The Best Online Pharmacies

Thursday, May 22nd

2025 Online Pharmacy Reviews

Scriptco

• Thousands of prescription medications (generic only)
• Extremely low, wholesale pricing
• Membership costs: $240/year for a family membership (up to 4 people), $140/year or $50/quarter for an individual membership
• Members get free shipping on 4 shipments per year or 1 per quarter; delivery costs $6 (USPS First Class) to $40 (UPS Expedited) per shipment
• Impressive 4.9/5-star average across nearly 400 reviews, many from long-term customers

ScriptCo is a membership-based online pharmacy that offers generic prescription medications at wholesale prices. Launched to make prescriptions more affordable, ScriptCo operates on a simple model: you pay an annual or quarterly membership fee, and in return, you get access to medications at cost - no markups, no hidden fees. Their mission is to bring transparency to drug pricing and help people save big, especially those paying out of pocket.

Generic meds only

One of the hallmarks of ScriptCo is that it only quotes generic medications and doesn't dispense any controlled substances or brand-name-only meds. So, when we went to look for the three common prescriptions that we used as a basis for comparison with all online pharmacies, we knew right off the bat that we would only find the generic versions. Here's how ScriptCo did with those:

• Atorvastatin (generic for Lipitor) 40 mg, 30 tablets: we were blown away by the $1.05 price.
• Metformin (generic for Glucophage and others) 500 mg, 30 tablets: once again, we were amazed to see a price of just $0.30. (Yes, you read that right.)
• Levothyroxine (generic for Synthroid) 50 mcg, 30 tablets: continuing the trend, ScriptCo came in at just $0.38.

You'll need a membership to get the low prices

Impressed by those low-cost prescriptions? We were. However, in order to access them you'll have to become a ScriptCo member. If you order medications here as a non-member, those savings quickly dissipate, since you'll pay an extra $50 per prescription. ScriptCo offers a quarterly membership for $50 (which works out to $200/year), an annual individual membership for $140, and an annual family plan for up to 4 people at $280/year. Members do get free shipping on 4 non-refrigerated packages per year; after that, you'll be paying $6 per shipment for USPS First Class, $10 per shipment for USPS Priority, and $40 for UPS Expedited.

5-star reviews from almost everyone

But, don't let all of that scare you. We found nearly 400 ratings from ScriptCo users, and they averaged a near-perfect 4.9 stars. Most compelling were the ones from people who have been ScriptCo members for years; they described savings in the thousands of dollars over the course of a year, easily paying for the membership and sometimes several times over. We also saw mentions of people who previously used other online pharmacies on our list, but who switched to ScriptCo in the hopes of getting better customer service - and, to their delight, they did. Over and over, members say that they get huge savings when filling prescriptions here, and that their meds arrive within just a few days.

You'll probably save even if you have insurance

Now, keep in mind that you can't use your health insurance to pay for ScriptCo medications or the membership. However, when you crunch the numbers on what you'll pay out of pocket here vs. what you'll still pay even with insurance, there's a good chance that ScriptCo will save you a significant amount. Some of ScriptCo's reviews say that this online pharmacy "beats Medicare by a mile”, and it's common to see comments like "my 9 medications through ScriptCo cost $9, and through my insurance at the local pharmacy they would have been $245!”

#1 pick if you don't need brand-name Rx

Will ScriptCo be right for you if you absolutely need brand-name medications or you're looking for a one-stop shop with OTC products available too? No. But, for most of us, we're looking for the lowest possible costs on our prescription meds - especially when they're costly ones that we're on for the long haul. That makes ScriptCo one of the best online pharmacies around - and with their transparent pricing, you can run the numbers yourself and see exactly how much you'll save, even factoring in the costs of membership. We give ScriptCo our enthusiastic recommendation.

GoodRx

• Thousands of prescription medications offered
• Many OTCs available too (Tylenol, Allegra)
• Pick up prescriptions at local pharmacies; some mail order options available
• Free to use
• Can pick up your prescriptions same day
• Has helped Americans save over $15 billion
• Extra benefits with GoodRx Gold membership ($11.99/month for individuals, $19.99/month for families): free home delivery on eligible medications, telehealth visits starting at $21.99, over 1,000 prescriptions available for under $10, 100% satisfaction guarantee
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• In business since 2011

Founded in 2011, GoodRx quickly became one of the most well-known names in the prescription discount space by making it easier for people to afford their medications - whether they have insurance or not. This platform is a popular tool for saving money on prescription medications - the numbers indicate that Americans have saved over $15 billion by using it - but its main function isn't as its own online pharmacy. Instead, GoodRx works primarily like a price comparison and discount service, helping you find the lowest prices for medications at local pharmacies and sometimes even through mail-order services.

