Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
EllieMD vs Empower Pharmacy
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.
EllieMD
Shoppers specifically interested in a microdosing protocol with a named compounding pharmacy, not full-dose treatment.
Visit EllieMDEmpower Pharmacy
Cost-first shoppers who want not a fit for this review format -- it is a wholesale/fulfillment pharmacy, not a direct-to-consumer prescriber.
Visit Empower PharmacyThe verdict
EllieMD takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 52 to 51. EllieMD is a women-focused telehealth weight-loss brand whose only publicly priced GLP-1 product is its microdosing program $229/mo for GLP-1 (semaglutide) and $239/mo for GLP-1/GIP (tirzepatide). Empower Pharmacy still earns a C — Cost-first shoppers who want not a fit for this review format -- it is a wholesale/fulfillment pharmacy, not a direct-to-consumer prescriber.
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 EllieMD.
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 | EllieMD | Empower Pharmacy |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 52/100 | 51/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $229/mo (microdose tier, compounded) | Not disclosed |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $239/mo (microdose tier, compounded) | Not disclosed |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $2,748 | — |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $2,868 | — |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | All 50 states |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #387 | #394 |
EllieMD
52/100Where the value is
- Names its compounding pharmacy — Clover, a 503A facility — unlike most competitors in this batch that only say 'a licensed U.S. pharmacy'
- Explicitly states 'No hidden membership, shipping, or consultation fees' for the microdose program
- All 50 states served per the site's own claim
The tradeoffs
- The ONLY GLP-1 pricing published anywhere on the site is for the microdose program — a shopper wanting typical-dose semaglutide or tirzepatide will find no price before completing the intake process
- Microdose pricing requires a 12-week (84-day) minimum commitment; no month-to-month option was found
Empower Pharmacy
51/100Where the value is
- Large, established 503A/503B compounding pharmacy with LegitScript-style certification displayed
- Serves as the fulfillment backend for many telehealth companies (indirect national reach)
The tradeoffs
- No direct-to-consumer prescribing path -- it does not evaluate or prescribe to new patients itself
- No public retail pricing anywhere on the site
Full Empower Pharmacy review →
Regulatory note: the FDA issued a warning letter to Empower Clinic Services, LLC dba Empower Pharmacy in April 2025. We still list and link to Empower Pharmacy; you should know the letter is on the public record before you decide.
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.