10 Drugstores That Just Aren’t Worth It Anymore

Drugstores used to be the obvious stop when you needed a prescription, a bottle of shampoo, and a last-minute birthday card. However, with more ways to compare prices and avoid wasting money, convenience might not be enough to justify higher costs, complicated rewards, or a frustrating checkout experience.

The best choice depends on your prescriptions, insurance, and location. Still, these 10 pharmacies may be worth reconsidering before your next shopping trip.

CVS

CVS is convenient, but getting a genuinely good deal may require more effort than the purchase is worth. Many of its best promotions are tied to an ExtraCare account, digital coupons, or rewards earned for a future visit. That is fine for regular CVS shoppers, but less helpful when you only need toothpaste or cold medicine today.

Store closures may also make that convenience less reliable. CVS planned to close 271 locations in 2025 after closing 900 stores between late 2021 and 2024. Before checking out, compare the price with Walmart, Target, or your local supermarket.

Walgreens

Walgreens may be easy to find, but it is not always the easiest place to shop. Products kept behind locked cases may turn a quick errand into a hunt for an employee, while the myWalgreens program requires shoppers to track promotions and rewards to get the strongest value.

Closures create another concern, with Walgreens reducing its store count. Customers affected by a closure may need to transfer their pickup location. Walgreens still makes sense for some prescriptions and sale items, but buying everyday toiletries, snacks, or household necessities somewhere else might leave more money in your wallet.

Duane Reade

Duane Reade is practically part of the New York landscape, which makes it tempting when you need something quickly. However, convenience in a busy urban neighborhood doesn't necessarily mean a good value, especially for snacks, beauty products, and household basics that may cost less at a supermarket or mass retailer.

The chain is part of the Walgreens family, so shoppers might encounter many of the same promotions and shopping frustrations. Several Manhattan locations closed in 2025, potentially making the chain less dependable for customers who previously relied on a nearby store.

Longs Drugs

Longs Drugs has a familiar name in Hawaii, but the stores operate under CVS Health. That means shoppers may find the same type of loyalty offers and digital promotions available at CVS locations elsewhere.

Longs could still be worthwhile when convenience matters or an ExtraCare offer lines up with something already on your list. However, it may not be the first place to stock up without comparing prices. Warehouse clubs, supermarkets, and big-box retailers might offer stronger everyday value on sunscreen, toiletries, over-the-counter medicine, and household supplies, especially when buying enough for an entire family.

Navarro Discount Pharmacy

The word "discount" in the name makes Navarro sound like an automatic bargain, but shoppers should still compare prices before filling their carts. The South Florida chain is owned by CVS Health, and its rewards and promotions are connected to the larger CVS system.

Navarro's selection may make it useful for shoppers looking for particular health, beauty, or cultural products. For ordinary toiletries, cleaning supplies, or nonprescription medicine, however, Walmart, Target, warehouse clubs, or online retailers may offer a better deal without requiring shoppers to juggle coupons and rewards.

Target CVS Pharmacy

It's easy to assume the pharmacy inside Target is just another Target department, but CVS operates the pharmacy counter. This matters because prescription services and pharmacy records go through CVS, while the surrounding retail purchase remains part of Target.

The setup is useful when you already need groceries or household supplies, but it may not provide the most personal pharmacy experience or the lowest prescription price. Before transferring a medication for convenience, compare the price, accepted insurance, pharmacy hours, and available discounts.

Combining errands saves time only when the pharmacy actually meets your needs.

Walmart Pharmacy

Walmart is known for low prices, and its pharmacy may be a reasonable choice for many medications, but the tradeoff is the overall experience. Picking up one prescription might require navigating a huge parking lot and a crowded store, then waiting at a pharmacy counter that could be busy.

That may not bother shoppers who already have a full grocery list. For someone looking for a quick pickup or more personal assistance, an independent or smaller pharmacy might feel much easier. Walmart is worth comparing, but the lowest advertised price doesn't always make it the best fit for every customer.

Kroger Pharmacy

Picking up a prescription while buying groceries sounds like the ultimate time-saving option, but Kroger pharmacy might not offer the lowest price. Prescription costs vary based on medication, insurance plan, available discounts, and pharmacy location.

Kroger might work well for regular refills that line up with a weekly grocery trip, but it could be less appealing for medications needed immediately or questions requiring more individual attention. Compare the insurance price with the pharmacy's cash price and reputable prescription discount programs before deciding if convenience is the same as savings for you.

Albertsons Pharmacy

Albertsons operates pharmacies through several familiar supermarkets, so the experience often varies by location. A nearby Safeway or Jewel-Osco pharmacy might be convenient, while another location may offer limited hours or fewer services.

The grocery store setting makes sense for routine refills, vaccinations, and customers who already shop there. Still, it's worth checking whether another pharmacy offers a lower price, more convenient hours, or a better delivery option. A prescription is too important to choose based only on where you buy milk, especially if your medication requires regular refills or extra guidance.

Amazon Pharmacy

Amazon Pharmacy brings prescriptions right to your door, which sounds ideal until you need a medication today. Although Amazon now offers same-day prescription delivery in many locations, availability isn't guaranteed, so it might be less practical for medication you need immediately.

Some shoppers might also prefer speaking with a pharmacist face-to-face, especially when starting a new medication or managing several prescriptions. Amazon Pharmacy might work well for predictable maintenance medications, but it's not the best option for every prescription. Compare the insurance price, estimated delivery date, and available pharmacist support before giving up a reliable local pharmacy for online convenience.

Bottom line

No pharmacy is the wrong choice for every shopper. Your insurance, medications, location, mobility, and comfort with online services all matter. The smartest move is to compare the complete experience instead of choosing a store just because it's nearby or has a familiar name.

Before filling a new prescription, ask for the insurance price and cash price, then check a reputable discount program. You might also keep more cash in your wallet by filling prescriptions at one pharmacy while purchasing toiletries, snacks, and household necessities somewhere else.

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