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PRP vs stem cells.

PRP is your own blood, concentrated and injected back. Stem cell treatments use cells from your marrow, fat or a donor. In head-to-head trials they mostly tie, and PRP costs less and needs no special approval.[1][2][3]

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Written by Eli McGarvie.

Clinics that offer PRP and stem cells.

Compare what they use it for and what they charge, then get a free quote.

All 20 clinics
ClinicConditionsTreatmentsPrice from
KLSMC HospitalKuala Lumpur, Malaysia Knee Injections Not disclosed KL OrthosportsKuala Lumpur, Malaysia KneeArthritis MesenchymalUmbilical cordInjections Not disclosed CytopeuticsCyberjaya, Malaysia MesenchymalUmbilical cord Not disclosed CelestialabKuala Lumpur, Malaysia Mesenchymal Not disclosed Clínica Ruiz / HSCT MéxicoPuebla, Mexico MSNeuropathyDiabetes Not disclosed Celltex MéxicoCancún, Mexico MSDiabetesArthritisALS MesenchymalIV Not disclosed

Stem cell therapy cost.

The lowest price clinics publish in each country.

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MalaysiaFromNot published4 clinicsMexicoFromUSD 1,4256 clinicsPanamaFromUSD 5,0005 clinicsColombiaFromUSD 1,3992 clinicsThailandFromNot published3 clinics

What is the difference between PRP and stem cells?

PRP is your own blood, spun so the platelets end up in a small amount of plasma, and injected back the same day. It contains no stem cells.[4][3] Stem cell treatments use cells from your bone marrow or fat, or from a donor.

In head-to-head trials, the two mostly tie. The bigger differences are price and legal status.[1][2][5]

"Stem cell PRP" is a blood product with a new name.[6]

The American Hair Loss Association warns that many providers rebrand PRP as stem cell therapy.[6]

Side by side

What it is. PRP: your own blood, concentrated. Stem cells: your own marrow or fat, or donor cells.[4][7]

Harvest. PRP: a blood draw. Stem cells: a marrow draw or liposuction, unless donor cells are used.

Price. PRP: a median of about USD 800 per knee injection at top US hospitals.[5] Stem cells: usually more; see the cost guide.

Legal status. PRP: outside the cell rules in the US and Malaysia, so any clinic may offer it.[3][8] Stem cells: need approval or registration that clinic-sold products do not hold.[7][8]

Safety. Severe side effects: 0.3% with PRP, 0.5% with cell therapy, in a pooled safety review.[9]

Head to head, they tie

TieBone marrow concentrate matched PRP for knee arthritis at one and two yearsRandomised trial, 90 knees[1]
TieMicrofragmented fat matched PRP for knee arthritis at two yearsRandomised trial, 118 knees[2]
Nothing extrafrom adding stem cells to PRP, for knees, hair or the faceRandomised and blinded trials[10][11][12]
Against bothThe American College of Rheumatology recommends against PRP and stem cell injections for knee and hip arthritisACR guideline, 2026[13]

Does PRP contain stem cells?

No. It is plasma with concentrated platelets and some white and red blood cells.[19][3]

Is PRP covered by insurance?

Generally not. It is usually paid out of pocket.[20][21]

Will PRP regrow cartilage?

No. In the largest blinded knee trial, cartilage volume changed the same with PRP as with saltwater.[15]

PRP vs stem cells, by condition

Knee

Neither has beaten the other.[14] PRP also did no better than saltwater in its largest blinded knee trial.[15] Stem cells for knees

Hair loss

Adding fat cells to PRP did nothing extra.[11] PRP has more trial evidence for hair than any cell product. Stem cells for hair loss

Shoulder

No trial has compared them. PRP at rotator cuff repair reduces retears on scans, without better symptoms.[16] Stem cells for the shoulder

Tennis elbow and Achilles

Placebo-controlled trials of PRP were negative.[17][18]

Questions to ask a clinic that offers both

  1. Which one are you injecting, and what exactly is in it?
  2. For PRP: what is the platelet dose, and is it activated?
  3. Has any trial compared your cell product with PRP for my condition?
  4. What is the legal status of the cell product here?
  5. What does each cost per session, and how many sessions are needed?

Sources

21 references
  1. Anz AW, et al. Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Is Equivalent to Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis at 1 Year: A Prospective, Randomized Trial. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 2020. Link
  2. Anz AW, et al. Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Is Equivalent to Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis at 2 Years: A Prospective Randomized Trial. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2022. Link
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Regulatory Considerations for Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products: Minimal Manipulation and Homologous Use; Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff (July 2020). U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, 2020. Link
  4. Everts P, et al. Platelet-Rich Plasma: New Performance Understandings and Therapeutic Considerations in 2020. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2020. Link
  5. Tiao J, et al. There Is Wide Variation in Platelet-rich Plasma Injection Pricing: A United States Nationwide Study of Top Orthopaedic Hospitals. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 2024. Link
  6. American Hair Loss Association. Stem Cells and Exosomes in Hair Loss Treatment: Hope or Hype? 2025. Link
  7. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 21 CFR Part 1271, Subpart A (General Provisions): §§ 1271.3, 1271.10, 1271.15 and 1271.20. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. National Archives, 2026. Link
  8. National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency, Ministry of Health Malaysia. Guidance Document and Guidelines for Registration of Cell and Gene Therapy Products (CGTPs) in Malaysia, Second Edition (September 2025). 2025. Link
  9. Bensa A, et al. Safety profile comparison of intra-articular corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma, and cell-based injections for knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis by the ESSKA Orthobiologics Initiative. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 2025. Link
  10. Lamo-Espinosa JM, et al. Phase II multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial on the efficacy of intra-articular injection of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with platelet rich plasma for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Journal of Translational Medicine, 2020. Link
  11. Behrangi E, et al. Evaluation of the effects of adding an adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction to platelet-rich plasma injection in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: A randomized clinical trial. Skin Research and Technology, 2024. Link
  12. van Dongen JA, et al. The Addition of Tissue Stromal Vascular Fraction to Platelet-Rich Plasma Supplemented Lipofilling Does Not Improve Facial Skin Quality: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2021. Link
  13. American College of Rheumatology. 2026 Update of the American College of Rheumatology Recommendations for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee, Hip, and Hand (summary). 2026. Link
  14. Whittle SL, et al. Stem cell injections for osteoarthritis of the knee. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2025. Link
  15. Bennell KL, et al. Effect of Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma vs Placebo Injection on Pain and Medial Tibial Cartilage Volume in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: The RESTORE Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA, 2021. Link
  16. Feltri P, et al. Platelet-rich plasma does not improve clinical results in patients with rotator cuff disorders but reduces the retear rate. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 2023. Link
  17. Antunes Júnior CR, et al. Platelet-Rich Plasma Does Not Improve Pain or Function in Patients With Lateral Epicondylitis as Compared With Placebo: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2026. Link
  18. de Vos RJ, et al. Platelet-rich plasma injection for chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 2010. Link
  19. Magalon J, et al. DEPA classification: a proposal for standardising PRP use and a retrospective application of available devices. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 2016. Link
  20. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Knee Osteoarthritis Technology Overview. 2021. Link
  21. Manchikanti L, et al. Comprehensive Evidence-Based Guidelines for Regenerative Therapies in the Management of Chronic Low Back Pain: 2025 Update from the American Society Of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP). Pain Physician, 2025. Link

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