The honest answer to “does it cost anything” is no. The SingleCare cost to sign up, generate a coupon, and use it at the pharmacy is zero dollars, forever, with no trial period, no membership fee, and no hidden upsell. SingleCare is a free prescription discount platform that competes directly with GoodRx, and it makes money from referral fees paid by pharmacy benefit managers rather than from consumers. For broader context on how Americans pay for medications, see our healthcare costs guide. This article explains the fee structure, how the service actually works, and when it is worth using.
Is There Any Cost to Use SingleCare?
No. SingleCare’s basic service, which includes unlimited coupons, pharmacy price search, and the discount card itself, is free for all users. There is no monthly subscription tier, no paid premium service, and no fee to print or share a coupon. You do not even need to create an account; the universal card on the homepage works immediately.
Any website claiming SingleCare requires a membership fee is either outdated or misleading. The actual SingleCare platform has offered free access since its 2015 launch.
How SingleCare Makes Money
SingleCare earns a referral fee from the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) each time a coupon is used at the pharmacy. The PBM charges the pharmacy a small administrative fee for processing the cash-discount claim through its network, and a portion of that fee is paid to SingleCare as the platform that delivered the customer. Nothing is added to your cost at the register.
This is the same business model GoodRx uses. The platforms are consumer-facing front ends for PBM cash-discount networks that already existed. The FTC’s 2024 PBM report describes this ecosystem in detail.
How to Use SingleCare at the Pharmacy
Search your drug on singlecare.com or the SingleCare app, note the lowest price at a pharmacy near you, and go to that pharmacy with the prescription. Tell the pharmacist you are using a SingleCare coupon instead of insurance. They will enter the BIN, PCN, group, and member ID into their system, the claim processes, and you pay the discounted price.
The process takes 30 seconds at the counter once the pharmacist has done it before. Most chain pharmacies run SingleCare claims routinely.
SingleCare vs GoodRx Price Comparison
For most generics, SingleCare and GoodRx show nearly identical prices at the same pharmacy. Typical differences are $1 to $3 either way. On specific drug-pharmacy combinations, SingleCare sometimes wins; other times GoodRx wins. The variation happens because each platform uses different PBM contracts, so one will occasionally negotiate a slightly better rate for a given drug.
The smart move is to check both before filling. Our discount card comparison covers all the major free platforms and when each tends to win.
Pharmacy Coverage
SingleCare is accepted at over 35,000 US pharmacies including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger, Publix, Rite Aid, Albertsons, Safeway, Costco, and most independents. Coverage is broad but slightly smaller than GoodRx’s 70,000-plus pharmacy network. For most patients in urban or suburban areas, both platforms cover nearly every pharmacy within driving distance.
What SingleCare Does Well
SingleCare is especially competitive on generic antibiotics, antidepressants, and cardiovascular drugs. On amoxicillin, azithromycin, sertraline, and atorvastatin, SingleCare prices are often within a dollar of the lowest GoodRx price at the same pharmacy and occasionally beat it. The service is also well-rated for customer support, offering phone assistance when pharmacies have trouble processing a claim.
Where SingleCare falls short is the same place GoodRx does: brand-name specialty drugs, GLP-1 injectables, and manufacturer-controlled products like Eliquis or Ozempic. Manufacturer savings cards beat both platforms for those medications.
Is There a Paid SingleCare Plan?
No. Unlike GoodRx, which offers a paid GoodRx Gold subscription ($5.99 to $9.99 per month), SingleCare does not have a paid tier. Every SingleCare user gets the same pricing whether they signed up yesterday or three years ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SingleCare cost money?
No. The service is completely free. No signup, no membership, no fee to use coupons.
Is SingleCare legit?
Yes. SingleCare is a licensed prescription discount network operating since 2015 and accepted at most major US pharmacies.
Can I use SingleCare with insurance?
No. Like GoodRx, you choose insurance or a discount card at checkout. You cannot stack both in the same transaction.
Does SingleCare work at my pharmacy?
Most major US chains accept SingleCare. Search your specific pharmacy on the SingleCare website or app to confirm.
The Bottom Line
SingleCare costs nothing to use. It is a legitimate free prescription discount platform that competes head-to-head with GoodRx and occasionally shows lower prices on specific drugs. Check both SingleCare and GoodRx before filling any prescription to find the lowest coupon. For brand-name drugs and GLP-1 injectables, manufacturer savings cards beat both. Discount card prices change frequently, so always verify current pricing at your pharmacy before paying.