I'm loving the Planet Health app - it's a total game-changer for pharmacy shopping!

I've been relying on pharmacies more and more each year, whether I like it or not - soon I'll be that grandma who walks around comparing prices for Citramon!

But for now, I don't have to do that because I have the internet and can compare prices online.

So, I became an active user of the Planet Health app.

But let's get into the details.

How to register

I live in a city where there are plenty of Planet Health pharmacies. Usually, I'd just go there and buy what I need. Then I found out about the app, supposedly it's better to order from there. Hmm... why not? I decided to give it a try.

First, you need to download the app from Google Play or App Store and register (required info: name, phone number, and email). It takes a few minutes.

Right away, we specify the city or region in the geolocation, so the app can give us accurate search results for medications and pharmacies in our area.

On the main page, in the search bar, we type in the medication name, click 'Choose pharmacy', and voila... we get a list of pharmacies in our region that have the medication.

By the way, you can mark several pharmacies as your favorites (click the heart next to the pharmacy address) and then the availability of medications in those pharmacies will show up at the top of the search results. That's convenient.

On the main page, there's also information about various promotions and discounts that are usually valid for a month, then they change. I recommend browsing through these sections - sometimes you can find something really useful and necessary.

I'll be honest, this app is way more convenient than standard online pharmacies. Usually, online pharmacies (apteka.ru, zdavcity, eapteka, etc.) only start gathering orders on their shelves and bring them to the chosen pharmacy the next day or a few days later. This app is for spontaneous people like me. I create an order and pick it up literally within 15 minutes. The catch is that orders are compiled from medications that are in stock at the pharmacy. That's why it's so fast. You just need to wait for the 'Ready for pickup' status. You have to collect the order within 48 hours, or it will be automatically cancelled.

Now, let's talk about saving money!

How to buy cheaper.

1. Ordering through the app. Of course, different cases can occur, and I didn't find any information on the official website that ordering through the app is cheaper. They just say:

Pay attention that prices in the app are only valid for orders made through the app.

But, as my experience shows, in most cases, it's cheaper to order through the app. Especially when you're buying multiple items, the difference is noticeable. Plus, you can monitor multiple pharmacies (each with its own prices). So, you can take it from the one with the lower price.

Here's an example of the price without ordering and the price I paid after placing a pre-order. The difference is 43 rubles, which may not be much, but it's nice! 2. At the 'Planet Health' pharmacy, you can pay 50% of the cost with Sberbank's 'Spasibo' bonuses when paying with a Sberbank card. However, there's a catch: the total amount of the bill must be over 600 rubles and it can't be an order from an external online pharmacy. You can either use the in-app order or just walk in and buy it. Also, 'Spasibo' bonuses accumulate with each purchase.

My conclusion: it's worth using Sberbank's 'Spasibo' bonuses. I think this is one of the main advantages, as 'Spasibo' bonuses accumulate, but you're always wondering where to use them!

3. The pharmacy's own bonus system. You can either do it through the app or at the pharmacy's cash register by getting a bonus card. Then, you just show it at each purchase. You can also link your bonus card to your profile in the app if you got it at the cash register. Just scan the barcode, and you're done. Of course, the bonuses are small, but with regular purchases, they're very nice. You can use them to pay up to 80% of your purchases.

You can combine points 1 and 2, or points 1 and 3, but you can't use both the customer's bonus card and Sberbank's 'Spasibo' bonuses at the same time. I guess the pharmacy wants you to come back and not leave them empty-handed!

4. Discount codes. I've heard they exist, but I've never actually come across one.

Info from the app:

Discount codes are automatically sent to participants in promotions, themed events, or via email to the address you registered with on the Planet Health website.

So, about six months ago, there was this amazing opportunity to pay with Aeroflot Bonus miles (basically 100% of the order) and earn miles on every check to your Aeroflot card. As far as I know, Planet Health isn't partnered with Aeroflot right now, but I'm hoping that's just temporary. It's always nice to get some extra perks.

Actually, the Planet Health app is useful for more than just ordering meds. You can use it as a medical guide, too. For example, you can check the instructions for the meds you're ordering, or just browse the catalog by section:

You can also see all your purchases, print receipts, or just check your pharmacy visits and previous orders lists.So, with Planet Health, it's easy and cost-effective to shop. It's one of the few pharmacy chains with so many ways to save. That's why I keep coming back to Planet Health after trying out other online pharmacies like Aptek.ru.