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Hims and Roman are telemedicine brands offering treatments for erectile dysfunction, hair loss, and other men’s health issues. We found that Hims offers more options, while Roman may offer lower prices.
Hims and Roman are rising telemedicine brands that seek to give customers treatment services for erectile dysfunction (ED), premature ejaculation (PE), and other health issues without relying on traditional healthcare systems.
But how do these two companies, their products, and their services stack up against one another?
Read on to see how they compare, and how you can decide which one may work for your needs.
Hims ED Medications
Roman ED Medications
Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We evaluate services for consistency with standards of care and best practices, and we look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline.
To choose the services on this page, we considered all the ED treatment services that passed our vetting process. Then, we scored each service to narrow down our list even further.
Hims is a men’s health brand founded in late 2017 when, as the story goes, the sister of founder Andrew Dudum commented on his skin issues.
Focused on full-service telemedicine for men’s health, Hims provides digital management tools for appointments, prescriptions, and generic medications for common ED treatments, like sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis).
Hims also has services and treatment offerings for:
- hair loss
- premature ejaculation
- skin care
- mental health
Hims has also created partner brand Hers, which addresses women’s healthcare needs through the digital management of appointments, prescriptions, and treatments.
Looking for more info on Hims? Read our full Hims ED review.
Roman is an offshoot of a company called Ro. It was founded in 2017 as an “end-to-end” healthcare service. Its services are aimed directly at consumers, with minimal obstruction from healthcare professionals, physicians, and pharmacies.
Since its founding, Roman has aggressively advertised this service. It’s become a recognized brand in the men’s health space, especially for its generic Viagra (sildenafil) and generic Cialis (tadalafil).
Roman’s primary service is helping you access healthcare on its platform. This includes:
- making appointments
- getting prescriptions
- having easy access to a physician to guide you through your questions and concerns
Looking for more info on Roman? Read our full Roman ED review.
| Hims | Roman | |
|---|---|---|
| ED treatments | • Viagra • sildenafil • Cialis • tadalafil • Stendra • compounded medications | • Viagra • sildenafil • Cialis • tadalafil • compounded tablets and gummies |
| PE treatments | • sertraline • lidocaine spray | • sertraline • benzocaine wipes |
| Hair loss treatments | • finasteride and minoxidil spray • hair loss serum • minoxidil foam • chewable medications • finasteride pills • thickening shampoo and conditioner | • finasteride pills • minoxidil pills • topical spray • shampoo and conditioner • topical minoxidil |
| Price | starting at: • $15 per month for hair loss medication • $2 per dose for certain ED medications • $19 per month for PE treatments | starting at: • $16 per month for hair loss medication • $4 per dose for certain ED medications • $24 per month for PE treatments |
| Healthline score | 4.3/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating | A+ | A+ |
| Shipping | • free shipping • discreet packaging | • free 2-day shipping • discreet packaging |
| Insurance | not covered by insurance | not covered by insurance |
In addition to their telemedicine services, Hims and Roman both offer ED medications called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, which are oral tablets.
PDE5 inhibitors help the smooth muscles relax, so blood vessels allow more blood flow into the penis for an erection.
You need a prescription from a healthcare professional to access these:
- sildenafil (Viagra)
- tadalafil (Cialis)
- avanafil (Stendra)
Keep in mind that many of these ED treatments work similarly but may come in different doses. These doses may take different lengths to take effect and may be taken at different intervals, such as daily or weekly.
Some medications used to treat ED are
Each service also offers PE treatments. These include a lidocaine spray from Hims and benzocaine wipes from Roman.
You can also get sertraline from either service. This oral tablet is used off-label for PE. It has the same active ingredient as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant Zoloft.
For PE, sertraline helps you last longer before ejaculating during sex or masturbation. However, it’s worth noting that SSRI use has
Finally, both services offer compounded medications for ED. Compounded medications are specially formulated for a specific use case. They contain the same active ingredients as their FDA-approved counterparts, but they sometimes come in different forms and contain additional ingredients. Compounded medications are not FDA approved.
Examples of these medications include Hims Hard Mints and Ro Daily Rise Gummies.
