Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Alan Meds vs Ro
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 MedsRo
People who need brand-name (Wegovy/Zepbound) access or insurance navigation and will accept price opacity for it.
Visit RoThe verdict
Alan Meds and Ro tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 84/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with Alan Meds (ranked #19, a hair above #20) — Budget-first shoppers who want the lowest sema price plus an oral route nationwide. But Ro is a genuine coin-flip alternative here.
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 | Ro |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 84/100 | 84/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $99/mo | Not disclosed (drug); $149/mo Ro Body membership separately |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $145/mo | Not disclosed (drug); $149/mo Ro Body membership separately |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $1,188 | — |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $1,740 | — |
| Coverage | All 50 states | Multi-state |
| Oral / sublingual | Yes | Yes |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Yes |
| Rank here | #19 | #20 |
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.
Ro
84/100Where the value is
- Brand-name access and a dedicated insurance concierge to help navigate drug coverage
- Oral options (including the newer Foundayo/orforglipron pill) widen the formulary
- Named, credentialed Chief Medical Officer (Dr. Melynda Barnes, MD) and a public LegitScript certificate (#3722005)
The tradeoffs
- Does not publish compounded pricing up front — a blind spot in any cost model
- The $74/mo membership figure often quoted requires a full year prepaid upfront; month-to-month membership billing is $149/mo, and the drug cost is a separate charge on top of either
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.