Testosterone Cream vs Gel: What's Actually Different—and Which Fits You

Independent editorial research from public provider documents and clinical sources; not clinically reviewed. Educational information, not medical advice.

Testosterone cream vs gel looks like a texture choice. It isn't. FDA-approved testosterone gels are available in the U.S. with standardized labeling and manufacturing requirements. FDA does not list an approved testosterone cream; the prescription creams sold by the U.S. telehealth programs checked for this guide are compounded. That gives gel the clearer edge on regulatory review and product standardization.¹²

Cream can still be the right call for some men. Both need a valid prescription, and a diagnosis of hypogonadism should rest on symptoms or signs plus consistently low testosterone confirmed with repeat early-morning testing.⁹¹⁰ Below, we'll show you what the absorption studies actually found (it isn't what clinic ads say), what the published care paths cost, and a mismatch on one cream program's own page that you'll want to see before you rub anything on.

What changes the answer: If your insurance covers a formulary gel, gel may have a cost advantage. If alcohol-based gel bothers your skin, or a clinician has a specific reason for a compounded formula, cream may fit. If you live with young children or a pregnant partner, topical transfer matters. If you're trying to have kids soon, talk with a fertility-aware clinician before choosing either topical.

Three numbers to keep in your head:

• $42.87 — GoodRx's public price for one pump container of generic FDA-approved 1.62% gel, checked September 8, 2026. It's a reference, not a local quote, and your doctor and labs cost extra.⁶
• $2,645 and $2,871 — published 12-month starting-price subtotals for the two online cream programs we checked. These are not all-in quotes: shipping, taxes, dose changes, and unresolved refill timing can change the total.⁷⁸
• 2 — the minimum number of early-morning, fasting testosterone tests the Endocrine Society says a diagnosis should rest on.⁹

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.

Commercial disclosure: TRT Provider Guide currently describes Male Excel and Taurus Meds as commercial partners elsewhere on the site. This article uses editorial and public-information links rather than tracked provider enrollment links. Commercial relationships do not change our medical facts, limitations, or conclusions. Read our affiliate disclosure.

Safety note: Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance, which means it legally requires a valid prescription, whether it comes as a cream or a gel.³⁵ For chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, or weakness on one side of your body, call 911. New pain and swelling in one leg needs prompt medical care.

This page covers U.S. adult men being evaluated for testosterone deficiency. Care for women, adolescents, gender-affirming treatment, and nonmedical performance use needs different clinical frameworks.

Checked September 20, 2026: FDA's testosterone and compounding pages, the AndroGel 1.62% label, a 2026 insurer policy, the Endocrine Society's July 2026 statement, eight peer-reviewed studies and a 2025 systematic review, and the live cream pages at Male Excel and Hone Health. See exactly what we verified and what we couldn't ↓

Jump to: Absorption · Transfer to family · Cost · Insurance · Fertility · Where to get it

Already set on cream? Jump to the two cream programs we priced ↓

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Testosterone cream vs gel: 12 differences at a glance

Testosterone cream and gel both deliver the same hormone through your skin. The differences that change a decision are regulatory status, who checks the dose, where it's applied, transfer risk, insurance, and complete cost. The table below separates what each format is from what the evidence actually allows anyone to claim.

In one sentence: gel wins on FDA approval and product-specific trial depth. Cream wins on formulation flexibility. Insurance and total cost depend on the exact plan, prescription, quantity, and care path.

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 the care route that fits your situation with Find My TRT Path

Find My TRT Path is educational and non-diagnostic. It does not diagnose low testosterone, determine medical eligibility, guarantee a prescription, or replace a clinician.

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Is testosterone cream or gel better?

Neither is better for every man. Gel is the stronger default when you want an FDA-approved finished product or an insurance/retail-pharmacy path. Cream can be the better fit when a clinician has a patient-specific reason for a compounded formula, when an alcohol-based gel irritates your skin, or when you prefer a cash-pay program that bundles care.

Here's the shift that makes everything else easier to follow.

The real difference isn't cream vs gel. It's FDA-approved vs compounded. A gel from a compounding pharmacy has the same regulatory status as a compounded cream. In fact, the best-known accuracy study tested compounded gels and creams side by side.⁴ So when a U.S. telehealth clinic says "cream," it generally means a compounded product rather than an FDA-approved finished drug. Oversight depends on the type of compounder, state pharmacy rules, and applicable federal requirements; FDA does not pre-approve the finished compounded drug.²

That's not a scandal. Compounding is legal and sometimes genuinely useful. It's just a different category, and you deserve to know which one you're buying.

The three-question shortcut:

1. Will insurance help pay? If yes, check whether an FDA-approved gel is on your formulary and what prior authorization, if any, applies.
2. Does alcohol-based gel bother your skin, or has a clinician given you a specific reason for a custom strength? If yes, a compounded cream is a reasonable thing to discuss.
3. Do you live with young children or a pregnant partner? If yes, topical transfer deserves extra attention. Ask your prescriber whether a non-topical treatment format fits better.

And one stop sign: if you're trying to have children soon, talk with a fertility-aware clinician before choosing either topical. More on that below.

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What is the difference between testosterone cream and gel?

Both contain testosterone and go on the skin, but they're different products under different rules. Testosterone gels sold at retail pharmacies are FDA-approved, alcohol-based products made at fixed strengths with their own labels. Testosterone creams in the U.S. are compounded to a prescriber's order, so the strength, base, and directions vary.

