Online Birth Control: Complete Price Comparison

Average Costs Comparison

Online birth control costs depend on your insurance status and the contraceptive method you choose. Here is how the providers compare, with prices checked on September 11, 2026:

Detailed Cost Breakdown by Provider

Insurance Coverage for Birth Control

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires Health Insurance Marketplace plans to cover FDA-approved contraceptive methods and counseling prescribed by a health care provider, without a copayment or coinsurance when you use an in-network provider, even before you meet your deductible. Covered methods include hormonal methods like pills and vaginal rings, and implanted devices like IUDs. Health plans sponsored by certain exempt religious employers do not have to cover contraception. Family planning services are a mandatory Medicaid benefit under federal law.

Generic vs Brand-Name Birth Control

Generic birth control pills contain the same active hormones as brand-name versions. The FDA states that approved generics work in the same way and provide the same clinical benefit and risks as their brand-name counterparts, and that generics tend to cost less. With insurance, check your plan formulary, since coverage can differ between generic and brand versions.

How to Save Money on Birth Control

• If you have a Marketplace plan, prescribed birth control from an in-network provider is covered with no copay, even before your deductible. Ask your plan which online services and pharmacies are in network.
• If you are uninsured, compare cash-pay telehealth prices (Hers plans from $12/month, Wisp pills from $15) with the cost of an office visit plus pharmacy.
• Choose generic birth control pills over brand names. The FDA states generics work the same way as their brand-name counterparts and tend to cost less.
• Order a 3-month supply when possible. Wisp offers 1, 3, or 6-month supplies and ships free to all 50 states.
• Use Medicaid if eligible. Family planning services are a mandatory Medicaid benefit, so ask your state program which methods and services it covers.
• Hers and Wisp include the consultation in their prices, so compare that with an office visit fee before a routine refill.
• If your insurance does not cover your preferred brand, ask your provider about covered alternatives.
• No insurance? Planned Parenthood says you may qualify for low-cost or free services at its health centers.
• Ask your provider whether a long-acting method (IUD or implant) fits you. Marketplace plans must cover prescribed IUDs from an in-network provider with no copay.
• Use HSA or FSA funds if you pay cash. The IRS counts birth control pills prescribed by a doctor as a medical expense, and Wisp says most of its products can be bought with FSA or HSA funds.

Hidden Fees to Watch For

• Insurance deductibles may apply to other services, but Marketplace plans must cover prescribed contraception from an in-network provider even before you meet your deductible.
• Some telehealth platforms charge a consultation fee. Nurx charges $28, which it does not bill to insurance, while Hers and Wisp include the consultation.
• Expedited shipping fees, if a platform offers faster delivery than its standard free shipping.
• Brand-name surcharges if you request a specific brand not covered by your insurance. Ask for a covered generic to avoid paying extra.
• Follow-up consultation fees if you need to switch birth control methods. Nurx includes a year of messaging with its $28 consultation fee, so ask any platform what follow-ups cost.
• Some providers charge ongoing fees beyond the medication. Nurx lists a periodic support fee in addition to its consultation fee, so read the fine print before you sign up.