BENADRYL PRESERVATIVE FREE vs ZYRTEC

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated June 25, 2026·How we rate

Attribute	BENADRYL PRESERVATIVE FREE	ZYRTEC
Rating	New	New
Pharmacy pays	$0.04 /mL	$0.06 /mL
Type	RX	OTC
Active ingredient	DIPHENHYDRAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE	CETIRIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Manufacturer	Mcneil Cons	—
Dosage forms	Injectable	Tablet, chewable
Drug class	Histamine-1 Receptor Antagonist	Histamine-1 Receptor Antagonist
Boxed warning	None	None
Half-life	—	about 8.3 hours (mean in healthy adults)
Treats	Anxiety Disorders, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Motion Sickness	Perennial Allergic Rhinitis, Urticaria

benadryl preservative free zyrtec

Rating

New

Pharmacy pays

$0.04 /mL

$0.06 /mL

Type

OTC

Active ingredient

DIPHENHYDRAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE

CETIRIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Manufacturer

Mcneil Cons

—

Dosage forms

Injectable

Tablet, chewable

Drug class

Histamine-1 Receptor Antagonist

Boxed warning

None

Half-life

—

about 8.3 hours (mean in healthy adults)

Treats

Anxiety Disorders, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Motion Sickness

Perennial Allergic Rhinitis, Urticaria

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Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Benadryl Preservative Free or Zyrtec?

Benadryl Preservative Free costs pharmacies less to acquire — about $0.04 vs $0.06 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. That gap is in the pharmacy's cost of goods, not necessarily in what you pay: your price is set afterwards by your insurer and the pharmacy.

What is the difference between Benadryl Preservative Free and Zyrtec?

Benadryl Preservative Free contains Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride, while Zyrtec contains Cetirizine Hydrochloride — they have different active ingredients.

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.