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Many online retailers sell birth control. A person needs a prescription, and these companies can offer them in some states. Buying online can be convenient, but prices may be higher than those at local drugstores or health centers.
A quick look at 9 of the best online birth control services
- Best variety of birth control options: Nurx
- Best range of birth control pills: Hers
- Best for additional health services: Lemonaid
- Best for convenient renewals: SimpleHealth
- Best for pickup from local pharmacies: Wisp
- Best for free shipping: Pandia Health
- Best for ongoing care: The Pill Club
- Best for teens: Twentyeight Health
- Best for delivery in the U. S. : Optum Store
While ordering birth control online can be convenient and discreet, some people may wish to use a service that offers consultations with a healthcare professional to determine which birth control option will best meet their needs.
This article discusses some of the online birth control services a person may use, how to order birth control online, and when to contact a doctor.
Birth control is available to purchase online. Buying birth control online may be more convenient for many people, especially people who do not have access to healthcare clinics or other healthcare centers.
Additionally, birth control online may be more discreet, as many providers ship birth control in unmarked packaging.
However, people will need a prescription from a healthcare professional before being able to order birth control. Many telehealth platforms offer a consultation with a doctor who can then prescribe birth control.
Medical News Today chooses online birth control providers based on the following criteria:
- Types of birth control: Where possible, MNT chooses providers that offer a range of birth control options that suit most people’s needs.
- Cost: Where possible, MNT chooses providers that are suitable for a range of budgets. Some providers may also accept insurance.
- Healthcare support: Where possible, MNT chooses providers that have a healthcare professional available to discuss birth control options.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and was correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
Best variety of birth control options: Nurx
- Shipping: free
- Price: $15 for any birth control option
Nurx offers a range of services, tests, and birth control ordering options. It can help a person get a prescription at an additional cost. A virtual medical consultation costs $20.
With an approved insurance plan, a person may be able to get their birth control for free. Without insurance, a person pays $15 dollars for any of the birth control options.
Nurx provides the:
All customers, including those with valid prescriptions, need to take a Nurx medical questionnaire. Once the company approves this, a person can order a single delivery or sign up for automatic refills.
Pros
- insurance coverage may be available
- different options for birth control
- free shipping
Cons
- customer care team may not be helpful, according to reviews
- initial consultation is not free
Best range of birth control pills: Hers
- Shipping: free
- Price: from $12 per month
Hers provides products and services marketed for women’s health and wellness. Customers can purchase several types of birth control pills.
The plans start at $12 per month, regardless of whether a person has insurance. People with insurance may prefer to opt for other retailers.
A person can order one or more months of pills, and recurring refills are available.
Customers need approval from a Hers online doctor before they can place an order. This medical consultation is free and involves filling out a questionnaire.
Pros
- free medical consultation
- no need to be insured
- free shipping
- should hear back from doctors within 24 hours
Cons
- medications can be out of stock
- poor customer service
Best for additional health services: Lemonaid
- Shipping: free
- Price: from $15
Lemonaid offers a range of medical treatments and services, from primary care video consultations to hair loss medications.
It provides 3-month supplies of the birth control pill, and a person can sign up for automatic refills.
To order, a person needs a yearly consultation that costs $25. The price of the pills depends on a person’s insurance status and plan.
Once an order is approved, it arrives in 3–4 days, the company says.
Learn more about Lemonaid here.
Pros
- automatic refills
- an easy-to-use app
- can access doctors’ information
Cons
- not available to persons residing outside the U.S. or U.K.
- not available for those aged under 18 years
Best for convenient renewals: SimpleHealth
- Shipping: free
- Price: from $15 per month
SimpleHealth provides the ring, patch, and pill. It allows for automatic renewals every 3 months and offers free shipping.
Like other companies, it requires a medical consultation. This costs $20. And people with insurance may not need to pay for their birth control.
The SimpleHealth website also has guides about birth control and fertility.
Learn more about SimpleHealth here.