Look out for side effects
A general rule when taking any new medication, whether it’s completely new to you or from a different manufacturer or supplier, is to note how you feel and any side effects. Discuss these with your doctor in a follow-up appointment.
Though the FDA may approve a category of medications with active ingredients like sildenafil or tadalafil, versions on the market may contain additional ingredients or have different doses that can affect you differently.
| Hims | Roman | |
|---|---|---|
| Sildenafil | $4 per use | $4 to $10 per dose |
| Viagra | $139 per use | $90 per dose |
| Tadalafil | $40 per month based on daily doses | $8 to $44 per dose |
| Cialis | $32 per dose or $1,045 per month | $20 to $80 per dose |
| Sertraline | $49 per month | $24 per month |
| Stendra | $53 per use | — |
| Benzocaine wipes | $19 to $22 | $22 to $27 per month |
| Finasteride | $22 per month | $20 per month |
| Minoxidil | $15 to $19 per month | $16 to $30 per month |
| Finasteride and minoxidil | $39 per month | $50 per month |
Sildenafil and tadalafil
Typically, when your penis nerves are stimulated, smooth muscles around the spongy tissue in your penis, called the corpus cavernosa, relax and let blood flow into this tissue to engorge it. This results in an erection.
With ED, this process is disrupted.
Sildenafil and tadalafil are in a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors.
These medications
Lidocaine and benzocaine
Typically, stimulated nerves in your penis use sodium to communicate signals to the central nervous system called action potential. But you can get too stimulated and ejaculate earlier than you want.
Benzocaine and lidocaine help block sodium channels so nerve signals can’t take place. This means you’ll feel less sensation or none at all, so the sensation of sex or masturbation doesn’t overstimulate you.
Some people find this helps them with performance and lowers some anxiety around sex.
Although each company may promise easier alternatives to traditional healthcare, the marketing bluster can sometimes be deceiving.
It’s worth checking out official company websites and third-party review sites, such as Trustpilot. These can give you the broadest, unbiased sense of what to expect from these companies based on personal experiences.
Here’s what customers have to say about each of these brands.
Hims reviews: Is Hims worth trying?
We tested Hims from the initial sign-up stage through prescription delivery
To better understand what people can expect when ordering through Hims, one of Healthline’s project managers asked their partner to sign up for Hims hair loss treatments and test the service for over a month. Here is what they had to say:
“Setup was easy on their website. I just had to create an account on their website, submit photos of the top of my head, and then they got back to me within a day or so and approved my prescription.
“The packaging was also very discreet, which may be comforting to many users.
“Delivery was pretty quick and well-packaged. Their brand name is very small on the outside of a small cardboard package.”
Hims does not offer refunds on certain prescription medications due to regulatory controls around selling and reselling medications.
But as its website states, Hims does allow you to pause or cancel any subscription service without charge if you pause or cancel at least 48 hours before your next scheduled purchase or delivery.
Hims pros, according to customers
- Packaging is discreet.
- Products work as intended, including unexpected effects like more stamina from ED products.
- The website is easy to use and understand.
- It’s easy to start orders and subscriptions.
Hims cons, according to customers
- Some shipments arrive late or not at all.
- Customer service representatives are difficult to reach, with waits of 2 weeks or longer for responses.
- Some customers have experienced unauthorized subscription charges that have not been refunded for months.
- Some have had difficulty canceling orders.
- Some have experienced unintended side effects, such as rashes, from using skin care products.
As of August 2024, Hims is rated at 3.83 out of 5 stars on the BBB website and has over 4,600 customer reviews. Many of the reviews cover the same concerns listed above.
Roman reviews: Is Roman worth trying?
Like Hims, Roman does not offer refunds on prescription medications for regulatory reasons. However, if you feel that the company made an error filling your prescription, you can email them for a resolution.
Roman is rated 1.24 out of 5 stars on the BBB website from 46 customer reviews as of August 2024.
Here is an overview of what customers have to say on the BBB:
Roman pros, according to customers
- Products arrive quickly, usually within 1 week.
