Where to Get the Abortion Pill Online

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Keep Abortion Legal sing at Protest — Photo: Gayatri Malhotra / Unsplash

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court voted to overturn the 1973 landmark ruling Roe v. Wade, ending the Constitutional right to have an abortion in the United States. Thirteen states with existing "trigger laws" have made abortion illegal in most or all circumstances, with an additional 13 states considering or planning to pass restrictions or bans.

With access to surgical abortion limited in numerous states, many Americans are now seeking medication abortions (also known as taking abortion pills). Medication abortion involves taking one medication to end a pregnancy, then another 24 to 48 hours later to empty your uterus.

Abortion pills accounted for 53% of all abortions in 2020. While some states are moving to ban abortion pills from being sent through the mail or banning telehealth prescriptions of these medications, the Guttmacher Institute does not anticipate that the rate of use will fall below 50%. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland says that states will not be able to restrict access to mifepristone.

As of right now, it is still possible to obtain abortion pills by prescription at your local pharmacy or by mail, thanks to many organizations and prescribers who are ready and willing to help people access safe, effective care. However, since the Supreme Court ruling, access to abortion pills varies by state and finding workarounds to obtaining them could come with risks. Below you can find the best abortion pill services, depending on your needs. We will update this article regularly so you can rest assured you are receiving the most up-to-date information.

Online Abortion Pill Resources

Most Comprehensive Resource: Hey Jane
Widely Available: Aid Access
Accepts Insurance: carafem
In-State Abortion Care Resource: Plan C Pills
Best for Medical Health Support: Abortion on Demand
Age Inclusive: Pills By Post
Available to Purchase in Advance: Forward Midwifery
Stresses Privacy: Choix

Most Comprehensive Resource: Hey Jane

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Key Specs

Cost: $249, with financial assistance available
Availability: 8 States
Doctors Available: Yes
Discreet shipping: Yes

Why We Chose It

Not only can you receive abortion pills through Hey Jane, but it also offers a variety of abortion resources, including 24/7 service from trained providers and an easy-to-use website to help people through every step of the process.

Pros & Cons

Pros

24-hour urgent medical support for before and after treatment
Access to a private peer support forum
Fast and free shipping
Accepts HSA/FSA

Cons

Cannot provide ultrasounds or blood tests
Only available in eight states
Only serves clients age 18 and up

Since its launch in January 2021, Hey Jane has served patients seeking abortion care in six states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, and Washington.

Patients over 18 years old and up to 10 weeks pregnant complete a medical history intake form, submit a few consent forms and provide the payment of $249 (via credit, debit, cash card, or HSA/FSA). After that, patients need to download the Spruce app to consult with a board-certified medical provider within 24 hours of completing the intake forms to decide if abortion pills is the best choice. If so, Hey Jane ships the medication to the address specified, including a P.O. box if preferred in discreet packaging within five business days using their mail-order pharmacy partner, Honeybee.

In addition to providing medical abortions, a private peer-to-peer forum is available to help others connect and find solidarity with other Hey Jane patients. Hey Jane uses a secure online app (Spruce) to communicate with patients, adding another layer of privacy and protection. They also have a resource page with links to talk and text, legal support, and other helpful resources. Patients can use the Spruce messaging app at any time.

Widely Available: Aid Access

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Key Specs

Cost: $105-$150
Availability: All 50 States; Plus DC and U.S. Territories
Doctors Available: Yes
Discreet shipping: Yes

Why We Chose It

Aid Access is the only service we could find that serves patients in all 50 states. If you live in the 21 states where telehealth abortion prescriptions are legal, you'll meet with a US doctor and pay $150 for your abortion pill. If you live in a state where medical abortion pills are illegal, you'll be prescribed by a European doctor and receive your medication in the mail from an Indian pharmacy for 95 Euros ($105).

Pros & Cons

Pros

Low cost
Available to all 50 states
Can be used to get abortion pills for future use

Cons

Potential legal trouble in states with strict abortion bans
Can take one to three weeks if you live in a state where abortion is banned
Can take several weeks to get pills for future use

Founded by a Dutch physician, Rebecca Gomperts, M.D., MPP, Ph.D., Aid Access's mission statement is to help anyone get an abortion pill if they need it—regardless of where they live. If you live in a state where it is legal to get prescribed an abortion pill via telehealth appointment (i.e. Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming), you can fill out an intake form, which will be reviewed by a U.S. doctor to ensure you're under 10 weeks pregnant and it is safe for you to receive this type of abortion. If you are eligible, you will then receive your medications by mail within two to three days.

