By The HRT Index Editorial Team · Last verified:
Disclosure:The HRT Index is an independent comparison resource for HRT telehealth providers. Some links here are affiliate links, so we may earn a commission if you start care through them — at no extra cost to you. We earn from some providers (Hers is one) and not others (Alloy is not). It doesn't change our call: we rank by verified price, fit, and care quality, and we'll point you to a provider we don't earn from when it's the better choice for you. This article is general information, not medical advice. Prescription treatment requires an evaluation by a licensed clinician.
Alloy vs Hers for Menopause HRT: Which Is Better in 2026?
Alloy vs Hers really comes down to one question: do you want a menopause specialist, or a one-stop health app? Here's the short version.
If you mainly want menopause or perimenopause hormone care, Alloy is the better pick for most women— it's cheaper on the core hormones, it includes progesterone free with your estrogen, and the doctors who handle your menopause visit are menopause-certified. Hers is the better pick if you'd rather handle menopause alongside other care — therapy, skin, weight, sexual health — all in one app and one login. We earn from Hers, not from Alloy, and we're still putting Alloy first for most people reading this. That's the page doing its job.
That's the headline. The rest is the homework: real prices, the catch most comparisons skip, what's changed after the 2025 FDA rule update, and a clear “if you're this, pick that” table.
Alloy vs Hers at a glance
Alloy is a menopause- and midlife-focused telehealth service with menopause-certified consult doctors and quarterly billing. Hers is a large, app-based telehealth platform with a menopause service inside it. On price and menopause focus, Alloy leads; on breadth and convenience, Hers leads.
Every number comes from the providers' own pages or independent reviewers. Prices change, so we re-verify this table every quarter.
| What you're comparing | Alloy | Hers |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Menopause & midlife care (also skin, weight, hair, sexual health) | Broad women's telehealth; menopause is one service |
| Core hormones | Estradiol (pill, patch, gel, spray, vaginal cream) + micronized progesterone | Estradiol (pill, patch, vaginal cream) + oral progesterone when appropriate |
| Starting price | Estradiol pill $119.97 / 3 months (~$40/mo); patch $224.97 / 3 months (~$75/mo). One-time $49 consult. | Oral HRT from $79/mo; patch from $134/mo — on a 12-month plan |
| Progesterone | Free when paired with estradiol (~$23/mo only if bought on its own) | Available with estradiol; whether it's included depends on the plan |
| Bloodwork / labs | Not required — intake form only | Online clinical intake |
| Mammogram | Up-to-date mammogram required for menopausal hormone treatment | No equivalent public rule found — confirm at intake |
| Insurance | Doesn't bill insurance; HSA/FSA and reimbursement possible | Insurance not required; some meds may be HSA/FSA eligible |
| Where it works | Most states (check yours) | Not all 50 states (check yours) |
| Doctors | Consult doctor is Menopause Society–certified (10+ yrs); reviews intake within 12 business hours | Licensed providers trained in women's health; part of Hims & Hers (public company) |
| Best for | Lowest cash price + deepest menopause focus | One app for menopause plus other care |
| Skip it if | You want one login for everything, or can't pay quarterly upfront | You want a dedicated menopause specialist, or dislike annual plans |
For the core menopause routine — estrogen plus progesterone — Alloy is cheaper, partly because progesterone rides along free with your estrogen. Hers earns its price when you want more than menopause care in one place.
Who should choose Alloy, and who should choose Hers?
Choose Alloy if you want menopause-focused care at the lowest verified cash price, you're fine paying every three months, and you can get a recent mammogram. Choose Hers if you want one app for menopause plus other health needs and prefer monthly-style plans. Choose neither — and take the quiz — if you need insurance billed directly, in-person exams, or care for a complex medical history.
Pick Alloy if:
- ✓You want the cheapest transparent price on estrogen and progesterone.
- ✓Menopause is the thing you're solving — not five things at once.
- ✓You're comfortable paying for a 3-month supply at a time.
- ✓You can get (or already have) an up-to-date mammogram.
- ✓You like that there's no bloodwork hoop to jump through.
Pick Hers if:
- ✓You'd rather manage menopause, mental health, skin, weight, and sexual health in one place.
- ✓You already use Hers, or trust a large, familiar brand.
- ✓A monthly-style plan feels easier than a quarterly charge.
- ✓Hers serves your state.
Pick neither if:
- ⚠You need your insurance billed directly (both are cash-pay).
- ⚠You want your prescription sent to your local pharmacy from day one.