Transparent pricing at pharmacies near you

When you use GoodRx (either through the website or app), you enter the name of your medication and your location. GoodRx then shows you a list of nearby pharmacies and their current prices for that medication, including any available discounts or coupons. GoodRx negotiates these discounts with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which act as middlemen between drug manufacturers and pharmacies. The PBMs give GoodRx access to their network pricing, which allows the company to provide discounted rates to consumers. When you find the best price, you can either print out a GoodRx coupon or show the app at the pharmacy to get the discount.

No insurance needed - and you might be better off without it

One of the reasons GoodRx is so popular is that you don't need insurance to use it. In fact, GoodRx prices are often lower than insurance copays - especially for generic medications. Some pharmacies even have exclusive partnerships with GoodRx, offering deeper discounts to people using the service.

Sign up for GoodRx Gold if you need meds delivered

While GoodRx helps you save on prescriptions, it doesn't usually handle the medication itself. It's more of a price comparison and discount tool that you can use at a local pharmacy - wherever you get the best price and the most convenience. However, if you sign up for a GoodRx Gold membership, you can get your meds shipped from an American pharmacy that has partnered with GoodRx. You'll pay $11.99/month for an individual plan and $19.99/month for a family plan; your membership comes with free shipping on all prescriptions, telehealth visits (for medication refills or even to treat common medical conditions) starting at $21.99, and even greater discounts on prescription meds.

You'll know exactly what you'll pay

So, all that being said, let's look at the medications we used as a comparison across all of the online pharmacies in our review: atorvastatin (Lipitor), metformin (Glucophage), and levothyroxine (Synthroid). Keeping in mind that the in-store prices were for pharmacies in our test area in the Southeast, here's some of what we found at GoodRx:

• Atorvastatin 40 mg, 30 tablets: $3.70 with a first-time discount as a new GoodRx member (not the Gold plan), $8.49 at Walmart with a $7.50 first-time discount. Regular prices started around $15 per fill. Lipitor started around $586.95 for the same dosage and quantity.
• Metformin 500 mg, 60 tablets: Walmart came in at the lowest cost at $4 (and GoodRx very helpfully pointed out that Walmart's everyday retail price was lower than any other GoodRx-listed pharmacy, so no need to use the GoodRx discount there). Walgreens was priced at $4.22 with a $12.50 new member discount and $16.72 thereafter. Going over to the brand-name Glucophage, all GoodRx-listed pharmacies came in at $70.19, also no GoodRx discount needed.
• Levothyroxine 50 mcg, 1 tablet: GoodRx had an offer for just $2 at Walgreens with a new-member discount and then $2.73 per tablet afterwards. But, GoodRx told us that Walmart's everyday retail price was just $1.64/tablet. Jumping over to the brand-name Synthroid, GoodRx had quite a few options; the first one on the list was Abbvie's "Synthroid Delivers Program” for $25/month on a 90-day prescription, $27/month on a 60-day prescription, or $29.50/month on a 30-day prescription. Otherwise, the lowest one-tablet price on Synthroid was $4.25 at Walgreens.

OTC meds available too

How about OTC medications? You can definitely get those through GoodRx as well. We looked up a bunch of basics, from Tylenol/acetaminophen to common allergy meds, and it wasn't hard to get what we needed - though we were a little confused when the site kept referring to "prescriptions” for OTC remedies.

Data privacy track record isn't great

Let's move on to GoodRx's reputation. The company has earned the Better Business Bureau's highest "A+” rating and accreditation. However, the BBB also had a lengthy alert about some shady data-sharing practices in the past: monetizing users' health information by selling it to social media platforms, who then used it for targeted ads for people who purchased particular medications. Yikes! That's why GoodRx had to pay a $1.5 million fine to the FTC in 2023, also with the requirement of changing such practices.

PBMs can be part of the problem

Also, despite its success, GoodRx has faced additional criticism over the years. One major issue is that while GoodRx helps people find lower prices, those discounts depend on deals with PBMs, which are known for their complex and sometimes opaque pricing structures. Critics argue that this system contributes to inflated drug prices in the first place.

You might be surprised

Final take? GoodRx has made a huge impact by giving people more control over how much they spend on medications. It's especially valuable for those without insurance or with high deductibles. Even if you have insurance, it's worth checking GoodRx before filling a prescription - you might be surprised at how much you can save. The platform's combination of transparency, convenience, and savings has made it a go-to resource for millions of Americans trying to manage their healthcare costs. However, the fact that this isn't a true online pharmacy unless you pay for a monthly membership took a bit off of GoodRx's rating here, and we're mindful of those earlier issues with mishandling user data too. Still, we give GoodRx a very high score overall.

Sesame

• Hundreds of generic prescription medications
• No insurance required (or accepted)
• Shipping costs determined after you meet with a doctor
• Prescriptions require doctor visit ($34+ with Sesame membership, $47+ without)
• Membership costs $10.99/month or $99/year
• "A” rated and accredited by the BBB
• Thousands of 5-star reviews

Sesame is a direct-to-consumer healthcare marketplace that connects you with doctors, specialists, and telehealth services at upfront, affordable prices - without the need for insurance. Whether you need a virtual consultation, an in-person visit, a lab test, or even a prescription, Sesame lets you book care directly with providers, often at significantly lower costs than traditional healthcare options.

