Both CVS and Walgreens offer similar services, including prescription filling, vaccinations, and rewards programs. The choice between them may depend on individual preferences regarding location convenience, drive-thru availability, mobile app experience, and specific insurance plan coverage. Customer service quality appears to be a common concern for both pharmacies.
| Attribute | CVS Pharmacy | Walgreens |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription filling speed | Varies; some customers report 1-2 hours, others report longer wait times. | Varies depending on prescription type, pharmacy workload, insurance issues, and medication availability. Some prescriptions can be filled immediately, while others may take a few hours or longer. Technology is being implemented to speed up delivery. |
| Prescription cost with insurance | 85% of customers spend less than $10 per month on prescriptions with insurance. Costs vary based on insurance plans. | Walgreens works with insurance providers. They offer zero-dollar co-pays on tier one, generic prescriptions on selected plans for Medicare Part D users. Some customer reviews mention issues with insurance processing and high prices compared to other pharmacies. |
| Availability of generic drugs | Information not available in the search results. | Walgreens offers zero-dollar copays on tier one, generic prescriptions on selected plans for Medicare Part D users. Increased sales of generic drugs are helping Walgreens' profits. |
| Vaccination services offered | COVID-19, flu, RSV, shingles, hepatitis A & B, MMR, meningitis, pneumonia, Tdap, chickenpox and HPV. | Walgreens offers vaccines for COVID-19, flu, RSV, pneumonia, shingles, MMR, HPV, Tdap, hepatitis A & B, meningitis, chickenpox, polio, and rabies. |
| Over-the-counter medication selection | No specific details available. | Walgreens offers a wide selection of over-the-counter products to help manage symptoms of flu, COVID-19, RSV, and norovirus. |
| Convenience of location and hours | Nearly 10,000 locations nationwide; vaccination appointments available seven days a week, including evenings and weekends. | Walgreens has a large retail presence across North America. Some locations offer 24-hour drive-thru pharmacies. |
| Drive-thru pharmacy availability | Not all locations have drive-thru services. | Many Walgreens stores offer drive-thru pharmacy services for prescription pick-ups and select over-the-counter items. |
| Online prescription refills | Available through website and mobile app. | Walgreens provides online prescription refills through their website and mobile app. |
| Mobile app usability | User-friendly; allows customers to manage and refill prescriptions, view prescription history, and check for drug interactions. | The Walgreens mobile app allows users to manage prescriptions, set pill reminders, track order status, earn rewards, and access health advice. Some users have reported a clean and user-friendly experience, while others have experienced technical issues and difficulties with coupon application. |
| Customer service quality | Mixed reviews; some report rude staff, long wait times, and prescription errors, while others praise helpful and knowledgeable staff. | Customer service quality varies. Some customers have reported excellent service and helpful staff, while others have reported rude staff, long wait times, and prescription errors. |
| Availability of health screenings | Blood pressure, BMI, glucose, and total cholesterol checks through Project Health program. | Walgreens offers health screenings, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose checks. They also have virtual healthcare services that offer wellness screenings. |
| Presence of a pharmacy rewards program | ExtraCare (sale prices, personalized deals, ExtraBucks Rewards) and ExtraCare Plus (free delivery, monthly bonus reward). | Walgreens offers the myWalgreens program where members earn rewards on purchases and access exclusive deals. |