- ⚠You have a history of breast cancer, blood clots, stroke, liver disease, or unexplained bleeding.
- ⚠You specifically want testosterone. (Neither features it for women — it's off-label and a controlled substance.)
How much do Alloy and Hers cost in 2026?
Alloy is cheaper on the core hormones. It charges a one-time $49 consult, then $119.97 every three months for estrogen pills (~$40/mo) or $224.97 for patches (~$75/mo) — and progesterone is free when paired with estrogen. Hers advertises HRT from $79/month and patches from $134/month, but those rates require a 12-month plan. Neither bills insurance; both let you use HSA/FSA funds.
The trap in HRT pricing: the number on the ad isn't the number on your card. So we did two things — the real starting prices, and what you'd actually pay for your first three months.
What each one really charges
Alloy bills every three months — a “$40/month” pill is really a $119.97 charge that shows up once a quarter:
| Alloy product | Price (3-month supply) | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Estradiol pill | $119.97 | ~$40 |
| Estradiol patch | $224.97 | ~$75 |
| Estradiol gel | $209.97 | ~$70 |
| Estradiol spray (Evamist) | $209.97 | ~$70 |
| Vaginal estradiol cream | $119.97 | ~$40 |
| Progesterone (with estradiol) | Free | $0 |
| Non-hormonal option (paroxetine) | $104.97 | ~$35 |
Plus a one-time $49 consult (non-refundable even if you don't start treatment). No bloodwork required. Progesterone is ~$23/mo if bought on its own.
Hers uses plans, and the lowest prices need a 12-month commitment:
| Hers product | Starting price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oral HRT | from $79/mo | on a 12-month plan |
| Patch | from $134/mo | on a 12-month plan |
| Vaginal cream / oral progesterone | available when appropriate | priced by plan |
No insurance billed; some meds may be HSA/FSA eligible; not available in all 50 states.
Your real first 90 days
Most women on estrogen who still have a uterus also need progesterone — it protects the uterine lining. So the honest comparison isn't one pill. It's the pair, for a full quarter:
| Your regimen | Alloy, first quarter | Hers, first quarter |
|---|---|---|
| Estrogen pill + progesterone | $168.97 ($49 + $119.97; progesterone free) | about $237 (≈$79 × 3; plan pricing) |
| Estrogen patch + progesterone | $273.97 ($49 + $224.97; progesterone free) | about $402 (≈$134 × 3; plan pricing) |
Hers figures are starting-price estimates on a 12-month plan; whether progesterone is bundled depends on the plan. These are starting prices, not quotes — your real cost depends on what's prescribed, your dose, plan length, your state, and current pricing. Prices verified .
The pattern is clear: Alloy costs less for the standard menopause routine on both pill and patch, and the free progesterone widens the gap. Hers isn't trying to be the cheapest — it's selling one connected platform.
Do Alloy or Hers take insurance or HSA/FSA?
Neither bills your health insurance directly. Alloy says it doesn't accept or bill insurance, though you can use HSA/FSA funds and may submit for reimbursement on your own. Hers says insurance isn't required for menopause care, and some medications may be HSA/FSA eligible. If you need a provider that actually bills your insurance, you'll want a different route.
Both Alloy and Hers are cash-pay. That's part of why they're predictable and fast — no prior authorizations, no formulary surprises — but it also means the price you see is the price you pay, out of pocket.
If your priority is getting your insurance to cover hormone therapy, a telehealth brand that bills insurance, or a local in-network clinician, is the smarter path. We keep a running list of HRT providers that take insurance, or you can let the quiz match you.
Alloy vs Hers: which is more “real medicine”?
Both are real medicine. Alloy is the deeper menopause specialist — the doctor who handles your menopause consult holds Menopause Society certification, and the company is built around midlife women's health. Hers uses licensed providers trained in women's health, inside a much larger company. If specialization is your tiebreaker, Alloy wins it.
Of roughly 20,000 OB-GYNs in the U.S., only about 1,000 hold Menopause Society certification — the credential built specifically for menopause care. The doctor who reviews your Alloy menopause consult is one of them. Alloy's chief medical advisor is Dr. Sharon Malone, MD, FACOG, MSCP.
Hers is the opposite shape: broad, not deep. It's part of Hims & Hers, a large public telehealth company, and its menopause service uses licensed providers who focus on this area. You get menopause care and a platform that already handles plenty of other needs.
