Alright, let's talk about something a lot of guys deal with but nobody really wants to bring up.
Erectile dysfunction affects about 1 in 5 men under 40, and way more as we get older. And the traditional route — going to a doctor in person, getting a prescription, picking it up at the pharmacy — is awkward for a lot of people. Enter the online ED services.
I've spent the last several months testing and comparing the four biggest players: Roman, Hims, BlueChew, and Keeps. I'm going to tell you exactly how they differ, what they cost, and which one I'd recommend depending on your situation.
Important disclaimer: I'm not a doctor. ED can sometimes indicate underlying health conditions like cardiovascular disease or diabetes. If you're experiencing it, talking to a real doctor isn't just a good idea — it's genuinely important for your health. These services do have real licensed physicians on staff, which is a genuine benefit.
How These Services Work
All four operate on the same basic model:
- You fill out an online health questionnaire
- A licensed physician reviews it
- If approved, you get a prescription sent to a pharmacy (or in BlueChew's case, shipped directly as a subscription)
- Ongoing consultations are included
The medications are mostly the same: sildenafil (generic Viagra) and tadalafil (generic Cialis). Some offer newer options like avanafil (Stendra).
Roman — Best Overall Experience
My Rating: 8.8/10
Roman was the first to really nail the user experience for online men's health. The app is clean, the consultation process is thorough, and they offer a wide range of treatments beyond just ED — testosterone, premature ejaculation, hair loss, etc.
What I liked:
- Professional and genuinely helpful medical consultants
- Good mobile app with easy refill management
- Offers both sildenafil and tadalafil at competitive prices
- Fast shipping (usually 2-3 days)
- Discreet packaging (plain brown box, no branding)
What I didn't love:
- Slightly pricier than generic alternatives
- The upselling to additional services can feel pushy
Pricing: Sildenafil starts around $2/dose for daily use, $4-8/dose for on-demand. Tadalafil (daily) around $3/day.
Bottom line: Roman is the premium choice. The experience is polished and the medical team is responsive. Worth the slight price premium if you value the full-service approach.
Hims — Best for Brand-Conscious Guys
My Rating: 8.2/10
Hims launched with lifestyle branding that made men's health feel less clinical and more... normal. Their marketing is slick and their product range covers ED, hair loss, mental health, and skincare.
The ED side of the business is solid. Their generic sildenafil is among the most affordable, and they've recently added chewable options.
What I liked:
- Very affordable generic options
- Good app and subscription management
- Broad product ecosystem if you want to address multiple things
- Telehealth consultations feel professional
What I didn't love:
- Sometimes feels more like a subscription box than a medical service
- Customer service can be hit or miss
Pricing: Sildenafil from $1.70/dose in bulk. Tadalafil around $2-3/day.
Bottom line: Great value for the money. Good if you want a single subscription for multiple men's health needs.
BlueChew — Best for the Chewable Format
My Rating: 8.0/10
BlueChew is unique: they only offer chewable tablets, not pills. Their logic is that chewables absorb faster (they typically start working in 15-30 minutes vs. 30-60 for pills).
The service is subscription-only, which is both a pro and a con. It's simple and cheap, but you're locked into a monthly supply.
What I liked:
- Fastest onset time in my experience
- Very affordable — their base plan is around $20/month for 6 chewables
- No trip to the pharmacy; ships directly
- Discreet packaging
What I didn't love:
- Subscription-only model means no on-demand single purchases
- Limited to sildenafil and tadalafil (no newer medications)
- Some people don't like the chewable format
Pricing: Plans start at ~$20/month for 6 sildenafil chewables. Higher tiers go up to 34 chewables for ~$90/month.
Bottom line: Best if you want a simple, affordable subscription and prefer chewables. Not ideal if you want flexibility.
Keeps — Best for the Hair + ED Combo
My Rating: 7.8/10
Keeps started as a hair loss company (hence the name) but has expanded into ED. If you're dealing with both hair loss and ED — which, fun fact, share some underlying causes — Keeps is worth looking at as a one-stop shop.
Their ED offering is solid but more basic than Roman or Hims. The medical team is professional, but the product range is smaller.
What I liked:
- Integrated approach if you're using them for hair loss too
- Clean, easy-to-use platform
- Competitive pricing on generics
What I didn't love:
- ED feels like a secondary product, not their main focus
- Less flexibility in dosing options compared to competitors
Pricing: Comparable to Hims — sildenafil from $1.50-$2.50/dose.
Bottom line: Use Keeps if you're already a customer for hair loss and want to add ED treatment. Otherwise, Roman or Hims are better primary choices.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Service |
Starting Price |
Formats |
Specialization |
App Quality |
| Roman |
~$2/dose |
Pills |
Full men's health |
Excellent |
| Hims |
~$1.70/dose |
Pills, Gummies |
Lifestyle + health |
Very Good |
| BlueChew |
~$3.33/chew |
Chewable only |
ED focused |
Good |
| Keeps |
~$1.50/dose |
Pills |
Hair + ED |
Good |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Roman if: You want the best overall experience and don't mind paying a bit more. Their medical team is excellent.
Choose Hims if: You want the most affordable option and might use their other products (hair loss, skincare, etc.) too.
Choose BlueChew if: You like the idea of chewables and want a simple, cheap monthly subscription.
Choose Keeps if: You're already treating hair loss and want to bundle.
A Word on Safety
All four of these services have real, licensed physicians reviewing prescriptions. That said, ED medications (even generics) can interact with certain medications — especially nitrates (used for heart conditions). Always disclose your full medication list in the health questionnaire. Don't BS your medical history to get a prescription faster.
If you experience chest pain, dizziness, or vision changes, stop using and see a doctor immediately.