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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 pills.
- Best for free consultation: Roman | Skip to review
- Best affordable price: Lemonaid | Skip to review
- Best variety of options: Hims | Skip to review
- Best for discounts: Rex MD | Skip to review
Viagra, otherwise known by its generic name sildenafil, is the best-known medication for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). It’s a common vasodilator that’s also used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension.
The drug was patented in 1996 and approved for ED by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 1998. It was the first oral treatment approved to treat ED in the United States.
ED affects as many as 30 million men, according to the Urology Care Foundation.
The rate of ED increases with age. According to
In the United States, you’ll need a prescription for both name-brand Viagra and generic sildenafil. Costs for both vary.
While Viagra may be the most well-known drug to treat ED, there are several others available as well. We break down the costs for Viagra and where you can purchase it below.
How much does Viagra cost?
Pricing for both Viagra and sildenafil can fluctuate significantly. The prices listed in this article are correct as of April 2024, but for the most accurate pricing, we recommend calling your local pharmacy.
| Brand | Brand cost* | Generic cost* | Delivery time | Dosage | Prescription needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roman | $90 per dose | From $4–$6 per dose | 2 business days | 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg | yes |
| Lemonaid | — | $2 per dose, $60 per month subscription | 2–3 business days | 20 mg | yes |
| Hims | $139 per dose | $4 per dose | 2–5 business days | 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg | yes |
| REX MD | $96 per dose | From $2–$6 per dose | 2–3 business days | 20 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg | yes |
*Prices accurate as of April 2024
How much does Viagra cost at a 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.
CVS
- A 100-mg pill of brand-name Viagra costs approximately $93 per dose and a 100-mg pill of sildenafil costs approximately $18 per dose at CVS, according to Optum Perks.
Pricing for Viagra ranges greatly depending on a number of factors and is not listed on CVS’s website. It’s best to call your local CVS for accurate pricing.
Walgreens
- A 100-mg pill of brand-name Viagra costs approximately $93 per dose and a 100-mg pill of sildenafil costs approximately $19 per dose at Walgreens, according to Optum Perks.
Pricing for Viagra ranges greatly depending on a number of factors and is not listed on Walgreens’ website. It’s best to call your local Walgreens for accurate pricing.
Walmart
Walmart has some of the most competitive prices on sildenafil among retail stores.
- A 100-mg pill of brand-name Viagra costs approximately $95 per dose and a 100-mg pill of sildenafil costs approximately $7 per dose at Walmart, according to Optum Perks.
Pricing for Viagra ranges greatly depending on a number of factors and is not listed on Walmart’s website. It’s best to call your local Walmart for accurate pricing.
Target
- A 100-mg pill of brand-name Viagra costs approximately $93 per dose and a 100-mg pill of sildenafil costs approximately $18 per dose at Target, according to Optum Perks.
Pricing for Viagra ranges greatly depending on a number of factors and is not listed on Target’s website. It’s best to call your local Target for accurate pricing.
When experiencing arousal, the body releases nitric oxide, a molecule that is responsible for causing an erection. However, another enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) breaks down certain messengers involved in this process, preventing an erection.
Viagra and other similar ED drugs like Cialis (tadalafil) and Levitra (vardenafil) are called PDE5 inhibitors, which means they work by blocking this enzyme. They work by helping relax muscles and arteries inside the penis, which helps more blood reach the penis.
After taking Viagra, the medication starts working after about an hour, but you can take it anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours before sexual activity.
Viagra is for anyone assigned male at birth who has frequent difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection long enough for a satisfying sexual encounter.
It’s important to note that erectile dysfunction can happen from time to time, even in young people, but if it occurs several times in a week and repeatedly over the course of 3 or more weeks, Viagra might be worth considering.
It’s also important to take your sexual lifestyle into account when considering ED medication. Viagra works on an “as-needed” basis and shouldn’t be taken as a daily pill.
Since it only works for a period of time after you take it, Viagra is best for someone who can plan out their sexual encounters — especially since Viagra can take some time to take full effect. It isn’t ideal for someone who often has sexual encounters spontaneously and who isn’t able to easily wait for the pill to take effect.
Teva sildenafil is the generic version of Viagra that treats ED. There’s no real difference between Viagra and sildenafil. Sildenafil is just the generic version of Viagra sold by a different company. However, there are a few distinctions between the cost and medical use of the two pills.
Price of Viagra vs. sildenafil
Sildenafil is often sold at much lower prices than Viagra, as no marketing dollars are used to sell it. Both pills feature the same main ingredient and work in virtually the exact same way to treat ED symptoms. If you feel that Viagra is outside of your current budget, sildenafil is worth considering as an alternative.
Sildenafil is approved to treat ED and certain heart conditions
Currently, Viagra is only legally approved for use to treat ED. It’s not prescribed to treat other conditions like pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
The generic form of Viagra is sildenafil, and it is legally approved to treat both ED and PAH. Sildenafil is also the primary ingredient in the brand-name drug Revatio, which is also approved to treat both PAH.
PAH can cause smooth muscle in your lungs to become inflamed and restrict blood flow in certain lung arteries. Sildenafil can help dilate these arteries and reduce your blood pressure.
Sildenafil pills are white, not blue
Another distinction between Viagra and sildenafil is their color. Sildenafil tablets are off-white or white, while Viagra is infamously a little blue pill.
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.
Sometimes, ED
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. If you’re taking certain medications, such as nitrates, using Viagra could make your blood pressure drop too low.
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. Using Viagra and nitrates together can be very dangerous, which is why it is important to talk with your doctor about all of the medications that you are taking before being prescribed Viagra or sildenafil.
There are plenty of ways to save money on Viagra and sildenafil.
Telehealth services such as Roman, Hims, or Lemonaid often offer multiple-month subscription services for a discounted price and provide both brand-name and generic options.
First-time customer coupons and occasional special promotions are common on these online retailers.
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. PAPs are mostly sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, though some are run by states and nonprofits.
While there’s no standard enrollment form, most PAPs ask you to prove the following:
- You’re a permanent, legal resident of the United States or Puerto Rico.
- You don’t have insurance, or your insurance doesn’t cover your medication.
- You meet certain income eligibility requirements.
ED can be caused by physical issues, psychological factors, or a combination of both. 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.
lthough Viagra is often an effective treatment for ED, some people discover that Viagra never works for them, or it gradually stops working after they’ve used it successfully.
The causes of ED are complex and can be a result of mental and physical conditions. Erections may be influenced by a complicated combination of:
- physical mechanisms
- sensations
- emotions
Viagra may not work for you if you have:
- any nerve malfunction
- Peyronie’s disease
- anxiety
- depression
- stress or relationship issues
Also, Viagra can lose its effectiveness over time because of changes in your body or in your health.
If that happens, try switching to another medication in the same drug class, such as PDE5 inhibitors, if recommended by your doctor.
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.
Tracee M. Herbaugh is a writer and journalist in the Boston area. She writes about family, relationships, lifestyle, culture, and news. Her work can be seen in The Washington Post, Salon, The Week, The Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and more.