Pros
- free shipping and automatic renewals
- offers messaging with doctors at any time
- refundable initial consultation fee if a person decides to stop prescription treatment
- works with many insurance providers
- a $15 starting fee per month for birth control medications without insurance
Cons
- may be difficult to get in touch with the customer service team
- not available to all states
- not suitable for persons with a medical emergency
Best for pickup from local pharmacies: Wisp
- Shipping: free
- Price: from $5 per month
Wisp sells several medications online, including various types of birth control pill, plus emergency birth control pills. Wisp does not sell the ring, patch, or shot. It does not charge an online consultation fee.
The company can call in orders to local pharmacies for people who prefer to pick up their birth control in person or need it immediately. For people who prefer it shipped, Wisp also offers automatic refills.
Pros
- free online consultation
- automatic refills
- offers treatment for cold sores, genital herpes, and yeast infections among others
- free shipping to all U.S. states
- has a discount page for promo codes
Cons
- limited to the U.S.
- does not accept insurance but does accept FSA and HSA payments
Best for free shipping: Pandia Health
- Shipping: free
- Price: from $7
This company says that it supplies almost all generic and brand-name birth control pills, patches, and rings. These range in price, starting from $15. Some of these products have insurance coverage.
If a person has an active prescription, they can simply transfer this to the company. If a person does not, they can pay a one-time fee of $25 and fill out a health form, which a doctor at the company reviews before writing a prescription if appropriate.
A person’s order is shipped to their address free of charge.
Pros
- generic and branded medications available
- insurance coverage
- free shipping and automatic refills
- personalized care, based on the individual’s questionnaire
Cons
- pills are not suitable for vegans, but the Twirla patch is vegan-friendly
- a $15 fee applies for each pill pack for those without insurance
Best for ongoing care: The Pill Club
- Shipping: free
- Price: from $8.95 per month
The Pill Club sells more than 100 brands of birth control pills and vaginal rings. A person fills out a form, which the company’s medical team reviews before issuing a prescription if appropriate. The company also provides access to ongoing care from its medical team.
It accepts insurance, so some people may be able to receive products for free. For people without insurance, the cost starts at $8.95 a month.
Note that the company is in the process of changing its name to Favor.
Learn more about The Pill Club here.
Pros
- ongoing care available
- accepts insurance
- free and discreet shipping
- a person can contact the company’s pharmacy or medical team
Cons
- possible shipping delays
- no immediate delivery for emergency contraception
Best for teens: Twentyeight Health
- Shipping: free
- Price: from $16 per pack
Twentyeight Health offers over 100 brands of birth control. People can opt for pills, patches, rings, shots, or condoms. The platform also sells emergency contraception.
The company says that its services are suitable for people aged 13–49 years. Customers need to fill out an online questionnaire before they can call or message Twentyeight’s doctors directly.
Shipping is free and discreet, and the company ships to 32 states. Delivery takes around 5 business days.
Twentyeight accepts insurance and is also available to those without insurance. Pricing varies, depending on coverage.
The pill starts at $16 per pack, and the patch starts at $170. There is a $20 annual fee for ongoing care.
Pros
- free, discreet shipping
- insurance coverage
- various birth control options available
- available for teenagers
Cons
- not available in all U.S. states
- no returns or refunds
Best for delivery across the US: Optum Store
- Shipping: free
- Price: starting at $10 per month
Optum Store is a sister site of Medical News Today. Optum Store and Medical News Today are owned by RVO Health.
Optum Store offers over 32 brands of birth control, including Nuvaring, Phexxi, and Zafemy. The company offers birth control pills, patches, rings, and gel.
If a person does not have a prescription for birth control, Optum Store offers access to a free initial online consultation with a doctor who can prescribe birth control if necessary. Follow-up consultations cost $15.
The company’s healthcare providers typically approve or reject a person’s prescription in no more than two business days. Delivery is free and takes around five business days. Optum Store ships to all 50 states and US territories.
At the time of publishing, Optum Store only accepts OptumRX insurance. However, all birth control is HSA and FSA-eligible.
