Ro vs. Hims for ED in 2025: a comparison guide

If you’re one of the up to 50 million men dealing with erectile dysfunction (ED), you’re probably not super jazzed about finding time to meet with a healthcare provider to get treatment. 

That’s where telehealth platforms like Ro (formerly Roman) and Hims come in.

Telehealth has revolutionized the way people access healthcare, making it easier to quickly see a licensed provider from the comfort of your own home. Today, four in ten people have used a telehealth service like Hims or Ro in the past year. Both companies offer a convenient, discreet way to get treatment for ED, hair loss, weight loss, and more.

But there are some key differences between Hims vs. Ro’s offerings for ED treatment, from the types of medications they offer to pricing and subscription options. This guide provides a comprehensive comparison of Ro vs. Hims to help you determine which platform best fits your needs.

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As you can see below, both Hims and Ro offer a range of healthcare offerings, treatments for ED, premature ejaculation, and other sexual health issues that affect men. Note: Ro was previously known as Roman, and still uses the name on some packaging.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common health concerns for men worldwide, affecting as many as 50 million men in the US alone. Both Hims and Ro (formerly Roman) provide a range of treatment options to address ED, from branded and generic ED medications to innovative compounded options. 

Both Ro and Hims provide access to prescription phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. These oral medications are considered the first-line treatments for ED, and are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat ED. PDE5 inhibitors work by increasing blood flow to the penis, making it easier to get and maintain an erection once you’re aroused. Popular PDE5 inhibitors include:

• Viagra (sildenafil): The OG PDE5 inhibitor, Viagra was first approved to treat ED back in 1998. Viagra is taken on demand, about 1 hour before having sex—although it can start working in as little as 30 minutes. The effects of Viagra last for about 4 hours.

• Cialis (tadalafil): Cialis is unique among PDE5 inhibitors in that you can take it on demand, like Viagra, or you can take it on a daily basis for 24/7 effects. When taken on-demand, Cialis kicks in as little as 30 minutes, and lasts for up to 36—earning it the nickname “the weekend pill.”

In addition to traditional oral medications like brand-name Viagra and Cialis, as well as their generics, Ro and Hims both offer compounded ED medications that come in different forms but use the same active ingredients.

Let’s take a look at the key differences between Hims vs. Ro’s ED treatments.

ED Treatment Forms: Ro vs. Hims

Both Ro and Hims offer oral PDE5 inhibitors, including brand-name Viagra, brand-name Cialis, generic sildenafil, and generic tadalafil. For those who prefer something other than a pill, both telehealth platforms also offer ED medications in different formulations, including gummies, dissolvable tablets, and mints. 

Compounded options for ED treatment: Ro vs. Hims 

Both Ro and Hims provide compounded ED medications that use the same active ingredients as traditional ED medications, but in different combinations and forms from brand-name PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil). Ro offers a more straightforward approach to compounded ED medication. 

Ro’s compounded ED treatments include:

• Ro Sparks: This 2-in-1 ED treatment combines the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis: sildenafil and tadalafil. The dissolvable tablet starts working in about 15 minutes and keeps working for up to 36 hours, so you can take it as needed. Cost: $12 per dose. Quarterly plans include a $15 discount and you get $15 off your first order. 

• Daily Rise Gummies: This is a daily ED gummy that contains 7 mg of tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis. Taken daily, the drug stays active for over 24 hours, so you’re always ready for sex when you want it. Cost: $89 per month. Quarterly plans include a $20 discount and you get $15 off your first order. 

Hims compounded ED treatments include:

• Mints: Hims offers ‘Hard Mints’, chewable ED treatments made with doses of active ingredients like tadalafil, sildenafil, or a combination of both—plus vitamin B12 in some formulas. Costs start at $39 per month. 

• Chews: Hims also offers ‘Sex Chews’ which are made with various doses of tadalafil, sildenafil, or a blend of both plus vitamin B12. They also have combinations that include hair loss medications or multivitamins. 

While Hims offers more combinations of compounded ED medications, it may be a little overwhelming to know which combination is right for you. Ro’s simple approach to compounded ED medications makes it easy to get the medication you need right away. 

Generic options for ED: Ro vs. Hims 

For those looking for affordable ED treatment, both Ro and Hims offer generic versions of Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil). Hims and Ro have similar pricing for their generic ED medications, but Ro has a wider selection of dosage strengths for both sildenafil and tadalafil.

Sildenafil (generic Viagra) is taken as-needed. It takes about 30 minutes to kick in, and lasts for4 hours . Tadalafil (generic Cialis) can be prescribed as a daily medication that treats ED 24/7, or you can take it as-needed for effects that last up to 36 hours (hence its nickname “the weekend pill”). When taken as-needed, it takes between 30 minutes and 2 hours to kick in.

Ro generic ED treatments include:

• Generic Viagra (sildenafil): Ro offers generic Viagra in all three dosage strengths at prices up to 95% cheaper than branded Viagra. 

