How much do weight loss injections cost, and which are cheapest?

Last updated

Short answer

Weight loss injections cost $199 to $449 a month paying cash through the makers' online self-pay programs in October 2026. The cheapest are the Wegovy pen at $199 a month for a new patient's first two fills (then $349) and the Zepbound KwikPen at $299 a month for the 2.5 mg starting dose. With commercial insurance, maker savings cards can cut the cost to $25, and eligible Medicare patients pay $50 a month.

Prices are national ranges from the sources listed below. Your price depends on your provider, location and case; confirm the cost with your provider before treatment. How we get these prices

Lowest monthly cost by how you pay, October 2026
ItemLowHighTypicalNotes
Cash, lowest brand injection (Wegovy pen, new patients)[1] $199 First 2 fills of 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg, through December 31, 2026
Commercial insurance with maker savings card[1][2] $25 Wegovy or Zepbound single-dose pen, if covered; card limits apply
Medicare GLP-1 Bridge[3] $50 Wegovy, Zepbound KwikPen or Foundayo, if eligible
Compounded semaglutide, telehealth[4] $99$399$199 Median of 16 sellers; not FDA approved
Compounded tirzepatide, telehealth[4] $129$549$256.50 Median of 16 sellers; not FDA approved
Online clinician visit, CVS MinuteClinic[8] $29 Per visit, no membership fee; the medicine is separate

Weight loss injections cost by drug and dose

Brand self-pay prices from the makers, per month, for the drugs approved for weight management:

Drug and form Starting dose Higher doses
Wegovy pen (semaglutide, weekly) $199 for 2 intro fills, then $349 $349; Wegovy HD 7.2 mg $399
Zepbound KwikPen (tirzepatide, weekly) $299 (2.5 mg) $399 (5 mg); $449 (7.5 mg to 15 mg) with refill within 45 days
Wegovy pill (semaglutide, daily tablet, not an injection) $149 (1.5 mg) $199 (4 mg); $299 (9 mg, 25 mg)

Sources: NovoCare for Wegovy[1] and Lilly for Zepbound.[2] The Wegovy intro price is for new patients and runs through December 31, 2026.[1] Without an on-time refill, the Zepbound KwikPen costs $499 for 7.5 mg and $699 for 10 mg to 15 mg.[2] For dose-by-dose detail, see the Wegovy pill cost and Zepbound self pay cost guides.

Cheapest weight loss injections online

You can buy brand injections online straight from the makers at the prices above, with a prescription:

  • NovoCare (Wegovy): home delivery, or pickup at a local pharmacy of your choice, at the same self-pay price.[1]
  • LillyDirect (Zepbound): the self-pay KwikPen and vial offer through LillyDirect Pharmacy or another pharmacy.[2]
  • TrumpRx: lists the Wegovy pen at $199 a month and Zepbound at $299, and asks for your zip code to show local prices.[10]

You still need a clinician’s prescription. CVS MinuteClinic charges $29 for an online weight loss visit with a licensed clinician, with no membership or monthly fee.[8] Telehealth sellers that bundle a visit with compounded medicine list their own prices; see the compounded semaglutide cost guide.

Diabetes injections are not cheaper

Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. Ozempic pen self-pay prices are $199 for two intro fills, then $349 to $499 a month.[5] Mounjaro lists at $1,112.16 for a 28-day supply,[9] and its savings card brings a month to $499 for commercially insured patients whose plan does not cover it.[6]

Cheapest with insurance or Medicare

  • Commercial insurance: If your plan covers the drug, the Wegovy savings offer and the Zepbound Savings Card can bring a fill to $25, up to each program’s limits. Government plan members are excluded.[1][2] The Zepbound card expires December 31, 2026.[2]
  • Medicare: The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge covers Wegovy (injection or tablet), the Zepbound KwikPen and Foundayo (a tablet) for $50 a month for eligible Part D enrollees. Zepbound single-dose pens and vials are not covered.[3]

Compounded weight loss injections

The October 2026 seller index in the table above was published by a company that sells compounded GLP-1s.[4] Compounded drugs are not FDA approved, and the FDA’s shortage-era leeway for compounding these drugs ended in 2025.[7]

How to find the lowest price for you

  1. Check insurance and Medicare first. A covered fill with a savings card can be $25, and the Medicare Bridge is $50.[1][3]
  2. Use the new patient Wegovy offer if it fits. $199 for each of the first two months through December 31, 2026.[1]
  3. Refill Zepbound on time. For 7.5 mg and up, refilling within 45 days keeps the price at $449.[2]
  4. Price the full plan. Compare the medicine, visit, lab and membership costs together, and let your clinician pick the drug and dose. Care Anytime members can reach state-licensed doctors by phone or video for non-emergency care through virtual physician access; we do not sell these drugs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best injection for weight loss for the price?

There is no single best choice; your clinician decides which drug and dose fit you. On price alone, the lowest brand cash price is the Wegovy pen at $199 a month for a new patient's first two fills, then $349, and the Zepbound KwikPen starts at $299 a month for 2.5 mg.

Is tirzepatide or semaglutide cheaper?

At starting doses, semaglutide brand Wegovy is cheaper: $199 a month for the first two pen fills versus $299 for the 2.5 mg Zepbound KwikPen (tirzepatide). At maintenance doses, the Wegovy pen is $349 and Zepbound is $449 with an on-time refill.

Is Ozempic cheaper than Wegovy for weight loss?

Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. Its self-pay pen prices are $199 for two intro fills, then $349 to $499 a month, which is similar to or higher than the Wegovy pen.

Are compounded weight loss injections the cheapest?

Not always. Listed compounded semaglutide prices ranged from $99 to $399 a month in an October 2026 index, which overlaps brand self-pay prices of $199 to $449. Compounded drugs are not FDA approved.

How much weight is healthy to lose per week?

The CDC says people who lose weight gradually and steadily, about 1 to 2 pounds a week, are more likely to keep the weight off.

Related

Sources

  1. Novo Nordisk NovoCare. Price your Wegovy: self-pay and savings offers for the pill and pen. Accessed October 30, 2026.
  2. Eli Lilly and Company. Zepbound coverage and savings. Accessed October 30, 2026.
  3. Medicare.gov. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: GLP-1 drugs for $50 a month (fact sheet, June 2026). Accessed October 30, 2026.
  4. HealthRx. Compounded GLP-1 price index (prices checked October 16, 2026; publisher sells compounded GLP-1s). Accessed October 30, 2026.
  5. Novo Nordisk NovoCare. Ozempic cost navigator: frequently asked questions. Accessed October 30, 2026.
  6. Eli Lilly and Company. Mounjaro savings and resources. Accessed October 30, 2026.
  7. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA clarifies policies for compounders as national GLP-1 supply begins to stabilize. Accessed October 30, 2026.
  8. CVS Health. CVS Health enhances its direct-to-consumer weight management offerings (August 5, 2026). Accessed October 30, 2026.
  9. Eli Lilly and Company. Mounjaro frequently asked questions. Accessed October 30, 2026.
  10. TrumpRx.gov. TrumpRx GLP-1 prices. Accessed October 30, 2026.
  11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Steps for losing weight. Accessed October 30, 2026.