Hims ED Review: The Big-Platform Generic Play
Hims is one of the largest men's telehealth platforms in the U.S., and its ED offer leans on that scale: the full range of FDA-approved PDE5 inhibitors — sildenafil, tadalafil, avanafil — in both brand-name and generic forms, with generics priced dramatically below the brands. For cash payers, the generic route here is among the cheapest credible paths to standard ED medication.
The trade-off question is the same one we apply to every multi-vertical platform: a generalist running ED alongside hair loss, skincare, and mental health will feel more templated than a single-focus clinic. This review covers the products, the real per-dose pricing, and where the screening responsibility falls on you.
Hims pros and cons
- Full PDE5 menu: sildenafil, tadalafil, and avanafil, brand and generic
- Generics priced far below brand-name — often a few dollars per dose
- Fully online intake with licensed-provider review; no office visit
- Discreet shipping and one-time or subscription purchase options
- Cash-pay model; insurance not accepted
- The "Hard Mints" combination product is not itself FDA-approved (see below)
- Follow-up access can be less hands-on than a dedicated clinic
Hims highlights
- Fully online prescriptions from licensed doctors, no office visit or insurance required
- Affordable ED treatments, including Viagra, Cialis, and cheaper generic versions (up to 95% cheaper)
- Treatments starting at less than $2 per dose
- Free, discreet shipping delivers your ED medication in 2-5 business days
- Additional prescription solutions for hair loss, heart health, skincare, and more
- Chewable Hard Mints for a discreet, effective alternative to pills
- Treated over 200,000 people
About Hims ED Products
Jump to Product Info:
Hims carries the FDA-approved PDE5 inhibitors in brand and generic form, plus its own chewable "Hard Mints." The economic story is the generics: the FDA requires generic medications to match their brand counterparts in active ingredient, strength, and effectiveness, so generic sildenafil and tadalafil deliver the same pharmacology as Viagra and Cialis at a fraction of the price.
The process is fully online — intake questionnaire, licensed-provider review, then home or pharmacy delivery — with one-time or subscription purchasing. Insurance is not accepted; this is a cash-pay model built around low generic pricing. As with any PDE5 inhibitor, the intake is where you must disclose nitrate use and cardiovascular history, because these drugs are contraindicated with nitrates.
Hims also runs treatment lines for hair loss, mental health, weight, and skincare — convenient if you want one account for several needs, but worth weighing against a single-focus ED service.
Hims ED Products
Hims Viagra and sildenafil (generic)
- Form: Tablet
- Active Ingredient: Sildenafil
- Prescription Needed: Yes
- Usage: Take as needed
- Effectiveness: Lasts 2-5 hr
- Dosage: 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg
- Price: Viagra: Around $139 per dose | Sildenafil: $4-$10 per dose
- Instructions: Swallow on an empty stomach 30-60 min before sex
Hims Cialis and tadalafil (generic)
- Form: Tablet
- Active Ingredient: Tadalafil
- Prescription Needed: Yes
- Usage: Take daily regardless of sexual activity
- Effectiveness: Lasts 24-36 hr
- Delivery Time: 2-5 business days
- Dosage: 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg
- Price: Cialis $35 per dose | Tadalafil $1-$25 per dose
- Instructions: Take once a day at the same time, effects may take up to 2 hr
Hims Stendra (Avanafil)
- Form: Tablet
- Active Ingredient: Avanafil
- Prescription Needed: Yes
- Usage: Take as needed, maximum of once daily
- Effectiveness: Works in 15 min, lasts up to 6 hr
- Delivery Time: 2-5 business days
- Dosage: 100 mg
- Price: From $53 per dose
- Instructions: Take 15-30 min before sex
Hims Hard Mints
- Form: Chewable mint
- Active Ingredients: Sildenafil, Tadalafil
- Prescription Needed: Yes
- Usage: Take daily or as needed
- Effectiveness: Lasts 24-36 hr
- Dosage: 12 mg, 18 mg, 28 mg
- Price: From $1.63 per dose
- Instructions: Bite, chew, and swallow at least 30 min before sex
Notes: Discreet alternative to ED pills. Though it contains FDA-approved ingredients (combination of sildenafil and tadalafil), this specific product is not yet FDA-approved.
