GoodRx Review: Can You Really Save on Medications?

Some products in this article are from our partners. Read our Advertiser Discloser.

Do you want to save money on prescription medication?

Your standard procedure might be going to your preferred pharmacy and hoping you pay the best price. However, each pharmacy may charge different amounts for the same prescription.

GoodRx can negotiate discounts up to 80% on prescriptions and compare prices at your local pharmacies. In fact, the prices you pay with GoodRx can be less than your insurance co-pay. And, if you don’t have health insurance, you can still use GoodRx for free.

If you’re looking for an easy way to save money on living expenses, GoodRx is worth exploring.

4.5
Overall Rating

Summary

GoodRx is free and makes it easy to compare prices at most pharmacies for prescription medication. The best savings are on generic brands with discounts of up to 80%.

  • Ease of use

    5

  • Money saving

    4.5

  • Pharmacy availability

    4

Pros

  • Free to use
  • Convenient
  • Don’t need insurance to use

Cons

  • Discounts estimated
  • Best prices with generic
  • Limited specialty pharmacies

How Does GoodRx Work?

GoodRx homepage

Maybe you see GoodRx advertisements in your doctor’s office or on TV. In short, GoodRx is a legit way to save money on brand-name and generic prescriptions.

Doug Hirsch co-founded GoodRx after filling an expensive medication in 2010. He saw how hard it is to research prescription prices to know your out-of-pocket costs before the pharmacy fills the order.

GoodRx is free and helps you find cheap prescription medications at over 70,000 pharmacies in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. You may even be able to use GoodRx with your current health insurance benefits.

Prescription medication costs can vary widely, even in your hometown. Most people don’t have the time to compare prices. GoodRx monitors the real-time medication prices to help you find the best price before you leave the doctor’s office.

You can claim a GoodRx discount online or from their mobile app to get a coupon. Simply present the coupon to the pharmacist to pay the discount price.

Is GoodRx Legit?

Yes, GoodRx is a legit way to save money on human and pet medication. You can compare prices online, which makes it easy to find the cheapest pharmacy.

Name-brand medication may not have discounts. So searching for generic medicines is the best way to find the largest discounts.

To get the most accurate current price, make sure you request the coupon at the same time you have the prescription filled.

The Trustpilot score is 3.4 out of 5 stars. Common complaints are that the actual pharmacy price can be higher than the coupon price. Some reviews report finding lower prices at an independent pharmacy that’s not a GoodRx partner. 

Our Video Review Of GoodRX

YouTube video

How Does GoodRx Lower Prices?

GoodRx partners with pharmacy networks and drug manufacturer’s to offer discounts for specific medications. The final price you pay mostly depends on which pharmacy you visit. Some pharmacies offer larger discounts than others.

Discounts can be as high as 80% when using the free GoodRx plan. Upgrading to GoodRx Gold (up to $9.99 per month) lets you save up to 90%. However, most discounts are around 50% and 70% off the sticker price for all GoodRx users.

Negotiating discounts are not exclusive to GoodRx. Medical insurance providers contract specific prices for prescription medicine too.

If you happen to have health insurance with pharmacy benefits, you can ask the pharmacist to compare the insurance price to the GoodRx discount.

GoodRx uses the latest computer technology to update current medication prices at your local pharmacies. The price GoodRx shows is the estimated after-discount price.

You can print free coupons on GoodRx for a specific pharmacy to pay the reduced price. As drug prices can change daily, it’s best to print a coupon shortly before filling your prescription to see the best current discount.

Sample Prescription Drug Prices

When possible, buying the generic version of your prescriptions is a quick way to save money. GoodRx can reduce your out-of-pocket costs for most generics.

You can compare the estimated retail price to the GoodRx discount on the GoodRx website too.

Here are some of the final GoodRx prices for generic prescriptions:

  • Atorvastatin/Lipitor (40mg, 90 tablets): $15.06
    • Average cash price: $218.50
  • Albuterol (8.5g of 90mcg, one inhaler): $26.81
    • Average cash price: $53.75
  • Amoxicillin (500mg, 300 capsules): $7.56
    • Average cash price: $16.27
  • Levothyroxine/Levo-T (50mcg, 90 tablets): $9.99
    • Average cash price: $31.29

 *All average cash prices are according to GoodRx as of February 14, 2020. Actual prices can vary for the prescription before and after the GoodRx discount.

If you don’t need your medication immediately, GoodRx also partners with online pharmacies. These pharmacies can sometimes be cheaper than your local pharmacy.

Plus, you should see if your pharmacy offers free prescriptions. Some pharmacies offer free medication if you join a loyalty club. While you pay a recurring membership fee, it can be cheaper than filling a new prescription.

GoodRx Pharmacy Partners

Many of the national pharmacy chains partner with GoodRx.

