Comparing options
You know what they are. Which one?
There are only a few molecules — the rest is branding, dosing, and what your insurance will pay for. Below: every medication side by side, the five things worth comparing, and the head-to-heads written out in full.
Every GLP-1 at a glance
Tap any name for the full guide.
| Medication | Molecule | Form | Approved for | Avg. trial loss | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic | semaglutide | Weekly injection | Type 2 diabetes | — | ~$935–1,028/mo |
| Wegovy | semaglutide | Weekly injection | Weight loss | ~15% | ~$1,349/mo |
| Zepbound | tirzepatide | Weekly injection | Weight loss | ~21% | ~$1,060/mo |
| Mounjaro | tirzepatide | Weekly injection | Type 2 diabetes | — | ~$1,070/mo |
| Rybelsus | semaglutide | Daily pill | Type 2 diabetes | — | ~$1,000/mo |
| Saxenda | liraglutide | Daily injection | Weight loss | ~7% | — |
| Trulicity | dulaglutide | Weekly injection | Type 2 diabetes | — | — |
| Victoza | liraglutide | Daily injection | Type 2 diabetes | — | ~$815/mo |
Weight-loss figures are averages from each drug's pivotal trial and only appear where a weight-loss trial exists — the diabetes brands are shown as "—" rather than borrowing their molecule's number. List prices are cash prices before insurance, discounts, or savings cards, and they change often.
How to actually compare them
Five axes, in the order most people should weigh them.
Efficacy
Molecule beats brand here. Tirzepatide averaged the highest total body-weight loss in trials, semaglutide sits in the middle, and the older liraglutide and dulaglutide drugs are meaningfully behind. Compare trial averages, not the best result you saw on Reddit — and remember averages hide a wide spread in both directions.
Injection cadence
Most GLP-1s are a once-weekly injection. Saxenda and Victoza are daily, and Rybelsus is a daily pill with fussy timing rules (empty stomach, small sip of water, wait before eating). If you know you'll resent a daily routine, that alone rules options out.
What your insurance covers
This changes the math more than anything else on this list. Plans routinely cover a diabetes indication while excluding the same molecule prescribed for weight loss, and coverage rules shift year to year. Check your specific plan before you fall in love with a specific drug.
Brand vs compounded
Brand-name drugs are FDA-approved products with a published label and a manufacturer behind them. Compounded versions are mixed by a pharmacy, cost much less, and are not FDA-approved — the pharmacy, not the FDA, is your quality control. That tradeoff is a personal call, and it deserves a real look rather than a price comparison.
Side-effect profile
The class shares a gastrointestinal profile — nausea, constipation, diarrhea — concentrated in the weeks after each dose increase. Stronger drugs tend to bring stronger side effects, and how fast your titration schedule climbs matters as much as which drug you take.
Comparison reading
Comparing providers, not drugs
Which telehealth service you use decides your price and your medication menu as much as the prescription does.
Remedy Meds
Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, with no price shown until you start the intake.
Henry Meds
Bundled monthly pricing on the widest compounded menu, published on its own legal page.
Mochi Health
The cheapest all-in compounded GLP-1 we have found, with a live Eli Lilly lawsuit.
Hims
The widest brand-name menu here, from a public company under FTC, FDA and SEC scrutiny.
Ivim Health
App-first GLP-1 care with a $75 membership, plus medication billed separately from $75.
LifeMD
Insurance-first program built around brand-name GLP-1s like Zepbound and Wegovy.
Prices are advertised starting prices and change often — every review carries the date its prices were last verified. See all provider reviews
Somewhere else in the journey?
Informational only — not medical advice. Always talk to a licensed provider before starting or changing a medication. GLP-1 safety information · Medical disclaimer
Narrow it down in 2 minutes
Answer a few questions and see which medication and provider fit your situation.