clinical trial; AUA/ASRM guidance)

So enclomiphene doesn't add testosterone. It asks your body to make more of its own. That's a different treatment from testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), which puts testosterone into your body from outside.

There's one hard limit. Enclomiphene only helps if your testicles can still answer the call. Hims says enclomiphene isn't effective for primary hypogonadism (testicular failure). It also says enclomiphene isn't meant for men with normal testosterone or for athletes chasing performance. (Hims price guide)

The products on Hims' testosterone page

Checked on hims.com/testosterone, October 14, 2026. Hims' asterisk says the expected launch "may be subject to change." Kyzatrex's ingredient and approval status are documented in its prescribing information. The future injection card does not identify a specific approved brand or manufacturer.

Try this 10-second test. Open Hims' testosterone page and search it for the word "Coming." Two cards light up. Those are the only two testosterone products on the page, and neither is available yet. Use the live product cards rather than assuming the word "testosterone" in a program name means TRT is available.

The honest trade-off with Hims

Hims does not prescribe testosterone. Maximus has testosterone options to compare when TRT is medically appropriate and compounded care fits. But a non-testosterone prescription may be the point for the right reader. These differences belong to enclomiphene, not uniquely to Hims:

• It isn't testosterone. The temporary federal controlled-substance prescribing rule discussed below concerns testosterone, a Schedule III drug, rather than non-controlled enclomiphene. A prescription and state practice rules still apply. (DEA scheduling; federal rule)
• It works through your own hormone system. Trials in selected men with secondary hypogonadism found higher LH and FSH, unlike testosterone gel. That is not a promise about symptoms or fertility. (Trial results)
• Hims describes a once-daily pill. No needles, and no topical medicine that can rub off on a partner or child. That convenience does not make enclomiphene safer overall.

For a man whose clinician has confirmed low testosterone of the kind enclomiphene targets, that can be exactly the point.

Wanted testosterone after all? Skip ahead to what Maximus prescribes.

Does enclomiphene sound like what you're after, and are you ready to pick a plan length? Review Hims' current enclomiphene plans → Hims starts with an at-home lab kit. A provider then reviews it before prescribing.

For a deeper look at Hims alone, read our Hims testosterone review and Hims testosterone cost guide.

---

What does Maximus prescribe for low testosterone?

Maximus offers enclomiphene on its own and compounded testosterone in three forms: injection, cream, and oral capsules. It also sells combinations that pair testosterone with enclomiphene. Its four main hormone protocols below are compounded, not FDA-approved products, and require lab review before prescribing. (Maximus treatment pages)

The four main Maximus protocols

Sources: Maximus testosterone hub, injectable, cream, oral, and enclomiphene pages, checked October 14, 2026. The enclomiphene product page shows 1-, 3-, and 12-month plans. Maximus' pricing table also lists a 6-month plan at the same rate.

A SERM is a selective estrogen receptor modulator: a drug that changes estrogen signaling. The fertility column uses AUA/ASRM guidance and the enclomiphene trial, not a promise from either provider.

Maximus' oral testosterone is not Kyzatrex

This trips people up. Maximus calls its oral product a "custom-compounded formulation." It describes native testosterone, whereas Kyzatrex, the oral testosterone Hims plans to offer, is an FDA-approved brand of testosterone undecanoate. They're both "oral testosterone," but they are not the same product. Don't assume one equals the other. (Maximus formulation; Kyzatrex label)

There is also a formulation conflict: the company information page calls its oral combination testosterone undecanoate, while the product page describes native testosterone. Get the exact ingredient and pharmacy label in writing. Neither description makes a custom-compounded capsule FDA-approved Kyzatrex.

What the combination protocols claim

Maximus' biggest pitch is pairing testosterone with enclomiphene, to raise testosterone while keeping your own hormone signal running. The company says these combinations are patented, and that its own studies show fertility markers staying in range.

Those are company claims from Maximus' own data, not independently established fertility outcomes for these compounded combinations. A patent is not FDA approval or proof that sperm production is protected. Combination plans also cost more. In Maximus' pricing table, enclomiphene plus injectable testosterone is $149.98 a month on a 6- or 12-month plan, not $99.99. (Company claims; plan prices)

Where Maximus' own pages disagree

We found these by reading the company's pages side by side. None of them is a reason to panic. All of them are reasons to read your checkout screen closely.

Another lab issue: the same Maximus lab article first says a $99 kit covers the full required panel, then says to use a kit only for total and free testosterone and Quest for fuller panels. Its enclomiphene requirements also list LH and FSH; testosterone protocols add PSA and hematocrit. Ask for the actual panel and total charge before counting a $99 kit as complete.

