Key takeaways
- We examined telehealth and over-the-counter options to find the best online birth control.
- Our review considered budget, types of medication, state availability, and insurance options.
- Nurx Birth Control stood out as the best overall option for affordability, range of medications, and more.
Online birth control services vary, but they generally follow similar steps:
- A person completes a questionnaire about their health history and birth control needs.
- A medical professional reviews the information. They may provide a prescription or contact the person to discuss their options.
- Once a doctor has approved the prescription, the service may ship it directly to a person’s home or to their chosen pharmacy.
While the exact steps may vary between online birth control services, people will generally need to provide up-to-date information about their health. For some services, this includes a blood pressure reading.
Medical News Today has tested some of the products below. Reviewers may have received some products from the manufacturers for free, which does not influence their review. All opinions are the reviewers’ own.
Below, we compare the best online birth control options on price, availability, and more.
| Best for | Birth control available | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurx | overall convenience | • pill • ring • patch • shot • emergency contraception | • from $0 with insurance • from $15 without insurance |
| Hers | affordable pills | • pill • condoms | from $12 per month |
| Wisp | emergency contraception | • pill • ring • patch • emergency contraception | from $5 per month |
| Twentyeight Health | teenagers | • pill • ring • patch • shots • internal condoms • emergency contraception | • from $0 with insurance • from $16 without insurance |
| Planned Parenthood | free or low cost birth control | • pill • patch • ring | • from $0 with Medicaid • from $20 without insurance |
| Opill | OTC pills | pill | • from $0 with CVS Caremark • from $19.99 without insurance |
| Alpha | women-owned business | • pill • ring • patch • shots • nonhormonal gel • emergency contraception | from $29 to $79 per month |
Pros of getting birth control online
- People may be able to avoid time consuming in-person doctor visits.
- A person can have medication shipped to their door or to a chosen pharmacy.
- Online birth control services have a range of options to choose from.
- Online options may be more affordable for some people, such as those who do not have insurance.
- Birth control services use discreet packaging, which may suit those who do not want others in their household to know they are using birth control.
Cons of getting birth control online
- Because they are not seeing a healthcare professional in person, people will not have the opportunity to get treatment for possible underlying conditions that birth control may mask or to get a diagnosis for other conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome.
- An online birth control service does not replace regular visits to a gynecologist or another doctor.
Medical News Today chooses online birth control providers based on the following criteria where possible:
- Types of birth control: We choose providers that offer a range of birth control options that suit most people’s needs.
- Cost: MNT chooses providers that are suitable for a range of budgets. Some providers may also accept insurance.
- Healthcare support: We choose providers that have a healthcare professional available to discuss birth control options.
- Customer service: MNT looks through third-party review sites to evaluate each provider’s customer service.
- Safety: We choose online providers that use accredited healthcare professionals and have a good reputation.
- Delivery options: Where possible, we chose online birth control services that have fast delivery and ship to various locations to suit people’s individual circumstances.
It is important to consider several factors when choosing which online service to use for birth control access, such as:
- Type of birth control: If a person is new to using contraception, they may wish to use a service that provides multiple forms of birth control, such as the pill, patch, and ring. A healthcare professional on the service’s platform can advise which method is best for each person’s particular circumstance.
- Insurance coverage: Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance companies must cover birth control. If an insurance policy covers the cost of birth control, it may be more cost effective to use a service that accepts insurance, such as Nurx.
- Age: Many services do not offer birth control to people under 18 years old. If a person is under 18, using services that cater to teens, such as Twentyeight Health, is important.
- Subscriptions: Uninterrupted use of birth control is necessary to prevent unintentional pregnancy. If people are using birth control as contraception, they may wish to use a service that offers automatic deliveries to reduce the chances of a gap in contraception.
- Delivery options: Some people may prefer that others in their household not know they are using birth control. In these situations, it may be best to use a service that offers pickup at a local pharmacy.
People who are minors can purchase birth control in several states without limitations. The definition of a minor sometimes varies. If a person is in the United States, it is important to check local guidelines.
How to get free birth control
People may be able to access free birth control from nonprofit family planning centers or public health clinics. These places usually require an in-person visit. People may be able to access free birth control from Planned Parenthood.
Learn more about how and where to get free birth control in our guide.
Anyone with questions about birth control may wish to speak with a healthcare professional.
It is especially important for people with certain health conditions and risk factors for health issues to consult a professional before choosing a type of birth control. For example, smoking or having high blood pressure may
It is also important to speak with a doctor about stopping birth control safely or restarting it. This may apply before and after someone becomes pregnant. Certain factors, such as breastfeeding or chestfeeding, can affect which medications are safe after giving birth.
Medical PerspectiveGetting birth control online can be convenient. However, it’s still important for you to talk to a healthcare professional to make sure it’s safe for you. Especially if you have health conditions or are starting, stopping, or restarting birth control
— Alex Nguyen, PharmD, RPh, CPh
Learn more about birth control options here.
Quotes represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
Yes, a person can get birth control online without visiting a healthcare professional such as a gynecologist. Most online birth control providers require some 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. In some states, minors can use online services to purchase birth control and get a prescription without restrictions. However, it is important to check local legislation.
It is advisable to bring any questions about birth control to a healthcare professional and have annual health visits. At these consultations, a doctor can provide preventive care and testing to help maintain a person’s overall health.
Nurx sells legitimate, FDA-approved birth control and states that it complies with the same regulations as a person’s usual doctor. Nurx’s medical professionals will prescribe a medication only if they think it is necessary.
A person will need a prescription to get some types of birth control from Nurx, but a prescription is not necessary to get emergency contraception.
A person can get the pill, patch, shot, ring, gel, and morning-after pill online.
Yes, getting birth control online is safe. However, people should be careful about which service they choose since not all are reputable.
When choosing where to buy birth control online, people can ensure that the company works with accredited healthcare professionals. The best birth control options online may come from brands that require a prescription before ordering.
It is always important to make sure that a service requires a healthcare professional to review the suitability of any birth control choice. 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.
It is important to get birth control options from a vetted and safe online service, as some may sell fake versions that are ineffective or contaminated. Fake birth control could harm the person taking them or lead to an unplanned pregnancy.
Researching safe places to buy birth control online is a good place to start. People can try to use reputable companies to explore their birth control options.
The best birth control online comes from reputable brands that require a prescription before ordering. Nurx, Hims, Wisp, and other popular brands offer various birth control options at more affordable prices for a range of ages.
Ordering birth control online can be safe and convenient, but it may cost a little 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. If you have questions about birth control, you may wish to contact a healthcare professional.