Keeps vs Hims vs Roman: Complete Comparison and Clear Winner
Head-to-head comparison of Keeps, Hims, and Roman for hair loss treatment: pricing, products, consultation quality, customer service, and the clear winner for different needs.
Three brands dominate the telehealth hair loss market: Keeps, Hims, and Roman. They all sell essentially the same treatments — finasteride and minoxidil — through an online consultation model. Both are proven to fight DHT-driven hair loss. So why pick one over another?
Price, UX, product quality, and trust. Here’s how they stack up.
Quick Comparison Table
| Keeps | Hims | Roman | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finasteride (monthly) | ~$25 | ~$30 | ~$25 |
| Minoxidil (monthly) | ~$15 | ~$20–25 | ~$15–20 |
| Topical Combo | No | Yes ($55–65) | No |
| Shampoo/Supplements | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Consultation Type | Questionnaire + photo | Questionnaire | Questionnaire |
| Shipping | Free | Free | Free |
| Founded | 2018 | 2017 | 2017 |
| Hair-only focus | Yes | No | No |
| Prescription required | Yes (fin) | Yes (fin) | Yes (fin) |
| OTC options | Minoxidil, shampoo | Minoxidil, shampoo | Minoxidil |
Keeps: The Hair-Focused Specialist
Keeps was built specifically for hair loss. That focus shows — their onboarding process includes photo submission where a clinician reviews your actual hair loss pattern, not just your answers to a questionnaire. It’s still asynchronous (no video call), but marginally more personalised than the others.
Products
- Generic finasteride (1mg/day) — ~$25/month
- Topical minoxidil 5% — ~$15/month
- Thickening shampoo with ketoconazole — ~$18/month
- Biotin supplements — ~$12/month
No fancy topical combo product like Hims offers, but the core treatments are solid.
Pricing
Keeps runs regular first-month promotions — often 50% off or free first month. Ongoing pricing is slightly cheaper than Hims for finasteride. Bundling finasteride + minoxidil comes out around $35–40/month on promotion.
Onboarding Experience
The hair photo submission sets Keeps apart. You upload photos of your hairline, crown, and temples. The clinician can see your Norwood stage rather than guessing from your description. Small detail, but better medicine.
Customer Service
Generally good reviews. Cancellation is straightforward (online, no phone call required). No major horror stories in the community.
Verdict on Keeps
Best choice for men who want a hair-specific platform and don’t mind that it’s a narrower product offering. The photo-based consultation gives it a slight medical edge over Hims.
Hims: The Lifestyle Brand
Hims is the most marketed of the three. Their brand aesthetic is polished and male-wellness-focused, covering everything from hair to ED to skincare. Hair loss is one vertical among many.
Products
- Generic finasteride (1mg/day) — ~$30/month
- Minoxidil topical — ~$20–25/month
- Topical finasteride + minoxidil combo — ~$55–65/month (unique to Hims)
- Thickening shampoo — ~$18–22/month
- Various supplement blends
The topical combo (0.3% finasteride + 5% minoxidil) is Hims’ most interesting differentiator. The logic: lower systemic absorption than oral finasteride means potentially fewer side effects while still delivering DHT-blocking activity to the scalp.
Pricing
Slightly more expensive than Keeps on core products. Promotions are frequent — 50% off first month is standard. Full-price ongoing cost is the highest of the three for equivalent treatments.
Onboarding Experience
Questionnaire-only. No photo submission. Faster to complete (5 minutes) but less medically nuanced than Keeps’ process.
Customer Service
Mixed reviews. Reports of difficulty cancelling subscriptions and aggressive upselling are more common with Hims than the other two. Not widespread, but worth knowing.
Verdict on Hims
Best for men who want the topical finasteride combo (unique product), or who want everything from one wellness brand. Pay a slight premium for the brand and the combo product. If you’re just buying generic finasteride + minoxidil, you’re overpaying vs. Keeps.
See also: Hims Hair Loss Review 2026: Does It Actually Work?
Roman: The Broader Health Platform
Roman (Ro) is the most general of the three — they cover men’s health broadly: ED, hair loss, skincare, mental health. Hair loss is not their core focus; they just offer it alongside everything else.
Products
- Generic finasteride (1mg/day) — ~$25/month
- Topical minoxidil 5% — ~$15–20/month
- Limited supplementary products compared to Keeps/Hims
The treatment selection is leaner. No topical combo, fewer hair-specific ancillary products.
Pricing
Comparable to Keeps — slightly cheaper than Hims on finasteride. First-month discounts apply.
Onboarding Experience
Questionnaire-based, similar to Hims. Some users report the consultation feels more general-purpose (because it is — Roman doctors cover multiple conditions, not just hair).
Customer Service
Generally positive. Cancellation is manageable. The brand has a good reputation for professional interactions, likely because their doctors are dealing with more serious health conditions alongside hair loss and take the medical side more seriously.
