Prescription by mail ยท Facts checked
Skinli vs Hims & Hers
Skinli and Hims & Hers sit at two different steps of acne care. Hims & Hers, one company with two websites, offers a free online visit, and a licensed provider can prescribe a cream mixed by a pharmacy with tretinoin, clindamycin, azelaic acid and niacinamide, from $29 a month on a subscription. Skinli is free, needs no sign-up to see your plan, and builds a routine around two gels sold without a prescription. Start with Skinli for everyday acne. Choose Hims & Hers if store-bought gels have not worked after 12 weeks.
By Nick, Founder of Skinli. We make Skinli, so read this knowing that. Every fact about Hims & Hers links to where we found it.
Skinli is the free first step. Hims & Hers is a paid prescription step, from $29 a month.
Pick Skinli if
- You have not tried benzoyl peroxide and adapalene for 12 weeks.
- You want a plan today with no account and no subscription.
- You want to choose your own products in any brand.
Pick Hims & Hers if
- Drugstore gels have not worked after 12 weeks.
- You want a licensed provider to prescribe a cream with tretinoin.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding and want a prescription formula without tretinoin. Hers says it offers two.
Skinli and Hims & Hers side by side
| What we compared | Skinli | Hims & Hers |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | A morning and night acne routine built on products sold without a prescription, with a plain reason for each step. | A prescription acne cream mixed by a pharmacy, mailed to you, if a provider prescribes it. Hims & Hers also sells its own cleanser and moisturizer. |
| Who looks at your skin | An AI reads your photo and your answers. No doctor or nurse looks at it. If you save a photo, you and the Skinli site owner can see it. | A licensed medical provider, after an online visit. Its help page names family medicine, internal medicine and psychiatry among its providers' fields, and does not name dermatology. |
| Prescription medicine | No. Skinli names two gels you can buy without a prescription: benzoyl peroxide 2.5% and adapalene 0.1%. | Yes. A blend of up to five ingredients, including tretinoin up to 0.055%, clindamycin up to 1%, azelaic acid and niacinamide. |
| FDA approval | The gels on Skinli's list are sold without a prescription. | The cream is compounded. Its pages say compounded drugs are not approved or checked by the FDA. |
| Price | Free right now, and no sign-up to see your plan. Skinli plans to charge for its 4 week and 12 week plans later, and the price will be on the pricing page before it applies. | The acne pages say from $29 a month. The online visit and shipping are free. The exact price shows only after the visit. |
| Insurance | Not needed. | Not accepted, according to its help page. |
| Subscription | None. | Required for prescriptions and renews on its own. Cancel at least 2 days before the next renewal. |
| Age | Skinli does not ask your age. Teens should involve a parent before starting new acne gels. | 18 and over. Its terms allow ages 13 to 17 for acne creams only, with a parent's consent. |
| Pregnancy | Skinli does not ask. If you are pregnant, ask a doctor before starting any acne gel. | Hers says it offers 2 acne formulas without tretinoin for pregnant and breastfeeding women. |
| Account | Not needed to see your plan. Needed only to save it or store daily photos. | Needed. You fill in an online form for the medical visit. |
| Where it works | Anywhere with a web browser. | All 50 US states and DC, not Puerto Rico, according to its help page. |
| App Store rating | No app. Skinli runs in the browser. | Hims app 4.80 from 95,593 ratings, Hers app 4.59 from 13,608, in the US App Store on September 26, 2026. Both apps cover many services, not only acne. |
| When to see a doctor | If your photo shows deep, sore pimples, the plan says at the top to see a doctor. | Hers' safety page says people with severe cystic acne should be seen in person. |
Are Hims and Hers the same company?
Yes. Hims & Hers Health, Inc. runs both hims.com and forhers.com, according to its 2025 annual report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Both sites sell the same acne cream from the same starting price, and both use the same terms.
Apostrophe, the online acne service Hims & Hers bought in 2021, closed in March 2025, Fierce Healthcare reported. On September 26, 2026, apostrophe.com forwarded to the Hers skin care page.
What did the FTC say about Hims & Hers?