Meds are hard to find but cheap when you do

Checking whether or not Sesame can provide your prescription is a little cumbersome. To find the ones we used as a comparison (atorvastatin/Lipitor, metformin/Fortamet, and levothyroxine/Synthroid), we had to click on the conditions that each one treats; there was no search box that we could find. And, pricing at Sesame was as cheap as promised: $3 for 30 tablets of atorvastatin, metformin, or levothyroxine.

A few caveats to be aware of

But, here's the catch (or two): in order to get your prescription, you'll have to book a visit with a Sesame doctor, and there's no guarantee that your meds will be prescribed because it will be "at provider's discretion”. Even if it's a medication you've been on for a long time, the Sesame doctor may want you to have a follow-up at the 30-day mark, before adding refills to your prescription. And, while Sesame says that meds can be sent to you, their main focus seems to be making prescriptions available at a local pharmacy for same-day pickup.

Doctor visits starting around $47

How much does it cost to see a Sesame doctor? That depends. You can book directly with providers near you or with ones available remotely (telehealth), and their availability and pricing is transparently displayed (which we love). Expect to pay $47+ for a visit, unless you're a Sesame Plus member. That costs $10.99/month or $99/year, and gets you an immediate $10 discount on all of your doctor visits. It comes with extra perks like one free lab or blood test per year, valued at $65.

Not in-network with any health insurance

However, if you have insurance, Sesame is going to be completely out of pocket for you. Your healthcare insurance might reimburse you for these services as out-of-network, but you'd have to find that out. Sesame can provide you with a bill to submit to your insurer.

No non-Rx products

The other disadvantage is that there are no OTC options with Sesame. You'll just have to get your Tylenol, cold and flu remedies, or eye drops somewhere else.

Thousands of 5-star reviews from grateful patients

Reputation-wise, Sesame holds up extremely well. The company has an "A” rating and accreditation from the BBB, not to mention more than 2,300 5-star reviews on Trustpilot. Patients describe the care they've received through Sesame doctors as excellent, and many mention how affordable and easy it was to get a same-day appointment and have a prescription ready for pickup at their preferred pharmacy.

Absolutely fantastic for people with limited or no health insurance coverage

If you suspect you have a sinus infection and can't bear the thought of dragging yourself out of bed to go to the doctor just to get a prescription for antibiotics, Sesame absolutely has the potential to be your new best friend. But, if you've got good insurance coverage already and are just looking for a no-hassle online pharmacy to get your day-to-day prescriptions, what Sesame requires (and also what it doesn't provide) will likely feel like you're doubling up on coverage. What Sesame promises, it delivers extremely well - so if you don't have insurance (or your coverage just isn't great), and you're on long-term generic medication, give it a look. However, because it doesn't have quite the same range as many online pharmacies we evaluated, and the details for mail order prescriptions are hard to come by, Sesame comes in at an "above-average” rating here.

Rx Outreach

• Officially licensed in all 50 states
• Proven savings from $10 to $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 special kind of online pharmacy. What makes it different from others is that it's a non-profit organization. This means it doesn't aim to make money, but instead focuses on helping people. Since it started in 2010, Rx Outreach has provided over 3.5 million prescriptions. Thanks to its lower prices, patients have saved more than $880 million compared to what they would have paid at regular pharmacies. It's a great choice for individuals and families who need medicine but are worried about the cost.

Working Together to Make Medicine Affordable

Rx Outreach keeps prices low by working closely with donors and drug companies. These strong partnerships help the pharmacy offer life-saving medications at much lower costs than most places. This makes it possible for people who can't normally afford their prescriptions to still get the care they need. The pharmacy is also well recognized-it's licensed to mail prescriptions across all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Plus, it's been officially approved by both the NABP (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy) and VIPPS (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites), which means it meets high standards for safety and trust.

Lots of Medications Without Extra Fees

One of the best things about Rx Outreach is the large variety of medications it offers. The pharmacy has an easy-to-read drug list with clear prices-what you see is what you pay. There are no membership fees, no hidden charges, and no surprise costs. You can find prescriptions for many common health problems, especially long-term conditions like asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid issues, and even serious illnesses like cancer or Parkinson's. This makes Rx Outreach a strong choice for people who need to manage ongoing health issues without spending too much.

Website Could Be Easier to Use

While Rx Outreach is great in many ways, its website could use some updating. When you search for a medication, the site only lets you sort the list alphabetically. That can make it harder to find what you need-especially if you don't know the exact name of the medicine. It would be a big improvement if they added more filters or search tools to make things faster and easier for users. Since finding the right medication is such an important part of using the site, a better search system would go a long way.

