GLP-1 Cost Comparison Chart 2026
Every FDA-approved GLP-1 medication, every payment channel, current as of July 2026. Includes Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, Mounjaro, Saxenda, oral Wegovy 25 mg, Foundayo (orforglipron, approved April 2026), plus pending CagriSema. Pricing is verified against manufacturer pages and updated when programs change.
Monthly cost grid
| Drug | Insurance copay | Mfr direct | Telehealth (brand) | Telehealth (compd) | Cash WAC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy semaglutide (injection) | $63 | $349 | $329 | $249 | $1,349 |
| Ozempic semaglutide (injection) | $63 | N/A | $399 | $199 | $1,028 |
| Wegovy (oral 25mg) semaglutide (tablet) | $63 | $149 | $449 | N/A | $1,349 |
| Zepbound tirzepatide (injection) | $88 | $299 | $499 | $299 | $1,059 |
| Mounjaro tirzepatide (injection) | $88 | N/A | $499 | $299 | $1,069 |
| Saxenda liraglutide (injection) | $63 | N/A | $399 | N/A | $1,349 |
| Foundayo (orforglipron) orforglipron (tablet) | $63 | $149 | N/A | N/A | $1,099 |
Insurance copay is the midpoint of typical commercial-plan ranges. Manufacturer-direct = NovoCare (Novo Nordisk) or LillyDirect (Eli Lilly). Telehealth (brand) reflects current subscription pricing where available, single-month rate otherwise. Cash WAC is the manufacturer wholesale list price; almost no one pays this.
How telehealth pricing for Wegovy actually works
Telehealth platforms (Hims, Ro, LifeMD, and others) do not sell Wegovy at one flat monthly price. You pay two separate line items: the drug itself (typically NovoCare's own dose-based pricing - $349/month standard, or the $199/month intro tier for the 0.25/0.5 mg starter doses through December 31, 2026), plus a separate platform membership/program fee that covers the prescriber visit and care coordination - commonly around $39 for the first month, then roughly $74 to $149/month depending on the platform.
See the deeper where to buy Wegovy online page for the full breakdown of which platform charges what and what to look out for.
Efficacy and dosing grid
| Drug | Peak weight loss | Time to peak | Trial | Dosing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy | 14.9% | 68 weeks | STEP-1 | Weekly injection |
| Ozempic | 11.6% | 68 weeks | STEP-2 (T2D) | Weekly injection |
| Wegovy (oral 25mg) | 13.6% | 68 weeks | OASIS-4 | Daily oral |
| Zepbound | 22.5% | 72 weeks | SURMOUNT-1 | Weekly injection |
| Mounjaro | 20.9% | 72 weeks | SURPASS-2 / off-label | Weekly injection |
| Saxenda | 8.4% | 56 weeks | SCALE | Weekly injection |
| Foundayo (orforglipron) | 14.7% | 72 weeks | ATTAIN-1 | Daily oral |
| CagriSemaPending FDA | 20.4% | 68 weeks | REDEFINE-1 | Weekly injection |
Compounded GLP-1 landscape changed dramatically in 2025-2026
The FDA determined the semaglutide shortage was resolved in October 2024 and the tirzepatide shortage was resolved at the same time. Enforcement discretion ended for 503B outsourcing facilities on March 19, 2025 and for 503A pharmacies on February 18, 2025. On April 30, 2026 the FDA proposed excluding semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide from the 503B Bulks List, effectively closing the door on large-scale compounded GLP-1 telehealth. The narrow 503A individual-patient pathway remains legal but requires a documented allergy to a Zepbound or Wegovy inactive ingredient, OR a prescriber-documented clinical justification. Cost savings does not qualify under either pathway.
Translation: most telehealth platforms that were selling compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide for $200 to $300 per month in 2024 either pivoted to branded versions (becoming Novo Nordisk subscription partners), exited the GLP-1 category, or are operating in legal gray area. Verify pharmacy licensing and FDA registration before using any platform that still markets compounded GLP-1s.
