TelyRx vs. Hims: Comparing Pricing, Meds, and Care Models

If you’re looking to fill a prescription online, you probably have questions about TelyRx vs. Hims, including when TelyRx’s 450+ formulary is preferable to Hims’ smaller medication list. Despite their differences in care and prescription options, both direct-to-consumer telehealth platforms provide digital support for health conditions.

From Hims’ subscription model to TelyRx’s pay-per-order model for specific medication needs and ongoing care, the ideal choice depends on what you’re treating, how you’d like to manage refills, and how you prefer to pay.

This guide compares the two platforms, including their medication selection and consultation processes, to help you decide whether TelyRx or Hims is right for you.

TelyRx vs. Hims at a Glance

How TelyRx Works

TelyRx is a telehealth and digital pharmacy platform that connects individuals with independent providers licensed in their state. TelyRx also fills prescriptions and ships medication directly to your door. This platform offers users greater control over their care, allowing them to receive treatment and prescriptions on their own schedule and at their discretion. 

To use TelyRx’s platform, you can search by medication or condition, complete a health and physical attestation, and receive a provider-reviewed approval and prescription (often within a day).

With TelyRx, there’s no appointment or subscription required. Instead, a provider review fee covers the convenience of having a licensed provider in your state write your new prescription, which TelyRx then fills and ships to you. A few additional features set TelyRx apart, including:

• FDA-approved brand-name and generic medications that span a wide variety of conditions
• U.S.-based pharmacies and suppliers
• LegitScript certification
• Transparent pricing
• HIPAA-level privacy protection

How Hims Works

Hims is a subscription-based telehealth brand focused on a specific set of conditions, including:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED)
• Hair loss
• Weight loss
• Mental health
• Skin care

After you complete an online intake form, a provider reviews it, and the platform ships your medication on a recurring schedule. Most of Hims’ subscription plans bundle the consultation, ongoing clinical oversight, and shipping.

Key Differences Between TelyRx and Hims

There are major differences between TelyRx and Hims. We break down the most important considerations below.

Medication Selection & Scope

Medication options are the biggest practical difference between TelyRx and Hims:

• TelyRx is broader: Its formulary spans everyday needs like UTIs, seasonal allergies, asthma, high blood pressure, thyroid conditions, and birth control, as well as ED treatments and hair loss.
• Hims is specific: It offers medication for a niche set of lifestyle and health conditions.

For needs outside of men’s health and lifestyle categories, TelyRx’s formulary offers a wider range of treatment options for everyday conditions. Additionally, Hims may offer some treatments as compounded formulations (which are not reviewed or approved by the FDA), while TelyRx dispenses only FDA-approved brand-name and generic medications.

Pricing & Payment Model

TelyRx uses transparent pricing, charging users a flat $22 provider review fee per order, plus the cost of the medication. Even if you order more than one medication at a time at checkout, you will only pay the flat review fee one time. 

Hims bundles consultation, clinical oversight, and shipping into a recurring subscription, with costs varying by category and plan length. For example, the platform’s weight-loss membership includes a $39 membership fee, followed by an auto-renewing $149 monthly fee (not including medication costs).

Paying per prescription with TelyRx can help reduce recurring charges for unused care when treating one-time and occasional conditions.

Consultation Process

Both platforms use an individual consultation process. This includes completing an online intake request that a provider will review. However, the differences become apparent from there:

• TelyRx’s asynchronous provider review is tied to a specific need and requires no ongoing membership, even with auto-refill prescriptions.
• In some states, Hims may require a video telehealth visit. This provider review (whether asynchronous or video) may then become an ongoing subscription and continuous messaging relationship.

TelyRx’s asynchronous health and physical attestation includes a short set of health statements for you to confirm or deny, and your answers are kept secure. Most patients do not need a complete consultation to receive a prescription. 

Refills & Ongoing Care

TelyRx allows you to request (and refill) prescriptions only when you need them, on your own schedule. You can also opt into auto-refill when preferred. This makes recurring shipments and ongoing care a choice you have full control over.

