{"slug":"ulta-vs-cvs)","question":"Ulta Beauty vs CVS","answer":"Ulta Beauty specializes exclusively in beauty and cosmetics with 1,400+ stores and 500+ brands, while CVS is a general pharmacy and drugstore chain with 9,600+ locations offering beauty as one of many departments. Ulta offers deeper beauty selection and expertise, while CVS provides convenience through broader product categories and pharmacy services.","answer_curated":true,"verdict":"Choose Ulta Beauty if you're a serious beauty enthusiast seeking premium brands, professional consultations, and extensive cosmetics selection—it's the destination for makeup, skincare, and haircare specialists. Choose CVS if you prioritize convenience and want to combine beauty shopping with pharmacy services, household essentials, and groceries in one trip.","keyDifferences":[{"label":"Store Count","winner":"b","entityAValue":"1,400+ locations","entityBValue":"9,600+ locations"},{"label":"Primary Focus","winner":"a","entityAValue":"Beauty & cosmetics only","entityBValue":"Pharmacy, health, beauty, household"},{"label":"Beauty Brand Selection","winner":"a","entityAValue":"500+ brands including luxury","entityBValue":"150-200 brands, mostly mass-market"},{"label":"Loyalty Program Rewards","winner":"tie","entityAValue":"Ultamate: 1.25% back on most purchases","entityBValue":"ExtraCare: 2-4% back on select categories"},{"label":"Pharmacy Services","winner":"b","entityAValue":"None available","entityBValue":"Full pharmacy with prescriptions"}],"winner":{"slug":"cvs-pharmacy","name":"CVS Pharmacy"},"confidence":"high","entities":[{"name":"Ulta Beauty","slug":"ulta-beauty","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/ulta-beauty","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/ulta-beauty"},{"name":"CVS Pharmacy","slug":"cvs-pharmacy","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/cvs-pharmacy","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/cvs-pharmacy"}],"faqs":[{"question":"Does Ulta Beauty have pharmacy services like CVS?","answer":"No, Ulta Beauty does not offer pharmacy services, prescriptions, or health clinics. Ulta is exclusively focused on beauty, cosmetics, haircare, and fragrance. If you need pharmacy services, CVS is the better choice."},{"question":"Can I get my makeup done at Ulta or CVS?","answer":"Yes, Ulta Beauty offers free makeup application and consultations at over 800 locations with certified beauty experts. CVS does not offer dedicated makeup application services or professional beauty consultations."},{"question":"Which store has more luxury beauty brands?","answer":"Ulta Beauty carries 100+ luxury and prestige brands including MAC, Urban Decay, Charlotte Tilbury, Dyson, Estée Lauder, and more. CVS stocks primarily mass-market brands with very limited luxury options, making Ulta the clear winner for high-end cosmetics."}],"attribution":{"source":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/ulta-vs-cvs)","license":"CC BY 4.0","citationFormat":"According to A Versus B (https://www.aversusb.net/compare/ulta-vs-cvs)), Ulta Beauty specializes exclusively in beauty and cosmetics with 1,400+ stores and 500+ brands, while CVS is a general pharmacy and drugstore chain with 9,600+ locations offering beauty as one of many","dateModified":"2026-07-07T08:02:03.770Z"},"relatedQuestionsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/faq/ulta-vs-cvs)","relatedComparisonsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/related/ulta-vs-cvs)","knowledgeGraphUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/knowledge-graph/ulta-vs-cvs)","claimReviewSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ClaimReview","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/ulta-vs-cvs)#claimreview","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/ulta-vs-cvs)","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"conditionsOfAccess":"Free","claimReviewed":"Ulta Beauty vs CVS","reviewBody":"Ulta Beauty specializes exclusively in beauty and cosmetics with 1,400+ stores and 500+ brands, while CVS is a general pharmacy and drugstore chain with 9,600+ locations offering beauty as one of many departments. Ulta offers deeper beauty selection and expertise, while CVS provides convenience through broader product categories and pharmacy services.","datePublished":"2026-07-07T08:02:03.700Z","dateModified":"2026-07-07T08:02:03.770Z","reviewRating":{"@type":"Rating","ratingValue":5,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5,"alternateName":"High Confidence"},"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net"},"itemReviewed":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/ulta-vs-cvs)","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/ulta-vs-cvs)","name":"Ulta Beauty vs CVS","inLanguage":"en-US"}}}