Since you’ll need to take or administer certain birth control methods daily, weekly, or monthly, you’ll want to have a refill on hand so you stay on track. But we understand that life can get busy, and you might run out sooner than expected. A benefit of using a telehealth service is that many offer automatic refills — some with quick and free shipping — to ensure you never run out.

Hormonal birth control is incredibly effective. When taken as prescribed, birth control pills prevent pregnancy 99 percent of the time. Aside from pregnancy prevention, birth control can help regulate periods, relieve menstrual cramps, and treat acne. It may also help manage reproductive conditions like polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) (the new term for polycystic ovary syndrome, aka PCOS), endometriosis, and heavy menstrual bleeding that could lead to iron-deficiency anemia.

Telehealth care has made it easier than ever to access birth control online. Research shows that health outcomes can improve when patients have access to virtual reproductive care. With online birth control services, you no longer have to schedule an in-person appointment, take time off work, or sit in a waiting room to get a prescription or refill. Simply chat with a provider from the comfort of your home and get your prescription delivered to your doorstep in a few days or pick it up at your local pharmacy the same day.

To help you find the best online birth control service to meet your needs, we recommend several options for different circumstances.

When to Consult a Doctor

Like any medication, birth control may cause a few unwanted side effects, including headache, nausea, breast tenderness, and spotting or bleeding between periods. These are common symptoms that usually go away within a few months.

“If you experience severe mood swings or depression, increased blood pressure, continuous or heavy bleeding that persists for more than three months, or signs of jaundice, such as yellowing of the skin or eyes, you should contact your healthcare provider,” says Sheetal J. Dedania, MD, MSCP, physician manager of Reiter, Hill & Johnson of Advantia Health. In addition, the following rare but serious side effects require immediate medical attention:

Severe abdominal or chest pain
Blurred vision or loss of vision
Pain or swelling in one leg
Numbness or weakness in a region of your body

Online Birth Control Services (No Insurance Needed)

No health insurance? No problem. Low-cost birth control is available without insurance through a few telehealth services, so there’s no need to break the bank to get your medication.

Convenient Refills: Lemonaid Health

Lemonaid Health is a great option for those who forget to request refills or can’t always make it to the drug store. After you complete the intake questionnaire, a medical professional will get back to you within one day. If medication is prescribed, three months’ worth of birth control pills (three packs) will arrive at your home in 2-3 business days with free shipping. Refills auto-ship every three months. The annual consult is only $25, with birth control pill prescriptions delivered every three months for $15 per pack. If the service can’t help you, you won’t be charged for the consultation. Plus, emergency contraception is available.

Super Savings: Hers

Hers is one of the lowest-cost online birth control services we’ve come across. The company prioritizes affordable care without insurance, with birth control plans starting at $12 per month and free consultations. Simply complete the online intake form, then meet with a provider to determine which birth control medication is right for you. If prescribed, medication is delivered right to your door with free shipping, and new packs ship out six days before you run out. You can choose from 10+ birth control pills. Plus, if you have needs outside of birth control, Hers offers other telehealth services — ranging from weight loss to skincare.

Accessible Providers: Wisp

Wisp offers transparent, upfront pricing for virtual consultations with licensed providers and medication delivery, with no hidden fees. We love that you can message the Care Team anytime. Most prescriptions start at around $15 per month. Wisp has 16 name-brand and generic birth control pills, available in one-, three-, or six-month supplies. It also offers rings and patches if pills aren’t your thing. Emergency contraception is also available.

You simply request your preferred birth control option, then, if needed, a provider will follow-up with you via chat or phone. If approved for treatment, Wisp sends the prescription the same day to your local pharmacy for quick pickup or ships it to your home within 3 to 5 days.

Over-The-Counter (OTC) – No Prescription Required: Opill

If you don’t want to jump through hoops to get birth control, you might want to give the Opill a try. It requires no prescription or ID to purchase — keeping the process quick and stress-free. It’s the first FDA-approved OTC pill in the United States, offering similar effectiveness to its prescription competitors. The 28-day progestin-only pill is available in one-, three-, and six-month supplies and starts working within 48 hours of taking the first pill. You can order directly from the company or from one of the major retailers that sell the pill packs, such as Amazon, Target, or Walmart.

Online Birth Control Services That Accept Insurance

Most health insurance plans will cover birth control at little to no cost to you, but some only cover certain brands or generic versions. If you aren’t sure if you have coverage for birth control, you can always contact the number on the back of your insurance card or review your plan’s drug list (formulary). The good news is that several telehealth services accept insurance, allowing you to access cost-saving benefits to get an online prescription.

Best Value: Nurx

Nurx offers online birth control with low copays for most insurance plans. They have several brand-name and generic pills, as well as the patch, the ring, emergency contraception, and the shot, giving you multiple options if you’re seeking a specific type of contraceptive. If you’re deemed eligible for a prescription after completing the assessment, they will deliver your prescription to your door with free, fast shipping, making the process hassle-free. Pills are sent in three-packs. Plus, if you have any concerns after receiving your prescription, Nurx’s medical team is available 24/7 via secure messaging in their app or on their website.

Trusted Reproductive Health Provider: Planned Parenthood Direct

Planned Parenthood is a popular name in the reproductive space, known for delivering expert-backed sexual health resources, but it also has online birth control services. Planned Parenthood Direct (PPDirect) offers the pill, emergency contraception, and other methods you can order online. Simply complete a health questionnaire, wait to hear the results from the medical review, and, if approved, choose whether you want your medication delivered to a local pharmacy or to your home in discreet packaging. The PPDirect app makes it easy to get a prescription or refill, with quick responses to online requests.

Birth Control Prescription Fulfillment

For Drugstore Convenience: Walgreens Virtual Care

At a Walgreens Virtual Care consultation, you can discuss a new birth control prescription or request a refill authorization for your current birth control prescription. Consults cost $33. If deemed appropriate, a one-year supply of birth control is typically prescribed. You can choose from a variety of birth control pills, as well as patches, rings, and diaphragms. Pick up prescriptions and refills at your local Walgreens pharmacy. Note that Walgreens Virtual Care is not available in all states.

Variety of Birth Control Types: Twentyeight Health

If you want a wide range of birth control to choose from, you might want to explore Twentyeight Health. The telehealth provider offers 100+ brands of birth control pills with affordable monthly packs. Beyond the pill, they also have the patch, ring, shot, emergency contraception, and even internal condoms if you want to explore other contraception methods. It accepts most insurance plans, including Medicaid in certain states, which can mean low copays. But the care doesn’t stop once you get your prescription — you’ll get 24/7 access to Twentyeight Health’s providers, who are available to answer any questions you have about treatment.

Full-Service Telehealth Platforms

If you prefer to sign up for one platform to meet all your virtual health needs, there are full-service telehealth providers that provide care beyond birth control prescriptions. They’re equipped with licensed providers across multiple specialties — think primary care, dermatology, psychiatry, therapy, and cardiology — that can help address your medical concerns.

Although telehealth care can be a convenient, accessible way to get healthcare, it’s still a supplement to in-person care, especially if you’re experiencing any new or concerning side effects from birth control.

Local Pharmacy Pickup: Sesame

If you want to avoid potential shipping delays or delivery problems, or don’t want your family or roommates snooping in your mail, you might prefer in-person pharmacy pickup. Sesame offers telehealth services online — from the intake form to medical consultation — but can send your prescription to your pharmacy of choice, sometimes on the same day. (Shipping may also be available.) The platform keeps appointment prices low by not working with insurance.

Sesame provides clear, upfront pricing with affordable options, making it easier to pay for your pills without insurance. It uses a pay-per-visit care model, so you’ll pay for the provider visit along with your prescription. You can also seek other medical care, including weight loss, mental health, fertility, and gynecologic urgent care, through the telehealth provider.

For Same-Day Prescriptions: PlushCare

If you need birth control today, try PlushCare. When you fill out the intake form, you can request to either speak with a doctor via video or have them review your request. If deemed appropriate, your prescription will be sent to your chosen pharmacy the same day. Most prescriptions are for a three-month supply and are approved within an hour. A wide range of birth control is available, including the pill, patch, ring, shot, Phexxi (non-hormonal vaginal gel), and emergency contraception. The company can also refer you to local specialists if you’re interested in an implant or IUD.