Major GoodRx pharmacy partners include:

  • CVS Pharmacy
  • Medicine Shoppe
  • Rite Aid
  • Walgreens
  • Costco
  • Target (CVS)
  • Walmart
  • Albertsons
  • Food City
  • Kroger
  • Publix
  • Safeway

GoodRx, by default, shows you participating pharmacies near your current location. You can also search for pharmacies by city or medication to find the best prices.

Sam’s Club currently doesn’t accept the GoodRx discount. However, Sam’s Club Plus members ($100 per year) can get five free prescriptions per year. 

Your local pharmacy may also have a loyalty club to get additional discounts. GoodRx might list the estimated final price for these clubs.

Does GoodRx Charge a Fee?

GoodRx Gold

GoodRx can be completely free to use. Although, you can upgrade to GoodRx Gold that has a monthly membership fee.

The GoodRX Gold membership for individuals is $9.99 per month and the Family membership is $19.99 per month for up to 5 people.

How does GoodRx make money?

GoodRx makes money from advertisements on its website and referral fees. If you redeem a GoodRx discount, they may receive a small commission. However, GoodRx doesn’t collect or sell your personal information.

You don’t need to create an account to print a coupon. In less than five minutes, GoodRx lets you print a coupon without providing your name, email address or phone number. 

Related article: 6 Best Health Sharing Plans

GoodRx Discounts

There are several different ways you can find discounts with GoodRx. 

GoodRx Coupons

The easiest way to find a GoodRx discount is by looking for a digital coupon. You can print, text or email the discount coupon by clicking the “Get Free Coupon” button.

If you use mobile apps to scan grocery receipts, this is an effortless way to save money. Plus, you can reuse coupons. Since drug prices can change daily, getting new coupons with each refill lets you accurately predict your actual out-of-pocket costs.

Most pharmacies require you to present the coupon when you pay for the prescription. CVS and Target (CVS) pharmacies let GoodRx directly apply the discount before they fill your prescription.

Also, be sure to print the coupon for the pharmacy you’re going to visit. You will need to print a coupon for each prescription. The best time to print a coupon is the same day you order your prescription.

Each GoodRx coupon states the estimated price for the pharmacy chain. But if you decide to visit a different pharmacy that partners with GoodRx, the coupon can still help you get a discount. However, the final price may not be the same as what the coupon says.

Every coupon may also display two different prescription prices. Your final price may depend on your prescription length. The lowest price may only apply if your prescription is at least 84 days, for instance.

GoodRx Discount Card

GoodRx Prescription Savings Card for discounts

If you have health insurance, you likely have a prescription savings card. This card helps you get discounts at a specific pharmacy chain such as CVS or Walgreens.

A GoodRx discount card works at any pharmacy accepting GoodRx. You will need to create a free member account to get a discount card.

This card provides the same discount amount as the GoodRx coupons. If you don’t have the time to print a coupon, this card is the better option. Plus, it can always stay in your wallet with your other store loyalty cards and payment cards.   

It’s still a good idea to visit the GoodRx website or app to see which pharmacy has the best price for your prescription.

GoodRx Gold

GoodRx Gold is an optional premium membership plan. Individuals pay $5.99 per month, and families pay $9.99 per month. The family plan covers up to six members, including pets. All GoodRx Gold plans are free for the first 30 days.

You can join GoodRx Gold through the mobile app or online. Gold subscribers can save up to 90% on prescription costs. For example, the generic version of Lipitor (atorvastatin) can cost $13.25 for 90 tablets at 40mg strength. The standard GoodRx discount may only be $15.06.

Members can also schedule online physician consultations for $10. Basic GoodRx members pay $20 per consultation.

These plans can be worth it if you fill several prescriptions regularly. To be of value, the extra savings must be larger than the GoodRx Gold monthly membership fee.

One downside of GoodRx Gold is that it doesn’t work with your health plans or Medicare. However, if you don’t have health insurance, GoodRx Gold can be worth it. 

Also, not all pharmacies offer extra Gold discounts. Non-participating pharmacies include Walgreens, Walmart and Publix.

Inside Rx Brand Savings

Most GoodRx discounts are for generic versions of your prescriptions. But if you need the name brand, GoodRx partners with Inside Rx for over 40 brand-name discounts.

Some of the brand-names you might use include:

  • Celebrex
  • Crestor
  • Flovent
  • Nexium
  • Spiriva

This discount program has more restrictions than the regular GoodRx program. For example, you won’t get these discounts if you’re above age 65, have insurance from federal or state-funded programs, or live in Tennessee.

Can You Use GoodRx If You Have Insurance?

GoodRx and insurance

Approximately 70% of members have health insurance, according to GoodRx. Some insurance plans work with the free version of GoodRx. However, GoodRx states the Gold discounts are ineligible for insurance benefits.

You will need to check your health plan details to see if you can file a reimbursement claim. For example, you might be able to use your health savings account (HSA) balance to cover your expenses.

One advantage of having insurance is that you can compare the price that GoodRx negotiates with your insurance co-pay. The better choice can be whichever option costs less.