What "FDA-approved" means for a gel

FDA-approved means the finished product went through the Food and Drug Administration's review for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. It comes with a label that spells out where to apply it, what to watch for, and when to check your blood. FDA's own list of approved testosterone formulations names topical gel. It doesn't name cream.¹

What "compounded" means for a cream

Compounded means a licensed compounder prepares a drug for a patient or clinical need under the applicable compounding pathway. FDA does not approve compounded drugs or conduct the same premarket review for safety, effectiveness, and quality used for approved drugs. FDA says compounded drugs should be used when a patient's medical needs cannot be met by an FDA-approved drug.²

Most testosterone creams use a base like Lipoderm, a cream the pharmacy blends testosterone into. Male Excel describes its cream this way.¹⁵

Compounded is not the same as generic

This trips up a lot of people. A generic gel is FDA-approved and has to show it matches the brand. A compounded cream is not FDA-approved at all.² So "generic AndroGel" and "compounded testosterone cream" are not two versions of the same thing.

Which testosterone gels are FDA-approved in 2026?

UnitedHealthcare's 2026 testosterone policy also removed brand Fortesta and the Androderm patch as off the market.¹⁶

Is there an FDA-approved testosterone cream anywhere?

Not in the U.S. The 5% cream used in the head-to-head study below, AndroForte 5, was an Australian regulated product.⁵ It is not an FDA-approved U.S. testosterone product. Testosterone remains a Schedule III controlled substance in the U.S. and requires a valid prescription.³⁵

What about "testosterone cream" sold without a prescription?

Real testosterone needs a prescription.³⁵ Creams sold online as "testosterone boosters" without one are not testosterone therapy.

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Does testosterone cream absorb better than gel?

Not as a rule. In the head-to-head study we found, a regulated Australian 5% testosterone cream and a 1% gel met the study's bioequivalence criteria in 16 men enrolled in a crossover trial.⁵ Absorption can change with the specific formulation, concentration, application site, and individual skin; compounded-product strength can also vary.⁴

Clinic ads love to say cream "absorbs better." Here's what the studies actually show.

Why the site matters more than the format

Application site can materially change exposure. In one scrotal-cream pharmacokinetic study, scrotal skin produced rapid systemic exposure; in a separate 1.62% gel study, abdominal application produced lower exposure than upper-arm/shoulder application.¹²¹³

That is why you cannot move one product's instructions onto another. FDA-approved gel labels say not to apply them to the genitals.³ Some compounded creams are prescribed for scrotal skin. Those are different products with different directions.

What we couldn't find evidence for

We looked. We couldn't support any of these popular claims:

• "Cream absorbs better than gel for most men."
• "Cream transfers to other people less than gel."
• "Cream always raises DHT more than gel."
• "Topicals absorb at a 90% rate." (About a tenth of a 1% gel reaches the blood.¹¹)

What if your levels don't rise?

It happens. One in five men in the clinic study above switched products for a weak response.¹⁴ Skin varies. The fix is a properly timed blood test and a clinician who adjusts the plan. Don't switch products or change your dose on your own.

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Does testosterone cream raise DHT more than gel?

Both can. DHT rose 3.6 to 4.6 times above baseline on gel in one large study, and it rose after scrotal cream in another. No study we found compared the two head to head, so there's no honest answer that cream always raises DHT more. Where you apply it matters more than whether it's a cream or a gel.

DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is an androgen made from testosterone. It has important effects in androgen-sensitive tissues, including the prostate, skin, and hair follicles.

The numbers we have:

• On 1% gel, average DHT rose 3.6 to 4.6 times above baseline.¹¹
• On scrotal cream, DHT peaked about 5 hours after application.¹³

Some clinics sell higher DHT as a perk. Male Excel says its cream offers a slightly bigger DHT increase than its injections.¹⁵ We haven't seen evidence that more DHT means better results for you. We also can't tell you it causes more hair loss than gel. If DHT, hair, or your prostate worries you, ask how those will be monitored before you start.

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Is compounded testosterone cream accurately dosed?

It can be accurate, but one blinded study found substantial variation. Researchers tested testosterone creams and gels from 10 Toronto-area compounding pharmacies: 50% of first batches and 30% of second batches were within ±20% of the prescribed concentration, and one pharmacy's product contained essentially no testosterone. The AndroGel and Testim controls were consistent and accurate. FDA does not pre-approve compounded drugs.²⁴

This is the honest downside of cream, so here it is plainly.

Researchers sent the same testosterone prescription to compounding pharmacies twice, a month apart, and tested every sample in a lab.⁴

• Round 1: only 50% of pharmacies were within 20% of the prescribed strength.
• Round 2: only 30% were.
• Two pharmacies' products were more than 20% too strong. One had essentially no testosterone.
• The FDA-approved controls, AndroGel and Testim, were consistent and accurate both times.

Now the limits, because a scary number without them is just fear. The study was published in 2015, covered a small group of pharmacies, and says nothing about the pharmacies any program on this page uses.⁴ What it does show is that strength can vary. That is one reason follow-up laboratory monitoring matters with any testosterone prescription.

Customization is a feature. It isn't proof of superiority. A pharmacy can make a cream at a strength no manufacturer sells, and sometimes that's exactly what a patient needs.

Six questions to ask about who makes your cream

1. What's the pharmacy's name, and is it licensed in my state?
2. Is it a traditional compounding pharmacy or an FDA-registered outsourcing facility?
3. Do you test batches for strength, and can I see the results?
4. What's the strength (%), the base, and the use-by date?
5. How many hours after I apply it should my blood be drawn?
6. If my level comes back too high or too low, what happens next, and does it cost extra?

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Can testosterone cream or gel rub off on your partner or kids?

Yes. Both can transfer testosterone through skin contact. FDA-approved gels carry explicit secondary-exposure warnings after reports involving children. Compounded creams do not have an FDA-approved product label, so follow the exact transfer precautions supplied by your prescriber and dispensing pharmacy; the Male Excel cream instructions we reviewed also call for handwashing, covering the site, and washing before expected skin contact.³¹⁵

Read this section twice if there's a small child in your house.

