It may seem like a simple daily task, but remembering to take your medications every day can be tricky and overwhelming. Relying on pill organizers is an effective way to manage your medication intake and make sure you're right on schedule, especially for those with conditions like Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
We researched dozens of pill organizers and evaluated them for ease of use, capacity, design, and value to find the best pill organizers on the market. An emergency physician from our Medical Expert Board also reviewed the contents of this article for medical accuracy surrounding pill organizers and the best way to evaluate them.
What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know
- Multiple Compartments: Organizers with limited sections and forcing you to mix various pills can undermine the purpose of a pillbox. The most helpful organizers allow you to dissect and separate your medication based on time, day, and week.
- Compact: You probably have enough stuff in your purse or pockets, so the last thing you want is to add to the load with a clunky pill organizer that takes up a lot of space. Organizers with detachable containers make life so much easier with their transport abilities.
- Reliability: Make sure to buy an organizer with a reliable and easy-to-open lock. You shouldn’t have to worry about your medication spilling out on the bottom of your purse or backpack every time you move.
- FSA Eligibility: Pill organizers are eligible for reimbursement with a flexible spending account (FSA), ahealth savings account (HSA), or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). However, they do not qualify for a dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA).
- TSA Guidelines: The TSA does not prevent you from bringing your medication in a pill organizer on a plane because they do not require medications to be in prescription bottles.However, some states have laws about whether you need to keep your medications in prescription bottles. So, if you are traveling to one of those states, you should travel with your pills in those bottles and pack your organizer separately. Also, if you do travel with your medications in a pill organizer, it is recommended that you bring documentation from your doctor.
Our Top Picks
Best with Reminder:
Best for Multiple Doses:
Best Portable:
Best Monthly:
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/se7en-day-3-times-a-day-weekly-pill-organizer--d15ddec921bb456a9c9a5932a64144b7.jpeg "50% of People Forget to Take Their Meds, But These Expert-Recommended Pill Organizers Can Help (1)")
Pros
Compact size
3 separate compartments for each day
Moisture resistant
Cons
Difficult for some users to open
Key Specs:
Number of Compartments: 21 | Removable Compartments: Yes | Material: Plastic
Why We Recommend It
Reminiscent of the fraction cubes you might have used as a child, this BPA-free plastic pill organizer is perfect for building up your medicine intake for the week and then breaking it down as you go along. Alaina Ross, RN, from Sacramento, CA, loves simplistic seven-day pill organizers like this one. Each pill case is compact and removable for easy, on-the-go use. Within them are three separate compartments to further organize pills based on what time they should be taken: morning, noon, or night.
What’s especially nice about this organizer is that it protects against moisture, and the sealed buckle secures all the pills in place, so there’s no need to worry about spillage or children’s occasionally sneaky hands.
Keep in Mind
Some people had difficulty opening this organizer and found the case a bit clunky. If ease of use is non-negotiable, the Mimi Medcessories Pretty Pillbox is a sleeker option that's a little easier to open—just slide the button on the side of the container to easily dispense your medication one day at a time. It has seven compartments and can fit up to five large supplements or 12 small prescription pills, but it's not travel-friendly, and you can't return it if it doesn't work for you.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/medq-daily-pill-box-reminder-with-flashing-light-and-beeping-alarm--5728dc4a356f4c479102625c28d26a64.jpeg "50% of People Forget to Take Their Meds, But These Expert-Recommended Pill Organizers Can Help (2)")
Pros
Audio and visual reminders
Alarm repeats until pills are taken
Cons
Difficult to set up
Key Specs:
Number of Compartments: 14 | Removable Compartments: No | Material: Not listed
Why We Recommend It
The MedQ's Daily Pill Box is great for people who need consistent medication reminders. Pill organizers with automatic dispensers can be helpful because they release medication on a set schedule, which is good for people who get confused or don't remember if they took their meds, says Thureiyya Rodriguez, DHA, MSN, RN, WOC from Bronx, NY.
With 14 different compartments, the organizer holds just enough pills to carry you through your mornings and evenings for one week or a single daily dosage for two weeks.This holder has audio and visual alerts to remind you to take medication. In the case of a missed alert, the pillbox will send signals periodically until it's turned off.
Keep in Mind
Setting up the reminders isn't intuitive, and some people find it difficult to do. We suggest reading the directions thoroughly and taking your time to set everything.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gms-four-a-day-one-day-at-a-time-medication-organizer--f766314d806b41c49264c4cf1b6de376.jpeg "50% of People Forget to Take Their Meds, But These Expert-Recommended Pill Organizers Can Help (3)")
Pros
4 daily compartments
Braille markings on each lid
Travel-friendly, detachable days
Cons
Tray isn't reliable
Key Specs:
Number of Compartments: 28 | Removable Compartments: Yes | Material: Plastic
Why We Recommend It
Pill organizers can never have too many compartments, especially when taking multiple medications daily. This GMS weekly pill organizer makes juggling doses simple and accessible, with seven containers broken into four dose boxes divided by the time of the day in two-hour increments.
All the boxes rest on a gridded tray and can easily detach for on-the-go convenience, whether that means slipping into your pocket or travel bag. But the best feature of all is the organizer’s finishing touch: braille markings on each compartment lid to assist those with visual impairments.
