When I tried the estrogen gel, I felt like it hit my system hard at first, then ran out too soon. I was like an up and down roller coaster every day. If using it at night, I couldn't sleep and if using in the morning I had headaches all day. It just didn't work for me.
I tried splitting the dose and using half in the morning and half at night, but that is such a hassle if you lead a busy life (trying to remember, waiting for it to dry, transfer issues with pets and grandchildren, etc.)
The patch is smoother for me. Yes I feel a mild increase on day 1 and it wanes on the day of patch change, but it is not every single day and it is not as intense as on the gel. I only have to remember to change it twice a week, no transfer issues, no drying time.
The only thing I don't like about the patch is the ring it leaves on your skin. I have found that covering it with petroleum jelly about an hour before removing it on patch change day almost completely eliminates this issue.