Retin-A vs. its authorized generic and generics

How to pay the least

Ask for the cash price

Generic tretinoin

No pharmacy we check posts a price for it.

Ask your pharmacy for the cash price of generic tretinoin.Find pharmacies near you
Ask one or two other pharmacies too. Cash prices for the same generic can differ a lot from store to store.

Online clinic Nurx: $30 a month after an online visit, plus a $15–$80 visit fee, by condition.

See Nurx

A regular generic has the same active ingredient as Retin-A, and the FDA requires it to work the same way.

Compare every option

Brand nameRetin-A

Authorized generictretinoin

Regular generictretinoin

What you’d pay

Cash priceAsk the pharmacyUsually the highest price

Cash priceAsk the pharmacyUsually among the lowest

Cash priceAsk the pharmacyUsually among the lowestOnline clinics from $30 a month

Same as Retin-A?

The original

Same medicine

Same active ingredientFillers and dyes can differ

Brand nameNo maker’s card

We didn’t find a savings card or cash price from Retin-A’s maker. Ask the pharmacy for Retin-A’s cash price. With insurance, ask what your plan charges.

Authorized genericThe NDC to ask for

The same medicine as Retin-A, without the brand name. Give the pharmacy its NDC to get it.

tretinoin

Sold by

Mylan Pharmaceuticals

Your strength

NDC to ask for

0.01%gel
- 0378-8085-1511-digit: 00378-8085-1515 g per tube
- 0378-8085-4511-digit: 00378-8085-4545 g per tube
0.025%cream
- 0378-8082-2011-digit: 00378-8082-2020 g per tube
- 0378-8082-4511-digit: 00378-8082-4545 g per tube
0.025%gel
- 0378-8086-1511-digit: 00378-8086-1515 g per tube
- 0378-8086-4511-digit: 00378-8086-4545 g per tube
0.05%cream
- 0378-8083-2011-digit: 00378-8083-2020 g per tube
- 0378-8083-4511-digit: 00378-8083-4545 g per tube
0.1%cream
- 0378-8084-2011-digit: 00378-8084-2020 g per tube
- 0378-8084-4511-digit: 00378-8084-4545 g per tube

Source: FDA, updated October 30, 2026

What to say at the pharmacy

“Before you fill my Retin-A, can you tell me what I’d pay for the brand, for the authorized generic from Mylan Pharmaceuticals, and for a regular generic?”

Paying cash? Ask for each one’s cash price. With insurance, ask what your plan charges for each.

Brand and authorized generic labels

Official labels and ingredient lists from DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine).

0.025% cream

Same active and inactive ingredients as Retin-A.

Authorized generic package label from Mylan Pharmaceuticals — Authorized genericMylan Pharmaceuticals

See the ingredients

Active: tretinoin 0.025%

Inactive, on both labels:

Butylated hydroxytoluene
Isopropyl myristate
Polyoxyl 40 stearate
Sorbic acid
Stearic acid
Stearyl alcohol
Water
Xanthan gum

0.05% cream

Same active and inactive ingredients as Retin-A.

See the ingredients

Active: tretinoin 0.05%

Inactive, on both labels:

Butylated hydroxytoluene
Isopropyl myristate
Polyoxyl 40 stearate
Sorbic acid
Stearic acid
Stearyl alcohol
Water
Xanthan gum

0.1% cream

Same active and inactive ingredients as Retin-A.

See the ingredients

Active: tretinoin 0.1%

Inactive, on both labels:

Butylated hydroxytoluene
Isopropyl myristate
Polyoxyl 40 stearate
Sorbic acid
Stearic acid
Stearyl alcohol
Water
Xanthan gum

0.01% gel

Same active and inactive ingredients as Retin-A.

See the ingredients

Active: tretinoin 0.01%

Inactive, on both labels:

Alcohol
Brucine sulfate
Butylated hydroxytoluene
Hydroxypropyl cellulose
Tert-butyl alcohol

0.025% gel

Same active and inactive ingredients as Retin-A.