However, some carriers may consider GoodRx discounts as being out-of-network. As a result, these prescription purchases may not apply toward your annual plan deductible. The insurance company likely won’t reimburse your purchase either.

Related: 13 Ways to Get Cheap (Or Free) Flu Shots

How Many Times Can You Use GoodRx?

Unlike your health plan benefits that may have annual maximums, you can redeem unlimited GoodRx discounts.

Your only real limit is how many times the doctor will write a prescription. Or if you can afford to fill the prescription even with the GoodRx discount.

GoodRx for Medicare

Medicare patients might find that the GoodRx discount offers a cheaper rate. Note that you can’t combine your Medicare benefits with any GoodRx discount.

The best strategy is to compare your Medicare co-pay to the GoodRx price.

On the GoodRx platform, look for the Medicare tab. You can search for estimated costs by medicine name. For each prescription, you will see the co-pay estimate for most Medicare plans, AARP supplemental plans plus the GoodRx pharmacy price.

GoodRx does a good job of telling you if they can or cannot help you save money. If not, you will see a message stating your copay is lower than the current GoodRx discount price. This transparency makes it easier to avoid variable expenses.

You will find the best potential savings on generic medicines.

GoodRx for Medicaid

Similar to Medicare, you will need to compare your estimated Medicaid co-pay to the current GoodRx price for your local pharmacy. You also can’t combine your Medicaid benefits with the GoodRx discount.

GoodRx for Pets

GoodRx for pets

You may even be able to use GoodRx to save money on pet medication. These discounts can be better than your pet insurance benefits. However, it depends on your coverage and the medicine you need.

GoodRx Gold members can enjoy extra discounts on pet prescriptions.

You can find discounts for these pet health conditions:

  • Anxiety
  • Diabetes
  • Fleas and ticks
  • Heartworm
  • Pain
  • Seizures

You can fill some prescriptions at your local pharmacy. Others require you to order directly from the manufacturer.

If GoodRx can’t negotiate a discount, they offer a link to the manufacturer’s website. You might be able to find a manufacturer’s discount that your pharmacist will honor.

GoodRx Care

Telemedicine is a growing trend thanks to fast internet speeds. Plus, you can save time and money. GoodRx doesn’t require you to have insurance for this service.

Each GoodRx online visit costs $20 for basic members and $10 for Gold members.

You no longer always need to drive to the doctor and risk picking up more germs in the waiting room. Instead, you can have an online visit from home for simple consultations. However, keep in mind this digital consultation doesn’t replace your current family doctor.

To start your consultation, you can privately message a GoodRx doctor. This doctor is certified and will review your symptoms. If necessary, they can order labs and same-day prescriptions.

The doctor can send your prescription to your preferred pharmacy. You get the current GoodRx discount similar to an in-person consultation.

And, if you’re not happy with the consultations, GoodRx offers a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. 

GoodRX Mobile App

GoodRx mobile app

The GoodRx mobile app is available for Apple and Android devices. It’s free to download and offers the same functions as the online website. You can find pharmacies, compare discounts and request discounts.

In some cases, the app can be easier to redeem your discounts. You can show the pharmacist the discount on your app instead of printing a coupon. 

Customer Support

You may have issues with the pharmacy accepting a GoodRx discount or the listed price. If that’s the case, you can call the customer support number on the GoodRx coupon.

The GoodRx customer support team is available seven days a week from 8 am to 7 pm Central Standard Time. Your best time to call can be at the pharmacy to correct the issue right away.

Is GoodRx Secure?

Medical theft is a real threat in our digital age. GoodRx uses leading security measures to protect personal details. However, no database is foolproof.

The good news is that GoodRx doesn’t collect personal information or health insurance details. For full peace of mind, you can claim discounts without creating a member account.

Also, GoodRx coupons don’t include personal details. So, if you happen to lose the coupon, you don’t have to worry about potential identity theft.      

Positives and Negatives

Here are some of the positives and negatives to consider.

Pros

  • Free to use
  • Discounts for most prescriptions
  • Works at most pharmacy chains
  • You don’t need health insurance to join

Cons

  • Coupons only estimate your final purchase price
  • Must buy generic medicine to get the best discounts
  • Independent pharmacies may not accept GoodRx

Who Should Use GoodRx?

GoodRx is a good option if you buy generic medication and are not loyal to a particular pharmacy. You might also like GoodRx if your health insurance has minimal prescription coverage benefits.

GoodRX Alternatives

One of the most similar competitors to GoodRX is Singlecare. This is a free savings card where you can get up to 80% off your prescription medications.

Singlecare works with over 35,000 pharmacies nationwide and has discounts on over 10,000 drugs.

Summary

GoodRx is a unique yet easy way to find cheap prescriptions and live frugally. These discounts can even be lower than your health insurance copay.

Buying generics and activating coupons right before having the pharmacy fill your prescription are two ways to have the best experience.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *