Ditch the Waiting Room With Online Birth Control

It’s easy to see why Nurx is one of the best places for birth control online and, incidentally, our pick for the most comprehensive service. In addition to offering a wide selection of birth control options, Nurx offers access to other health services, including mental health services and at-home testing kits for STIs like HPV and HIV. What’s more, prescription deliveries arrive at your doorstep within days in discreet branded packaging. 

To access birth control, all you need to do is complete the online intake form after indicating which type of medication you’re interested in and pay a $25 fee. A licensed provider then evaluates your needs and writes you a prescription, if appropriate. The Nurx pharmacy then fills your prescription and in a few days, a three-month supply arrives at your doorstep. If you'd like to chat with a provider, you can indicate that when you make your initial request. You can also reach out to the medical team via secure messaging. If your need to speak with a provider is urgent, call Nurx customer service and they will connect you with a medical team member.

Nurx offers more than 50 birth control formulas, including the pill, ring, shot, or patch, costing as little as $0 with insurance or $8 per month without insurance. Emergency contraception is free with insurance or $20 without insurance. Nurx isn’t available in all 50 states, but it does offer fast, free shipping, and you can also choose to send prescriptions to your local pharmacy. Nurx doesn’t accept prescriptions from outside providers.

Hormonal birth control can minimize acne breakouts by reducing your skin’s oil production. Four types of birth control pills are FDA-approved for acne treatment: Beyaz, Estrostep Fe, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and Yaz. All four are available at Pandia Health; in fact, the company offers 148 generic and brand-name birth control pills, two patches, and two rings to choose from. The service also has a comprehensive selection of oral and topical acne medications, including Tretinoin cream, Differin gel, Adapalene gel, spironolactone, and Aldactone. 

If you’re coming to Pandia with a birth control prescription in hand, the company offers free shipping to your home in a discreet package. If you’re starting from the beginning and need a prescription, Pandia can handle that too. For a $25 consultation fee, doctors will review your intake questionnaire and medical history and prescribe your requested birth control, if appropriate. Medications can be as low as $0 out of pocket with insurance or $7 per month without insurance. Pandia Health accepts most insurances, including Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield, FamilyPact, and Tricare. And it is eligible for flexible spending account (FSA) and health savings account (HSA) payments. An acne medication consult is $35, and prescriptions start at $0 copay or $30 per month out of pocket.

As of April 2023, Pandia Health can only provide asynchronous online doctors' visits with telehealth prescribing to residents of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming, but it has plans to expand over the course of the year.

It should come as no surprise that the king of e-commerce would add pharmaceuticals to its offerings, and Amazon has tossed its hat in the ring with Amazon Pharmacy. Now users can access birth control in the form of pills, patches, rings, and the Depo shot, as well as medications for a range of common health conditions, including blood pressure, diabetes, and anxiety. Amazon doesn’t provide prescriptions, but you’ve come to the right place if you have one. Best of all, it accepts most major insurance plans. To check the price of your prescription medication with your insurance, just search for it and click “Check insurance price” on the item’s page.

To access the Amazon Pharmacy, users can visit Amazon.com or log in through the app. From there, you can search for your medications, create a profile, and transfer your prescriptions. Amazon maintains incredible transparency with pricing; there are no surprises. In addition to showing the cash price and insurance price, you can see, if your prescription is eligible for free Prime shipping and even if it’s FSA or HSA eligible. You can also find information about the medication, including its side effects and drug interactions. Once you create a new user profile and upload your prescription, verification takes about 24 hours. Once it’s approved, Amazon will let you know so you can place your order. 

Prime members can take advantage of any available discounts, including RxPass, where members can get as many generic medications (from a list of 50) as they have been prescribed for $5 a month. Prime members get free two-day shipping, non-prime members will receive free four- to five-day standard shipping or can upgrade to two-day shipping for $6. Amazon Pharmacy is available in all 50 states, and medications are shipped directly to your door.

While it doesn’t accept prescriptions from outside providers, the health providers at Lemonaid Health can provide one for you. In addition to offering access to the morning-after pill, also known as emergency contraception, and other forms of birth control, Lemonaid Health offers other medical services, including treatment for mental health concerns, STI testing, and care for general health issues like asthma and sinus infections. 

Those looking for birth control options will find that with a consultation and medical history review, providers at Lemonaid Health can write prescriptions for over 100 birth control pills, as well as prescriptions for NuvaRing, the Xulane patch, and the Ella Morning-After Pill. It’s worth noting that some states require a video or phone appointment before prescriptions are given. The medical consultation fee for birth control is $25, and medication prices start at $15 per month for a three-month supply. A consult for emergency contraception is $15; only the brand name is available for $60 per pill. Lemonaid Health doesn’t accept insurance, so the consultation and medications will be an out-of-pocket expense. You can pay with FSA or HSA funds.

Prescriptions from Lemonaid Health typically last for a year, and deliveries usually include a three-month supply. Lemonaid Health is available in all 50 states, and ships prescriptions for free directly to your home, in discreet packaging. If you prefer, you can have your prescription sent to a nearby pharmacy.

GoodRx started out as an incredible resource for coupons and discounts on prescriptions, but the platform has since expanded its services to include telehealth services with board-certified doctors. Even with the expansion, GoodRx still offers excellent prices, so it makes our list as the most affordable online birth control resource. 

