GoodRx vs Amazon Pharmacy vs Cost Plus Drugs: Cheapest Meds 2026

If you take two or three prescription medications regularly — and a lot of us do by the time we hit our 60s — the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive way to fill them can be hundreds of dollars a year. The three biggest options competing for your prescriptions in 2026 are GoodRx, Amazon Pharmacy, and Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drug Company (usually just called "Cost Plus Drugs").

None of them is best for everything. This is an honest side-by-side for seniors — including sample real prices as of April 2026, how they interact with your Medicare Part D plan, and which one I'd reach for in specific situations.

This article is informational and not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before making health decisions.

The one-minute summary

Cost Plus Drugs almost always has the lowest price on generic medications — and the pricing is transparent (manufacturer cost + 15% + fixed pharmacy fee + shipping). No membership. Amazon Pharmacy is competitive, especially if you're an Amazon Prime member, and offers free 2-day delivery. GoodRx is a discount coupon service — it doesn't sell drugs itself, it gives you a code to show at a traditional pharmacy (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger), and it's often the cheapest for walk-in pickup today.

None of these are insurance. None of them are Medicare. They are cash-price alternatives — useful when your Medicare Part D copay is higher than the cash price.

Sample prices as of April 2026

Here are five common medications seniors take, with current prices I verified on each site in April 2026. Your actual prices may vary by zip code, pharmacy, and over time.

Atorvastatin 20mg (generic Lipitor), 30-day supply

• Cost Plus Drugs: $5.67 (includes shipping)
• Amazon Pharmacy: $6.48 (free delivery with Prime)
• GoodRx: $8–15 at most major chains
• Typical Medicare Part D Tier 1 copay: $0–10

Metformin 500mg, 60 tablets (1-month supply)

• Cost Plus Drugs: $4.10
• Amazon Pharmacy: $4.99
• GoodRx: $4.50–9 at major chains
• Typical Medicare Part D Tier 1 copay: $0–5

Lisinopril 10mg, 30-day supply

• Cost Plus Drugs: $3.90
• Amazon Pharmacy: $4.99
• GoodRx: $4.50–12
• Typical Medicare Part D Tier 1 copay: $0–5

Sildenafil 20mg (generic Revatio, commonly prescribed for erectile dysfunction at higher doses), 30 tablets

• Cost Plus Drugs: $7.95
• Amazon Pharmacy: $23.00
• GoodRx: $18–55
• Typical Medicare Part D: often not covered

Apixaban 5mg (brand Eliquis — blood thinner, no generic widely available yet in the US in April 2026 due to settlement timing)

• Cost Plus Drugs: $528 for 60 tablets (manufacturer drops expected 2026–27)
• Amazon Pharmacy: $570
• GoodRx with SaveOn coupon: $510
• Typical Medicare Part D copay (Tier 3 or 4): $47–180 depending on plan and donut hole status

All prices verified on costplusdrugs.com, amazon.com/pharmacy, and goodrx.com, April 2026.

What each one actually is

Cost Plus Drugs (Mark Cuban's company)

Cost Plus Drugs buys generic medications directly from manufacturers and charges you:

• Manufacturer's price (published on the website for full transparency).
• 15% markup.
• $5 pharmacy labor fee.
• $5 shipping (flat).

That's it. No membership. No insurance games. You enter your prescription, pay the price shown, and it ships to your home within 5–10 business days. Your doctor can either e-prescribe directly to Cost Plus Drugs (pharmacy NPI lookup works in most EMR systems), or you send a paper prescription in.

Strengths:

• Lowest price on generics almost every time.
• Transparent, no games.
• No credit card required until you order.

Weaknesses:

• Mail-order only. No option to pick up today.
• Carries generics primarily — their brand-name list is growing but still limited.
• Some controlled substances aren't available.

Amazon Pharmacy

Amazon Pharmacy (originally PillPack, acquired by Amazon) is a full-service online pharmacy. It accepts insurance, Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, and cash. Prime members get free 2-day delivery; non-Prime is 4–5 business days.

Strengths:

• Full pharmacy (including brand-name and specialty drugs).
• Free 2-day delivery if you're a Prime member.
• Handles insurance billing end-to-end.
• Automatic refills and 24/7 pharmacist chat.