Verdict on Roman
Solid choice if you already use Roman for other health services (ED meds, etc.) and want to add hair loss treatment conveniently. Not the best standalone hair loss choice — Keeps beats it on hair-specific focus, Hims beats it on product range.
Head-to-Head: The Critical Decisions
Who Has the Best Prices?
Winner: Keeps and Roman (tie)
Both are roughly equal and cheaper than Hims for basic finasteride + minoxidil. Assuming first-month discounts and ongoing standard pricing:
- Keeps: ~$25–40/month for finasteride + minoxidil
- Roman: ~$25–40/month for finasteride + minoxidil
- Hims: ~$35–55/month for finasteride + minoxidil
Over 12 months, Keeps or Roman save you ~$100–150 compared to Hims for equivalent treatments. If cost is your primary driver, pick Keeps or Roman.
Who Has the Best Products?
Winner: Hims (if you want the topical combo); Keeps (for hair-only focus)
- Hims has the topical finasteride + minoxidil combo (unique product, ~$55–65/month) — valuable if you’re concerned about oral finasteride side effects.
- Keeps has a cleaner, hair-focused product selection without non-hair products diluting the offering.
- Roman has the leanest product range — finasteride, minoxidil, minimal ancillary products.
Who Has the Best Consultation & Experience?
Winner: Keeps
- Keeps: Hair photo submission + questionnaire. Clinician can see your actual Norwood stage. Faster signup, no friction, genuinely hair-focused.
- Hims: Questionnaire only. Fast (5–10 min), but less medically rigorous. More marketing pressure and upselling.
- Roman: Questionnaire only. Professional feel, good customer service, but hair loss feels like one of many health services (because it is).
Who Has the Most Evidence-Backed Treatments?
Winner: All three (tie)
All three sell generic finasteride (1mg) and minoxidil (5%) — identical molecules with decades of clinical evidence. The brand doesn’t change the pharmacology. The difference is packaging, price, and UX.
Who Has the Best Customer Service?
Winner: Roman
- Roman: Professional interactions, clean cancellation process, good reputation for resolving issues.
- Keeps: Solid customer service, responsive to issues, no major complaints.
- Hims: More complaints about difficulty cancelling, aggressive subscription mechanics, upselling pressure.
What About Happy Head?
Worth mentioning as an alternative. Happy Head is dermatology-focused, offers prescription-strength topical combos, and their medical team is more specialised than any of the three above. Their entry-level product (~$79/month) is more expensive but offers a more medically rigorous experience.
If you’re Norwood 4+ or haven’t responded to standard treatments, Happy Head is worth exploring. For most men starting out, Keeps or Hims is plenty.
Pricing Across 12 Months (Realistic Cost)
Assuming first-month discount + ongoing standard pricing:
| Keeps | Hims | Roman | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finasteride only (12mo) | ~$275 | ~$330 | ~$275 |
| Fin + Minoxidil (12mo) | ~$445 | ~$540 | ~$450 |
| With shampoo added | ~$650 | ~$750 | ~$580 |
These are approximate — promotions vary. But the ballpark is useful: Hims costs roughly $100–150 more per year than Keeps for equivalent treatments.
The Clear Winner
Keeps is the best choice for most men starting hair loss treatment.
It’s cheaper than Hims, more hair-focused than Roman, and the photo submission consultation is a genuine differentiator. The product range covers everything most men need: finasteride, minoxidil, and a decent ketoconazole shampoo.
Pick Hims if: You specifically want the topical finasteride + minoxidil combo, or you’re already using Hims for something else and want to consolidate.
Pick Roman if: You’re already a Roman patient or you want a broader health platform with professional medical interactions.
For the majority of men reading this — early-to-mid stage hair loss, looking for the most cost-effective evidence-based treatment — Keeps is the move.
See also: Hair Loss at 25: Early Signs and Proven Treatment Options | Hims Hair Loss Review 2026: Honest Results and Pricing | Finasteride vs Minoxidil: Which Should You Try First?
Bottom Line: The Strategy That Works
All three brands sell the same core treatments (finasteride + minoxidil) that have decades of evidence behind them. The brand doesn’t matter as much as starting early and staying consistent.
The winning mindset: Don’t overthink brand selection. Pick one, commit to 12 months, and give it time. Hair loss treatment is a marathon, not a sprint. The men who succeed are the ones who:
- Start early (Norwood 2–3, not 4+)
- Stay consistent with daily medication
- Wait 12+ months for results to show
- Track progress with photos, not daily mirror checks
Don’t switch brands mid-treatment out of impatience — the drugs need time to work regardless of which company’s packaging they come in.
FAQ
This article is based on published research and clinical evidence. It is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any treatment. Learn about our editorial standards.
