The Best Online Pharmacies

Wednesday, June 7th

2023 Online Pharmacy Reviews

BlinkRx

• Significant savings on generic brands
• Free to join
• Licensed and adheres to NABP standards
• Offers options for controlled substances
• Takes insurance
• Accredited with "A+" rating from the BBB

BlinkRx is an online pharmacy, owned by Blink Health, that is free to join. This pharmacy is an NABP-certified safe online pharmacy, meaning it meets the standards of patient safety, pharmacy practice standards, and state laws.

Discounted prices

BlinkRx works with prescription medication manufacturers to offer a discounted out-of-pocket price for its users. BlinkRx sells prescription medications as well as over-the-counter options and analyzes the cost of brand-name specialty drugs to determine whether it is cheaper to use your insurance or pay the Blink price, which includes any available manufacturer discounts. It is important to note that you cannot use insurance for generic medications, but you can use it for brand-name specialty medications.

Rx and over-the-counter

The company offers two categories of services. Blink Health is for those looking for low-cost generic medications, and BlinkRx is for people looking for brand-name specialty medications. Specialty medications are drugs that require special handling, administration, or monitoring. Both options are run through the same website. There is also a mobile app to help you gain easy accessibility to your prescriptions at any time.

Virtual appointments to get prescriptions

One thing we loved about BlinkRx is that they allow you to make virtual appointments with medical professionals if you don't already have a prescription for what you need. You can make the online appointment and hear back from the doctor on your prescription within 24 hours. If you know what prescription you've had before or know what you'd like, you can select it from a list before attending the appointment. Or, if you've never gotten a particular medication before, you can select that instead, and let the doctor recommend the best option for you.

Easy to find what you need

If you're looking for your medications, you can search for your preferred over-the-counter or Rx medication by name or through a variety of filters based on your particular medical needs. For example, Blink offers filters that include the following conditions:

• Erectile Dysfunction
• Hair Loss
• Birth Control
• Cold Sores
• High Cholesterol

Competitive discounts and price match

In terms of cost, Blink Health offers discounted out-of-pocket prices on generic medications, and customers can use their insurance to get brand-name medications. The company also offers a price-match guarantee, making it possible to get the best deals on medications. To compare the prices between BlinkRx and other options in this review, we looked at three different medications: a long-term Rx medication, a short-term Rx medication, and an over-the-counter medication option.

• For long-term medication, we looked at Trulicity for type 2 diabetes. The Blink price for this medication is $978.33 without insurance. Blink notes this is higher than some places, but offers lower prices for generic options of the same medication for those without insurance. There is no listed price for the medication with insurance.
• For the short-term Rx medication, we looked at an Epipen. The Blink Epipen costs $369.40, which is lower than the market price. Again, there's no price listing for an option with insurance.
• For over-the-counter medication we looked at: Vicks QlearQuil Allergy (Generic). This costs just $5 with Blink as a generic option.

Options for controlled substances

Users can choose to have their medication delivered to their home for free or pick it up from a local partner pharmacy. Blink Health partners with over 35,000 pharmacies such as Walmart, Costco, and Albertsons for local pickup. The bonus for this is that BlinkRx can offer prescriptions for controlled substances such as alprazolam (Xanax). While these can only be picked up at a local pharmacy, it does open up options compared to some other companies in our review. If you choose to pick up your prescription, you need to pay online in advance and present your Blink card to the pharmacist at the pickup counter.

Insurance may not be accepted

In terms of insurance, BlinkRx is not in-network with all insurance plans, despite its website stating that it accepts insurance for all patients. Therefore, it is advisable to contact your insurance provider to see if it covers prescriptions from BlinkRx before you sign up and start purchasing. As noted earlier in the review, the with-insurance prices aren't listed on the website, so there's no way to know for sure what your copay would be until you contact your insurance.

Top tier reviews

The reviews on Blink Health are positive, with most customers praising the platform's affordability, ease of use, and prompt delivery. BlinkRx has an average of 4.1 stars out of 5 from third-party review sites. Customers call BlinkRx a "great find" for prescription and over-the-counter medications. Customers also praise the ease of use and the accessibility of the mobile app. There are also many individual reviews about the low prices and affordability of BlinkRx, making it a top option for customers looking for great deals. On top of these great reviews from customers, the Blink Health company is accredited by the BBB with a stellar "A+" rating.

Top option for Rx and OTC deals

Overall, BlinkRx is an NABP-certified safe online pharmacy that offers a wide range of services for both generic and brand-name specialty medications. The company analyzes the cost of brand-name specialty drugs to determine the most affordable options for its customers. BlinkRx also offers a price-match guarantee and the ability to make virtual appointments with medical professionals. The company partners with over 35,000 pharmacies for local pickup, making it a convenient option for customers It is important to remember that BlinkRx is not in-network with all insurance plans, but with savings on Rx and over-the-counter meds, BlinkRx stands out as the top option in our review.