Anyone looking for additional savings on existing prescriptions will likely find a bonanza at GoodRx. To use the resource, type in the drug name, and GoodRx will scour the web to find a discount on your script. You’ll be given a list of the lowest prices at nearby pharmacies, including major chains like CVS, Walgreens, Costco, Kroger, Walmart, and Rite Aid. Once you settle on a pharmacy, you can print out a coupon or send it to your phone. App users can pull it up on their device and show it to the pharmacist at checkout. GoodRx promises to save consumers up to 90% off the price of prescription drugs. GoodRx discounts can’t be combined with insurance.  

Those who prefer a one-stop shop can find it with GoodRx Care. Healthcare professionals can provide prescriptions for birth control and many other health concerns after a telehealth consultation. Providers typically write prescriptions with 12 months of refills. After that, you will need another appointment for renewals. With a GoodRx Gold membership,  you can access telehealth and prescriptions at a reduced rate. GoodRx Gold is free for the first 30 days; after that, individual plans are $10 per month and family plans are $20 per month. Telehealth visits start at just $19 with membership or $59 without membership.

Membership grants you access to doctors and nurses seven days a week, including weekends and holidays. Of note: in February 2023, the FTC cited GoodRx for sharing private patient information with sites like Google and Facebook; this was settled in court and GoodRx has since changed its practices.

Hers is our pick for the best medical support because it connects you with licensed medical providers via a free video appointment to discuss the best birth control options for your body and lifestyle. It also allows you to reach out to your medical provider directly with any follow-up questions or concerns you may have, and if you’d rather discuss those concerns in a video visit, you can schedule another appointment for $5. Not only do providers do their very best to get you the care you need, but they’re available after the fact to answer follow-up questions and offer some continuity of care. 

Hers prides itself on an elegant intake process that offers the same level of care as an in-person doctor visit. To get started, patients are asked about their medical history, as well as their goals, so birth control options can be tailored to the individual. Once the intake form is complete, you will receive a link via email where you can access your video appointment with the provider at the scheduled time. After the consultation, you can expect a prescription (where appropriate) for the generic version of any of the 13 different birth control pills Hers offers. Hers doesn’t offer live chat, but users can message their provider through the patient portal at any time. 

Hers does not accept insurance, but the service is quite affordable. There’s no charge for the consultation, monthly birth control prescription costs average about $12, and follow-up medical visits are just $5.

Hers ships prescriptions free to your home (to all 50 states) and promises timely refills and discreet packaging. In your account portal, you can also initiate refills, change refill dates, or push them back if needed. 

Citing staggering statistics like one in four women have gone without healthcare due to high costs, and new patients have to wait an average of 22 days to see their primary care physician, the founders of Twentyeight Health made it their mission to provide affordable healthcare to all women. Today, Twentyeight Health offers access to telehealth prescriptions for over 100 types of birth control, in addition to morning-after pills, herpes treatment, and prenatal vitamins, and it accepts insurance and Medicaid.   

Telehealth prescribing services are available for a $26 annual doctor evaluation fee (per medication). The evaluation includes a review of your submitted medical information, an optional audio consultation, and unlimited messaging with your provider. Once the doctor has determined the best treatment option for you, they will write you a prescription, and your birth control will be delivered to your door in discreet packing within three to five business days.

The annual fee is not covered by insurance/Medicaid. Medications are covered by insurance, including birth control pills, patches, rings, emergency contraception, and internal condoms (the Depo shot is only available through specific insurance plans). Medicaid coverage is available to residents of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington state, and Washington DC. 

In keeping with Twentyeight Health’s goal of accessibility for all, birth control is quite affordable even for those without insurance as well. According to the website, users can find:

• Birth control as low as $18/pack with multipack savings
• The morning-after pill for $30 (one-time) 
• Prenatal vitamins at $5/month ($18 for three months' worth plus delivery)

For anyone who wants to manage their birth control online, but prefers using a local pharmacy, PlushCare is a good option. And in case you were wondering, local pickups are the only option with PlushCare. If you’re looking for birth control pills, rings, patches, shots, or emergency contraception in generic or brand names, PlushCare providers can get you set up with a prescription. The service doesn’t accept outside prescriptions, but its medical providers can write you a refill prescription after you participate in a telehealth appointment. 

Access fees differ based on membership plans and whether you’re using insurance or not. After booking your first appointment, you will automatically be billed for the membership fee after the 30-day free trial period. Membership is $15 per month or $99 per year and gets you same-day appointments, in-app messaging with your medical provider, and access to a dedicated customer service team that can answer any administrative or medical questions. With insurance, you will just pay a copay for your virtual medical visits. Insurance will not cover the cost of membership. Those who engage in the service without insurance can expect to pay $129 for the first visit and $69 for visits after that. Limited access to PlushCare’s services is available without membership by calling 1-800-221-5140.

In addition to birth control, PlushCare providers can assist you with a wide range of general physical and mental health concerns, making the membership fee more worthwhile. You must provide a medical history and have a medical consultation to get a prescription. Prescriptions from PlushCare providers are usually done through video telehealth visits. Prescriptions won't ship to your home, but providers will call the prescription into your preferred pharmacy for local pickup. PlushCare services are available in all 50 states. New users may find that they have nothing to lose, as PlushCare guarantees that if it can’t treat you, you get a full refund.