- Switch to generic versions of finasteride, instead of brand name
- Take advantage of subscription options when available
- Purchase in bulk
- Use pharmacy discounts
- Try home delivery instead of in-person shopping and appointments
- Consider Strut, Hims, and Hers for their relatively low prices
Finasteride is one of the most effective prescription treatments for certain types of hair loss, including male pattern baldness (MPB). Usually, it’s prescribed as an oral pill, but you can reduce your risk of side effects by opting for a topical version instead. No matter which form you choose, you’ll likely need a doctor’s help to get it.
While this treatment is typically used long-term, there are still plenty of ways to save on finasteride, such as using generic rather than brand-name meds like Propecia, taking advantage of pharmacy discounts and subscription options, purchasing from more affordable brands, and more.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the most affordable ways to access finasteride, including which brands offer the most cost-effective solutions for both male and female pattern hair loss. We also spoke with Dr. Jonathan Rick, a board-certified dermatologist, about the most effective finasteride treatments for pattern hair loss.
Oral Finasteride Price Comparison
When it comes to standard oral finasteride, you have tons of options for buying online. Even choosing between a subscription and a one time purchase can get confusing. That’s why we made this streamlined chart to help you compare.
Where to Buy Oral Finasteride Online | Price Per 1mg | Price Per Month | Subscription Price | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hims | $0.73/mg | $22/month | ❌ | Hims |
| Roman | $0.67/mg | $20/month | $60 for 3 months | Roman |
| Keeps | $0.59 or $0.65 or $0.68/mg | Depends on subscription $17.78 or $19.50 or $20.50/month | $53.34 for 3 months $123 for 6 months $234 for 12 months | Keeps |
| Happy Head | $0.80/mg | $24/month | $48 for 2 months $72 for 3 months | Happy Head |
| Strut | $0.54 or $0.83/mg | Depends on subscription $16.33 or $25/month | $49 for 3 months | Strut |
| REX MD | $0.59 or $0.67/mg | Depends on subscription $17.60 or $20/month | $60 for 3 months $105.6 for 6 months | Rex MD |
| XYON | $1.17/mg | $35/month | $105 for 3 months | XYON |
Related reading: Hims vs. Ro: Which Topical Hair Plan Works Best?
Oral Finasteride Takeaways
If considering oral finasteride, keep in mind:
- Hims doesn’t offer a subscription.
- Roman gives you your lowest monthly price without a long subscription.
- Keeps is the only one of these providers to offer a yearlong subscription.
- Happy Head offers two-month subscriptions for just $48.
- Strut offers the lowest price if you opt for a subscription.
- REX MD is best for long-term subscriptions ($105 for six months).
- XYON is your most expensive option for oral finasteride.
Per dose with no subscription, REX MD and Strut are the cheapest. Per month without a longer subscription, you’ll get your best price with Strut. And if you’re ready to commit to a full year, you can save even more money with Keeps.
Topical Finasteride Price Comparison
If you’re looking for a hair loss treatment that works just as well as oral finasteride but won’t increase your risk of side effects like mood and libido shifts, topical finasteride may be a better fit. It’s generally cheaper than the oral form but just as effective, although you may have a harder time finding it.
A Word From Our Expert
— Dr. Jonathan Rick
Oral finasteride has a proven track record of efficacy. When used exclusively for hair loss, low doses appear to be effective (1mg daily). However, this is still a systemic medication and the topical approach appears to have less impact on your body's hormones. The efficacy of the topical and oral formulations appears to be similar when used consistently."