• Generic Cialis (tadalafil): Ro offers tadalafil in all available dosage strengths. Ro offers both daily tadalafil, which comes in lower doses of 2.5 mg and 5 mg, as well as the as-needed version of tadalafil, which comes in higher doses of 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg. 

Hims generic ED treatments include:

• Generic Viagra (sildenafil): Like Ro, Hims offers generic Viagra in all three dosage strengths: 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg. 

• Generic Cialis (tadalafil): Hims also offers daily tadalafil (2.5 mg and 5 mg doses) as well as as-needed tadalafil (5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg doses).

Branded options for ED: Ro vs. Hims 

For those who prefer to use brand-name medications, both Ro and Hims also offer Viagra and Cialis. When it comes to branded ED treatment, Ro offers more transparent and competitive pricing and a wider range of dosage strengths for Cialis. For example, both Hims and Ro offer brand-name Viagra in all dosage strengths. But, only Ro additionally offers brand-name Cialis in all dosage strengths—while Hims only offers the single 5-mg dose.

Here’s a look at the cost of traditional ED meds and their available dosage strengths for Ro vs. Hims:

Both Hims and Ro provide fast and discreet shipping for all orders in the United States. (Hims is also available in the U.K.) Both companies ensure that packaging is unmarked for privacy, and orders typically arrive within a few days. Here are a few key differences between the Ro vs. Hims shipping options for ED treatment:

• Both Ro and Hims products always ship free.

• In addition to home shipping, some Ro products can be picked up at a pharmacy of your choice.

Hims vs. Ro subscription model 

Both Ro and Hims use a subscription model for their ED products. On both platforms, the subscription options can vary by product. For example, Ro offers discounted quarterly plans for their ED Daily Rise Gummies and the dissolvable Ro Sparks. Through Ro, both Cialis and generic tadalafil have 3-, 6-, and 12-month subscription plans that offer additional savings. 

Both Roman and Hims offer access to high-quality brand-name and generic ED medications at competitive prices. While neither accepts insurance, you may be able to use FSA or HSA funds for reimbursement.

Pricing varies depending on the medication, dosage, and subscription length, but both platforms offer similar rates, especially if you choose a longer-term plan.

Here at Ro, generic sildenafil starts at $4 per dose, while daily tadalafil begins at $2 per dose with our Daily Rise gummies. Ro Sparks start at $12 per dose. Branded tadalafil tablets, which come in more dosage options, start at $8 per dose and branded sildenafil starts at $90 per pill. Ro offers a consultation and shipping in the price of the medication. 

According to Hims’ website, generic sildenafil starts at $4 per dose, and daily tadalafil costs about $2 per dose. Online consultations and shipping are included, and the platform offers a wide range of dosage and shipping frequency options.

It’s tough to compare the costs of Hims vs. Ro directly, since it depends on the product and dosage you’re prescribed and the subscription model you select, but in general, pricing is comparable, with branded medications costing less at Ro. 

Both Hims and Ro offer a free online consultation with a licensed healthcare provider to find the right ED treatment for you, if medically appropriate. If you’re prescribed treatment, you can then use an online portal to contact your provider and manage your subscription. Both Ro and Hims offer additional resources to support you during your treatment, including live chat, free unlimited messaging with licensed healthcare providers, and educational articles on ED and related health topics.  

All of the medical providers at Ro and Hims are licensed to practice in the United States. Each doctor or nurse practitioner on the Ro platform undergoes an extensive background check and license verification process. When you’re communicating with them on the Ro platform, you can simply click their name to view their credentials, medical license, and resume. You can find this information for the providers on Hims here.

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Both Hims and Ro are reputable telehealth platforms that partner with licensed healthcare professionals and U.S.-based pharmacies to provide prescription treatments for erectile dysfunction, weight loss, hair loss, and more. With either platform, you’ll speak with a healthcare provider to discuss your symptoms prior to receiving a prescription (if appropriate). Then, you can opt into a subscription model so your treatment reliably arrives at your home each month, in discreet packaging that ensures privacy. 

Here are some high-level differences between Ro vs. Hims when it comes to ED treatments:

• ED treatments: Both Hims and Ro offer generic sildenafil and tadalafil, along with compounded and branded options. Hims provides more compounded ED treatments, while Ro has a wider and more affordable selection of brand-name Viagra and Cialis.

• Pricing and dosage: FDA-approved oral PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra and Cialis are both available through Hims and Ro. Ro offers lower pricing than Hims for both brand-name Viagra and Cialis. Ro also offers Cialis in a wider range of dosage strengths than Hims.

• Generic offerings: Hims and Ro also offer generic versions of Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil). Both brands offer sildenafil in all available dosage strengths.

• Compounded options: Ro and Hims offer compounded treatment options for ED as well. Ro offers straightforward daily ED gummies and dissolvable tablets, while Hims offers various compounded products, including ED mints and chewables. While Hims has more compounded combinations, it can be confusing for a patient to know which one is right for them–Ro makes it easy to quickly get access to the meds they need. 

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and isn’t intended as medical advice or an endorsement of any specific brand.