FDA labeling reports that children exposed to testosterone gel through skin contact developed enlarged genitals, early pubic hair, increased erections and sex drive, aggressive behavior, and advanced bone age. Most cases improved after exposure stopped. In a few, the genital changes didn't fully reverse.³

The AndroGel 1.62% label includes transfer studies. The numbers show why the precautions matter:³

Each row is a separate small study. A +6% rise isn't zero, and none of this is a dose instruction.

A few more facts from the same label: washing your hands with soap and water removed about 96% of the leftover testosterone, and the label says to wait 2 hours before showering or swimming.³ A separate study found transfer risk lasted at least 12 hours after application.³⁷

Is cream any safer? We found no head-to-head study showing that compounded cream transfers less than FDA-approved gel. Treat topical transfer as a real issue and follow the directions for the exact product you receive.

To Male Excel's credit, it publishes transfer warnings for its cream that mirror the gel label, including washing hands, covering the site, and washing before skin contact.¹⁵ Hone's cream page, by contrast, didn't show household precautions when we checked it.⁸

The routine the gel label calls for:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water right after applying.
2. Let it dry, then cover the site with clothing.
3. Wash the site before any expected skin-to-skin contact.
4. If someone touches the unwashed site, they should wash that skin with soap and water right away.

If your partner is pregnant or may become pregnant, tell your prescriber before starting. Testosterone can harm an unborn baby, which is why the gel label says pregnant women should avoid contact with treated skin.³ If your household makes these steps hard to follow, ask whether a non-topical treatment format fits better. Unusual body-hair or genital changes in a child or partner need prompt medical attention.

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What's it like to use cream vs gel every day?

The FDA-approved gels reviewed here are used once daily on product-specific sites, are flammable until dry, and have product-specific shower or swim waits. Compounded cream directions depend on the prescription and pharmacy; the programs checked here publish once- or twice-daily use. The better routine is the one you can follow exactly without creating avoidable exposure.

Where each product goes

That five-hour wait for AndroGel 1% is a real scheduling problem if you shower after a morning workout. In a survey of 525 men aged 45 and older, men preferred gels with a shorter wait before showering or swimming.³⁶

The mismatch we found on Male Excel's cream page

Male Excel's cream page says, in its FAQ, that the cream works best on the scrotum or inner thigh, applied twice a day. The safety section on the same page says to apply it only to the shoulders, upper arms, or abdomen that a T-shirt covers. That safety text even says "after the gel has dried," which suggests it was adapted from gel labeling.¹⁵

We don't think this is anything sinister. It looks like safety copy borrowed from a gel label and never tailored. But it matters, because the site changes how much testosterone gets in. Follow the directions on your own prescription label, and ask your prescriber which site applies to you.

Gel is flammable until it dries

FDA-approved gels are alcohol-based. The label says to avoid fire, flames, and smoking until the gel dries.³

When should your blood be drawn? Timing is different for each product

This is the most useful thing on this page that almost nobody explains.

• To diagnose low testosterone: at least two early-morning, fasting tests, per the Endocrine Society.⁹
• On AndroGel 1.62%: the label bases dose checks on a pre-dose morning level at about 14 and 28 days after starting or changing the dose.³
• On scrotal cream: levels peaked about 2–3 hours after application in the study we found.¹³

So a blood test drawn two hours after your cream can read very differently from one drawn right before it. A level drawn at a different point in the application cycle can mean something different. Ask your prescriber: "When should my blood be drawn relative to this exact product?"

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How much does testosterone cream cost compared with gel?

A coupon gel can have a lower medication-only price, but there is no honest single winner on complete cost. GoodRx listed $42.87 for one generic 1.62% gel pump container in September 2026, while the cream programs checked listed medication from $60 to $132 a month plus membership and other charges. Their published starting-price 12-month subtotals are $2,645 and $2,871 before unresolved extras.⁶⁷⁸

We did the math so you don't have to. For monthly programs, the basic model is start fee + 12 × (membership + monthly medication equivalent). Male Excel actually bills its 60-day medication supply every other month, so its $2,871 figure is a 12-month starting-price subtotal based on six 60-day medication orders—not a guaranteed 365-day all-in bill. Shipping, taxes, dose changes, extra labs, and refill timing can change the total.

What this table tells you: a coupon gel can have a lower medication-only price than the cream programs checked here. Cream programs charge for medication plus a care structure that may include the prescriber, labs, and follow-up. Compare complete care costs, not bottle prices.

What those totals leave out

• Shipping. Male Excel lists shipping and handling as extra.⁷
• Dose changes. Male Excel and Hone both say your price rises if your dose rises.⁷⁸
• The 60-day billing trap. Male Excel bills medicine as a 60-day supply every other month. Six 60-day supplies cover 360 days, not 365.⁷
• A second medicine. Male Excel's published cream price includes a daily thyroid tablet.⁷ More on that below.
• Your time and visits. A coupon gel still needs a prescriber and labs. On a high-deductible plan, those can add up fast.

Can you use an HSA or FSA?

Male Excel prints "FSA/HSA eligible" on its plans, and Hone says it accepts HSA and FSA cards.⁷¹⁷ The HRT Club says its membership fee isn't eligible, though prescriptions may be.¹⁹ Check each charge with your plan administrator.

If the numbers point you to gel, our testosterone gel provider comparison prices the named-product gel routes in full.

👉 Compare the FDA-approved gel routes we priced

Leaning cream instead? Skip to the two cream programs ↓

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Does insurance cover testosterone cream or gel?

