Is It Cheaper to Buy Sildenafil from Tesco, Boots, or Medino?
When men in the UK look for treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), three familiar names usually come up: Tesco, Boots, and online pharmacies such as Medino. But which one actually offers the best value?
We compared prices, convenience, and overall experience across these options-and the results show that while Boots edges ahead on branded Viagra Connect, Medino’s generic sildenafil offers unbeatable savings of up to 78%.
Understanding Sildenafil: How It Became Affordable
Before diving into prices, it helps to understand why sildenafil became so accessible.
In 2013, Pfizer’s European patent for Viagra expired. This opened the market for other manufacturers to produce the same active ingredient-sildenafil citrate-at a fraction of the original cost. The result was a huge drop in prices and wider access to treatment for millions of men who had previously been priced out.
Today, sildenafil is available through supermarkets, high-street pharmacies, and digital-first platforms. The key question is no longer where to buy it, but where to get the best value without compromising on safety or service.
The High-Street Options: Tesco and Boots
Boots: Trusted Brand, Premium Price for Generics
Boots remains one of the UK’s most recognised pharmacy brands. According to current pricing:
- Generic sildenafil 50 mg – £14.99 (4 tabs) | £26.99 (8 tabs)
- Viagra Connect 50 mg – £19.99 (4 tabs) | £34.99 (8 tabs)
Purchases can be made in-store following a pharmacist consultation or online after completing a quick health questionnaire. While the process is safe and straightforward, it can take extra time if a pharmacist follow-up is required.
Tesco: Limited to In-Store Purchases
Tesco offers Viagra Connect through selected in-store pharmacies. Pricing is broadly similar to Boots-around £19.99 for 4 tablets and £34.99 for 8 tablets-but Tesco lacks an online ordering system. That means customers must visit a physical store during opening hours, which limits convenience.
Tesco was one of the first supermarkets to introduce ED medication in 2010, but its service has changed little since then, and availability varies by location.
The Online Advantage: Medino’s Generic Sildenafil
Medino has reshaped the market for generic sildenafil by combining competitive pricing with fast, discreet online service. A 2025 comparison across major UK online pharmacies shows that Medino consistently offers the lowest prices for every strength and pack size.
Medino’s Current Prices
Generic Sildenafil
- 25 mg × 4 – £2.99 (£0.75 per tab)
- 25 mg × 8 – £5.49 (£0.69 per tab)
- 50 mg × 4 – £3.49 (£0.87 per tab)
- 50 mg × 8 – £5.99 (£0.75 per tab)
- 100 mg × 4 – £4.49 (£1.12 per tab)
- 100 mg × 8 – £8.49 (£1.06 per tab)
Viagra Connect (Branded)
- 50 mg × 2 – £12.69 (£6.35 per tab)
- 50 mg × 4 – £22.59 (£5.65 per tab)
- 50 mg × 8 – £38.99 (£4.87 per tab)
Price Comparison Highlights
Generic 50 mg × 8
- Medino – £5.99
- Boots – £26.99
- Medino is 78% cheaper (£21 saving)
Viagra Connect 50 mg × 8
- Boots – £34.99
- Tesco – ~£34.99
- Medino – £38.99 → Boots/Tesco offer slightly lower prices on the branded version.
In short: Boots and Tesco win marginally on branded Viagra Connect, but Medino dominates on generics, delivering savings that are hard to ignore.
Why Medino’s Generic Strategy Works
Medino’s digital-only model eliminates the high overheads of physical stores, allowing significant savings to be passed directly to customers.
Interestingly, Medino’s Viagra Connect pricing is a little higher than Boots’-and that actually reinforces their transparency. By listing both branded and generic options side-by-side, Medino makes the value difference obvious, helping customers make an informed choice.
Complete Price Comparison
Key takeaway: Medino is up to 78% cheaper on generics, while Boots and Tesco offer slightly lower prices on branded Viagra Connect.