Amazon Pharmacy

• Fully licensed pharmacy
• Up to 68% savings
• Rx Pass starts at $5/month for further savings
• Takes insurance
• Supports HSA and FSA cards
• Supports prescription transfer
• Accreditation and "A-" rating from the BBB

Amazon Pharmacy is an online healthcare service that provides prescription medication to customers. Unlike traditional pharmacies, where patients need to see a healthcare provider physically, this online pharmacy allows them to fill in their health information virtually.

Available in all 50 states

Pharmacists review and deliver medication once ordered. Amazon Pharmacy is ideal for anyone who is 18 years or older and regularly refills a minimum of one prescription. The service is available in all 50 states of the USA, but not all conditions can be treated with Amazon Pharmacy. Amazon Pharmacy is free and does not require a subscription plan. Both Prime and non-Prime customers can access basic pharmacy features, though the deals are limited to Prime account holders.

User experience is super easy

The website is clean and easy to use, as expected from a subsidiary of Amazon. The top of the site offers a large search bar where you can look up your medications. If you don't know the name of your medication, you can look up options by selecting your condition. The options for filters include:

• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Acid reflux
• Birth control
• Diabetes
• Hypothyroidism
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Hair loss

Insurance accepted at Amazon Pharmacy

Amazon Pharmacy does offer insurance copay. On all of the prescription medications we checked, there was an option for the price with or without insurance. But, since all listed prices for the items with insurance are estimates, the copay may change with your particular insurance coverage.

Prices are hundreds less than retail

To compare prices, we looked at three different types of medications available at Amazon Pharmacy: two Rx medications and one OTC medication. The Rx medications considered were chosen to represent one medication that is needed long-term and one that is a one-time or short-term medication.

• For the long-term Rx medication, we decided to look at a common diabetes prescription option: Trulicity, 0.75 MG/0.5ML Pen Injector. At Amazon Pharmacy, the insulin injector costs $721.94 without insurance, which is almost $300 less than the average retail price. If you do have insurance, the injector is estimated to cost around $25, though that depends on your particular carrier.
• For the short-term Rx medication, we looked at a common option used to treat allergies: Epinephrine 2pak (EpiPen), 0.3 MG Auto-injector. This EpiPen costs $105.65 without insurance, which is around $524 less than the average retail price. With insurance, the EpiPen will cost an estimated $15.
• However, for Amazon Pharmacy, we noticed there were no particular options for over-the-counter medications. If you want those, you can buy them directly from the Amazon shopping site, though these are around the same price as they are at most retailers.

Tracking, auto-ship, and multi-user accounts

In terms of ease of use, Amazon Pharmacy has some great features. They help you track prescription history and offer consultation services via a phone call every day of the week. The service also allows you the option to transfer prescriptions from other pharmacies via E-Scribe and continue medication you're already taking. Finally, if you have family members under 18 who need prescription medication, users can add children's prescriptions to their account via the dashboard. Unfortunately, Amazon Pharmacy does not support adding members who are 18 years or older, so even if you're still together as a family, your 18+ household members will need to make their own accounts.

Rx Pass is a top money-saver

One standout feature at Amazon Pharmacy is the Rx Pass for Amazon Prime members. The Rx Pass is a monthly pass membership that allows you access to all the medications you might need every month for just $5. While the medications aren't free with the pass, the prices are drastically reduced to only $5 a month. Members can expect to save up to 68% on each medication with RxPass. You can also search for your medications on Amazon's normal shopping site and anything that is covered by the Rx Pass will be listed under the new Rx Pass price. This pass is best for people who have to pay more than $5 per month for regular medications or for customers who need to pay out-of-pocket for their medications.

Professional staff and savings support

We love that Amazon Pharmacy is staffed by pharmacists, and the online pharmacy also supports purchases with Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards. To sign up, users must add their insurance information alongside their name, date of birth, and other personal information. Amazon's pharmacists verify prescriptions with a doctor, and users receive an email notification when the medicine is available for purchase. Amazon Pharmacy also supports integrations with Alexa, a feature that helps users stay on track with their medications.

Well rated despite recent rebrand

In terms of customer satisfaction, Amazon as a company has accreditation and a reliable "A-" rating from the Better Business Bureau. While there aren't as many customer ratings for the pharmacy yet, the ones out there are promising, with a 3.9-star average out of 5 overall. Customers rated Amazon Pharmacy positively for factors like price competitiveness, and the range and quality of features offered to customers. Customers were particularly impressed with the different payment options (with or without insurance) and with the Rx Pass prices for those with an Amazon Prime account.

