Every GLP-1 has at least five different prices, and the gap between them is enormous. The same box of Wegovy can cost $1,500 at a retail counter, $349 direct from the manufacturer, or $25 with insurance and a savings card. So "how much does a GLP-1 cost" is the wrong question. The right one is "which door am I walking through" — and this page lines up every drug against every door so you can see, at a glance, where your cheapest path actually is.
If you want the physical-pharmacy angle, see the pharmacy pricing map. If you have coverage, the insurance coverage guide and coupons and savings programs go deeper on stacking. This page is the master comparison.
Direct answer: With commercial insurance plus a manufacturer savings card, every branded GLP-1 lands at $0–$25/month — that is the cheapest legitimate path, full stop. Without insurance, the floor is manufacturer self-pay: Wegovy and Ozempic at $349/month ($199 intro) through NovoCare, and Zepbound vials at $299–$449/month through LillyDirect. Oral options (Wegovy pill, Foundayo) start at $149/month. GoodRx roughly matches self-pay at $199 intro then $299–$349. Plain retail cash is the worst deal at $900–$1,600/month. Compounded semaglutide/tirzepatide still circulate at $141–$500/month but were sharply restricted after the FDA pulled them from the bulk-compounding list in April 2026. Investigational retatrutide is grey-market only at $150–$500/month and is not an FDA-approved product.
The master price table
All figures are per month, self-pay unless the column says otherwise, current as of May 2026.
| Drug | Retail cash | Manufacturer self-pay (direct) | GoodRx / discount | Insurance + savings card | Medicare 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic (semaglutide) | $1,000–$1,400 | $349 ($199 intro x2, NovoCare) | $199 intro then $299–$349 | $0–$25 | ~$50 copay (T2D covered) |
| Wegovy injection (semaglutide) | $1,300–$1,600 | $349 ($199 intro x2, NovoCare) | $199 intro then $349 | $0–$25 | $50 via Bridge (from July) |
| Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide) | $500–$700 | from $149 (NovoCare) | from $149 | $0–$25 | $50 via Bridge (from July) |
| Mounjaro (tirzepatide) | $1,000–$1,200 | limited; mainly via insurance | modest cash discount | $25 (max $150/fill) | ~$50 copay (T2D covered) |
| Zepbound (tirzepatide) | $1,000–$1,300 (pen) | $299–$449 vials (LillyDirect) | KwikPen from $299 | $25 | $50 via Bridge (from July) |
| Rybelsus (oral semaglutide) | $900–$1,200 | n/a | modest cash discount | $0–$25 | ~$50 copay (T2D covered) |
| Foundayo (orforglipron pill) | ~$500 | from $149 | from $149 | $0–$25 | not yet |
| Compounded semaglutide | n/a | $141–$199 (telehealth) | n/a | not covered | not covered |
| Compounded tirzepatide | n/a | $200–$500 (telehealth) | n/a | not covered | not covered |
| Retatrutide (investigational) | n/a | $150–$500 (research peptide) | n/a | not covered | not covered |
The five prices every GLP-1 has
Once you understand the five lanes, the table above stops looking chaotic.
1. Retail cash (the sticker). This is the list price at a pharmacy counter with no insurance and no program applied: $900–$1,600/month depending on drug. Almost nobody actually pays this — it exists mainly as the number every discount is measured against.
2. Manufacturer self-pay (direct). Novo Nordisk sells Wegovy and Ozempic through NovoCare Pharmacy at $349/month ($199 for the first two fills), and the Wegovy pill from $149. Eli Lilly sells Zepbound vials through LillyDirect at $299 (2.5 mg), $399 (5 mg), and $449 for higher doses under the Self Pay Journey Program — as long as you refill within 45 days. This lane is cash-only and excludes government beneficiaries, but it is usually the cheapest path if you have no coverage.
3. GoodRx and discount cards. GoodRx launched its own GLP-1 pricing in late 2025: $199/month introductory for the first two Ozempic or Wegovy fills, then $299–$349 ongoing, plus a $39/month telehealth add-on for the visit. The Wegovy pill runs under $150. GoodRx roughly matches manufacturer self-pay and wins when you want the discount and the prescription in one place. You cannot stack a discount card with a manufacturer copay card — pick one.
4. Insurance plus a savings card. The cheapest legitimate path by a wide margin. If your commercial plan covers the drug, the manufacturer copay card drops your share to $0–$25/month: the Wegovy and Ozempic Savings Cards cap assistance around $100–$150 per fill, and Lilly runs equivalent cards for Zepbound and Mounjaro. The catch is coverage — many employer plans still exclude obesity drugs, which is what sends people to the other four lanes.
5. Medicare. Part D has historically covered Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes (~$50 copay) but excluded Wegovy and Zepbound for obesity. That changes in July 2026, when the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge demonstration gives eligible Part D beneficiaries access to Wegovy, Zepbound, and Foundayo at roughly a $50 monthly copay.