- One customer’s experience with Viagra and supplements was very positive.
Roman cons, according to customers
- Customer service representatives may not respond in a timely manner.
- Some customers have experienced unauthorized charges for canceled subscriptions.
- Some have been charged for subscriptions that were never delivered.
- Customers have concerns about personal information privacy.
- There is a lack of flexibility in choosing a doctor for telemedicine appointments.
Both Hims and Roman are relatively young companies with limited track records. This means that most complaints and legal actions against them may not be publicly available.
It can take years for enough consumer reports and evidence to build up before a lawsuit can be successfully filed and taken to court. But here’s what we found that may be relevant to each of these companies.
Hims reputation
To date, the FDA has not issued warning letters targeting Hims’s products or services. In addition, no lawsuits have been publicly filed against the company.
Roman reputation
As with Hims, no FDA warning letters or lawsuits against the Roman brand or the Ro company have been issued or filed.
Here are some common side effects to watch out for when using any of Hims and Roman’s medications.
PDE5 inhibitor side effects
Side effects of PDE5 inhibitors like sildenafil, tadalafil, and avanafil include:
- rashes
- flushed skin
- redness
- achy muscles
- sore throat
- back pain
- headache
- runny nose
- upset stomach
- erection longer than 4 hours (priapism)
- blurry vision
A serious side effect can occur when taking PDE5 inhibitors with nitrates that you might use to regulate blood pressure. These two medications are contraindicated and
If you are currently taking nitrates or blood pressure medication, or have a history of heart attacks or strokes, it’s important to share this information with your doctor before starting any PDE5 inhibitors.
Sertraline side effects
Side effects of sertraline can include:
- nausea
- appetite loss
- diarrhea
- upset stomach
- sleepiness
- difficulty falling asleep
- sweating a lot (hyperhidrosis)
- feeling shaky
- exhaustion
- agitation
Benzocaine side effects
Benzocaine is a common numbing agent and is generally considered safe. It’s even used to help numb you before dental procedures.
Here are some uncommon but possible side effects of benzocaine:
- skin flaking
- skin feeling tender where you wiped
- itchiness
- burning and stinging
- warmth or skin redness
Looking for more in-depth reviews?
You can take a closer look at these other online services and how they compare with Hims and Roman by reading some of our other reviews:
One of the biggest benefits of Hims and Roman is that you can get an online consultation with a physician and be prescribed medications sent directly to your home.
However, there’s no substitute for meeting in person with a doctor if you’re able to.
If you have any concerns or questions that these online professionals cannot address, consider talking with a primary care doctor. They can also order additional tests, if necessary, to rule out any other potential causes of your symptoms.
There may be a chance that recent changes to daily nutrition, mental health, or lifestyle may be contributing to your symptoms. If so, your doctor can help build a more personalized treatment plan for you. They can also recommend a local urologist or specialist who can meet with you.
Also, if you experience any concerning side effects as a result of medications received through Hims and Roman, your doctor would be a good resource to reach out to for help.
No. Although they are both men’s health brands, Hims and Roman are not owned by the same parent company. Both companies provide healthcare services, medications, and treatment options for common issues, such as hair loss, skin concerns, and ED.
Yes, both Hims and Roman offer brand name Viagra as well as generic Viagra — called sildenafil. In fact, while many online ED medication companies just offer sildenafil, only a few reputable companies, like Hims and Roman offer brand-name Viagra online to treat ED symptoms.
No, Roman and Hims are not covered by insurance.
Hims and Roman offer brand-name and generic medications for ED, such as Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), and avanafil. Whether those medications work for ED depends on the person and the cause of the ED.
Yes, Roman’s online pharmacy is legitimate. While some products can be sold over the counter without a prescription — like at your local pharmacy — other products will require a prescription from one of Roman’s licensed healthcare professionals. They will discuss and review your medical history with you before prescribing and shipping the medication.
Both Hims and Roman aim for the same goal: easing access to sexual health and wellness while helping remove the stigma around common health issues like ED.
The choice is ultimately up to you, as both companies have pros and cons. But the choice should be centered around what service works for you and which one you believe will address your specific health needs.