Looking for a cheaper option for your prescription medications? Several national pharmacies provide deep discounts on some of the most commonly-prescribed drugs for conditions ranging from high blood pressure to diabetes to mental health.
Here is a look at where you can get cheap, and possibly free, medications with a prescription:
- Costco pharmacy
- CVS pharmacy
- Publix pharmacy
- Sam's Club pharmacy
- Walgreens pharmacy
- Walmart pharmacy
1. Costco
The Costco Membership Prescription Program (CMPP) offers a discount on prescription medications and some over-the-counter medications to those with a membership to the store.
Free medication from Costco
CMPP is free with a Costco membership, but there are several factors in determining prices for medications through the program. Those factors include location and the type of prescription drug as well as whether the medication is name-brand or generic.
Cheap medication from Costco
CMPP offers a host of authorized generic drugs, those manufactured by the brand name company or those marketed under a private label. For example, a 90-day prescription for the name brand drug Lipitor in a 10 mg dosage costs around $1,079 in the CMPP, according to Costco’s website. The generic form of the drug, Atorvastatin, for the same dosage and supply, costs $16 through CMPP.
Here are some other examples of Costo discounted medications:
| Amlodipine Besylate – 5 mg | Tablet | 90 | $8.99 |
| Azithromycin – 250 mg | Tablet | 6 | $6.99 |
| Clopidogrel Bisulfate – 75 mg | Tablet | 90 | $8.99 |
| Escitalopram Oxalate – 20 mg | Tablet | 30 | $6.99 |
| Freestyle Libre 2 Sensor | 1 | $59.91 | |
| Gabapentin – 100 mg | Capsule | 60 | $6.99 |
| Hydroquinone – 4 % | Cream | 28.35 | $16.99 |
| Latanoprost – 0.005 % | Solution | 2.5 | $8.99 |
| Propecia – 1 mg | Tablet | 90 | $327.99 |
| Synthroid – 100 mcg | Tablet | 90 | $97.66 |
2. CVS
CVS Pharmacy advertises that it helps customers find the cheapest way to fill their prescription drug.
Cheap medication list for CVS
The prescription drug costs at CVS vary depending on insurance and other offers, but the national drug store promotes that the pharmacist will use its online tool to help you find the cheapest way to fill your prescription — whether through your insurance, coupons, asking your doctor for a generic substitute or promotions. CVS customers can also create an account on the website to use a self-search tool for savings specific to your insurance plan.
How to get free delivery of prescriptions from CVS
The CVS CarePass service, a monthly or annual paid membership, offers unlimited, free 1- to 2-day or same-day delivery of store items and qualifying prescription orders at participating locations. CVS CarePass costs $5 monthly or $48 annually.
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3. Publix
Publix pharmacies located in grocery stores available in the southeast U.S. offer affordable medications and delivery services.
Free or Cheap medication list for Publix
Publix offers a decent list of medications for $7.50 for a 90-day supply, which is only $2.50 a month. Some on the list are the $7.50 price for a quantity of 180. Medications include:
- Clonidine
- Clopidogrel
- Furosemide
- Hydralazine
- Hydrochlorothiazide
- Jantoven (Warfarin)
- Metoprolol tartrate (180 quantity)
- Triamterene-HCTZ
- Glimepiride
- Simvastatin
- Sertraline
- Buspirone (180 quantity)
- Amitriptyline HCL
- Topiramate (180 quantity)
- Ropinirole (180 quantity)
- Donepezil
- Alendronate (12-day supply)
- Allopurinol
- Meloxicam
- Omeprazole
- Estradiol
- Tamsulosin
- Cetirizine HCL
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4. Sam’s Club
A Sam’s Club Plus membership is $100 annually, and not only offers in-store discounts to the bulk retailer, but also for pharmacy needs, including some free medicine.
Free medication list for Sam’s Club Plus members
A 30-day supply of the following medications are free for Plus members:
- Donepezil
- Escitalopram
- Finasteride
- Pioglitazone
- Vitamin D2 50,000 IU
- Lisinopril
- Metformin
- Sertraline
- Montelukast
- Amlodipine
Cheap medication list for Sam’s Club Plus Members
Sam’s Club pharmacies offer discounts on generic forms of Viagra (Sildenafil) and Cialis (Tadalafil) for $1 a tab for Plus members.
Sam’s Club Plus members also have access to more than 600 generic medications for $10 or less including the following:
- Atorvastatin
- Azithromycin
- Hydrochlorothiazide
- Fluticasone Spray
- Fluoxetine
- Metoprolol Succinate
- Omeprazole
- Meloxicam
Additionally, Sam’s Club offers Plus members discounts on name-brand medications for diabetes, respiratory health, women’s health and other conditions. Check the website for a list of available medications.
5. Walgreens
Through Walgreen’s Prescription Savings Club program, participants can save up to 80% off their brand name and generic prescriptions at the pharmacy. Cost to join the program is $20 per person, or $35 per family, per year.
Free or cheap medication list for Walgreens
Walgreens offers discounts to Savings Club customers based on a three-tiered system for generic medications offered through their pharmacies Some medications for $5 for a 30-day supply or $10 for a 90-day supply at Walgreens include:
- Indomethacin
- Lisinopril
- Loratadine
- Glimepiride
- Amoxicillin
- Penicillin
- Amitriptyline
- Fluoride
- Folic Acid
- Estradiol
- Prednisone
A full list of medications is available on the website.
6. Walmart
Walmart offers a prescription discount program for Walmart Plus members called RX for Less. The program allows members access with a digital savings card to some commonly-prescribed medications for zero cost without using insurance at participating locations.
To participate in the program, customers must have a Walmart Plus membership, which costs $12.95/month or $98 annually. Participants are eligible for the program after they complete a 15-day trial of Walmart Plus.
Free medication list for Walmart Plus members
Some restrictions apply, so program participants should check with their local Walmart pharmacy for requirements.
Common medications offered for free through RX for Less at Walmart include:
- Metformin
- Lisinopril
- Amlodipine
Customers can use a search function on the website to look up medications and check availability and pricing at participating locations specific to where they live.
Cheap, $4 medication list for Walmart
The new program for Walmart Plus customers to get free medications is in addition to Walmart’s existing $4 prescription program, which is available to all customers. The $4 program offers thousands of medications at up to 85% off. The program also includes many 90-day supply medications for $10 and other common prescriptions at a discounted price.
Medications available in this program are:
Diabetes
- Glimepiride (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Glipizide (60 for $4, 180 for $10)
- Glipizide ER (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Glyburide/Metformin (60 for $9, 180 for $24)
- Metformin (60 for $4, 180 for $10)
- Metformin ER 500 mg (120 for $4, 360 for $10)
- Metformin ER 750 mg (60 for $4, 180 for $10)
- Pioglitazone (30 for $15, 90 for $38)
Digestion
- Meclizine (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Metoclopramide (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Omeprazole (30 for $15, 90 for $38)
- Omeprazole DR (30 for $15, 90 for $38)
- Promethazine (30 for $15, 90 for $38)
Family planning
- Norethindrone (28 for $9, 84 for $24)
- Sprintec 28 Day (28 for $9, 84 for $24)
- Tri-Sprintec (28 for $9, 84 for $24)
Pain management
- Lidocaine 2% Solution (100 ML for $15)
- Methocarbamol (30 for $15, 90 for $38)
Respiratory health
- Albuterol HFA (One inhaler, $24)
Thyroid
- Levothyroxine (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
Nutrition
- Folbee (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Folic Acid (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
Cholesterol
- Atorvastatin (30 for $15, 90 for $28)
- Fenofibrate (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Gemfibrozil (60 for $9, 180 for $24)
- Simvastatin (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
Heart health and blood pressure
- Amiodarone (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Atenolol (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Benazepril (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Bisoprolol (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Carvedilol (60 for $4, 180 for $10)
- Cilostazol (60 for $9, 180 for $24)
- Clonidine (60 for $4, 180 for $10)
- Clopidogrel (30 for $15, 90 for $38)
- Digoxin (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Diltiazem (60 for $9, 180 for $24)
- Diltiazem ER (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Doxazosin (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Enalapril (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Furosemide (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Hydralazine (90 for $4, 270 for $10)
- Hydrochlorothiazide (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Indapamide (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Irbesartan (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Isosorbide Mononitrate ER 30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Lisinopril (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Lisinopril/HCTZ 30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Losartan (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Metoprolol ER (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Metoprolol Tartrate (60 for $4, 180 for $10)
- Minoxidil (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Ramipril (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Torsemide (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Triamterene/HCTZ (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Valsartan/HCTZ (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Verapamil (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Warfarin (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
Mental health
- Amantadine 100 mg (60 for $9, 180 for $24)
- Amitriptyline 10 mg (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Buspirone (60 for $4, 180 for $10)
- Bupropion (60 for $15, 180 for $38)
- Bupropion ER/SR (60 for $15, 180 for $38)
- Bupropion XL (60 for $15, 180 for $38)
- Carbidopa/Levodopa (90 for $9, 270 for $24)
- Citalopram (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Divalproex DR 250 mg (60 for $9, 180 for $24)
- Donepezil 5 mg (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Duloxetine (30 for $15, 90 for $38)
- Escitalopram (30 for $15, 90 for $38)
- Fluoxetine (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Lamotrigine 25mg (60 for $9, 180 for $24)
- Lamotrigine 100mg (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Lamotrigine 150mg (60 for $9, 180 for $24)
- Lamotrigine 200mg (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Levetiracetam (60 for $9, 180 for $24)
- Lithium Carbonate (60 for $4, 180 for $10)
- Lithium Carbonate ER (60 for $9, 180 for $24)
- Mirtazapine (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Nortriptyline (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Olanzapine (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Oxcarbazepine (60 for $9, 180 for $24)
- Paroxetine 20mg, 30mg (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Paroxetine 40mg (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Pramipexole (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Primidone 50mg (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Primidone 250mg (60 for $9, 180 for $24)
- Quetiapine (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Risperidone (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Ropinirole (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Sertraline (30 for $9, 90 for $24)
- Topiramate (60 for $9, 180 for $24)
- Trazodone (30 for $4, 90 for $10)
- Trihexyphenidyl 2mg (60 for $4, 180 for $10)
- Trihexyphenidyl 5mg (60 for $9, 180 for $24)
- Venlafaxine (60 for $15, 180 for $38)
- Venlafaxine ER (30 for $15, 90 for $38)
- Zonisamide (60 for $9, 180 for $24)
Where to find cheap prescriptions online
Check out these places to find discount prescription medication online:
1. Amazon Pharmacy
Amazon is the best place to start your free / discounted prescription drug search.
- Search your medication on Prime Rx to see where you can find it cheapest — the site searches all major and local pharmacies, as well as offers up the Amazon price.
- If you want to take advantage of Amazon's discounted medication (and free delivery), you must have an Amazon Prime membership. A Prime costs $12.99 a month or $119 per year after a free 30-day trial. Students and qualified government assistance recipients receive a 50% discount for the Prime membership.
Free or cheap medication list for Amazon Pharmacy
Amazon Pharmacy offers generic medications such as antibiotics for nearly free, like a 30-day supply of Amoxicillin for $1.70 for Prime members or $3 for nonmembers. The name brand Cephalexin antibiotic is available for $11 for a 30-day supply through Prime.
Other cheap 30-day supply medications at the Prime member price are:
- Lisinopril, $3.80
- Lorazepam (generic for Ativan), $4.10
- Prednisone, $5.60
- Fluoxetine (generic for Prozac), $3.80
- Warfarin, $3.80
Visit the medication checker on Prime Rx to find information and pricing for other prescribed drugs.
Free prescription discount card from Amazon Prime
Everyone with an active Amazon Prime membership automatically gets a free PrimeRx prescription discount digital card.
Prime members should sign into their Amazon account and click on the Pharmacy tab in the black bar to get their card.
If members don’t buy from the Amazon Pharmacy, they can use the digital card for discounts at 50,000 participating retail pharmacies, including Walgreens and CVS. A physical copy of the card can be obtained by taking a photo of the digital card and printing it out.
Other benefits of the Amazon PrimeRx discount card:
- Use with or without insurance.
- Each Prime member and one other adult in the household receives their own digital card.
- Some pharmacies can fill more than a 30-day supply with the discount.
- Free 2-day home delivery.
2. GoodRx
GoodRx acts as a search tool, comparing generic and brand prescription medication prices at nearby pharmacies to show you the best price.
With a free membership, GoodRx provides a discount card to help you save up to 80% on prescription medications. But anyone can use the GoodRx website or app to get discount coupons, which you can print or show your pharmacist via email or on the GoodRx app.
These savings are available even without insurance.
With GoodRx, you can get a 30-day supply of Albuterol for $19.05, which is 63% off the average price of $51.62. However, pricing is based on where you live.
Other popular generic GoodRx 30-day supply medications include:
- Alprazolam (generic for Xanax), $6.89
- Amoxicillin (generic for Amoxil), $4.83
- Azithromycin (generic for 1 Z-Pak), $8.51
- Cyclobenzaprine (generic for Flexeril), $2.70
- Lisinopril (generic for Prinivil), $3.05
- Pantoprazole (generic for Protonix), $5.00
- Sildenafil (generic for Viagra), $8.05
- Tramadol (generic for Ultram), $6.36
- Zolpidem (generic for Ambien), $8.70
3. Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs
Mark Cuban CostPlus Drug Company is a direct-to-consumer online pharmacy. They offer wholesale prices to help you save money on prescription medication. You can create a free account in minutes. No insurance is required.
Mark Cuban CostPlus Drug is easy to use. Just ask your doctor to submit your prescription request to a CostPlus pharmacy partner. You’ll then place an order, pay for your medication online, and it will ship to your door in a few days. Right now, you can get Fluoxetine for as low as $3.90 for a 30-day supply, which regularly retails for $22.94.
Here are a few other affordable 30-day supply medications offered:
- Cetirizine (generic for Zyrtec), $3.90
- Ergocalciferol (generic for Drisdol), $8.40
- Folic acid, $3.60
- Ibuprofen, $3.90
- Lisinopril (generic for Prinivil), $4.50
- Prednisone (generic for Deltasone), $4.50
4. SingleCare
SingleCare helps you search a database of prescriptions to find the lowest prices near you. It offers up to 80% off of retail prices for medication. With a free membership, you’ll get a coupon card you can use at any participating pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and more.
No insurance is necessary, but if you have it, you’ll find that some prescriptions are often lower than your copay. Just show your coupon card at the register before you pay. For example, you can get Pregabalin (generic for Lyrica) for $3.10 for 30 tablets. Lyrica retails at $314.95 for 30 tablets. Pricing fluctuates by zip code and pharmacy.
Check out these 30-day supply discount prices of popular medications:
- Lo Loestrin Fe (28-day), $125.49
- Esomeprazole Magnesium (generic for Nexium), $3.42
- Xarelto, $365.71
- Tadalafil (generic for Cialis), $5.24
- Celecoxib (generic for Celebrex), $4.82
- Alprazolam (generic for Xanax), $1.13
Another way to get cheap prescriptions? Patient assistance programs
For more ways to get cheap or free prescriptions, look into the following patient assistance programs (PAPs):
Merck Patient Assistance Program
Merck provides specific Merck medicine and vaccines for free to people without prescription drug coverage or health insurance who cannot afford them.
There are three programs:
- Merck PAP — You may be eligible if you are a U.S. resident, have a Merck prescription from a licensed US doctor, cannot afford the medicine, and don't have insurance even though you have applied.
- Merck Vaccine PAP — You may qualify if you live in the U.S., are 19 or older, do not have health insurance or coverage for vaccines, and cannot afford to pay for a Merck vaccination.
- Hospital Product Placement Program — If you are uninsured and have an extremely low income, this program offers replacements for specific drugs.
Learn more and enroll in a Merck PAP.
Pfizer RxPathways
Pfizer Rx Pathways is a PAP that provides free Pfizer medication to qualified patients.
To qualify, you must:
- Live in the U.S., receive treatment from a licensed doctor or health care provider licensed in the U.S. (includes U.S. territories), and have an FDA-approved, valid Pfizer prescription
- Meet income guidelines based on family size (starting at 300% of the federal poverty level)
- Be uninsured or insured by the government and unable to pay for your medicine
Find your Pfizer RxPathways program.
Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation
If you can’t afford your Novartis prescription, the Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation (PAF) helps people get the medication they need for free.
This program covers specific Novartis prescriptions.
To be eligible, you must:
- Live in the U.S. or U.S. territory and be under the care of a US health care provider (outpatient-only)
- Either have limited or no prescription coverage
- Meet income guidelines based on household size
- Have a valid Novartis prescription
Learn more or enroll in Novartis PAF.
Johnson & Johnson PAF
The Johnson & Johnson PAF offers free pulmonary arterial hypertension medicines, IMBRUVICA (chemotherapy), and other specific prescriptions to eligible patients.
To get help:
- You must live in the U.S. or in a U.S. territory and have prescription from a licensed doctor (outpatient-only)
- You can’t have public or private insurance
- Your prescription must be on the donated medication list
- You meet income guidelines based on your household size
- You must fill out the application and include all requested documentation
Apply to the Johnson & Johnson PAF.
Other ways to find helpful and free resources for low-income families:
