Bosley Review: And How Hims Compares

So, you’re among the 50 percent of men noticing hair loss by age 50, and you want to do something about it. That’s the first step — and the next one is figuring out what brand you’re going to turn to for help navigating hair loss treatments. If you’re here, you’re probably contemplating: Hims Hair vs. Bosley?

While you may think of Bosley as a hair restoration company offering hair transplants and devices to regrow hair, the brand now offers non-surgical hair loss treatment options, including minoxidil and finasteride. This means it’s more similar to Hims (that’s us) than you may have thought. 

Both brands offer access to prescription and over-the-counter hair loss treatments. While the Venn diagrams of the two brands have some distinct similarities, there are also some key differences to be aware of, which we’ll cover below.

Before you do anything else, Hims has you begin with an intake form that gathers information about your hair loss and your hair goals. This form asks you things like how long you’ve been experiencing hair loss and where you are in your journey (for example, are you exploring options or ready to start treatment ASAP).

With Bosley, you’ll start by seeing a list of their product options. It can be helpful to do a little research on your own beforehand because there is no intake form or quiz to match you with products. So the first thing you’ll do is pick out a product, even though you’ll still need a telehealth visit before any prescribing can happen.

Another thing worth noting is that while you can see Bosley’s prescription products on its main website, it has a separate webpage (BosleyRx.com) devoted solely to prescription offerings. If you select a prescription product (like finasteride, for example), you will also be prompted to fill out what the brand calls a “medical questionnaire,” which we’ll cover next.

It’s not immediately clear how exactly to begin the process of getting a prescription through Bosley. All the available treatment options are clearly listed, but it takes a little digging to get started with the required “medical questionnaire” before your telehealth appointment. 

We reached out to a customer service agent, who explained that you need to add something to your cart first. Then you click on order history and then click on “finalize,” which will prompt you to fill out a form.

The Bosley intake form has 20 questions and asks logistical questions (things like height and weight, age range, and whether you’ve used hair loss medication before), as well as where you’re experiencing hair loss and how much it has progressed.

Hims asks more lifestyle questions (like whether hair loss runs in your family and what your stress levels are like) to help recommend a medication, whereas most of Bosley's questions concern hair loss and medical history.

Both Hims and Bosley will ask for at least one picture of your hairline.

After you finish your intake form and input your address, you’ll be matched with a Bosley or Hims provider. When we filled out the form for hair loss via Bosley, we were matched with a nurse practitioner specializing in women’s health. However, you’ll have the option to switch providers if you’d like.

Both Hims and Bosley offer audio, video, or digital telehealth appointments to satisfy the requirements of each state. That means they’re both available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Bosley also has brick-and-mortar locations (known as Bosley Aesthetics) offering services like botox or hair transplants. 

One thing that can be tricky to navigate is that Bosley has two separate websites that operate slightly differently. BosleyRx provides access to prescription hair loss treatments (like finasteride) via a telehealth consultation, though you can also get some OTC products via bundles. BosleyMD, on the other hand, offers over-the-counter hair care products (like shampoos, conditioners, and minoxidil) for hair thinning and regrowth. 

BosleyMD does not ship to Hawaii or Alaska.

Both brands offer the option to fill your prescription at a local pharmacy (as opposed to having it shipped directly to you). However, this option incurs an additional $120 service fee with Bosley.

There is some overlap between the products offered by Hims and Bosley. Below, you’ll find products each brand offers, though the exact strength and form may vary. For example, Hims offers finasteride at higher dosages and has more prescription medications available. Below is a list of products offered by both brands.

• Oral finasteride (the active ingredient in Propecia®)

• Topical minoxidil solution (the active ingredient in Rogaine®)

• 2-in-1 oral finasteride and minoxidil (Bosley offers access to 1 mg finasteride, 2.5 mg minoxidil pill, whereas we offer a chewable oral finasteride and minoxidil product that contains 1.2 mg finasteride and 3 mg minoxidil) 

• Topical finasteride and minoxidil solution (Bosley Higrowth Hair Formula contains finasteride 0.3% and minoxidil 6.5%; our spray contains 0.3% finasteride and minoxidil 6%).