Easy to use and afforable

Overall, Amazon Pharmacy is an online pharmacy service that provides an easy-to-use and affordable solution for customers to obtain their prescription medication. With a wide range of medication options and the ability to transfer prescriptions from other pharmacies, Amazon Pharmacy offers a convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional pharmacies with shipments that go straight to your door. The service is available to all customers, regardless of whether they are Amazon Prime members or not, and also offers the added benefit of pharmacist consultations and the ability to use HSA and FSA cards.

Great option for prescriptions

While there may be limited options for over-the-counter medications, the prices for prescription medications are competitive, with potential savings through the Rx Pass program. For this reason, it takes a very close second place to the top option in our review and is worthwhile to consider as one of the highest-rated choices for filling prescriptions.

Honeybee Health

• Licensed pharmacy in 48 states
• Prices under $10
• $0-$5 shipping
• Doesn't require insurance
• "A+" rating from the BBB

Honeybee Health is an online pharmacy that was created by licensed pharmacists to help customers bypass extra costs. Since its creation in 2017, Honeybee has expanded to offer over 6,000 generic medications that treat a variety of medical conditions and is a fully licensed pharmacy in 48 states.

Have your prescription ready

To obtain medications from Honeybee, customers must have an official prescription from a doctor, which can be transferred to Honeybee from the customer's current pharmacy or doctor. Once the prescription is received, customers can order their desired medications for the price listed on the site. In most cases, there will be more than one option for any given medication, so customers can choose their manufacturer.

Clean website

Honeybee Health has a wonderful user experience on the website. You can easily search for your medication in the bar in the center of the screen. They offer medications for a full range of conditions including anxiety, depression, hypothyroidism, erectile dysfunction, hair loss, migraines, chronic pain, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, acid reflux, asthma, COPD, ADHD, or epilepsy. You can also limit your search by medication type, condition, and by manufacturer of the medication if you know the name. However, Honeybee does not currently offer insulin or other refrigerated medications due to the potential complications and costs associated with shipping.

Generic brands for lower prices

Honeybee does not carry name-brand medications but rather less-expensive generics that are commonly used and medically approved for use. The company works with reputable pharmaceutical manufacturers to supply the many different medications they have to offer. Although all the prescription meds they offer are generic, they prove just as effective in clinical trials. One of the benefits of Honeybee is that they're refreshingly transparent, and customers can learn more about each of these manufacturers and view which of their medications are available through Honeybee.

No insulin, but they have everything else

To compare Honeybee Health's prices with other options in this review, we compared three different types of medications with similar ones on other sites.

• The first comparison we did was a long-term Rx medication. For this, we looked at medication for type 2 diabetes: Metformin. The Honeybee cost for Metformin is just $6-$15 depending on which brand you buy where the retail price can cost up to $96.
• For the short-term Rx medication, we looked at an epinephrine Epipen. Epipen costs $249-$349 at Honeybee Health depending on which manufacturer you choose. This is much cheaper than retail and competitive with other options in our review. Again, there's no price listing for an option with insurance.
• For over-the-counter medication we looked at Claritin Allergy tablets. At Honeybee Health, this brand costs the same as most retailers (and more than several options).

No fees and low-cost shipping

Honeybee offers medications without any upfront cost or subscription fee, making it an affordable option for people who are struggling to afford their medications. For most shipments, there is a flat-rate shipping cost of $5, with orders over $40 offering free shipping. Honeybee sends orders through USPS First Class Mail, and orders typically arrive between 7-10 business days. Customers are provided a tracking number to know where their medications are at any given point.

High ratings

In terms of customer feedback, Honeybee Health stands out with patient reviews and ratings. They have an impressive "A+" grade from the Better Business Bureau as well as a 4.9 out of 5-star rating on the BBB site. From other third-party review sites, Honeybee has received 4.7 stars out of 5 on average with over 4,000 individual reviews.

Great customer reviews

Reviewers agree that the prices at Honeybee are great for Rx medications. Some customers have fully switched over to Honeybee Health and have been using the site exclusively for their prescriptions for over 3 years. Other reviewers note that the customer support at Honeybee Health is fantastic with quick resolutions to problems and concerns. The poor reviews only constitute 2% of all reviews for Honeybee and are mostly concerned with slow shipping.

Top contender for deals

Honeybee Health is a reliable and transparent online pharmacy that offers over 6,000 generic medications for a range of medical conditions. Their prices are significantly lower compared to retail prices, and they do not charge any upfront cost or subscription fee. Honeybee requires an official prescription from a doctor, which can be transferred from the customer's current pharmacy or doctor. The website is user-friendly, and customers can easily search for their medications. With positive customer reviews, Honeybee Health is a convenient and affordable option for people struggling to afford their medications or those who have difficulty accessing a pharmacy.