One safety note on tadalafil: never combine it with nitrate medicines for chest pain, such as nitroglycerin. The combination can drop your blood pressure dangerously. Tell any prescriber every medicine you take; riociguat is also contraindicated with tadalafil. A compounded combination is not FDA-approved Cialis. (Cialis label, DailyMed)

Want to see exactly what each Maximus plan costs before you start? Check Maximus' full published price table →

---

Hims vs Maximus cost: what will you really pay?

For enclomiphene, the lowest monthly rates are nearly the same: $99 at Hims and $99.99 at Maximus. Hims' ten-month plan plus its published initial kit comes to $1,084 before rechecks; Maximus' twelve-month plan is $1,199.88 before separate testing. Neither figure is a verified complete first-year bill, and neither tells you exactly what leaves your account today. (Hims prices; Maximus prices)

Write down three numbers before you pay

Every plan has three numbers. Ads show you one of them.

1. The monthly rate (the number in the ad)
2. The plan length (how many months you're agreeing to)
3. The total charged today, or the total you're committed to

They're not the same number. Hims' $99 rate requires ten months; Maximus' $99.99 rate appears on both six- and twelve-month plans.

Enclomiphene plans, side by side

Sources: Hims' testosterone FAQ and January 2026 price guide. Maximus' August 2026 pricing table and July 2026 lab policy. Hims explicitly describes the ten-month plan as paid upfront and in full; the cited pages do not settle the three- and five-month charge schedules. Maximus' policy says committed plans are paid in advance or in installments, and its product pages offer Klarna. Maximus' enclomiphene page was also advertising 50% off the first month of a 12-month plan on October 14, 2026, which would take the published 12-month plan subtotal to about $1,149.88 if it applies; confirm the discount and rounding at checkout.

Your first year, worked out

This is our arithmetic, built only from the published numbers above. A plan subtotal, a cash payment, and twelve months of care are different things.

What the table tells you. Ten months is not a year, and free lab uploading is not free future blood work. We cannot name a complete first-year cost winner from these public pages.

The gap Hims leaves. Ten months isn't a year. To cover months 11 and 12 at Hims, you'd need continued prescribing and another purchase. A switch to the shortest published plan, three months at $597, would bring the plan-plus-initial-kit subtotal to $1,681 for 13 months, plus rechecks. That is a scenario, not a verified automatic renewal option. Renewing another ten months at the same $990 rate would instead mean $2,074 paid across two terms for 20 months, before rechecks. Four three-month purchases would be $2,482 for 12 months, including the $94 initial kit, if that pricing remains available.

Hims' own price guide says many men need ongoing treatment to keep their levels up. Ask what term and charge your account will renew into; do not choose a medical treatment length from the discount table.

The Maximus lab boundary. Its policy schedules tests at baseline and months 1, 3, and 12. The $1,496.88 figure stops before the annual test; $1,595.88 includes a fourth $99 kit. A separate landing page prices kits at $99.99, which would make that four-kit subtotal $1,599.84. Panel conflicts, extra clinician-ordered tests, and any checkout-specific charges can change these figures. An annual kit charged just after your anniversary falls into year two's cash flow, but it does not disappear from ongoing care.

With outside labs: $1,199.88 is the annual Maximus plan price, not an all-in year. Add what your own lab or insurer charges for each required test. Existing baseline results cannot replace newly timed follow-up tests.

The middle path at Maximus. Maximus' pricing table also lists a 6-month enclomiphene plan at $599.94. With three $99 kits, that's $896.94 for six months, assuming those kits meet the panel requirements. The enclomiphene product page only shows 1-, 3-, and 12-month buttons, so ask whether the 6-month option is available to you.

Method: no promo in the base totals; unchanged published plan rates; no assumption that a missing fee is zero. Hims pricing, Maximus pricing, Maximus lab timing and charges, and its alternate kit price were checked October 14, 2026. These are reproducible published-fee scenarios, not personalized or verified all-in quotes.

What testosterone costs at Maximus (Hims has nothing to compare)

From Maximus' pricing table, August 24, 2026. These are plan totals, not monthly charges or complete treatment costs. Add required testing at baseline and months 1, 3, and 12. The lab policy quotes $99 kits and Quest panels at $19.99–$115, but its panel descriptions conflict. A testosterone protocol requires PSA and hematocrit in addition to hormone markers; do not assume the cheapest draw covers everything.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a separate hormone medicine, not testosterone. Pregnyl's approved label includes selected male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, a hormone-signal deficiency. This does not establish which hCG product Maximus dispenses, or prove that adding it to TRT preserves fertility.

What is included besides the medicine?

Sources: Hims price guide, Hims care description, Maximus subscription terms, Maximus lab policy, and Maximus terms of use. Maximus lists support chat Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern, plus email and text; that is a support schedule, not an emergency service.

HSA, FSA, and insurance

An HSA is a health savings account; an FSA is a flexible spending account. Using either is different from having health insurance pay a claim.