Real Savings, Even With Limited Comparisons

To see how Rx Outreach prices compare to other pharmacies, we looked at three types of medications: a long-term prescription, a short-term prescription, and an over-the-counter (OTC) drug. Although Rx Outreach didn't carry the exact same medicines we used in other comparisons, we found close matches to test the prices. For example, Metformin ER, used for type 2 diabetes, costs $30 for a 30-day supply-less expensive than many other options. Budesonide Nasal Spray, a common allergy medication, was $20. As for OTC items, it's hard to say if Rx Outreach offers them consistently, or if they're just difficult to find due to the outdated search function.

Affordable Mental Health Medications

One area where Rx Outreach really stands out is mental health. Many pharmacies either don't carry or charge a lot for medications used to treat mental health conditions. But Rx Outreach offers a wide selection of these meds at affordable prices. Whether someone is dealing with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, or narcolepsy, they'll likely find helpful and budget-friendly options here. This makes Rx Outreach a strong resource for people who need mental health support but don't want the high costs to hold them back.

Helping People Who Need It Most

Rx Outreach is focused on helping people who often get left out of the healthcare system. This includes people who don't have insurance, those with limited coverage, and even people who do have insurance but still struggle to afford their medication. If your household income falls below a certain level, you may qualify for Rx Outreach's services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the pharmacy even expanded its program to help more families going through financial stress. It's clear that Rx Outreach puts people first, especially during difficult times.

Trusted by Customers Nationwide

Rx Outreach has earned a lot of trust from the people who use it. It has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and great reviews from users, averaging 4.5 out of 5 stars. Many customers say the service has been a lifesaver, especially for those with expensive conditions like cancer. While there have been some complaints about slow shipping or trouble reaching customer support, most reviewers still have good things to say. Even the more critical reviews often include positive comments about the company's mission and impact.

A Good Choice for Affordable Prescriptions

Overall, Rx Outreach is a top pick for people looking for low-cost medications-especially for long-term health conditions or mental health needs. Its large selection, honest pricing, and non-profit mission make it a smart choice for anyone struggling to afford their prescriptions. Although the website could use some updates to improve the search experience, the service it provides is incredibly valuable. For those in need, Rx Outreach is a trusted and affordable way to get important medications without breaking the bank.

Honeybee Health

• Carries mostly generic medications, some name-brand options available (like Eliquis and Armour Thyroid)
• Prices displayed right on the website, no need to sign in first
• Free shipping on orders over $40, $5 flat fee otherwise
• No membership required, no insurance accepted

Honeybee Health was started by the managers of a California pharmacy who hated seeing their small-town patients struggle to afford medications. Dr. Jessica and Peter built this online pharmacy to help them - and now residents of 49 states in total - get the prescriptions they need at prices they can afford, with no membership fees and no insurance required.

Prices are clearly displayed (but not the most competitive)

That means that you can go right to the Honeybee Health website and look for any medications you're taking, since you don't have to sign up for an account or fuss with your insurance details. Here's what we found when we looked up 3 of the most commonly-prescribed medications in the US:

• Atorvastatin (generic of Lipitor) 40 mg, 30 tablets: $7
• Metformin (generic of Glucophage and others) 500 mg, 30 tablets: $6 to $6.10. Unlike most of the online pharmacies in our review, Honeybee Health actually let us choose the manufacturer - Sciegen, Aurobindo, or Ascend (the last one was identified as the "pharmacist pick”)
• Levothyroxine (generic of Synthroid) 50 mcg, 30 tablets: $8 to $12, depending on which of the three manufacturers we selected

You may want to upgrade for faster shipping

When you add your medications to the cart, you'll see what you'll pay for shipping. If your order is over $40, delivery is free; on all other orders, you'll pay a $5 flat fee. That's pretty amazing. Be aware, though, that the default shipping is USPS First Class, and that can take 7-10 business days for delivery. If you're already running short on your meds, you may want to upgrade to FedEx Priority for $15 (2-3 business days) or Express for $35 (1-2 business days).

Straightforward to get started

You don't even need to create an account to get started: just enter your email and Honeybee Health will send you a one-time code for password-free sign-in. Once you get to the checkout, you'll have to provide all of the information you'd expect: name, email, home address, DOB, doctor's information, current pharmacy info, and other details related to your health. As soon as your doctor sends in your prescription, Honeybee Health will get your meds in the mail to you.

BBB grade isn't a problem...

It came as a surprise to see that Honeybee Health only got a "B-” from the Better Business Bureau; fortunately, that downgrading is for failing to respond to a single complaint out of the four filed with the BBB in the last three years. That's a great track record, in our book.

