These days, the ability to save money on prescription drugs is right in the palm of your hand. That's thanks to money-saving apps like SingleCare and GoodRx, among others.
Both of these apps and their companion websites are similar in that they promise savings of up to 80% off the cost of prescription drugs. However, there are subtle differences between the two services.
What You Need to Know About SingleCare vs. GoodRx
In this article, we’re going to explain some of the differences between SingleCare and GoodRx. We’re also going to put the competitors up for a head-to-head price comparison across some of the most common prescription drugs.
SingleCare vs. GoodRx Comparison: Table of Contents
Price
If you’re wondering how SingleCare stacks up against GoodRx, one of the most important measurements you can use to answer that question is price.
Before beginning my research, I sought out the 10 most commonly prescribed drugs. That allowed me to know which prescription drugs people were most likely to be shopping around for. Then, I shopped each service for the medications.
All quotes below were pulled for a patient in metro Atlanta on January 14, 2020.
| Drug Name | Dosage | Count | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atorvastatin (Lipitor) | 40 mg | 30 | * GoodRx - $7.68 * SingleCare - $8.25 |
| Euthyrox (Levothyroxine Sodium) | 50 mcg | 30 | * GoodRx - $4.00 * SingleCare - $4.00 |
| Lisinopril (Prinivil) | 20 mg | 90 | * GoodRx - $10 * SingleCare - $5.62 |
| Gabapentin (Neurontin) | 300mg | 90 | * GoodRx - $9.98 * SingleCare - $13.82 |
| Amlodipine (Norvasc) | 5 mg | 30 | * GoodRx - $7.20 * SingleCare - $9.76 |
| Albuterol (Ventolin, Accuneb, Proair, Proventil) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Vicodin (Hydrocodone / Acetaminophen) | 10mg/325mg | 120 | * GoodRx - $24.28 * SingleCare - $26.97 |
| Omeprazole (Prilosec) | 40 mg | 30 | * GoodRx - $8.07 * SingleCare - $9.00 |
| Amoxicillin (Amoxil) | 500 mg | 30 | * GoodRx - $7.57 * SingleCare - $6.99 |
| Losartan (Cozaar) | 100 mg | 30 | * GoodRx - $7.49 * SingleCare - $4.00 |
As I comparison-shopped for these drugs — which I did from my desktop — there were a few things I noticed.
First, you have to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. SingleCare and GoodRx typically default to different doses and counts when you type in a drug name. So, I had to make sure dosing and pill count were standardized before comparing prices.
This was particularly problematic for Albuterol. Unfortunately, there was too much variation across both sizing and dosage on this particular drug to do an accurate comparison.
Second, you’ll see below that SingleCare has a sleek, modern looking interface and is pleasing to the eye.
Meanwhile, everything about GoodRx — from the color scheme to the layout — made it look like a relic of some forgotten ’90s website:
But looks aren’t everything and it was actually GoodRx that more often than not had the better prices.
GoodRx also told me about free prescriptions available through select retailers, while SingleCare did not.
For example, the lowest GoodRx coupon price for Amlodipine (as indicated in the chart above) is $7.20, but they let me know that I could get it for free at Publix.
Participating Pharmacies
When trying to decide whether GoodRx or SingleCare will work in your life, you’ve also got to consider retail footprint of the two competitors.
In short, GoodRx works with more participating pharmacies than SingleCare does.
GoodRx says its discounts are accepted at 70,000 pharmacies nationwide. Meanwhile, SingleCare advertises half that number — 35,000 participating pharmacies.
Keep in mind that no matter which pharmacy from which network you choose, SingleCare and GoodRx both work the same way.
First, you search by drug name to find a discounted price and a pharmacy you like. Then you print the discount coupon out, or email or text it to yourself. Finally, you go to the pharmacy and purchase the drug at the discount you were shown. It’s that easy.
GoodRx’s Premium Membership
Both SingleCare and GoodRx are completely free to use. However, GoodRx has a premium membership program that can deliver additional savings for a price. SingleCare does not.
GoodRx Gold starts at $5.99/month for individuals. Bumping it up to $9.99/month allows you to add up to five family members, including pets. Both plans give you access to more than 1,000 medications for under $10.
That’s a savings of up to 90% off the cost of prescriptions. In addition, members can get online physician consultations for $10, so you may be able to get a prescription online without a traditional doctor’s visit.
Final Thought
In our analysis, GoodRx was cheaper than SingleCare in more of the instances that we price-shopped. Plus, it’s more widely accepted and it let me know about free prescription options when available.
Of course, you don't need to limit your comparison shopping to just these two services. You can also check out similar services RxSaver and Blink Health. Comparison-shopping all four is likely to get you the best price on your medication needs.
Meanwhile, you'll also want to check out our article on 10 Ways to Save on Prescription Drugs.
More Prescription Savings Stories on Clark.com:
- Don't Make This Big Mistake When Shopping Your Prescriptions
- New Report: These Are the Best Pharmacies in America
- What Is a Flexible Spending Account?
The post SingleCare vs. GoodRx: Which Is Cheaper? appeared first on Clark Howard.
