Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Alan Meds vs Care Bare Rx
Two GLP-1 programs on the bench, scored on the same six factors. Here's how their real cost of ownership compares — and which one we'd start with.
Alan Meds
Budget-first shoppers who want the lowest sema price plus an oral route nationwide.
Visit Alan MedsCare Bare Rx
People consolidating several telehealth needs on one verified platform who are willing to commit to a 12-month plan to get the cheapest per-month rate.
Visit Care Bare RxThe verdict
Alan Meds takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 84 to 80. Rock-bottom $99 semaglutide with an oral option and all-50 access — strong on price, but not LegitScript-verified. Care Bare Rx still earns a B− — People consolidating several telehealth needs on one verified platform who are willing to commit to a 12-month plan to get the cheapest per-month rate.
Worth knowing either way: our overall #1 pick is CoreAge Rx (Cost-Efficiency Index 94/100 — the top of the ranking). See how it stacks up: CoreAge Rx vs Alan Meds.
Factor by factor
Both providers scored on our six Cost-Efficiency Index factors. The stronger side on each row is marked in teal.
Normalized Cost/Month
Price Transparency
Nationwide Access
Formulation Options
Clinical Oversight
Contract Flexibility
Pricing, coverage & formulary
The disclosed facts behind the scores. Lower price wins its row (teal).
| Spec | Alan Meds | Care Bare Rx |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 84/100 | 80/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $99/mo | $199/mo month-to-month ($185/mo only on a 12-month prepay; the 3-month tier is dearer at $249/mo) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $145/mo | $299/mo month-to-month ($293/mo only on a 12-month prepay; the 3-month tier is dearer at $356/mo) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $1,188 | $2,388 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $1,740 | $3,588 |
| Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states + Puerto Rico |
| Oral / sublingual | Yes | Yes |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Yes |
| Rank here | #21 | #25 |
Alan Meds
84/100Where the value is
- $99 semaglutide and $145 tirzepatide — among the cheapest disclosed in the ranking
- Nationwide all-50 access with an oral/sublingual option
- Both molecules published for straightforward cost modeling
The tradeoffs
- Not LegitScript-certified — oversight harder to verify
- Compounded only — no brand-name access
Regulatory note: the FDA issued a warning letter to Alan Health Technologies Inc. dba Alan in February 2026. We still list and link to Alan Meds; you should know the letter is on the public record before you decide.
Care Bare Rx
80/100Where the value is
- LegitScript-certified and HIPAA-compliant, with both oral (Rybelsus, oral tirzepatide) and injectable options
- Real brand-name Ozempic available (from ~$705/mo) for anyone who specifically wants the on-label pen
- Coverage across all 50 states plus Puerto Rico — wider than most compounded telehealth options
The tradeoffs
- The 3-month plan is a real pricing trap — it costs more per month ($249 semaglutide / $356 tirzepatide) than either month-to-month or the 6-month plan
- The cheapest per-month rate requires a 12-month prepay commitment ($2,218 semaglutide / $3,518 tirzepatide total)
Assume any provider we list may compensate us — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. It never changes the Cost-Efficiency Index. Pricing, states and verification reflect each provider's public disclosures at last review; prices change — confirm on the provider's site. Not medical advice. See our disclosure.