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Brand vs Generic Calculator

A dollar or two per item feels trivial — until you multiply by how often you buy it, for years. Enter the brand and generic prices and how often you buy to see what loyalty to the label really costs.

Inputs

$
$
yrs
Lifetime savings (generic)
$480
Savings per year
$48
Saved each purchase
$2.00
US$3.99 · download & own it forever
Prices in

How it's calculated

Our methodology & 2026 data sources →

Frequently asked questions

Is generic really the same?
For many staples (medications by active ingredient, basic groceries) it's nearly identical. Where quality genuinely differs, weigh that against the number this shows.
Why does it add up so fast?
Frequency. A $2 gap on something you buy twice a month is ~$480 over a decade.

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