Comparison shopping for your medications online can help you save money, but it�s important to make sure you are comparing total costs and that the pharmacies you are looking at are safe and reliable. Here are some tips for comparing prices and navigating other aspects of each pharmacy safely: Check the prescription requirements . A legitimate online pharmacy will require a current prescription from a clinician who has seen you in person or via telehealth. Some online pharmacies sell medications without a prescription or offer a prescription after a brief online questionnaire; this may be a red flag, as some medications should only be used under the supervision of a clinician. Verify the pharmacy�s credentials. Legitimate pharmacies will be licensed and will display their licensing information on their website. If a pharmacy is based in another country, check the requirements in that country. In Canada for example, there are different categories of pharmacies. Some are retail pharmacies (also called community or outpatient pharmacies) that fill prescriptions for patients in the community.