Keeps has a simple pitch: the same proven hair loss medications your dermatologist would prescribe, at prices significantly lower than a pharmacy visit. Founded in 2018 by Steve Gutentag and Demetri Karagas — two friends frustrated by their own hair loss options — the platform has since treated hundreds of thousands of men. And unlike Hims, which has expanded into ED, weight loss, skincare, and mental health, Keeps has stayed laser-focused on one thing: keeping your hair.
That focus is both its greatest strength and its most notable limitation. Here's what you need to know before signing up.
What Keeps Offers
Keeps' product lineup is deliberately streamlined. There's no bloat — just the treatments that clinical evidence supports for androgenetic alopecia:
- Oral finasteride (1mg) — The standard DHT blocker. $20–25/month depending on subscription length.
- Topical minoxidil 5% — Available in foam or solution form, starting at $10/month on longer plans.
- Topical finasteride + minoxidil gel — A two-in-one prescription topical combining both active ingredients. Runs $30–50/month.
- Minoxidil+ Spray — A prescription spray blending minoxidil with melatonin, tretinoin, and caffeine. $45/month (or $31.50 for the first month with new subscriber discount).
- Prescription ketoconazole shampoo (2%) — The one product Keeps has that most competitors don't. About $10/month.
- Daily Hair Defense supplement — Contains saw palmetto, biotin, green tea extract, and caffeine.
- Thickening shampoo, conditioner, and pomade — Non-prescription styling and support products.
Keeps Pricing: How Much You'll Actually Spend
Keeps bills and ships quarterly (every 3 months), with a flat $5 shipping charge per shipment. They offer 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month plans, with longer commitments reducing the per-month cost.
| Product | Quarterly Plan | Annual Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Oral finasteride (1mg) | $25/mo | $20/mo |
| Topical minoxidil 5% (foam or solution) | $15/mo | $10/mo |
| Finasteride + minoxidil (oral + topical) | $35/mo | $28/mo |
| Topical fin + minoxidil gel | $50/mo | $35/mo |
| Rx ketoconazole shampoo (2%) | $12/mo | $10/mo |
The Keeps Consultation Process
Getting started with Keeps follows the standard telehealth model: fill out an online questionnaire, upload photos of your hairline and crown, and wait for a provider to review your case. You can either choose your own plan (if you already know what you want) or let the provider recommend one.
One notable difference from Hims: follow-up consultations cost $5 each after the first year. Your first year includes follow-ups at no additional cost, but from year two onward, each check-in carries that fee. Keeps says most customers only need one annual consultation, and that's probably true for straightforward cases. But if you're experiencing side effects or want to adjust your protocol, those $5 charges can add friction to a conversation that should be frictionless.
On the positive side, Keeps' care team is available 7 days a week (8am–8pm EST), and messaging your provider between formal consultations is free.
What Keeps Does Best
The "Big 3" in one place
Finasteride, minoxidil, and prescription ketoconazole shampoo — the three treatments most dermatologists recommend as the foundational hair loss protocol — are all available through Keeps. No other major telehealth platform offers all three. If you want the full evidence-based stack without sourcing ketoconazole separately, Keeps is the clear winner.
Genuinely competitive pricing
On annual plans, Keeps' prices are among the lowest in telehealth. $20/month for finasteride and $10/month for minoxidil undercuts Hims, Ro, and Happy Head. The pricing won't beat a GoodRx coupon at Costco for generic finasteride, but it includes the consultation, progress tracking, and provider access.
Focus breeds depth
Because Keeps only does hair loss (and recently, ED), the platform is deeply specialized. The intake questionnaire, provider recommendations, and progress-tracking tools are all built around hair. There's no navigating a massive multi-condition platform to find what you need.
Styling products that actually work
Keeps' Thickening Pomade contains saw palmetto, biotin, green tea extract, and caffeine — ingredients with at least theoretical support for hair health. It's also free of gluten, ethanol, and propylene glycol. It's well-priced compared to similar products from brands like American Crew, and it's genuinely good for making thinning hair look thicker while your treatment takes effect.
Where Keeps Falls Short
Narrow platform scope
If finasteride causes sexual side effects, Hims can prescribe ED medication within the same platform. Keeps recently added ED treatment, but the infrastructure isn't as mature. For men concerned about managing potential side effects, a broader platform offers a safety net.
Follow-up fees after year one
$5 per follow-up isn't much in isolation, but it creates a psychological barrier. Hims and Happy Head both offer free unlimited follow-ups. When you're on a medication with known (if rare) side effects, you want zero friction between "I think something's off" and "I'm talking to my provider."
No custom compounding
Like Hims, Keeps uses standardized formulations. If you need higher-concentration minoxidil, dutasteride instead of finasteride, or additional active ingredients like spironolactone or retinoic acid, you'll need a platform like Happy Head.
No-refund policy
Once your order is processed and shipped, Keeps does not offer refunds or accept returns — even for unopened products. The company cites pharmaceutical regulations (medications shipped to one patient can't be reused), and that's legitimate. But it means you need to cancel or adjust your subscription before your next shipment processes, or you're paying for it regardless.
Want a Second Opinion on Your Hair Loss Plan?
Sesame Care connects you with licensed providers for independent consultations — no platform lock-in. Get personalized treatment recommendations and prescriptions sent to any pharmacy.
Book a Consultation →Who Keeps Is Best For
- Budget-conscious men — If minimizing monthly cost is your top priority, Keeps' annual plans are hard to beat among telehealth platforms.
- Men who want the full "Big 3" — Finasteride + minoxidil + Rx ketoconazole in one subscription is a genuine differentiator.
- Early-stage hair loss — Keeps works best for Norwood 2–4, where proven treatments have the greatest impact.
- Men who value simplicity — The platform is straightforward. No upsells, no sprawling product catalog. Pick your treatments, get them shipped quarterly.
Who Should Consider Alternatives
- Men wanting frequent provider contact — The $5 follow-up fee after year one is a dealbreaker for some. Hims offers free unlimited follow-ups.
- Advanced hair loss cases — If you need custom formulations, higher-concentration topicals, or dutasteride, Happy Head is the better option.
- Women — Keeps is men-only. For women's hair loss, platforms like Hers or Happy Head serve that market.
- Men who might need side-effect management — If you're nervous about finasteride's potential sexual side effects, Hims' broader platform can address those within the same provider relationship.
The Bottom Line
Keeps earns its reputation as the value play in telehealth hair loss. The pricing is genuinely competitive, the product lineup covers the full evidence-based protocol (including prescription ketoconazole that most competitors skip), and the platform stays focused on doing one thing well. The follow-up fee and no-refund policy are real drawbacks, but for men who want proven treatments at the lowest reliable price, Keeps delivers.
Like every hair loss treatment, what matters most is starting early and staying consistent. The best platform is the one you'll actually use every day for years. If budget is the barrier that's been keeping you from starting treatment, Keeps removes that obstacle about as effectively as anything on the market.
Need Something Stronger Than Standard Formulations?
Happy Head's board-certified dermatologists create custom-compounded topicals with concentrations and ingredient combinations you won't find at Keeps or Hims.
See Custom Treatment Options →