The best GLP-1 telehealth providers of 2026
Five platforms worth comparing - bmiMD, Henry Meds, Hims, ShedRX, and Levity - head-to-head on Semaglutide and Tirzepatide pricing, compounded vs branded supply, physician oversight, state availability, and money-back policy. The shortlist for buyers ready for medical-grade weight intervention without paying $1,000+/mo for branded retail.
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No single pick
This guide no longer names an overall pick. It used to call bmiMD the value-tier pick on prices checked in May 2026; bmiMD's own plan pages listed different prices on September 25, 2026, and the other four providers have not been re-checked since May, so a ranking on price would not hold. The lines below match each remaining provider to one buyer priority, on the May 2026 figures. bmiMD is listed for reference further down, unranked. No link on this page earns a commission.
Best ecosystem maturity: Henry Meds (Semaglutide $297/mo, Tirzepatide $449/mo) - longer track record, deeper operational scale, telehealth provider visits and shipping all bundled. The right pick if brand maturity matters more than the lowest monthly price.
Best for branded retail-grade access: Hims (branded Wegovy $299/mo injectable, oral $249/mo; Zepbound $399/mo) - largest consumer brand in the category, but compounded Semaglutide is winding down for new patients post-March 2026 Novo Nordisk settlement. The right pick if you want branded supply with telehealth convenience.
Best for tirzepatide-specific value: ShedRX (Tirzepatide from $199/mo entry, $275-375/mo standard) - multiple delivery formats including sublingual drops and lozenges for buyers who prefer non-injectable. Optional $70/mo coaching upgrade.
Best for lowest-friction Semaglutide start: Levity (compounded Semaglutide $175-225/mo) - the lowest compounded Semaglutide entry price among the May 2026 figures here, with HSA/FSA accepted. No compounded Tirzepatide; branded Mounjaro at retail pricing only.
Skip if: your BMI is under 27 with no metabolic risk factors, you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN-2 syndrome, or your insurance already covers branded Wegovy or Zepbound (run that through insurance instead).
Why GLP-1 telehealth became a longevity-medicine category
GLP-1 receptor agonists started as type-2 diabetes drugs in the late 2000s, expanded into FDA-approved obesity medications in 2014 (Saxenda) and 2021 (Wegovy), and have undergone a categorical re-evaluation in the 2024-2026 longevity-research wave. The papers from that period - cardiovascular outcomes in SELECT, kidney outcomes in FLOW, cognitive signals in EVOKE, and inflammation markers across multiple smaller trials - moved the medical-academic frame from “weight-loss drug” to “metabolic-aging intervention with weight-loss as one of several effects.” That re-frame is what brought longevity buyers into the category.
The pricing gap between branded retail and compounded telehealth supply is the second reason the category exploded. Branded Wegovy and Zepbound run roughly $1,000-1,400/month at cash retail. Compounded Semaglutide through state-licensed pharmacies runs $175-300/month at the platforms in this guide - a 4-7x cost differential for the same active ingredient. That gap was created by the FDA shortage-list designation that began in 2022, which permitted 503A and 503B compounding pharmacies to produce GLP-1s in commercial volumes without going through the new-drug-approval pathway. The shortage was resolved in 2024-2025, and the regulatory ground beneath compounded supply has been narrowing since.
The 2026 landscape reflects that narrowing. Hims settled with Novo Nordisk in March 2026 and exited compounded Semaglutide for new patients, defaulting to branded retail going forward. Other platforms continue compounded supply but face the same regulatory pressure. The honest framing is that the cost-savings window for compounded GLP-1s is real but narrowing - buyers entering the category in 2026 should plan for the possibility of platform exits, supply restrictions, or pricing increases as the regulatory environment continues shifting.
The five platforms in this guide all operate on a cash-pay subscription model with physician oversight included in the monthly cost. The differentiation is in three places: (1) compounded vs branded sourcing (Hims is mostly branded going forward; the other four are mostly compounded), (2) molecule coverage (Levity does not offer compounded Tirzepatide; the other four cover both), and (3) delivery format (ShedRX offers sublingual drops and lozenges in addition to standard injection; the others are injection-only). Pricing variance within compounded Semaglutide ($175-300/mo) and within compounded Tirzepatide ($199-449/mo) reflects state regulations, partner-pharmacy economics, and what the platform bundles in (telehealth visits, shipping, coaching).
GLP-1s are medication, not a supplement - frame the bet accordingly
GLP-1s require medical oversight. They are prescription drugs with real efficacy data and real side-effect profiles, not over-the-counter supplements. Side effects in the first 4-8 weeks are real for most users - nausea (15-30%), constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, and GI distress are the headline issues, and they are unpleasant enough that a meaningful minority of users discontinue in the titration window before reaching maintenance dose. Less common but more serious risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney injury secondary to dehydration, and a hard contraindication for patients with personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN-2 syndrome.
The long-term data is still accumulating. The 5+ year cohort outcomes that the longevity-medicine community wants - does GLP-1 use translate into longer healthspan, lower all-cause mortality, sustained metabolic benefit after discontinuation - are still being collected. The cardiovascular outcomes data (SELECT trial) is the most mature signal, and it is genuinely encouraging. The cognitive and inflammation signals are earlier-stage and less certain. Buyers should price in that what looks like a strong case in 2026 may look stronger or weaker in 2030 as longer-cohort data matures.
The right buyer mindset: this is medication, not a supplement, and the platforms in this guide are doing the prescribing. Their telehealth eligibility evaluation is the relevant clinical decision, not anything written in this guide. Buyers who go in with the “just sign me up” mindset that works for ordering an NMN supplement are setting themselves up for a worse outcome than buyers who treat this as a medical decision with the gravity it deserves. Read the medication guides, understand the side-effect profile, have a primary-care relationship outside the telehealth platform that knows you are on a GLP-1, and have an exit plan if the side effects exceed your tolerance threshold.
The five contenders, compared
Pricing verified 2026-05-05 via brand sites and category trackers. State-by-state variation applies; check checkout for your state.
| Spec | bmiMD | Henry Meds | Hims | ShedRX | Levity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide $/mo (lowest tier) | Set by plan length; see bmiMD's site | $297 | $199 (6-mo plan); compounded winding down for new patients | $199 (entry); $295 standard dose | $175-225 (compounded) |
| Tirzepatide $/mo (lowest tier) | Set by plan length; see bmiMD's site | $449 | Branded Zepbound $399; compounded discontinued | $199 (entry) / $275-375 standard | Branded Mounjaro $1,249-1,299 only (no compounded) |
| Compounded vs branded | Compounded (state-licensed pharmacies, brand-stated) | Compounded | Branded retail (compounded exited Mar 2026) | Compounded | Compounded Semaglutide; Branded Tirzepatide |
| Physician oversight model | Provider review; messaging with your provider (brand-stated) | Telehealth provider; medication management included | Licensed clinician via app | Telehealth provider; optional 1:1 coaching $70/mo | Clinical consultation + unlimited support included |
| Cancellation / money-back | Full refund if found ineligible; no refunds once the pharmacy processes an order (brand-stated) | Cancel anytime; standard refund policies | Cancel anytime; subscription-based | Cancel anytime; no compounded subscription fee | Cancel anytime; HSA/FSA accepted |
| State availability | All 50 states (brand-stated) | Most US states | Most US states (branded coverage broader) | Most US states | Most US states |
| FSA/HSA accepted | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Editor's score | Not ranked | 8.4 / 10 | 7.9 / 10 (post-compounded exit) | 8.1 / 10 | 7.8 / 10 |
The five GLP-1 telehealth platforms, compared
Henry Meds - The established compounded telehealth platform
Semaglutide $297/mo; Tirzepatide $449/mo · Compounded · Telehealth provider visits, medication management, and shipping all bundled · 5+ year operational track record · FSA/HSA accepted
Henry Meds is the longest-running compounded GLP-1 platform in the category. The brand started as a broader telehealth provider covering hormone optimization, sexual health, and other prescribing categories, and added GLP-1s as the category exploded in 2022-2023. The operational track record is real - 5+ years of compounded-supply experience, larger pharmacy partner network, deeper editorial coverage, and a brand-recognition footprint that comes with being one of the first credible names in the category.
