# HRT Watchdog

> Independent comparison of online menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) programs: monthly prices, what's included, FDA-approved vs compounded hormones, and who prescribes.

HRT Watchdog is independent. Some programs pay us a commission when a reader signs up; that never changes a score (price 30%, transparency 25%, care 20%, access 15%, reputation 10%). Every price links to the provider page it was read from. Prices last checked October 26, 2026.

## Key facts

- Top-scored: Winona: score 9.2/10, from $39/month (auto-refill, 30 or 90-day supply), FDA-approved + compounded medication, medication in price: included
- Second: Found: score 8.9/10, from $40/month ($119 per 3-month supply), Compounded medication, medication in price: included
- Third: Musely: score 8.9/10, from $20/month (auto-refill, 2-month supply), FDA-approved + compounded medication, medication in price: included
- Lowest all-in monthly price we found: $20 at Musely (The Progesterone Pill, auto-refill, 2-month supply)
- Programs compared: 10
- FDA-approved vs compounded hormones: FDA-approved estradiol and progesterone are tested for dose and purity. Compounded bioidentical hormones are mixed by a pharmacy and are not FDA-approved as finished products. In November 2025 the FDA began removing the broad boxed warnings from approved menopause hormone therapy, keeping the endometrial cancer warning for estrogen-alone products.
- Is the medication in the price?: Many programs charge a monthly membership and bill hormones on top (Hone, LifeMD, Ivim, Sesame). Others price each product with the doctor included (Winona, Musely, Gala). Compare the total, not the membership.
- FDA-approved or compounded?: FDA-approved estradiol and progesterone are tested for dose and purity. Compounded bioidentical creams are not FDA-approved, and the FDA-commissioned National Academies review found a lack of rigorous evidence for them. Every card here says which you get.
- Will insurance pay for any of it?: Generic estradiol and progesterone are often covered at your own pharmacy. Telehealth memberships usually are not. A few programs bill insurance for the visit itself (Found, PlushCare, some LifeMD plans).
- Labs: included, extra or skipped?: Most menopause programs don't require blood tests to start. Some include monitoring (Hone runs quarterly labs), others order them only when needed and don't say what they cost.
- Read the cancellation terms: Refill orders are often final sale, some programs need notice days before billing, and a few charge the membership in months you don't order medication.
- Check your state first: Not every program prescribes everywhere: Winona serves 37 states, Hone 33. Programs that don't publish a list tell you at sign-up.

## Core pages

- [Best menopause programs](https://hrtwatchdog.com/best): every program ranked on our published score
- [Prices](https://hrtwatchdog.com/cost): lowest all-in monthly price per program and per treatment, with sources
- [Find my match](https://hrtwatchdog.com/quiz): a short quiz that returns three programs
- [Compare](https://hrtwatchdog.com/compare): every program side by side in pairs
- [How we score](https://hrtwatchdog.com/methodology): the exact scoring rules
- [Price Index](https://hrtwatchdog.com/price-index): cheapest and median monthly price over time ([JSON](https://hrtwatchdog.com/price-index.json))
- [Full data](https://hrtwatchdog.com/llms-full.txt) · [JSON](https://hrtwatchdog.com/providers.json) · [CSV](https://hrtwatchdog.com/providers.csv)

## Reviews

- [Winona review](https://hrtwatchdog.com/reviews/winona): Women who want to see every price up front and pay only for the medication.
- [Found review](https://hrtwatchdog.com/reviews/found): Insured women who want hormone therapy without a monthly membership.
- [Musely review](https://hrtwatchdog.com/reviews/musely): Women who know what they need and want the lowest monthly price.
- [Gala Health review](https://hrtwatchdog.com/reviews/gala-health): Women who want FDA-approved hormones at one simple, low monthly price.
- [Hone Health review](https://hrtwatchdog.com/reviews/hone-health): Women who want lab-guided care and ongoing doctor access, and are willing to pay for it.
- [Ivim Health review](https://hrtwatchdog.com/reviews/ivim-health): Women already set on compounded hormones who want many delivery forms.
- [Sesame review](https://hrtwatchdog.com/reviews/sesame): Women with good pharmacy coverage who only need the prescribing visit.
- [Inner Balance review](https://hrtwatchdog.com/reviews/inner-balance): Women set on a single compounded cream who are comfortable with the commitment.
- [LifeMD Women's Health review](https://hrtwatchdog.com/reviews/lifemd): Women in states other programs don't serve who want regular consultations.
- [PlushCare review](https://hrtwatchdog.com/reviews/plushcare): Insured women who want their usual pharmacy and a covered doctor visit.

## Guides

- [Compounded bioidentical hormones vs FDA-approved HRT](https://hrtwatchdog.com/guides/compounded-vs-fda-hrt): What compounded bioidentical hormones are, how they differ from FDA-approved HRT, what the FDA and NASEM found, the 2025-2026 label changes and what to ask.
- [How much does menopause HRT cost online? What you will really pay](https://hrtwatchdog.com/guides/hrt-cost): Online menopause HRT pricing explained: all-in vs membership plans, who bills the medication, what insurance covers, compounded vs FDA prices and refill traps.