Meds too Expensive? Try These Websites for Prescription Drug Discounts

Nothing’s worse than rolling up to the pharmacy for a much-needed prescription, only to find out it’ll cost you $300. You need your meds, but surely you can get them cheaper elsewhere, right?  Luckily, you can find prescription drug discounts to help decrease your costs — and all online. 

Savings will vary based on medication, dosage, pharmacy and discount program, but even a few dollars saved is a win.

Let’s dig into some of the best programs and websites for prescription drug discounts to help you find the right one.

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8 Websites That Offer Prescription Drug Discounts

Depending on your insurance coverage, you might not need a prescription drug discount program. Have the pharmacist check your insurance first to see what’s covered, then compare prices with the programs below to find the best deal.

1. GoodRx

GoodRx is one of the best-known drug discount programs. Use the app or website to search for prescription prices by location. You’ll see a list of local participating pharmacies and drug costs, so you can choose the best price.

Coupons are free, but GoodRx also has a subscription service called Companion that helps you save even more. A Companion membership costs:

• Individual: $14.99 per month ($9.99 per month if paid annually)
• Family: $24.99 per month ($16.99 per month if paid annually)

For occasional prescriptions, the free version of GoodRx should save you money. But if you or your family has ongoing prescription needs, a Companion plan could save you even more over time. 

GoodRx says a Companion plan includes more than 250 medications for free, with hundreds more costing $10 or less.

2. SingleCare

SingleCare is another website and app for prescription drug discounts. You don’t need an account to search for your meds, but a free membership unlocks lower prices.

Once you find the best price, you can text or email the coupon to yourself or print it. Show it to your pharmacist when you pick up your prescription and ask them to apply the discount. 

Note that you can’t combine a SingleCare coupon with your insurance for the same prescription transaction – you’ll need to choose one or the other.

3. Optum Perks

Optum Perks offers a free prescription discount card that can help you save money at the pharmacy. You can text or email the card to yourself or print it if you prefer a physical copy. 

Optum Perks says people who use the discount card save an average of $396 per year. 

If you need a last-minute refill and can’t see your primary care provider, you can request a refill 24/7 through Optum Perks. It costs a flat $39, and you can get your prescription sent in as little as 15 minutes.

4. ScriptSave WellRx

ScriptSave WellRx’s website and app let you search for prescription discounts by location. Like Optum Perks, you can get a prescription savings card emailed, texted or printed that you show to the pharmacist to get the discount.

WellRx says customers save about 75% on prescriptions, or up to 80% on generic meds. The discount card works at over 54,000 pharmacies, including Walgreens, CVS, Kroger and Walmart.

WellRx also offers a feature called My Medicine Chest, which tracks all your meds in one place. You can also set up reminders to help you take your pills and remember to request refills when your supply runs low.

5. RxSaver

RxSaver is a free prescription savings website and mobile app that can help you save up to 80%.

Search for your prescription by name, then adjust your dosage and quantity in the left sidebar to see available prices by pharmacy. When you click a coupon, it’ll show the code, which you’ll give the pharmacist when you pick up your prescription.

Depending on your insurance, the RxSaver price may be lower than your co-pay, so it pays to check.

6. BlinkRx

BlinkRx lets you find the lowest prescription price and have your meds delivered to your door. 

To use this service, ask your prescribing doctor to send your prescription to BlinkRx U.S. Once BlinkRx receives it, it will review your benefits and find the lowest price. Then you’ll get a text with the lowest prices and a link to pay online.

A local pharmacy will deliver your medication to you for free. Talk about convenience!

The only downside to BlinkRx is that you can’t look up medication costs before signing up. Other prescription discount programs let you see prices up front, which can help you visualize your costs right away.

7. Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company

Founded by Mark Cuban, entrepreneur and former co-host of Shark Tank, Cost Plus Drugs aims to offer the lowest possible prices while providing complete transparency about your prescription costs. 

Search for your medication online, and the price appears immediately. If you’re interested, you can see how the price is made up of manufacturing, markup, and pharmacy labor. 

You’ll need to create an account and answer a medication and health history questionnaire to proceed. Then, ask your doctor to write a new prescription and send it to Cost Plus Drugs. You can then order your medication and have it shipped directly to your home.

Note that Cost Plus Drugs doesn’t offer certain medications, including stimulants for ADHD, so make sure your medication is available before choosing this option.

8. NeedyMeds

NeedyMeds is a nonprofit that connects people to programs that can lower their prescription and healthcare costs.

Enter your prescription name in the search bar to see available savings opportunities. Depending on the medication, you may see coupons, rebates or patient assistance programs that provide free or reduced-cost medications to people who can’t afford them.

NeedyMeds might be the best option if you want more than just coupons to help you afford your prescription. Eligibility for assistance programs varies.

Bonus: Ask About Savings Programs At Your Pharmacy

Some pharmacies offer their own prescription savings platforms.

For example, Walgreens partners with RxSense to let customers search for coupons to lower their prescription costs. I used to pay over $200 for a 90-day prescription for my child, and after checking the Walgreens Rx Savings Finder, I paid just $25.