On the May 2026 figures, Semaglutide is $297/month and Tirzepatide $449/month, the highest compounded Tirzepatide price in this guide ($74 to $174 above ShedRX's $275-375 standard range). The all-in monthly fee bundles telehealth provider visits, medication, and shipping, which simplifies the math vs platforms that surcharge for individual components.
Where Henry Meds wins: the operational maturity is genuinely valuable for buyers who weight track record over the lowest monthly price. The platform has been around longer than the FDA shortage-list compounded-supply window, weathered the 2024-2025 regulatory shifts, and has the partner-pharmacy infrastructure to keep operating through whatever 2026-2027 regulatory changes come next. For buyers prioritizing “will this platform still exist in 18 months,” Henry Meds is the safer pick. The trade-off: the Tirzepatide pricing is meaningfully above the lowest credible options, which matters more for buyers stepping up from Semaglutide than for buyers starting fresh.
Hims (weight loss) - The brand-name access path
Branded Wegovy $299/mo injectable, $249/mo oral; branded Zepbound $399/mo; oral Semaglutide pill from $49 first month introductory · Compounded Semaglutide winding down for new patients post-March 2026 Novo Nordisk settlement · Largest brand recognition in the consumer telehealth category · FSA/HSA accepted
Hims is the largest consumer-telehealth brand in the United States and the most-recognized name in the GLP-1 category by paid-acquisition footprint. The brand operated in compounded Semaglutide for 2-3 years and built meaningful market share - but in March 2026, Hims settled with Novo Nordisk and exited compounded Semaglutide for new patients. The platform now defaults new GLP-1 patients to branded Wegovy, with an oral Semaglutide pill option (introductory pricing $49 first month) and Zepbound for Tirzepatide.
What Hims does well post-settlement: the brand recognition is real, the user experience for booking visits and managing prescriptions is the most polished in the category, and the partnership with Novo Nordisk gives them direct access to branded Wegovy at retail-competitive pricing ($299/month for injectable Wegovy is meaningfully cheaper than uncoordinated cash retail at $1,000+/month). The oral Semaglutide pill option ($49 first month introductory, then standard branded pricing) is unique in the category and is the only oral branded-Semaglutide path most buyers have access to.
Where Hims loses to the compounded competitors: branded Wegovy at $299/month is above Levity's $175-225 compounded range, and branded Zepbound at $399 is above ShedRX's $275-375 standard range. For buyers who weight branded sourcing and quality control above the compounded value play, Hims is now the right pick. For buyers cost-anchored to the compounded discount, Hims is no longer competitive on the Semaglutide side.
ShedRX - The multi-format compounded specialist
Semaglutide from $199 entry, $295 standard; Tirzepatide from $199 entry, $275-375 standard; Sublingual drops from $229; Lozenges from $199 · Compounded · Optional 1:1 coaching $70/mo · No subscription fee on compounded
ShedRX differentiates on delivery-format diversity. Where the other platforms in this guide are injection-only or injection-plus-occasional-oral, ShedRX runs four formats: standard weekly injections, sublingual drops (daily, absorbed under the tongue), and lozenges (daily, dissolvable). For buyers with needle aversion or for whom weekly injections create compliance friction, the non-injectable options are genuinely useful - and at $199-229/month entry pricing, they are competitive with the lowest credible compounded Semaglutide pricing in the category.
The Tirzepatide pricing is where ShedRX earns specific consideration: $275-375/month for standard-dose compounded Tirzepatide is meaningfully below Henry Meds' $449 single-tier pricing. For buyers stepping up from Semaglutide to Tirzepatide or starting directly on Tirzepatide, ShedRX is the value-tier pick. The optional $70/month coaching upgrade is reasonable for buyers who want the accountability layer that Hims and Henry Meds bundle in by default - and unlike the bundled providers, ShedRX lets you skip it if you have a coaching or behavior-change relationship elsewhere.
Where ShedRX loses ground: the brand is newer than Henry Meds and Hims, the editorial coverage is thinner, and the bioavailability evidence base for sublingual drops and lozenges is less mature than the standard injectable formulation. The active ingredient is the same, but absorption profile data on the non-injectable compounded formats is sparser than on the standard route. Buyers who want maximum confidence in dosing accuracy should default to the injectable form even at ShedRX. Buyers who weight compliance and convenience over the bioavailability uncertainty are the right fit for the sublingual or lozenge formats.
Levity - The lowest-entry compounded Semaglutide
Compounded Semaglutide $175-225/mo; Branded Mounjaro Tirzepatide $1,249-1,299/mo (no compounded Tirzepatide) · Clinical consultation + unlimited support included · Cancel anytime · FSA/HSA accepted · No insurance accepted
On the May 2026 figures, Levity had the lowest entry pricing for compounded Semaglutide in this guide - $175-225/month depending on dose tier. That is below Henry Meds' $297, below ShedRX's $295 standard, and below Hims' branded-only Wegovy at $299. For cost-sensitive buyers starting on Semaglutide who do not yet need to step up to Tirzepatide, Levity is the rational entry economics pick. The all-in monthly fee bundles clinical consultation, unlimited clinical support, and medication.
The structural caveat: Levity does not currently offer compounded Tirzepatide. Buyers who want Tirzepatide through Levity have to use branded Mounjaro at $1,249-1,299/month - pricing that is competitive with cash retail elsewhere but not with the compounded Tirzepatide options at ShedRX ($275-375) or Henry Meds ($449). For buyers who anticipate stepping up to Tirzepatide, starting at Levity creates a platform-switching cost - you are not getting the benefit of the value-tier Tirzepatide pricing the other compounded providers offer.
Where Levity wins: the lowest-friction entry economics for compounded Semaglutide-first buyers. The right buyer profile is someone with a moderate weight-loss target (10-15% body weight), willing to start on Semaglutide and reassess at the 6-month mark, and not anchored to a need for Tirzepatide-specific access. Where Levity does not fit: buyers who anticipate needing the dual-mechanism Tirzepatide should pick a platform that covers both compounded molecules from day one to avoid the platform-switching tax.
bmiMD - compounded Semaglutide and Tirzepatide by subscription
Plan prices set by plan length; see bmiMD's plan pages · Compounded · Full refund if found ineligible (brand-stated) · FSA/HSA accepted (brand-stated) · No affiliate relationship
This guide used to name bmiMD its value-tier pick, on prices checked in May 2026. On September 25, 2026, bmiMD's own Semaglutide and Tirzepatide plan pages listed different prices, set by plan length, and we have not re-checked the other four providers since May. A price ranking across the five would compare figures from different dates, so we removed the pick and bmiMD's May figures instead of ranking it on numbers that no longer hold.
What bmiMD's own pages stated on September 25, 2026: both programs are available in all 50 states; you get a full refund if its clinicians find you ineligible; FSA and HSA payment is accepted; and its refund policy allows no refunds once the pharmacy has processed an order, with a $50 cancellation fee after the intake form is sent. Lifespan Vault has no affiliate relationship with bmiMD (the programme is closed), so nothing on this page earns a commission from it. Our bmiMD review lists the plan prices with the date we read them.
Skip the category if…
- Your BMI is under 27 with no metabolic risk factors. The clinical-trial enrollment criteria for branded Wegovy and Zepbound center on BMI 30+ (or BMI 27+ with metabolic comorbidity). Buyers below that threshold without insulin resistance, prediabetes, hypertension, or other metabolic risk markers are unlikely to be approved by the platform's telehealth eligibility evaluation, and the off-label use case is meaningfully weaker on the risk-benefit math. The protocol that fits this buyer profile better is foundational metabolic work - diet quality, exercise volume, sleep, stress reduction - which has stronger evidence per dollar than off-label GLP-1 supplementation at moderate body composition.
- You are pregnant or planning pregnancy. GLP-1s are contraindicated in pregnancy and the platforms in this guide will not prescribe to pregnant patients. Buyers planning pregnancy within 12 months should defer GLP-1 supplementation until after the postpartum window, and buyers who become pregnant on a GLP-1 should discontinue immediately and contact their prescriber.
- You have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN-2 syndrome. This is a hard contraindication for GLP-1 receptor agonists per the FDA black-box warning. The platforms in this guide will screen for this on the eligibility evaluation, but buyers with a known history should not pursue GLP-1 supplementation through telehealth or any other channel without specialist endocrinology consultation first.