The one honest knock on Hers: it's notthe cheapest option here, and it's not a menopause specialist. If rock-bottom price or the deepest menopause expertise is your number-one priority, Alloy is the better fit, full stop. But for a busy woman who wants menopause care andmental health, skin, weight, and sexual health in one login — “not the cheapest, not menopause-only” isn't a flaw. It's the whole point.
The catch: does Alloy or Hers require a mammogram, labs, or a video visit?
Alloy is unusually clear on two points: it requires no bloodwork, but it does require an up-to-date mammogram before it will prescribe menopausal hormone treatment. Hers runs an online intake with provider review, messaging, and check-ins; no equivalent public mammogram rule turned up in our research, so confirm it at intake. This requirement is the single most common reason a woman gets stopped at checkout — so know it before you start.
Alloy: mammogram required
To get menopausal hormone treatment, you need a current mammogram. There may be a one-time fill at a doctor's discretion if yours isn't recent, but the rule is real and there for good reason.
No bloodwork required — just the intake form. Menopause is usually diagnosed from your age and symptoms, not a blood test.
No video visit required — secure message-based care. A menopause-trained doctor reviews your intake within 12 business hours.
Hers: online intake, confirm at sign-up
Hers runs on a clinical intake and online provider messaging with regular check-ins. We didn't find an equivalent public mammogram rule — confirm it during your intake before assuming there's no requirement.
Whether it asks for any menopause-specific testing is also worth confirming at sign-up.
No routine face-to-face video visit required for menopause care.
What about the estrogen patch shortage?
As of spring 2026, estrogen-patch supply has been tight and unpredictable across the U.S. Demand surged after the FDA eased its hormone-therapy warnings in late 2025, and supply hasn't caught up — Reuters reported in April 2026 the squeeze could last up to three years. No telehealth company, Alloy or Hers, makes patches, so neither can promise supply. What actually protects you is a provider that can switch you to a pill, gel, or spray if patches run dry.
The supply problem is genuine. Estrogen-based therapy among women ages 45–54 rose about 184% from 2018 to 2026, and patch use more than tripled. Only about five drugmakers make estradiol patches for the U.S. market. A telehealth brand can't fix a manufacturing problem — patches come from the same handful of factories no matter who writes your prescription.
The right question isn't “which brand has patches” — it's “if patches aren't available, can this provider quickly switch me to another form?”
| Estrogen form | Alloy | Hers |
|---|---|---|
| Pill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Patch | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gel | ✓ | — |
| Spray (Evamist) | ✓ | — |
| Vaginal cream | ✓ | ✓ |
Alloy's menu is broader — more non-patch options to pivot to if supply dries up. Want more detail? See our guide to estradiol patch options online.
Is HRT through Alloy or Hers safe?
Neither brand is automatically “safer” — safety depends on you: your age, how long since menopause, whether you have a uterus, the estrogen form, your dose, and your health history. The big news is that in November 2025 the FDA moved to remove its strongest “black box” warnings from menopause hormone therapy, calling the old breast-cancer and heart-disease alarms misleading for most women starting near menopause. One warning stays. And a telehealth intake is only as good as how honestly you fill it out.
The 2025 FDA change, plainly explained:
For two decades, hormone therapy carried the FDA's strongest “black box” warning, tracing back to a 2002 study (the Women's Health Initiative) where the average participant was 63 and on an outdated hormone formula.
On November 10, 2025, the FDA announced it was initiating the removal of those broad warnings — dropping language about cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and probable dementia, and even removing the old “use the lowest dose for the shortest time” instruction. The new guidance says it's reasonable to consider hormone therapy for moderate-to-severe hot flashes and night sweats in women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause.
One important exception: the endometrial-cancer warning was retained for estrogen-alone products. That's exactly why women with a uterus are also prescribed progesterone — it protects the uterine lining.
For many healthy women near menopause, FDA-approved hormone therapy can be a reasonable option under a clinician's guidance. But the 2025 change updated warning language — it didn't make hormone therapy right for everyone. If any of these apply, talk to a clinician who can review you directly:
- ⚠Past breast cancer or another hormone-sensitive cancer
- ⚠A blood clot, stroke, or serious heart disease
- ⚠Liver disease
- ⚠Unexplained vaginal bleeding
Alloy vs Hers: the subscription catches
Alloy's main catch is that it bills and ships in 3-month supplies on a recurring basis, so the “monthly” price hits your card as a bigger quarterly charge, and its $49 consult is non-refundable. Hers runs on plans where the cheapest pricing needs a 12-month commitment. Read the final checkout screen on either before you confirm.
Alloy catches
- ⚠Billed quarterly — budget for the bigger charge, not the per-month math.