See the ingredients

Active: tretinoin 0.025%

Inactive, on both labels:

Alcohol
Brucine sulfate
Butylated hydroxytoluene
Hydroxypropyl cellulose
Tert-butyl alcohol

Regular genericWhere to buy it

Where to get generic tretinoin.

Delivered

Delivered: Nurx $30a monthOnline clinic: a visit, then mailed if it’s right for you · plus a $15–$80 visit fee, by condition
Delivered: Nurx $90for a 3 monthsOnline clinic: a visit, then mailed if it’s right for you · plus a $15–$80 visit fee, by condition

From each pharmacy’s and clinic’s own site, read November 2, 2026. Confirm the price before you fill.

About these prices

Prices change, can differ by store and state, and may depend on the strength and how many you take. With insurance, ask what your plan charges; it can be less. Most online clinics don’t take insurance.

Regular genericWho makes it

7 companies sell a generic of Retin-A that the FDA rates a substitute. A pharmacy fills whichever one it stocks. To get a certain maker, ask for it by name; most pharmacies can order it in a day or two.

Alembic PharmaceuticalsCream 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%

How it looks, what’s in it, NDCs

0.025%

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 62332-809-20
Carton of 45 g 62332-809-45

0.05%

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 62332-808-20
Carton of 45 g 62332-808-45

0.1%

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 62332-807-20
Carton of 45 g 62332-807-45

Inactive ingredients: stearic acid, isopropyl myristate, polyoxyl 40 stearate, stearyl alcohol, xanthan gum, sorbic acid, butylated hydroxytoluene, water
FDA label
Aurobindo PharmaGel 0.01%, 0.025%

How it looks, what’s in it, NDCs

0.01%

Package NDC
Carton of 15 g 59651-712-14
Carton of 45 g 59651-712-46

0.025%

Package NDC
Carton of 15 g 59651-713-14
Carton of 45 g 59651-713-46

Inactive ingredients: alcohol, butylated hydroxytoluene, hydroxypropyl cellulose (1600000 wamw)
FDA label
Encube EthicalsGel 0.01%, 0.025% · Cream 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%

How it looks, what’s in it, NDCs

0.01%

Package NDC
Carton of 15 g 21922-056-04
Carton of 45 g 21922-056-06

0.025%

Package NDC
Carton of 15 g 21922-057-04
Carton of 45 g 21922-057-06

0.025%

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 21922-079-25
Carton of 45 g 21922-079-06

0.05%

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 21922-078-25
Carton of 45 g 21922-078-06

0.1%

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 21922-077-25
Carton of 45 g 21922-077-06

Inactive ingredients: butylated hydroxytoluene, alcohol, water, hydroxypropyl cellulose, stearic acid, xanthan gum, isopropyl myristate, polyoxyl 40 stearate, stearyl alcohol, sorbic acid
FDA label
NorthStar RxCream 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%

Made by Sun Pharma Canada

Product page on northstarrxllc.com

How it looks, what’s in it, NDCs

0.025% White to yellow

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 16714-270-01
Carton of 45 g 16714-270-02

0.05% Light yellow to dark yellow

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 16714-249-01
Carton of 45 g 16714-249-02

0.1% Light yellow to dark yellow

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 16714-250-01
Carton of 45 g 16714-250-02

Inactive ingredients: butylated hydroxytoluene, isopropyl myristate, polyoxyl 40 stearate, water, sorbic acid, stearic acid, stearyl alcohol, xanthan gum
FDA label
PadagisGel 0.01%, 0.025% · Cream 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%

Product page on padagis.com

How it looks, what’s in it, NDCs

0.01%

Package NDC
Carton of 15 g 0574-2301-15
Carton of 45 g 0574-2301-45

0.025%

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 0574-2225-20
Carton of 45 g 0574-2225-45

0.025%

Package NDC
Carton of 15 g 0574-2325-15
Carton of 45 g 0574-2325-45

0.05%

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 0574-2205-20
Carton of 45 g 0574-2205-45

0.1%

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 0574-2201-20
Carton of 45 g 0574-2201-45

