Prescription by mail ยท Facts checked September 24, 2026
Skinli vs Nurx
Skinli and Nurx sit at two different steps of acne care. Nurx charges a $40 online visit, then a licensed provider can prescribe creams or pills, starting at $25 a month for cream without insurance plus a $3 support fee in each month an order is processed. Nurx's FAQ says it cannot take new patients under 18. Skinli is free, does not ask your age, and builds a routine around two gels sold without a prescription. Start with Skinli for everyday acne. Choose Nurx if you are an adult and store-bought gels have not worked.
By Nick, Founder of Skinli. We make Skinli, so read this knowing that. Every fact about Nurx links to where we found it.
Skinli is the free first step. Nurx is the paid next step for adults who need a prescription.
Pick Skinli if
- You are under 18. Nurx's FAQ says it cannot take new patients under 18.
- You want a plan today at no cost.
- Your acne is mild and you have not tried benzoyl peroxide and adapalene yet.
Pick Nurx if
- You are an adult and drugstore gels have not worked after 12 weeks.
- You have private insurance that may cover the medicine.
- You want pills such as spironolactone or minocycline, which need a prescription.
Skinli and Nurx side by side
| What we compared | Skinli | Nurx |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | A morning and night acne routine built on products sold without a prescription, with a plain reason for each step. | Prescription cream or pills, mailed to you in a 3 month supply, or sent to your local pharmacy. |
| Who looks at your skin | An AI reads your photo and your answers. No doctor or nurse looks at it. | A provider licensed in your state, after you fill in an online visit with photos. |
| Prescription medicine | No. Skinli names two gels you can buy without a prescription: benzoyl peroxide 2.5% and adapalene 0.1%. | Yes. Tretinoin, clindamycin, azelaic acid, spironolactone, minocycline and more. Nurx does not prescribe isotretinoin (Accutane). |
| Price | Free right now. 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. | $40 visit fee, covering one year of care. Medicine from $25 a month for creams and $15 to $30 a month for pills without insurance. |
| Extra fees | None. | A $3 support fee in each month one or more of your orders is processed. |
| Insurance | Not needed. | Takes private insurance for medicine. Does not take Medicare, Medicaid or Tricare. The $40 visit fee is not billed to insurance. |
| Age | Skinli does not ask your age. Teens should involve a parent before starting new acne gels. | Nurx's FAQ says it cannot serve new patients under 18. |
| Pregnancy | Skinli does not ask. If you are pregnant, ask a doctor before starting any acne gel. | Nurx says it cannot treat people who are pregnant. |
| Account | Not needed to see your plan. Needed only to save it or store daily photos. | Needed for the medical visit. |
| Subscription | None. | Automatic refills. Nurx says you can pause or cancel anytime. |
| Products | A shopping list of words to look for on the box, such as "adapalene 0.1%". No brands, no shop, no paid links. | The medicine your provider prescribes. |
| Where it works | Anywhere with a web browser. | Only in the US states where Nurx operates. |
What does Nurx acne treatment cost compared with Skinli?
Nurx charges $40 for the online visit, and that fee covers one year of care. Without insurance, prescription creams start at $25 a month and pills cost $15 to $30 a month. Nurx lists tretinoin cream at $60 for a 2 month supply. On top of that, Nurx charges a $3 support fee in each month an order is processed.
Skinli costs nothing right now. You buy benzoyl peroxide 2.5%, adapalene 0.1%, a gentle face wash, a moisturizer and sunscreen at any drugstore, in any brand.
What did the New York Attorney General find about Nurx's owner?
On August 24, 2026, the New York Attorney General announced that Thirty Madison, the company that owns Nurx, would pay $400,000. The office found that Thirty Madison did not clearly tell customers their subscriptions renewed automatically or that prices rose after the first order, did not properly disclose non-refundable fees, and made cancelling take several steps.
Thirty Madison must also change how it sells subscriptions and offer money back to some customers. If you sign up with Nurx, read the subscription terms at checkout and write down how to cancel.
Can a teenager use Nurx or Skinli?
Nurx's FAQ says it is not able to serve new patients under 18. Another Nurx acne page still mentions teens, so the FAQ is the clearer answer.
