Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
CoreAge Rx vs StaveMD
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.
CoreAge Rx
Anyone who wants one flat monthly price they can plan a full year around, on either molecule, without signing a contract.
Visit CoreAge RxStaveMD
Shoppers who want an oral or injectable compounded GLP-1 with easy cancellation and are willing to confirm the plan price at checkout.
Visit StaveMDThe verdict
CoreAge Rx takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 94 to 77. CoreAge Rx charges one flat price at every dose, $99 a month for semaglutide and $149 for tirzepatide, with no membership fee. StaveMD still earns a C — Shoppers who want an oral or injectable compounded GLP-1 with easy cancellation and are willing to confirm the plan price at checkout.
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 | CoreAge Rx | StaveMD |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 94/100 | 77/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $99/mo | $199/moStarting price, compounded injection or dissolving tablet |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $149/mo | $249/moStarting price, compounded |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $1,188 | $2,388 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $1,788 | $2,988 |
| Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states and D.C. |
| Oral / sublingual | No | Yes |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #1 | #57 |
CoreAge Rx
94/100Where the value is
- One price at every dose: semaglutide is $99 from 0.25 mg up to 2.5 mg, and tirzepatide is $149 from 2.5 mg up to 15 mg
- No membership fee, no insurance needed and no long-term contract, and the price you lock in at checkout stays put as your dose rises
- If the doctor decides a prescription isn't right for you, CoreAge refunds the medication portion of your payment
The tradeoffs
- Not the lowest price around: 35 of the 434 priced semaglutide programs we track list a cheaper figure, though most attach a term or a step-up that CoreAge does not
- You pay before the doctor reviews your case, and if you aren't approved the FAQ promises a 100% refund while the refund policy keeps a $50 to $100 consultation fee
StaveMD
77/100Where the value is
- Cancel any time from your account with no phone call or notice period, and request a refund for any month whose medication hasn't been ordered
- Offers compounded semaglutide as a weekly injection or a daily dissolving tablet, plus tirzepatide and a lower-dose microdose program from $179 a month
- Names its pharmacies, led by Red Rock Compounding Pharmacy in Utah, and its medical group, OpenLoop Healthcare Partners
The tradeoffs
- Every price is a "starting from" figure; the site says longer programs cost less per month and are billed upfront but doesn't print the price of each plan length
- The banner's "Start for $179/mo" is the microdose program, not the standard semaglutide or tirzepatide dose
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.