Ozempic is semaglutide from Novo Nordisk, approved for type 2 diabetes, while Zepbound is tirzepatide from Eli Lilly, approved for weight management and obstructive sleep apnea with obesity. Both are weekly injections; Ozempic also comes as a daily tablet. Self-pay, the Ozempic pen costs $199 to $499 a month and the Zepbound KwikPen $299 to $449 with on-time refills, and only Zepbound is on Medicare's $50 GLP-1 Bridge.
- $199 to $499Ozempic pen, self-pay
- $149 to $299Ozempic pill, self-pay
- $299 to $449Zepbound KwikPen, self-pay
On this page
Prices at a glance
- Ozempic pen, self-pay$199 to $499
- Ozempic pill, self-pay$149 to $299
- Zepbound KwikPen, self-pay$299 to $449
- Commercial insurance with savings offer$25
- Medicare GLP-1 Bridge$50
Side by side
ozempic
zepbound
- Zepbound KwikPen, self-pay[3]$299 to $449$299 (2.5 mg), $399 (5 mg), $449 (7.5 mg to 15 mg) with a refill within 45 days; $499 to $699 without
Applies to both
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 Zepbound side by side
| Ozempic | Zepbound | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; daily tablet (1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg)[5][8] | 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 for 4 weeks, then up 2.5 mg at a time to 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg[6] |
| FDA-approved uses | Blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes; lowering heart risks with type 2 diabetes and heart disease; lowering kidney decline and heart death risk with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease[5] | Weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition; moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity[6] |
| Weight results on the label | 6.4 kg on 2 mg and 5.6 kg on 1 mg at 40 weeks, adults with type 2 diabetes[5] | 20.9% on 15 mg at 72 weeks vs 3.1% on placebo, adults without diabetes; 14.7% vs 3.2% in adults with type 2 diabetes[6] |
| Self-pay price | Pen $199 to $499; pill $149 to $299[1][2] | KwikPen $299 to $449 with on-time refills[3] |
| Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | Not covered[4] | KwikPen only, $50 a month[4] |
Ozempic vs Zepbound for weight loss
Zepbound is approved for weight management and Ozempic is not, so their trials measured different things.[5][6] In Zepbound’s main 72-week trial, adults without diabetes lost an average 15.0% on 5 mg, 19.5% on 10 mg and 20.9% on 15 mg, against 3.1% on placebo. In adults with type 2 diabetes, it was 12.8% on 10 mg and 14.7% on 15 mg, against 3.2%.[6] On the Ozempic label, adults with type 2 diabetes lost 5.6 kg on 1 mg and 6.4 kg on 2 mg over 40 weeks.[5]
The closest direct comparison is SURMOUNT-5, which tested tirzepatide against semaglutide at weight management doses (semaglutide 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg, as in Wegovy, not Ozempic): average weight loss at 72 weeks was 20.2% against 13.7%. It was open label and funded by Eli Lilly.[7] See Wegovy vs Zepbound for that comparison. Talk with a clinician about which drug fits your diagnosis.
Ozempic vs Zepbound cost
- Ozempic: $199 for each of a new patient’s first two pen 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. Pills are $149, $199 and $299 by dose.[1][2]
- Zepbound: the KwikPen is $299 for 2.5 mg, $399 for 5 mg and $449 for 7.5 mg to 15 mg with a refill within 45 days, or $499 to $699 without.[3]
- With commercial coverage: the Ozempic offer lets you pay as little as $25 a month, up to $100 off a month.[1] The Zepbound Savings Card lets you pay as little as $25 for the single-dose pen and ends December 31, 2026.[3]
See the Ozempic cost per month and Zepbound self pay cost guides for every dose.
Ozempic vs Zepbound and Medicare
The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge covers the Zepbound KwikPen for $50 a month; the single-dose pen and vials are not covered, and Ozempic is not on the list.[4] To qualify you must not have type 2 diabetes, moderate to severe sleep apnea or fatty liver disease; people with those conditions should ask their Medicare drug plan, which may already cover a GLP-1.[4]
Ozempic vs Zepbound side effects
Reported in at least 5% of people in the label trials:
- Ozempic pen: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation.[5]
- Zepbound: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, indigestion, injection site reactions, fatigue, allergic reactions, burping, hair loss and acid reflux.[6]
Both 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] The Zepbound label says not to combine it with any GLP-1 receptor agonist.[6]
Talk with a clinician
Your diagnosis, health history and coverage decide which drug, if either, makes sense. 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 Zepbound better than Ozempic for weight loss?
They have not been compared head to head on their labels. Zepbound is approved for weight management, and in its main trial adults without diabetes lost an average 20.9% at 72 weeks on 15 mg against 3.1% on placebo. Ozempic is a type 2 diabetes drug; on its label, adults with diabetes lost 6.4 kg on 2 mg at 40 weeks. Talk with a clinician about which fits you.
Is Ozempic or Zepbound cheaper?
At starting doses, Ozempic is cheaper: $199 for a new patient's first two pen fills and $149 for the starting pill, against $299 for the 2.5 mg Zepbound KwikPen. At top doses, Ozempic 2 mg is $499 and Zepbound 7.5 mg to 15 mg is $449 with a refill within 45 days.
Can you switch from Ozempic to Zepbound?
Only with your prescriber. The Zepbound label says not to use it with any GLP-1 receptor agonist, which includes Ozempic, and every Zepbound start is at 2.5 mg for 4 weeks. Your clinician decides the timing and dose.
Does Medicare cover Ozempic or Zepbound?
The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge covers the Zepbound KwikPen for $50 a month for eligible enrollees, but not Ozempic. People with type 2 diabetes are not eligible for the Bridge and should ask their drug plan, which may already cover a GLP-1.
What is the difference between tirzepatide and semaglutide?
Semaglutide, in Ozempic, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Tirzepatide, in Zepbound, acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. In the SURMOUNT-5 trial of adults with obesity, average weight loss at 72 weeks was 20.2% on tirzepatide and 13.7% on semaglutide at weight management doses.
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. Zepbound coverage and savings. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 4 Medicare.gov. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: GLP-1 drugs for $50 a month (fact sheet, June 2026). 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). Zepbound (tirzepatide) injection: prescribing information. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 7 New England Journal of Medicine (abstract on PubMed). Aronne LJ et al. Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity (SURMOUNT-5), 2025. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 8 DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Rybelsus and Ozempic (semaglutide) tablets: prescribing information. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.