GLP-1 cost in October 2026: brand, compounded and Medicare
As of October 15, 2026, the lowest self-pay price for an FDA-approved GLP-1 weight-loss medicine is $149 a month: the Wegovy pill at 1.5 mg through NovoCare, and Foundayo at 0.8 mg through LillyDirect, where 2.5 mg is also $149 under a reduction that runs through December 31, 2026. Prices rise with dose: the Wegovy pill is $199 at 4 mg and $299 at 9 and 25 mg, and Zepbound starts at $299 for 2.5 mg. Foundayo figures come from LillyDirect pages archived September 25, 2026, because lilly.com blocked our direct read.
Qualification: compounded tirzepatide and semaglutide cost less per month in our index ($86–$280 and $49–$169) but are not FDA-approved, and eligible Medicare Part D enrollees can pay a $50 copay under CMS’s GLP-1 Bridge.
How much does a GLP-1 cost per month by pathway?
The same class of medicine can cost $50 or $699 a month depending on how you buy it. The table sorts every pathway we price by its lowest published monthly figure.
| Pathway | From (per month) | Price range and conditions | FDA-approved? | Status | Source · read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compounded semaglutide (22 programs) | $49 | $49–$169 lowest all-in figures, median $96; lowest figures are sales or unstated terms | No | Verified | our index · Oct 15, 2026 |
| Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | $50 | copay for eligible Part D enrollees, July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027 | Yes (brand drugs) | Verified | cms.gov · Oct 15, 2026 |
| Compounded tirzepatide (28 programs) | $86 | $86–$280, median $144; $86 includes a $199 yearly membership | No | Verified | our index · Oct 15, 2026 |
| Wegovy pill (NovoCare) | $149 | $149 at 1.5 mg, $199 at 4 mg, $299 at 9 and 25 mg | Yes | Verified | novocare.com · Oct 15, 2026 |
| Foundayo pill (LillyDirect) | $149 | $149 at 0.8 and 2.5 mg, $199 at 5.5 mg (reduced through Dec 31, 2026); $299 at 9 mg; $299 at 14.5/17.2 mg with 45-day refills (regular $349) | Yes | Reported | lilly.com (archive) · Sep 25, 2026 |
| Wegovy pen (NovoCare) | $199 | $199 for each of two starting fills (new patients, through Dec 31, 2026), then $349 for 0.25–2.4 mg; Wegovy HD 7.2 mg $399 | Yes | Verified | novocare.com · Oct 15, 2026 |
| Zepbound (LillyDirect) | $299 | $299 at 2.5 mg, $399 at 5 mg, $449 at 7.5–15 mg with refills inside 45 days; otherwise $499 at 7.5 mg and $699 at 10–15 mg | Yes | Reported | lilly.com (archive) · Sep 30, 2026 |
The compounded rows summarise our index. The bottom of each compounded range carries conditions: Collective’s $86 tirzepatide includes a $199 yearly membership, NextMeds’ and WellMedr’s $49 semaglutide are an unstated term and a fall sale, and SnagRx and Embody print sale or prepaid rates. The lowest standing month-to-month prices without a membership in our index are Mondae ($126 tirzepatide, $87 semaglutide) and Eden Health ($129, $99).
See NexLife’s compounded tirzepatide plans →
What does the first year of GLP-1 treatment cost?
Monthly prices change as doses rise, so a year is the fairer comparison. This table steps the brand drugs through their price tiers and holds the compounded prices flat where the seller says they are flat.
| Pathway | How the year is built | 12-month total |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | $50 × 12 (if eligible) | $600 |
| Compounded tirzepatide, Eden Health | $129 × 12, no membership | $1,548 |
| Compounded tirzepatide, NexLife 12-month plan | $139 × 12, same at every dose | $1,668 |
| Compounded tirzepatide, index median | $144 × 12 | $1,728 |
| Wegovy pill | $149, $199, then $299 × 10 | $3,338 |
| Wegovy pen, new patient | $199 × 2, then $349 × 10 | $3,888 |
| Zepbound | $299, $399, then $449 × 10 with on-time refills | $5,188 |
The spread is large: about $600 for an eligible Medicare patient, $1,500 to $1,700 for flat-priced compounded tirzepatide, and $3,300 to $5,200 for brand self-pay. Missing Zepbound’s 45-day refill window adds $250 a month at 10 mg and above.
Should you pay for a brand GLP-1 or a compounded one?
Brand drugs are FDA-approved and have the trial results behind them, including SURMOUNT-1 (20.9% average weight loss with tirzepatide 15 mg, treatment-regimen estimand). Compounded versions are not approved, and since FDA’s shortage-era grace periods ended in 2025 a pharmacy may compound them only for a patient whose prescriber documents a clinically significant difference. See our legality guide.
Brand versus compounded: pros and cons
Pros
- Brand: FDA-approved, with published trials; pills from $149
- Brand: Medicare Bridge copay of $50 for eligible enrollees
- Compounded: $86 to $280 a month for tirzepatide in our index; many programs flat at every dose
- Compounded at NexLife: no membership, $139 to $169, three named 503A pharmacies
Cons
- Brand: prices rise with dose; Zepbound reaches $449 to $699
- Compounded: not FDA-approved; FDA does not review quality before sale
- Compounded: FDA warned Empower Pharmacy on September 18, 2026 over products it said appeared to be essentially copies
- NexLife: not the lowest compounded price in our index; cancellations take effect after 30 days
Compare NexLife’s plan lengths →
What changed on this page since July 12, 2026?