If you live in a state where abortion is limited or banned, Aid Access will put you in touch with a European doctor, who will prescribe a generic form of the medication to be filled by an Indian pharmacy. You will receive those medications within one to three weeks. That might be too long for some people to wait.

One thing to note: this company has been ordered by the FDA to stop sending abortion pills from India because these generic forms are not approved by the FDA. Aid Access is transparent about this, though. You can read the full case directly on their website, so it is up to you whether you feel comfortable using this service, especially since the fall of Roe v. Wade, where the legality of shipping these pills through the mail is still very murky. It might be wise to speak with a reproductive rights lawyer if you're considering this option.

Accepts Insurance: carafem

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Key Specs

Cost: $250–$375 out of pocket (virtual), $450–$600 (in person); also accepts insurance.
Availability: 15 States and D.C.
Doctors Available: Yes
Discreet shipping: Yes

Why We Chose It:

Carafem is an online pharmacy that offers the ability to either self-pay or use your insurance to get an abortion pill. It also accepts Medicaid in some states. This provider also provides video and in-person visits for abortion pills as well as surgical abortions at their in-person health centers if you're too far along for a medication abortion.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Accepts health insurance and Medicaid in some states
Offers 24/7 care from staff via phone
Offers birth control and STI testing for ongoing reproductive care
Also offers surgical abortions in its clinics

Cons

Costly if not using insurance.
A limited number of in-person health centers

Founded in 2013 as a nonprofit reproductive health service, carafem originally started as an in-person treatment center, with locations in Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, and Chevy Chase, Maryland. It expanded its services in early 2020 and now offers telehealth services in Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Vermont.

Appointments can be scheduled online or in person at carafem, with video consultations scheduled online or by phone. The service will prescribe abortion pills to anyone less than 11 weeks pregnant—though if you're further along and live near one of their clinics, you can also come in for a surgical abortion. Pick-up is also available at their locations.

In addition, a care coordinator is available 24/7 to help answer questions or guide you through the process step-by-step of taking an abortion pill at home. The service will also follow up with you after you've taken the pills to make sure you don't require further care. If you receive an abortion pill through the mail from carafem, it will also send you a heating pad, teas, and mints for extra comfort.

What made carefem stand out to us is that it accepts several insurance plans, including Medicaid in certain states, making it the best choice for people with insurance. The service also offers discounts for those paying out of pocket. Carafem is also committed to providing trans-inclusive care, including offering additional spaces within the questionnaire to provide your chosen name and pronouns.

In-State Abortion Care Resource: Plan C Pills

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Key Specs

Cost: Varies but can range from $40–$600+
Availability: Potentially 50 states
Doctors Available: Varies
Discreet shipping: Varies

Why We Chose It

Plan C Pills is an abortion pill resource center helping people find abortion pills that can delivered in their state, including recommending services and pharmacies.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Shows a variety of pill sources all in one place so people don't have to spend hours searching online
Helps find pharmacies that send abortion pills (and vets each one)
Tells you how to get abortion pills in each state

Cons

Cannot directly send abortion pills to people
Some of the brand-new companies listed on its recommendation page may not be completely trustworthy

Plan C Pills is an online resources that helps people find abortion pills online based by state. Users simply select their state and Plan C Pill can determine if telehealth abortion is legal there; it also shows you what abortion options that state may have.

If you live in a state when telehealth abortion is illegal, it will give you other options, such as services that still send abortion pills to those states. Plan C will also recommend online pharmacies that have been vetted by the company to ensure they are legitimate. Additionally, Plan C gives information on what abortion pills is and provides links to other resources such as legal services. However, some resources they suggest, especially new resources that have cropped up after the Supreme Court decision, may not be completely safe, so always use caution.

With Medical Health Support: Abortion on Demand

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Key Specs

Cost: $239-$289
Availability: 22 states
Doctors Available: Yes
Discreet shipping: Yes

Why We Chose It

Not everyone is comfortable taking abortion pills without quick and ready access to a medical provider. That's why Abortion on Demand offers 24/7 support to physicians via a phone line so you can feel comfortable throughout the process.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Medication kits can be delivered via overnight express shipping
24/7 medical support throughout the entire process
Serves 22 states

Cons

Providers only speak English
Cannot ship to P.O. boxes, UPS boxes, or FedEx shipment centers
It will only prescribe to people under eight weeks pregnant

Aside from Aid Access, Abortion on Demand is one of the most accessible abortion pill services on this list. It serves 22 states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

You also don't have to be a resident of one of those states to receive abortion care, but you don't need to physically be in the state at the time of your video appointment and provide an address for shipment in that state. It also offers the most medical support—not only will you meet with a doctor via live video appointment, but you also will have 24/7 access to a phone line operated by physicians. It also offers a variety of links, including resources for finding in-person care, financial support, and counseling.

