Which is cheaper, Tretinoin or Adapalene?

Adapalene is generally cheaper, starting at $15.00/mo compared to $18.00/mo for Tretinoin. The lowest price is at Costco ($12.00/mo).

What is the difference between Tretinoin and Adapalene?

Tretinoin (tretinoin 0.025–0.1%) and Adapalene (adapalene (Differin)) are different medications in the dermatology category. Tretinoin is a topical cream/gel, while Adapalene is a topical gel.

Is Tretinoin or Adapalene covered by provincial drug plans?

Tretinoin: General Benefit on the Ontario Drug Benefit formulary. Adapalene: General Benefit on the Ontario Drug Benefit formulary.

Tretinoin vs Adapalene: Price Comparison in Canada (2026)

Name: Tretinoin vs Adapalene: Price Comparison in Canada (2026)
Creator: TeleTest
Published: 2026-02-26

Adapalene starts at $15/mo, while Tretinoin starts at $18/mo in Canada. Tretinoin contains tretinoin 0.025–0.1%, while Adapalene contains adapalene (Differin). Last updated: 2026-02-26.

Head-to-Head Comparison

	Tretinoin	Adapalene
Price Range	$18–$35/mo	$15–$28/mo
Cheapest Pharmacy	Costco ($15.00/mo)	Costco ($12.00/mo)
Generic Name	tretinoin 0.025–0.1%	adapalene (Differin)
Route	Topical cream/gel	Topical gel
Category	Dermatology	Dermatology
ODB Coverage	General Benefit	General Benefit

Pharmacy Price Breakdown

Pharmacy	Tretinoin	Adapalene
Costco	$15.00/mo	$12.00/mo
Walmart	$22.00/mo	$18.00/mo
Rexall	$26.00/mo	$22.00/mo
Shoppers Drug Mart	$30.00/mo	$25.00/mo

Full Drug Pages

Tretinoin tretinoin 0.025–0.1% $18–$35/mo Adapalene adapalene (Differin) $15–$28/mo

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Tretinoin or Adapalene?: Adapalene is generally cheaper, starting at $15.00/mo compared to $18.00/mo for Tretinoin. The lowest price is at Costco ($12.00/mo).
What is the difference between Tretinoin and Adapalene?: Tretinoin (tretinoin 0.025–0.1%) and Adapalene (adapalene (Differin)) are different medications in the dermatology category. Tretinoin is a topical cream/gel, while Adapalene is a topical gel.
Is Tretinoin or Adapalene covered by provincial drug plans?: Tretinoin: General Benefit on the Ontario Drug Benefit formulary. Adapalene: General Benefit on the Ontario Drug Benefit formulary.

Last updated: 2026-02-26