Quick comparison with Get-it CTAs (every drug, every channel)
Manufacturer direct prices (LillyDirect, NovoCare) are usually cheapest. Updated May 2026.
| Drug | Insurance | Mfr direct | Telehealth (brand) | Telehealth (compd) | Cash retail | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy 14.9% weight loss | $63 | $349 | $329 | $249 cheapest | $1,349 | Get →ad |
| Ozempic 11.6% weight loss | $63 | - | $399 | $199 cheapest | $1,028 | Get →ad |
| Wegovy (oral 25mg) 13.6% weight loss | $63 | $149 cheapest | $449 | - | $1,349 | Get →ad |
| Zepbound 22.5% weight loss | $88 | $299 cheapest | $499 | $299 cheapest | $1,059 | Get →ad |
| Mounjaro 20.9% weight loss | $88 | - | $499 | $299 cheapest | $1,069 | Get →ad |
| Saxenda 8.4% weight loss | $63 | - | $399 cheapest | - | $1,349 | Get →ad |
| Foundayo (orforglipron) 14.7% weight loss | $63 | $149 cheapest | - | - | $1,099 | Get →ad |
Frequently asked questions
Why is the same drug priced so differently across channels?
GLP-1 pricing is driven by who is paying, not by the cost to manufacture. The list price (Wholesale Acquisition Cost) reflects the manufacturer's sticker price for wholesalers. Insurance copay is what your plan negotiates plus your share. Manufacturer self-pay programs (NovoCare, LillyDirect) are direct-to-consumer at a discount. Telehealth platforms add a prescriber-visit margin on top of their drug acquisition cost. Cash retail is essentially the WAC, and almost no one pays it.
Which GLP-1 has the highest weight-loss efficacy?
Among FDA-approved drugs, Zepbound (tirzepatide) leads at 22.5% mean weight loss in SURMOUNT-1 over 72 weeks. Mounjaro is the same molecule for diabetes and produces similar results off-label. Wegovy reaches 14.9% in STEP-1 over 68 weeks. Foundayo (orforglipron), FDA-approved April 1, 2026 under the National Priority Voucher Program, reached 14.7% in ATTAIN-1 and is the first daily oral GLP-1 with no food or water restrictions. Among still-pending drugs, CagriSema reached 20.4% in REDEFINE-1.
What is the cheapest realistic monthly cost for any FDA-approved GLP-1?
Two answers. With commercial insurance + a manufacturer Savings Card: $0 to $25 per month for Wegovy or Zepbound (assuming the plan covers the drug). Without insurance, cash-pay: oral Wegovy via NovoCare at $149/month for 1.5/4 mg titration is the floor. Among injection products, Zepbound 2.5 mg vials via LillyDirect are $299/month.
How does telehealth pricing for Wegovy actually work?
Telehealth platforms don't sell Wegovy at one flat subscription price - you pay the drug cost (NovoCare's own dose-based pricing, the same whether you order direct or through a platform) plus a separate platform membership/program fee for the prescriber visit and care coordination. That fee commonly runs around $39 for the first month, then roughly $74 to $149/month depending on the platform. NovoCare's single-month standard rate without a platform is $349/month, or $199/month during the current 0.25/0.5 mg starter-dose promo (through December 31, 2026).
Is compounded tirzepatide still a real option in 2026?
Largely no. The FDA determined the tirzepatide shortage was resolved in October 2024, ending enforcement discretion for 503B outsourcing facilities (March 2025) and 503A pharmacies (February 2025). On April 30, 2026, the FDA proposed excluding semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide from the 503B Bulks List, which effectively closes large-scale compounded GLP-1 telehealth. The narrow 503A individual-patient exception still exists but only with a documented allergy to an inactive ingredient or a specific clinical justification. Cost savings does not qualify.
Does Medicare cover any GLP-1 medications?
Federal law (the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003) excludes drugs prescribed solely for weight loss from Part D coverage. Medicare can cover GLP-1s when they are FDA-approved for a non-weight-loss indication you also have: Wegovy for cardiovascular disease (added 2024), Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes. Without one of those qualifying indications, Medicare does not cover GLP-1s for weight loss alone.
How is "cost per pound lost" calculated and why does it matter?
Cost per pound lost projects 12 months of medication cost divided by trial-projected weight loss for a representative starting weight. It matters because a higher-priced drug with much higher efficacy can be cheaper per pound than a lower-priced drug with mediocre results. Run your own numbers on the calculator at glp1cost.org/.
See also
- -> Cheapest GLP-1 finder ranked by cost-per-pound-lost
- -> Where to buy Wegovy online (NovoCare, subscription, telehealth)
- -> Cheapest tirzepatide online (LillyDirect, telehealth, in-person)
- -> GLP-1 manufacturer Savings Cards compared
- -> GLP-1 vs bariatric surgery 10-year cost
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