Hims is built around automatic recurring shipments, which can be useful for treatments that only work with consistent long-term use. If you only want to try a single order, you generally need to cancel your subscription before the next billing cycle to avoid additional charges.

Insurance

Both TelyRx and Hims operate primarily as cash-pay platforms and don’t bill insurance for most services. However, both options may support payments using HSA/FSA cards and reimbursements, depending on the treatment and additional compliance steps. 

TelyRx’s cash-pay options can support improved delivery times and added privacy. Informing others about your prescription needs or chronic conditions remains your choice, not a requirement for insurance coverage.

Find a prescription for an acute or chronic condition from TelyRx, and receive upfront pricing at the time of your request.

Which Should You Choose?

There are a variety of reasons you may choose TelyRx or Hims, and the honest choice often comes down to your needs rather than which option is “best.” 

Choose TelyRx if you want to:

• Fill a one-time or ongoing prescription
• Enable auto-refills without signing up for a recurring membership
• Access everyday medications for UTIs, cold and flu, allergies, men’s and women’s health, and more
• Pay only when you actually need medication, without ongoing fees
• Stick to FDA-approved brand-name or generic medications
• Get fast, direct-to-door prescription delivery

Consider Hims if you want: 

• Subscription-based management of focused concerns, like hair loss, ED, weight loss, or mental health
• An assigned care team and continuous messaging
• Automatic recurring shipments handled for you by default

While Hims may be a potential solution for your needs, TelyRx offers similar focused care options with additional features, cost considerations, and a broader range of prescription choices.

Your Next Prescription, On Your Terms With TelyRx

When you compare TelyRx vs. Hims side by side, the choice comes down to need and commitment. 

Hims may be a strong fit if you want a subscription and a dedicated care team for one ongoing concern. But if you’d rather pay for exactly what you need, when you need it, for a wider range of everyday medications, TelyRx is the more flexible option.

Skip the membership and the waiting room and browse the TelyRx formulary by condition or medication to get your prescription shipped straight to your door.

TelyRx vs. Hims FAQ

Is TelyRx cheaper than Hims?

The cost difference between TelyRx and Hims depends on what you’re treating and how long you’ll need your prescription. TelyRx only charges for the medications you use and doesn’t include membership fees, so with a single-fill prescription or occasional use, you avoid recurring charges.

Does TelyRx require a subscription?

TelyRx does not require a subscription. It is a pay-per-order digital pharmacy platform. Plus, auto-refills are available but not required.

Can I use insurance with TelyRx or Hims?

Both TelyRx and Hims operate primarily as cash-pay platforms and don’t bill insurance for most services. Some treatments may be HSA/FSA eligible, but these options vary depending on your insurance plan and prescriptions.

What medications does TelyRx offer that Hims doesn’t?

TelyRx carries a much broader everyday formulary than Hims, with 450+ FDA-approved medications for 78 acute and chronic conditions, including UTIs, seasonal allergies, asthma, and birth control. Hims focuses on a narrower set of lifestyle and men’s health categories, so many common, non-lifestyle prescriptions fall outside its scope.

How fast can I get my medication from TelyRx vs. Hims?

TelyRx offers next-day delivery on eligible requests placed before 2 p.m. ET to most states, so you can often start treatment within a day of your request’s approval. All prescription requests will receive an estimated delivery time during checkout. 

Hims ships on a recurring subscription schedule, designed for ongoing treatment rather than a fast one-time fill.

Can I cancel a Hims subscription at any time?

Yes, you can cancel a Hims subscription anytime through your account settings, but you’ll want to do it before your next billing cycle to avoid being charged for the upcoming shipment. With TelyRx, there are no subscription or ongoing charges to consider or cancel.

Is TelyRx legal?

Yes, TelyRx is legal and operates as a legitimate telehealth and pay-per-order prescription platform. Also, the platform upholds HIPAA-level privacy standards and holds LegalScript certification, which ensures it meets safety and regulatory requirements.