GoodRx vs BuzzRx: Best Prescription Discount Card for 2025
Jul, 10 2025
Picking a prescription discount card these days is like trying to choose the fastest queue at a grocery store—you hope you get lucky, but there’s always that nagging feeling you missed a trick. If you’ve ever stared dumbfounded at the price the chemist quoted, you know that sinking stomach drop: how on earth can basic meds cost half your weekly wage? It’s one reason platforms like GoodRx and BuzzRx promise a lifeline, but they don’t always make the choice easy. Each offers its own special sauce for savings, and the differences can mean hundreds of pounds a year in your pocket—or not. So, which one should actually earn a spot in your wallet?
How GoodRx and BuzzRx Actually Work
Let’s strip away the noise. Both GoodRx and BuzzRx are free-to-use prescription discount cards. They're not insurance, but instead gather pricing from a bunch of US pharmacies for both brand-name and generic meds. Type in your med, see the price at local chemists, and print or text yourself a coupon—or use a card at checkout. Easy, right?
GoodRx has been on the scene since 2011 and is the better-known name, featuring price comparison tools and a slick app. BuzzRx, around since 2010 (but not always under that name), also offers discounts but stands out by donating a portion of every prescription filled to a nonprofit partner. Plenty of patients just want the cheapest price, but if you like your savings to do some good, that’s a tick for BuzzRx.
Here’s the kicker: On any given drug, at any given pharmacy, either card could offer a better price. That’s because they negotiate different discounts, have deals with different pharmacy networks, and update at different speeds. So there’s no single "winner" for everything. Patients in Bristol or other parts of the UK looking for relatives or friends in the US will also notice these are geared to US pharmacies—but the discount model is spreading worldwide, slowly. Some UK outlets have started experimenting with similar pricing tools for non-NHS prescriptions, but the big guns still play mostly in the States.
There’s extra convenience to GoodRx—you can compare prices in a super clear table, set med reminders, and even video-chat doctors for prescriptions, all within their app. BuzzRx keeps it simpler but offers big savings especially if you fill at certain major pharmacy chains.
Where Each Platform Offers the Biggest Savings
If you just want lowest price, you need to comparison shop. Based on stats and user reports up to 2025, here’s what stands out:
- GoodRx nearly always offers the lowest discounts at giant chains like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Walmart—sometimes up to 80% off list price for generics. For example, a three-month supply of atorvastatin (for cholesterol) can drop from $120 to as little as $12.
- BuzzRx is famous for hitting rock-bottom prices at independent and mid-size pharmacies, especially Spanish-language and community clinics in metro areas. If you live anywhere near a Kroger, Publix, or regional chain, BuzzRx’s deals sometimes undercut GoodRx by £5-£15 per refill.
- Brand-name drugs? Both platforms struggle with truly huge discounts here, but GoodRx’s broader network gives it the edge for rare or specialty drugs. For example, Januvia (for diabetes) shows up in GoodRx’s search at five local chains, but at just two with BuzzRx, and the price difference can be £50 or more per fill.
Patients report big swings even on the same drug at the same location. Why? Pharmacies can change which card network they favour monthly. Some pharmacists will even scan both cards for you at checkout and let you pick the winner. Don’t be shy to ask!
“The real trick is to run online price checks right before every refill and not assume loyalty will save you more,” says Dr. Maria Gustafson, a Bristol-based health economist. “People who check both cards each time save on average 18% more than those who stick to one.”
