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Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:- Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
- Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
- Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We break down Viagra prices from several different online services, look at generic Viagra alternatives, and compare the best available purchasing options for erectile dysfunction (ED) pills.
Quick facts about ED and Viagra
- Viagra (sildenafil) is a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5).
- PDE5s are
used to treat pulmonary hypertension . Researchers discovered that a side effect of these medications is an erection of the penis.
- PDE5s are
- ED affects as many as 30 million men.
- The risk of ED increases with age. Being over 50 years old is a known risk factor. However, men under 50 years old may still experience ED symptoms.
- Viagra isn’t the only treatment for ED.
| Brand | Healthline score | Brand Viagra cost* | Generic Viagra cost* | Delivery time | Dosage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roman | 4.0 / 5 | $90 per dose | from $4 to $6 per dose | 2 business days | 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg |
| Lemonaid | 3.9 / 5 | — | $2 per dose | 2 to 5 business days | 20 mg |
| Hims | 4.3 / 5 | $139 per dose | from $4 per dose | 2 to 5 business days | 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg |
| REX MD | 3.9 / 5 | $96 per dose | from $2 to $6 per dose | 3 to 5 business days | 20 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg |
*Prices accurate at time of publication.
How much does Viagra cost at a local pharmacy?
Since a prescription is needed to get ED medications, insurance may cover the cost, or at least a part of it. At brick-and-mortar pharmacies, ED medication prices can vary widely depending on location. The website Optum Perks allows you to compare prices per pharmacy.
You can’t get Viagra without a prescription, so we made sure to include only companies that require a prescription or provide a consultation with a healthcare professional who can write a prescription.
Each company we recommend undergoes a thorough vetting process. During this process, a team of experts carefully evaluates companies based on quality, accessibility, cost, and availability. This allows us to give you strong recommendations for products that offer good value for your money.
We also ensure that sponsors and business partners never influence our content.
In addition, we review BBB ratings (where applicable) and check to make sure none of these brands have FDA
If you’d like to read more about our selection process and scoring system for telehealth platforms, check out Healthline Scores: How We Evaluate Men’s Telehealth Platforms.
Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We evaluate services for consistency with standards of care and best practices, and we look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline.
To choose the services on this page, we considered all the ED treatment services that passed our vetting process. Then, we scored each service to narrow down our list even further.
There are plenty of ways to save money on Viagra and sildenafil.
Telehealth services such as Roman, Hims, Rex MD, or Lemonaid often offer multiple-month subscription services for a discounted price and provide both brand-name and generic options.
Mass-market pharmacies like CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens also offer discounts and coupons you can find online.
A gap in insurance coverage doesn’t mean you should pay full price for ED medications. Some patient assistance programs (PAPs) will help cover the cost. Pharmaceutical companies mostly sponsor PAPs, though states and nonprofits run some.
While there’s no standard enrollment form, most PAPs ask you to prove the following:
- You’re a permanent, legal United States or Puerto Rico resident.
- You don’t have insurance, or your insurance doesn’t cover your medication.
- You meet certain income eligibility requirements.
Sildenafil is the generic version of Viagra. There are a few distinctions between the cost and medical use of the two pills.
- Price: Sildenafil is often sold at much lower prices than Viagra because it isn’t a brand-name medication. Both medications feature the same main ingredient and work in virtually the same way to treat ED symptoms. If Viagra isn’t within your budget, you may want to consider sildenafil as an alternative.
- Colors: Viagra is known as the “little blue pill” due to its color. Sildenafil, on the other hand, is off-white or white.
- Treating heart conditions: Only sildenafil is legally approved to treat both ED and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Sildenafil can help dilate arteries and reduce your blood pressure. Viagra is only legally approved to treat ED.
Like any medication, there are potential side effects when taking Viagra. It’s important to check with your doctor before taking this medication if you have any underlying conditions or are currently taking other medications.
One of the biggest interactions to note is the negative reactions that Viagra can have with some heart medications and nitrates. Nitrates are contraindicated with Viagra and can cause a severe drop in blood pressure that can be fatal in some instances. This is why it is so important to talk with your doctor about all of the medications that you are taking before using Viagra or sildenafil.
Side effects of Viagra include:
- headache
- heartburn
- flushed skin
Some people can have a severe reaction if Viagra is taken with alcohol.
Additionally, if you take protease inhibitors or have HIV, avoid Viagra to prevent complications.
Physical issues, psychological factors, or a combination of both can cause ED. Your doctor should be your first stop for ED diagnosis. ED has many potential causes, so you may need a comprehensive physical examination to diagnose it.
Your doctor may refer you to a urologist if you don’t have any underlying health or mental conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, or anxiety, but you still have symptoms of ED.
It’s important to schedule an appointment with your urologist if you start experiencing any signs and symptoms of ED. However, some urologists recommend that you talk with a specialist if you’re unable to get an erection more than 50 percent of the time.
Viagra costs an average of about $91 per pill, while the cost for generic pill sildenafil can start at about $4 a pill, according to online retailers.
By using an online subscription service, sildenafil pills can be as low as $2 per pill. The price for these medications can also vary based on the dose.
Generic Viagra or sildenafil — as it is most often called — will be available at a much lower cost. Because Pfizer (the manufacturer of Viagra) doesn’t manufacture generic sildenafil, it can be created and sold at a lower price.
Without insurance, you can expect to pay between $2 and $10 per pill on average. However, the price could drop even more if the pill is covered by your insurance plan.
If you’re considering sildenafil to treat your ED symptoms, it’s worth contacting your insurance provider to see if it is covered.
In general, most insurance companies won’t cover name-brand Viagra, but they might cover the generic, sildenafil.
Depending on where you purchase the medication, it may be covered. If you go through an online telehealth service for male enhancements, you’ll likely need to pay out of pocket or with funds from your health savings account or flexible spending account.
Viagra is the most common prescription drug for treating ED, and it’s the first approved by the FDA.
While name-brand Viagra can be costly, the generic version, sildenafil, is also available from many manufacturers and is a much cheaper option.
Do your research before you buy, as many pharmacies and telehealth services offer competitive pricing.