Jenna McMahon | 

Does CVS Price Match? No, But Here's How You Can Save

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Unfortunately, CVS does not price match competitors or offer price adjustments. CVS can set prices a tad higher than other stores because of the “convenience factor.” If they lowered their prices to match others, CVS would lose their competitive edge.

Luckily, there are even better ways to save at CVS than price matching. For one, CVS is one of the best drugstores for couponing, and learning how to work their ExtraCare program goes a long way. So don’t overpay for that bottle of Tide just ’cause you really need it.

I’ll walk you through the six best ways to save money at CVS, and I’m not just talking about saving a dollar here and there. I’m talking about BIG savings — like potentially walking out of CVS with free items. Once you start using these tips to save at CVS, you’ll forget all about price matching.

Text CVS to 57299 and be the first to know about the best CVS deals.

 

1. Sign up for an ExtraCare account and download the CVS mobile app.

A woman holding an iphone with the CVS app, a rewards key chain card, and an extracare rewards pamphlet.

Annelise Woodward

The bulk of saving money at CVS comes down to these two things: You MUST sign up for the ExtraCare program, and you have to download the CVS app on your phone.

You simply can’t access the CVS weekly ad deals or earn ExtraBucks without an ExtraCare account. ExtraCare is the rewards program for CVS customers, and to be honest, it’s the best of all the drugstore programs. Every time you shop with your ExtraCare card, you’ll earn ExtraBucks. ExtraBucks are basically free cash you can spend on future CVS purchases. Sign up for an ExtraCare account online or in the CVS app, like right now. It’s free and it’s easy (I promise).

Having the CVS mobile app (iOS / Android) on your phone can help you save three times as much, so it’s a no-brainer. You can literally view the weekly ad page by page and load coupons and ExtraBucks promos right to your ExtraCare card. Once you link your ExtraCare card to the app, you can use your phone to scan your card at checkout, so pretty much everything you need is all in one place.

 

2. Stack manufacturer coupons with ExtraBucks promos and CVS store coupons.

A person holding a cellphone with the CVS app displayed, while a stack of coupons sit in on a wallet in the person's other hand.

The Krazy Coupon Lady

Who needs a price match when you can stack coupons? Some coupons in the CVS app are manufacturer (MFR) coupons and others are ExtraCare coupons (aka CVS store coupons). The key to saving big at CVS is to stack an MFR coupon with an ExtraCare coupon on a single item. Don’t forget — the MFR coupons in the CVS app aren’t the only ones out there. You can also print MFR coupons online or clip them from inserts in your Sunday newspaper. Find ExtraCare coupons in the CVS app, on CVS.com, or from the ExtraCare Coupon Center (it’s that big red coupon kiosk you see in CVS stores).

You can only use one MFR coupon per item, but CVS lets you use two of a certain ExtraCare coupon on a single item as long as you reach the purchase threshold:

  • Use Two (2) CVS $3 off $15 coupons on purchases that are $30 or higher

Even better, deals in the weekly ad usually have ExtraBucks promos built in. You’ll see an offer like, “Spend $40 Get $10 ExtraBucks Rewards.” Most products in the weekly ad are eligible for the ExtraBucks promo, so it’s not that difficult to reach the $40 threshold.

When you combine the power of sale prices, MFR coupons, ExtraCare coupons, and ExtraBucks promos on a single purchase, you’ll see why paying full price at CVS is SO old news.

 

3. Use rebate apps like Ibotta to get money back on CVS purchases.

an iphone with an ibotta deal for $1 back on dial body wash next to three dial body washes on the shelf at cvs

The Krazy Coupon Lady

You’ll miss out on CVS savings if you don’t have the Ibotta app. Ibotta gives you money back on purchases when you upload your receipts. (Here’s exactly how Ibotta works.) Scout for CVS offers in the Ibotta app, then add them to your list before your shopping trip. After you shop, upload your CVS receipt within seven days to get money back on the qualifying items.

There are tons of cash-back offers for CVS in the Ibotta app right now, but here are a few examples:

    • $0.50 back: Energizer Max Batteries, Any Variety, Any Size, Limit 3 Per Receipt
    • $1.25 back: Finish Power Detergents, Select Varieties, Any Size, Limit 5 Per Receipt
    • $2.00 back: Oral-B Manual Toothbrush or Pulsar Toothbrush, Limit 3 Per Receipt
    • $3.00 back: Dove Body Love Serum-Infused Body Cleanser, 17.5 oz, Limit 5 Per Receipt
    • $4.99 back: Bactine Max Wound Wash, 8 oz, Limit 2 Per Receipt

You can also see all the Ibotta deals available right now.

 

 

4. Use the KCL mobile app to get CVS deal alerts and see the latest offers.

A woman holding up an iPhone displaying the CVS deal page on the KCL app.

The Krazy Coupon Lady

Maybe we’re biased, but The Krazy Coupon Lady mobile app is a great way to see all the best CVS deals. You can even set up deal alerts to receive a notification when your favorite products go on sale.

Download the KCL mobile app and add CVS to your favorite stores (go to “Stores” and tap the heart icon next to CVS). This will make sure all the latest CVS deals show up in your custom feed.

Then set up deal alerts for products you buy at CVS (go to “Alerts” and tap “Customize your deal alerts”). Scroll through our list of top products and brands and toggle on deal alerts for the ones you love. We’ll send you a push notification every time a hot new deal or freebie drops!

These are some of the best deal alerts to set up in the KCL mobile app if you’re a CVS shopper:

  • Aveeno
  • Bounty
  • Charmin
  • Colgate
  • Cottonelle
  • Dial
  • Dove
  • Gain
  • Garnier
  • Gillette
  • Glade
  • Huggies
  • Kleenex
  • L’Oreal
  • Maybelline
  • Neutrogena
  • Pampers
  • Suave
  • Tide
  • Venus

You can also check out our full list of CVS deals available now.

 

5. Use a CVS rain check to lock in sale prices when items are out of stock.

A woman looking confused at an empty shelf at CVS

The Krazy Coupon Lady

CVS has one of the best rain check policies out there. A rain check helps you extend a sale price if the on-sale item is out of stock at your store. When you check out, ask the CVS cashier for a rain check to buy the item when it’s back in stock. The cashier will hand you a paper voucher for your rain check. This will basically extend the coupon expiration date for you only. When the item is back in stock, head to the store and use the paper voucher to get the sale price.

The best thing about CVS rain checks is that they don’t expire. You can get a rain check for any out-of-stock item on sale (AND still earn ExtraBucks after the ExtraBucks promo ends).

For more info, see the official CVS rain check policy.

 

6. Compare CVS prices in store with the Amazon mobile app.

A woman carrying a CVS basket and shopping in CVS.

The Krazy Coupon Lady

It’s not the same as a price match, but you can use Amazon’s mobile app to compare CVS prices in store.

Open the Amazon app and tap the camera icon next to the search bar. Hold your camera over the barcode of any item to search for it on Amazon. This will tell you if you’re getting a good deal or if you should hold off and buy the item somewhere else. Don’t forget to factor in your savings from coupons, ExtraBucks, and rebate apps when you compare CVS prices to others!

 


Find Stores That Will Price Match

While CVS doesn’t price match, many other stores do. Price matching can help you get the lowest price without going from store to store. Take a look at our full list of retailers who price match competitors to see who participates!


 

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