• Oral minoxidil (We offer access to this as a compounded chewable; Bosley provides access to it as a pill)

• Volumizing shampoo and conditioner (ingredients differ)

• A non-prescription hair growth kit (products differ)

• Hair supplements (though the exact supplements vary)

While there is some overlap, overall, Hims and Bosley products are more different than similar. 

Hims offers the following unique hair products:

• Finasteride + Minoxidil + Supplement Blend Chewable

• Minoxidil foam

• Minoxidil + Supplement Blend Chewable

• Biotin gummies

• Dandruff detox shampoo (containing pyrithione zinc)

• 4-in-1 hair regrowth spray (combining finasteride, minoxidil, biotin, and ketoconazole)

• Thickening shampoo (made with saw palmetto)

• Rx hair loss serum (finasteride 0.3% + minoxidil 6% serum)

• Sex Rx + Hair Health (a combination of tadalafil, finasteride, and minoxidil)

Bosley offers many hair products, many of which are over-the-counter. These include:

• A “follicle energizer” serum made with caffeine and biotin

• A hair micro-roller

• Nourishing shampoo for color-treated hair

• Nourishing shampoo for non-color-treated hair

• Minoxidil 5% in a sprayer or a dropper

Below, you’ll find a list of Bosley’s prescription offerings.

• Finasteride 1 mg

• Oral minoxidil 2.5 mg

• Finasteride 1 mg and topical minoxidil 5% bundle

• 2-in-1 oral finasteride and minoxidil capsules

• Higrowth Hair Formula 2.0 (finasteride 0.3%, minoxidil 6.5%, tretinoin 0.01%, hydrocortisone 1.0%)

Bosley also has tools like a scalp micro-roller and a laser cap, which could stimulate hair growth, though research is limited.

One thing that sets Hims apart is that we also offer access to products in other categories of men’s health, including weight loss, mental wellness, sexual health, and skin health in addition to hair loss. Bosley currently has products catering to hair loss and men’s sexual wellness.

When it comes to the products themselves, Bosley is slightly less expensive, though you may ultimately pay less with Hims when you factor in additional costs. Bosley products range from $17.50/month with a 12-month subscription to $50/month for a three-month supply (billed every three months). Hims Hair Rx prices range from $22-59/month, with over-the-counter options like topical minoxidil costing $15.

Hims offers free, unlimited follow-up messaging with providers. If you’d like to speak with a provider after being prescribed with Bosley, you’ll have to pay $45 each time.

Neither Hims nor Bosley accepts insurance, though both accept FSA spending accounts as a payment method.

Hims has an edge when it comes to form factors or the way the product is dispensed. Hims offers access to compounded chews, sprays, foam, pills, and serums. Hims also offers personalized options specifically picked for you by a healthcare provider, using your intake form as a guide.

Bosley offers customization in some of its surgical and cosmetic treatment options (like scalp micropigmentation and hair restoration surgery) but not with its products.

Both Bosley and Hims offer several bundle options which tend to save money. Hims provides a non-prescription bundle for $37, which includes a topical minoxidil solution, thickening shampoo, and biotin — no consultation with a healthcare provider required.

The Hair Loss Duo starts at $32 per month. This bundle features topical minoxidil solution and oral finasteride, a combination shown by research to be more effective when used together.

The Hims Hair Power Pack, starting at $60 per month, includes four products: oral finasteride, topical minoxidil serum, Thick Fix shampoo, and biotin gummies.

Bosley offers a few bundles: The Full Package, which includes a “DHT-removing shampoo,” scalp-stimulating follicle energizer, minoxidil topical treatment, and prescription finasteride. The shampoo contains saw palmetto (like our thickening shampoo) and pumpkin seed oil, which do not totally remove DHT from the body but can lessen its effects. The Full Package costs $125 as a one-time purchase.