DiRx

• Up to $400 in savings
• No insurance required
• Free shipping
• Pay-as-you-go medications as low as $3
• Annual memberships for $199 and $299
• "A+" rating by the BBB
• Officially licensed in all 50 states

The DiRx pharmacy is owned by a US-based company called DiRx Inc, which is headquartered in New Jersey. DiRx is licensed to operate in 50 states + Washington DC and its own brand of generic medication is FDA approved.

2 membership options

In terms of medications, DiRx sells and processes prescriptions. Both generic and branded drugs are available with a valid prescription. There are two membership options with DiRx, which is a slightly different model than some other options in our review. There is a monthly option that allows you to access the savings for Rx medications in a pay-as-you-go format, and a second similar option where you pay annually instead.

Guest checkout available

One thing we loved at DiRx is that you don't have to make an account in order to use the services. If you're planning to do a one-time medication purchase, you can easily check out as a guest, and you don't have to save your information if you don't want to. However, if you want recurring prescriptions or to use the auto-ship/auto-refill feature, you will need to register an account and add your information to the site.

Easy navigation

The website for DiRx is clean and easy to use. The payment options for monthly or annual memberships appear on the front page, and clicking on them takes you directly to the searches for medications, which makes it easy to begin looking for your Rx medications. You can also limit your search by condition, or simply look up the medication if you already know the name.

Monthly or annual payments

The payment plans are simple. In paying DiRx you get access to a variety of medications and savings on different options: monthly or annual. The best part is, you don't need any insurance to use DiRx as a one-off or on the monthly or annual plans.

• If you choose the monthly "pay as you go" you will pay for individual medications on a monthly basis. For example, you can choose a 30-day refill, 60-day refill, or 90-day refill depending on your needs. You can also select single-purchase if you prefer. The cost of medications can be as low as $3 per monthly refill.
• For the annual plan, you pay per year, and get access to a variety of medications within that plan. There is a $119 annual plan that gives you access to around 500 medications and you don't have to pay a dime to get them shipped to you. There is also a $299 annual plan which gives you access to 1,000 products. Thankfully each product will tell you if it is eligible to be covered by the annual plan. With the annual plan, you also get the following perks:
• No limits on orders or refills
• Add new covered medicine any time
• Free standard shipping

Free shipping & rush options

There are three different shipping options available, with USPS First Class being the only free option, taking an average of 2-7 days to be fulfilled. You can also get your medications shipped in 2 days with UPS for an additional $15 or next-day shipping for $30. And, if your medication needs to be kept cold or refrigerated, DiRx will cover that on their end and ensure your medication arrives safely.

Great savings on Rx meds

To compare prices with other options in our review, we looked at a long-term Rx medication, a short-term Rx medication, and an over-the-counter option that customers might buy.

• For the long-term Rx medication, we looked at a prescription for type 2 diabetes: Metformin HCl Extended Release. This medication costs $140 on a monthly basis if you choose the pay-as-you-go option, which is up to $500 cheaper depending on where you buy it. However, this medication is not eligible to be covered by the annual plan at DiRx.
• For the short-term Rx medication, we looked at Albuterol Sulfate HFA (Proventil) inhaler since DiRx didn't have an EpiPen. This can cost around $98 at retail prices and costs $19 at DiRx. This option is eligible for the annual plan and would cost nothing if you bought it with that membership.
• Unfortunately, DiRx doesn't sell any over-the-counter medications, so we were unable to make a price comparison.

Stellar customer feedback

DiRx is a popular option for online pharmacies. Not only has it been featured in major online chatter like articles by Forbes, but its parent company also has a great reputation. DiRx is owned by Direct Pharmacy Source Inc, which has accreditation and an "A+" rating with the Better Business Bureau. On top of that, Trustpilot shows that the online pharmacy has an excellent rating with over 2,550 reviews and a 4.5-star rating out of 5. Customers love the savings they find at DiRx and note that the customer service at DiRx is top-notch. Some clients commented that it takes a little while to process their prescriptions, but overall the feedback is that DiRx is a solid place to buy prescriptions and get fantastic savings for your medications.

Competitive for generic Rx medications

Although DiRx doesn't offer insulin options, it does provide a good range of medications, and it definitely shows up for savings. The website is easy to use, and the payment plans are straightforward, with monthly and annual options available for accessing even more savings on medications. While the lack of over-the-counter options may be a drawback for some customers, DiRx's customer service and reputation are top-notch, and its parent company has an "A+" rating with the Better Business Bureau. With its competitive pricing and no insurance required, DiRx is definitely worth considering for those seeking affordable and reliable online pharmacy options.

