Legacy vs Fellow Sperm Freezing: Price, Storage and What You Actually Get
Fellow is cheaper to start and simpler to understand; Legacy bundles more into multi-year plans. Here is how they compare line by line, from their own pages.
This page is general information compiled from published guidance and research. Talk to a licensed doctor or fertility specialist about your own situation. Full disclaimer.
Disclosure: links to Legacy and other services on this site may be affiliate links; see our affiliate disclosure. It does not change how we compare them.
Key takeaways
- Fellow is the cheapest way in: $199 for a lab semen analysis kit, then $240 a year once a sample is frozen (shown as $439 up front on Fellow’s own comparison table).
- Legacy sells bundles: $540 for one sample and one year, up to $4,995 for three samples and 25 years, with a post-thaw analysis included.
- Legacy includes STI screening from its 3-year plan up; Fellow’s freezing service does not include it.
- Both are US services. Legacy states it serves US clients only; Fellow does not state a territory.
- Both websites showed inconsistent figures on 18 October 2026. Confirm the price at checkout.
Side by side
| Legacy | Fellow | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price (as of October 2026) | $540: 1 sample, 1 year of storage | $199 analysis kit; freezing adds the first year at $240 (shown as $439 up front) |
| Multi-year plans | $1,495 (2 samples, 3 years); $2,095 (2 samples, 10 years); $4,995 (3 samples, 25 years) | None published; $240 per year |
| Storage cost per year | $245 per sample on the 1-year plan, about $67 per sample per year on the 10-year plan | $240 per year |
| STI screening | Included from the 3-year plan up | Not included |
| Post-thaw analysis | Included | Not described |
| Results | Within 48 hours of lab receipt | 1 to 2 business days for the analysis |
| Accreditation stated | CLIA-certified, CLEP-approved labs (CLIA 31D2285605) | CLIA 05D2177822, COLA 31245, FDA-registered tissue bank |
| Where available | United States only | Not stated |
What each one does well
Fellow is built around a lab-grade semen analysis that many fertility clinics already use, with freezing as an add-on. The pricing model is easy to understand: pay for the kit, pay for storage once a sample is frozen, renew yearly. If you mainly want to know where you stand and keep the option to freeze, Fellow is the lower-commitment route.
Legacy is built around freezing. Its bundles include several samples, multi-year storage, a post-thaw analysis and, in the larger plans, STI screening and DNA fragmentation testing. It lists a wide range of insurers and fertility benefits it works with (including Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Progyny, Carrot and Maven) and offers financing. If you already know you want several samples stored for a decade, Legacy’s per-year cost falls well below its 1-year price.
The fine print we found
On 18 October 2026 we noted these inconsistencies on the vendors’ own pages:
- Legacy: the 25-year plan was shown at $4,995 on its plan card and $3,496 in a comparison table on the same page; the 3-year plan was described as 5 years on Legacy’s cost article; the number of vials per sample and the renewal price after a plan ends were not printed.
- Fellow: the cryopreservation page gave $199 as the headline price and $439 as the up-front cost in its comparison table; the number of vials, storage term limits and retrieval fees were listed as FAQ questions without visible answers.
None of this suggests anything is wrong with either service, but it does mean you should confirm the exact price, vial count and renewal terms in writing before you pay.
Ten-year cost for one sample
| Option | Approximate 10-year total |
|---|---|
| Fellow: $199 kit + $240 per year for 10 years | about $2,600 |
| Legacy: For The Future plan (2 samples, 10 years) | $2,095 |
| Fairfax Cryobank in-lab: $375 freeze + $3,300 prepaid 10-year storage | about $3,675 plus consultation and blood tests |
Figures use prices printed on 18 October 2026 and ignore future price changes. The cost calculator compares clinics and kits for your number of samples and years.
Which should you choose?
- You mainly want a semen analysis, maybe freezing later: Fellow.
- You want several samples stored for 10 years or more, with screening and a post-thaw test: Legacy’s multi-year plans.
- You are freezing before cancer treatment: ask both about oncology pricing, and also call a local sperm bank, which can often collect two or three samples within days. See before chemotherapy.
- You are outside the US: neither is available; use our directory.
Our at-home kit comparison covers CryoChoice, Sppare, ReproTech, Fairfax and Sapyen as well.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Legacy or Fellow?
Does Legacy or Fellow include STI testing?
Do Legacy and Fellow ship outside the United States?
Which one tests the sample after thawing?
Are there alternatives to Legacy and Fellow?
Sources
- Legacy, Sperm freezing plans (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Legacy, Order (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Legacy, The cost of sperm freezing and banking (revised 19 Mar 2026) (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Fellow, Semen analysis and cryopreservation (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Fellow, Semen analysis kit (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- Fairfax Cryobank, Fees (accessed 18 Oct 2026)