The best drug discount card: SingleCare vs. GoodRx

Online medical consultations through Dr. B cost $15, which is less than most insurance copays. We do this to make healthcare as accessible + affordable as possible.

But when it comes to medication costs? Several factors affect your price. These include:

• The kind of medication you’re prescribed
• If you choose a brand or generic version of the medication
• If you have insurance—and if your insurance company covers the prescription
• The pharmacy you choose to fill your prescription

Depending on these variables, your out-of-pocket prescription costs may be more than you want to pay—which is where drug discount cards come in handy.

Here’s how drug discount cards work. And how two top prescription coupon companies—SingleCare and GoodRx—compare.

How drug discount cards work

Prescription drug discount plans are cards and coupons you can use to lower prescription costs at your pharmacy. You can get these discount rx cards no matter your income or insurance status—though you can't use them with insurance.  And they’re free to use.

Here’s how the process works:

• Search: Enter the dosage and quantity of your prescription on a discount company website, along with your location.
• Compare: The site will show the cost of your prescription at nearby pharmacies.
• Present: Print, download or text yourself the best coupon + present it at your pharmacy before paying for your prescription medications.
• Save: The pharmacist will deduct the discount from your out-of-pocket medication costs.

Popular prescription discount companies include SingleCare, GoodRx, the Kroger discount card, the Walmart pharmacy discount card, and the AARP prescription discount card.

Next, we’ll compare SingleCare vs. GoodRx savings.

SingleCare pharmacy card savings

A SingleCare pharmacy savings card can discount your medication costs by up to 80%. You can search free on their website and app and use SingleCare coupons at 35,000 pharmacies nationwide.

SingleCare also shows you the medication’s price history, comparing brand-name and generic versions. You can create an alert to have SingleCare notify you if a prescription price changes by 10%. This can help you manage prescription costs for chronic conditions.

SingleCare’s free Bonus Savings Program offers even more discounts. Sign up, and they’ll credit a $3 bonus to your account. Every time you fill a prescription, you’ll get another $1 bonus to use on future medication purchases.

GoodRx prescription discount savings

GoodRx prescription discounts can also save you up to 80% of prescription costs. Their website and app are free to use—though you’ll have to sign up for a free account to use the app. And you can use GoodRx coupon cards at 70,000 pharmacies nationwide.

GoodRx also offers a Gold Plan. With the Gold Plan, you can get online doctor consultations starting at $19 per visit and save up to 90% on prescription prices at almost 40,000 pharmacies nationwide. The Gold Plan costs $9.99 per month for individuals and $19.99 for families. You can try a Gold Plan for free for 30 days before committing.

GoodRx vs. SingleCare 

GoodRx and SingleCare offer similar benefits.

They’re both free to use. They have user-friendly websites and apps. GoodRx is accepted at twice as many pharmacies as SingleCare—but most large chain pharmacies accept both. And both discount many medications—including pet medications!—by up to 80%.

But when it comes to popular medications, SingleCare discount card prices are often lower than GoodRx. Here’s how their RX prices compare (in California) for some of the most common medications prescribed after Dr. B online consultations.

• UTIs: Macrobid 100mg capsules cost $0.83 with SingleCare vs. $2.70 with GoodRx.
• Eczema: Pimecrolimus cream costs $80.62 with SingleCare vs. $81.09 with GoodRx.
• Dandruff: Ketoconazole shampoo costs $5.06 with SingleCare vs. $10.29 with GoodRx.
• ED: Viagra 25mg tablets cost $8.56 with SingleCare vs. $70.92 with GoodRx.
• Yeast infection: Fluconazole 150mg tablets cost $2.07 with SingleCare vs. $5.52 with GoodRx.

The best drug discount card

So, which is the best drug discount card for you? The one that offers the benefits you need most.

On top of helping you save even more on prescription costs, GoodRx’s Gold Plan offers affordable online doctor visit costs, too. But you’ll save more with Dr. B’s virtual consultations. We even have a no-cost care option for those who financially qualify.

If getting the lowest prescription price is most important, SingleCare prices usually win out. And their free Bonus Savings Program saves you even more in the long run.

The best news? As both sites are free to use, you don’t have to choose!