Rx Outreach

• Officially licensed in all 50 states
• Proven savings between $10-$100
• Life-saving medications for conditions like cancer
• Mental health medications available
• Accreditation and "A+" rating from the BBB
• Fully accredited non-profit organization

Rx Outreach is a unique option in our review. This online pharmacy is a non-profit organization that provides affordable medications to individuals and families in need. Rx Outreach has dispensed over 3.5 million prescriptions since its inception in 2010, saving patients more than $880,000,000 compared to retail pharmacy prices.

Strong relationships mean lower prices

By building strong relationships with donors and pharmaceutical companies, Rx Outreach is able to lower the cost of life-saving medications and provide hope for a better quality of life for those who may not otherwise be able to afford it. Rx Outreach is accredited by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) and Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS). The pharmacy is fully licensed to mail prescriptions to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Full range of medications

One of the things that sets Rx Outreach apart from other online pharmacies is its extensive catalog of medications. It offers a comprehensive drug list with transparent pricing, and there are no membership fees or hidden charges of any kind. The pharmacy fills prescriptions to treat many chronic illnesses, including allergies, asthma, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, Parkinson's disease, seizures, and thyroid disease.

Website could use a refresh

However, it's important to note that the search features at Rx Outreach are a little outdated. There are filters on the page where you can look at your medications, but it only sorts them alphabetically, so if you don't know what you're looking for by the exact name it could take a while to find what you need. We would love it if Rx Outreach could update their medication search, as this is a primary part of usability and customers may find this frustrating.

Savings are legit

In order to compare the Rx Outreach prices with other options in this review, we compared three different types of medications with similar ones on other sites. We looked at a long-term Rx medication, a short-term Rx medication, and an over-the-counter medication. However, when searching the similar medications from our other reviews that we used to compare, Rx Outreach didn't have any of them available. So we were forced to choose alternative medications.

• For our long-term medication, we looked at Metformin ER Tablet for type 2 diabetes which costs $30 for a 30-day supply at Rx Outreach. This is cheaper than some of the other companies in this review.
• For the short-term medication, we looked at Budesonide Nasal Spray OTC for allergies, which costs $20 at Rx Outreach.
• It does not appear Rx Outreach offers over-the-counter meds, or if they do, they were too difficult to find in the outdated search.

Mental health matters

One stand-out feature of Rx Outreach is the number of medications available at reasonable prices for mental health conditions. We saw a host of Rx options for Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, as well as ADHD, and Narcolepsy. So, if you're looking for a place to find low-cost mental health medications, Rx Outreach is a great place to look.

Focus on underserved communities

Rx Outreach is dedicated to serving the underserved, including the uninsured, underinsured, and insured individuals who still struggle to afford their prescriptions. Patients qualify for Rx Outreach if their annual household income is below a certain level. Additionally, Rx Outreach temporarily expanded its medication program to support individuals and families affected by the financial hardships of COVID-19.

High ratings for Rx Outreach

In terms of customer reputation, Rx Outreach has a great reputation both as a non-profit and as a provider of Rx medications. Rx Outreach holds an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau and is fully accredited as a non-profit. Customers have given Rx Outreach an average star rating of 4.5 out of 5. Customers note that Rx Outreach is a great alternative for expensive medications with some patients expressing appreciation for Rx Outreach's life-saving options including medications for cancer. Some of the complaints about Rx Outreach include comments about difficulty getting a hold of customer service or slower-than-average shipping, but overall even the lower-rated reviews have something good to say about Rx Outreach.

Top non-profit organization for those in need

Rx Outreach stands out as a unique and affordable option for those in need of medications, particularly for chronic illnesses and mental health conditions. With its extensive catalog of medications and transparent pricing, Rx Outreach has saved patients over $880 million compared to retail pharmacy prices. Its dedication to serving the underserved and its temporary expansion to support those affected by COVID-19 is commendable. While its search features may be outdated, Rx Outreach has a great reputation as a non-profit and as a provider of Rx medications. Overall, Rx Outreach is an excellent choice for those seeking affordable and life-saving medications.

Scriptco

• Licenced pharmacy
• Quarterly membership for $50
• Yearly memberships between $140-$180
• Offers a family plan up to 4 individuals
• Free shipping on 4 packages per year

Scriptco is an online pharmacy that has been in existence for around two decades. The pharmacy is exclusively American, meaning they only accept prescriptions written by licensed US physicians.

