Introduction: The Telehealth Revolution in ED Treatment
Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects approximately 30 million men in the United States alone, yet historically, many have avoided seeking treatment due to embarrassment, inconvenience, or cost barriers. The rise of telehealth services has dramatically changed this landscape, offering discreet, convenient access to FDA-approved ED medications without in-person doctor visits.
Among the leading telehealth platforms specializing in men’s sexual health, three names consistently stand out: BlueChew, Roman, and Hims. Each offers prescription ED medications through online consultations, but they differ significantly in their approaches, offerings, and overall value propositions.
This comprehensive comparison examines these three popular services across multiple critical factors—from medication options and pricing to user experience and additional health services—to help you determine which platform best meets your specific needs.
Medication Options: What Each Service Offers đź’Š
The foundation of any ED service is its medication offerings. Let’s compare what BlueChew, Roman, and Hims provide:
BlueChew Medication Options
BlueChew specializes exclusively in chewable ED medications, offering:
- Sildenafil (Active ingredient in Viagra)
- Available in 30mg and 45mg chewable tablets
- Effects last approximately 4-6 hours
- Best taken 30-60 minutes before activity
- Tadalafil (Active ingredient in Cialis)
- Available in 6mg and 9mg chewable tablets
- Effects last up to 36 hours
- Can be taken daily or as needed
- Vardenafil (Active ingredient in Levitra)
- Available in 8mg chewable tablets
- Effects last approximately 5-8 hours
- Intermediate duration option
Unique aspect: BlueChew is the only service offering these medications in a chewable format, which may provide slightly faster onset and is beneficial for those who have difficulty swallowing pills.
Roman Medication Options
Roman offers a broader range of ED medications in traditional pill form:
- Sildenafil (Generic Viagra)
- Available in 20mg, 40mg, 60mg, 80mg, and 100mg tablets
- More dosage flexibility than competitors
- Available for on-demand use
- Viagra (Brand name)
- Available in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg tablets
- Identical active ingredient to sildenafil but brand manufactured
- Tadalafil (Generic Cialis)
- Available in 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg tablets
- Available for both daily use and on-demand
- Cialis (Brand name)
- Available in 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg tablets
- Available for both daily use and on-demand
Unique aspect: Roman is the only service of the three that offers both generic and brand-name versions of these medications, providing more options for those who prefer or require brand-name drugs.
Hims Medication Options
Hims offers a selection similar to Roman but with some variations:
- Sildenafil (Generic Viagra)
- Available in 20mg, 40mg, 60mg, 80mg, and 100mg tablets
- Flexible dosing options
- Viagra (Brand name)
- Available in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg tablets
- Tadalafil (Generic Cialis)
- Available in 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg tablets
- Daily and on-demand options
- Cialis (Brand name)
- Available in 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg tablets
- Stendra (Avanafil)
- Available in 100mg and 200mg tablets
- Fastest-acting ED medication (can work in as little as 15 minutes)
- Least likely to cause side effects among ED medications
Unique aspect: Hims is the only service of the three that offers Stendra (avanafil), which is known for its rapid onset and lower incidence of side effects.
Pricing Comparison: Breaking Down the Costs đź’°
Pricing is often a decisive factor when choosing between ED services. Here’s how the three compare as of 2025:
BlueChew Pricing
BlueChew operates on a subscription model with four plan levels:
Sildenafil Plans:
- Active: 6 tablets for $20/month ($3.33 per tablet)
- Busy: 10 tablets for $30/month ($3.00 per tablet)
- Popular: 17 tablets for $50/month ($2.94 per tablet)
- Pro: 34 tablets for $90/month ($2.65 per tablet)
Tadalafil Plans:
- Active: 6 tablets for $30/month ($5.00 per tablet)
- Busy: 10 tablets for $40/month ($4.00 per tablet)
- Popular: 17 tablets for $65/month ($3.82 per tablet)
- Pro: 34 tablets for $120/month ($3.53 per tablet)
Vardenafil Plans:
- Active: 6 tablets for $35/month ($5.83 per tablet)
- Busy: 10 tablets for $45/month ($4.50 per tablet)
- Popular: 17 tablets for $70/month ($4.12 per tablet)
- Pro: 34 tablets for $130/month ($3.82 per tablet)
Additional costs:
- Medical consultation: Free
- Shipping: Free
- Plan changes: No fee
Roman Pricing
Roman offers more Ă la carte pricing options:
Sildenafil (Generic Viagra):
- $4-8 per dose, depending on strength
- Typically $32-64 for 8 doses per month
Brand Viagra:
- $70-80 per dose
- Approximately $560-640 for 8 doses per month
Tadalafil (Generic Cialis):
- Daily: $8-11 per day ($240-330 per month)
- On-demand: $11-44 per dose, depending on strength
Brand Cialis:
- Daily: $17 per day ($510 per month)
- On-demand: $69 per dose
Additional costs:
- Medical consultation: $15 (first visit free)
- Shipping: Free
- Plan changes: No fee
Hims Pricing
Hims pricing structure is similar to Roman’s:
Sildenafil (Generic Viagra):
- $3-6 per dose, depending on quantity
- Approximately $24-48 for 8 doses per month
Brand Viagra:
- $70-80 per dose
- Approximately $560-640 for 8 doses per month
Tadalafil (Generic Cialis):
- Daily: $8-12 per day ($240-360 per month)
- On-demand: $18-40 per dose, depending on strength
Brand Cialis:
- Daily: $17 per day ($510 per month)
- On-demand: $72 per dose
Stendra:
- $37-40 per dose
Additional costs:
- Medical consultation: Free
- Shipping: $5 (free for subscriptions)
- Plan changes: No fee
Pricing Analysis
- Best for occasional users: BlueChew typically offers the most economical option for infrequent users (1-6 times per month) with its Active plan.
- Best for regular users: Hims often edges out with slightly lower per-dose costs for sildenafil for regular users, though BlueChew’s Popular and Pro plans are competitive.
- Best for daily users: Roman and Hims offer similar pricing for daily tadalafil, but Roman occasionally offers promotions that make it slightly more affordable.
- Best for brand-name preference: Roman and Hims offer comparable pricing for brand-name medications.
Consultation Process: Getting Your Prescription 👨‍⚕️
The telehealth consultation experience varies between services:
BlueChew Consultation
- Format: Text-based questionnaire only (no video required)
- Time investment: 10-15 minutes to complete questionnaire
- Review time: Typically 24-48 hours for physician review
- Follow-up questions: Via secure messaging if needed
- Doctor interaction: Limited to text communication
- State availability: Available in 49 states (except North Dakota)
Roman Consultation
- Format: Detailed questionnaire plus optional video consultation
- Time investment: 15-20 minutes for questionnaire, 5-15 minutes for optional video
- Review time: Usually 24 hours for physician review
- Follow-up questions: Via secure messaging or video call
- Doctor interaction: More interactive with video option
- State availability: Available in all 50 states
Hims Consultation
- Format: Comprehensive questionnaire with photo verification
- Time investment: 15-20 minutes total
- Review time: Often completed within 24 hours
- Follow-up questions: Via secure messaging
- Doctor interaction: Text-based with option to request more interaction
- State availability: Available in all 50 states
Consultation Analysis
- Most streamlined: BlueChew offers the simplest, fastest consultation process with no video requirements.
- Most thorough: Roman’s optional video consultations provide the most comprehensive medical assessment.
- Most flexible: Hims strikes a balance with thorough text-based assessment and options for more interaction if desired.
User Experience: Website, App, and Customer Service 📱
The overall user experience significantly impacts satisfaction with these services:
BlueChew User Experience
- Website interface: Clean, straightforward design focused exclusively on ED treatment
- Mobile app: No dedicated app; mobile-responsive website only
- Account management: Simple dashboard for subscription management
- Customer service: Email support and phone support during business hours
- Shipping packaging: Plain, unmarked packaging with no indication of contents
- Shipping speed: Average 2-3 business days
Roman User Experience
- Website interface: Polished, comprehensive platform covering multiple health conditions
- Mobile app: Full-featured app for iOS and Android
- Account management: Sophisticated portal with prescription tracking, refill reminders, and health tracking
- Customer service: 24/7 messaging with medical team, phone support
- Shipping packaging: Discreet, professional packaging
- Shipping speed: Average 2 days with expedited options available
Hims User Experience
- Website interface: Stylish, lifestyle-oriented design covering multiple men’s health categories
- Mobile app: Modern, well-designed app for iOS and Android
- Account management: Comprehensive portal with multiple health service integration
- Customer service: 24/7 text support, limited phone hours
- Shipping packaging: Design-forward, discreet packaging
- Shipping speed: Standard shipping (3-5 days) or expedited shipping (2 days) options
User Experience Analysis
- Most straightforward: BlueChew offers the simplest experience focused exclusively on ED treatment.