Keep in Mind
For some, the tray isn't very reliable. It can be hard to click the compartments into place and it sometimes even causes spillage. We wouldn't suggest traveling with the entire pill organizer. Instead, take the day compartment with you and leave the tray at home.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/medca-pill-organizer-box--f492c608995b492fb4ed6166262a5640.jpeg "50% of People Forget to Take Their Meds, But These Expert-Recommended Pill Organizers Can Help (4)")
Pros
Travel-sized
4 compartments
Sturdy latch
Cons
Small compartments
Key Specs:
Number of Compartments: 4 | Removable compartments: Yes | Material: Food grade PP material
Why We Recommend It
The Medca Pill Organizer Box literally fits into the palm of your hand, making it our most portable pick. But don’t worry, it’s not so small that it won’t get the job done. This rounded case can be packed in any tight compartment and is designed to fit easily in purses, overnight bags, and luggage, making it perfect for travel.
The BPA-free organizer is separated into four sections and holds around 25 pills or vitamins. Strong and durable, this airtight case will see you through years of travel.
Keep in Mind
It's a very small pill case, so it's not the best for larger pills.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/EZY-DOSE-Weekly-Push-Button-Pill-Organizer-and-Planner-6837ee6f42134af0b11ad9fd272fe48e.jpg "50% of People Forget to Take Their Meds, But These Expert-Recommended Pill Organizers Can Help (5)")
Pros
Easy-open lid
Durable
Fun color options
Cons
Not child-safe
Key Specs:
Number of Compartments: 7 | Removable Compartments: No | Material: Plastic
Why We Recommend It
The Ezy Dose Push-Button Pill Organizer relies on push buttons for easy medication retrieval and rounded bottoms for easy gripping, perfect for people who struggle with hand issues like arthritis.Each of the seven compartments is clear for visibility, and together they fit up to 30 aspirin-sized pills. Healthier living is simple and within reach with this organizer.
Keep in Mind
This organizer isn't child-proof. We suggest storing it in a safe space or looking for an option if that's your priority.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/medca-monthly-pill-organizer--fb3c05fdb6e542ebb07d9741e82c115b.jpeg "50% of People Forget to Take Their Meds, But These Expert-Recommended Pill Organizers Can Help (6)")
Pros
Monthly organizer
BPA-free
Travel-friendly
Cons
Small compartments
Key Specs:
Number of Compartments: 64 | Removable Compartments: Yes | Material: Food grade PP material
Why We Recommend It
The Medca Monthly Pill Organizer makes medication management easy for up to a month. It's colorful with 32 semi-transparent containers split into morning and evening slots for 64 total compartments. It can be quickly removed from its resting grid for easy transport and is made of BPA-free food-grade PP material. This pill organizer is perfect for planners who like to look ahead.
Keep in Mind
While it has an impressive amount of compartments for medication, they are rather small. This may not be the pick for you if you have larger pills.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Sukuos-Weekly-Pill-Organizer-7-Day-2-Times-a-Day-6b3fcb9851464255bd88cff297915752.jpg "50% of People Forget to Take Their Meds, But These Expert-Recommended Pill Organizers Can Help (7)")
Pros
Portable
Large compartments
Comes with carrying case
Cons
Difficult to open
Key Specs:
Number of Compartments: 14 | Removable Compartments: Yes | Material: Polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
Why We Recommend It
The Sukuos Large Daily Pill Cases comprise seven circular cases that fit into one big cylindrical case. Each organizer holds 14 capsules split between AM and PM sections, clearly marked for the time of the day and day of the week. The compartments were created with bigger pills in mind, like fish oil and multivitamin capsules.
Keep in Mind
If you struggle with dexterity, this may not be your pick, as some found difficulties opening the cases.
How We Selected the Best Pill Organizers
To determine which pill organizers to feature in our roundup, we did extensive research to find the best ones on the market. We selected picks based on the following criteria:
- Ease of use: We looked for pill organizers that were intuitive to use and easy to open and close without spillage or physical strain. We also paid attention to how securely they locked into place.
- Capacity: We sought a range of organizers to fit various needs, sizes, and periods. We prioritized efficient pill organizers with multiple compartments.
- Design: We checked every pick for its user-friendliness. We noted the physical look and feel, extra colorway options, labelings, lock mechanisms, and additional features that made the organizer stand out against other options.
- Value: We then compared their performance to the price point to ensure the pill organizer is worth the financial investment.
Our Experts
We use expert input at every step of reporting and writing this story. Here are some of the experts we consulted along the way.
- Thureiyya Rodriguez, DHA, MSN, RN, WOC from Bronx, NY
- Alaina Ross, RN, from Sacramento, CA
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean pill organizers?
Ross says you should clean your pill organizers at least once monthly to remove any bacteria or foreign contaminants lingering around. You can rinse them with warm water and soap and dry them with a soft cloth. However, some organizers may have specific cleaning instructions, so make sure you read the instructions to prolong the life of our pill organizer.
Why Trust Verywell Health
Havingbeen raised by two medical professionals, Amari Pollard understands the importance of health literacy. As a seasoned health writer, she is committed to producing well-researched and well-sourced product reviews to help people make informed medicaldecisions.
Additional reporting to this story by Simone Scully
Simone Scully is a New York-based writer and editor with years of experience writing about health, wellness, science, and lifestyle. Her byline has appeared at Healthline, Well+Good, Narratively, Romper, Motherifigure’s magazine, Nautilus, Narratively, AskMen, among other places.
