Keeps review: is it worth it?
Keeps focuses narrowly on hair loss, offering generic finasteride and minoxidil at among the lowest subscription prices.
Cheapest
Worth it for men wanting cheap, doctor-prescribed proven hair-loss meds
Keeps is a low-cost, convenient way to get the two treatments with the strongest evidence for male pattern baldness: oral finasteride and topical minoxidil. You're paying mainly for the telehealth access, prescription, and home delivery, since the medications themselves are inexpensive generics. It works best for early-to-moderate, hereditary thinning in men, and far less for established bald spots.
Check PriceFrom $25/mo
Pros
- ✓Prescribes the two treatments with the strongest clinical evidence for male pattern baldness: finasteride and minoxidil
- ✓Low entry pricing (often $10-25/month per medication) with discreet home delivery and online doctor access, no in-person visit needed
- ✓Multiple formats and combinations available, including oral finasteride, 5% topical minoxidil foam/solution, a compounded once-daily finasteride+minoxidil gel, and ketoconazole 2% shampoo
- ✓Works best when started early on hereditary thinning, where evidence shows it can both slow loss and regrow some hair
- ✓Subscription auto-refills make it easy to stay consistent, which matters because results depend on continuous, ongoing use
Cons
- ✕Finasteride carries a real (though uncommon, ~1-2%) risk of sexual side effects, plus debated reports of persistent symptoms and mood effects; depression and suicidal ideation are listed on the finasteride label as postmarketing reactions
- ✕Results are slow (typically 3-12 months) and require lifelong use; any gains reverse within months of stopping
- ✕You're paying largely for convenience; the underlying generics can often be bought cheaper via a GoodRx coupon at a local pharmacy
- ✕Only for men; finasteride is contraindicated and hazardous to handle for women who are or may be pregnant
- ✕Auto-renewing subscription plus per-order shipping fees can add up, orders generally can't be canceled once processed for a billing cycle, and some users report being charged after trying to cancel
- ✕No in-person scalp exam, and little proprietary clinical data specific to Keeps
How it works
Keeps itself is a telehealth service, not a drug; an online clinician reviews your intake and prescribes generic medications shipped to your door. The actual hair regrowth comes from two well-studied ingredients. Finasteride is an oral Type II 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor that lowers scalp DHT, the hormone that miniaturizes genetically susceptible follicles, thereby slowing loss and allowing some regrowth. Minoxidil is a topical vasodilator thought to prolong the follicle's growth (anagen) phase and increase blood flow to follicles, helping produce thicker hair; its exact mechanism in hair growth is still not fully understood. Keeps also offers a compounded once-daily topical finasteride/minoxidil gel and foam (0.25% finasteride, 5% minoxidil), ketoconazole 2% shampoo, and may offer dutasteride for some patients.
Active ingredient: Finasteride 1mg + Minoxidil 5%
Effectiveness
The medications Keeps prescribes have strong evidence; Keeps has not published its own large clinical trials. In a multinational study of men with male pattern hair loss, oral finasteride 1 mg daily produced durable hair-count improvement over five years while placebo users progressively lost hair (p<0.001 for all endpoints; PubMed 11809594). Earlier pivotal trials showed roughly two-thirds of finasteride users had visible improvement versus continued loss on placebo. For minoxidil, a 48-week randomized trial in 393 men found 5% topical minoxidil significantly superior to 2% and placebo in non-vellus hair count, and a separate 16-week foam trial in 352 men showed significant hair-count gains versus placebo (P<.0001). Smaller studies suggest combining finasteride and minoxidil may outperform either alone. Benefits require continuous use; stopping reverses gains within months.
Side effects
Minoxidil's common side effects are local: scalp itching, dryness, flaking, or irritation, plus possible temporary "shedding" in the first weeks. Unwanted facial or body hair can occur if it spreads beyond the scalp. Finasteride's notable risks are sexual: in Merck's Phase III trials about 1.3-1.8% of men reported decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, or ejaculation problems (versus roughly 0.7-1.3% on placebo), usually reversible after stopping. A debated but reported condition, "post-finasteride syndrome," describes sexual or mood symptoms persisting after discontinuation. The FDA-approved finasteride 1 mg (Propecia) label lists depression and, since an August 2022 update, suicidal ideation and behavior among postmarketing adverse reactions. Finasteride also lowers PSA, and the label notes a possible increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer. Seek medical care for mood changes, persistent sexual dysfunction, breast lumps or tenderness, or signs of an allergic reaction.
Cost
Starts at $25/mo from Keeps.
