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WeighLab

Direct Meds vs Kova

Compare the prices, treatment options and tradeoffs that matter before you choose a GLP-1 program.

By The WeighLab Bench. Provider verification dates appear below.

Direct Meds

Affiliate partner

Needle-averse shoppers who want a sublingual route on either molecule and will pay above the going rate for it, having accepted a three-month supply as the smallest unit sold.

Semaglutide / month
$249/moSublingual, 90-day supply billed monthly
Tirzepatide / month
$299/moSublingual, 90-day supply billed monthly
Index 71/100 · Grade CChecked October 2026

Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. Understand the medication options.

Check Direct Meds pricing Read review

Kova

Provider comparison

Shoppers willing to commit to a longer plan to bring compounded semaglutide down toward $129 a month, with an app that tracks protein and side effects.

Semaglutide / month
$299/moMonth to month, compounded
Tirzepatide / month
$399/moMonth to month, compounded
Index 73/100 · Grade CChecked October 2026

Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. Understand the medication options.

Check Kova pricing Read review

We may earn a commission if you sign up through a provider link, at no extra cost to you. Compensation does not change scores. How we earn money.

The comparison in brief

Kova has the higher Cost-Efficiency Index: 73/100 versus 71/100. That is a value comparison under our published methodology, not a measure of medical suitability or a guarantee of results.

Check the difference in state access

Direct Meds
Not disclosed
Kova
All 50 states

The better fit depends on what is included in your quote. A lower advertised price can require prepayment, apply to a starting dose or leave out a separate fee.

How the comparison is scored

Costs & coverage

Published prices with their terms intact. Annual estimates account for billing frequency and known fixed required fees; they are not a treatment quote.

Direct Meds

Kova

Semaglutide / month
Direct Meds: $249/moSublingual, 90-day supply billed monthly
Kova: $299/moMonth to month, compounded
Tirzepatide / month
Direct Meds: $299/moSublingual, 90-day supply billed monthly
Kova: $399/moMonth to month, compounded
Semaglutide / year (modeled)
Direct Meds: $2,988
Kova: $3,588
Tirzepatide / year (modeled)
Direct Meds: $3,588
Kova: $4,788
State availability
Direct Meds: Not disclosed
Kova: All 50 states
Oral / sublingual option listed
Direct Meds: Yes
Kova: Not listed
Brand-name access listed
Direct Meds: Not confirmed
Kova: Not confirmed
Provider facts checked
Direct Meds: October 2026
Kova: October 2026

Comparing different billing plans? See what a GLP-1 monthly price can leave out, or calculate the monthly cost.

Which program fits your priorities?

The strengths and limitations behind each provider's score. Read the full review before deciding.

Direct Meds

Needle-averse shoppers who want a sublingual route on either molecule and will pay above the going rate for it, having accepted a three-month supply as the smallest unit sold.

Reasons to consider it

  • Sublingual and injection on both molecules, so four GLP-1 products to choose from
  • Every price is published per SKU in a public shop, with no quiz, intake or email capture in front of it
  • Each product page prints a per-day equivalent beside the monthly rate ($8.03/day at $249), which is unusually concrete for this category

What to weigh up

  • $249 a month for the sublingual and $297 for the injection cost more than many programs we track charge for an injection
  • The only purchasable option on every product page is a 90-DAY SUPPLY billed monthly, so three months is the smallest unit sold — there is no month-to-month rate to compare with programs you can cancel after one month
  • Every headline figure is framed "AS LOW AS", yet the only available option shows "0% OFF" — the framing implies a cheaper tier that is not actually on sale

Regulatory note: the FDA issued a warning letter to directmeds.com, Inc. dba DirectMeds in September 2025. We still list and link to Direct Meds; you should know the letter is on the public record before you decide.

Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. Understand the medication options.

Check Direct Meds pricing Read the full Direct Meds review

Kova

Shoppers willing to commit to a longer plan to bring compounded semaglutide down toward $129 a month, with an app that tracks protein and side effects.

Reasons to consider it

  • Semaglutide drops from $299 a month to $179, $149 and $129 on 3-, 6- and 12-month plans, all listed before you start
  • You aren't charged unless a clinician approves treatment
  • Names its prescribers, led by Dr. Laurie Mercier, and five compounding pharmacies, including Strive and Southend

What to weigh up

  • Month to month is the dearest way to buy: $299 for semaglutide and $399 for tirzepatide after the first month
  • The $129 to $179 semaglutide rates require a 3-, 6- or 12-month commitment
  • Lab work isn't included; if your clinician orders it, you pay for it separately

Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. Understand the medication options.

Check Kova pricing Read the full Kova review

Explore the six scoring factors

Scores run from 0 to 100. A higher factor score reflects our published value criteria; it is not a clinical endorsement.

Direct MedsKova
Normalized Cost/Month
Direct Meds:
62/100
Kova:
46/100
Price Transparency
Direct Meds:
78/100
Kova:
92/100
Nationwide Access
Direct Meds:
60/100
Kova:
86/100
Formulation Options
Direct Meds:
96/100
Kova:
66/100
Clinical Oversight
Direct Meds:
68/100
Kova:
76/100
Contract Flexibility
Direct Meds:
66/100
Kova:
77/100

Before you sign up

  • Confirm your totalAsk about dose changes, membership, labs, shipping and cancellation terms.
  • Check treatment accessState coverage and medical eligibility can differ by medication and formulation.
  • Understand the medicationCompare compounded and brand-name options. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved.

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Provider information reflects public disclosures at the verification dates shown. Prices and availability change; confirm current terms before paying. This comparison is for information, not medical advice. A licensed clinician determines whether treatment is appropriate.