• Hims: doesn't accept HSA or FSA cards, and doesn't bill insurance.
• Maximus: says its protocols are HSA/FSA eligible, and doesn't bill insurance. Confirm eligibility and reimbursement documentation with your account administrator.

Payment sources: Hims insurance policy, Hims HSA/FSA FAQ, and Maximus billing policy, checked October 14, 2026.

If insurance must pay, start with an in-network clinician and pharmacy. FDA-approved brand and generic testosterone products exist, but coverage depends on your plan, the exact product, and its requirements; prior authorization may be needed. FDA approval does not guarantee coverage. (FDA testosterone information)

Your before-you-pay checklist

Take this into either checkout, or into a support chat. Get the answers in writing.

1. What's the exact medicine and form you're prescribing me, and is it compounded?
2. What's the total charged today, and what's the total I'm committing to?
3. How many months does that cover, and what renews after that, at what price?
4. Which lab tests are required, when, and what does each one cost?
5. Can I upload my own labs instead?
6. If I'm not approved, what gets refunded?
7. If I stop early, what do I get back?
8. Which pharmacy fills my prescription?
9. Do you treat patients in my state for this exact medicine?
10. How do I reach a clinician, and how fast do they answer?

Also ask for the refill questionnaire deadline, expected pharmacy processing time, shipping and supplies charges, and how to export your records. Save the written quote next to your cancellation terms.

---

What if it isn't working — can you quit?

Hims' ten-month plan is prepaid, and its refund article says refunds aren't guaranteed once the pharmacy has processed an order. Maximus' standard policy keeps multi-month customers responsible for the term, but separate Savings Plan terms describe a health-related exit exception; turning off renewal alone does not erase the balance. Its month-to-month option limits the commitment to the current month. (Hims refund policy; Maximus policy)

Here's the published plan exposure if you decide at month 2 that it's not for you. The lab scenarios assume an initial kit and a one-month kit where required, with no promotion or extra tests.

The "quit at month 2" table

Sources: Maximus' refund & subscription policy (effective April 15, 2026) and cancellation article; Hims' refund article (updated August 27, 2026).

The exception worth asking about. Maximus' general subscription policy says committed plans have no early termination or partial refund. Its separate Subscription Savings Plan terms, section 4.1 allow patients who cannot continue for clinician-determined health reasons to end the commitment without further charges; documentation may be required, and shipped medication is not refundable. Ask which terms govern your offer and get any release from future payments in writing. This is not a guarantee that dissatisfaction alone qualifies.

Maximus' own policy gives good advice here: if you're new to a protocol, start month to month so you can finish your blood work and see how you respond before you commit. We agree. The $100 higher monthly plan rate buys a shorter financial commitment. That is not a claim that one month is enough to assess medical benefit or long-term safety.

How to cancel each one

• Hims: make changes at least 48 hours before your next order date, in your account. Orders already processing or shipped can't be stopped. If you're a testosterone customer with labs ordered but no prescription yet, Hims says to contact support to cancel. (Hims cancellation article, updated August 25, 2026)
• Maximus: turn off auto-renewal under Settings → Manage Subscription in your dashboard, or email support. No phone call is required. Ordinary cancellation stops renewal, not the remaining commitment; ask about any applicable health-related exception. Refills still depend on required clinical steps. One Maximus enclomiphene page says that if you're not approved, the cost of your medication is fully refunded. Consultation and lab fees are non-refundable under its policy.

These are the companies' published policies, not a ruling on your legal rights. Neither cancellation nor pausing a subscription tells you whether to change a medicine; that is a clinician decision. An unused prescription is not automatically returnable. Maximus also warns that billing can continue before onboarding is complete: leaving a questionnaire unfinished is not cancellation. (Refund policy; billing policy)

The FTC lawsuit against Hims & Hers

On July 29, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission, joined by Utah and California acting through the Los Angeles County Counsel, sued Hims & Hers in federal court in Northern California. The complaint alleges the company enrolled people in subscriptions without clear consent, made cancelling hard, and shared health-related data with advertising platforms. Hims & Hers denies the allegations and says the lawsuit ignores evidence it gave the agency. These are allegations, not findings, and a court will decide. The FTC listed the case as pending at this check. (FTC case and complaint; Hims & Hers' response)

What it means for you: whichever company you choose, screenshot your plan terms and your cancellation confirmation.

Want a shorter financial commitment? Review Maximus' one-month enclomiphene plan → Lab review and a prescribing decision are still required. Testing is separate from the advertised plan price.

---

Do you need low testosterone to qualify?