Abortion on Demand only prescribes to people ages 18 and up and under eight weeks pregnant—which doesn't give you that long to seek their care. You will also be required to show a photo ID and be able to pay $239 to $289 via a credit or debit card for the abortion medications. They also ask you to take a pregnancy test but don't ask you to show them the result. Once you pay for your prescription, the medication will be shipped to you overnight—and someone from the service will follow up with you via text message after you take the medication.

Age Inclusive: Pills by Post

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Key Specs

Cost: $150
Availability: 5 states
Doctors Available: Yes

Why We Chose it

While Pills by Post only provides abortion pills to people in Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York, it is the only one on our list that is available to people as young as 14.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Lower cost than many other services
Resources available in English and Spanish
Serves ages 14 and up

Cons

Only available in five states
Small service with only one physician on staff

Not every organization is willing to work with people under 18 (at least not without a parent or guardian's consent). However, sometimes teens need abortions—and for various reasons don't want to or can't ask a parent to sign off on this. That's why Pills by Post is on our list. It serves four states that either allow minors to have abortions without telling their parents or will give you information on how you can get a judicial bypass (i.e. permission from the court to get an abortion without your parents being notified).

You have to be less than 13 weeks pregnant to use Pills by Post's services, and the service is operated by one single family medicine physician, Razel Remen. That means that it might take a little longer to get an appointment since all patients have to have a phone call with Remen to go over their medical history before they can get their prescription. However, if Remen thinks it is safe for you to take abortion pills, the medications cost $150 and are sent from a US pharmacy directly to your home via priority mail.

Available to Purchase in Advance: Forward Midwifery

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Key Specs

Cost: $150
Availability: 5 states and Washington, D.C.
Doctors Available: A certified nurse-midwife and a clinical assistant
Discreet shipping: Yes

Why We Chose It

Given the ever-changing legal landscape surrounding abortion in the country, some people may want to purchase an abortion pill as a preventative measure. Forward Midwifery is one of the few services that will allow you to do so.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Able to buy abortion pills in advance
Medication is reasonably priced
Services offer a variety of health care services via telehealth in addition to abortion
Services are available in English and Spanish

Cons

Only serves five states and Washington, D.C.
Service run by a small team

Founded and run by a nurse practitioner and certified midwife, Forward Midwifery is a small but full-service practice. It offers patients abortion pills, gender-affirming care, emergency contraception, postpartum depression treatment, and pre-conception and pregnancy counseling.

The organization serves patients in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington DC. All abortion pills are prescribed after a video, phone, or email consultation—and they cost $150 (shipping included). You can also receive a birth control prescription at the same time. While the service is small and run by a small team, the fact that it offers other services means that it might be a service that you use more than once. It is also one of the only services on our list that allows you to purchase an abortion pill even if you are not currently pregnant.

Stresses Privacy: Choix

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Key Specs

Cost: $199-$399
Availability: 6 states
Doctors Available: Yes
Discreet shipping: Yes

Why We Chose It

Choix is an asynchronous telehealth provider for abortion pills, meaning that rather than do a live video call, you will speak with your prescriber via encrypted text or email message. The service also uses discreet packaging and checks in on you after you use their services without directly mentioning that you got an abortion from them in case someone saw the email.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Communicates via encrypted text messages
Sends other medication to help alleviate any side effects of abortion pills
Reviews abortion pill requests within 24-48 hours
Ships the pills to you in a couple of days

Cons

Only available in six states

Choix—"choice" in French—is a sexual and reproductive telehealth clinic run by a team of nurse practitioners and doctors out of California. It will prescribe you abortion pills, birth control, emergency contraception, and urinary tract infection treatment as long as you live in California, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Maine, and Virginia.

To request a medication abortion, you will be asked to answer a 5-minute questionnaire; a Choix provider will then review your medical history, ask you to confirm your information, and share consent forms. If everything checks out and your prescriber thinks it is safe for you to take abortion pills, they will send you the medication within a few days. At Choix, abortion pills costs $299 total. The company also provides medications to help manage any side effects you might have and schedules a follow-up.

All communication with your prescriber at Choix takes place via encrypted text message. The company follows all HIPAA and state laws. It also leverages services like Accountable to ensure compliance does not sell patient health information. If the service has to email you for any reason (such as for a follow-up), those emails will never reference your abortion directly in case that message is intercepted.

Final Verdict

Unfortunately, the internet is full of scams and websites promising to help you secure an abortion without actually doing so. That's why it's important to find reputable and safe services like the ones on our list. Hey Jane, for example, offers a variety of resources to support you before, during, and after your abortion, like access to a 24/7 physician line. However, it is limited in the number of states it serves—though Aid Access, an Austria-based organization—is not. They will prescribe you a pill, no matter where you live.