On July 29, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission, joined by Utah and Los Angeles County, sued Hims & Hers. The FTC alleges that the company shared health information with advertising platforms such as Meta and Snap, signed people up for paid treatment when they sent the intake form, and hid the cancel button. The case covers the whole platform, not only acne.
These are claims in a lawsuit. Hims & Hers says they are baseless, and the court has not ruled. If you sign up, read the price and renewal terms before you send the form, and write down how to cancel.
Is Hims & Hers acne cream stronger than a drugstore routine?
Yes. Tretinoin and clindamycin need a prescription, and a provider picks the mix. For acne that has not cleared with store-bought products, that is a real step up. The cream is compounded, which means a pharmacy mixes it, and its pages say compounded drugs are not approved or checked by the FDA.
For someone who has never used benzoyl peroxide and adapalene together, the drugstore route is the usual first step. The 2024 acne guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology strongly recommend both. Skinli builds a full routine around them and explains how to start slowly so they do not sting.
What Hims & Hers looks like
Logo and product photos from the Hims & Hers websites and the Hims App Store listing. They belong to Hims & Hers and are shown only to identify the product.
See what Skinli gives you before you decide.
One photo and a few quick questions. Free, and no account needed to see your plan.
Analyze my skinHow Skinli works, and how far to trust a photo
Is Skinli cheaper than Hims & Hers?
Skinli
- Free right now
- No sign-up to see your plan
- You buy the products yourself, any brand
Hims & Hers
- Free online visit
- Acne cream from $29 a month
- Free shipping
- No insurance accepted
Skinli is cheaper: it is free. Hims & Hers starts at $29 a month, and that price includes the prescription cream and the provider.
What 3 months costs
Lowest listed price for each option, checked September 25, 2026. Prescription services include their cream. Products you buy at a store are extra for every option. Hover or tap a bar to see how it was worked out.
- Skinli$0
- SkinPal AIfrom $23.97
- Skan$29.97
- AcneTrack$29.97
- Pimpl$38.97
- Thea$59.97
- Curology$65.35
- Hims & Hersfrom $87
- MDacne$87
- Musely$90
- Nurxfrom $118
Show as a table
| Option | 3 months | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|
| Skinli | $0 | Free right now, with no sign-up to see your plan. You buy the drugstore products yourself, in any brand. |
| SkinPal AI | from $23.97 | The lowest monthly price in the US App Store list, $7.99, for 3 months. The app's own description lists $12.99 a month. |
| Skan | $29.97 | The $9.99 monthly plan for 3 months. A $19.99 yearly plan costs less if the app offers it to you. |
| AcneTrack | $29.97 | The $9.99 monthly plan for 3 months. Yearly plans start at $19.99. |
| Pimpl | $38.97 | The $12.99 monthly plan for 3 months. A $29.99 yearly discount costs less if the app offers it to you. |
| Thea | $59.97 | The $19.99 monthly plan for 3 months. The dermatologist upgrade costs extra. |
| Curology | $65.35 | $5.45 trial shipping, then one $59.90 shipment that covers the next 60 days. Includes the prescription cream. |
| Hims & Hers | from $87 | The "starting at $29 a month" price for 3 months. The visit and shipping are free. The exact price shows only after the online visit. |
| MDacne | $87 | $9 trial shipping in the US, then one $78 refill that covers the next 2 months, before tax. Includes MDacne's cleanser, moisturizer and night cream. |
| Musely | $90 | The listed $30 a month for 3 months. Includes the prescription cream. Musely ships 2 months of cream at a time. |
| Nurx | from $118 | $40 visit, the lowest listed cream at $25 a month for 3 months, and one $3 support fee, without insurance. |
Which one fits your situation?
You are new to acne products
Pick: Skinli
Start with the two gels doctors pick first. They are sold without a prescription and Skinli shows you how to start them slowly.
You used benzoyl peroxide and adapalene for 12 weeks and still break out
Pick: Hims & Hers
A licensed provider can prescribe a cream with tretinoin and clindamycin, which a store cannot sell you.
You are pregnant or breastfeeding
Pick: A doctor first
Ask your own doctor before any acne product. Hers says it offers formulas without tretinoin for this case.
You have deep, painful acne that is leaving scars
Pick: A dermatologist in person
Hers' own safety page says severe cystic acne should be seen in person.