Both companies require lab review before prescribing, but their marketing describes different patients: Hims says enclomiphene is not for normal testosterone, while Maximus promotes treatment for men with normal levels too. Diagnosis is a different question from commercial eligibility. U.S. guidelines require compatible symptoms or signs plus consistently low testosterone, confirmed with appropriate repeat morning testing. (Hims policy; Maximus statement; Endocrine Society)

What the guidelines actually require

• American Urological Association: a total testosterone below 300 ng/dL is a "reasonable cut-off" to support the diagnosis. That should come from two tests, on separate occasions, both in the early morning. It also needs symptoms or signs. (AUA guideline; AUA/SMSNA white paper, Table 3)
• Endocrine Society: diagnose only with symptoms and signs plus "unequivocally and consistently low" testosterone, confirmed with repeat morning fasting tests (2018 guideline). A July 2026 statement repeats the call for at least two early-morning fasting tests. It says symptoms alone aren't enough, and it asks clinicians to rule out fixable causes first, such as obesity or certain medicines. (July 2026 statement)

Notice that 300 isn't a magic line. It's one part of a diagnosis, not the whole thing. The clinician also needs a reliable assay, the lab's reference range, your symptoms, and the cause of the result; free testosterone may help in selected borderline or altered-SHBG cases. (Endocrine Society recommendations)

Two samples at once are not two mornings

Hims' kit has you collect two samples and mail them together. That does not establish testing on two separate mornings, which is what the diagnostic guidance calls for. Neither public workflow reviewed here confirmed that a second, separate early-morning diagnostic test is automatically included before prescribing. If you've only had one draw, ask whoever treats you how they'll confirm it. (Hims kit instructions; Maximus lab policy; Endocrine Society)

Where Hims and Maximus split

This is the sharpest difference in how the two companies think:

• Hims says enclomiphene is only for men with clinically low testosterone. (Hims price guide FAQ)
• Maximus lists "eugonadal eligibility" as a selling point. It says it treats men with normal testosterone who want levels "within or above the normal range." (Maximus company information)

If your levels are normal, that difference matters. A normal result does not establish testosterone deficiency, and a promise to "optimize" is not a guideline-supported diagnosis. Talk it through with a clinician who isn't selling you a plan before you pay for one.

Which labs each company checks

• Maximus, enclomiphene: total testosterone, free testosterone or SHBG, LH, and FSH.
• Maximus, testosterone protocols: all of the above, plus PSA and hematocrit.
• Hims: says its at-home kit measures total and free testosterone among its markers and is processed in a CLIA-certified lab. We did not independently check the assigned lab or its certificate.

Sources: Maximus lab policy; Hims testosterone page.

Quick definitions:

• Total testosterone is all the testosterone in your blood.
• Free testosterone is the part not bound to proteins.
• SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin) is the main protein that binds it.
• Hematocrit is the share of your blood made of red cells. Testosterone can push it up.
• PSA (prostate-specific antigen) is a prostate blood marker.

Seek a clinician-led evaluation before choosing a subscription if…

• Your testosterone is very low, or your LH and FSH are high or abnormal.
• You've had prostate or breast cancer, or have an abnormal PSA.
• You have high hematocrit, or untreated severe sleep apnea.
• You've had a heart attack or stroke recently.
• You have new headaches with vision changes, or other signs that need pituitary evaluation; sudden or severe symptoms need urgent assessment.
• You're trying to have a baby soon.

These flags follow Endocrine Society guidance. A cancer history, abnormal PSA, high hematocrit, severe untreated sleep apnea, recent major cardiovascular events, uncontrolled heart failure, or a clotting disorder calls for individualized evaluation—not automatic approval or permanent disqualification by a website.

Haven't had two morning tests yet, or not sure what your results mean? Get your personalized action plan with Find My TRT Path → It's educational and free. It doesn't diagnose you or decide whether you qualify. For more detail, read how low testosterone is diagnosed.

---

Hims vs Maximus for fertility: can either protect your sperm count?

Testosterone therapy, including Maximus' injection, cream, and oral products, can lower sperm production. Enclomiphene has different hormone effects, but neither company can promise that a prescription or combination will preserve fertility. If you're trying to conceive soon, see a reproductive urologist first. (AUA/ASRM; enclomiphene trial)

Testosterone and sperm

When testosterone comes from outside your body, it can turn down LH and FSH and reduce testosterone within the testes. That can reduce sperm production (doctors call it spermatogenesis), sometimes to zero. Maximus' injectable page warns about this plainly, and so does its cream page. (AUA/ASRM mechanism and guidance)

The Endocrine Society recommends against starting testosterone therapy in men planning fertility in the near term (Recommendation 2.2).

What enclomiphene can and can't promise

Hims calls enclomiphene "fertility-friendly" and says it supports sperm production. In the same materials, Hims also says research on its side effects is limited, that it's not FDA-evaluated for safety or effectiveness, and that it doesn't work for testicular failure.

Read those together. A higher testosterone number is not a pregnancy, and no company can promise your fertility will be protected.

