Best Prescription Discount Cards and Programs
GoodRx usually has the lowest drug prices among prescription discount cards.
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Best prescription discount cards
ValuePenguin evaluated prescription discount card programs to find the best options. Our experts evaluated the programs based on free and membership options, the number of pharmacies that accept the cards, the number of medications that you can use the card on, how big the savings are and how easy the programs are to use via their mobile apps.
Read our full methodology.
On this page
Lowest drug prices: GoodRx
GoodRx can save you up to 83% on prescriptions, and most medications are covered.
Pros
- High savings potential
- Covers most medications
- Can be used at more than 70,000 pharmacies
Cons
- Savings shown online may be different at the pharmacy
- Concerns over health data privacy
GoodRx is possibly the most well-known prescription discount card available.
You can save up to 83% on your prescriptions by using GoodRx's free discount card. And if you want more savings, you can get a "Gold" membership. You pay as little as $9.99 per month in exchange for bigger medication discounts, free home delivery for your medications and $19 telehealth visits.
GoodRx works at more than 70,000 pharmacies nationwide, making it the most widely accepted major Rx discount card. And GoodRx has coupons for most medications, which makes it more likely that you can save no matter what prescription you need.
GoodRx has a well-rated mobile app, which makes it easier to save if you don't want to print or download a coupon from the website. Instead, you claim your savings in the app and show it to the pharmacist or pharmacy tech when you are checking out.
However, some users have reported that GoodRx discounts are lower at the pharmacy compared to what is shown online. GoodRx says that its discounts are updated continuously, which means the savings might change between when you download the coupon and when you actually pick up your medication. You should also make sure you typed in your medication name completely and correctly, including the dosage and type of medication.
Additionally, GoodRx has previously been known to share sensitive health info with sites like Facebook and Google without notifying its customers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fined GoodRx $1.5 million in 2023 and prohibited GoodRx from sharing that kind of info for advertising purposes in the future.
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Best free prescription discount card: Optum Perks
The Optum Perks free prescription discount card can be used at more than 64,000 pharmacies.
Pros
- Prescription card is free
- Wide network of pharmacies
- Well-rated mobile app
Cons
- Users report that drugs are often cheaper with GoodRx
- Not as many pharmacies as GoodRx
Optum Perks has a large pharmacy network and a well-rated app, making it a great choice for a free Rx discount card.
You can use Optum Perks at over 64,000 pharmacies across the country. And, like other Rx discount cards, you can get up to 80% off your prescriptions by using an Optum Perks coupon. Unlike GoodRx, all of Optum Perks' discounts are free; there's no option for a paid membership.
Optum Perks has a well-rated mobile app that can make it easier to save on your prescriptions. The app gets a 4.8-out-of-5.0 rating in the App Store and a 4.6-out-of-5.0 from Google Play. You can use the app to download coupons for your prescriptions and compare prices across different pharmacies. You can also share coupons directly with friends and family members.
However, users sometimes say their medications are cheaper with GoodRx than they are with Optum Perks. And GoodRx is available at 6,000 more pharmacies nationwide compared to Optum Perks.
Easiest prescription discount card to use: BuzzRx
BuzzRx has a highly rated mobile app that makes it easy to save on prescriptions.
Pros
- User-friendly mobile app
- Program is completely free to use
- Supports a charity with every use
Cons
- Price at the pharmacy can vary from the website
- Pharmacies sometimes reject the card
If you want to use your phone for your prescription discounts, BuzzRx is a great option.
BuzzRx has the highest-rated mobile app of all the major prescription discount card companies. The app has a nearly perfect rating from the App Store and a 4.8-out-of-5.0 rating from Google Play.
BuzzRx's mobile app comes with several helpful features, including price alerts and refill reminders. The app makes it easier to see where you can get the best discount and when the best price is available for your medication. Like other Rx discount card mobile apps, you can also compare drug prices across different pharmacies and save your coupons right on the app.
However, BuzzRx isn't the best choice if you want the lowest prices on your medications. Some users report having trouble getting pharmacies to accept the coupons, even though BuzzRx works with more than 60,000 pharmacies nationwide. And like GoodRx, some users report that the price they see for their medication in the app or online is different from the price they pay at the pharmacy.
Is TrumpRx worth it?
TrumpRx might be worth it if you take a common or in-demand prescription, such as a GLP-1 weight-loss drug or insulin.
But as of early 2026, TrumpRx only offers savings on 44 medications. If you take a drug that isn't listed on TrumpRx, you'll be better off using another option, like GoodRx, to save on your medication. TrumpRx notes that more medications are coming soon, but no timeline is listed for when that will happen.
What is an Rx discount card?
A prescription discount card is a way to get a lower price on prescription medications.
The cards aren't insurance, and you can't use them with your insurance. But sometimes, you can get a cheaper rate on medications by using discount programs instead of your insurance.
How do prescription discount cards work?
- Check the cost of your prescription through your insurance. That way, you'll know if you're getting a better deal using your health insurance or using a discount program.
- Search for your prescription with your discount program. You can usually do this online, but most programs also have an app you can use. Make sure you enter the medication name correctly, as well as the type of medication and the dosage.
- Compare the costs at local pharmacies. Most drug discount programs will show you the cost for your medication at different pharmacies. Check to see which is the cheapest, and compare the cost to the price you'd pay with your health insurance.
- Print or save the coupon for your medication. If you decide to use the discount program, you'll have the option to print a coupon, save the coupon to an app, or get a physical or digital savings card.
