What an online pharmacy order really costs
You add a few products to the cart, go to checkout, and the total is higher than you expected. The difference is delivery. A low price on one item says little about what you will pay for the whole order.
Where the difference at checkout comes from
Online pharmacies set their product prices and their delivery terms separately. The pharmacy with the lowest price on one product can charge a high delivery fee, while a pharmacy that is a little dearer on that product can deliver for free. If you only look at product prices, you are choosing blind.
What gets added to the bill at the end
- Delivery fee: it differs between pharmacies and depends on the delivery method (courier, parcel locker, pickup point).
- Free-delivery threshold: shipping is free only above a set order value; below it, you pay for delivery.
- Available delivery methods: sometimes the only option is a more expensive courier.
- Payment surcharge: some pharmacies add a fee for cash on delivery.
Why you compare the whole basket
You pay for delivery once per order, so its share of the bill depends on what you buy. With one cheap item, shipping can cost as much as the product. With a full basket, it is easier to pass the free-delivery threshold, and the result depends on the prices of all items together.
How much does your basket cost?
See how much your basket costs across pharmacies — free, no registration
Compare pricesThe pharmacy that is cheapest for one product is not necessarily the cheapest for your whole list. That is why the only number worth comparing is the total: every item plus delivery.
An example without amounts
Your basket has a painkiller and a cough syrup. One pharmacy has the cheapest painkiller but charges delivery on a small order. Another is a little dearer on both products but delivers for free. Item by item, the first looks better; for the whole order, you pay less at the second.
How CheaperForDrug works out the total cost
You add everything you need to the basket. For each online pharmacy, the comparison adds up the prices of all items and the delivery cost, taking the free-delivery threshold into account, and shows the pharmacy where the whole basket costs least. If splitting the order between two or three pharmacies comes out cheaper, the result shows that split together with the cost of each delivery.
Prices are checked at the moment you compare. The comparison is free for everyone, with no limit.
How to use it
- Search for the over-the-counter medicines and supplements you need and add them to the basket.
- Start the comparison.
- See the pharmacy where the whole basket, delivery included, costs least.
- Go to that pharmacy and place your order there.
How much less will you pay?
That depends on your basket: which products are in it, how many packs you buy and what delivery costs. That is why we don't quote averages. The comparison shows the exact total for your basket before you buy anything.
Disclaimer: CheaperForDrug is a price comparison service. We are not a pharmacy and do not sell medicines. You buy directly from the online pharmacy you choose. Prices and delivery terms may change, so check the current terms at the pharmacy before you order.
Before using any medicine, read the package leaflet or consult a doctor or pharmacist, as every medicine used improperly may pose a risk to your life or health.