Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide: Which Saves You More Money?
Price verification — October 26, 2026
This article includes an older pricing snapshot. Older amounts, coupons and annual totals below are historical illustrations, not current checkout quotes.
- Zepbound (tirzepatide): LillyDirect self-pay: 2.5 mg starts at $299/28 days, 5 mg at $399, and 7.5 mg and above at $449 only with qualifying 45-day refill timing. Higher-dose prices can be higher when those conditions are not met. Supplies may cost extra. Official source
- Wegovy (semaglutide): Wegovy tablet: $149/30 tablets at 1.5 mg, $199 at 4 mg (a temporary $149 4 mg offer may apply), and $299 at 9 mg or 25 mg. Wegovy injection: eligible new patients may pay $199 per 28-day fill for the first two fills at 0.25 or 0.5 mg through Dec. 31, 2026, then generally $349 for standard pen doses. Eligibility and dosage restrictions apply. Official source
- Clinical program fees: Ivím lists a $74.99/month membership with medication billed separately. Sesame lists care from $59/month on a 12-month commitment; month-to-month costs more, and medication is separate. These are care fees, not all-inclusive drug prices. Official source
- Sesame annual-commitment terms: Official source.
These are manufacturer self-pay or listed care-fee examples, not one all-inclusive price or guaranteed prescription. Insurers, clinical visits, pharmacy choice, dosage, supplies, refill conditions and geography can change the amount due. Compounded GLP-1 products are not FDA-approved. Their availability, lawful compounding circumstances and product claims require separate verification. FDA policy.
On paper, semaglutide is cheaper — $99/month vs $133/month at the cheapest providers. But tirzepatide produces roughly 50% more weight loss in clinical trials. When you factor in cost-per-pound-lost and total treatment duration, the picture changes.
Clinical weight loss data
In the landmark STEP and SURMOUNT clinical trials, participants on semaglutide (Wegovy 2.4mg) lost an average of 14.9% of body weight over 68 weeks. Participants on tirzepatide (Zepbound 15mg) lost an average of 22.5% over 72 weeks. A newer high-dose Wegovy HD (7.2mg) produced about 21% weight loss, narrowing the gap. These results were with brand-name medications in controlled trial settings — compounded versions haven't been tested head-to-head.
Cost-per-pound analysis
For a 200-pound patient over 12 months:
| Metric | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide |
|---|---|---|
| Expected weight loss | ~30 lbs (15%) | ~45 lbs (22.5%) |
| Cheapest monthly (GobyMeds) | $99 | $133 |
| 12-month cost | $1,188 | $1,596 |
| Cost per pound lost | ~$40/lb | ~$35/lb |
Despite the higher monthly cost, tirzepatide can actually be more cost-effective per pound lost due to its greater efficacy. However, these are population averages — individual response varies significantly, and some patients respond better to semaglutide than tirzepatide.
Our recommendation
Start with compounded semaglutide to test your GLP-1 response at the lowest possible cost ($99/mo with GobyMeds). If you plateau after 3–4 months at therapeutic doses, switch to tirzepatide. This is the approach many telehealth clinicians recommend, and it avoids spending more upfront on tirzepatide if semaglutide alone achieves your goals.
GobyMedsStart Here
Start with sema, switch to tirz if needed. Both available at the lowest prices on our board. Code x7X72r saves $25.
Review program enrollment, whether medication is compounded, dispensing pharmacy information, and the total ongoing price.
Explore Gala GLP-1 ↗Eligibility and prices must be verified directly. Compounded GLP-1 products are not FDA-approved.⚕️ FDA Notice: Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are prepared by licensed compounding pharmacies using FDA-approved active ingredients but are not individually reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Always consult a licensed clinician before starting any GLP-1 therapy.