SmithRx logo

SmithRx

Challenger

SmithRx is a San Francisco-based modern PBM founded in 2016 with ~$105M raised; operates on a 100% pass-through model with zero spread pricing; reduces employer drug costs by an average of 30%;

Best for: Radically Transparent Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM)
54
AI Score
Grade C
AI Visibility Score (Beta)
HealthcareRadically Transparent Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM)WebsiteUpdated October 2026

Company Overview

About SmithRx

SmithRx is a San Francisco-based pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) founded in 2016 by Jake Frenz with a mission to eliminate the opacity, conflicts of interest, and hidden revenue practices that characterize the legacy PBM industry. Operating on a fully transparent, fiduciary-aligned model, SmithRx passes through 100% of rebates and discounts to its employer clients, charges flat administrative fees rather than spread pricing, and provides detailed, auditable reporting on every pharmacy transaction — a stark departure from the "black box" model used by the three dominant PBMs (CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx) that collectively control approximately 80% of the U.S. prescription drug market.

Business Model & Competitive Advantage

SmithRx has raised approximately $105 million in total funding across multiple rounds. Its Connect 360 product saved clients an average of $25 per-member-per-month, and SmithRx customers consistently achieve 20–30% reductions in total drug costs compared to legacy PBMs. In its 2024 growth report released in February 2025, SmithRx highlighted significant momentum in employer adoption, customer satisfaction, and market traction. SmithRx was named by Modern Healthcare as one of the Best in Business of 2025 — for the second consecutive year — recognizing excellence in growth, employee engagement, and customer satisfaction.

Competitive Landscape 2025–2026

SmithRx serves self-insured employers who bear direct financial responsibility for their employees' prescription drug spending. Its addressable market is the approximately $400 billion annual U.S. prescription drug expenditure managed through employer-sponsored health plans. As PBM reform legislation gains traction federally and at the state level, SmithRx's transparent model is positioned to benefit from regulatory pressure on legacy PBM spread pricing and rebate practices.

Founded
2016
Curated content • Fact-checked and verified

Key Differentiators

Strong Challenger

SmithRx is an established challenger with significant market presence and competitive offerings in Healthcare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Estimated Visibility Trend (Beta)

Simulated 8-week rolling score

54
→ Stable

Based on estimated brand signals. Historical tracking coming soon.

Similar Brands

athenahealth logo

athenahealth

Healthcare
B2bCloud NativeEnterpriseErpHealthtechNorth AmericaSaas

athenahealth is a cloud-based electronic health records (EHR), medical billing, and practice management company founded in 1997 and headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts. The company was built on

Doximity logo

Doximity

HealthTech
HealthtechSaasB2bB2cStartupPlatformAi PoweredMobile First

Doximity is a professional network and digital health platform purpose-built for licensed physicians and other healthcare professionals in the United States. With more than two million verified clinic

Epic Systems logo

Epic Systems

Healthcare
B2bCloud NativeEnterpriseErpHealthtechNorth AmericaSaas

Epic Systems Corporation was founded in 1979 by Judith Faulkner and is headquartered in Verona, Wisconsin, remaining privately held with Faulkner as majority owner. The company develops large-scale el

Carrot Fertility logo

Carrot Fertility

Healthcare
StartupB2bSaasHealthtechPlatformGlobal

Carrot Fertility is a global fertility and family-forming benefits company founded in 2016 by Tammy Sun, raising over $100M to build the most comprehensive employer fertility benefits platform globall

Zocdoc logo

Zocdoc

HealthTech
AnalyticsB2bB2cHealthtechMarketplaceMobile FirstPlatformSaas

Zocdoc operates a two-sided marketplace connecting patients with physicians, dentists, and mental health providers who accept their specific insurance and have real-time appointment availability. Pati

Pfizer logo

Pfizer

Healthcare Tech
B2bHealthtechManufacturingSaasPublic

Pfizer is one of the world's largest biopharmaceutical companies, founded in 1849 by cousins Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart in Brooklyn, New York, and now headquartered in New York City. The compan

Compare SmithRx with Competitors

Side-by-side AI visibility scores, platform breakdown, and market position.

For SmithRx

Claim This Profile

Are you from SmithRx? Claim your profile to see full AI mention excerpts, get weekly visibility change alerts, and optimize how AI systems describe your brand.

Claim SmithRx Profile →
For competitors & analysts

Track AI Visibility in Real Time

Monitor how ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude mention SmithRx vs competitors. Get alerts when AI recommendations shift.

Start Free Tracking →