Best Gillette Alternatives (2026): Fusion, ProGlide and Mach3 Replacements
Tired of paying for Gillette cartridges, or of the irritation? There are two ways out. Cheaper cartridges, or a single-blade razor. Here are the best of both.
If you want to leave cartridges behind, the OneBlade Element ($99) is the closest single-blade razor to a Gillette in feel, because its head pivots. If you want to keep cartridges but pay less, Harry's ($15 starter set) and Dollar Shave Club (starter sets from $12) are the main lower-cost options. The Henson AL13 ($89) and Supply SE ($59) are good fixed-head single-blade alternatives.
People leave Gillette for two reasons. The cartridges are expensive, and for a lot of men, five blades leave the neck red and bumpy. Your best alternative depends on which reason is yours.
- If it's just the price, a cheaper cartridge brand will feel almost the same.
- If it's price and irritation, a single-blade razor solves both, but takes a few shaves to learn.
How we chose
We compared Gillette's most popular cartridges with the main alternatives on price, yearly blade cost, comfort features and guarantees, using maker and retailer listings checked on 9 November 2026. The Shave Report is owned by the team behind OneBlade, which makes our top pick. Every pick, including that one, gets its drawbacks listed.
What a Gillette actually costs per year
The handle is cheap. The cartridges are where the money goes. Here's a rough yearly cost if you shave every day:
| Razor | Blade or cartridge price | How long it lasts | Rough cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gillette ProGlide | About $4.37 each (8-pack, $34.99) | About 20 shaves (Gillette's guidance) | About $80 |
| OneBlade Element | About 63 cents (30 HiCarbon, $18.95) | 4 to 5 shaves (OneBlade's figure) | About $46 to $58 |
| Double-edge safety razor | About 16 cents (King C. Gillette 100-pack, $16.41) | 5 to 7 shaves (AAD guidance) | About $9 to $12 |
Prices from Target, OneBlade and Amazon, checked 9 November 2026. If you change cartridges more often than every 20 shaves, the Gillette figure goes up fast.
Gillette's own advice is to replace 5-blade cartridges after about 20 shaves, or sooner if you notice tugging or irritation. (Gillette) Plenty of people change sooner than that.
The best Gillette alternatives
OneBlade Element Single-Edge Safety Razor
A single-blade razor that keeps the thing people like most about a Gillette, a head that pivots with your face, and drops the cartridges. The blade sits in an all-metal head and costs a fraction of a ProGlide refill.
- Pivoting head, so it feels familiar if you're coming from Gillette
- One blade instead of five
- Blades about 63 cents each (30-pack of HiCarbon blades, $18.95)
- 60-day money-back guarantee and lifetime warranty
- Takes OneBlade's single-edge blades only
- Costs more up front than a cartridge handle
- A short adjustment period for most people
Heads up: OneBlade is our sister brand.
Henson AL13
A light aluminum razor that holds a standard double-edge blade at a fixed 30 degrees. Henson markets it directly to cartridge users, and its blades are among the cheapest you can buy.
- Uses cheap, widely sold double-edge blades
- Mild in the standard version
- 100-day return policy
- Fixed head, so you learn the angle yourself
- Very light, which some people don't like
Harry's
If you like cartridges and just want to pay less, Harry's is the best-known alternative. It's a five-blade cartridge with a weighted handle, and Harry's says its blades cost as little as $2 each.
- Familiar cartridge shave
- Low starter price
- Sold in many stores as well as online
- Still five blades, if irritation is your reason for switching
- Lowest blade prices are tied to Harry's plans
Dollar Shave Club
A subscription cartridge razor with 4-blade and 6-blade heads. The starter set is very cheap if you sign up for refills.
- Very low starter price for new subscribers
- Choice of blade counts
- Best prices require a subscription
- Up to six blades, the opposite direction if your skin is sensitive
Supply Single Edge SE
A fixed-head single-edge razor. Supply says its blades cost about $1 and last 8 to 10 shaves.
- Lower price than most single-edge razors
- Lifetime warranty on the razor
- Fixed head, so there's a learning curve
- 30-day money-back window
Cartridge or single blade?
Stay with cartridges if you like your current shave and only want to pay less. Harry's and Dollar Shave Club will feel very close to a Gillette.
Switch to a single blade if your neck gets red, bumpy or itchy after shaving. Multi-blade razors cut hair by lifting and slicing it in quick succession, which gives a very close shave but can leave hairs cut just below the skin. For people prone to bumps, the British Association of Dermatologists recommends single blades. (BAD) We explain the debate in are more blades better?
Choose a pivoting single blade if you want the easiest switch. Fixed-head safety razors need you to hold the angle. A pivoting head does it for you, which is why the Element feels closer to a Gillette in the hand.
Our verdict
For most Gillette users who want out, the OneBlade Element is the best all-round switch: familiar pivoting feel, one blade, and lower running costs. If you're happy with cartridges and just want to pay less, start with Harry's.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good alternative to Gillette razors?
It depends why you're leaving. If it's the price of cartridges, Harry's and Dollar Shave Club are cheaper cartridge razors. If it's price and irritation, a single-blade razor like the OneBlade Element or Henson AL13 cuts your blade costs and uses one blade instead of five.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Gillette Fusion blades?
Yes. A Gillette ProGlide 8-pack was $34.99 at Target when we checked, about $4.37 a cartridge. Harry's says its cartridges cost as little as $2. Single-blade razors are cheaper again: OneBlade's HiCarbon blades work out at about 63 cents each, and standard double-edge blades can cost under 20 cents.
Do safety razors work as well as Gillette?
They can shave just as close, but they work differently. A Gillette uses several blades to lift and cut each hair. A safety razor cuts with one blade, usually over two passes. Most people need a few shaves to adjust. A pivoting head, like the Element's, shortens that adjustment.
Can I use Gillette blades in another razor?
Gillette Fusion and ProGlide cartridges only fit Gillette handles. Gillette does make standard double-edge blades, sold under the King C. Gillette name, that fit most double-edge safety razors, including the Henson AL13.
Sources
- Target, Gillette ProGlide Razor Blade Refills (8 ct)
- Gillette, How often should you change your razor blades
- OneBlade, Element product page
- OneBlade, HiCarbon SE blades (30)
- Henson Shaving, AL13 Razor
- Harry's, Original Shave Set
- Harry's, blade pricing
- Dollar Shave Club, Sets and bundles
- Supply, The Single Edge SE
- Amazon, King C. Gillette double-edge blades
- American Academy of Dermatology, How to shave
Prices were checked on 9 November 2026 and can change. The Shave Report is owned by the team behind OneBlade and earns money from OneBlade sales and some retailer links. How we make money.