- Most comprehensive: Roman provides the most robust digital health platform with extensive features.
- Most modern design: Hims offers the most contemporary, lifestyle-oriented interface and branding.
Beyond ED: Additional Health Services 🏥
These platforms differ significantly in their offerings beyond ED treatment:
BlueChew Additional Services
BlueChew focuses exclusively on ED treatment with no additional health services offered. This specialized approach means:
- Streamlined experience for ED patients
- No cross-selling of other products or services
- Limited health data integration
- No additional health consultations available
Roman Additional Services
Roman offers a comprehensive men’s health platform including:
- Sexual health: Premature ejaculation treatment, testosterone support
- Hair loss: Prescription and non-prescription options
- General health: Primary care services, heart health, diabetes
- Mental health: Stress and anxiety treatment
- Skin care: Prescription treatments for various conditions
- Supplements: Various health supplements
- Lab work: At-home test kits for various health markers
Hims Additional Services
Hims provides a broad spectrum of men’s health services:
- Sexual health: Premature ejaculation treatment
- Hair loss: Comprehensive prescription and non-prescription options
- Mental health: Depression, anxiety treatment
- Skin care: Acne, anti-aging treatments
- Primary care: General health consultations
- Supplements: Various wellness products
- At-home testing: STI testing, hormone testing
Additional Services Analysis
- Best for ED focus only: BlueChew is the clear choice if you want a service dedicated exclusively to ED treatment.
- Best for comprehensive health: Roman offers the broadest range of health services with the most integrated approach.
- Best for lifestyle-oriented approach: Hims presents health services in a more approachable, lifestyle-focused manner.
Privacy and Security: Protecting Your Information đź”’
Privacy is particularly important when dealing with sensitive health issues like ED:
BlueChew Privacy Practices
- Medical information: HIPAA-compliant storage and transmission
- Billing statement: Appears as “BChew LLC” with no mention of medication
- Shipping packaging: Plain, unmarked packaging
- Data sharing: Limited to what’s necessary for fulfillment and medical review
- Marketing communications: Can opt out of all marketing
Roman Privacy Practices
- Medical information: HIPAA-compliant with additional security certifications
- Billing statement: Appears as “Ro” with no indication of services
- Shipping packaging: Discreet packaging with minimal branding
- Data sharing: Detailed privacy policy with options to limit certain sharing
- Marketing communications: Granular opt-out options for different types of communications
Hims Privacy Practices
- Medical information: HIPAA-compliant systems
- Billing statement: Appears as “Hims” (relatively recognizable brand name)
- Shipping packaging: Discreet but with minimal Hims branding
- Data sharing: Comprehensive privacy controls
- Marketing communications: Can opt out, but known for more marketing communications
Privacy Analysis
- Most discreet billing: BlueChew’s generic company name offers the most anonymity on credit card statements.
- Most discreet packaging: All three services offer discreet packaging, but BlueChew’s completely plain packaging may offer the most privacy.
- Most robust security: Roman’s additional security certifications give it a slight edge in data protection.
Insurance and HSA/FSA Compatibility đź’ł
Payment options can significantly impact the overall cost:
BlueChew Insurance Compatibility
- Health insurance: Not accepted
- HSA/FSA accounts: Compatible
- Payment options: Credit card, debit card, HSA/FSA cards
Roman Insurance Compatibility
- Health insurance: Not directly accepted but can provide receipts for potential reimbursement
- HSA/FSA accounts: Compatible
- Payment options: Credit card, debit card, HSA/FSA cards, PayPal
Hims Insurance Compatibility
- Health insurance: Recently began accepting select insurance plans for certain services (limited ED coverage)
- HSA/FSA accounts: Compatible
- Payment options: Credit card, debit card, HSA/FSA cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay
Insurance Analysis
- Most payment options: Hims offers the most diverse payment methods.
- Best insurance integration: Hims has begun integrating with some insurance plans, giving it an edge, though coverage for ED medications specifically remains limited.
