For online STI care, choose Wisp if you have a confirmed infection that needs fast treatment, and Nurx if you want PrEP or long-term HIV prevention. Both handle herpes suppression and bacterial vaginosis well. Neither prescribes gonorrhea's injection, and neither replaces lab testing. You still need a diagnosis first.
core coverage on both platforms
Wisp does not currently prescribe PrEP
ceftriaxone IM requires in-person visit
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Herpes / BV / UTI / yeast | both — core coverage on both platforms |
| PrEP / HIV prevention | Nurx only — Wisp does not currently prescribe PrEP |
| Gonorrhea injection | neither — ceftriaxone IM requires in-person visit |
How Wisp and Nurx actually work
Both are legitimate US telehealth companies that prescribe medication for STIs, PrEP, and related conditions asynchronously, meaning no live video call for most visits. You fill out a symptom questionnaire online, upload any recent test results you have, and a licensed clinician reviews it and makes a prescribing decision, usually within a few hours.
The main mechanical difference is delivery. Wisp lets you choose pharmacy pickup at a local store or mail-order shipping, so if you want your antibiotics today you can often grab them down the street. Nurx ships medication to you by mail. Both operate in most US states, but availability varies, so check that your state is covered before you sign up and pay.
Neither runs a lab panel on its own. They treat infections you can name. If you don't have a recent test telling you what you have, you need to get tested before either platform is the right tool. More on that below.
What each one treats
Wisp is built around sexual and reproductive health prescriptions. Nurx covers a similar range but adds the piece Wisp doesn't touch: PrEP and HIV prevention.
Wisp
Wisp prescribes herpes antivirals (valacyclovir and acyclovir), treatment for bacterial vaginosis with metronidazole or clindamycin, trichomoniasis, urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and emergency contraception. It also treats chlamydia. It does not currently prescribe PrEP.
Nurx
Nurx covers herpes suppression, bacterial vaginosis, UTIs, emergency contraception, chlamydia, and PrEP for HIV prevention. It was one of the first platforms to scale PrEP telehealth, so its infrastructure for HIV prevention is more developed than Wisp's.
What neither can do: gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is the hard limit for both. The CDC recommends a single ceftriaxone intramuscular injection as first-line treatment CDC 2021, and an injection can't be mailed or self-administered at home, so gonorrhea requires an in-person visit. Both platforms can treat chlamydia (with doxycycline or azithromycin) and bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis by mail, but a positive gonorrhea result sends you to a clinic. Gonorrhea and chlamydia frequently travel together, so treating one online doesn't cover the other.
Price without insurance
Both platforms are designed to work without insurance, and the pricing structures differ enough to matter.
| Wisp | Nurx | |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation fee | ~$45–85 (varies by condition) | ~$15–25 for most conditions |
| Subscription required? | No | Membership/consult fee for most services |
| Medication cost | Varies at your pharmacy | Varies; some PrEP labs coordinated |
| PrEP | Not offered | Yes, with lab coordination in some states |
Nurx's lower consult fee can make a single condition cheaper up front, while Wisp's no-subscription model is straightforward for a one-time treatment. The medication itself is a separate cost in both cases. For a fuller picture of what STI care runs out of pocket, see our breakdown of treatment cost without insurance.
Insurance and Medicaid
Neither requires insurance, which is part of the appeal. When you do want to use coverage, Nurx generally accepts more plans, including Medicaid in some states, and it coordinates the labs PrEP requires through its more developed billing infrastructure. Wisp keeps things simple with a flat consult fee, but you'll typically pay for the prescription yourself at the pharmacy counter.
Speed: how fast you get treated
Wisp is often the faster route to a prescription in hand. Clinicians frequently turn around a same-day Rx, and pharmacy pickup means you can start treatment within hours. Nurx tends to be next-day because medication ships to you. If you're sitting on a positive chlamydia or herpes result and want to start tonight, Wisp's local-pharmacy option is the practical edge.
Lab testing: the part both platforms skip
This is the most misunderstood point, so I'll be blunt as an epidemiologist: neither Wisp nor Nurx is a substitute for an STI panel. They prescribe for known or strongly suspected infections and don't run the tests that catch the silent ones. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis are frequently asymptomatic, so treating based on a guess can miss a co-infection entirely. The CDC's surveillance data show these infections at high and rising numbers nationally CDC 2023, much of it spread by people who never had symptoms.
Nurx has in-network lab partnerships in some states, particularly tied to its PrEP program, which requires HIV and kidney-function testing before and during use. For a general diagnostic panel, though, both platforms assume you already know what you're treating. If you're symptomatic and untested, get tested first, then bring the result back. If you already have a positive test in hand, both platforms are efficient and private.
Privacy
Both are built for discretion. Neither requires insurance, charges appear on your statement under a generic company name rather than anything that identifies an STI clinic, and there's no waiting room. Prescriptions go to your chosen pharmacy or ship to your door, and the questionnaire is the only "visit" most conditions require.
Which is better for you
For STD treatment
Wisp wins here. If you have a confirmed chlamydia, trichomoniasis, or BV result, Wisp's same-day pharmacy pickup and broader treatment menu (it covers trichomoniasis directly) make it the faster, more complete option. The gonorrhea exception still needs a clinic.
For PrEP
Nurx, without question, because Wisp doesn't prescribe PrEP at all. Nurx coordinates the required HIV and creatinine labs, sends refill and re-testing reminders, and has the longest track record scaling PrEP by telehealth. If you're not sure PrEP is right for you, start with our overview of who should take PrEP and the full PrEP guide before signing up.
For herpes suppression
Either works well. Both prescribe daily suppressive antivirals like valacyclovir, the visit is asynchronous, and refills are easy. Pick on price and speed: Nurx's lower consult fee for ongoing management, or Wisp if you want a local pharmacy and no subscription.