Legitimate pharmacy, with proof

The platform's legitimacy has been verified by LegitScript, which has certified the pharmacy to dispense medication. The pharmacists' credentials have also been published on the site to demonstrate that all pills are dispensed under the guidance of an experienced professional. Additionally, they sell only generic medications sourced from licensed wholesalers and do not carry any branded pills. In terms of the service, Scriptco is a service that operates under a membership paywall, which is different from most of the other options in our review. You can't use the service at all without signing up for the quarterly, annual, or family membership.

Three payment options

The membership options for Scriptco are straightforward. With the membership, Scriptco provides prescription medications at lower prices for everyone. ScriptCo doesn't take any insurance. Instead, they offer generic medications at the actual wholesale cost, which means the members pay the same price as ScriptCo buys them for. There are three membership options available these include:

• Quarterly: $50 per quarter and free shipping on 1 package per quarter
• Annual: $140 per year and free shipping on 4 packages per year
• Family: $280 per year with 3 additional family members (4 members managed from 1 login) and free shipping on 4 packages per year

Search could use an update

One thing that we didn't love while using the Scriptco website was the search feature. You can only find medications from the search bar if you know the name of the medication you're looking for. Luckily you can search with keywords like "insulin" or "EpiPen" and it will give you all the options that apply, but there aren't any search filters that make this process easier. It is important to note that the Scriptco process is designed to be search-free. So, you only need to have your physician send the prescription to Scriptco, and they'll handle finding the medications for you. However, we would love to see them update the searches, just to make the website a little more user-friendly.

Visible savings with Scriptco

In order to compare Scriptco prices with other options in this review, we looked at a long-term Rx medication, a short-term Rx medication, and an over-the-counter medication.

• For long-term medication, we looked at Humalog Kwik Pen for insulin to treat diabetes. This option costs $174.96 and is eligible for free shipping at Scriptco. This is cheaper than some of the other companies in this review. This insulin pen is normally around $530 at retail prices, making the savings at Scriptco significant and competitive with some of the top options in this review.
• For short-term medication, we looked at EpiPen Junior for allergies, which costs $207.75 at Scriptco. This is normally about $337 at retail prices, so you're saving a little more than $100.
• It does not appear Scriptco offers over-the-counter meds, but the savings for Rx medications are amazing. It should be noted, though, that Scriptco doesn't ship anything that needs to be refrigerated with the free shipping option.

Non-members can shop

While you can purchase medications without being a member, it's not recommended. Scriptco doesn't accept insurance, so you'll have to pay the price listed no matter what. This is fine for members, but non-members pay an extra $50 fee and shipping costs for any item they buy. On top of the hard-to-use search, the website just isn't ideal for non-members.

Great feedback on Google

While the platform lacks customer reviews on its website and from third-party sites in general, they do have a 4.9 rating according to over 400 Google reviews. Customers who were super happy with Scriptco noted that they loved the fast shipping. Other customers praised the customer service at Scriptco, and the terms "great savings" and "unbeatable prices" appeared over and over again across different reviews. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a presence on the BBB, so we don't have anything beyond Google Reviews, but customers do appear happy.

Worth checking out

Overall, Scriptco is a legitimate online pharmacy operating exclusively in the United States, certified by LegitScript to dispense medications, and run by experienced pharmacists. They offer generic medications sourced from licensed wholesalers and operate under a membership paywall that provides prescription medications at lower prices. Scriptco's prices for prescription medications are significantly lower than retail prices, making it a competitive option for long-term and short-term Rx medications. It is recommended to sign up for a membership to take advantage of lower prices, free shipping, and other benefits. If you don't, the savings just aren't as useful - so for this reason it's a little lower than other options in this review. Still, Scriptco is definitely worth checking out as a great place to find Rx savings.

Sesame

• Licensed pharmacy
• One-stop shop for telehealth and meds
• Offers psychiatric medication
• Prices as low as $5 for Rx medications
• Accreditation and "A+" rating at the BBB

Sesame Care, also known as Sesame, is an online telehealth platform that enables individuals to schedule virtual medical and mental health visits. The platform does not accept insurance, but it manages to keep the cost of its services affordable and lower than - or equal to - its competitors by working directly with providers. Sesame offers a prescription service, SesameRx, which provides medical and psychiatric medications at costs as low as $5. It is important to note that SesameRx is only available to patients who use Sesame to schedule appointments.

Book a visit before you buy

SesameRx offers FDA-approved medications including hundreds of generic drugs delivered to your doorstep starting at $5. They provide fast and free delivery with easy tracking options. They also have dedicated customer support available in both English and Spanish to assist customers. You can easily search for your medication either by name or by your condition, where all the medications for that condition will be listed for you. Each option has the same button to "book a visit" reminding users that they can't buy the medications until they've had an appointment with the Sesame Care professionals.