- You have a history of pancreatitis or active gallbladder disease. GLP-1s elevate the risk of pancreatitis and gallbladder disease. Buyers with prior pancreatitis episodes or active gallbladder disease should run the decision through a specialist, not a telehealth eligibility evaluation. The platforms will screen for major risk factors but the risk-benefit math at the individual level requires specialist input.
- Your insurance covers branded Wegovy or Zepbound. If your plan covers the branded product at a copay you can absorb, that is the cheaper and safer path. Branded supply has more rigorous quality control than compounded supply, and the cost-savings argument for compounded telehealth disappears when insurance is paying for branded retail. Run the prior-authorization process with your primary care first; only fall back to telehealth compounded supply if insurance coverage is unavailable.
- You have not addressed the foundational stack first. GLP-1s are a metabolic-aging intervention layered on top of foundational health behaviors. Buyers who have not addressed sleep quality, dietary protein adequacy, exercise volume, and resistance training are pricing in expensive medication on top of structural gaps that are cheaper and lower-risk to fix first. The right sequence is foundational stack first, comprehensive bloodwork second (see our best diagnostic platform guide), and pharmacological intervention third - not the reverse.
The decision framework
Three questions decide the right GLP-1 telehealth platform for most buyers:
- Compounded or branded? If your insurance covers branded Wegovy or Zepbound, run that through your primary care first - it is the cheaper and safer path. If insurance is unavailable and you are paying cash, compounded supply at $175-300/month vs branded retail at $1,000-1,400/month is the entire reason this category exists. The compounded providers in this guide (bmiMD, Henry Meds, ShedRX, Levity) are the right fit for cash-pay buyers; Hims is the right fit for buyers who want telehealth convenience but prefer branded sourcing.
- Semaglutide-only or both molecules? If you are starting on Semaglutide and reasonably confident you will not need to step up to Tirzepatide, Levity offers the lowest entry economics ($175-225/mo) and is hard to beat on cost. If you anticipate needing Tirzepatide either now or within 12 months, picking a platform that covers both compounded molecules (bmiMD, ShedRX, Henry Meds) avoids the platform-switching tax of moving providers mid-protocol.
- Value-tier or ecosystem-mature? Levity had the lowest compounded Semaglutide entry price among the May 2026 figures here. Henry Meds is the ecosystem-mature pick with the longest operational track record, broader pharmacy partner network, and the platform most likely to weather 2026-2027 regulatory changes intact. ShedRX is the multi-format pick for buyers who want non-injectable delivery options. Hims is the branded-supply pick post-March 2026 settlement. Pick the dimension that maps to your priority - cost, track record, format flexibility, or sourcing - and the platform follows.
On the May 2026 figures: if you weight ecosystem maturity, Henry Meds at $297/month Semaglutide and $449/month Tirzepatide is the longer-track-record alternative. If you want branded retail-grade access with telehealth convenience, Hims at $299/month branded Wegovy and $399/month branded Zepbound is the post-settlement default. If you specifically want compounded Tirzepatide value or non-injectable delivery formats, ShedRX at $275-375/month Tirzepatide or $199-229/month sublingual is the right call. If you want the lowest-entry compounded Semaglutide and don't anticipate needing Tirzepatide, Levity at $175-225/month is hard to beat. Pair any of these with a foundational diagnostic platform - see our best diagnostic platform guide for biomarker tracking - and remember that GLP-1 side effects are real and physician oversight is non-negotiable.
GLP-1 telehealth buyer's questions
Compounded vs branded - what is the difference?
Compounded GLP-1s contain the same active ingredient (Semaglutide or Tirzepatide) as branded Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Zepbound, but are mixed by a state-licensed compounding pharmacy rather than manufactured by Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly. The cost gap is large - compounded Semaglutide runs roughly $175-300/month vs $1,000-1,400/month for branded retail. The legal basis for compounded GLP-1 supply was the FDA shortage list designation that began in 2022; that shortage status was resolved in 2024-2025, and the regulatory ground beneath compounded supply has been narrowing since. As of mid-2026, some platforms (notably Hims) have exited compounded Semaglutide following settlement with Novo Nordisk and now default new patients to branded products. Compounded supply continues at other platforms but the long-term trajectory is uncertain. The active ingredient is the same molecule; the regulatory framework, sourcing chain, and quality-control model are not.
