Viagra price: how much does Viagra cost?

How much does Viagra cost? On Ro, the cash price of brand-name Viagra is $90 per dose, while generic sildenafil starts at $4 per dose. If you’re managing erectile dysfunction (ED), there are ways to pay far less for treatment.

Below, we break down what Viagra costs, how it compares with generic sildenafil, and ways to save on a prescription.

The cash price of a 30-pill supply of 100 mg Viagra is around $3,000, or about $100 per dose, according to GoodRx. Exact prices vary depending on your dose, insurance coverage, and where you buy Viagra.

How often you take Viagra also affects the total cost. At about $100 per dose, four doses a month would cost roughly $400, and the total rises with each additional dose.

Viagra is a prescription medication, so you need a prescription to buy it. That can mean added costs for a healthcare provider visit and travel to and from the appointment — unless you use telehealth. For example, Ro offers Viagra via telehealth for $90 per dose and generic Viagra (sildenafil) for $4–$10 per dose, with free shipping.

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Does insurance cover Viagra? 

Generally, no. Most insurance plans do not cover brand-name Viagra. However, some plans may cover sildenafil, the generic form of Viagra, or other generic ED medications. Medicare Part D plans generally do not cover medications prescribed for ED. Review your plan’s formulary and talk with a healthcare provider to determine the right option for you.

Generic sildenafil is significantly less expensive than brand-name Viagra. On Ro, for example, sildenafil starts at $4 per dose while Viagra is $90 per dose, both with free shipping.

Viagra and generic sildenafil contain the same active ingredient — sildenafil — and are expected to work the same way. So why is Viagra so much more expensive? Brand recognition and marketing may play a role.

When a brand-name medication is released, the manufacturer typically has exclusive rights to produce and sell it for a set period. Pfizer originally held those rights for Viagra, and Viatris now owns the brand. After the rights expire, other pharmaceutical companies can begin producing and selling their own versions.

According to standards set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), generic medications must contain the same active ingredient and strength and meet the same safety and quality standards as the brand-name version. Generic manufacturers also typically spend less on marketing, which often helps keep prices lower.

Brand-name prices don’t necessarily fall when generics arrive. One analysis of 78 brand-name medications found that their prices rose more slowly after generics entered the market. The same appears true of Viagra: the brand-name price has stayed high despite the availability of generic sildenafil. The reason is up for debate, but it may stem from years of marketing and pop culture references that cemented Viagra as the famous “little blue pill” and a well-known ED treatment.

Whether you choose the brand-name or generic version, you can expect the same active ingredient and similar effects.

While brand-name Viagra remains expensive, several options can lower the cost of a prescription.

Consider an alternative ED medication. Your insurance plan may cover generic sildenafil and other medications in the same class, called PDE5 inhibitors, such as Cialis (tadalafil) or vardenafil. Some of these are also approved to treat other conditions — such as Cialis for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and sildenafil for pulmonary arterial hypertension — and plans may cover them when they’re prescribed for those uses. A healthcare provider can tell you which option is appropriate.

Try telehealth. Telehealth can make getting Viagra cheaper and easier. Instead of an in-person appointment, you can meet with a licensed healthcare provider virtually and, if Viagra is appropriate for you, have it delivered to your home. Ro offers brand-name Viagra at $90 per dose, along with free shipping.

Look up Viagra coupons. Coupons for Viagra sometimes become available through retailers such as CVS or Walmart. You can check websites such as GoodRx, SingleCare, or Optum Perks, which aggregate coupons from multiple pharmacies and retailers for Viagra and other medications. Viatris offers a savings card that lets eligible people save 50% of their out-of-pocket cost, up to $350 per prescription, on up to 12 prescriptions of brand-name Viagra per calendar year. Restrictions apply, including for people with government insurance.

Choose a generic. If the brand name isn’t important to you, generic sildenafil contains the same active ingredient as Viagra and costs far less. Ro offers sildenafil for $4–$10 per dose, a fraction of the average cost of Viagra.

There are many ways to save on Viagra or sildenafil. To learn which ED medication may be right for you, talk with a healthcare provider, such as on Ro.

Other PDE5 inhibitors include Cialis (tadalafil), vardenafil, and Stendra (avanafil). Prices vary by medication, and they differ from Viagra in strengths and how long they last. Talk with a healthcare provider about which option may be right for you.

Here’s a quick look at how the cost of Viagra compares with its alternatives:

Cialis (tadalafil)

Cialis is unique among PDE5 inhibitors in that it’s designed to be long-acting. It may remain effective for up to 36 hours, compared with about 4–5 hours for Viagra. It also offers flexibility in how it’s taken: a smaller daily dose of 2.5 mg, or a larger dose 30–60 minutes before sexual activity. In addition to ED, Cialis can be prescribed to treat BPH.

On Ro, brand-name Cialis starts at $20 per dose, while generic tadalafil starts at $8 per dose.

Vardenafil

Levitra, the brand-name version of vardenafil, is no longer sold in the United States. However, vardenafil is still available as a generic medication.

Vardenafil is available in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg doses. Its side effects are similar to those of other PDE5 inhibitors, but it may also cause runny nose and flu-like symptoms. Vardenafil should be taken about 60 minutes before sexual activity.

According to GoodRx, the cash price of vardenafil starts at about $19 per dose.

Stendra (avanafil)

Stendra (avanafil) may be the fastest-acting PDE5 inhibitor, since it can be taken as early as 15 minutes before sexual activity. It comes in 50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg doses.

According to GoodRx, the cash price of brand-name Stendra starts at about $78 per dose, while generic avanafil starts at about $72 per dose, on average.

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The cost of Viagra depends on the dose, your insurance coverage, the pharmacy, and whether you choose the brand-name or generic version. Here’s how those factors add up:

• Generic sildenafil offers the biggest savings: it costs $4–$10 per dose on Ro, depending on strength, compared with $90 per dose for brand-name Viagra.

• Insurance generally does not cover brand-name Viagra, so coverage is more likely to help with generic ED medications. Plans vary, so check your formulary.

• Coupons, savings cards, and telehealth can also lower the cost of Viagra, though eligibility rules apply.

• Other PDE5 inhibitors, such as Cialis and Stendra, are priced differently and work on different timelines. A healthcare provider can help you choose the right ED medication.