Levitra vs. Cialis: Which Is Better?

Viagra® gets lots of fanfare for being the first FDA-approved ED (erectile dysfunction) medication. But it’s not your only option, which brings us to vardenafil versus tadalafil.

Levitra® (brand-name vardenafil) and Cialis® (tadalafil) are two popular erectile dysfunction medications that belong to the same class of drugs as Viagra. But which one is better? Which works faster?

When you’re struggling with erectile dysfunction, it can be overwhelming to decide what medication to use. We’ll break down everything you need to know about vardenafil versus tadalafil so you can make an informed choice.

Keep reading to explore the key differences between these drugs, their track records, prices, and the risks of taking each medication.

Cialis and Levitra came out around the same time, just a few years after Viagra.

While you may see Cialis ads everywhere — especially if you’ve been searching for info on ED — you won’t see Levitra as much. Why? The medication was discontinued in 2021 by the manufacturer, leaving only its generic version (vardenafil) on the market.

Before you panic about why Levitra was discontinued, rest assured, it wasn’t due to poor efficacy or safety concerns. The manufacturer just stopped making it.

Before we get into their differences, let’s talk about what these medications have in common:

• Both vardenafil and tadalafil belong to a class of drugs known as phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (or PDE5 inhibitors).

• These drugs block the PDE5 enzyme to improve blood flow throughout the body, including penile tissues.

Erectile dysfunction is a complex problem affecting millions of men in the United States alone. It can result from medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or a problem with your blood vessels.

It can be a side effect of medication or result from a psychological issue, like performance anxiety or depression. ED can also arise from a lack of sexual stimulation. 

ED can put considerable strain on your sex life. Whether you experience it every once in a while or it’s become a routine occurrence during sexual activity, getting the appropriate care to help achieve and maintain erections should be a top priority.

Whatever’s causing the sexual dysfunction, tadalafil or vardenafil can help. They’re both well-studied, science-backed, thoroughly tested medications proven to improve erectile function.

Now, on to their differences.

When it comes to Cialis versus Levitra, you’ll find differences like how quickly these medications work, how long they last in the system, and what affects their absorption after taking a pill.

Tadalafil vs. Vardenafil Active Ingredients

Tadalafil is the active ingredient in Cialis. Levitra’s active ingredient was vardenafil hydrochloride, and now that the brand-name version is no longer being made, the generic is just vardenafil.

Tadalafil vs. Vardenafil Uses

You’re most likely looking at both medications for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

But besides treating ED, tadalafil can also be used for other health conditions, like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In a 2024 study of men with ED, taking tadalafil was associated with significantly lower rates of major cardiovascular events (like heart attacks) and overall mortality.

Vardenafil is only approved for ED.

Vardenafil vs. Tadalafil Dosage for ED

Levitra and Cialis are typically prescribed at an initial dose of 10 milligrams (mg). This may increase to 20 milligrams or decrease to 5 milligrams, depending on the patient’s individual needs.

Cialis can also be prescribed as a daily medication (instead of an as-needed medication), starting at 2.5 milligrams and going up to 5 milligrams. Depending on your needs, this could mean Cialis offers more flexibility and opportunity for spontaneous sex.

For more on this topic, check out our guides to Levitra dosage and Cialis dosage.

Vardenafil vs. Tadalafil: Time to Work

One of the major differences between Cialis and vardenafil is how long each takes to work.

Cialis usually starts working in 30 minutes, though it can take as long as two hours. You’ll start feeling the effects of vardenafil about an hour after taking it.

Tadalafil vs. Vardenafil: How Long They Last

While both medications may start to work within an hour of taking them, vardenafil lasts up to five hours.

Cialis, on the other hand, can last up to 36 hours, depending on the dosage. That’s why it’s often called “the weekend pill.”

Tadalafil vs. Vardenafil Absorption

Another difference is how eating habits can affect these medications. While a high-fat meal may affect the absorption of Levitra, Cialis is mostly unaffected by food.

Levitra and Cialis are different medications. Though they’re both effective, effectiveness will vary from person to person.

So even if we were to recommend Cialis (which only your healthcare provider can do), you’d still want to explore options if the drug isn’t working as well as you’d like or if you experience side effects.

Vardenafil (Levitra) Effectiveness

Vardenafil has been proven effective in men with ED, including those above age 65 — the most prevalent age group with erectile dysfunction.

A 12-week study was done on 580 men of various ages ranging from under 45 to over 65. The researchers discovered that vardenafil was effective at improving erectile function, regardless of age or the severity of ED.

In two randomized studies, men with diabetes-related ED received 10 or 20 milligrams of vardenafil for 12 or 26 weeks.

At the end of the study, the men who took vardenafil reported more improvements in penetration and the maintenance of erections than the placebo group. Participants also recorded improved intercourse satisfaction and orgasms.

Another study found that vardenafil may improve premature ejaculation (PE), which can co-occur with ED. One study showed that it increased ejaculatory control in men struggling with this sexual dysfunction issue and elevated overall sexual satisfaction more than the placebo group.

Tadalafil (Cialis) Effectiveness

Tadalafil is just as effective, as confirmed in a randomized study involving 1,112 men with ED. The average age of participants was 59, and ED cases ranged from mild to severe.