Also, pay attention to pharmacy chains that exclude one brand of card, either due to contract or because they run their own in-store savings club. In the past year, some stores have quietly blocked certain BuzzRx coupons, while others stopped accepting direct GoodRx mobile codes. If your regular shop turns you away, don’t panic—just show the physical card or find the printable coupon via their website.
| Drug Name | GoodRx Discount (avg. % off retail) | BuzzRx Discount (avg. % off retail) |
|---|---|---|
| Atorvastatin (generic Lipitor) | 75% | 68% |
| Amoxicillin | 72% | 70% |
| Lisinopril | 80% | 84% |
| Januvia (brand) | 28% | 21% |
| Albuterol Inhaler (generic) | 62% | 68% |
Looking at these numbers, notice how sometimes GoodRx wins, but on a few key generics—especially for chronic conditions like high blood pressure—BuzzRx actually squeaks ahead. You just have to check both. Users say this is less hassle than it sounds: both platforms let you search by pharmacy, filter by dosage, and even browse nearby locations within your city, so you’re rarely guessing blind.
Special Features and Hidden Perks
GoodRx has the “bells and whistles” feel—a polished app, digital wallet integration, telemedicine, and even live chat. For power-users, it’s a dream. Their mobile alerts for price drops can save you time, plus there are extra “Gold” premiums for recurring users: pay a monthly fee and get even deeper discounts on commonly prescribed meds. Landon, my husband, grumbles every month at refills until I remind him the savings on his blood pressure tablets basically paid for our last dinner out.
BuzzRx counters with the charity angle. Every time you use their card, they donate up to $1 of your savings to a cause—like childhood cancer research or food banks. It feels good knowing your refill is helping others, even if it’s just a small amount. And, for some people, this social mission is worth a lot. Also, BuzzRx is often faster about getting new discounts approved at smaller regional pharmacies, so in tight-knit local communities, they might have deals you’d miss elsewhere.
Watch out for non-obvious perks: GoodRx sometimes stacks with manufacturer coupons for eye-popping savings, especially for birth control, asthma inhalers, and skin creams (retinoids, in particular). I've seen discounts over 90% off list on quirky but commonly prescribed meds. BuzzRx lets some third-party coupon combos slide as well, but store policies vary more.
Both let you print cards, send digital codes, or keep the card in your Apple/Google wallet. Some users just tape the card to their credit card with a bit of washi tape—never underestimate the power of physical reminders!
Tips for Getting the Deepest Discounts
Having both cards costs you nothing and seriously boosts your odds. Here's what smart shoppers do to stretch every pound (or dollar):
- Compare med prices with each card right before every fill. This is vital—prices change weekly as discount contracts shuffle around.
- Call the pharmacy to confirm. The online price checks aren't perfect. Ask them to run both cards through their till and give you the best deal.
- Bring a friend along, especially an older relative. Pharmacies are more likely to go out of their way if you ask questions politely and seem genuinely in need.
- Try pharmacies you’d normally overlook. Big-box grocery stores, small community clinics, even some university dispensaries accept discounts and sometimes price-match if you show competitive rates.
- Never be afraid to walk away. You aren’t locked into a pharmacy. If one treats you like an inconvenience, move down the street. Competition is your friend—and gives you leverage.
- Stay updated on the hottest alternative ways to save. New platforms pop up all the time. If you're curious, check out this thorough comparison: goodrx vs BuzzRx for the latest tricks and alternatives.
A few more pro moves: scan for manufacturer coupons (especially for new brand-name drugs), talk to your doctor about changing to a similar but cheaper alternative if costs get silly, and look for wholesale clubs (like Costco or Sam’s Club) that sometimes beat even the major cards’ discounts. Some savvy folks even use GoodRx/BuzzRx as leverage when negotiating with their chemist for the in-store loyalty card price.
Staying on top of these platforms doesn’t guarantee rock-bottom prices every time, but it does tilt the odds way in your favour. It’s a weird truth: the same med, same pharmacy, same day—could be £80 with one card and £20 with the other. It’s less about brand loyalty, more about knowing which button to push at the right time.
As the world gets more connected—and healthcare pricing gets more complicated—being a little savvy goes a long way. No one ever said prescription price-hunting was glamorous, but with a bit of comparison-shopping grit, you can outsmart the system most of the time and help a few people along the way too.