Weaknesses:

• Cash prices slightly higher than Cost Plus on most generics.
• No same-day pickup.
• Pulling out of insurance becomes its own mini-project if you want to do cash pricing instead.

GoodRx

GoodRx is a coupon aggregator. When you search a drug, it shows what major pharmacy chains in your zip code will charge if you present a GoodRx coupon. You then go to that chain pharmacy with the coupon on your phone (or printed) and pay the discounted cash price.

Strengths:

• Same-day pickup at a pharmacy near you.
• Sometimes matches or beats Cost Plus for walk-in.
• Free (no membership required).
• GoodRx Gold ($9.99/month) offers additional savings on some drugs — rarely worth it unless you take many.

Weaknesses:

• Doesn't combine with Medicare Part D — using a GoodRx coupon means the purchase isn't counted toward your Part D deductible or out-of-pocket.
• Prices can change weekly.
• Some staff at walk-in pharmacies grumble about GoodRx. It's legitimate — they're contractually obliged to honor it — but service quality varies.

How they interact with Medicare Part D

This is the part that trips up seniors the most. Here's the clean version:

1. If you use Medicare Part D to fill a prescription, the cost counts toward your deductible and your "out-of-pocket maximum" ($2,000 in 2026 — a major improvement from prior years under the Inflation Reduction Act).
2. If you use a GoodRx coupon, Cost Plus Drugs, or pay cash at Amazon, that purchase does not count toward your Part D out-of-pocket cap. You paid less today, but you've made no progress toward hitting the $2,000 ceiling.

The strategic question:

• If you're on expensive brand-name drugs and likely to hit the $2,000 cap anyway, run everything through Part D. Hit the cap and the rest of the year is (effectively) free.
• If you're only on cheap generics and nowhere near $2,000 of total drug spend, cash prices via Cost Plus or GoodRx will save you money.
• If you're mixed (one expensive drug, several cheap ones), use Part D for the expensive one and cash prices for the cheap ones. Don't let the cheap ones count against your deductible reset next year.

This is a nuanced judgement. Ask your pharmacist or a Medicare counselor (your local SHIP — State Health Insurance Assistance Program — is free and independent) to help you decide.

Which one wins per situation

How to switch pharmacies without drama

1. Ask your doctor to e-prescribe to the new pharmacy. Every US doctor's system can do this in 30 seconds. You don't need to get a paper prescription and mail it.
2. For Cost Plus Drugs: Your doctor searches for "Cost Plus Drugs" in their prescribing software, or uses the pharmacy NPI listed on their help page.
3. For Amazon Pharmacy: Your doctor searches "Amazon Pharmacy" in their software.
4. GoodRx doesn't need a switch — you just present the coupon when picking up at whichever chain pharmacy you're using.
5. Existing refills at a chain pharmacy can be transferred. Call your new pharmacy, give them the old pharmacy's phone and your prescription numbers; they handle the rest.

Watch out for these scams

Discount pharmacy ads are a favourite scammer lure. Warning signs:

• "Free" prescription discount cards that arrive in the mail unsolicited. Most are legitimate but pointless; some collect data that's sold.
• Calls saying "your Medicare Part D is expired, get a new card now." Hang up.
• Websites that aren't on the NABP list (nabp.pharmacy) of accredited pharmacies. Cost Plus, Amazon Pharmacy, and GoodRx-partnered chains are all legitimate. Random "Canadian pharmacy" pop-up sites are not.

For a deeper look at healthcare scams aimed at seniors, see Medicare scams — how to protect yourself.

Related reading

• Medicare telehealth 2026 walkthrough
• Teladoc vs MDLIVE vs Amwell comparison
• Medicare scams — how to protect yourself
• Best medication reminder apps for seniors
• Emergency SOS setup for iPhone and Android

Sources

• Cost Plus Drug Company, Pricing, costplusdrugs.com, accessed April 2026.
• Amazon Pharmacy, Prescription Prices, amazon.com/pharmacy, accessed April 2026.
• GoodRx, Prescription Price Search, goodrx.com, accessed April 2026.
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicare Part D 2026 Out-of-Pocket Cap under the Inflation Reduction Act.
• National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), accredited online pharmacy list, 2026.

This article is informational and not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before making health decisions.

✅ Reviewed by Eleanor Shaw — techfor60s editorial desk, last verified 2026-04-18.