Wegovy contains semaglutide from Novo Nordisk and comes as a weekly pen or a daily pill, while Zepbound contains tirzepatide from Eli Lilly and is a weekly injection only. In the SURMOUNT-5 head to head trial, adults with obesity lost an average 20.2% of body weight on tirzepatide and 13.7% on semaglutide at 72 weeks. Self-pay, Wegovy costs $149 to $399 a month and Zepbound $299 to $449 with on-time refills, and both are $50 a month for eligible Medicare patients.
- $149 to $299Wegovy pill, self-pay
- $199 to $399Wegovy pen, self-pay
- $299 to $449Zepbound KwikPen, self-pay
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Prices at a glance
- Wegovy pill, self-pay$149 to $299
- Wegovy pen, self-pay$199 to $399
- Zepbound KwikPen, self-pay$299 to $449
- Zepbound KwikPen, 7.5 mg to 15 mg, late refill$499 to $699
- Commercial insurance with savings offer$25
- Medicare GLP-1 Bridge$50
- TrumpRx listed price$149 to $299
Side by side
wegovy
zepbound
Applies to both
- Commercial insurance with savings offer[1][2]$25Wegovy pill or pen (savings up to $100 a month); Zepbound single-dose pen (card ends December 31, 2026)
- Medicare GLP-1 Bridge[3]$50Wegovy injection or tablet; Zepbound KwikPen only
- TrumpRx listed price[4]$149 to $299Wegovy pill $149, Wegovy pen $199, Zepbound $299
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
Wegovy vs Zepbound side by side
| Wegovy | Zepbound | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Semaglutide[6] | Tirzepatide[7] |
| Maker | Novo Nordisk[1] | Eli Lilly[2] |
| How it works | GLP-1 receptor agonist[6] | GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist[7] |
| Forms and schedule | Weekly pen, or a daily tablet taken on an empty stomach with up to 4 ounces of water[6] | Weekly injection: single-dose pen, vial or KwikPen[7] |
| Doses | Pen 0.25 mg rising every 4 weeks to 2.4 mg, with 7.2 mg (Wegovy HD) possible; pill 1.5 mg rising every 30 days to 25 mg[6] | 2.5 mg for 4 weeks, then up 2.5 mg at a time to 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg[7] |
| FDA-approved uses | Weight management in adults (and ages 12 and up for the pen); lowering heart attack, stroke and heart death risk in adults with heart disease and obesity or overweight; MASH liver disease with moderate to advanced scarring (pen)[6] | Weight management in adults; moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity[7] |
| Label trial weight loss | 14.9% at 68 weeks on 2.4 mg vs 2.4% on placebo; 18.8% at 72 weeks on 7.2 mg vs 3.9%; 13.6% at 64 weeks on the 25 mg pill vs 2.4%[6] | 20.9% at 72 weeks on 15 mg, 19.5% on 10 mg, 15.0% on 5 mg, vs 3.1% on placebo[7] |
| Self-pay price | Pill $149 to $299; pen $199 to $399[1] | KwikPen $299 to $449 with on-time refills[2] |
| Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | $50 a month, injection or tablet[3] | $50 a month, KwikPen only[3] |
The label trial numbers come from separate placebo-controlled studies, so they are not a direct comparison. The direct comparison is SURMOUNT-5, below.
Is Zepbound more effective than Wegovy?
SURMOUNT-5 randomly assigned 751 adults with obesity and no type 2 diabetes to the highest tolerated weekly dose of tirzepatide (10 mg or 15 mg) or semaglutide (1.7 mg or 2.4 mg) for 72 weeks.[5] Average weight change was 20.2% with tirzepatide and 13.7% with semaglutide, and waist size fell 18.4 cm against 13.0 cm. More people on tirzepatide reached losses of at least 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%.[5] The trial was open label and funded by Eli Lilly, which makes Zepbound.[5] The trial did not test the Wegovy pill or the 7.2 mg Wegovy HD dose. Talk with a clinician about which result is realistic for you.
Wegovy vs Zepbound cost
Wegovy has the lower starting price paying cash: $149 a month for the 1.5 mg pill, or $199 a month for a new patient’s first two pen fills through December 31, 2026, then $349.[1] Zepbound’s KwikPen is $299 for 2.5 mg and $399 for 5 mg. For 7.5 mg to 15 mg it is $449 when you refill within 45 days, and $499 or $699 if you miss that window.[2]
With commercial insurance that covers the drug:
- Wegovy: pay as little as $25 a month for the pill or pen, with savings capped at $100 a month; government plan members are excluded.[1]
- Zepbound: the Savings Card brings the single-dose pen to as little as $25 for a 1, 2 or 3 month fill, up to $1,300 a year, and ends December 31, 2026; Medicare, Medicaid and other government plan members are excluded.[2]
See the Wegovy pill cost and Zepbound self pay cost guides for every dose and pharmacy option.