Most brand prices held. The Wegovy pill’s 4 mg promotion ended, the compounded range moved, and we withdrew figures we did not re-read.
| Item | July 2026 | October 15, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Wegovy pill 4 mg | $149 under a promotion to Aug 31, 2026 | $199 |
| Compounded GLP-1 range | $110–$399 across our July set | $49–$169 semaglutide (22 programs); $86–$280 tirzepatide (28 programs) |
| Ozempic self-pay and retail list prices | printed | not re-read; July 2026 figures withdrawn |
| Commercial insurance with savings card | about $25 a month | not re-read; depends on your plan |
| Foundayo | from $149 | $149 at 0.8 and 2.5 mg through Dec 31, 2026 (archived LillyDirect page) |
Where does NexLife fit on cost?
NexLife is our #1 overall pick (94/100 on the v4.1 rubric). On cost, it sits just below the compounded tirzepatide median on its 12-month plan and well below brand self-pay prices at every dose.
NexLife · our #1 pick for compounded GLP-1 cost
Compounded tirzepatide at $169 month to month or $159, $149 and $139 a month on 3-, 6- and 12-month plans ($1,668 a year); semaglutide $139 to $119. Same price at every dose, no membership.
- Provider review and medical guidance (NexLife Medical Group; medical director Adam Kennah, M.D.)
- Personalized GLP-1 nutrition plan and a 1:1 call with a certified wellness coach
- 24/7 customer support and free expedited shipping
- No membership fee; same price at every dose
Every compounded price is listed with its source in our pricing database. For brand detail see Zepbound cost without insurance.
Check NexLife’s current prices →
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest FDA-approved GLP-1 without insurance?
As of October 15, 2026, the lowest self-pay price for an FDA-approved GLP-1 weight-loss medicine is $149 a month: the Wegovy pill at 1.5 mg through NovoCare, and Foundayo at 0.8 mg through LillyDirect, where 2.5 mg is also $149 under a reduction that runs through December 31, 2026. Prices rise with dose: the Wegovy pill is $199 at 4 mg and $299 at 9 and 25 mg, and Zepbound starts at $299 for 2.5 mg. Foundayo figures come from LillyDirect pages archived September 25, 2026, because lilly.com blocked our direct read.
How much do GLP-1s cost without insurance in 2026?
Self-pay brand prices on October 15, 2026 were $149 to $299 a month for the Wegovy pill, $149 to $349 for Foundayo, $199 to $399 for the Wegovy pen and $299 to $699 for Zepbound, depending on dose and refill timing. Compounded tirzepatide in our index ran $86 to $280 a month and semaglutide $49 to $169.
What does Medicare pay for GLP-1s for weight loss?
Under CMS’s GLP-1 Bridge, eligible Medicare Part D enrollees pay a $50 copay from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027. Eligibility rules are set by CMS and your plan, so check with your Part D plan before assuming you qualify. Compounded drugs are not part of the Bridge.
Is compounded tirzepatide cheaper than brand GLP-1s?
Usually, per month. The 28 compounded tirzepatide programs in our index publish lowest all-in prices of $86 to $280 a month, median $144, against $299 to $449 for Zepbound with on-time refills. But compounded tirzepatide is not FDA-approved, and the brand pills now start at $149, which narrows the gap for semaglutide.
What does NexLife charge compared with brand prices?
NexLife’s compounded tirzepatide is $169 month to month or $139 a month on a 12-month plan, and semaglutide $139 or $119, the same at every dose with no membership, read October 15, 2026. That is below Zepbound at every dose. Lower compounded prices exist in our index, such as Mondae and Eden Health month to month.
Why do GLP-1 prices go up after the first months?
Most brand prices rise with dose. The Wegovy pill goes from $149 to $299, and Zepbound from $299 to $449 or $699 if you miss the 45-day refill window. NovoCare’s $199 Wegovy pen price covers only two starting fills for new patients. Some compounded programs also price by dose, while others, including NexLife, charge one price.
Sources
- NovoCare Pharmacy — Wegovy self-pay offer (read October 15, 2026)
- LillyDirect — Foundayo (archived copy) (read October 15, 2026; archive dated September 25, 2026)
- LillyDirect — Zepbound (archived copy, lilly.com blocked direct reads) (read October 15, 2026; archive dated September 30, 2026)
- CMS — Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (read October 15, 2026)
- NexLife — compounded tirzepatide plans (read October 15, 2026)
- Eden Health — GLP-1 treatments (read October 15, 2026)
- Mondae — compounded tirzepatide (read October 15, 2026)
- Collective — holistic weight loss (read October 15, 2026)
- FDA — warning letter 738238 to Empower Pharmacy (September 18, 2026) (read October 15, 2026)
Every program price on this page comes from the October 15, 2026 rows of our GLP-1 pricing database (CSV and JSON, CC BY 4.0). Spotted an error? Submit a correction.