Brand by brand
Ozempic vs Wegovy. Same molecule (semaglutide), different label and price. Ozempic is the type 2 diabetes brand; Wegovy is the obesity brand and lists higher. For self-pay, both land at $349/month through NovoCare. See Ozempic vs Wegovy for the full breakdown.
Mounjaro vs Zepbound. Same molecule (tirzepatide). Mounjaro is the diabetes label, generally accessed through insurance; Zepbound is the obesity label, and Lilly discounts its single-dose vials hard through LillyDirect — $299–$449/month is the cheapest branded tirzepatide in 2026. Details in Mounjaro vs Zepbound.
Oral options. The Wegovy pill, Rybelsus, and Lilly's non-peptide Foundayo (orforglipron) start at $149/month self-pay — the lowest entry point for a branded, FDA-cleared GLP-1. See the pill comparison for which oral makes sense.
Which drug to pick on price alone? If you have coverage, the answer is whatever your plan tiers cheapest — the copay card erases most of the difference. If you are paying cash, Zepbound vials (LillyDirect) and the oral options are the value leaders. For the efficacy-vs-cost trade-off, see which GLP-1 is best for weight loss.
Compounded and grey-market lanes
Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide were the budget option through 2024–2025 at $141–$500/month via telehealth. In April 2026 the FDA proposed removing semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide from the bulk-compounding list, sharply restricting large-scale compounding. What remains is patient-specific 503A compounding, which is narrower and harder to find. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and are not tested for the safety, potency, or consistency of branded product. See compounded tirzepatide for the current legal picture.
Retatrutide sits one step further out: it is still in Lilly's Phase 3 trials and has no FDA-approved price. It circulates as a research peptide at $150–$500/month. It is the cheapest number on this page and also the least regulated — there is no pharmacy, no label, and no guarantee of what is in the vial. We cover where it is sold and what buying without a prescription actually means separately.
International pricing
Cross-border cash prices are dramatically lower because other countries negotiate drug prices centrally: roughly $100–$300/month in Europe, $200–$400 in Mexico, and $300–$500 in Canada. Importing for personal use sits in a legal grey zone and supply is inconsistent. For the Canadian picture specifically, see GLP-1 in Canada.
What people get wrong
- "There's one price for Ozempic." There are at least five. The spread between retail cash and insurance-plus-card is over 50x.
- "Compounded is always cheapest." It used to be. After the April 2026 FDA restriction, manufacturer self-pay ($149–$349) is now competitive with — and safer than — what is left of compounding.
- "GoodRx stacks with my copay card." It does not. You use one or the other. With insurance, the copay card almost always wins; without it, compare GoodRx against manufacturer self-pay.
- "Medicare covers Wegovy for weight loss." Not until the July 2026 Bridge demonstration, and only for eligible beneficiaries. Diabetes brands (Ozempic, Mounjaro, Rybelsus) have been covered for the diabetes indication.
- "The expensive drug must work better." Price tracks branding and label, not potency. Ozempic and Wegovy are the same molecule at different prices.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest GLP-1 in 2026? With commercial insurance plus a manufacturer savings card, any branded GLP-1 costs $0–$25/month. Without insurance, the cheapest legitimate options are the oral drugs (Wegovy pill, Foundayo) from $149/month and Zepbound vials from $299/month. See our dedicated cheapest GLP-1 breakdown.
Why is Wegovy more expensive than Ozempic if they are the same drug? Different labels. Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight management; the obesity indication lists higher. Self-pay through NovoCare brings both to $349/month.
Is GoodRx or manufacturer self-pay cheaper? They are close. GoodRx and NovoCare both run $199 introductory then $349 for Wegovy and Ozempic injections. Compare the specific dose and check whether GoodRx bundles the $39 telehealth visit you would otherwise pay separately.
Does insurance ever make a GLP-1 free? Effectively, yes. Commercial coverage plus a manufacturer copay card can bring your out-of-pocket to $0 for 12–24 months, up to the card''s annual cap.
How much will retatrutide cost when approved? There is no approved price yet. The realistic projection is roughly $1,000–$1,400/month before insurance, in line with Mounjaro. See retatrutide cost.
Last reviewed: May 28, 2026
Sources
- GLP-1 Drug Savings: How to Save on Ozempic, Wegovy, and More — GoodRx
- Comparing Ozempic, Wegovy and Other GLP-1 Drugs — GoodRx
- Discounts on GLP-1 Medications — GoodRx
- NovoCare Pharmacy — Novo Nordisk
- Authentic Zepbound Shipped to You — LillyDirect
- Lilly Lowers Price of Zepbound Single-Dose Vials — Eli Lilly
- A New Medicare Option for Weight-Loss Drugs Is Coming — NPR
