Short answer: as of October 2026, brand-name GLP-1s bought directly from the manufacturer without insurance cost about $149–$699 a month, depending on the drug, the form and the dose. Zepbound starts at $299, Wegovy pens are $349 and Wegovy pills start at $149. All of them still require a prescription.
Prices below come from the manufacturers’ own pages, checked October 24, 2026. They change often, so confirm before you order.
Zepbound (tirzepatide), self-pay
These prices are for the KwikPen or vials through Lilly’s self-pay program:
| Dose | Monthly price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mg | $299 | Starting dose only, not a maintenance dose |
| 5 mg | $399 | |
| 7.5 mg | $449 | Requires refilling within 45 days; otherwise $499 |
| 10, 12.5 or 15 mg | $449 | Requires refilling within 45 days; otherwise $699 |
Lilly’s current savings card terms run through December 31, 2026.
Wegovy (semaglutide), self-pay
| Form and dose | Monthly price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pen 0.25 or 0.5 mg (new patients) | $199 | Intro offer for the first 2 monthly fills, through Dec 31, 2026 |
| Pen 0.25–2.4 mg | $349 | |
| Pen 7.2 mg (Wegovy HD) | $399 | |
| Pill 1.5 mg | $149 | |
| Pill 4 mg | $199 | |
| Pill 9 or 25 mg | $299 |
Ways to pay less
- Check your coverage first. With commercial insurance that covers these drugs, manufacturer savings cards can bring the cost down to as little as $25 a month. Eligibility rules apply.
- Ask about Medicare. Novo Nordisk lists a Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program for eligible patients.
- Count the full course, not the first month. Starting doses are usually the cheapest, and the price rises as the dose goes up. Budget for the maintenance dose.
- Keep refills on time. Some of Zepbound’s lower prices depend on refilling within 45 days.
A note on compounded versions
Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are not FDA-approved, and the FDA has documented dosing errors with them. If you use them, check every dose against your vial’s label with our units-to-mg calculators.