Generic vs Branded: The £33 Difference
At Medino, 8 tablets of sildenafil 50 mg cost £5.99, compared with £38.99 for Viagra Connect-an £33 difference (84% saving). At Boots, the same comparison saves just £8 (30%).
Both contain sildenafil citrate and are medically identical, but Medino’s clear pricing shows how choosing the generic version can dramatically cut costs.
Are Generics as Effective as Viagra?
Yes. All sildenafil products sold in the UK-branded or generic-are licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and meet the same quality, safety, and efficacy standards.
Both forms typically take 30–60 minutes to work, last around 4–6 hours, and share identical side-effect profiles. Choosing generic sildenafil is simply a smarter financial decision-not a compromise on treatment quality.
Beyond Price: Comparing the Full Experience
Consultation
- Boots: Online or in-store consultation. Straightforward but may require pharmacist follow-up.
- Tesco: In-store only. Appointment needed.
- Medino: Fully online form reviewed by pharmacists, often approved within hours.
Winner: Medino and Boots (tie) for online convenience.
Delivery & Accessibility
- Boots: Click & Collect nationwide or home delivery in discreet packaging.
- Tesco: In-store purchase only; no delivery option.
- Medino: Same-day dispatch for orders before 8 pm; next-day or standard delivery.
Winner: Medino for speed and home delivery convenience.
Privacy & Discretion
- Boots: Online purchase possible, but in-store collection may feel less private.
- Tesco: Face-to-face consultation only.
- Medino: 100% online, no in-person contact.
Winner: Medino.
Customer Satisfaction
Medino holds a 4.8 / 5 Trustpilot rating, with frequent praise for delivery speed and customer care:
"Quick next day delivery and competitive price."
"Fantastic service-delivery was sooner than expected."
"Excellent service, a pleasure to deal with."
Winner: Medino for customer experience; Boots for long-established brand trust.
The True Cost: Annual Savings
For men using sildenafil weekly (52 tablets a year):
Generic 50 mg × 8 packs
- Medino – 7 packs × £5.99 = £41.93 per year
- Boots – 7 packs × £26.99 = £188.93 per year → Save £147 per year with Medino
Viagra Connect 50 mg × 8 packs
- Boots – £244.93 per year
- Medino – £272.93 per year → Boots saves £28 per year on the branded option.
Even accounting for this, Medino’s generic sildenafil remains by far the most economical choice.
Which Option Fits You Best?
Choose Medino if you:
- Want to save up to 78% on generic sildenafil
- Prefer a quick, fully online consultation
- Value privacy and home delivery
- Appreciate transparent pricing and customer-first service
Choose Boots if you:
- Prefer Viagra Connect at the lowest price
- Want immediate pickup via Click & Collect
- Trust an established high-street brand
Choose Tesco if you:
- Already visit Tesco for pharmacy needs
- Don’t mind in-person consultations
- Have a convenient local store
The Verdict: Medino Wins on Value
While Boots and Tesco keep prices competitive on Viagra Connect, Medino’s low-cost generic sildenafil makes it the clear winner for most men.
The combination of:
- 78% lower prices
- Fast delivery
- Simple online consultation
- Excellent customer service (4.8 Trustpilot rating)
…makes Medino the smartest choice for affordable, effective ED treatment-without the high-street markup.
The era of paying £26.99 for 8 generic sildenafil tablets is over. Medino proves you can get the same clinically proven treatment for a fraction of the price.
Key Takeaways
- Generic sildenafil at Medino is 78% cheaper than Boots
- Boots and Tesco slightly cheaper for Viagra Connect
- Generics and branded Viagra are clinically identical
- Medino offers same-day dispatch (before 8 pm)
- 4.8 Trustpilot rating for service and delivery
- Annual saving ≈ £147 vs Boots generic
- Completely online and private process
Start your online consultation with Medino.com and discover how much you can save today.