Inactive ingredients: hydroxypropyl cellulose (1600000 wamw), butylated hydroxytoluene, alcohol, stearic acid, isopropyl myristate, polyoxyl 40 stearate, stearyl alcohol, xanthan gum, sorbic acid, water
FDA label
Sun Pharmaceutical IndustriesCream 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%

How it looks, what’s in it, NDCs

0.025% White to yellow

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 51672-1407-0
Carton of 45 g 51672-1407-9

0.05% Light yellow to dark yellow

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 51672-1394-0
Carton of 45 g 51672-1394-9

0.1% Light yellow to dark yellow

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 51672-1395-0
Carton of 45 g 51672-1395-9

Inactive ingredients: butylated hydroxytoluene, isopropyl myristate, polyoxyl 40 stearate, water, sorbic acid, stearic acid, stearyl alcohol, xanthan gum
FDA label
Viona PharmaceuticalsCream 0.1%

Made by Zydus Lifesciences

Product page on vionausa.com

How it looks, what’s in it, NDCs

0.1%

Package NDC
Carton of 20 g 72578-153-09
Carton of 45 g 72578-153-08

Inactive ingredients: butylated hydroxytoluene, isopropyl myristate, polyoxyl 40 stearate, sorbic acid, stearic acid, stearyl alcohol, water, xanthan gum
FDA label

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	62332-809-20
Carton of 45 g	62332-809-45

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	62332-808-20
Carton of 45 g	62332-808-45

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	62332-807-20
Carton of 45 g	62332-807-45

Package	NDC
Carton of 15 g	59651-712-14
Carton of 45 g	59651-712-46

Package	NDC
Carton of 15 g	59651-713-14
Carton of 45 g	59651-713-46

Package	NDC
Carton of 15 g	21922-056-04
Carton of 45 g	21922-056-06

Package	NDC
Carton of 15 g	21922-057-04
Carton of 45 g	21922-057-06

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	21922-079-25
Carton of 45 g	21922-079-06

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	21922-078-25
Carton of 45 g	21922-078-06

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	21922-077-25
Carton of 45 g	21922-077-06

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	16714-270-01
Carton of 45 g	16714-270-02

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	16714-249-01
Carton of 45 g	16714-249-02

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	16714-250-01
Carton of 45 g	16714-250-02

Package	NDC
Carton of 15 g	0574-2301-15
Carton of 45 g	0574-2301-45

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	0574-2225-20
Carton of 45 g	0574-2225-45

Package	NDC
Carton of 15 g	0574-2325-15
Carton of 45 g	0574-2325-45

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	0574-2205-20
Carton of 45 g	0574-2205-45

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	0574-2201-20
Carton of 45 g	0574-2201-45

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	51672-1407-0
Carton of 45 g	51672-1407-9

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	51672-1394-0
Carton of 45 g	51672-1394-9

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	51672-1395-0
Carton of 45 g	51672-1395-9

Package	NDC
Carton of 20 g	72578-153-09
Carton of 45 g	72578-153-08

Who sells it: FDA and Medicaid records, updated weekly. Each maker’s page, card and program is from its own site.

What it’s used for

Acne

What the FDA label says

RETIN-A is indicated for topical application in the treatment of acne vulgaris. The safety and efficacy of the long-term use of this product in the treatment of other disorders have not been established.

Source: the FDA label for Retin-A (Bausch Health US, LLC), May 17, 2024. Full label on DailyMed

Good to know

It may look different from Retin-A (color, shape, or markings). That’s normal for an authorized generic.
If your prescription says “dispense as written,” the pharmacy needs your prescriber’s OK to give you the authorized generic.
Cash prices can differ a lot from one pharmacy to the next, so it can pay to ask two. With insurance, what you pay depends on your plan.
If your pharmacy doesn’t stock it, they can often order it within a day or two.
Don’t stop or change a medicine without talking to your pharmacist or prescriber.

Prices checked November 2, 2026. Prices change: confirm with the pharmacy before you fill. drugalt.com/drug/retin-a/