Where to Buy Topical Finasteride Online | Price Per Day | Price Per Month | Subscription Price | Ingredients | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hims | $1.30/day | $39/month | ❌ | Finasteride 0.3% Minoxidil 6% | Hims |
| Roman | $1.67/day | $50/month | $150 for 3 months | Finasteride 0.3% Minoxidil 6% Tretinoin 0.025% | Roman |
| Keeps | $1.33/day | $40/month | $120 for 3 months | Finasteride 0.25% Minoxidil 5% | Keeps |
| Happy Head | $2.63/day | $79/month | ❌ | Finasteride 0.3% Minoxidil 8% Retinoic Acid 0.001% Hydrocortisone 1% | Happy Head |
| Strut | $1.97/day | $59/month | ❌ | Finasteride 0.1-0.25% Minoxidil 0.0%-7.5% Tretinoin 0.0%-0.0125% Fluocinolone 0.01% | Strut |
| XYON | $3.97/day | $119/month | $357 for 3 months | Finasteride 2.5% Minoxidil 3% | XYON |
Topical Finasteride Takeaways
If considering topical finasteride, keep in mind that:
- Hims doesn’t offer a topical finasteride subscription, but does offer the lowest price per dose.
- Roman includes the highest concentration of tretinoin, which has been shown to boost efficacy.
- Keeps offers the lowest price for a three-month subscription.
- Happy Head features the strongest concentration of minoxidil at 8%.
- Strut includes both tretinoin and fluocinolone, another helpful ingredient.
- XYON is relatively expensive but contains a high percentage of finasteride.
Which brand offers the most affordable topical finasteride?
For a one-time or monthly purchase, Hims is your most affordable option. If you’re open to a subscription, you can also consider Keeps.
Related reading: Topical Finasteride and Minoxidil Spray Review – What’s the Best 2-in-1 Topical for Hair Loss?
Finasteride Price Comparison for Women
If estrogen is the dominant sex hormone in your body now (regardless of which gender you were assigned at birth), you may want to steer clear of oral finasteride. That’s especially true for anyone who’s pregnant or planning to be.
That said, topical finasteride can be an effective treatment for women’s hair loss.
Where to Buy Female Finasteride Online | Price Per Day | Price Per Month | Ingredients | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hers | $1.30/day | $39/month | Finasteride 0.3% Minoxidil 6% | Hers |
| Happy Head | $2.63/day for topical $0.80/day for oral | $79/month for topical $24/month for oral | Finasteride 0.3% Minoxidil 8% Retinoic Acid 0.001% Hydrocortisone 1% | Happy Head |
| Strut | $1.97/day | $59/month | Finasteride 0.25% Spironolactone 1-2% Minoxidil 0.0%-7.5% Tretinoin 0.0%-0.025% Fluocinolone 0.01% | Strut |
| XYON | $3.97/day | $119/month | Finasteride Minoxidil | XYON |
Finasteride for Women Takeaways
If you’re considering taking finasteride, keep in mind:
- Hers offers the lowest price for topical finasteride and minoxidil.
- Happy Head offers both topical and oral finasteride (for women over 50 only).
- Strut topical treatment contains spironolactone, which helps slow down the production of hormones that impact hair loss.
- XYON is your most expensive choice for women’s hair loss treatment.
For topical finasteride and minoxidil, Hers is your most affordable option. If you’re willing to spend a little extra for efficacy-boosting ingredients like retinoic acid or spironolactone, look into Happy Head or Strut.
Related reading: Happy Head Review – Is Their Topical Finasteride Legit for Hair Loss?
https://youtu.be/TMeNL4POPaQHow to Get the Cheapest Finasteride Online
Now that you have a good sense of your options for buying finasteride online, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of how you can maximize your savings.
Cost of Finasteride Online vs. In-Person
Wondering if going the traditional route might help you save some money? That depends on what kind of insurance you have. If you head to a doctor’s office, you won’t have to pay for shipping or worry about managing a subscription. But you’ll probably end up paying more at the pharmacy for the same medication you can get online–not to mention the time you’ll lose making and waiting for appointments and picking up your treatment.
That said, the in-person route might still end up cheaper for you If your insurance won’t cover online shopping but does foot the bill for in-person appointments.
Is Finasteride an Expensive Drug?