The Healthy Hair Kit includes OTC products like “follicle energizers” supplements, BosRevive Nourishing Shampoo, BosRevive Volumizing Conditioner, and minoxidil 5% spray. This bundle is available in a two-month or six-month supply and starts at $125 per month.

Both brands offer the option to pair topical minoxidil and oral finasteride. This pairing starts at $27.50 with Bosley and $32 with Hims.

Bosley offers the first month free on select bundled products.

Prescription products from Hims ship free, and OTC products have a $5 shipping fee. Prescription products ship for free on Bosley, but only orders over $50 ship for free if you’re buying over-the-counter products via BosleyMD. These Bosley products also do not ship on weekends and holidays. Bosley does not ship internationally, whereas Hims ships within the United Kingdom through Hims UK. 

Hims offers subscription options, allowing customers to choose from three-, six-, or 12-month plans for most products (there’s a five-month option for some products). 

Products ship for free on a recurring schedule, and subscribing with Hims often saves you money. For instance, our Hair Loss Duo is $39 monthly on the three-month plan but drops to $32 monthly on a 12-month plan. You will be charged around the same time each month, and you can cancel or pause shipments at any time.

Bosley also offers subscription models in 3, 6, or 12-month plans. However, when you opt for a subscription plan, all the products ship at once (so, for example, if you opt for a six-month supply of finasteride tablets, you’ll receive six bottles at once and be charged for them all). 

This is good to remember if you don’t like to pay a lot at once, aren’t sure you want to stick with a product long-term, or don’t have a lot of storage space for extra bottles. You’ll also have the option to set up auto-refills.

Bosley’s website indicates that the fastest way to reach customer service is by phone, though the hours are somewhat limited. There’s also a live agent chat on their website (not available at all times) or an email address provided.

We have an app (highly recommended for customers) where customers can reach an agent 24/7. If you prefer, there’s also a customer service email address where you’ll receive a response in 24 hours.

With Hims, customers can message their provider through a secure messaging portal in their Hims or Hers account. This is also how your provider will reach out to you in the event they have questions, are checking in, or need more information.

To contact a provider via the Hims app, tap the "Care" button at the bottom. This takes you to a page where you can see your message history, which helps keep track of communication. You’ll receive a response within 24 hours, but often sooner.

The website does not immediately clarify how provider messaging works with Bosley. If you have questions, you will need to set up an additional telehealth visit with a provider. The visit costs $45.

Both brands offer products for women. Hims has a partner brand, Hers, that caters to women’s health with products for hair health, weight loss, mental health, sexual health, and skin. Bosley currently has one product specifically offered with women in mind — a hair loss treatment containing minoxidil and spironolactone.

We get it — this was a lot of information. Here’s the TL;DR when it comes to Hims vs. Bosley.

Product Offerings and Customization: Both Hims and Bosley offer a range of hair loss treatments, including finasteride and minoxidil, but Hims provides a wider variety of personalized options, such as compounded chewables, sprays, and serums. Bosley focuses more on over-the-counter products and has unique offerings like scalp micro-rollers and laser caps, plus treatments like scalp micropigmentation and hair restoration.

Pricing and Subscription Models: Bosley tends to have slightly lower product prices but may incur higher overall costs due to additional fees, such as $45 to speak to a provider and a $120 service fee for filling prescriptions at a local pharmacy. Hims offers free provider messaging, ships prescriptions for free, and has flexible subscription plans with savings for longer commitments.

Customer Experience and Accessibility: Hims provides a seamless customer experience with a detailed intake form, 24/7 app support, and easy access to providers via secure messaging. Bosley requires more effort to navigate its intake process and customer service, with additional telehealth fees for follow-ups and separate websites for prescription and over-the-counter products.

To learn more about how Hims compares to other brands that offer access to hair loss treatments, check out our guides to Hims vs. Keeps, Hims vs. Rogaine, and Hims vs. Happy Head.