Always confirm costs with your healthcare facility and/or insurance coverage
Mark Cuban didn’t just buy a basketball team — he came for Big Pharma’s throat with Cost Plus Drugs, an online pharmacy promising radical price transparency and massive savings.
But is it really cheaper than GoodRx? Or is this another “disruption” with fine print?
💡 Quick Answer:
Service |
Membership Fee |
Prescription Cost Model |
|---|---|---|
Cost Plus Drugs |
$0 |
Actual drug cost + 15% markup + $5 pharmacy fee + $5 shipping |
GoodRx (Free) |
$0 |
Discount coupon pricing from partnered pharmacies |
GoodRx Gold |
$9.99 – $19.99/mo |
Deeper discounts, wider network |
🧪 How Does Cost Plus Drugs Work?
- No insurance involved
- You search your prescription on costplusdrugs.com
- See the exact breakdown:
- Wholesale price
- 15% markup
- $5 pharmacy fee
- $5 shipping
No mystery. No rebates. No backroom deals with PBMs (pharmacy benefit managers).
💊 Real-World Price Comparison: Cost Plus vs. GoodRx
Medication (30-day supply) |
Retail Price |
Cost Plus Drugs |
GoodRx (Free) |
GoodRx Gold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) |
$47.50 |
$3.60 + $10 = $13.60 |
$9.60 |
$5.40 |
Imatinib (Leukemia) |
$2,502 |
$14.40 + $10 = $24.40 |
$120+ |
$100+ |
Metformin |
$10.00 |
$3.20 + $10 = $13.20 |
$4.00 |
$3.00 |
Albendazole (anti-parasitic) |
$437 |
$33.60 + $10 = $43.60 |
$150+ |
$100+ |
Sertraline (Zoloft) |
$22.00 |
$4.20 + $10 = $14.20 |
$6.40 |
$4.00 |
💡 GoodRx often wins on cheap generics. Cost Plus blows it out of the water on expensive name-brand generics.
🧾 What You Don’t Get with Cost Plus Drugs
Feature |
Available? |
|---|---|
In-store pickup |
❌ Nope — mail-order only |
Same-day fulfillment |
❌ No rush option |
Insurance compatibility |
❌ Not accepted — cash-only |
Coupons or promo codes |
❌ Fixed pricing only |
Mobile app with price alerts |
❌ Website only (for now) |
✅ What You Do Get
- Crystal-clear pricing (no more pharmacy roulette)
- Massive savings on high-cost, low-coverage meds
- Zero membership fees
- Nationwide shipping
- Partnership with Truepill for fulfillment
⚔️ When to Use Cost Plus vs GoodRx
Scenario |
Best Option |
|---|---|
Expensive specialty drugs |
✅ Cost Plus Drugs |
Quick fill needed today |
✅ GoodRx |
Want to compare before choosing |
✅ Both (always check) |
Using insurance |
❌ Neither (try insurance first) |
Multiple family members with meds |
✅ GoodRx Gold Family |
💭 Final Thoughts: Who Actually Saves You More?
If you’re on common generics and want something today, GoodRx probably edges it out.
But if you’re paying out-of-pocket for expensive meds, Cost Plus Drugs is a wrecking ball — slashing 90%+ off retail and blowing past GoodRx’s best coupons.
🔚 Bottom Line
- Cost Plus Drugs = transparent pricing, no middlemen, wild savings on expensive meds
- GoodRx = fast, flexible, good for generics and on-the-spot pharmacy fills
- Use both to your advantage — there’s no loyalty in prescription pricing
- And yes, Mark Cuban might actually be helping people. Weird, right?
