Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Factor Health MD vs HeliMeds
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.
Factor Health MD
Those willing to commit to a 12-month term to capture the lowest headline price, since flexible month-to-month is nearly double.
Visit Factor Health MDHeliMeds
Shoppers who will pay a discounted 12-week lump sum upfront and understand the price resets higher on reorder.
Visit HeliMedsThe verdict
Factor Health MD and HeliMeds tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 67/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with Factor Health MD (ranked #134, a hair above #137) — Those willing to commit to a 12-month term to capture the lowest headline price, since flexible month-to-month is nearly double. But HeliMeds 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 Factor Health MD.
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 | Factor Health MD | HeliMeds |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 67/100 | 67/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $99/mo (all doses, annual plan, compounded) | $99/mo (starting dose, 3-month plan, compounded) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $149/mo (all doses, annual plan, compounded) | $149/mo (starting dose, 3-month plan, compounded) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $1,188 | $1,188 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $1,788 | $1,788 |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | Coverage not published |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Yes |
| Rank here | #134 | #137 |
Factor Health MD
67/100Where the value is
- Every plan includes ALL doses at one flat rate with no per-mg escalation, confirmed explicitly in its own FAQ
- LegitScript certified (badge displayed in the site footer)
- Genuinely no long-term contract required for the flexible monthly tier, per its own FAQ
The tradeoffs
- The widely advertised 'From $99/mo' headline (used in the site's own page title) only applies to the 12-month prepaid Annual plan — the real no-commitment month-to-month price is $189/mo for semaglutide and $289/mo for tirzepatide, 91-94% higher
- No compounding pharmacy is individually named, only a generic 'network of licensed, FDA-regulated pharmacies'
HeliMeds
67/100Where the value is
- Both compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide available, plus a brand Wegovy/Zepbound path on the same platform
- The heavily-discounted 12-week prepay plan is genuinely the cheapest entry point in this comparison set if a buyer can pay $297 or $447 upfront
- Wide state coverage — every US state except California and Alaska, per the site's own terms of service
The tradeoffs
- '$99/mo' and '$149/mo' are not subscription rates — they are a single upfront 12-week charge ($297/$447) divided by three, and the site explicitly says no recurring billing occurs
- Semaglutide reorders after the intro plan cost $239 for just a 4-week supply — nearly 2.5x the advertised headline rate
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.