Wegovy and Zepbound with Medicare
The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge charges $50 a month for Wegovy (injection or tablet) and the Zepbound KwikPen. The single-dose Zepbound pen and Zepbound vials are not covered, and the $50 does not count toward your drug plan deductible.[3] The Bridge runs July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027.[8] You must be 18 or older, have Part D, meet BMI and health rules, and not have type 2 diabetes, moderate to severe sleep apnea or fatty liver disease; people with those conditions should ask their drug plan, which may already cover a GLP-1.[3]
Wegovy vs Zepbound side effects
Side effects reported in at least 5% of people in the label trials:
- Wegovy: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, abnormal skin sensations, headache, fatigue, indigestion, dizziness, bloating, burping, low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, gas, gastroenteritis, acid reflux and hair loss.[6]
- Zepbound: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, indigestion, injection site reactions, fatigue, allergic reactions, burping, hair loss and acid reflux.[7]
In SURMOUNT-5, the most common side effects in both groups were gastrointestinal, mostly mild to moderate, and happened mainly while the dose was being raised.[5] Both labels carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents, and neither drug is for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2.[6][7]
Why people switch from Wegovy to Zepbound
Switching is a prescriber decision. The Zepbound label says not to combine it with any GLP-1 receptor agonist, and every Zepbound start is at 2.5 mg for 4 weeks.[7] Coverage can also drive a switch: Medicare’s Bridge covers only the Zepbound KwikPen, while it covers both Wegovy forms.[3] If your plan or budget changes, ask your clinician whether a switch 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.
Wegovy pill vs Zepbound
Zepbound has no pill form.[7] The Wegovy pill is a daily semaglutide tablet that must be taken on an empty stomach in the morning, followed by a 30 minute wait before food, drinks or other oral medicines.[6] Eli Lilly’s daily weight loss pill is Foundayo; see Foundayo vs Wegovy for how it compares.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zepbound more effective than Wegovy?
In SURMOUNT-5, the head to head trial in 751 adults with obesity and no diabetes, average weight loss at 72 weeks was 20.2% on tirzepatide (Zepbound's ingredient) and 13.7% on semaglutide (Wegovy's ingredient). The trial was open label and funded by Eli Lilly. Your own result can differ, so talk with a clinician about which drug fits you.
Is Wegovy or Zepbound cheaper without insurance?
Wegovy is cheaper to start: the pill is $149 a month at 1.5 mg and the pen is $199 for a new patient's first two fills. Zepbound starts at $299 for the 2.5 mg KwikPen. At maintenance, the Wegovy pen is $349 and the 25 mg pill $299, while Zepbound is $449 with a refill within 45 days.
Can I lose 20 pounds in 3 months on Wegovy?
The Wegovy label does not report results at 3 months. Its trials measured weight at 68 weeks, and the pen dose is raised over the first 16 weeks, so early months are on lower doses. Adults without diabetes lost an average 14.9% of body weight at 68 weeks on 2.4 mg. Ask your clinician what to expect for you.
Why are people stopping Wegovy?
The label gives one measured reason: in the main Wegovy 2.4 mg trials, 6.8% of people stopped because of side effects, against 3.2% on placebo, most often nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Cost and coverage also matter; the pen costs $349 a month self-pay after any intro fills.
Can I switch from Wegovy to Zepbound?
Only with your prescriber's direction. The Zepbound label says it should not be used together with any GLP-1 receptor agonist, which includes Wegovy, and Zepbound always starts at 2.5 mg and steps up every 4 weeks or more. Your clinician decides the starting dose and timing.
Does Medicare cover Wegovy or Zepbound?
Through the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, eligible Part D enrollees pay $50 a month for Wegovy (injection or tablet) or the Zepbound KwikPen, from July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027. The single-dose Zepbound pen and vials are not covered.
Related
Sources
- 1 Novo Nordisk NovoCare. Price your Wegovy: self-pay and savings offers for the pill and pen. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 2 Eli Lilly and Company. Zepbound coverage and savings. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 3 Medicare.gov. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: GLP-1 drugs for $50 a month (fact sheet, June 2026). Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 4 TrumpRx.gov. TrumpRx GLP-1 prices. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 5 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.
- 6 DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets: prescribing information. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 7 DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Zepbound (tirzepatide) injection: prescribing information. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.
- 8 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge. Accessed Oct 30, 2026.