Cialis® (tadalafil) is a safe, effective erectile dysfunction (ED) medication manufactured by Eli Lilly. Cialis is a medication that contains the active ingredient tadalafil, a PDE5 inhibitor that improves blood flow to your penis so that it’s easier to get an erection. You can take Cialis either right before sex or every day so that you’re always ready to get hard and stay hard.

Cialis and tadalafil are both approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and available with a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional. 

There are plenty of ways you can save money on both Cialis and tadalafil — read on to learn more about how to save on Cialis prices, how brand-name Cialis compares to generic Cialis, and other tips on how to get the most out of your Cialis prescription by ordering online.

How much does Cialis cost?

Through Motivated, you can expect to pay the following prices for Cialis and its generic form tadalafil:

• Cialis: starting at $105 per pill
• Generic Cialis (tadalafil): starting at $1 per pill

Brand-name Cialis is more expensive because it’s protected by a patent — meaning that only the patent holder, Eli Lilly, can produce and market Cialis. 

Generic Cialis (tadalafil) is much cheaper because any pharmaceutical company can produce and market tadalafil. But tadalafil is FDA-approved just like Cialis, and it’s still just as safe and effective as brand-name Cialis because it uses the same active ingredient.

Price for Cialis prescription

First, you need a prescription from a healthcare provider to get Cialis or tadalafil. 

Getting a prescription for Cialis online through a telehealth provider is a convenient way to save time and save yourself an awkward trip to the pharmacy to pick up your medication.

Some telehealth providers, such as Motivated, also build the price for an online consultation with a doctor into the price you pay for Cialis or tadalafil, saving you money on the cost of travel and office co-payments. 

With Motivated, you can get a prescription for Cialis or tadalafil within 2 hours so that you can order your medication quickly and easily.

What is Cialis?

Cialis is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (or PDE5 inhibitor) that was first FDA-approved in 2003 to be used as a prescription medication for erectile dysfunction (ED). 

Cialis uses the active ingredient tadalafil to relax muscles and improve blood flow that helps you get erections and keep them longer.

Cialis works very similarly to other ED medications like Viagra® (also sold as a generic version called sildenafil). But it’s known to last longer, improving ED symptoms for up to 36 hours with a single dose. This is where it gets its nickname “the weekend pill”.

You can take 5 to 20 mg of Cialis up to 30 minutes before sex for the best results, or take 2.5 to 5 mg daily so that you’re always ready for sex.

You need a prescription to purchase brand-name Cialis or generic Cialis (tadalafil). Any PDE5 inhibitor for ED must be prescribed by a U.S.-licensed medical provider before you can purchase it online or at your local pharmacy.

Although brand-name Cialis is only available from the manufacturer Eli Lilly, a generic version of Cialis sold as tadalafil was first made available by Teva Pharmaceuticals in 2018.

As with any medication, brand-name Cialis is much more expensive than generic Cialis sold as tadalafil or other generic ED medications.

Is Cialis covered by insurance?

Cialis isn’t typically covered by health insurance plans. 

The answer depends on your exact health insurance coverage — and even if your health insurance plan does cover Cialis or other PDE5 inhibitors for treatment options of ED, your plan may only cover generic tadalafil instead of brand-name Cialis.

You’ll need to review your insurance plan online or call your insurance provider’s helpline to determine if your health insurance will cover brand-name Cialis or generic Cialis for ED treatment.

In some cases, you can also request a gap exception so that your insurance can approve coverage for Cialis or tadalafil even if it’s not included as part of your insurance coverage.

Medicare insurance plans don’t typically cover Cialis or tadalafil. But you may be able to receive coverage if you’re receiving a prescription for a PDE5 inhibitor that can treat a condition like pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Tips for getting cheap Cialis

As with any brand-name medication, there are many ways to help reduce the price you pay for a Cialis prescription. 

Here are some savings tips that can lower the cost of Cialis and other medications for erectile dysfunction.

Use the generic version

Cialis is expensive because it’s protected under a patent, meaning that no other drug manufacturer can make Cialis and sell it under that name. 

But generic tadalafil (like other generic drugs) is available from other manufacturers at a much lower price — up to 90% cheaper than brand-name Cialis — that might be more budget-friendly for long-term or regular use. 

And tadalafil uses the same active ingredient as Cialis. It’s just as safe as brand-name Cialis and is also FDA-approved.

Review your insurance plan

Your coverage for Cialis or other PDE5 inhibitors meant to treat erectile dysfunction may vary based on the health insurance plan you have. 

Review your coverage details or contact a representative from your insurance company to discuss how you can get coverage for Cialis.

Consider using a patient assistance program (PAP)

Eli Lilly, the drug manufacturer that produces Cialis, may offer Cialis for a reduced cost or for free if you qualify for their Lilly Cares program based on your income or living situation.

Only buy Cialis from reputable sources

Some companies online purport to sell “real” Cialis at a lower cost without the need for a prescription or any medical clearance to use the pill. 

Cialis that’s purchased without a prescription is often unsafe or ineffective. Only purchase Cialis with a prescription from a U.S.-licensed provider.

Order online to save time

Ordering online can save you time and money with free delivery — while also helping you avoid an awkward trip to the pharmacy.

Motivated offers free, 2-day shipping for any prescription of Cialis, tadalafil, or other PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra and sildenafil.

Adjust your Cialis treatment plan

Not getting the results you want from your ED treatment plan? 

Motivated offers a 24/7 Health Concierge so that you can get support and medical advice from a U.S.-licensed medical provider.

Health Concierge U.S.-licensed doctors can help you decide whether you need to increase or lower your dosage, especially if you’re experiencing any unwanted side effects. 

A provider can also give you advice on whether you should take your medication daily or as needed for the best results.

Cialis alternatives prices

Viagra is the most common alternative to Cialis. Viagra is another PDE5 inhibitor that works in the same way as Cialis even though it uses a different active ingredient.

Just like Cialis, brand-name Viagra can fetch high prices, while the generic version (sildenafil) is typically much more affordable.

Viagra doesn’t last as long as Cialis or tadalafil, which are known to improve your ED symptoms for up to 36 hours. But Viagra has been tested for safety and has been around for almost a decade longer than Cialis, so it has a great track record as an ED medication. 

Other Cialis alternatives that you may want to consider include: 

• Stendra® (avanafil), a PDE5 inhibitor that can give you a quicker improvement in ED symptoms and have longer-lasting effects than other PDE5 inhibitors.
• Levitra® (vardenafil), a PDE5 inhibitor that’s been found to result in stronger effects and a greater improvement in ED symptoms than other PDE5 inhibitors

Everyone responds differently to PDE5 inhibitors. You may want to start with one PDE5 inhibitor and switch medications to find the one that works best for you.

Even though Cialis has been shown to last longer than Cialis alternatives like Viagra, your overall health might also affect how long the medication works for you. You might get different results when you take a PDE5 inhibitor right before you have sex rather than taking a daily ED medication.s FDA-approved to treat symptoms of ED. But, it’s still important that you talk with your doctor about your health conditions and medications that you take before starting Cialis. They can make sure that Cialis or generic tadalafil is safe for you to take for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.