Membership brings prices down

When we searched specific Rx medications to compare prices to other options in this review, every medication on the site is listed at $5. However, it's important to remember that you do have to pay for a medical or mental health appointment first. There are two ways to do this. Either, you can subscribe to Sesame Plus, the online membership, which will offer you a reduced price for the appointment (as low as $14), or you can pay directly, which can be a minimum of $34 per appointment. If you do want to use the Sesame Plus membership it costs $10.99 per month or $99 per year to register.

One-stop shop for medical care

One thing we loved about Sesame Care is that it provides a range of healthcare services on top of offering medications such as urgent care, cardiology, primary care, and mental health care, making it easier for users to find doctors in their area. However, in order to get medical or mental health prescriptions filled with Sesame, you do have to use one of their medical appointments through the platform. Sesame lists four types of appointments that can be scheduled on their platform.

Choose your visit

Patients can choose from various services, such as an individual or couples therapy session, a virtual prescription refill visit, or a video mental health consultation with a psychiatric provider who can prescribe medication as part of their treatment plan. Sesame Care automatically shows providers licensed to practice within the patient's state if they have their location enabled. Users can also choose from doctors who have appointment times during evenings and weekends.

Satisfied customers at Sesame

While there are some barriers between you and your next medication at Sesame, users are overall very satisfied with the service. They love the telehealth options, and being able to get their prescriptions at the same place they have their medical appointments makes it easy. In terms of ratings, Sesame has full accreditation and an "A+" rating from the BBB as well as a 3.5-star average rating across review sites. Happy users commented that the service was "quick" and "easy to use" . However, some frustrated patients complained that their doctor didn't show up to appointments, so it was impossible for them to get the prescription they needed.

Best for customers who want telehealth and medicine

While this option is strong for savings, especially if you can get your prescription for only $5, the barrier of having to use the Sesame medical appointments to buy prescriptions could be frustrating for customers who already have prescriptions or long-term medications. For this reason, this option doesn't rank as highly as some rivals that are more open to different customers. On the other hand, if you're looking for a one-stop shop for telehealth and Rx medications, Sesame may be a great option for you. The platform has an "A+" rating from the BBB and a higher-than-average rating across review sites, so it's worth checking out. It just may not be the easiest for customers who don't want extra medical or psychiatric appointments before they get their meds.

Cost Plus Drugs

• From $100 to $400 in savings per medication
• Free shipping
• Accepts some insurance
• "B-" rating with the BBB

Cost Plus Drugs is an online pharmacy founded by Mark Cuban that claims to be transparent and affordable. We really wanted to like this company more, but in reality there are some issues regarding common medications and insurance acceptance at Cost Plus Drugs that held us back from ranking it higher. We do see brighter things ahead for this company if they can address their problems.

Free shipping, but common medications are missing

On the bright side, Cost Plus Drugs is free to join and they offer free shipping with their deliveries. They also have a good list of options for medications across the board. However, surprisingly some common medications are notably missing Also, there are concerns about the range of insurance plans that are accepted. There's also room for improvement in their customer service area.

Clean site with tons of options

In terms of functionality, the website is clean and modern, and it's easy to find the medications with a link on the home page. You can easily search specific medications or limit your search to particular medical needs. There are 72 different options to search for particular medical conditions. If you want to just start scrolling, there is an alphabetized list of all medications offered on the website, which can be time-consuming, but it does provide an at-a-glance idea of how many options there are at Cost Plus Drugs.

Missing key medications

To compare the prices among online pharmacies, we looked at three different medications.

• The first medication was a long-term Rx diabetes medication. Cost Plus Drugs didn't offer insulin medications, so we couldn't compare that with the other options in this review, but it does offer Invokana (Canagliflozin) for diabetes in a similar price range. At Cost Plus Drugs the listed price is $243.92 which is about $400 less than retail.
• For the short-term Rx medication, we found that Cost Plus Drugs also doesn't offer an EpiPen option. So, we looked at a different allergy medication over $100: Olopatadine HCl. This is normally $150 in retail and is being sold for $16.50 at Cost Plus Drugs.
• Finally, for the over-the-counter medication, we couldn't find any options on Cost Plus Drugs that did not require a prescription, so we couldn't make a comparison in this category.

Across the board, we did notice there were fewer options for health staples like insulin or EpiPens, so if you need something specific or outside of the pill format for your medication, Cost Plus Drugs may not be ideal for your case.

Only some insurance accepted

Although the site mentions plans to add more insurance coverage in the future, for now, they only accept a few insurers such as Capital Blue Cross and Rightway. Therefore, the best option for individuals with health insurance remains unclear because prices vary depending on the insurer, medication, and coverage. Other online pharmacies should be considered first when comparing prescription prices with insurance. Despite the lack of insurance coverage, Cost Plus Drugs could still be an attractive option for some patients.

