Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Beluga Health vs Defy Medical
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.
Beluga Health
Cost-first shoppers who want not applicable to consumers -- this is a B2B platform, not a GLP-1 provider a shopper can buy from directly.
Visit Beluga HealthDefy Medical
Cost-first shoppers who want existing or prospective TRT/men's-health patients wanting to add GLP-1 to an established hormone-optimization relationship -- not the first stop for a shopper solely comparing dedicated GLP-1 weight-loss pricing.
Visit Defy MedicalThe verdict
Beluga Health and Defy Medical tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 43/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with Beluga Health (ranked #490, a hair above #492) — Cost-first shoppers who want not applicable to consumers -- this is a B2B platform, not a GLP-1 provider a shopper can buy from directly. But Defy Medical 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 Beluga Health.
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 | Beluga Health | Defy Medical |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 43/100 | 43/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Tirzepatide / mo | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | — | — |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | — | — |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | Coverage not published |
| Oral / sublingual | No | Yes |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #490 | #492 |
Beluga Health
43/100Where the value is
- Physician network led by a named, board-certified medical doctor licensed in all 50 states + DC
- Claims LegitScript-certified physician network
- Powers multiple consumer weight-loss brands, suggesting operational scale
The tradeoffs
- Not a consumer-facing product -- no way to buy semaglutide or tirzepatide directly from this site
- No pricing, dosing, or plan information published anywhere
Defy Medical
43/100Where the value is
- Named, credentialed Medical Director (Dr. Justin Saya)
- Large third-party review base (3,999 Trustpilot reviews, 5-star average)
- Offers both semaglutide and tirzepatide alongside broader men's-health services
The tradeoffs
- GLP-1 is clearly a secondary offering bolted onto a primarily TRT/hormone-optimization practice, not its core focus
- Zero pricing disclosed anywhere on the public site -- fully gated behind quiz/consultation
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.