Pros
- ships to all 50 states and US territories
- offers free and discreet shipping
- offers various birth control options and brands
Cons
- only accepts OptumRX insurance
- no returns available
The table below compares the online birth control services that we list above:
| Price without insurance | States available | Birth control products available | Insurance accepted? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurx | • from $15 • $20 consultation | 37 states | • pills • shot • ring • patch | yes |
| Hers | from $12 per month | all U.S. states | pills | no |
| Lemonaid | • from $15 • $25 consultation | all U.S. states | pills | no |
| SimpleHealth | • from $15 per month • $20 consultation | 32 states | • ring • patch • pills | yes |
| Wisp | from $5 per month | all U.S. states | pills | no |
| Pandia Health | • from $7 • $25 consultation | 13 states | • pills • patches • rings | yes |
| The Pill Club | from $8.95 | all U.S. states | • pill • rings | yes |
| Twentyeight Health | from $16 per pack | 32 states | • pills • patch • ring • shots • internal condoms | yes |
| Optum Store | from $10 per month | all U.S. states | • pills • patch • ring • gel | yes |
Ordering birth control online is often straightforward. A person selects what they want and enters their billing and shipping information. When they receive the order, the company ships it to the address provided.
Some sites ask for insurance information, too, so they can bill the insurance company. The specific steps vary by retailer.
Before making a payment, it is a good idea to:
- Speak with a doctor about contraception types and needs.
- Check coverage with an insurance provider, if this applies.
- Confirm eligibility with the online company, as some do not offer prescription services in all states.
Checking with a doctor is important because some health conditions, such as high blood pressure, can increase the risk of complications when a person takes a hormonal form of birth control, such as the pill.
People who are minors can purchase birth control in several states without limitations. The definition of a minor sometimes varies. For anyone in the United States, it is important to check local guidelines, which a person can do here.
It is a good idea to discuss the options with a healthcare professional in person. This is especially important for people who:
- are over the age of 35 years and smoke
- have had blood clots or a blood clotting disorder
- have had breast, cervical, ovarian, uterine, or endometrial cancer
- have any history of stroke or heart problems
- have visual migraine
- have high blood pressure
- have diabetes
- have liver or kidney disease
- have lupus
- have adrenal insufficiency
Anyone with questions about birth control should speak with a healthcare professional.
It is especially important for people with certain health conditions and risk factors to consult a professional before choosing a type of birth control. For example, smoking or having high blood pressure can
It is also important to speak with a doctor about how to stop using contraception safely and how to restart it, for people who wish to do so, before and after a pregnancy, for example. Factors such as breastfeeding or chestfeeding can affect which medications are safe after giving birth.
Learn more about the long-term side effects of birth control here.
Here we answer some common questions about birth control online.
Do you have to go to a gynecologist for birth control?
No, a person does not necessarily need to visit a gynecologist. Most online birth control providers require some type of medical consultation, but this tends to involve filling out an online form.
Several online companies, such as Hers and Lemonaid, can provide prescription services in every U.S. state. And in some states, people considered minors can use online services to purchase birth control and get a prescription for it without restrictions. It is important to check local legislation, which a person can do here.
It is a good idea to bring any questions about birth control to a healthcare professional and have
Are birth control pills available over the counter?
In the U.S., birth control pills are available by prescription only. A person either needs to visit a doctor or use an online service to get a prescription before placing an order.
Is it safe to get birth control online?
Ordering birth control online can be safe, effective, and private. It can also be convenient — some companies send automatic refills.
Before making an order, check reviews on third-party sites. If the company does not seem reliable or safe, it may be a good idea to shop elsewhere.
Can I get free birth control online?
Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must cover FDA-approved birth control. These include:
- barrier methods, such as condoms and diaphragms
- hormonal methods, such as the pill
- implantable methods, such as the IUD
- emergency contraception, such as Plan B
- sterilization procedures, such as tubal litigation
However, insurance does not have to cover medications that can cause abortions or male sterilization procedures, such as vasectomies.
People may be able to access free birth control from non-profit family planning centers or public health clinics. These places usually require an in-person visit.
Ordering birth control online can be safe and convenient, but it may cost a bit more than filling a prescription at a pharmacy or clinic.
Before they send out medication, most online retailers require a medical consultation. These online consultations should not replace visits to a doctor. Anyone with questions about contraception should contact a healthcare professional.