Ozempic (semaglutide, Novo Nordisk) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide, Eli Lilly) are both weekly injections approved for type 2 diabetes, and neither is approved for weight loss. In the 40-week SURPASS-2 trial on the Mounjaro label, A1C fell 2.3 points on Mounjaro 15 mg and 1.9 points on semaglutide 1 mg, with weight loss of 11.2 kg against 5.7 kg. Self-pay, the Ozempic pen costs $199 to $499 a month, while Mounjaro lists at $1,112.16 per 28 days; with covering commercial insurance, both savings offers start at $25.
- $199 to $499Ozempic pen, self-pay
- $149 to $299Ozempic pill, self-pay
- $25Ozempic, commercial insurance with savings offer
On this page
Prices at a glance
- Ozempic pen, self-pay$199 to $499
- Ozempic pill, self-pay$149 to $299
- Ozempic, commercial insurance with savings offer$25
- Mounjaro, list price per 28-day supply$1,112.16
- Mounjaro, commercial insurance that covers it, with Savings Card$25
- Mounjaro, commercial insurance that does not cover it, with Savings Card$499
Side by side
ozempic
- Ozempic pen, self-pay[1]$199 to $499$199 for a new patient's first 2 fills through December 31, 2026; then $349 (up to 1 mg) or $499 (2 mg)
- Ozempic pill, self-pay[2]$149 to $299$149 (1.5 mg), $199 (4 mg), $299 (9 mg)
- Ozempic, commercial insurance with savings offer[1]$25Savings capped at $100 a month, for up to 48 months
mounjaro
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
Ozempic vs Mounjaro side by side
| Ozempic | Mounjaro | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Semaglutide[5] | Tirzepatide[6] |
| Maker | Novo Nordisk[1] | Eli Lilly[3] |
| How it works | GLP-1 receptor agonist[5] | GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist[6] |
| Forms and schedule | Weekly pen; also a daily tablet[5][7] | Weekly injection: single-dose pen, vial or KwikPen[6] |
| Doses | 0.25 mg for 4 weeks, then 0.5 mg; 1 mg and 2 mg if needed[5] | 2.5 mg, raised by 2.5 mg after at least 4 weeks if needed; up to 15 mg in adults[6] |
| FDA-approved uses | Blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes; lowering heart risks in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease; lowering kidney decline and heart death risk in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease[5] | Blood sugar control in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes; lowering heart attack, stroke and heart death risk in adults with type 2 diabetes at high risk[6] |
| Self-pay price | Pen $199 to $499; pill $149 to $299[1][2] | No posted self-pay price; list $1,112.16 per 28 days[3][4] |
| Savings card with commercial coverage | As little as $25, up to $100 off a month[1] | As little as $25; $499 if your plan does not cover it; ends December 31, 2026[4] |
| Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | Not covered[8] | Not covered[8] |
Ozempic vs Mounjaro head to head
The SURPASS-2 trial, described on the Mounjaro label, compared the two directly. It randomly assigned 1,879 adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin to Mounjaro 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg, or semaglutide 1 mg, once weekly for 40 weeks. It was open label except for the Mounjaro dose.[6]
| After 40 weeks | Semaglutide 1 mg | Mounjaro 5 mg | Mounjaro 10 mg | Mounjaro 15 mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1C change (points) | -1.9 | -2.0 | -2.2 | -2.3 |
| Reached A1C under 7% | 79% | 82% | 86% | 86% |
| Weight change | -5.7 kg | -7.6 kg | -9.3 kg | -11.2 kg |
Source: Mounjaro prescribing information.[6] The trial used semaglutide 1 mg; Ozempic also comes in a 2 mg dose, which the trial did not test.[5][6] On the Ozempic label, 2 mg led to 6.4 kg of weight loss at 40 weeks against 5.6 kg on 1 mg.[5] Talk with a clinician about which fits your treatment.
Ozempic vs Mounjaro for weight loss
Neither drug is approved for weight loss. Ozempic’s label covers only type 2 diabetes uses,[5] and Lilly states Mounjaro is not a weight loss drug, while noting that adults with type 2 diabetes lost 12 pounds on 5 mg to 25 pounds on 15 mg in its studies.[3] The same ingredients are sold for weight management as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide). See semaglutide vs tirzepatide for the weight trial that compared them.