- Show your coupon or savings card to the pharmacy. When you pick up your medication, give the pharmacist or pharmacy technician your prescription discount card or coupon, or show them your mobile app. They'll be able to apply the savings before you check out.
Prescription savings programs like GoodRx, WellRx and Optum Perks negotiate discounts for medications directly with pharmacies. When you use your discount card to get your medication, the pharmacy pays the program a fee.
It's important to remember that any medications you buy with an Rx discount card don't automatically count toward your health insurance plan's deductible or out-of-pocket maximum.
That's because when you use a prescription discount card, you're not using your health insurance. You might be able to manually submit your receipt to your health insurance so that the amount counts toward your deductible, but it's not a guarantee.
Who should get a prescription discount card?
Consider getting a prescription drug card if you take medications often or take an expensive medication.
Prescription savings cards can be particularly helpful for:
- People without health insurance
- Those with a high-deductible health plan
- People taking medications that aren't covered by their health insurance
- Medicare recipients who don't have Part D coverage
- Pet owners whose animals need medications
Because most prescription discount cards are free, there's no downside to getting one. Just remember to compare the cost for a medication with your health insurance and with the discount card, to make sure you're getting the best deal.
And if you take the medication and get medical care regularly, it might be a good idea to use your health insurance, even if it's more expensive. That way, you'll reach your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum faster. This means your overall medical bills could be lower.
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Pros and cons of prescription discount programs
Pros
- Usually free to use
- Immediate savings
- Let you compare prices
- No insurance required
Cons
- Can’t combine with insurance
- Doesn’t usually count toward your deductible
- List of pharmacies may change
- Doesn't discount all medications
Prescription discount cards vs. prescription insurance
Prescription discount cards are a stand-alone program, while prescription insurance is part of a health insurance plan.
Feature | Rx discount cards | Prescription insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly rate | ||
| Deductible, copays, coinsurance | ||
| Can be used without health insurance | ||
| Prices vary by pharmacy | ||
| Can sign up any time |
GoodRx competitors and alternatives
GoodRx is one of the most well-known prescription drug cards, but there are many more options.
For example, WellRx lets you get savings at 65,000 pharmacies nationwide, and BuzzRx has one of the highest-rated apps available for prescription discount programs.
Most programs can save you up to about 80% on prescription medications. When you're comparing prescription discount cards to pick one, look at how many pharmacies in your area take the card. More participating pharmacies means more options for where you can pick up your medications.
Can you use GoodRx and other Rx programs with insurance?
You can't use your Rx savings card at the same time as you use your insurance.
But you can keep your receipts and ask your insurance company to pay you back for the drugs you bought or to apply that cost to your deductible afterward. However, there's no guarantee that you'll get your money back or have the money credited toward your deductible.
You might choose to use GoodRx or another program for prescriptions instead of your insurance in certain circumstances. For example, if the Rx savings program price costs less than your copay, it could make sense to use your discount card.
Call your health insurance directly to find out if it works with GoodRx. Remember to get in touch with the department that handles prescription drug coverage to get the most accurate info.
When to use an Rx savings card
- Your insurance doesn't cover a certain drug, but your Rx card does.
- Your copay is higher than the Rx program price.
- Your insurance company will pay you back for drugs bought with your prescription drug card.
- Your insurance company will count what you bought with a prescription savings card toward your deductible.
- You don't expect to hit your annual deductible.
Frequently asked questions
Are prescription discount cards legit?
Yes, prescription discount cards are real, and they can help you save up to around 80% (or potentially more) on your medication costs. However, you can't use the cards at the same time as insurance, so it's a good idea to compare the discount card's price for your medication with your insurance price, to make sure you don't overpay.
Are prescription discount cards free?
Rx savings cards are usually free, although some paid options do exist. For example, GoodRx has a $9.99 per month paid membership that gets you bigger discounts than the free option. You also get free home delivery for your medications and access to $19 telehealth visits.
Are Rx coupons better than insurance?
Rx coupons can sometimes make your medication cheaper than it would cost if you used your health insurance. It's a good idea to compare the cost for your medication with your prescription savings card and your health insurance. That way, you know which option is the cheapest.
Methodology
To find the best prescription discount cards, ValuePenguin looked at eight major Rx savings programs:
- America’s Pharmacy
- BuzzRx
- GoodRx
- Optum Perks
- RxSaver
- SingleCare
- TrumpRx
- WellRx
Our experts reviewed each program based on how much you can save, how many pharmacies accept the cards, the membership options (free and paid), the number of medications available for savings and the ratings for each company's mobile app. The top picks are reflective of our methodology only; your choice and preference may vary.
About the Author
Insurance Writer
Cate Deventer is a ValuePenguin writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare, auto and home insurance. She's been a licensed insurance agent since 2011.
She started her insurance career working as a customer service agent for State Farm. She later moved to an independent agency, where she worked with several insurance companies and hundreds of clients. She quoted policies, filed claims and answered insurance questions. In 2021, she pivoted her career and began writing about insurance for Bankrate. She moved to ValuePenguin in 2023 and began writing about health insurance and Medicare.
Cate has a passion for helping readers choose insurance to fit their needs. She enjoys knowing that her research and knowledge help people choose insurance products that make a positive difference in their lives.
How insurance helped Cate
Cate used her health insurance knowledge to navigate a surgery in 2023. Understanding how her policy worked let her focus on recovery instead of worrying about bills.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare & Medicaid
- Auto insurance
- Home insurance
- Life insurance
Credentials
- Licensed Life, Accident & Health Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
Referenced by
- CBS
- NBC
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- BA, Theatre, Purdue University
- BA, English, Indiana University
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