Methodology

Where the prices come from

We regularly observe publicly available discount-card prices at major pharmacy chains. These are the kinds of cash and coupon prices a shopper could look up themselves through publicly accessible savings programs. We organize those observations by medication and package size so they can be compared in one place.

Each medication is identified by its National Drug Code (NDC), an 11-digit code that uniquely identifies a specific product and package. Matching is done on this exact code — never by fuzzy guessing — so a price is only ever shown against the exact product it was observed for.

Every price is dated

Prices are not live quotes. Each price on FineRx carries the date it was observed, and we label how fresh it is:

• Fresh — observed within the last week.
• Aging — observed within the last two weeks.
• Stale — older than two weeks; these are held back from “lowest price” summaries and search until refreshed.

We update our data regularly. When newer observations arrive, they replace older ones for the same product, pharmacy, and savings program.

How the comparison is built

For a given product and quantity, we show the observed price from each combination of pharmacy chain and independent savings program, sorted from lowest to highest, with the lowest recently observed price highlighted. This lets you see the range of what the same medication has recently cost, not just a single number.

What the prices are — and are not

Prices shown by FineRx are estimates based on recently observed pricing data and may change at any time. Final price is determined by the pharmacy or applicable savings provider.

In other words, our numbers are estimates meant to inform a conversation with your pharmacist. Your actual price depends on the pharmacy, the savings program you use, and the day you fill your prescription. We never describe a price as “guaranteed” or as the “best” price, because we cannot promise either.

No paid relationships

We currently have no paid relationships with pharmacies or discount-card providers, and no advertising on the site. The prices we show are not influenced by any commercial arrangement, because there are none. Pharmacy and program names appear only to identify the source of an observed price. If this ever changes, we will disclose it clearly on our affiliate disclosure page and label any paid link.

Coverage and known limits

• We cover a selection of common medications and the pharmacy chains and savings programs for which we have data — not every drug, pharmacy, or program exists in our data.
• We do not currently show location-specific pricing and do not collect your location; a nearby pharmacy's price may differ.
• We do not factor in insurance. The prices shown are cash or discount-card style prices, which are sometimes lower and sometimes higher than an insurance copay.
• Where we cannot confidently match or parse a price, we exclude it rather than show something uncertain.

Corrections

If a price or product looks wrong, tell us — we take corrections seriously. See our contact page.