As of 2026, Keeps positions itself as budget-friendly: individual plans often start around $10-25 per month (minoxidil at the low end, generic finasteride roughly $17-25), with combination and compounded multi-ingredient formulas costing more, plus a roughly $5 shipping fee per order. Longer 6- or 12-month commitments usually lower the per-month price, and the online consultation is typically free or low-cost. Insurance generally does not cover cosmetic hair-loss treatment. Because these are generics, it's worth comparing: a GoodRx coupon for generic finasteride or minoxidil at a local pharmacy can sometimes match or beat subscription pricing, though you'd manage the prescription and refills yourself. Keeps' parent company agreed to be acquired in late 2025, so verify current prices on the Keeps website before subscribing.
Is it worth it?
If you're a man with early male pattern hair loss who wants a simple, affordable way to start finasteride and/or minoxidil, Keeps delivers that well. The catch: results take roughly 4-12 months, require lifelong use to maintain, and finasteride carries a real (if uncommon) risk of sexual and mood side effects. The subscription auto-renews and can be hard to cancel, and some users report being charged after attempting to cancel. Comparison-shop against GoodRx generics and rivals like Hims.
Frequently asked questions
Does Keeps actually work for hair loss?
Keeps can work because it prescribes finasteride and minoxidil, the two treatments with the best clinical evidence for male pattern baldness. Trials show oral finasteride 1 mg produced durable hair-count improvement over five years versus progressive loss on placebo, and 5% minoxidil significantly increased hair counts versus placebo. Results typically take 4-12 months and require continued use to maintain; stopping reverses the gains.
Is Keeps legit and safe?
Yes, Keeps is a legitimate US telehealth company that connects men to licensed clinicians who prescribe FDA-approved generic medications. Safety depends mainly on the drugs: minoxidil is generally well tolerated, while finasteride carries a small risk of sexual and mood side effects (its label notes postmarketing reports of depression and suicidal ideation) and is unsafe for pregnant women to handle. Discuss your history with a clinician before starting.
How much does Keeps cost per month in 2026?
Individual plans often start around $10-25 per month as of 2026 (minoxidil at the low end, generic finasteride roughly $17-25), with combination and compounded formulas costing more, plus about $5 shipping per order. Longer 6- or 12-month subscriptions usually lower the per-month price. Prices change and Keeps' parent company was acquired in late 2025, so confirm current pricing on the Keeps website.
What are the side effects of Keeps finasteride?
In Merck's clinical trials, about 1.3-1.8% of men taking finasteride 1 mg reported decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, or ejaculation problems, usually reversible after stopping. The FDA-approved finasteride label also notes postmarketing reports of depression and, since 2022, suicidal ideation and behavior, and some men report persistent symptoms ("post-finasteride syndrome"), which remains debated. Finasteride also lowers PSA, relevant to prostate-cancer screening.
What happens if I stop using Keeps?
You will gradually lose the hair you regrew or preserved. Both finasteride and minoxidil only work while you use them; within a few months of stopping, DHT-driven thinning resumes and any new growth is typically shed, returning you toward where you would have been without treatment. There is no lasting benefit after discontinuation.
Is Keeps better than Hims for hair loss?
They are similar: both are telehealth services prescribing the same generic finasteride and minoxidil. Keeps is hair-loss focused and often marginally cheaper, while Hims offers a broader range of men's health products. The medications and expected results are essentially the same, so compare current pricing, formats, shipping, and cancellation policies before choosing.
How long does Keeps take to show results?
Expect to use Keeps consistently for at least 3-4 months before seeing change, with fuller results around 6-12 months. Early on, minoxidil can cause temporary shedding before regrowth. Stopping before about the 4-month mark usually means you won't see the medication's true effect, so consistency is key.
Can women use Keeps?
Keeps' finasteride is for men only and is contraindicated in women who are or may become pregnant, who should not handle the tablets, because it can cause birth defects in a male fetus. Some women use topical minoxidil for female pattern hair loss, but should do so under a clinician's guidance through a provider that serves women, not through Keeps' men-only program.
Does insurance cover Keeps?
Generally no. Hair-loss treatment is usually considered cosmetic and not covered by insurance, and Keeps is a cash-pay service. Its appeal is low cash pricing on generics; however, you can sometimes match or beat its cost by getting the same generic finasteride or minoxidil at a local pharmacy with a GoodRx coupon.
Sources
- Long-term (5-year) multinational experience with finasteride 1 mg in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia — European Journal of Dermatology (PubMed) (2002)
- PROPECIA (finasteride) tablets, 1 mg - FDA prescribing information (label updated to include suicidal ideation) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2022)
- A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men — Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (PubMed) (2002)
- A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of a novel formulation of 5% minoxidil topical foam versus placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men — Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (PubMed) (2007)
- Buy Prescription Topical Finasteride and Minoxidil Online — Keeps (manufacturer) (2026)