- ⚠Plan changes want advance notice (at least 7 days before a shipment).
- ⚠The $49 consult doesn't come back if you decide not to start.
- ⚠Transferring to a local pharmacy requires an active subscription and at least one Alloy order — and means canceling the subscription.
Hers catches
- ⚠Headline prices ($79 oral, $134 patch) require a 12-month plan. Month-to-month costs more.
- ⚠Confirm exact terms in checkout before you commit to any plan length.
- ⚠Ships from its own pharmacy network; confirm delivery and any transfer terms at checkout.
Before you hit confirm on either — do this 20-second check:
- 1. Screenshot the final price and the plan length.
- 2. Confirm how often you'll be billed.
- 3. Confirm whether the medication is included or extra.
- 4. Find the cancellation deadline.
- 5. Save the confirmation email.
What do Alloy and Hers reviews say?
Reviews are useful for service questions — billing, shipping, support — not for proving a medicine works. Alloy has a longer track record of menopause-specific reviews; Hers' menopause service is newer. Read the one-star reviews too: they usually reveal price surprises or expectation mismatches.
Alloy is LegitScript-certified, a third-party check that a telehealth business is operating legitimately. Hers operates inside a large, publicly traded company. Both run mostly on asynchronous messaging rather than live appointments.
When you read reviews, sort the complaints into buckets: a gripe about a surprise quarterly charge isn't a reason to run — it's a reason to read your checkout screen. A pattern of unanswered messages or shipping problems is the signal worth taking seriously.
For the full breakdowns: Alloy review · Hers menopause review
Which one is better for your exact situation?
The “best” provider changes with your constraint. Lowest price and menopause focus point to Alloy. One-app convenience points to Hers. Insurance, a complex history, or local-pharmacy control point to neither — use the quiz.
| Your situation | Better path | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I want the lowest cash price. | Alloy | Cheaper on estrogen, and progesterone is free with it. |
| I want menopause care + therapy / skin / weight in one app. | Hers | One platform, one login. |
| I don't have a recent mammogram and can't wait. | Take the quiz | Alloy gates menopausal hormone treatment on a current mammogram; confirm Hers' rule at intake. |
| I need my insurance billed. | Neither — take the quiz | Both are cash-pay; we'll find one that isn't. |
| I want a menopause specialist. | Alloy | Your consult doctor is menopause-certified. |
| Patches keep being out of stock. | Lean Alloy | More non-patch forms to switch to. |
| I want my local pharmacy to fill it. | Take the quiz | Both ship from their own pharmacy networks; we'll match you. |
| I have a uterus and need estrogen. | Either | You'll likely get progesterone too — free at Alloy. |
| I just need vaginal dryness relief. | Either, but price-check locally | Vaginal estrogen may be cheaper with a local coupon. |
| I have a breast-cancer or clot history. | Neither — see a clinician | This needs an individual medical review. |
Why we rank Alloy and Hers the way we do
This ranking is an editorial call based on verified facts, not on who pays us — notably, we earn from Hers but not Alloy, and we still put Alloy ahead for most menopause shoppers.
| What we scored | Weight | Alloy | Hers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price transparency | 20% | 9 | 6 |
| First-quarter affordability | 20% | 9 | 6 |
| Menopause specialization | 15% | 9 | 7 |
| Range of medication forms | 15% | 9 | 7 |
| Form flexibility during a shortage | 10% | 8 | 7 |
| Requirement clarity | 10% | 8 | 6 |
| One-platform convenience | 5% | 4 | 9 |
| Trust / support visibility | 5% | 8 | 8 |
Alloy is the default winner for price-sensitive, menopause-focused shoppers who can meet the mammogram and quarterly-billing requirements. Hers is the winner for women who value one connected platform over the lowest price.
Hers is one of our affiliate partners and Alloy is not. We still ranked Alloy first for most readers, because that's what the verified facts say. If a comparison site won't ever recommend the option it doesn't earn from, it isn't really comparing.
Want the wider field? See our full best online HRT providers roundup.
What we actually verified
Last verified: . We re-check pricing and availability every quarter, and revisit medical or regulatory facts whenever the FDA updates its guidance.
