Finasteride Cost: Pricing Comparisons & Savings Tips

If you’ve been looking into finasteride for hair loss, you may already know it’s one of the best options for male pattern baldness. But how much does finasteride cost?

The short answer is that a 30-day supply of oral finasteride usually costs between $20 and $60. But the cost ultimately depends on many factors, from where you buy it to the cost of a consultation for this prescription medicine.

Luckily, there are some ways to save cash on finasteride.

In this article, we’ll cover the cheapest ways to get finasteride and we’ll also look at the costs of some finasteride alternatives.

Finasteride 101 is in session, and here’s the rundown on everything you need to know.

First, finasteride comes in oral form — that is, pills — and topical form. In addition to generic finasteride, you can find it sold under the brand names Propecia^® or Proscar^®.

Oral finasteride is a hair loss treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness or male pattern hair loss. In higher doses, it’s also used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a noncancerous condition where the prostate gland becomes enlarged.

Finasteride treats hair loss because it’s a type II 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, which means it helps block your body from converting the hormone testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

DHT is a hormone that attaches to your hair follicles and gradually damages them, so they’re no longer able to produce healthy new hair. By stopping testosterone from turning into DHT, finasteride can slow down and prevent further hair loss.

Finasteride is not an over-the-counter medication, so you’ll need a prescription from a healthcare professional. That said, it usually doesn’t require fancy testing or lots of visits, so it’s pretty simple to access if you have signs of male pattern baldness.

Our advice: if you’re starting to see more scalp, it’s best to start finasteride ASAP. The longer you wait, the worse your hair loss will get. While finasteride is a great hair loss treatment, it can’t reverse years of hair follicle damage — and it’s unlikely that you’ll ever regrow hair from permanently damaged follicles.

The good news? Finasteride is a pretty effective hair loss treatment — and there’s plenty of research to back it up. And although there are some potential side effects of finasteride, it’s generally considered safe. If you want to know more about finasteride results before adding it to your cart, this guide is an excellent resource on the type of outcomes you can expect.

When it comes to pricing for any medication, a generic option typically offers better savings than a brand name.

Think of it like Heinz^® ketchup versus Target’s generic ketchup. They’re both great on hot dogs and have similar ingredients, but the generic version is typically less expensive than the brand-name formula.

You may have heard of Propecia, a brand-name version of finasteride for hair loss. It typically costs more than generic finasteride — a month’s supply of Propecia usually costs $100 to $150, depending on your pharmacy or healthcare provider of choice.

Merck, the drug’s manufacturer, occasionally offers discounts on Propecia. These can lower the price of this medication, particularly when you purchase it over the long term.

But how much is finasteride? Well, it depends. The cheapest finasteride, though, is the generic version. This is sold by various brands, including Hims.

Typically, a month’s supply of generic finasteride costs from $20 to $60 (or a bit more) per month, depending on where you buy it. Our generic finasteride costs $22 for a month’s supply.

Keep in mind that you should use finasteride for six to 12 months before gauging whether it’s effective for your hair loss. So, while that one-month cost may not seem so bad, it can add up over time.

Whether you go brand name or generic, finasteride is a prescription medication, so you’ll need to speak with a healthcare professional before you can purchase it. Depending on your location and co-pay or level of insurance coverage, this consultation may cost $15 to $200 or more.

And we’re sure we don’t have to remind you, but you can’t just take medical advice from a buddy and buy finasteride over the counter.

While there are 1mg and 5mg dosages of finasteride, typically only 1mg per day is prescribed for hair loss. Usually, 5mg finasteride is only prescribed for BPH, the prostate condition we mentioned earlier.

This is good news for your wallet since the lower dose tends to be cheaper than the 5mg dose. You can learn more about dosage in our guide to finasteride 1mg vs. 5 mg (but TL;DR 1 mg is the sweet spot for hair growth).

If that 1mg just doesn’t seem enough, you can also try our topical finasteride and minoxidil spray, which starts at $35 a month. This two-in-one spray effectively kickstarts hair growth by combining the powers of finasteride and minoxidil.

If you’ve done some research into the cost of finasteride, you may be aware that the prescription drug is available in its generic form from several telehealth providers (like Hims). 

The below chart compares the cost of finasteride from various companies. Keep in mind that the drug price is just one piece of the overall cost; because finasteride is a prescription drug, you’ll need a provider consult first. You’ll want to  factor in other potential costs like the telehealth consult (free with Hims) and shipping costs (yep, also free).

If you’re interested in more in-depth comparisons, check out our guides to Hims vs Keeps and Hims vs Happy Head.

Insurance doesn’t usually cover finasteride for hair loss, although it may cover finasteride to treat prostate conditions.

As we mentioned, finasteride is FDA-approved for two purposes. The first is treating and preventing male pattern hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia.

Most insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, cover generic and brand-name finasteride when it’s prescribed to treat BPH. But most insurance providers don’t cover finasteride when used for hair loss — just like they don’t cover many medications used for cosmetic enhancements.

That said, insurance plans vary, so contact your insurance provider if you’re interested in finasteride and want to learn more about your coverage.

While you may have to spend a little money on hair loss treatments, there are affordable options. Some ways you can save on the cost of finasteride include:

• Go generic. Similar to ketchup, finasteride may be less expensive if you choose a generic finasteride formula over a brand name. Unlike store-brand ketchup, though, generic finasteride works just as well as the brand-name stuff.

• Call your insurance. This may seem like a hassle, but it can save you cash in the long run. Call your insurance to see if they could cover finasteride or any associated costs, like seeing a healthcare professional for a prescription or follow-up visit.

• Clip that coupon. Some brands and mail-order pharmacies offer coupons on finasteride refills, which can help save money over time. Look out for these coupons online.

• Look for subscription deals. Certain companies may offer discounts or worthwhile perks like free shipping, especially if you commit to getting a 60- or 90-day supply from their brand.

• Make it a double. Finasteride can be effective on its own, but using finasteride in combination with other hair loss treatments will give you even better results. Try that two-in-one spray mentioned above, or combine oral finasteride with minoxidil foam or minoxidil solution (Rogaine^®).

• Avoid non-scientific hair loss treatments. We get it — those “supplements” marketed to regrow hair overnight may seem tempting, especially if you’re self-conscious about your hair loss. But they don’t work, and in the long term, they’re a huge waste of money — not to mention dangerous to your health.

Lastly, a word to the wise: If you’re on a tight budget, you may be tempted to skip doses once in a while to save cash. Please don’t do this. To benefit fully from finasteride, you need to use it every day. If you’re using it here and there, you won’t get the results you’re looking for and will ultimately just waste your money.

Finasteride can be an affordable option for treating hair thinning in men. If you’re looking to save on the cost of finasteride, consider the following:

• Opt for generic versions. Generic finasteride is cheaper than the brand-name versions, so opting for those will save you the most money.

• Double up on treatments. Ask a healthcare professional if you can combine finasteride with other hair loss treatments for the most efficacy. Minoxidil, for example, is worth a try.

• Move fast. The longer you wait, the worse your male pattern hair loss will get. Get treatment ASAP to avoid needing more expensive interventions, like hair transplant surgery.

Confidence is priceless — so investing in hair you feel confident about is worth it. Speaking with a healthcare provider will give you the best hair loss treatment options for your needs.

We can help you get a prescription for finasteride, if appropriate, from the comfort of your own home. If you’re looking to make a move, start your hair consultation today and speak with a professional about your hair loss treatment options.