Guide
What GLP-1s Actually Cost
Verified pricing from the providers we have reviewed, what is not included in the headline, and the four tricks that put distance between the price you are quoted and the price you pay. All figures checked 7 August 2026.
$69
Cheapest verified semaglutide*
$299
Highest verified semaglutide
$49
Cheapest verified tirzepatide*
$299
Highest verified tirzepatide
*Both cheapest figures carry conditions — the semaglutide low requires an annual prepayment, and the tirzepatide low is an introductory microdosed rate. Per month, for compounded medication. Brand-name cash prices are several times higher.
The Four Price Tiers
| Route | Typical monthly cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Insured brand-name | A copay, sometimes $25–$50 | An FDA-approved product with trial evidence behind it. By far the best outcome — if your plan covers weight management, which many do not. |
| Compounded, cash | $69–$299 | Not FDA-approved. The realistic route for most uninsured buyers, and where nearly all the pricing games happen. |
| Manufacturer direct | Varies by programme | Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly both run direct-purchase and savings programmes for cash-pay patients. Worth pricing before assuming brand-name is out of reach. |
| Uninsured brand-name retail | Often $1,000+ | The list-price route almost nobody should take without first checking the two options above. |
What The Headline Price Leaves Out
Lab work
Some providers bundle baseline blood work into the consultation fee; most do not mention it at all. Conventional lab panels commonly run $100–$300. It is a genuine saving when included, and a genuine surprise when it is not.
The consultation fee
Usually bundled, but not always — and at least one provider we reviewed charges a consult fee that is non-refundable even if its own clinician declines to prescribe for you. Ask whether the fee survives a rejection.
Injection supplies and shipping
Needles, syringes and alcohol swabs are included by most reputable platforms. Cold-chain shipping is the one to check: GLP-1s need refrigeration, and a provider that does not ship refrigerated is cutting a corner that matters.
Dose escalation
The biggest hidden cost in the category. Providers advertising flat pricing at every dose are quoting a figure that survives titration. Providers pricing by dose are not — and almost everyone titrates upward over the first few months.
Four Ways The Advertised Price Is Not The Price
Advertising the annual rate as a monthly price
"From $69/month" that turns out to require $828 upfront for twelve months. "From $130/month" where a single month is reported nearer $235. Both are technically accurate and both will mislead you if you are budgeting month to month.
The promotional first month
$79 for month one against a regular price of $299 printed on the same product page. Month-two price shock is the most consistent complaint theme across this entire category.
The microdose quote
Tirzepatide from $49 is generally a microdosed protocol, well below the doses studied in SURMOUNT-1. It may be a perfectly reasonable clinical choice — it is not the same product as a full-dose plan and should not be compared on price as though it were.
Membership on top of medication
Some platforms advertise a medication price and add a separate monthly membership. One men's health provider we reviewed advertises a price that omits a $99/month membership entirely. Always ask for the all-in monthly figure.
One question defuses all four: "What will I be charged, in total, in month three, at the dose I am likely to be on?" Get the answer in writing before paying anything. See our cheapest-programs ranking for how each provider's headline holds up.
Keep reading
Medical Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting or changing any treatment. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, are not evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality, and are not equivalent to the branded drug beyond sharing an active ingredient. GLP-1 medications commonly cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation, and carry risks including pancreatitis, gallbladder disease and kidney injury; they are contraindicated in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2, and should not be used in pregnancy, when trying to conceive, or while breastfeeding. Prescribing is subject to clinician approval and is never guaranteed. Individual results vary and no outcome is promised.