There is trial evidence—not just advertising: two 16-week randomized trials in overweight men aged 18–60 with secondary hypogonadism found maintained sperm concentrations with enclomiphene and reduced sperm production with testosterone gel. They did not establish pregnancy or live-birth benefits, long-term safety, or equivalence to either company's compounded formula. (Published trial)

Maximus' combination claims

Maximus says adding enclomiphene to its cream or oral testosterone keeps fertility markers in range. That claim comes from the company's own studies, and we couldn't confirm it independently. "Markers in range" is not the same as a confirmed sperm count or a pregnancy.

Adding hCG is not an insurance policy for fertility. AUA/ASRM permits hCG or certain other hormone treatments in selected infertile men with low testosterone, but the choice depends on the cause. It recommends against testosterone alone for men interested in current or future fertility; recovery after testosterone is not guaranteed on a fixed timeline. (AUA/ASRM guidance)

Trying to conceive in the next 12 months? Neither checkout is your first step. Book a reproductive urologist, ask for a semen analysis, and bring your hormone results. Our guide on whether TRT affects fertility explains what to ask.

---

Are Hims and Maximus legit and safe?

Both have active treatment pages and describe clinician-led care after lab review, but that does not establish personal safety or independently verify every clinician or pharmacy. Their main hormone products compared here are compounded, not FDA-approved. Hims & Hers also faces a pending FTC lawsuit, which it disputes, and an FDA inspection record relevant to one of its pharmacy subsidiaries. (FDA compounding guidance; FTC case; FDA inspection)

What "compounded" means

Compounding means combining, mixing, or altering a medicine to meet a medical need. The FDA doesn't approve compounded drugs. It doesn't check them for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they reach you (FDA).

Lack of approval is not proof that every compounded drug is unsafe, but it is not a safety assurance either. FDA warns that poor compounding can cause contamination or the wrong drug strength. Ask why a compounded medicine is needed instead of an FDA-approved option, and who prepares it. (FDA risks)

Enclomiphene's regulatory status

Enclomiphene has never been FDA-approved for any use. In June 2022, FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee voted 8–4 against adding enclomiphene citrate to the section 503A bulk-substances list; the result appears in the meeting minutes, page 7.

That advisory vote was not itself a final ban. FDA's May 14, 2026 status list still places enclomiphene citrate in Category 1: under evaluation. Category 1 is not FDA approval, a safety finding, or blanket authorization for every compounded product. Hims itself says enclomiphene "remains investigational."

Testosterone's status

Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance under federal law. That means it requires a valid prescription and carries extra prescribing rules (DEA). Maximus' testosterone is compounded. Of Hims' announced products, Kyzatrex is a named FDA-approved brand. Its injection card names testosterone cypionate but does not identify the exact product or manufacturer; that card alone cannot establish brand or approval status. Neither is currently available on the checked storefront.

Safety questions that belong before a prescription

Testosterone can raise blood pressure and hematocrit, the share of blood made of red cells. FDA's 2025 label changes added blood-pressure warnings while removing the prior boxed-warning language about increased major cardiovascular outcomes; that was not a declaration that treatment is risk-free. FDA also requested further age-related and prostate-label revisions in June 2026. Ask the clinician to use the current label for the exact product and your medical history, not an old advertisement. (FDA blood-pressure update; June 2026 update; monitoring guidance)

Enclomiphene's lack of FDA approval means there is no approved U.S. enclomiphene label establishing its safety. Its short-term studies do not settle all long-term harms. A compounded combination with tadalafil adds tadalafil's own interactions; tablets are not automatically safer because they avoid needles. Discuss visual symptoms, clotting history, and every other medicine with the prescriber before treatment. (FDA committee record; tadalafil label)

For topical testosterone, ask the clinician and dispensing pharmacy how to prevent transfer to a partner or child. A lack of needle use does not remove that exposure risk. (AUA/SMSNA white paper)

Who prescribes, and who fills it

Hims and Maximus clinician descriptions are provider-stated. Hims & Hers' SEC filing supports corporate pharmacy ownership, not a license check for your assigned dispenser. Ask for the clinician's full name and state license, the dispensing pharmacy's name and license, and a direct way to contact both.

A pharmacy inspection record Hims readers should know about

An FDA Form 483 dated June 17, 2026 names XeCare LLC, which Hims & Hers identifies as a subsidiary. Inspectors described inadequate separation and cleaning controls to prevent cross-contamination; the examples included tadalafil/enclomiphene tablets. These are inspection observations, not a final FDA determination of noncompliance. (FDA Form 483, page 1; Hims & Hers ownership filing)

The record does not establish that your Hims prescription came from that site or that your medicine was contaminated. Ask which pharmacy will fill your order and how any relevant inspection observations were addressed. We did not verify a patient-specific dispensing site or a later resolution of these observations.