Results verified that Cialis enhances sexual activity for men facing ED. A large number of participants reported improved erections and successful intercourse attempts.

In another study on men with severe erectile dysfunction and comorbid medical conditions, tadalafil appeared to significantly improve erectile function, leaving patients and their partners satisfied.

Like vardenafil, tadalafil may also be useful in treating premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction at the same time. A 2022 study found that daily 5–milligram tadalafil was an effective, safe, and tolerable treatment for patients with ED and PE. Follow-up after two years confirmed the drug was still working.

Do vardenafil and tadalafil vary in price? Different internet sources put prices for Cialis and its generic tadalafil at anywhere from $5 a pill to $70 per tablet. Meanwhile, generic vardenafil is offered between $3 and $4 per 20-milligram pill.

Given that information, vardenafil may seem like the more affordable option. But there are other factors to consider — including whether your insurance will help pay for ED medication (and how much is covered).

Other things that can affect what you pay for either medication:

• Whether you pay cash

• The pharmacy you’re using

• If you’re using a manufacturer’s coupons

• How often you plan to take the medication (daily Cialis will obviously require more doses per month than an as-needed option)

We offer both generics starting at $4 per use.

As with any medication, PDE5 inhibitors like Levitra and Cialis have known side effects. This includes:

• Headaches

• Color vision changes

• Flushing

• Indigestion

• Back pain

• Hypotension (low blood pressure)

• Dizziness

• Nasal congestion (runny nose or stuffy nose)

More serious adverse effects can include priapism (a painful, long-lasting erection) and hearing loss.

The adverse effects of these drugs can be dependent on dosage.

Compared to Cialis, Levitra users experience more common symptoms like nasal congestion and flu-like symptoms. But these are fairly common PDE5 side effects, and they’re also listed as side effects of brand-name Cialis.

Adverse reactions will vary from person to person, and you may experience side effects in more pronounced ways with one medication than another.

Another place where these medications are more similar than different is how they interact with other medications. Drug interactions can create serious health risks that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Cialis interacts problematically with certain other medications. So does Levitra. Be really careful when taking other medications to prevent adverse effects — this includes other PDE5 inhibitors. Also, you shouldn’t take Cialis and Levitra together.

Some drug combinations are a no-go, as they’re absolute contraindications to ED medications like Levitra and Cialis.

This includes nitrates and alpha-blockers. Combining these medications with ED drugs may result in a significant drop in blood pressure. Fun fact: Grapefruit juice can have the same effect of increasing the intensity of these medications’ effects.

As always, make sure to let your healthcare provider know before taking a new medication, doubling up on prescription drugs, or taking supplements with ED meds. They can tell you whether it’s safe and how to move forward.

PDE5 inhibitors are highly effective and have an overall success rate of up to 76 percent.

As noted, both Levitra and Cialis work for lots of people. And since each person is different, you might see more benefit from one drug than the other — and vice versa.

In other words, we can’t tell you which is better.

Vardenafil takes an average of an hour to take effect and lasts roughly four and a half hours. Tadalafil can take up to two hours to take effect and has a comparatively lengthy half-life of about 36 hours.

Cialis’s prolonged effect allows for some spontaneity in sexual activity, especially compared to drugs like Levitra, which have to be taken about an hour before planned sex.

We can also point to study results showing how users feel about the medications.

For instance, a 2007 study compared vardenafil, tadalafil, and sildenafil (Viagra). Over six months, it looked at user satisfaction among more than 8,000 patients. The researchers found that, for most people, Cialis was more effective and delivered higher satisfaction scores than vardenafil. 

Will that be the case for you? Maybe. It’ll depend on various individual factors, which is why it’s so crucial to talk to a healthcare professional to get personalized, targeted treatment for ED.

A Final Word on Treating ED With Vardenafil vs. Tadalafil

The Levitra versus Cialis question is probably not the most important one for the average guy.

Choosing the right medication is essential to getting the best results with ED treatment. But comparing two medications on paper will only tell you what might be the best medication for your needs.

Depending on various factors, a healthcare provider may believe one is better than another for your unique situation. But the reality is, you might have to try more than one to find the right fit.

In other words, getting your erectile prowess back on track may be a journey instead of a choice. Making that choice is about having the right information, so remember:

• Levitra and Cialis are two erectile dysfunction treatment options. If you’re looking for the best ways to manage erectile dysfunction, know that both have earned their stripes.

• Both ED drug types have been proven safe and effective. The brand-name and generic versions have similar side effects and potential drug interactions.

• Both drugs work essentially the same way. However, Cialis tends to work faster and last longer. It can be taken as needed or as a daily pill.

Want to learn about other erectile dysfunction drugs, including how to choose between Levitra versus Viagra versus Cialis? Check out our guide to PDE5 inhibitors. 

You can also read our blogs on Levitra versus Viagra and Cialis versus Viagra.

We offer a few other phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors: sildenafil citrate (generic for Viagra), avanafil (generic Stendra®), and chewable ED meds in the form of hard mints for guys on the go who don’t love carrying pill bottles around.