Ozempic vs Mounjaro cost
- Ozempic, cash: $199 for each of a new patient’s first two fills of 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg through December 31, 2026, then $349 for up to 1 mg and $499 for 2 mg. The pill is $149 to $299.[1][2] TrumpRx lists Ozempic at $199 a month and does not list Mounjaro.[10]
- Mounjaro, cash: Lilly says to expect about the full retail price without coverage; the list price is $1,112.16 for a 28-day supply.[3]
- With commercial coverage: the Ozempic offer lets you pay as little as $25 a month, up to $100 off a month for up to 48 months.[1] The Mounjaro card lets you pay as little as $25 if your plan covers it, or as low as $499 a month if it does not, and expires December 31, 2026.[4]
Neither offer works with Medicare, Medicaid or other government plans.[1][4] See the Ozempic cost per month and Mounjaro cost guides for more.
Ozempic vs Mounjaro side effects
Reported in at least 5% of people in the label trials:
- Ozempic pen: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation.[5]
- Mounjaro: nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, indigestion and abdominal pain.[6]
Both labels carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents and are not for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2.[5][6]
Compounded semaglutide vs Ozempic
Compounded drugs are not FDA approved, and the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are sold. The FDA also warns of counterfeit Ozempic in the U.S.[9] See the compounded semaglutide cost guide.
Talk with a clinician
Both drugs can fit type 2 diabetes treatment, and the right one depends on your health, your other medicines and your coverage. 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
Is Ozempic more effective than Mounjaro for weight loss?
In SURPASS-2, adults with type 2 diabetes lost 5.7 kg on semaglutide 1 mg (an Ozempic dose) and 7.6 kg, 9.3 kg and 11.2 kg on Mounjaro 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg after 40 weeks. Neither drug is approved for weight loss; their weight management versions are Wegovy and Zepbound. Talk with a clinician about your goals.
Can a doctor prescribe Ozempic just for weight loss?
Ozempic's FDA-approved uses are all for adults with type 2 diabetes, and its label does not include weight management. Wegovy, which has the same ingredient, is the semaglutide brand approved for weight management. Prescribing decisions belong to your clinician; ask your plan whether it covers the drug for your diagnosis.
What is the difference between compounded semaglutide and Ozempic?
Ozempic is FDA approved. Compounded semaglutide is not, and the FDA says it does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are sold. The FDA also warns that counterfeit Ozempic has been sold in the U.S.
What medicine is equivalent to Ozempic?
Wegovy has the same ingredient, semaglutide, labeled for weight management. Ozempic tablets and Rybelsus are oral semaglutide for type 2 diabetes, but their label says they are not interchangeable mg for mg with each other. No other brand is a direct equivalent; your clinician decides any switch.
Is Mounjaro or Ozempic cheaper?
Paying cash, Ozempic is cheaper: its pen costs $199 to $499 a month through NovoCare, while Mounjaro's list price is $1,112.16 for 28 days and Lilly posts no self-pay price. With commercial coverage, both savings offers let you pay as little as $25.
Does Medicare cover Ozempic or Mounjaro?
Neither is on the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge. Medicare tells people with type 2 diabetes to ask their drug plan, which may already cover a GLP-1 drug. Neither maker's savings card can be used with Medicare.
Related
Sources
- 1 Novo Nordisk NovoCare. Ozempic cost navigator: frequently asked questions. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 2 Novo Nordisk NovoCare. Ozempic pill and pen price guide. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 3 Eli Lilly and Company. Mounjaro frequently asked questions. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 4 Eli Lilly and Company. Mounjaro savings and resources. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 5 DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Ozempic (semaglutide) injection: prescribing information. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 6 DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injection: prescribing information. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 7 DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Rybelsus and Ozempic (semaglutide) tablets: prescribing information. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 8 Medicare.gov. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: GLP-1 drugs for $50 a month (fact sheet, June 2026). Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 9 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 10 TrumpRx.gov. TrumpRx GLP-1 prices. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.