...but recent customer feedback is not great

Unfortunately, we're concerned when we look at the current feedback on Trustpilot. At first glance, the 4-star average across more than 4,000 reviews would be a good sign. However, when we looked at the most recent feedback, the positive reviews seem to mostly come from 2023 and earlier. After that? Almost nothing but 1-star ratings. Comments towards Honeybee Health like "you've genuinely made my quality of life much worse, the entire time I've used you” and "I loved Honeybee when it was new but the past few times I've had horrible experiences” are not what we want to hear from any online pharmacy we're considering.

Has some room to improve

There's a lot to like about Honeybee Health, not the least of which is the super-transparent pricing and the fact that you don't need to pay for any kind of membership to get rock-bottom costs on so many generic medications. On the other hand, we can't ignore the fact that the word on the street recently is that this online pharmacy isn't doing a good job keeping customers happy. You could encounter a lot of problems getting your prescription filled quickly and accurately, and no amount of savings is going to make up for that. Honeybee Health has dropped a bit in our ratings, and we recommend looking at your options higher on our list before filling your prescriptions here.

Amazon Pharmacy

• Thousands of prescription medications, both generic and brand-name
• Most insurance accepted, but none is required
• Wide range of OTC options
• 1- to 4-day delivery to most physical addresses
• Same-day delivery available in Austin, Indianapolis, Greater Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix, and Seattle (with drone delivery in College Station, TX)
• Free to use, extra benefits for Prime members (like $5/month RxPass)
• Pharmacists on call 24/7
• Can also get telehealth for prescription renewals
• In operation since 2020

Amazon Pharmacy has been operating since its launch on November 17, 2020. This marked Amazon's significant entry into the retail pharmacy market, building on its earlier acquisition of PillPack in 2018. By leveraging Amazon's vast logistics network and advanced automation technology, Amazon Pharmacy provides fast and reliable delivery options, including same-day delivery in eligible areas. This service is particularly beneficial for those with limited mobility or those who struggle to visit physical pharmacies.

You've got lots of options to get the best savings

You won't need a Prime membership to get your prescriptions through Amazon Pharmacy. Simply sign up. You're free to use it with or without insurance, and there's a handy "check if we accept your insurance” link right below the Sign up/Sign in button. But, if you are a Prime subscriber, you can get exclusive discounts of up to 80%, or join RxPass for an extra $5 a month and get any eligible medications at no cost. And, don't overlook the manufacturer coupons that will be displayed on prescription meds for members and non-members alike, just like you're used to seeing on Amazon's other products.

Generic and brand-name Rx with clear prices and estimates

We really love how easy it is to find both generic and brand-name medications through Amazon Pharmacy, with prices clearly displayed for all available options. Let's take a look at the three popular prescriptions we used across all of the online pharmacies on our list, and see how Amazon measures up:

• Atorvastatin 40 mg, 30 tablets: Amazon indicated that this is typically $1 with insurance or $8.30 without insurance and with Prime. Lipitor isn't shown with an average insurance price, but without insurance, a 30-day supply is about $583 with Prime.
• Metformin 500 mg, 30 tablets: $2 average cost with insurance, $4.12 without insurance and with Prime. Glucophage, one of the brand-name versions, didn't show up in Amazon Pharmacy's inventory.
• Levothyroxine 50 mcg, 30 tablets: $3 with insurance, $3.98 without insurance and with Prime. Brand-name Synthroid was priced at $40 with insurance and $51.90 without, and there was a coupon to save $12.15 at checkout.

One-stop shop for sniffle-stoppers, snacks, and supplements

And, of course, with all the convenience of Amazon, you already know you can get just about any OTC remedy you might need (...or some chocolate to go with those cramps... or some Kleenex to get you through a sinus infection until the antibiotics kick in...).

Same-day delivery in some metro areas (plus drones)

How about delivery timeframes? As you would probably expect from Amazon, the pharmacy has same-day delivery in certain areas. Those include Austin, Indianapolis, Greater Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Orlando, Phoenix, and Seattle. Beyond those areas, you expect your prescriptions to be delivered to any physical address (no PO boxes, Amazon Lockers, or other pickup points) within 1-4 days. And, get this: if you live in College Station, Texas, you can even get drone delivery. (Who's up for a little road trip to try that out?)

On-call pharmacists and doctors for telehealth refills

Need extra help? Amazon Pharmacy's pharmacists are available 24/7 to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have. And, on most medications, there's a button for "Request a prescription” if you're out of meds or need refills and can't get it from your PCP for some reason. There are separate fees for that service; you can expect that to be around $29 for a message visit or $49 for a video visit, and wait times range from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Customer feedback is almost universally negative

We wanted to make Amazon Pharmacy the #1 option on our list, and it's true that there's a lot to be excited about, at first glance. However, when we looked at recent customer feedback outside of the glowing reviews on Amazon itself, we weren't reassured - not even a little. Over on Trustpilot, for example, a whopping 91% of the 200+ reviews there were just 1 star. Problems like "can't confirm my address and customer service cannot solve the issue”, "much higher prices”, and "hardly has anything other than antidepressants and antibiotics” are just a few of the reasons behind the low ratings for Amazon Pharmacy. (Our favorite was probably "Amazon Pharmacy blows harder than a Cat 5 hurricane.”)