Skinli does not ask your age. Acne often starts in the teen years, and the two gels in Skinli's routine are sold without a prescription. A teen should still involve a parent, and should see a doctor for deep or painful pimples.
What Nurx looks like
Screenshots and logo from the Nurx app's US App Store listing. The Nurx app covers birth control and other care as well as acne. They belong to Thirty Madison 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 skinIs Skinli cheaper than Nurx?
Skinli
- Free right now
- No visit fee, no support fee
- You buy the products yourself, any brand
Nurx
- $40 visit fee, covers one year
- Creams from $25 a month without insurance
- Pills $15 to $30 a month without insurance
- $3 support fee in each month an order is processed
Skinli is cheaper: it is free. A first year with Nurx costs at least the $40 visit fee plus the medicine and support fees. Insurance can lower the medicine cost.
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
- Skan$29.97
- AcneTrack$29.97
- Thea$59.97
- Curology$65.35
- Musely$90
- Nurxfrom $118
Show as a table
| Option | 3 months | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|
| Skinli | $0 | Free right now. You buy the drugstore products yourself, in any brand. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 16 with everyday pimples
Pick: Skinli
Nurx says it cannot take new patients under 18. Skinli's routine uses drugstore gels, and a parent can help you start them.
You are an adult with acne around your jaw that flares with your period
Pick: Nurx
Spironolactone can help acne that follows your cycle and needs a prescription. Nurx prescribes it.
You have never used an acne gel
Pick: Skinli
Start with benzoyl peroxide and adapalene, the two gels doctors pick first.
You have deep, painful acne that is leaving scars
Pick: A dermatologist in person
Isotretinoin (Accutane) is the usual treatment, and Nurx does not prescribe it.
Looking for a Nurx alternative?
If you are looking for a Nurx alternative because you are under 18, or because you do not want a visit fee and monthly charges, Skinli is free and does not ask your age. It gives you a morning and night routine with a plain reason for every step.
If you need a prescription, Curology and Musely also mail prescription acne cream. We compare both on their own pages.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Nurx acne treatment without insurance?
On September 25, 2026, Nurx listed a $40 visit fee that covers one year of care. Without insurance, prescription creams start at $25 a month and pills cost $15 to $30 a month. Tretinoin cream was $60 for a 2 month supply. Nurx also charges a $3 support fee in each month an order is processed. Skinli is free right now.
Can I use Nurx if I am under 18?
Nurx's FAQ says it is not able to serve new patients under 18. If you are under 18, Skinli's free routine is one option, because it uses gels sold without a prescription and does not ask your age. Involve a parent, and see a doctor if your pimples are deep, painful or getting worse.
Does Nurx prescribe Accutane?
No. Nurx says it does not prescribe isotretinoin, the drug sold as Accutane, because it needs more monitoring than Nurx can provide online. Skinli cannot prescribe anything. If your acne is deep and painful or leaves scars, see a dermatologist in person, who can decide whether isotretinoin is right for you.
Does Nurx take insurance for acne?
Nurx says it takes private insurance for the medicine, which can lower the cost. It does not take Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare or other government plans, and the $40 visit fee is not billed to insurance. Skinli needs no insurance, because it is free and recommends products you buy yourself.
Why did New York fine Nurx's parent company?
On August 24, 2026, the New York Attorney General announced that Thirty Madison, which owns Nurx, would pay $400,000. The office found that the company did not clearly disclose automatic renewals, price increases after the first order and non-refundable fees, and made cancelling hard. The company must change these practices and refund some customers.
Should I try Skinli before Nurx?
If you have not used benzoyl peroxide and adapalene for 12 weeks, yes. The 2024 acne guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology strongly recommend both, and you can buy them without a prescription. Skinli shows you how to start them slowly. If they do not help after 12 weeks, a prescription from Nurx or a doctor is the next step.
Sources
Checked on September 24, 2026. Prices and plans change, so check Nurx's own site before you pay.
- Nurx acne treatment page (prices, medicines, support fee) (Nurx's own site)
- Nurx FAQ: how much acne treatment costs (Nurx's own site)
- Nurx FAQ: who can use the acne service (Nurx's own site)
- New York Attorney General press release, August 24, 2026 (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.