Insurance coverage varies by plan. FDA-approved testosterone gels can have a formulary and prior-authorization pathway; one 2026 UnitedHealthcare commercial policy lists several gels and requires clinical criteria before coverage. The two online cream programs checked here operate as cash-pay programs and do not bill insurance.⁷¹⁶¹⁷

Here's what one real policy asks for. UnitedHealthcare's testosterone prior-authorization policy took effect February 1, 2026.¹⁶ It's one insurer's rules, not everyone's, but it shows you what "prior authorization" really means.

• What it covers: topical testosterone gels and solutions, by name, including AndroGel, Testim, and Vogelxo. Compounded cream isn't on the list.
• The lab rule: two pre-treatment total testosterone results under 300 ng/dL, or below the lab's normal range, drawn at separate times. There's a separate path for men with conditions that change hormone binding.
• The symptom rule: a diagnosis of hypogonadism plus a qualifying finding, such as low sex drive or low bone density.
• One plan-specific exclusion: the reviewed UnitedHealthcare policy does not approve testosterone under that pathway when a member is taking an aromatase inhibitor such as anastrozole. That is one insurer's rule, not a universal TRT rule.¹⁶
• The renewal: approval lasts 12 months. Renewing needs a testosterone result from the past year.

Hypogonadism means your body doesn't make enough testosterone because of a problem in the testes or the brain signals that control them.

What the online cream programs say about insurance

• Male Excel: says its approach isn't covered by insurance.⁷
• Hone Health: says it doesn't currently accept insurance, and notes that insurers usually cover FDA-approved forms and rarely cover compounded medicines.¹⁷
• Taurus Meds: charges a cash price and says it's exploring insurance.²¹

If insurance denies your gel

If your plan denies a gel, ask for the denial reason and the exact coverage criteria. Ask which topical products are on your formulary, whether a generic is preferred, and what documentation the plan requires. Then compare the covered out-of-pocket cost with a current cash quote.

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Which should you choose: testosterone cream or gel?

Gel may fit better if your insurer covers it, you want an FDA-approved finished product, or a retail-pharmacy path matters most. Cream may fit better if a clinician has a patient-specific reason for a compounded formula, alcohol-based gel irritates your skin, or you prefer a cash-pay program with care bundled around it. If low testosterone has not been properly evaluated or near-term fertility is a priority, settle that care question before the format question.

Find yourself in one row.

If you landed in the third or fourth row, a compounded cream is a reasonable option to discuss. Go in knowing its regulatory status and the questions to ask.

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Will testosterone cream or gel affect your fertility?

Yes, both can affect fertility because both deliver exogenous testosterone. Exogenous testosterone can suppress the hormonal signals needed for sperm production. The American Urological Association says testosterone therapy should not be prescribed to men who are currently trying to conceive; the Endocrine Society recommends against starting it when near-term fertility is planned.¹⁰³⁰

Here's why skin testosterone still affects sperm. Your brain sees the extra testosterone and turns down the signals that tell your testes to work. Sperm production, called spermatogenesis, can drop sharply or stop.¹⁰

• The American Urological Association calls this a strong recommendation: no testosterone therapy for men who are currently trying to conceive.¹⁰
• The Endocrine Society recommends against starting testosterone in men planning fertility in the near term.³⁰

Cream is not a fertility workaround. Neither is gel. Both are exogenous testosterone for this question.

Here's what we won't tell you: that testosterone will definitely make you infertile, that your fertility can be protected, or that it will come back on a set timeline. Anyone who promises those things is guessing.

You'll see clomiphene, enclomiphene, and hCG sold alongside TRT. They're different medicines. The AUA groups them as alternative strategies that push your own body to make more testosterone, which is not the same as replacing it.¹⁰ They are not "natural TRT" and not risk-free. A specialist should decide whether any of them fits based on the cause of your hormone problem and your fertility plans. Our TRT and fertility guide covers each one's FDA status and goes deeper.

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Who should not start testosterone cream or gel yet?

A cream-or-gel choice comes after proper evaluation. The Endocrine Society's current materials describe diagnosis as symptoms or signs plus consistently low testosterone confirmed with repeat early-morning testing; its guideline also identifies fertility plans and several health conditions that can change whether or where testosterone therapy should be considered.⁹³⁰

Low T needs two morning tests, not a quiz

The Endocrine Society's July 2026 statement is blunt about this:⁹

• Diagnosis should rest on at least two early-morning, fasting testosterone tests plus the clinical picture; the Society describes a common threshold near 300 ng/dL rather than a universal diagnosis-by-number rule.
• Testing quality matters at any age.
• Many testosterone assays are inaccurate. The Society encourages standardized assays, including CDC HoST-certified methods, to reduce avoidable variation.⁹

The American Urological Association also uses under 300 ng/dL as a reasonable cutoff, alongside symptoms and two early-morning tests on separate days.¹⁰

Total testosterone is all the testosterone in your blood, including the part attached to proteins. One number from one lab is a data point. It isn't a diagnosis.

Health history that belongs with a specialist first

• Prostate or male breast cancer
• A high hematocrit (the share of your blood made of red blood cells)
• Untreated severe sleep apnea
• A recent heart attack or stroke
• Suspected pituitary or testicular disease, or very abnormal labs

An online questionnaire cannot clear complex risk factors. Primary care, urology, endocrinology, or reproductive urology may be the better starting point, depending on the issue.³⁰

If a complex risk factor or near-term fertility concern fits you, the next decision is the care setting, not cream versus gel. We'd rather lose the click than send you to the wrong place.

👉 Not confirmed yet, or planning kids? Get your care-route questions from Find My TRT Path

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Where can you get testosterone cream or gel?

For an FDA-approved gel, a licensed prescriber plus a retail or mail pharmacy is the most direct product path, especially when you plan to use insurance. Male Excel and Hone Health publish compounded testosterone-cream programs. Taurus Meds lists a testosterone gel but does not identify the product on the public offer page we checked, so we do not treat it as a verified gel route yet.