Not reliable enough yet

At the end of the day, all we can give Amazon Pharmacy is a cautious score. All of the surface-level convenience and competitive pricing won't matter if the cost goes up at the time of your order, your meds are out of stock and not delivered for a long time (especially when they're readily available elsewhere), or you can't get the help you need when there's a problem. We hope that Amazon can work out the bugs and become as hassle-free and reliable as they are for just about everything else, but for now, their online pharmacy services just don't cut it.

Cost Plus Drugs

• Over 2,300 prescription medications, mostly generic
• $5+ standard shipping fee, $15+ for expedited delivery
• $5 pharmacy fee
• Some insurance accepted but not required
• "A+” rated by the BBB

Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs is an online pharmacy that aims to provide affordable prescription medications by cutting out middlemen and offering drugs at a transparent, low-cost pricing model. The company operates on a cost-plus model, meaning they sell medications at the actual manufacturer's cost plus a 15% markup and small service fees - with no insurance required.

In network for some insurers

While no insurance is required to use Cost Plus Drugs, some healthcare plans are in-network here. At the time of our review, that list included AffirmedRx, Archimedes, Capital Blue Cross, Drexi, FairosRx, Liviniti, MedOne, Network Health Plan, Oread Rx, PCA Rx, PharmPix, Rightway, RxPreferred, Scripius, SelectHealth, SGRX, SmithRx, TransparentRx, True Rx Health Strategists, TrueScripts, VIVIO, WellDyne, and other select prescription plans.

Reasonably competitive on price and availability

We'd heard some complaints that Cost Plus Drugs doesn't carry a broad-enough range of medications, so we were curious how available three of the most commonly-prescribed medications in the US would be. Here's what we found:

• Atorvastatin 40 mg, 30 tablets: $6.15. That's a higher cost than rival online pharmacies that offer a first-time discount, but extremely competitive for month-to-month pricing.
• Metformin 500 mg, 30 tablets: $5.32. That was more expensive than most in-store pharmacies, but still a great value.
• Levothyroxine 50 mcg, 30 tablets: $5.91. Of all three medications, this was probably the best deal, considering we found rivals selling it at a per-tablet price of $2.

So, our research indicates that as long as you're okay with the generic versions of name-brand medications, you shouldn't have trouble getting what you need through Cost Plus Drugs. That's the key to how this online pharmacy saves money: there was no Lipitor, Glucophage, or Synthroid available, though the site correctly identified the brands for each of those generic meds we looked up.

Pay attention to fees

And, as you figure out your costs, you'll need to keep Cost Plus Drugs' fees in mind. They charge a 15% markup (already reflected in the price) over what it costs them to get the medications, shipping fees starting at $5 for 1-2 prescriptions at standard speed and $15 for 1-4 prescriptions with expedited delivery, and possibly a $5 pharmacy fee (we say "possibly” because we found mentions of it on third-party websites but not on Cost Plus Drugs).

"A+” from the BBB all around

All medications offered by this online pharmacy will be filled by their partner, HealthDyne. Fortunately, they've got an "A+” from the Better Business Bureau, just like Cost Plus Drugs; despite both businesses having some complaints registered with the BBB over the last three years, that grade indicates that these companies are responding to those issues promptly and professionally.

OTCs are not part of this online pharmacy's mission

One obvious limitation here is that there are no over-the-counter medications you can add to your order. That surprised us, because there are plenty of generic OTC remedies that go well with prescription meds (like acetaminophen), but that's just not the focus of what Mark Cuban is aiming to accomplish with this pharmacy. We get that.

Lots of complaints

However, the biggest reason this online pharmacy winds up so low on our list is its feedback from customers. Across 70 reviews on Trustpilot, for example, more than half were a dismal 1-star rating; only 23% gave Cost Plus Drugs a perfect 5 stars. Some of the most common complaints were lengthy delays in getting prescriptions delivered, problems with internal communication (two different addresses for the company leading to prescriptions going missing), being sent the wrong meds, you get the idea. And that was just from comments left within a few weeks of our evaluation.

Not quite living up to the hype

We love what Mark Cuban was trying to do in theory, but in reality, Cost Plus Drugs isn't doing a great job. Sure, the generics are affordably-priced, but not so out-of-this-world cheap compared with other online pharmacies' costs that it would make it worth the hassle of potentially not getting your prescription for weeks. Until this company does a better job of getting people meds in a timely, accurate way, we can't give it any higher of a score.

Birdi

• 3 ways to use the service: as your health insurance company's mail order partner, with a basic, private account, and as a local pharmacy discount card
• Free standard USPS shipping on all prescriptions; $25 for UPS express delivery
• 24/7 access to Birdi pharmacists

Birdi aims to be an all-in-one healthcare solution "for your entire flock”. However, at the moment, their services are limited to pharmacy needs: there are no telemedicine visits or other healthcare options to choose from, at least as of the date of this review. The "About Birdi” portion of the website makes it sound like those extra services are on the horizon, though, so keep an eye out.

