GoodRx and Cost Plus Drugs both promise to cut your prescription costs. But they work in completely different ways, and the "cheaper" option changes depending on what drug you need, how quickly you need it, and where you live. We priced 10 of the most commonly prescribed medications at both to give you real numbers. For more context on how these fit into the broader pharmacy landscape, see our complete pharmacy comparison.
GoodRx negotiates discount prices with pharmacies across the country. You search for your drug, pick the pharmacy with the best price, show a coupon, and pay the discounted rate. GoodRx makes money by taking a percentage from the pharmacy on each transaction. You fill at your local pharmacy — CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco, wherever has the best price.
Cost Plus Drugs is an actual pharmacy. They buy medications from manufacturers, add a transparent 15% markup and a flat $5 shipping fee, and mail them to you. There's no middleman negotiation — you see the exact cost breakdown. All orders ship from their Dallas, TX facility.
We compared prices for 30-day supplies unless noted. GoodRx prices are the best available coupon price at any local pharmacy. Cost Plus prices include the $5 shipping fee.
| Drug (30-day) | GoodRx Best | Cost Plus | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atorvastatin 20mg | $3.49 | $5.82 | GoodRx |
| Lisinopril 20mg | $3.12 | $6.28 | GoodRx |
| Metformin 1000mg (60ct) | $3.88 | $6.31 | GoodRx |
| Sertraline 100mg | $4.22 | $6.50 | GoodRx |
| Omeprazole 40mg | $5.67 | $6.88 | GoodRx |
| Escitalopram 20mg | $4.89 | $6.22 | GoodRx |
| Losartan 100mg | $6.33 | $6.54 | GoodRx |
| Gabapentin 300mg (90ct) | $8.12 | $7.80 | Cost Plus |
| Sildenafil 20mg (6ct) | $7.88 | $6.45 | Cost Plus |
| Imatinib 400mg | $78.00 | $59.29 | Cost Plus |
On 30-day supplies, GoodRx wins on most common generics — the $5 shipping fee makes Cost Plus less competitive for small orders. But this changes dramatically with 90-day supplies:
| Drug (90-day) | GoodRx Best | Cost Plus | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atorvastatin 20mg | $9.22 | $8.63 | Cost Plus |
| Lisinopril 20mg | $8.44 | $7.28 | Cost Plus |
| Metformin 1000mg (180ct) | $10.50 | $8.31 | Cost Plus |
| Sertraline 100mg | $11.88 | $9.85 | Cost Plus |
| Omeprazole 40mg | $14.22 | $10.88 | Cost Plus |
At 90-day quantities, Cost Plus wins almost every comparison. The $5 shipping fee is amortized over a larger order, and Cost Plus's transparent markup is lower than GoodRx's negotiated pharmacy rates.
| Factor | GoodRx | Cost Plus Drugs |
|---|---|---|
| Fill location | Any local pharmacy | Mail-order only |
| Speed | Same day | 3-5 business days |
| Controlled substances | Yes (at local pharmacy) | No |
| Brand-name drugs | Yes (limited discounts) | No (generics only) |
| Price transparency | Moderate (price shown, not cost breakdown) | Full (manufacturer cost visible) |
| Insurance integration | Can compare vs. insurance | Cash-only |
| Refill convenience | Manual each time | Auto-refill available |
| Cost to use | Free (Gold: $9.99/mo) | Free |
If you're self-employed and managing healthcare costs carefully, both tools should be in your toolkit. CeoCult covers the broader picture of managing healthcare costs as a freelancer.
These aren't mutually exclusive. The smartest approach:
GoodRx Gold costs $9.99/month and offers additional discounts beyond the free coupons. Is it worth it? Only if you fill 3+ prescriptions per month at local pharmacies and the Gold price is consistently $3+ cheaper per fill than the free coupon price. For most people, the free version is sufficient — especially if you're using Cost Plus for maintenance medications.
No. For 30-day supplies of common generics, GoodRx often wins because Cost Plus charges a flat $5 shipping fee. However, for 90-day supplies and less common generics, Cost Plus typically offers lower prices. The winner varies by drug and quantity — always check both.
You can use both services, but not on the same prescription fill. GoodRx is used at local pharmacies; Cost Plus is a separate mail-order pharmacy. You might fill some prescriptions through Cost Plus and others at a local pharmacy using GoodRx coupons.
No. GoodRx only shows prices at partner retail pharmacies. Cost Plus Drugs is a separate, independent pharmacy that doesn't participate in GoodRx's network. You need to check costplusdrugs.com separately.
We track pricing changes across pharmacies weekly.