What customers say

Maximus' Trustpilot profile displayed 4.4 out of 5 from 1,092 reviews when checked October 14, 2026. The profile says the company has a paid Trustpilot subscription and invites reviews; that does not mean each review is paid. Reviews describe one person's experience. They can show billing or support patterns. They can't tell you whether a medicine will work for you, or whether it's safe.

---

Will the December 31, 2026 telehealth deadline affect Hims or Maximus?

It can affect Maximus' testosterone protocols because testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance. The current federal temporary rule extends specified prescribing flexibilities through December 31, 2026, subject to its conditions and state law. The same controlled-substance extension is not the basis for prescribing non-controlled enclomiphene, and it does not guarantee any patient's access after that date. (Federal Register rule; HHS explanation)

This is not an online-prescribing loophole. Under this temporary exception, testosterone prescribing without a prior in-person exam requires a qualifying real-time audio-video encounter, an authorized prescriber, a legitimate medical purpose, and compliance with the other federal conditions and applicable state rules. A text questionnaire alone does not satisfy that encounter requirement. Clinical circumstances or state law can still require an in-person evaluation. (Federal rule and incorporated telemedicine requirements)

No later effective rule establishing this exception's 2027 terms was verified for this article. Do not treat a forecast about a proposed rule as your future prescription policy.

If you're signing up for a 6- or 12-month testosterone plan this fall, ask one question first: "If federal rules change on January 1, what happens to my prescription and my prepaid plan?"

Ask whether the provider can arrange any required visit, what it costs, and what its written refund or transition policy covers. Paying for a longer plan does not guarantee continued prescribing.

---

Can you use Hims or Maximus in your state, or with insurance?

Hims says its program is not available in all 50 states, and we did not find a complete current Rx+ list. Maximus' enclomiphene page excludes Alaska and Washington, D.C.; that is not a verified coverage list for its testosterone protocols. Both describe cash-pay care, and only Maximus says it accepts HSA/FSA payments for the compared programs. (Hims; Maximus enclomiphene availability)

• Hims: "not available in all 50 states." In some states, you'll need a video visit after your labs come back (Hims).
• Maximus: one of its enclomiphene pages lists service in 49 states, excluding Alaska, and also excludes Washington, D.C. Availability for its testosterone protocols wasn't published on the pages we checked. Confirm your state for your exact medicine during intake, before you pay.
• Insurance: neither company bills it. If coverage matters, start with an in-network primary care doctor, urologist, or endocrinologist.
• HSA/FSA: Maximus says it's eligible. Hims says it doesn't accept these cards.

---

How do you switch between Hims and Maximus?

Changing care providers is different from asking to transfer an existing prescription to a pharmacy. A new Hims or Maximus care plan requires its own intake and lab review, and switching from enclomiphene to testosterone (or back) is a medical decision for a clinician. Get your records before you cancel.

Before you switch:

1. Download or request your lab results and prescription history. Hims has a records request process: email support@forhims.com with "Medical Records Request" as the subject. A screenshot of a prescription can't be filled elsewhere. For Maximus, ask the care team for the full clinical record and lab reports; we did not confirm a public medical-record export process or turnaround.
2. Check whether the labs are recent enough. Maximus accepts outside labs from the last 6 months that include the markers it requires.
3. Turn off renewal at your current provider at the right time. That means 48 hours before the next Hims order, or before the next Maximus billing cycle.
4. Don't stop, start, or overlap medicines on your own. Tell the new clinician exactly what you're taking and when you last took it.

---

Hims vs Maximus: which fits your situation?

Maximus has the better payment fit here for a one-month enclomiphene commitment, and it offers compounded testosterone when that is clinically appropriate. Hims can fit an established enclomiphene care plan when ten-month prepayment works for your budget. Choose neither, for now, if fertility is near-term, low testosterone isn't confirmed, or you need an insurance-covered or FDA-approved option.

Maximus

• Best for: men whose clinicians consider compounded TRT appropriate, or who want a shorter payment commitment for prescribed enclomiphene.
• Not for: anyone who needs an FDA-approved product, insurance billing, or a fully transparent single price sheet.
• Easiest to miss: the 12-month enclomiphene rate creates a term commitment; ordinary cancellation does not end what you owe, though specific terms include a health-related exception. Follow-up testing costs extra. Maximus also markets treatment to men with normal testosterone, which does not establish a guideline-supported deficiency diagnosis.
• Go instead to: an in-network clinician and pharmacy for insurance or a specific FDA-approved brand or generic product.

Hims

• Best for: men with confirmed low testosterone of the kind enclomiphene targets, who want a daily pill and one payment, and who may already use Hims.
• Not for: anyone who wants testosterone, wants to pay with HSA/FSA, or wants to try a single month first.
• Easiest to miss: the advertised $99 means a $990 prepaid plan, plus a published $94 initial kit and any recheck cost, and it covers 10 months, not 12. The parent company disputes a pending FTC case; the pharmacy-inspection record above is a separate matter.
• Go instead to: Maximus' one-month plan for a shorter financial commitment after clinical review, or a reproductive urologist if fertility is the goal.

Does clinician-led, compounded testosterone care fit your situation? See Maximus' treatment options and intake steps → A Maximus doctor reviews your labs before deciding whether to prescribe.

Is enclomiphene the plan, and you're confident about 10 months? See Hims' Testosterone Rx pricing and start with the lab kit →

---

What should you do if neither Hims nor Maximus fits?

Some readers are better served somewhere else. That includes an in-network clinician for insurance or an FDA-approved product, a reproductive urologist if fertility is near-term, or a membership-based online clinic for a different visit-and-lab package. A membership fee is not an all-in treatment price when medication or other charges are separate.

Hone Health and Male Excel are included in our commercial disclosures. These links are direct public information links, not paid referral links. That relationship doesn't change the facts above, including the parts that don't flatter them.

• Want consults and labs folded into one monthly fee? See what Hone Health's membership includes →
• Want a second no-contract testosterone quote? Compare Male Excel's current treatment pricing →

The information links above remain direct. The separately labeled offer buttons below are paid affiliate referrals.

Explore Hone Health's current TRT offer →Paid affiliate link. Confirm state access, the full quote and clinical eligibility.

Explore Male Excel's current TRT offer →Paid affiliate link. Confirm state access, the full quote and clinical eligibility.

Leaning away from one company? Our Hims testosterone alternatives comparison covers other medicines, payment models, and care routes; it can also help you identify what a different Maximus alternative would need to solve.

---

How did we compare Hims and Maximus?

We read the accessible public pricing pages, help articles, and policies cited here on October 14, 2026, did the cost math ourselves, and checked medical and legal claims against primary sources. We label what's verified, what the companies say, what customers report, and what we conclude.

This is a comparison built from public documents. It is not a hands-on review: we didn't enroll, take a medicine, or test either company's clinicians.

• Where the companies' own pages disagreed, we showed both versions rather than picking one.
• Where a number wasn't published, we said so instead of guessing.
• Every cost figure comes from a dated company source, and the arithmetic is shown. Unknown charges are not zero; projected renewal and lab scenarios are labeled rather than presented as paid invoices.

Our full method is How We Review TRT Providers. It covers clinical eligibility, testing, clinician access, state availability, treatment formats, medication and pharmacy transparency, fertility handling, monitoring, total cost, cancellation, support, and claims transparency.

For our disclosure and data practices, see affiliate disclosure, editorial standards, and privacy policy. To flag a changed price or another error, use our corrections process.

What will change this page:

• Hims launches testosterone.
• The DEA's final rule is published.
• Either company changes prices or policies.
• The FTC case moves.

This comparison is a dated snapshot. A new Hims launch, changed prices, a new effective federal rule, or a new regulatory record can change the verdict; check the linked primary source before committing to a plan.

---

What else should you know about Hims vs Maximus testosterone?

The main distinction is the medicine; the next is the full payment commitment. These questions cover the details most likely to change which provider—or care route—fits.

Does Hims sell real testosterone?

Not yet. As of October 14, 2026, Hims prescribes enclomiphene, which isn't testosterone. Its testosterone injection and Kyzatrex oral testosterone are listed as "Coming in 2026," and its FAQ says it doesn't currently offer TRT injections.

Is Maximus testosterone FDA-approved?

No. Maximus says its testosterone injection, cream, and oral products are compounded. Compounded drugs aren't FDA-approved or FDA-reviewed for safety, effectiveness, or quality.

Which is cheaper, Hims or Maximus?

A complete first-year winner is not verified. Hims' $990 ten-month plan plus its $94 initial kit is $1,084 before rechecks and continuation. Maximus' $1,199.88 annual plan plus four $99 kits through its 12-month test is $1,595.88 if those kits meet its panel requirements. Uploading outside results avoids Maximus' kit charge, not your own testing costs.

Maximus vs Hims testosterone: which is better for ED?

Both list enclomiphene + tadalafil options, but confirm whether Maximus supplies a combined tablet or separate medicines. Tadalafil is the part aimed at erections; a compounded combination is not FDA-approved Cialis. Never take tadalafil with nitrate chest-pain medicines or riociguat.

Can I cancel Maximus anytime?

You can turn off renewal on any plan. A month-to-month commitment ends after the current month; ordinary cancellation does not end a multi-month balance. Savings Plan terms describe a clinician-determined health-related exception, so confirm which contract applies and get the decision in writing. (Subscription policy; Savings Plan terms, section 4.1)

Can I get a refund from Hims?