3 ways to use Birdi

How you access Birdi's online pharmacy depends on whether or not they're the designated mail order pharmacy for your insurance. If so, you'll create a Mail Order account when you click on "Join Birdi”. If not, you'll need to select "Create a basic account” to get cash prices on your prescriptions or manage them on others' behalf (like your children or spouse). The third option is to get the Birdi Discount Card and use it at a brick-and-mortar pharmacy near you (which is remarkably similar to another, better-known service on our list).

Pricing is transparent and mostly competitive

That last service is the only one that lets you look up prescription prices without creating a Birdi account, so it's what we used for our comparison pricing. Here's what we found on the 3 commonly-prescribed medications that we used as an apples-to-apples reference in our evaluation:

• Atorvastatin 40 mg, 30 tablets: we were given options at 10 pharmacies in our test area, ranging in price from $6.83 to $54.18. Lipitor was offered at the same 10 pharmacies, ranging from $55`1.76 at a local, non-chain pharmacy and going up to $624.02 at Walgreens.
• Metformin 500 mg, 60 tablets: the small local pharmacy was the least expensive again at $6.45; the other 10 pharmacies' prices ranged from $7.18 to $19.99. The brand-name medication we used at other online pharmacies (Glucophage) wasn't available through BirdiRx's discount program; Riomet was the proposed alternative, in a strength of 500mg/5mL and a quantity of 150 mLs, with prices ranging from $96.28 (CVS) to $326.17 (supermarket pharmacy).
• Levothyroxine 50 mcg, 30 tablets: this was probably Birdi's most competitively-priced prescription of the three at $7.16 (Walgreens), going up to $14.87 at the grocery store pharmacy in our area. Brand-name Synthroid wasn't overly expensive either, ranging from $51.81 (local pharmacy) to $74.31 (CVS).

Mail-order benefits are harder to come by

But, remember that these are all prices at brick-and-mortar pharmacies; until you sign up on your own or with your health insurance that designates Birdi as the mail order partner, you're not getting the full benefits of an online pharmacy.

OTC options aren't clear

We're also not sure how that affects your ability to get OTC remedies when you're ordering your prescriptions online through Birdi. You can look up options at local pharmacies, but we can't confirm that you could tack on some allergy meds or pain relievers with your medication order.

24/7 pharmacist help

On a positive note, we really appreciate that Birdi gives you access to pharmacists around the clock. Whether you've got questions about a new prescription or you think you're experiencing side effects, you can get help with urgent situations within an hour; less urgent issues will get a call-back during business hours the next day, if you're leaving a message after hours.

Feedback is limited - and underwhelming

Unfortunately, Birdi has earned a rock-bottom "F” rating from the Better Business Bureau. The low grade is for failing to respond to 4 complaints, as well as the 16 total complaints filed against it with the BBB. Those numbers aren't staggering, but the issues raised are reflected in customer feedback in other places too. Over on the Google Play store, for instance, more recent reviews say that the Birdi app is buggy and slow. Apple's App Store has comments that sound familiar: "every time, it crashes” and "can't view prescriptions”. Beyond the BBB and those two app stores, there's just not any buzz for this online pharmacy.

Getting better but still not an online pharmacy we'd choose

We feel comfortable bringing Birdi up from its previous "couldn't get any worse” rating here. They've become established enough to serve as the chosen mail order pharmacy for some health insurance companies, and there's more feedback than we found in our earlier evaluation. But, that's still not quite enough to be competitive with Birdi's rivals on our list - neither with the online-only pharmacies, nor with the "discount card” options. We'll keep an eye on Birdi and see if any of those "all-in-one” healthcare benefits come around, but for now, we can still only rate this company as below average.

BlinkRx

• Offers prescription medications, many brand-name
• Can use insurance
• Free delivery from local pharmacies
• Free to use

BlinkRx works a little differently from most of the online pharmacies in our evaluation. They take advantage of a "hub network” to analyze customers' copays and deductibles to get the best possible deal, then they deliver prescriptions via free home delivery from a local pharmacy.

Zero upfront pricing

We'd like to tell you how much it'll cost for you to get your prescriptions through BlinkRx, which medications they cover, or literally anything else about what to expect from this service. However, when you go to the "Get Started” page, you'll have to indicate if they already have your prescription on file - and if the answer is "no”, that's as far as you'll get until your doctor sends it over. In other words, there's no way to comparison-shop the pricing with rival online pharmacies. So much for "look before you leap”. Also, in today's age of digital scams, it feels really uncomfortable to have to provide all of your personal data, from your insurance plan info to your birthdate, just to have Blink Rx "check with your insurance to show you all price options available to you”.