Will my insurance cover this?
Generally no for the platforms in this guide. bmiMD, Henry Meds, Hims, ShedRX, and Levity all operate cash-pay outside the insurance system: the membership pricing reflects the all-in monthly cost (medication + physician oversight + shipping). Some buyers can run branded Wegovy or Zepbound through insurance separately if they meet BMI and metabolic criteria, but coverage decisions vary widely by plan and the prior-authorization process is meaningful friction. Some of these platforms list HSA or FSA cards as a payment option, and the comparison table shows what we have for each. An accepted card is not a ruling that the purchase qualifies, so confirm with your plan administrator before you pay. The honest framing: GLP-1 telehealth is out-of-pocket spending, and the cost-savings argument vs branded retail is the entire reason the category exists. If your insurance covers branded retail, that is the cheaper path; if it does not, telehealth compounded supply is the alternative.
How long do you stay on GLP-1?
There is no universal answer. The clinical literature shows that weight regain after GLP-1 discontinuation is common - most patients regain 50-70% of lost weight within 12 months of stopping, in the absence of significant lifestyle change layered on top. That has driven the consensus that GLP-1s are typically a multi-year intervention rather than a short-term cycle, with some patients staying on them indefinitely (similar to a chronic-disease medication model) and others using them as a 6-18 month catalyst paired with sustained dietary and exercise change to maintain results post-discontinuation. The right duration depends on your starting BMI, metabolic risk profile, and behavioral capacity to sustain the protocol shifts the medication catalyzes. This is a conversation to have with your prescriber, not a decision to make off a guide.
What are the side effects?
Real for most users in the first 4-8 weeks. The most common side effects across both Semaglutide and Tirzepatide are gastrointestinal: nausea (most common, 15-30% of users), constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Most resolve as the body adjusts and as titration ramps up gradually. Less common but more serious risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney injury (typically secondary to dehydration from prolonged GI symptoms), and a contraindication for patients with personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN-2 syndrome. The platforms in this guide all titrate doses (start low, increase over weeks) specifically to minimize the GI side effects. Buyers should plan for a tolerable but uncomfortable first month and have a clear escalation path with their prescriber if symptoms persist past week 4-6.
Is compounded as effective as Wegovy?
The active ingredient is the same molecule, so the pharmacology is identical at equivalent doses. The variability is in the formulation, sourcing chain, and quality control of the specific compounding pharmacy a platform uses. State-licensed 503A compounding pharmacies follow USP standards but quality varies - buyers cannot directly inspect the chain. Reputable platforms partner with 503B outsourcing facilities (which face more rigorous FDA oversight than 503A) and publish their pharmacy partners. Independent third-party testing of compounded GLP-1s has historically shown most pass quality assays, but a meaningful minority have shown potency variation or contamination issues. The pragmatic frame: compounded supply at established platforms is generally safe and effective, but the QC variance is a real consideration that branded retail does not have. If price is no object and your insurance covers branded retail, branded is the safer path.
What if I am in CA, NC, or another higher-pricing state?
Pricing can vary by state because of state pharmacy regulations, board-of-pharmacy rules, and partner-pharmacy availability, and some platforms show state-specific pricing only after you complete the eligibility quiz. Check the price for your state before you pay. Some buyers in those states find the math closer to branded retail than the marketed compounded discount, which can shift the calculation toward running insurance through your primary care for branded supply instead.
Can I take peptides alongside?
Possibly, but not without prescriber coordination. The platforms in this guide are GLP-1-focused and typically do not prescribe other peptides. If you are running a peptide protocol (BPC-157, TB-500, growth hormone secretagogues, etc.) alongside GLP-1, you generally need a separate prescribing relationship with a peptide-friendly clinic - Marek Health and similar concierge providers are the typical path. The interaction risk is real for some combinations (e.g., GLP-1s slow gastric emptying, which can affect oral medication absorption timing). Buyers running multi-peptide stacks should ensure both prescribers know what the other is doing - splitting the prescribing relationship across platforms without coordination is the most common failure mode.
