GLP-1 prices
Cheapest GLP-1 without insurance: self-pay prices compared
Short answer
The lowest self-pay prices we found on September 26, 2026: the Wegovy pill from $149 a month and the Wegovy pen from $199 a month for new patients at NovoCare Pharmacy, and Zepbound from $299 a month at LillyDirect. These are FDA-approved brands. Compounded semaglutide costs $299 for a 3-month starter plan at GobyMeds (about $100 a month), but compounded medicines are not FDA-approved. All of them need a prescription.
Self-pay GLP-1 prices, September 26, 2026
FDA-approved brands, from the maker's own pharmacy
| Medicine | Where | Self-pay price | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy pill semaglutide tablets FDA-approved brand |
NovoCare Pharmacy Novo Nordisk's own self-pay pharmacy |
$149 to $299 a month |
|
| Wegovy pen semaglutide injection FDA-approved brand |
NovoCare Pharmacy Novo Nordisk's own self-pay pharmacy |
$199 to $399 a month |
|
| Zepbound tirzepatide, vial or KwikPen FDA-approved brand |
LillyDirect Eli Lilly's own self-pay program |
$299 to $449 a month |
Compounded versions, from online clinics
| Medicine | Where | Self-pay price | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compounded semaglutide made by a compounding pharmacy Compounded, not FDA-approved |
GobyMeds Online clinic |
From $169 for one month, or $299 for 3 months |
One month starts at $169. A 3-month starter plan for first-time patients is $299 and includes the medicine, shipping, the consultation and an injection kit. Bundles for higher strengths cost more. Needs a prescription from the clinic's provider. Compounded medicines are not FDA-approved. |
| Compounded tirzepatide made by a compounding pharmacy Compounded, not FDA-approved |
GobyMeds Online clinic |
$299 for one month, or $399 for 3 months |
One month is $299. A 3-month starter plan for first-time patients is $399 and includes the medicine, shipping, the consultation and an injection kit. Needs a prescription from the clinic's provider. Compounded medicines are not FDA-approved. |
| Compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide made by U.S. compounding pharmacies Compounded, not FDA-approved |
TeleWellnessMD Online clinic |
Semaglutide from $199.95; tirzepatide from $279.95 |
Prices go up with the strength prescribed. TeleWellnessMD says the price includes the provider review, the medicine, supplies and shipping, with no membership fee. Its page does not say how long that supply lasts. Needs a prescription from the clinic's provider. Compounded medicines are not FDA-approved. |
Brand-name through an online clinic
| Medicine | Where | Self-pay price | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy or Zepbound through an online clinic brand-name, same medicines as above FDA-approved brand |
GobyMeds Online clinic |
$1,399 to $1,695 a month |
GobyMeds lists Zepbound at $1,399 a month and Wegovy at $1,695 a month. Buying the same brand-name medicine through the maker's own self-pay pharmacy costs less. Needs a prescription. |
Prices copied from each seller's own page on September 26, 2026. Prices and offers change; the seller's page is final. Prices can rise at higher strengths or after an intro offer ends.
FDA-approved vs. compounded, in plain words
FDA-approved
Brand-name (Wegovy, Zepbound)
FDA-approved drugs go through FDA review for safety, effectiveness and quality before they are sold. Compounded drugs do not.
Not FDA-approved
Compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide
FDA says the shortages of tirzepatide (resolved December 19, 2024) and semaglutide (resolved February 21, 2025) are over. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. Now that the shortages are over, pharmacies may not make copies of these drugs unless a prescriber decides and writes down that a change in the compounded version makes a significant difference for that one patient.
Ask the clinic
Before you pay
Which medicine it is, whether it is FDA-approved or compounded, which pharmacy fills it, what the monthly price is after any intro offer, and what the price includes.
How to buy a GLP-1 without insurance
- Get a prescription from a licensed clinician, in person or online.
- Brand-name: fill it through the maker's self-pay pharmacy, LillyDirect for Zepbound or NovoCare Pharmacy for Wegovy, at the prices above.
- Compounded: an online clinic's clinician prescribes it and the clinic's pharmacy ships it. At GobyMeds and TeleWellnessMD, the listed price includes the clinician's review.
- Compare the total monthly cost, including visit fees and the price after any intro offer ends.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest GLP-1 without insurance?
On September 26, 2026, the lowest self-pay prices we found for FDA-approved brands were the Wegovy pill from $149 a month and the Wegovy pen from $199 a month for new patients, both at NovoCare Pharmacy, and Zepbound from $299 a month at LillyDirect. Compounded semaglutide costs $299 for a 3-month starter plan at GobyMeds, but compounded medicines are not FDA-approved. All of them need a prescription.
Is compounded semaglutide cheaper than Wegovy?
Often, at first. GobyMeds lists one month of compounded semaglutide from $169, and NovoCare Pharmacy lists the Wegovy pen at $349 a month after its new-patient offer. But compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved, and FDA says pharmacies may now make copies only when a prescriber documents a significant difference for that one patient.
Do I need a prescription to buy a GLP-1 without insurance?
Yes. LillyDirect, NovoCare Pharmacy and the online clinics all require a prescription. An online clinic's clinician can write one if the medicine is right for you and your state allows it.
Why do prices go up at higher strengths?
The makers and clinics charge more for the higher strengths. Your clinician decides which strength you need, so ask for the monthly price at each step before you start.
Do you earn money from these links?
Some links on this site may be paid links, and when they are, they say Paid link. The table is grouped by type of medicine, not by who pays us, and nobody pays for a better position.
We list prices only. We don't give medical advice; talk to a licensed clinician about whether a GLP-1 is right for you.