Hims' refund article says changes must be made at least 48 hours before your next order is processed, and refunds can't be guaranteed once the pharmacy has processed an order. It doesn't promise refunds for unused months of a prepaid plan.

Does Maximus or Hims take HSA or FSA?

Maximus says its protocols are HSA/FSA eligible. Hims says it doesn't accept HSA or FSA payments.

Is enclomiphene the same as TRT?

No. TRT adds testosterone to your body. Enclomiphene changes estrogen feedback and can raise LH and FSH, supporting the body's own hormone production in selected patients. It isn't FDA-approved, and the cause of low testosterone must be assessed rather than assuming the testes can respond.

Will Maximus testosterone affect my fertility?

It can. Testosterone in injections, creams, or oral products can suppress sperm production. Adding enclomiphene or hCG does not guarantee protection. If you're planning a pregnancy soon, see a reproductive urologist before starting.

Do I need a result under 300 ng/dL to qualify?

The American Urological Association calls 300 ng/dL a reasonable cut-off, confirmed by two early-morning tests and paired with symptoms. Hims says enclomiphene isn't meant for men with normal levels. Maximus says it treats men with normal levels too.

Can I use my own lab results?

Maximus accepts outside labs from the last 6 months if they include its required markers, with no upload fee. New follow-up tests are still required. Hims describes its own at-home kit at checkout; we did not confirm an outside-lab option.

What happens to online testosterone prescriptions after December 31, 2026?

The verified temporary extension runs through December 31, 2026, subject to federal conditions and state law. It does not establish the terms for 2027 or replace the ordinary prescribing rules for enclomiphene. Ask any testosterone provider how a change would affect clinical visits, refills, and your paid commitment. (Federal rule)

---

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

---

Sources (checked October 14, 2026)

1. Hims — Testosterone storefront and FAQ
2. Hims — Testosterone Rx+ (enclomiphene + supplements)
3. Hims — Testosterone Rx+ (enclomiphene + tadalafil + supplements)
4. Hims — Enclomiphene Price Guide (published Jan 8, 2026)
5. Hims — How do I cancel my subscription? (updated Aug 25, 2026)
6. Hims — What is your refund policy? (updated Aug 27, 2026)
7. Hims — Medical records or prescription copies
8. Maximus — Testosterone hub
9. Maximus — Enclomiphene protocol
10. Maximus — Enclomiphene treatment page (states, labs, refund if not approved)
11. Maximus — Injectable Testosterone
12. Maximus — Testosterone Cream
13. Maximus — Oral Testosterone
14. Maximus — Subscription Plans & Pricing (Aug 24, 2026)
15. Maximus — Lab Testing: Costs and Policies (Jul 23, 2026)
16. Maximus — Pausing or Canceling (May 11, 2026)
17. Maximus — Return, Refund & Subscription Policy (effective Apr 15, 2026)
18. Maximus — Official Information About Maximus
19. Trustpilot — Maximus
20. American Urological Association — Testosterone Deficiency Guideline
21. Endocrine Society — Testosterone Therapy Clinical Practice Guideline
22. Endocrine Society — Statement on Testosterone Replacement Therapy (Jul 16, 2026)
23. FDA — Understanding the Risks of Compounded Drugs
24. FDA — Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, June 8, 2022 meeting minutes; enclomiphene vote on page 7
25. DEA — Drug Scheduling
26. Federal Register — Fourth Temporary Extension of Telemedicine Flexibilities
27. HHS — Prescribing controlled substances via telehealth
28. FTC — Hims & Hers case record, complaint, and pending status
29. Hims & Hers — Official response to FTC lawsuit (Jul 29, 2026)
30. DailyMed — Cialis (tadalafil) prescribing information
31. Hone Health — HRT Membership Payment Breakdown (updated Sep 17, 2026)
32. Male Excel — Hormone treatment costs
33. FDA — 503A bulk-substance nominations status, updated May 14, 2026
34. FDA — XeCare LLC Form 483, June 17, 2026
35. Hims & Hers — SEC quarterly filing, pharmacy ownership disclosures
36. DailyMed — Kyzatrex testosterone undecanoate prescribing information
37. Kim et al. — Randomized enclomiphene trials, BJU International, 2016
38. AUA/ASRM — Diagnosis and treatment of infertility in men, Part II
39. AUA/SMSNA — Telemedicine and men's health white paper, 2024; hypogonadism section and Table 3
40. Organon — Pregnyl (hCG) prescribing information
41. FDA — Class-wide testosterone labeling changes, February 28, 2025
42. HHS — Requested testosterone product-label updates, June 18, 2026
43. Maximus — Terms of use
44. FDA — Testosterone information
45. Hims — Insurance payment policy
46. Maximus — Billing & Subscriptions (July 14, 2026)