Looking for a Hims & Hers alternative?
If you are looking for a Hims or Hers acne alternative because you do not want a subscription, Skinli is free and needs no sign-up to see your plan. It gives you a morning and night routine with benzoyl peroxide 2.5% and adapalene 0.1% at night.
If you need a prescription and want to compare services, Curology, Nurx and Musely also mail prescription acne treatment. We compare each one on its own page.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Hims & Hers acne treatment?
On September 26, 2026, the Hims visit page said "starting at $29/mo" and the Hers acne page said "From $29/month". The online visit and shipping are free, and insurance is not accepted. The exact price for your formula shows only after the visit. Skinli is free right now, and you buy the drugstore products yourself.
What is in the Hims & Hers acne cream?
Hers lists tretinoin up to 0.055%, clindamycin up to 1%, azelaic acid up to 10% and niacinamide up to 4%, and says the blend can have up to five ingredients. A pharmacy mixes it after a provider prescribes it. Its pages say compounded drugs are not approved or checked by the FDA. Skinli's routine uses benzoyl peroxide 2.5% and adapalene 0.1% instead.
Is a dermatologist involved at Hims & Hers?
Not necessarily. Hims & Hers says a licensed medical provider reviews your visit, and its help page says its providers are board certified in fields such as family medicine, internal medicine and psychiatry. It does not say acne visits go to a dermatologist. Skinli has no doctor at all, and says at the top of your plan when to see one.
Can teenagers use Hims & Hers for acne?
Its terms say the service is for adults, with one exception: people aged 13 to 17 may get a consultation for acne creams if a parent or guardian consents. Skinli does not ask your age, and its routine uses gels sold without a prescription. A teen should still involve a parent, and see a doctor for deep or painful pimples.
Why did the FTC sue Hims & Hers?
On July 29, 2026, the FTC, joined by Utah and Los Angeles County, sued Hims & Hers. It alleges the company shared health information with advertisers such as Meta and Snap, charged people after the intake form without a clear review step, and hid the cancel button. The company denies the claims, and the court has not ruled.
What happened to Apostrophe?
Hims & Hers bought Apostrophe, an online acne service, in July 2021, according to its SEC filing. Fierce Healthcare reported in March 2025 that Hims & Hers closed Apostrophe and cancelled its subscriptions. On September 26, 2026, apostrophe.com forwarded to the Hers skin care page. Skinli is free and has no subscription to cancel.
Sources
Checked on September 25, 2026. Prices and plans change, so check Hims & Hers's own site before you pay.
- Hers acne page (price, what the cream is) (Hims & Hers's own site)
- Hers Acne Cream page (ingredients, FDA note) (Hims & Hers's own site)
- Hers acne safety information (pregnancy, cystic acne) (Hims & Hers's own site)
- Hims acne visit start page (price) (Hims & Hers's own site)
- Hims & Hers terms (age, subscription, cancelling) (Hims & Hers's own site)
- Hims & Hers help: are your clinicians licensed? (Hims & Hers's own site)
- Hims & Hers help: do you accept insurance? (Hims & Hers's own site)
- Hims & Hers help: where is it available? (Hims & Hers's own site)
- Hims & Hers 2025 annual report (SEC Form 10-K) (independent source)
- Hims & Hers quarterly report for June 2021, Apostrophe purchase (SEC Form 10-Q) (independent source)
- FTC press release, July 29, 2026 (independent source)
- Hims & Hers response to the FTC lawsuit, July 29, 2026 (Hims & Hers's own site)
- Fierce Healthcare: Hims & Hers shutters Apostrophe, March 11, 2025 (independent source)
- Apple catalog data for the Hims app (rating and rating count) (independent source)
- Apple catalog data for the Hers app (rating and rating count) (independent source)
- Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris (American Academy of Dermatology, 2024) (independent source)
Get a routine built from your own photo.
One photo and a few quick questions. You do not need an account to see your routine.
Analyze my skinSkinli gives simple tips for skin with pimples. It is not a doctor. It cannot tell you what is wrong the way a doctor can. If your pimples hurt, are deep under the skin, are getting worse, or will not go away, see a doctor.