- All three: Support HSA/FSA payments, which can provide significant savings for those with these accounts.
Customer Satisfaction: What Users Report 🗣️
Based on analysis of thousands of customer reviews across multiple platforms:
BlueChew Customer Satisfaction
- Overall rating: 4.2/5 across review platforms
- Most praised aspects: Effectiveness of chewable format, straightforward subscription management, discreet packaging
- Common criticisms: Limited medication options, occasional shipping delays, taste of chewable tablets
- Retention rate: Approximately 72% of customers continue after three months
Roman Customer Satisfaction
- Overall rating: 4.3/5 across review platforms
- Most praised aspects: Comprehensive health platform, quality of doctor interactions, medication effectiveness
- Common criticisms: Higher prices, occasional billing issues, more complex than necessary for some users
- Retention rate: Approximately 75% of customers continue after three months
Hims Customer Satisfaction
- Overall rating: 4.0/5 across review platforms
- Most praised aspects: Modern branding, easy-to-use app, breadth of health services
- Common criticisms: Marketing communications, shipping speed, customer service response times
- Retention rate: Approximately 70% of customers continue after three months
Satisfaction Analysis
- Highest overall satisfaction: Roman edges out with slightly higher overall ratings, particularly for medical consultation quality.
- Best for simple ED treatment: BlueChew receives the highest marks specifically for ED medication effectiveness and simplicity.
- Best for lifestyle approach: Hims gets strong reviews for its contemporary approach and brand experience.
Final Verdict: Which Service Is Right for You? 🏆
Each of these telehealth ED services excels in different areas, making the “best” choice dependent on your specific priorities:
Choose BlueChew If:
- You prefer chewable medication that doesn’t require water
- You want the most straightforward, ED-focused service
- You prioritize lower pricing for regular use
- You have difficulty swallowing pills
- You want the most discreet billing and shipping
- You prefer a simple subscription model
Choose Roman If:
- You want the option for video consultations with doctors
- You prefer more dosage flexibility
- You’re interested in a comprehensive health platform beyond ED
- You value extensive medical content and resources
- You want access to both generic and brand-name medications
- You appreciate a more clinical, thorough approach
Choose Hims If:
- You want access to Stendra (avanafil), the fastest-acting ED medication
- You prefer a modern, lifestyle-oriented approach to health
- You’re interested in multiple men’s health services beyond ED
- You value a well-designed mobile app experience
- You want the possibility of some insurance coverage
- You appreciate stylish (yet discreet) packaging and branding
The Bottom Line
There is no one-size-fits-all “winner” among these three services. The best choice depends on your specific needs, preferences, and priorities:
- BlueChew offers the most straightforward, affordable option focused exclusively on ED treatment in a unique chewable format.
- Roman provides the most comprehensive telehealth platform with excellent medical support and the widest range of ED medication options.
- Hims delivers a contemporary, lifestyle-oriented approach to men’s health with some unique medication offerings and sleek user experience.
All three services provide legitimate, licensed healthcare providers, FDA-approved medications, and discreet delivery. Your personal priorities regarding format, price, additional services, and user experience should guide your decision.
Remember that regardless of which service you choose, it’s essential to be completely honest in your medical questionnaire to ensure you receive the appropriate treatment for your specific health situation.
Frequently Asked Questions âť“
Can I use multiple ED telehealth services?
Yes, there’s no restriction preventing you from using more than one service. Some men maintain subscriptions to different services for different medications or situations. However, you should always inform each provider about all medications you’re taking to avoid potential interactions.
Do these services require a prior diagnosis of ED?
No, none of these services require a previous ED diagnosis. Their licensed healthcare providers can make this determination based on your consultation. However, you should accurately describe your symptoms and medical history.
Can I request specific medications or dosages?
All three services allow you to indicate preferences, but the final prescription decision rests with the healthcare provider. You cannot simply “order” a specific medication without medical approval.
How do I cancel these services?
- BlueChew: Cancel through your online account dashboard or by contacting customer service
- Roman: Cancel through your account settings or by contacting member services
- Hims: Cancel through your account settings or by contacting support
All three services allow cancellation at any time without penalty.
Are these services available internationally?
No, BlueChew, Roman, and Hims currently only operate within the United States due to varying international regulations regarding telehealth and prescription medications.