Finasteride prices can vary pretty widely from one provider to the next, but they’re generally not excessively expensive. Here are some factors that can influence the specific price you pay:
- Generic Finasteride vs. Propecia: When it comes to generic oral finasteride, you might pay anywhere from $0.50 to $1.20 per dose. Usually, Propecia will cost you a bit more, but not if your insurance is willing to chip in for the brand-name version.
- Form: Oral finasteride is generally a little bit less expensive than the topical version. That added cost is easily explained by the additional ingredients, like minoxidil, retinoic acid, and more.
- Dosage: There are two popular dosages for oral finasteride, 1mg and 5mg. Understandably, the 1mg version is usually cheaper, and with good reason: The 5mg variety is more often used for prostate issues than hair loss.
Is Finasteride Covered by Insurance?
Some online providers will work with your insurance (Roman is one example), but many won’t. Instead, you may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to cover the cost of your finasteride.
Finasteride Side Effects and Safety
One major thing to note is that finasteride, especially in its oral form, can cause sudden shifts in your mood or libido. These changes can persist even after you stop taking it. To lessen your risk of running into these issues, consider topical rather than oral finasteride.
Side effects of finasteride can include:
- Decreased libido
- Depression
- Difficulty maintaining an erection or ejaculating
Related reading: How to Reduce Side Effects of Finasteride
Finasteride Safety
Talk to your doctor before trying finasteride if you’ve ever had issues with your liver or prostate.
When to Seek Emergency Medical CareContact your local emergency services immediately if you experience any of these signs of an allergic reaction:
- Breast pain or lumps
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Rash or hives
- Swelling of the face, tongue, or throat
Summary
You have plenty of options when it comes to buying finasteride online, from different providers to varying dosages, forms, and supplemental ingredients. For oral finasteride, Strut is your most affordable option as long as you’re willing to sign up for a subscription, while Hims is your cheapest choice for topical finasteride. For women, Hers is the most affordable source of topical treatment.
You can lower those prices even further by taking advantage of subscription and bulk buying, using insurance, or applying FSA or HSA funds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-pOCDOOtx4Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I access finasteride without a doctor?
Nope–finasteride is a prescription medication, so you won’t be able to get it safely without a doctor’s help.
How much is finasteride without insurance?
That depends on which provider you go with, but you can pay as little as $0.59 per dose.
Do you have to take finasteride forever?
You can stop taking finasteride whenever you want, but any hair you’ve regrown or held onto because of the medication will quickly fall out. That means you need to keep taking it or switch to another hair loss medication if you want to maintain your progress.
Does oral finasteride regrow hair?
Yup, finasteride can help you regrow hair, especially at the hairline.
Can you still go bald on finasteride?
Unfortunately, finasteride doesn’t work for everyone. If you’ve been taking it for six months or more with no effect, you should talk to your doctor about switching to another treatment.
Methodology
We conducted extensive research to evaluate the pricing, effectiveness, accessibility, overall quality, customer support, and useability of various brands that offer finasteride treatments. To determine overall value, we evaluated cost, options, subscription services, form, and discounts.
Other factors we investigated prior to choosing the best products included convenience, customer service, access to healthcare providers, health insurance, package deals, and any free services or resources offered.
| Review Process | Key Metrics | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Sign up online | – ease to complete intake form – affordability – upfront commitment or subscription required? – money back guarantee or refund policy? | 0.5 |
| Vitual consult with provider / determine eligibility | – ease to get appointment to determine eligibility – need to leave house for labs or other in-person care? | 1 |
| Shipping + unboxing | – shipping cost – time from order to treatment delivery – discreet packaging to maintain privacy | 0.5 |
| Test + journal for 1-3 months | – ease of application – transition into habitual use – taste / smell / feel / pain | 1.5 |
| Results after 3 months of use | – efficacy / results – lack of side effects – ease of refill / reordering – quality of ongoing clinical support – responsive customer support – willingness to recommend to a friend | 1.5 |