Note that the “Quick Care Review” process is only available for the combined pill, progesterone-only pill, ring, and patch. Other options require a video visit. PlushCare accepts health insurance, which typically covers the full cost of birth control prescriptions. Quick care visits cost a low flat fee plus the cost of membership; video visits cost more if paying out of pocket, but you can use insurance for them. The platform also offers urgent care, including other reproductive healthcare services, as well as general health, weight loss, and mental healthcare.

Fast Appointments: DrHouse

DrHouse offers 24/7 telehealth services that can connect you with a licensed provider within 15 minutes. They offer a wide range of medical services, including primary care, urgent care, reproductive care, and dermatology, that can treat thousands of conditions. After intake and a video consultation, you’ll have the option to pick up your pills at a nearby pharmacy or have them delivered in as little as an hour. DrHouse accepts most insurance plans and only charges copays.

Is Birth Control Effective?

“When used as directed (i.e., the same time every day), birth control can be very effective,” says Nap Hosang, MD, cofounder and chief medical officer at Cadence OTC. “If used perfectly, the pill is 99 percent effective. However, when you take into account natural human error, like missed pills, this method’s effectiveness can drop to 93 percent.”

If you choose birth control pills, you must take them at the same time every day to maintain consistent hormone levels. It’s best to avoid more than 24 hours between pills, as going beyond this window can reduce the medication’s effectiveness. We know life can get busy, so it may be helpful to set a daily alarm.

How Long Does It Take For Birth Control To Kick In?

While it depends on which type of birth control pill you’re taking and where you are in your cycle, Dr. Dedania says it can take between 2 and 7 days for protection to kick in. “During that time, you should use back-up birth control to prevent pregnancy,” she says.

Are There Side Effects When Starting Birth Control?

Like any medication, birth control can cause some side effects. “The most common side effects include nausea, headache, breast tenderness, spotting between periods, and mood swings,” Dr. Hosang explains. “It’s normal to experience these, especially at the beginning, but if the side effects inhibit your day-to-day, it’s essential to speak with your doctor, especially if they persist beyond three months.”

What Happens If I Miss A Dose of Birth Control?

If you missed a dose, Dedania recommends taking it as soon as you remember. But if you’ve missed more than one dose, she suggests using a back-up method, such as condoms, for the next week while you get back on track.

Can I Switch Birth Control Methods Through An Online Service?

Absolutely. “There are many online and telehealth services that make it easier to switch birth control methods or brands when needed, offering greater flexibility and convenience for you,” Hosang says. Simply request a provider consultation or message your care team to inquire about whether the new birth control aligns with your health and lifestyle needs.

FAQ

Do I still need a prescription to get birth control online?
It depends on which type of birth control you need. Opill is currently the only FDA-approved over-the-counter drug available online, but if you want a specific brand or method, you’ll likely need approval from a licensed provider.
How does online birth control delivery work?
Most telehealth providers ask you to complete an intake form or health questionnaire to learn your health history and lifestyle. From there, you’ll have a virtual consultation with a provider, and, if approved, have a prescription sent to your home or local pharmacy.
How much does birth control cost online compared with a pharmacy?
Online health services offer similar prices to what you’ll find in a pharmacy. For example, birth control pills typically cost between $0 to $50 a month, but are often free or low-cost with most insurance plans. Prices can vary for other forms of birth control.
Can insurance be used for online birth control services?
Yes. Most large telehealth providers accept major insurance plans — some even take Medicaid — to cover birth control services. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed in 2010, required most health insurance plans to cover birth control with no copays. Other services keep costs affordable by not working with insurance companies and instead offering generic prescriptions, reasonably priced consults, or discounts for bulk orders.
What types of birth control can you get online?
You can get several birth control methods online, including pills, patches, rings, shots, and emergency contraception.
How fast can I get birth control delivered to my home?
It depends on which telehealth service you choose. Most companies ship prescriptions within 3 to 5 days, while some only offer pickup at the local pharmacy of your choice. Many services let you choose between mail-order delivery or local pharmacy pickup.

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You Can Get Your Birth Control Online — Here Are The Providers We Trust