Brand-name prescriptions offered

All we can say for sure is that BlinkRx does have brand-name prescriptions. For example, during our most recent visit to the website, there was an announcement of a partnership between BlinkRx and ARS Pharmaceuticals to make a needle-free anaphylaxis treatment available to customers. As far as any other brand relationships go, or other medications that you could supposedly get for a lower price, BlinkRx simply isn't going to tell you anything until you send over a prescription.

BBB has dropped their rating

Unfortunately (and unsurprisingly, given all of the above?), BlinkRx's reputation has tanked since our last review, taking this online pharmacy from first to almost worst on our list. The Better Business Bureau comes to the same conclusion, dropping the rating there to a "B” for the company's failure to respond to complaints in a timely way. It was also annoying - and a little sketchy - to see the "BBB Accredited Business” logo on the BlinkRx site, only to click it and see that no, this pharmacy is not accredited.

"Clueless and useless”? Ouch...

That downhill slide is reflected in feedback from disgruntled BlinkRx customers in many other places. On Trustpilot, where the reviews are fairly evenly split at 45% 5-stars and 39% 1-star (with an alert from Trustpilot saying that the pharmacy may be stacking the deck with "unsupported invitation methods”), you'll see comments saying that the service here is awful - and a suspiciously high number of the positive ratings mention a particular type of eye drops. On another third-party review platform, rants included phrases like "I have gotten tabs broken and missing the pieces, yet they refuse to refund” and "these people should not handle prescription medication: clueless and useless”.

Skip this online pharmacy

With all of that being said, is it any wonder that BlinkRx has earned one of our lowest ratings? Customers are looking for transparency, convenience, and low costs when choosing an online pharmacy, and this one delivers on none of that. Look at the more reliable companies on our list and don't waste time on BlinkRx.

DiRx

• Over 1,400 generic prescription medications
• Get 500 medications at no cost with Annual Savings membership ($180/person/year or $50/person/quarter) or 1,000 medications with Annual Savings Plus ($360/person/year or $110/person/quarter)
• Free shipping on up to 4 shipments per year (or 1 per quarter) with membership; $5 per shipment thereafter
• In business since 2021

DiRx is one of many online pharmacies who promise to cut out the middlemen and streamline consumers' path to the prescription medications they need. In operation since 2021, this company is based in Florida and purchases all of the medications they offer from US-based manufacturers only.

$0 medications on membership plans

DiRx takes an interesting approach to saving you money. This online pharmacy has two membership plans, and if your medications are on the list, you pay $0. Here's how that looks:

• Annual Savings: billed at $180/year per person or $50/quarter, there are 500 medications you can get for $0, with no limit
• Annual Savings Plus: billed at $360/year per person or $110/quarter, there are 1,000 medications for $0, also no limit

Free shipping...sometimes?

Both plans give you free shipping - on one shipment per quarter on the quarterly plan, and on up to four shipments per year on the annual plan. After that, you'll pay a low shipping fee of just $5. We were a little confused, though: in DiRx's FAQs, it says that you'll also get free USPS shipping on "all generic medicines, all one-time orders, and any automatic refills”, so it left us unclear on when shipping would be charged and when it wouldn't.

No cost on our comparison medications

We were curious to see if the three medications we used to make an equal comparison across online pharmacies would be on either of the "$0 and unlimited” lists for those savings plans. Those were atorvastatin, metformin, and levothyroxine, and yes, they were all included in the 500 fee-free medications in the basic Annual Savings plan. As a side note, when we looked up the levothyroxine, we got a pop-up saying that Euthyrox (one of the brand names) was also available; however, when we clicked to learn more, we got an "access denied” page.

BBB gives the company an "F”

Paying $0 for so many commonly-prescribed medications sounds great, but DiRx falls flat on its face when you look at its reputation. For starters, the Better Business Bureau gives the company an "F” (under the name of Direct Pharmacy Source, Inc.). That's for failing to respond to 6 of the 10 complaints filed there. Ordinarily, that wouldn't give us much reason for concern.

Terrible customer service

However, when we considered that many DiRx customers aren't going to be able to find the BBB listing under the longer name in order to file a complaint, the hundreds of recent negative reviews over on Trustpilot made more sense (it's where people could actually identify DiRx to raise red flags about the problems they experienced). In comments left within a few weeks of our review, we found several common themes. Those included medications only being designated as "out of stock” after people had signed up for the DiRx membership, canceling orders for no reason, delays of weeks or even months on shipping medications, and absolutely awful customer service.

Worst online pharmacy on our list

Maybe DiRx used to do a great job as an online pharmacy, but after seeing all of the disappointed and angry reviews from long-term members who are abandoning ship and switching to rival services, we can't see any reason to sign up here. You've got plenty of options that are much more reliable, so we recommend choosing a higher-ranked online pharmacy from our list instead of wasting your time and risking your money with DiRx.