Tirzepatide vs Semaglutide - which to pick?
Tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist; Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) is a GLP-1-only agonist. The dual-mechanism Tirzepatide has shown stronger weight-loss outcomes in head-to-head trials - the SURMOUNT and STEP trial families generally show Tirzepatide producing 18-22% body-weight loss at peak doses vs 14-17% for Semaglutide. The trade-off: Tirzepatide is generally the more expensive of the two at the platforms in this guide, and the longer-running clinical evidence base is on Semaglutide. For most buyers, the right framework is to start with Semaglutide if cost is a constraint and weight-loss target is moderate (10-15% body weight), and step up to Tirzepatide if Semaglutide response is insufficient or the weight-loss target is more aggressive (20%+ body weight). This decision should be made with your prescriber, not off a comparison table.
Are these FDA-approved?
The branded products (Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Zepbound) are FDA-approved. The compounded products offered by most of these platforms are not FDA-approved as finished products - they are pharmacy-compounded under state-licensed compounding pharmacy regulations. The compounding-pharmacy model is legal under FDA rules, but the finished compounded product does not go through the same approval process as the branded retail. The FDA shortage-list mechanism that previously enabled large-scale compounded GLP-1 supply was resolved in 2024-2025, and FDA enforcement priorities around compounded supply have been shifting. Buyers should price in the regulatory uncertainty: compounded supply may face increased restrictions or platform exits in 2026-2027, similar to the Hims compounded-Semaglutide wind-down following the March 2026 Novo Nordisk settlement.
How does titration work?
GLP-1s are titrated up gradually to minimize GI side effects. The standard Semaglutide protocol starts at 0.25mg/week for the first 4 weeks, then 0.5mg/week for weeks 5-8, escalating to 1.0mg, 1.7mg, and finally 2.4mg/week as the maintenance dose for weight loss. Tirzepatide follows a similar pattern starting at 2.5mg/week and escalating in 2.5mg increments every 4 weeks up to a maximum of 15mg/week. The platforms in this guide manage titration through their physician-overseen protocols - your prescriber adjusts the dose based on tolerance and weight-loss response. Most buyers reach their target maintenance dose within 4-5 months of starting. Skipping titration steps is the most common cause of severe GI side effects, and the platforms generally do not let you fast-forward the schedule even if you tolerate the lower doses well.
Build the surrounding longevity stack
GLP-1 telehealth is one layer of a broader longevity stack. The other high-conviction layers most serious buyers run alongside metabolic-aging intervention:
- Best diagnostic platform 2026 - Mito Health, Function Health, InsideTracker, and Lifeforce compared. Comprehensive biomarker tracking is the data layer GLP-1 supplementation needs.
- Best NMN supplements 2026 - Wonderfeel, Renue by Science, Genuine Purity, and the Tru Niagen NR alternative for the NAD+ precursor layer.
- Best cold plunges 2026 - Plunge Pro, Renu, Edge, Ice Barrel head-to-head.
- Best longevity wearables 2026 - Oura, WHOOP, Ultrahuman, Apple Watch, Garmin compared.
- Best infrared saunas 2026 - the hot-side complement to cold plunge.
- Best sleep tech 2026 - mattresses, climate control, and sleep-stage tooling.
This guide was researched and written by the editorial team at Lifespan Vault. Platform pricing, molecule coverage, physician oversight model, state availability, and money-back policies were verified against manufacturer pages and category trackers on 2026-05-05. Pricing is dated and may shift; we update verified-at dates on individual product pages quarterly. Prices can vary by state; check yours before paying. bmiMD was rechecked against its own plan and refund pages on September 25, 2026, and its May figures and ranking were removed. No link in this guide earns a commission: bmiMD's affiliate programme is closed, and Henry Meds, Hims, ShedRX, and Levity are linked directly, untracked. Rankings and editorial coverage are not for sale, and disclosures appear on every product page. Not medical advice. GLP-1 medications require physician oversight; see your prescriber before starting any protocol. For our full review process, see methodology / test protocol.
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