A note about ED medication:
Sildenafil, tadalafil, and avanafil are among the most common prescription ED medications. These drugs work by improving blood flow to the penis. Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, usually takes about an hour to work and lasts between 2 to 5 hours. Tadalafil, found in Cialis, works in a similar way but lasts much longer—up to 36 hours—making it suitable for either daily use or as needed. Avanafil, used in Stendra, is the fastest-acting of the three, often working within 15 minutes, and its effects last for up to 6 hours.
These medications are popular because they are effective, widely available, and provide a range of options to suit different needs—whether for quick action, long-lasting results, or daily management. All three require sexual stimulation to work, as they do not cause erections on their own.
The generic versions of popular prescription drugs can often be obtained for much cheaper (up to 95% off). The FDA ensures generic medications (i.e. tadalafil and sildenafil) match branded drugs (i.e. Cialis and Viagra) in purity, strength, stability, and effectiveness.
Other Hims Products
Two-in-one pills
Hims also offers two-in-one combination pills designed to address multiple health needs:
- ED + Heart Health
Function: A personalized pill that combines tadalafil (for erectile function) and atorvastatin (to lower the risk of heart disease or stroke). - Sex Rx + Hair Hero
Function: A daily pill combining tadalafil (for stronger erections) with minoxidil (for hair regrowth) and finasteride (to prevent hair loss). - Sex Rx + Climax Control
Function: A compounded two-in-one medication for men with premature ejaculation (PE) and/or erectile dysfunction (ED), designed to address multiple sexual satisfaction aspects without needing multiple pills.
Additional treatments
- Premature ejaculation (PE)
Sildenafil, antidepressants, sprays, and wipes to desensitize the penis and help delay ejaculation. - Hair loss
Prescription and nonprescription options like minoxidil, finasteride, and DHT-blocking shampoos. - Skincare
Prescription and nonprescription options aimed at reducing signs of aging, acne, and other skin concerns. - Sexual Health
Condoms to reduce the spread of STIs and protect against pregnancy; water-based lubricants and vibrators to enhance sexual performance and pleasure.
How to Get Hims
Getting started with Hims begins with an online consultation with a licensed medical professional. This consultation involves a detailed questionnaire, which helps the provider diagnose your condition and recommend the best ED treatment for you. During the consultation, you can ask any questions about the treatment, and you can also follow up later to discuss your progress or make adjustments. The consulation does not require a virtual telehealth visit, and can be completed entirely from your phone or computer.
You can either make a one-time purchase or subscribe to receive a monthly supply in discreet packaging. When signing up, you'll provide personal information, including your name, email, shipping address, and other necessary details to complete your order.
The Bottom Line
Hims is a strong pick for cash payers who want the cheapest credible route to standard ED medication and value big-platform reliability. The generic sildenafil and tadalafil pricing is genuinely competitive, the full PDE5 menu means a clinician can match the drug to your pattern, and the infrastructure is mature.
The honest caveats: it is a generalist rather than a dedicated ED clinic, insurance is not an option, and the chewable Hard Mints — while built on FDA-approved ingredients — are a compounded product that is not itself FDA-approved. Whichever product you choose, disclose every medication you take at intake; the nitrate contraindication applies to all of them.
Sources used for medical context
- PDE5 Inhibitors (StatPearls, NCBI) for mechanism and the nitrate contraindication.
- AHA Circulation for drug onset and duration.
Not ready to commit?
Find the ED product you need at a great price with side-by-side comparisons.
Best ED treatments
Want to compare more?
Back to company reviews
Learn more about how comparetreatments.com rankings are determined.
