ADVIL vs MOTRIN
Independent side-by-side comparison.
Advil and Motrin are different brand names for the exact same drug — ibuprofen, an NSAID — so in their standard over-the-counter form there is no meaningful clinical difference between them.
The key difference
They are the same drug. Both standard OTC products are ibuprofen 200 mg per tablet/caplet, classed as an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), with identical FDA Drug Facts uses (minor aches and pains from headache, toothache, backache, menstrual cramps, the common cold, muscular aches, minor arthritis pain, and temporarily reducing fever). MedlinePlus explicitly lists both Advil and Motrin as brand names for ibuprofen. The only real differences are the brand name, manufacturer, price, and inactive ingredients (e.g. tablet vs. caplet vs. gel form, dyes, coatings) — not the medicine itself.
Choose Advil if
Either is fine — they deliver the same ibuprofen. Pick Advil if it is cheaper, more available, or comes in the form you prefer; there is no clinical reason to favor it over Motrin.
Choose Motrin if
Either is fine — Motrin is the same ibuprofen as Advil. Pick Motrin if it is cheaper or more available, or if a specific Motrin formulation (e.g. Children's Motrin suspension) suits your need; there is no clinical reason to favor it over Advil.
Bottom line
There is no real winner: Advil and Motrin are both ibuprofen 200 mg (NSAID) with the same uses, so choose by price, availability, and the form you like — and don't take both together, since doubling up on NSAIDs raises the risk of stomach bleeding. Both carry the same NSAID warnings (stomach bleeding; increased heart attack/stroke risk; avoid at 20 weeks or later in pregnancy unless directed by a doctor); follow the Drug Facts label and ask a doctor or pharmacist if unsure.
This is not a summary of either drug’s FDA label, and it is not complete. Both labels carry warnings, contraindications and interactions that are not on this page. Read the label for the drug you are actually taking — we link both above — and take the decision to your prescriber.
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Where to buy
Buy over-the-counter from trusted retailers.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Advil or Motrin?
Pharmacies pay about the same to acquire either one — roughly $0.04 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. That is not what you will be charged: your price is set by your insurer and the pharmacy, not by what the drug cost them.
What is the difference between Advil and Motrin?
Both Advil and Motrin share the active ingredient Ibuprofen, but Advil is sold as OTC and Motrin as RX.
Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data. This comparison is for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional before choosing or switching a medication.