Comparing a semaglutide starting price against a tirzepatide starting price tells you almost nothing, because the two drugs are not dosed on the same scale and are not typically maintained at equivalent positions in their ranges. Matching by dose tier changes the picture.
Key Takeaways
- Tirzepatide is consistently priced above semaglutide across providers publishing both, but the premium varies from modest to large.
- The two drugs use different milligram scales — comparing 2.4 mg to 10 mg is comparing positions in a range, not quantities.
- SURMOUNT-1 reported larger mean weight reduction for tirzepatide than STEP 1 did for semaglutide, but these were separate trials in different populations.
- Flat-price providers narrow the gap, because the flat rate often differs less between the two drugs than tiered pricing does.
- Cost per unit of expected weight loss is a defensible way to compare, with the caveat that cross-trial comparison is imprecise.
| Provider | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide | Premium for tirzepatide |
|---|---|---|---|
| MadeMed (injectable) | From $179/mo | From $189/mo | Small at the starting tier |
| MadeMed (oral) | From $99/mo | From $229/mo | Large |
| Wellorithm (oral) | From $147/mo | From $249/mo | Large |
| Yucca Health | $175 first → $275/mo · $206 on 6-month | $285 first → $385/mo · $325 on 6-month | Roughly $110/mo at equivalent plan |
| SHED | From $199/mo | $299/mo rising to $399/mo at maintenance | Large, and it widens at maintenance |
| Telos Rx | $49 first month intro | $99 first month · flat by plan length thereafter | Moderate; both flat by plan |
| Strut Health ⚠️ | From about $99/mo sublingual | $250–$400/mo | Large |
| Sprout Health ⚠️ | — | $249–$299/mo dissolvable | Tirzepatide-focused on the oral line |
Why the milligram numbers are not comparable
Semaglutide for weight management escalates to 2.4 mg weekly. Tirzepatide escalates on a different scale entirely, up to 15 mg weekly. These are different molecules with different potencies per milligram, and the numbers are not on a shared axis.
What is comparable is position in the range. Someone at the top of the semaglutide schedule and someone at the top of the tirzepatide schedule are both at maintenance, and that is the correct pairing for a cost comparison.
The efficacy side of the comparison
SURMOUNT-1 reported mean weight reduction for tirzepatide at its highest dose that exceeded what STEP 1 reported for semaglutide 2.4 mg. That difference is real and has driven a great deal of the demand shift toward tirzepatide.
It also comes with a standard caveat: these were separate trials, in different populations, over different durations, with different lifestyle components. Cross-trial comparison of weight-loss percentages is imprecise. Head-to-head trials are the appropriate evidence, and they are a smaller and more recent body of work than the individual registration programmes.
MadeMed (Injectable Tirzepatide)
Injectable- Priced close to the semaglutide line rather than at a large premium
- Quarterly billing lowers the effective monthly rate
- Dose increases are priced per tier — confirm your tier at checkout
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed. Compounded GLP-1 medications are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies and are not the same as FDA-approved brand products.
MadeMed (Injectable Semaglutide)
Injectable- Monthly and quarterly billing options
- L-carnitine included in the injectable formulation
- Membership program available for refill discounts
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed. Compounded GLP-1 medications are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies and are not the same as FDA-approved brand products.
Yucca Health
Injectable only- Clear intro-versus-ongoing split published up front
- Free UPS 2-Day Air shipping
- Klarna, Affirm and Afterpay available on 6-month plans
Injectable only. Yucca's headline promo rate is tied to the 6-month new-patient plan — the month-to-month rate is substantially higher.
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed. Compounded GLP-1 medications are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies and are not the same as FDA-approved brand products.
Cost per point of expected loss
If you accept the trial numbers with their cross-trial caveat, you can compare cost per expected percentage point of weight reduction rather than cost per month. At a provider where tirzepatide costs roughly ten percent more than semaglutide, the higher expected efficacy makes it the better value on that metric. At a provider where it costs seventy percent more, it does not.
This is why the provider-level premium in the table above matters more than the drug choice in isolation. The same clinical decision produces very different economics depending on where you fill it.
Sprout Health
Dissolvable tablet- Dissolvable tablet format for tirzepatide
- Published price band rather than a single flat rate
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed. Compounded GLP-1 medications are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies and are not the same as FDA-approved brand products.
SHED
Multi-format- Carries brand-name options alongside compounded: Wegovy pen $199, oral Wegovy pill $149, Zepbound $349 plus a $99 membership
- 120-day results guarantee (terms updated June 10, 2026)
- Multi-month terms convert to a different ongoing rate — read the conversion language
Price-jump disclosure: SHED's tirzepatide pricing increases to $399/mo once you reach the 7.5 mg maintenance tier. Budget for the higher number, not the entry number.
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed. Compounded GLP-1 medications are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies and are not the same as FDA-approved brand products.
Telos Rx (Tirzepatide)
Flat pricing by plan length- Price is flat regardless of dose tier once your plan is set
- 12-month plan carries the lowest monthly rate; 1-month is the highest
- Cancel anytime; FSA/HSA accepted
Telos publishes plan-length pricing rather than dose-tier pricing, so the number you see at signup depends on the commitment you choose, not the milligrams you take.
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed. Compounded GLP-1 medications are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies and are not the same as FDA-approved brand products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tirzepatide always more expensive?
It is priced higher than semaglutide at every provider in this table that offers both, but the size of the premium ranges from about $10/month to well over $150/month.
Is tirzepatide more effective?
SURMOUNT-1 reported greater mean weight reduction than STEP 1 did for semaglutide. Because these were separate trials in different populations, the comparison is indicative rather than definitive.
Can you switch between them?
Switching is a clinical decision involving dose selection on a different scale and a fresh titration. It is a conversation with your prescriber, not a plan change you make in a portal.
Which has fewer side effects?
Both produce gastrointestinal effects through overlapping mechanisms. Individual tolerance varies enough that population-level comparisons are a weak guide to what any one person will experience.