Customers aren't impressed

Most online reviews of Cost Plus Drugs appear to be negative. Cost Plus Drugs has a 2 out of 5-star rating and a "B-'' rating on the Better Business Bureau website, and a total of 2.4 stars out of 5 on average from other third-party review sites. Generally, customers complained about frustrating product issues and poor customer service with multiple reviews using the phrase "no customer service" regarding the experience at Cost Plus Drugs. On the flip side, the customers who were happy with Cost Plus Drugs specifically noted the extremely cheap prices for their required medications. However, this only applies to generic brands, and the site doesn't include many commonly-prescribed medications.

Room for improvement

Cost Plus Drugs offers a decent selection of medications at affordable prices. On the other hand, the limited insurance coverage and lack of certain medications such as insulin and EpiPens may not make it the top option for some patients. Additionally, there have been some negative customer reviews regarding product issues and poor customer service. Nevertheless, for those seeking affordable medication options, Cost Plus Drugs may still be worth considering, especially for generic brands. Overall, we'd encourage you to see if your insurance plan is covered and whether the specific cost savings you could receive from Cost Plus Drugs would benefit your particular needs.

BirdiRx

• Free to join
• Connects you to your prescription
• Mobile app available
• Free shipping for all Rx medications
• Takes insurance

BirdiRx is a pharmacy with a fresh perspective on healthcare that wants its customers to feel good about getting their prescriptions filled. It was recently acquired by Luma LLC, and the company aims to simplify the process of managing insurance, finding the best prices, choosing delivery options, and keeping track of orders and refills.

Free to join and easy to use

Customers can send their prescriptions to Birdi or ask their prescriber to do so. Joining Birdi is free and so is shipping for all your prescriptions. However, the cost of your prescription isn't covered in the service, so you'll still pay for that.

Modern website

The website for BirdiRx is clean, but there isn't a lot going on. While the website is modern and easy to use, and the sign-up is easy to find, some links travel to pages that have no navigation options once you get there and only a sentence or two on the page. It seems like the site might still be under construction in some areas, which doesn't inspire confidence in their business.

No direct purchase

Unfortunately, unlike other options in our review. BirdiRx doesn't allow customers to buy prescriptions directly from the website. They are mainly a fulfillment service to connect customers with distributors. They leverage the purchasing power of millions of consumers to negotiate lower prices and pass the savings on to customers. If medications are covered by their insurance plan, customers only have to pay their deductible or copay. Birdi also promises to launch new ways to help customers compare prices and save money on all their medications soon.

Free shipping on all prescriptions

The main perk of BirdiRx is free shipping. So, while you do have to pay for your prescriptions, the shipping is completely covered, and they handle all of the here-to-there concerns you might have from getting your prescription from your doctor to your door. Once the prescription is ready, customers can choose their payment and delivery options from free standard delivery or rush options. Birdi notifies customers as soon as the prescription is shipped and delivered.

Mobile app available

BirdiRx has mobile apps, which does make the service more accessible. You can download the app from the Google Play store and also the Apple app store. For customers who like to manage shipments and keep an eye on their prescriptions in real time, BirdiRx offers in-your-palm access.

Customer ratings not impressive

In terms of customer feedback, BirdiRx doesn't stand out as a top contender. The parent company, Luma, is not rated by the BBB. With only 48 reviews on Google, BirdiRx has a 2.3-star average rating. While the app for BirdiRx has a 4-star average on the Apple store, the actual written feedback appears more mixed.

Frustrated feedback

For example, some customers noted that it was frustrating that you couldn't "save prescriber info" on the app. Other customers who reviewed BirdiRx as a company noted that there were long shipping times between ordering their prescriptions and arrival. Some customers reported that they never received their prescriptions at all. Still more customers noted that their insurance wasn't taken by Birdi or that the price of the prescriptions increased after switching to Birdi. On the other hand, the customers who liked BirdiRx said that they had strong customer service, but there weren't many other positive comments about the company.

Safer options are found elsewhere

Birdi is a pharmacy that offers a unique perspective on healthcare and aims to simplify the prescription management process for its customers. However, while the website and mobile app appear modern and easy to use, the lack of direct prescription purchasing options and some navigation issues on the website suggest that the service may still be under construction. While Birdi offers free shipping, customer feedback suggests that there have been issues with long shipping times and medication availability, and the company's overall customer satisfaction ratings are mixed. With these things considered BirdiRx doesn't stand out as either a trustworthy option or one that will offer significant savings on regular prescriptions.