Commercial disclosure: TRT Provider Guide currently describes Male Excel and Taurus Meds as commercial partners elsewhere on the site. The links in this section are editorial or public-information links, not tracked enrollment links.

If you want gel: start with your own doctor

This is usually the cheapest and most regulated way to use a topical, especially with insurance. Bring both morning test results with dates, a list of your symptoms, and one question: "Which gel is on my formulary?"

No local doctor? Some services pair a named FDA-approved gel with a pharmacy or a program. The HRT Club lists brand AndroGel 1.62% at $40 a bottle plus membership, but it's a pharmacy membership, not a doctor.¹⁸¹⁹ Rex MD names generic 1.62% gel in its program.²⁰ Neither pays us. We compare them in full in our gel guide.

👉 Want an FDA-approved gel instead? See the gel care routes and their full costs

Male Excel: a cream program built around twice-daily use

Male Excel is the most cream-centered of the programs compared here. It publishes a compounded testosterone cream used twice a day with a required $99-a-month membership. Male Excel says the membership includes continuity of care with a dedicated provider, unlimited messaging with its support team, and unlimited e-visits.⁷

What Male Excel doesn't do: its public TRT menu does not offer an FDA-approved gel, and Male Excel says it does not bill insurance.⁷²² If either of those matters most to you, compare an FDA-approved gel through a licensed prescriber and pharmacy. A cash-pay program avoids insurer prior-authorization paperwork, but it does not remove the need for clinical monitoring or any federal/state prescribing requirements. Male Excel says its membership includes provider e-visits; confirm the monitoring schedule for your prescription before paying.

What we verified (September 20, 2026):

• $99 online medical consultation, which includes an at-home hormone test kit.⁷²²
• $99-a-month Medical Membership, required for treatment.⁷
• Cream "with Thyroid" from $132 a month, shipped and billed as a 60-day supply every other month. Shipping is extra.⁷
• "No contract, cancel anytime" on the plan cards, and FSA/HSA eligible.⁷
• Its current FAQ says its providers prescribe hormone treatment in every state except Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.²²
• Its FAQ names two dispensing pharmacies: AnazaoHealth Corporation and WellDyneRx.²²
• It says DEA and state laws may require an in-person exam for your plan.¹⁵
• It sends a refill reminder before your 60-day supply ends and gives you 48 hours to make changes before you're billed and your order ships.¹⁵

Check these before you pay:

• The thyroid tablet. The published cream price includes a daily thyroid tablet, and Male Excel's safety information describes desiccated (animal-derived) thyroid. FDA says animal-derived thyroid medicines are not FDA-approved.⁷²⁴ Ask which thyroid drug is proposed, what diagnosis supports it, and whether you can leave it out. If you don't want a thyroid tablet without a thyroid diagnosis, Hone's cream is priced without one (below).
• Which application site. Its cream page gives two different sites (see the mismatch above). Get your site in writing.
• Refunds. "Cancel anytime" isn't the same as a refund. Its terms say paid purchases and services are generally final unless a written policy says otherwise.²³
• A marketing claim. Its pricing card calls the cream "20x more powerful than commercial cream." Male Excel doesn't cite evidence for that, and we don't repeat it as fact.⁷
• Freshness. Its pricing page was last updated in May 2025. Confirm today's price at checkout.⁷

Best for: men who've decided a compounded cream fits, want a dedicated provider and lots of access, and live in a state it serves. Not for: men who want insurance to pay, men who want an FDA-approved gel, and men planning children soon.

👉 Does a twice-daily cream plan fit what you want? See Male Excel's full cream pricing and the questions to ask

Hone Health: the lowest published cream price we found

Hone lists the lowest cream medication price among the cream programs compared here: $60 a month, with its current cream page labeling the product as Premium tier and listing Premium at $155 a month. Adding the $65 initial test gives a $2,645 published starting-price 12-month subtotal. That is $226 below Male Excel's $2,871 starting-price subtotal before Male Excel shipping, but neither number is a guaranteed all-in quote.⁷⁸

What we verified (September 20, 2026):

• Cream "from $60/mo + membership," labeled as a Premium tier product.⁸
• A $65 biomarker test (listed down from $165), with 50+ markers, at a lab or at home, followed by a physician video visit.⁸
• Two memberships: Basic at $25 a month and Premium at $155 a month. No commitment, cancel anytime.⁸
• Hone plainly states the cream is compounded and not FDA-approved. We give it credit for that.⁸
• It doesn't accept insurance and does accept HSA and FSA cards.¹⁷

Check these before you pay:

• Premium or not. The cream page lists it under the Premium tier. Hone's own cost article, updated in July 2026, still describes a different plan lineup ($135 "Plus" and $155 Premium). Confirm at checkout which membership the cream requires.⁸¹⁷
• The wording. The cream page says "Clinically Proven to Restore Testosterone Levels." We didn't find a study of Hone's own compounded cream. Its disclaimer that the cream isn't FDA-approved is the part that matters.⁸
• Your state and pharmacy. The pages we checked didn't publish a state list or name the dispensing pharmacy. Ask before you pay.

Best for: cost-first cream buyers who also want a broad lab panel. Not for: men who want insurance to pay, men who want the lowest total bill (a coupon gel with your own doctor is cheaper), and men planning children soon.

👉 Want to compare Hone's published cream price? Review Hone's current cream page and membership terms

Taurus Meds: not yet, for gel

Taurus lists "Testosterone Gel" on its $49 offer page. But the description printed under the gel talks about weekly injections, the same text as under its other products, and the page doesn't name the gel, its strength, or whether it's FDA-approved or compounded.²¹ Until Taurus identifies the product, we do not treat that card as enough evidence for a gel recommendation. If you're already considering Taurus, our Taurus Meds testosterone gel breakdown lists the three questions to get answered in writing first.

Before you pay any program: eight questions

Copy these. Ask every provider, online or local.

1. Is this an FDA-approved gel or a compounded cream? What's the exact name and strength?
2. Which pharmacy fills it, and is it licensed in my state?
3. What will I pay in month 1, month 2, and month 13, including membership, shipping, and dose changes?
4. Is anything bundled that I didn't ask for, such as a thyroid tablet? Is it optional?
5. How many hours after I apply it should my blood be drawn? How often are labs included?
6. How do I cancel, how many days before a refill do I need to act, and what's refundable?
7. Do you treat patients in my state, and will I ever need an in-person visit?
8. If the current federal telemedicine flexibility changes after December 31, 2026, what would your program require for future controlled-substance prescribing?

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Can you switch from testosterone gel to cream, or back?

A prescriber can change a patient from one topical product to another, but topical testosterone products are not interchangeable dose for dose. The AndroGel 1.62% label says its dose and application site are not substitutable with other topical testosterone products, so a switch needs product-specific prescribing and follow-up.³

• Reasons to discuss a switch: skin irritation, inadequate levels on properly timed monitoring, an insurance change, or a household situation that makes transfer precautions hard.
• A reason to slow down first: a single result drawn at a time that does not match the monitoring instructions for the product.
• What to ask first: When will I be retested? What happens to the supply I have left? Will insurance need to approve the new product?
• Watch the refill window. Male Excel, for example, gives you 48 hours after its renewal reminder before it bills and ships.¹⁵ Put that date in your calendar.

The label's own wording: AndroGel 1.62%'s dose and application site aren't substitutable with other topical testosterone products.³ So never copy one product's routine onto another.

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Is testosterone cream or gel better than injections?

That is a different treatment-format question. Injections avoid topical transfer, while creams and gels avoid injections; each format has different pharmacokinetics, monitoring issues, and costs. A 2025 systematic review found erythrocytosis rates varied by testosterone formulation and were generally higher with intramuscular preparations in the included evidence, but that does not make every topical safer for every patient.²⁹

Medication prices for injectable testosterone can be low, but a complete care bill still includes prescribing and monitoring. The Endocrine Society guideline describes formulation-specific pharmacokinetics and monitoring considerations.³⁰ Topical therapy does not eliminate the need for clinical follow-up.

That decision deserves its own page. See our injections vs. gel comparison.

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What changed for testosterone in 2025 and 2026?

Three current changes matter to this topic. In 2025, FDA required class-wide label changes for approved testosterone products after reviewing TRAVERSE and blood-pressure data. In June 2026, FDA requested further changes to approved testosterone product labeling. Separately, federal telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled medications run through December 31, 2026 when their conditions are met.³¹³²³³

The FDA label changes apply to FDA-approved testosterone products. The federal controlled-substance prescribing rules can affect both approved gels and compounded testosterone creams because both contain prescription testosterone.

The 2025 label changes

After the TRAVERSE trial, FDA asked for class-wide changes: removing the boxed-warning language about cardiovascular outcomes and adding blood-pressure warnings.³¹ The AndroGel 1.62% label now lists blood-pressure increases and blood-clot warnings, revised in July 2025.³

TRAVERSE is worth knowing about for this page. It followed more than 5,200 men using AndroGel 1.62% gel, and 7.0% of the gel group had a major heart event compared with 7.3% on placebo.¹ No comparable trial exists for compounded cream. That's one more reason gel has the deeper evidence base.

The boxed warning about exposing children did not go away. It's still on the gel label.³

The June 2026 requested changes

On June 18, 2026, FDA said it's requesting three updates:³²

• Removing the limit saying safety and effectiveness in age-related low testosterone haven't been established.
• Narrowing the prostate cancer contraindication to metastatic prostate cancer.
• Revising the enlarged-prostate warning.

These are requested changes. They don't mean every label has already changed. Ask for the current label for the exact product you're prescribed.

The telemedicine rule

Testosterone is Schedule III. Under the current federal temporary extension, a DEA-registered practitioner may prescribe Schedule II–V controlled medications by qualifying audio-video telemedicine without a prior in-person medical evaluation when the rule's conditions and all other federal and state requirements are met. That extension runs through December 31, 2026.³³

We're telling you the date because it is a real regulatory boundary, not to create urgency. State law, clinician licensure, and a program's own policy can still require an in-person visit. No questionnaire guarantees a prescription. Ask any telehealth program what it would require if the federal framework changes.

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What we actually verified

We compared FDA and label information, one current insurer policy, clinical guidance, peer-reviewed studies, and the live pages of the cream programs named here. This is public-source editorial research, not a hands-on review. We separate what we confirmed, what providers say about themselves, and what we couldn't confirm.

🔎 What we actually verified

Verification date: September 20, 2026. Prices for The HRT Club, Rex MD, and GoodRx, plus Male Excel's pharmacy names and terms, were carried from our gel provider comparison, checked September 8, 2026. GoodRx prices move often. On a later check, the same gel selection returned no price at all.

Sources we opened ourselves: FDA's Testosterone Information page and compounding Q&A; the AndroGel 1% and 1.62% labels; the HHS June 2026 announcement; the Endocrine Society's July 2026 statement; the AUA guideline; UnitedHealthcare's 2026 testosterone policy; the published abstracts of eight peer-reviewed studies on absorption, accuracy, and transfer, plus a 2025 systematic review; the federal telemedicine extension; and Male Excel's and Hone Health's live cream, pricing, and FAQ pages.

Confirmed:

• FDA-approved testosterone gels exist; FDA's current testosterone page names topical gel among approved formulations and does not list cream.¹
• Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved.²
• Testosterone is Schedule III.³⁵
• The FDA-approved gel labels reviewed here say not to apply to the genitals and include secondary-exposure precautions.^3252627
• Male Excel and Hone Health publish compounded cream plans at the prices shown.⁷⁸
• Male Excel's cream page currently gives two conflicting application-site instructions.¹⁵
• Male Excel's current FAQ lists nine excluded states, not eleven.²²
• The federal temporary telemedicine extension for controlled-medication prescribing runs through December 31, 2026, subject to its conditions and applicable state law.³³

Provider-stated, not independently verified: clinician access, e-visit availability, program inclusions, pharmacy partnerships, Male Excel's state list, and marketing claims about potency or results.

Could not confirm: what Taurus's gel is; whether Male Excel's thyroid tablet is optional; which application site Male Excel prescribers actually use; whether Hone requires Premium for cream at checkout; Hone's state list and dispensing pharmacy; complete bills including shipping, tax, and dose changes; and any study of transfer from compounded cream.

What we did not do: we didn't buy from, hold an account with, or get treated by any company here. We didn't submit an intake, contact support, test a cancellation, or verify individual clinician or pharmacy licenses.

Our editorial conclusion: gel has the stronger regulatory, trial, insurance, and medicine-price case. A compounded cream can be a reasonable choice for a defined reader, if the program answers the eight questions above in writing.

Our documented method is How We Review TRT Providers. We don't assign numeric provider scores, and inclusion on this site isn't an endorsement.

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Testosterone cream vs gel: frequently asked questions

These are the questions men ask most after the main comparison. Each answer stands on its own and points to the evidence above. Nothing here replaces a clinician's advice about your own treatment.

Is testosterone cream or gel better?

Neither is better for everyone. Gel has the clearer regulatory advantage because FDA-approved gel products exist and have standardized product labeling. Cream is compounded and can suit a patient when a clinician has a patient-specific reason for a compounded formula or when a bundled cash-pay care model fits better.¹²

Is testosterone cream FDA-approved?

No. There's no FDA-approved testosterone cream in the U.S. FDA's list of approved testosterone formulations names topical gel, patch, buccal system, and injection. Creams are compounded, and FDA doesn't approve compounded drugs.¹²

Is compounded testosterone cream the same as generic testosterone gel?

No. A generic gel is FDA-approved and matched to its brand. A compounded cream is a custom preparation that FDA doesn't approve or check before it's sold.²

Does testosterone cream absorb better than gel?

Not as a rule. In the head-to-head trial we found, a regulated Australian 5% cream and a 1% gel met bioequivalence criteria after 30 days. Other studies show that application site can materially change exposure, so the evidence does not support a universal cream-over-gel absorption claim.⁵¹²¹³

Does testosterone cream cause more hair loss than gel?

We found no study showing that. Both gel and scrotal cream raise DHT, a hormone tied to male-pattern hair loss, but no study compared the two head to head. Ask how DHT will be monitored if hair loss worries you.¹¹¹³

Can you put testosterone gel on your scrotum?

Not FDA-approved gels. Their labels say not to apply them to the genitals. Some compounded creams are prescribed for scrotal skin, but only use the site your own prescriber directs.³²⁷

Can testosterone cream transfer to my wife or kids?

Yes, topical testosterone can transfer. AndroGel 1.62% has product-specific transfer data and handling instructions; compounded cream does not have an FDA-approved label. Follow the exact precautions supplied for your prescribed product. We found no head-to-head study showing compounded cream transfers less.³¹⁵

Which is cheaper, testosterone cream or gel?

A coupon gel can have a lower medication-only price, but complete cost depends on your prescription, pharmacy quantity, insurance, visits, and labs. GoodRx listed $42.87 for one generic 1.62% gel pump container on September 8, 2026; the cream programs checked produced published starting-price 12-month subtotals of $2,645 and $2,871 before unresolved extras.⁶⁷⁸

Does insurance cover testosterone cream?

Coverage varies by plan. The 2026 UnitedHealthcare policy reviewed here lists several FDA-approved gels under prior authorization and requires two qualifying pretreatment testosterone results under its criteria. The cash-pay cream programs checked here do not bill insurance.⁷¹⁶¹⁷

Can I switch from AndroGel to a testosterone cream?

Yes, with your prescriber. Topical products aren't interchangeable dose for dose, so expect a new dose, a new site, and repeat blood tests. Don't make the switch yourself.³

How long after applying testosterone gel can I shower?

It depends on the product. AndroGel 1% says wait 5 hours. AndroGel 1.62%, Testim, and Vogelxo say 2 hours. For a compounded cream, ask your prescriber, because no FDA label sets the wait.^2532627

Can I buy testosterone cream over the counter?

No. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance and needs a valid prescription. "Testosterone booster" creams sold without one aren't testosterone therapy.³⁵

Does testosterone cream or gel affect fertility?

Yes. Both deliver exogenous testosterone, which can suppress sperm production. The AUA says testosterone therapy should not be prescribed to men currently trying to conceive, and the Endocrine Society recommends against starting testosterone when near-term fertility is planned.¹⁰³⁰

Is testosterone cream or gel used for women?

No testosterone product is FDA-approved for women, and the dosing, evidence, and risks are different. This page covers men. A woman considering testosterone should talk with a clinician trained in menopause care.¹

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The bottom line

In the U.S., FDA-approved testosterone gels offer standardized product labeling and a deeper product-specific evidence base. The testosterone creams sold by the programs checked here are compounded and allow formulation flexibility, but the finished cream is not FDA-approved. Coverage and total cost depend on the exact care path. If near-term fertility is a priority, settle that question with a fertility-aware clinician before choosing either topical.

Have insurance? Check whether a gel is on your formulary and what prior authorization applies.

Paying cash and comparing medication prices? Price the exact generic gel quantity your prescription would require, then add visits and labs. Our gel provider comparison shows the care routes and known cost inputs.

Decided on cream? Compare Male Excel's current cream cost and terms with Hone's current cream page, and get the eight answers in writing before you pay.

Planning kids, or not yet properly evaluated? Settle the diagnosis and fertility questions before the formulation question.

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

Find My TRT Path is educational and non-diagnostic. It does not diagnose low testosterone, determine medical eligibility, guarantee a prescription, or replace a clinician.

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Last verified: September 2026. Prices, policies, product listings, and telemedicine rules change. The live offer and the label supplied with your prescription may differ from what we checked. To report a changed price, policy, or source, use corrections and provider updates. Read our editorial standards and privacy policy.

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What sources support this guide?

Sources were checked September 20, 2026, unless noted. Company pages show what a provider publishes about itself, not independently verified fulfillment or clinical quality. Studies and regulatory records keep their original dates.

1. FDA — Testosterone Information, content current as of June 23, 2026: approved formulations, approved use, and TRAVERSE results.
2. FDA — Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers.
3. DailyMed — AndroGel 1.62% prescribing information and Medication Guide: boxed warning, application sites, transfer studies, handwashing, showering, flammability, blood-pressure and blood-clot warnings, dose-check timing, and pump contents. Also checked: FDA-hosted label, 2025.
4. Grober ED et al. Accuracy of Testosterone Concentrations in Compounded Testosterone Products. Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2015;12:1381–1388.
5. Wittert G et al. An open-label, phase 2, single centre, randomized, crossover design bioequivalence study of AndroForte 5 testosterone cream and Testogel 1% testosterone gel in hypogonadal men: study LP101. Andrology. 2016.
6. GoodRx — Testosterone prices by dosage and quantity. Public reference price, checked September 8, 2026; not a local pharmacy quote.
7. Male Excel — Hormone Treatment Costs: consultation, membership, cream and thyroid pricing, billing cadence, shipping, insurance, and plan-card claims. Page last modified May 6, 2025.
8. Hone Health — Testosterone Cream for Men: price plus membership, Premium tier label, compounded-product disclosure, biomarker test, membership tiers, and application sites. Page modified September 17, 2026.
9. Endocrine Society — Statement on Testosterone Replacement Therapy, July 16, 2026.
10. American Urological Association — Evaluation and Management of Testosterone Deficiency guideline: diagnostic cutoff, repeat early-morning testing, treatment goals, alternative strategies, and fertility recommendation. Published version: Mulhall JP et al., Journal of Urology. 2018;200:423.
11. Swerdloff RS, Wang C, et al. Long-term pharmacokinetics of transdermal testosterone gel in hypogonadal men. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2000.
12. Pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability of absorbed testosterone after administration of a 1.62% testosterone gel to different application sites in men with hypogonadism. Endocrine Practice.
13. Iyer R et al. Pharmacokinetics of testosterone cream applied to scrotal skin. Andrology. 2017;5(4):725–731.
14. Grober ED et al. Efficacy of changing testosterone gel preparations (Androgel or Testim) among suboptimally responsive hypogonadal men. International Journal of Impotence Research. 2008;20:213–217.
15. Male Excel — Testosterone Lipoderm Cream: compounded Lipoderm base, twice-daily use, FAQ application site, DHT claim, 48-hour refill window, in-person exam statement, and safety and transfer text.
16. UnitedHealthcare — Prior Authorization/Medical Necessity: Testosterone, program 2025 P 2018-19, effective February 1, 2026.
17. Hone Health — TRT Cost Per Month, updated July 31, 2026: insurance, HSA/FSA, and medication and membership pricing.
18. The HRT Club — AndroGel 1.62% product listing, checked September 8, 2026.
19. The HRT Club — FAQ: membership price and exclusions, HSA/FSA distinction, and pharmacy disclosure, checked September 8, 2026.
20. Rex MD — Testosterone Program: published prices and named gel, checked September 8, 2026.
21. Taurus Meds — $49 testosterone offer page: product cards, advertised pricing, and insurance FAQ.
22. Male Excel — TRT FAQs: getting started, current states served, refill process, insurance statement, and pharmacies. Checked September 20, 2026.
23. Male Excel — Terms and Conditions: recurring charges and refund provisions, checked September 8, 2026.
24. FDA — FDA's Actions to Address Unapproved Thyroid Medications, August 2026 update.
25. DailyMed — AndroGel 1% prescribing information: application sites and 5-hour washing interval.
26. DailyMed — Testim prescribing information.
27. DailyMed — Vogelxo prescribing information.
28. FDA Drugs@FDA — Fortesta, NDA 021463: discontinued marketing status, not withdrawn for safety or effectiveness reasons.
29. Diagnosis, management, and outcomes of drug-induced erythrocytosis: a systematic review. Blood Advances. 2025;9(9):2108.
30. Endocrine Society — Testosterone Therapy for Hypogonadism guideline resources. Full guideline: Bhasin S et al. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2018;103:1715–1744.
31. FDA — FDA issues class-wide labeling changes for testosterone products, February 28, 2025.
32. HHS — HHS Announces Requested Updates to Testosterone Therapy Product Labels, June 18, 2026.
33. DEA/HHS — Fourth Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications, effective January 1 through December 31, 2026.
34. DEA — Drug Scheduling: testosterone listed in Schedule III.
35. Retzler J et al. Preferences for the administration of testosterone gel: evidence from a discrete choice experiment. Patient Preference and Adherence. 2019;13:657–664.
36. Stahlman J et al. Serum testosterone levels in non-dosed females after secondary exposure to 1.62% testosterone gel: effects of clothing barrier on testosterone absorption. Current Medical Research and Opinion. 2012;28(2):291–301.