- Alloy's $49 consult and 3-month-supply prices, with progesterone free when paired with estradiol (~$23/mo on its own)
- Alloy's “no bloodwork required” and “up-to-date mammogram required” rules
- Alloy's menopause-certified consult-physician model and Dr. Sharon Malone as chief medical advisor
- Hers' HRT-from-$79 and patch-from-$134 pricing on a 12-month plan
- Hers' “not available in all 50 states” and “insurance not required” statements
- The FDA's November 10, 2025 action to remove the broad black-box warnings, with the endometrial-cancer warning retained for estrogen-alone products
- The 2026 estrogen-patch supply squeeze (Reuters, NBC News, Healthline)
Final verdict: Alloy vs Hers
For most women comparing Alloy vs Hers for menopause, Alloy is the stronger pick — lower verified prices, progesterone free with your estrogen, and a menopause-certified consult doctor — as long as you can get a recent mammogram and pay quarterly. Choose Hers if you want menopause care and the rest of your health in one app. Choose neither, and take the quiz, if you need insurance, in-person care, or a complex-history review.
| Pick | Best for | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Alloy | Lowest price + menopause focus | Mammogram required; billed quarterly |
| Hers | One app for menopause + more | Costs more; not menopause-only |
| Neither | Insurance, complex history, local pharmacy | Use the quiz or see a local clinician |
Alloy vs Hers FAQ
- Is Alloy or Hers cheaper?
- Alloy, for the core menopause routine. Alloy's estrogen pills run $119.97 every three months (~$40/mo) and progesterone is free when paired with estrogen. Hers advertises HRT from $79/month and patches from $134/month on a 12-month plan.
- Does Hers offer HRT for menopause?
- Yes. Hers prescribes estradiol (pill, patch, or vaginal cream) and oral progesterone when appropriate, through an online intake and provider review. It's not available in all 50 states.
- Does Alloy offer HRT for menopause?
- Yes. Alloy offers estradiol as a pill, patch, gel, spray, or vaginal cream, plus micronized progesterone, reviewed by a menopause-certified consult doctor.
- Does Alloy require a mammogram?
- Yes. Alloy requires an up-to-date mammogram for menopausal hormone treatment, with a possible one-time fill at a doctor's discretion if yours isn't recent.
- Does Hers require a mammogram?
- We didn't find an equivalent public rule, so confirm it during intake before assuming there's no requirement.
- Do Alloy or Hers take insurance?
- Neither bills insurance directly. Both let you use HSA/FSA funds, and Alloy notes some patients submit for reimbursement on their own. If you need insurance billed, a different provider is a better fit.
- Do Alloy or Hers require lab work?
- Alloy doesn't require bloodwork — just the intake form, since menopause is usually diagnosed by age and symptoms. Hers runs a clinical intake; confirm any menopause-specific testing at sign-up.
- Are these compounded hormones or FDA-approved?
- Both prescribe estradiol and progesterone for core menopause care — the standard, FDA-approved menopause hormones. Some of Alloy's extra products (like its arousal cream and estriol skin creams) are compounded — custom-mixed by a pharmacy and not FDA-reviewed for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Compounded is not the same as FDA-approved. Check the specific product at intake.
- Are Alloy and Hers available in every state?
- No. Hers says menopause care isn't available in all 50 states, and Alloy's coverage is also state-limited. Check your state on each provider's site.
- Which is better if patches are out of stock?
- Lean toward the provider with the most non-patch options. Alloy offers pill, gel, spray, and cream alongside patches; Hers offers pill and cream. No telehealth brand can fix the manufacturing supply itself.
- Is online menopause HRT safe?
- For many healthy women near menopause, FDA-approved hormone therapy can be a reasonable option under a clinician's guidance, and in late 2025 the FDA moved to remove the old broad warnings after reassessing them. But safety still depends on your age, history, and the form and dose, so women with a complex history should work with a clinician rather than a comparison page.
- Can Alloy send my prescription to my local pharmacy?
- Not as a simple first step. Alloy ships from its partner pharmacy, and transferring a prescription out has conditions: an active subscription, at least one order, and canceling the subscription. If local-pharmacy control matters to you, the quiz can find a better-matched provider.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration — “HHS Advances Women's Health, Removes Misleading FDA Warnings on Hormone Replacement Therapy” (November 10, 2025) and related labeling-change request
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration — menopause consumer page and drug-compounding Q&A (FDA-approved vs compounded; estriol)
- Reuters, NBC News, and Healthline — reporting on the 2026 estrogen-patch supply squeeze (April 2026)
- The Menopause Society — clinician certification and menopause-care guidance
- Alloy (myalloy.com) — product, pricing, consult, mammogram, lab, transfer, and terms pages
- Hers (forhers.com) — menopause care, pricing, and insurance pages
- Federal Trade Commission — endorsement and affiliate-disclosure guidance