Guide to Finding Abortion Pills Online

Where Can I Be Prescribed an Abortion Pill?

If you live in a state that allows telehealth abortions, you can be prescribed abortion pills online, usually following a telehealth appointment over the phone or video. Some may also prescribe abortion pills asynchronously after reviewing your medical history.

If you live in a state where abortion is currently legal, you can also be prescribed an abortion pill in person at a clinic or medical practice. (In fact, some states will require you to be in the presence of a doctor when you take the medication.)

Some states require doctors or OB-GYNs to prescribe abortion pills while others allow nurse practitioners to dispense abortion pills too. Planned Parenthood—one of the better-known nonprofits dedicated to reproductive health care—can also prescribe abortion pills in some states, either in-person or through telehealth appointments. However, the services vary by location.

Choosing an Online Abortion Pill Provider

When you're looking for an abortion pill provider online, there are several factors you should consider to make sure this service is safe, reputable, and right for you. These include:

Availability: Very few providers (aside from Aid Access) will prescribe abortion pills to people in all states. Make sure you look at which states the provider serves before making your choice. You might also need to consider state laws around abortion care.
Discretion: Some providers will ship your medication in discreet packaging, and some are willing to ship to P.O. boxes or UPS and FedEx facilities, so you don't have to provide your home address.
Access to a physician: Some states require a doctor to be your prescriber, but some online pharmacies will also have doctors on staff to answer your questions before or after your abortion. Some will also offer phone lines or the ability to send messages to a physician.
Price: According to the National Women's Health Organization, an abortion can cost anywhere from $40–$600 depending on the state, provider, insurance, and where you get your prescription. The good news is that online abortion services tend to be less expensive than in-person, though prices still vary. Make sure you look for a provider that offers the medication at a price you can afford. Some will also accept insurance, financial aid, or sliding scale pricing.
Reputation: When looking to obtain abortion pills, make sure the site you are using is legitimate. If verifying that an online pharmacy is legitimate, consider checking other sources to see if patients have reviewed it or if pro-choice organizations have vetted it. For example, Plan C researches all the providers listed on its website to ensure they're not scams. The National Abortion Federation is also a good source to check.

FAQs

Are Abortion Pills Safe and Effective?

Yes. The use of mifepristone and misoprostol has a success rate of 95% when used correctly. Serious complications occur in less than 0.4% of patients. (For comparison, the risk of death associated with childbirth is approximately 14 higher than with a legal induced abortion).

What Are the Potential Side Effects of Abortion Pills?

According to Planned Parenthood, the potential side effects of abortion pills include cramping, heavy bleeding, upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, mild fever, and fatigue. In rare cases, it can also cause more serious complications, including blood clotting, prolonged bleeding, infection, allergic reactions, or hospitalization.

When Is it Not Safe to Take an Abortion Pill?

According to FDA guidelines, people should not take abortion pills if it has been more than 70 days since their last period; if they have an ectopic pregnancy, an IUD, adrenal gland problems, a bleeding disorder; if they are on blood thinners, are allergic to the medication, have inherited porphyria, or are on corticosteroid medication. That is why your provider will review your medical history before prescribing you abortion pills.

What if I Need to Go To the Hospital After Taking an Abortion Pill?

If you do experience severe side effects, seek medical attention right away. You do not have to disclose you took an abortion medication—the symptoms of an incomplete abortion and a miscarriage are often identical and are treated the same way by hospital staff.

How Do Online Abortion Pill Companies Protect my Privacy?

Online abortion pill companies are bound by HIPAA and state laws to protect their patients, but some providers will take extra precautions to keep your personal information safe. For example, some may use encrypted text messages to communicate with you, while others will use session cookies (which don't retain any private information after you close your browser). Others will offer discreet shipping or will ship to P.O. boxes rather than your home. Some might also accept cash cards or BitCoin as payment methods. However, nothing you do on the internet is 100% secure, so it's a good idea to take extra precautions. Consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when ordering your abortion pill, a secure browser such as DuckDuckGo, and using a temporary email address. You may also want to consult a lawyer.

Methodology

We considered dozens of online abortion pill providers for this list, but to be featured, the service had to be safe and vetted. As a result, we didn't include any provider we couldn't find on Plan C or the National Abortion Federation website. In addition, we looked for services that had physicians on staff, served a variety of states, were up-to-date with local laws, and took measures to protect their patient's privacy. Services that provide additional resources—including information on judicial bypass—or offer additional services, such as ongoing reproductive care, were also prioritized.