Not sure whether your pharmacy has a prescription savings program or resource? Ask your pharmacist next time you visit.

How Do Prescription Drug Discount Websites Work?

Although sites for prescription drug discounts have some differences, they tend to work similarly.

In general, you’ll follow these steps:

• Search for your medication. Not all platforms cover the same prescriptions, so you may need to search around to find yours.
• Compare prices. Most prescription drug discount programs show prices at multiple local pharmacies, so you can see which one has your medication for the lowest price.
• Get the coupon. You can usually text or email the coupon to yourself, or print a copy to take to the pharmacy.
• Give the coupon to the pharmacist. They will enter the information into their system and let you know the amended price. If everything looks good, you can pay and get your medication.

Prescription discount cards aren’t health insurance, and you usually can’t combine them with your insurer’s prescription benefits in the same transaction. Compare your prescription cost with insurance and the discount card to see which is cheaper.

Which Prescription Discount Website Is Best?

The best prescription discount website depends on what you need. Here’s a comparison table to help you decide.

Website	Best for	Main savings method
GoodRx	Individuals or families with several prescriptions	Coupons, paid membership
SingleCare	Savings on one-off meds	Pharmacy savings cards
Optum Perks	Comparing discounts	Coupons
ScriptSave WellRx	Price comparisons and medication tools	Savings card
RxSaver	Finding available prescription coupons	Discount pricing
BlinkRx	Free prescription delivery	Discount pricing and fulfillment
Cost Plus Drugs	Low-cost generic medications	Direct online purchases
NeedyMeds	Finding financial assistance	Assistance program directory, coupons

How to Get the Biggest Savings on Prescription Drugs

Want to maximize your pharmacy savings? Here’s how to save the most on your prescriptions.

Compare Prices on Multiple Websites

Don’t just check one discount prescription website. You may find different prices with different programs.

Comparing these prices can help you find the lowest cost and cheapest pharmacy in your area.

Compare Discount Prices With Your Insurance Copay

Prescription discount coupons can lower your medication cost, but your insurance co-pay may be lower.

Ask your pharmacist how much your prescription costs with insurance vs. with your chosen coupon. Depending on your insurer, you might be able to view co-pay amounts online.

Ask About Generic Medications

Approved generic medications often cost much less than brand-name drugs. 

For example, brand-name Singulair (an asthma medication) costs $316.81 with GoodRx. The generic version, montelukast, costs $29.45 (or $9 with GoodRx Companion membership).

Before switching to a generic medication, check with your prescriber or pharmacist.

Look for Manufacturer Savings Programs

Many drug manufacturers offer savings programs to help cover the cost of name-brand drugs.

For example, Novo Nordisk, which manufactures the weight-loss drug Wegovy, offers a plan that can get your monthly cost down to as little as $25 with insurance.

Eligibility restrictions may apply, so check whether this option is available for your medication.

Check for 90-Day Supplies or Mail-Order Options

Some pharmacies and insurance plans offer savings on 90-day prescriptions, lowering your overall medication cost. 

Others may offer discounted rates for mail-order pharmacies or platforms. Plus, with this option, you won’t even need to leave the house to get your meds.

Explore Assistance for Low-Income Patients

If you’re really struggling to afford your meds, you may qualify for an assistance program. Resources like NeedyMeds can help you find programs in your area.

There also are organizations like Rx Outreach, which is a nonprofit, mail-order pharmacy that offer low-cost prescriptions. 

Can You Use Prescription Discount Cards With Medicare or Insurance?

Prescription discount cards are not insurance. In many cases, you’ll have to choose between using your insurance and your prescription discount card.

If you get coverage through Medicare, you may be able to use a prescription discount card instead of your Part D coverage. But using a prescription card instead of insurance means the prescription cost won’t count toward your plan’s deductible or out-of-pocket spending cap.

Compare your insurance co-pay with the prescription cost using a discount card or coupon. If you’re not sure which is cheaper, ask your pharmacist or plan administrator for guidance.

Are Prescription Drug Discount Websites Safe?

Yes, many prescription drug discount websites are safe. But some lesser-known websites may be less trustworthy than big names like GoodRx and SingleCare.

To avoid fraud, use coupons and prescription cards only from established websites. If the website fulfills the prescription for you, check that the pharmacy it uses is fully licensed.

Never share personal or medical information with an unknown website or platform, and review privacy policies before signing up.

Some websites may claim to sell prescription medication without a valid prescription. Avoid these websites, since you can’t guarantee the medicine you receive is legitimate and safe.

Before you pay for anything, check that you understand the costs. These might include the prescription price, any fees and shipping costs that increase the total cost of your medication.

Not sure whether a website is legit? Visit the FDA’s BeSafeRx website to locate state-licensed online pharmacies and report unlawful medicine sales.

Save Money on Prescriptions by Comparing Your Options

Your prescriptions don’t have to give you sticker shock every month. Using prescription discount websites to compare your options can help lower your medication costs and give your budget some breathing room.

Find your lowest prescription price by comparing several coupon and discount sites, checking your insurance co-pay and asking your pharmacist to confirm the final cost before filling your prescription.