Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Lean Meds vs Brightmeds
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.
Lean Meds
Cost-first shoppers who want a genuinely flat all-dose price and named pharmacies, and who will read the $49 headline as the annual plan it is.
Visit Lean MedsBrightmeds
Shoppers who want a low flat price at every dose on compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide, with the option to save more on a three-month pack.
Visit BrightmedsThe verdict
Lean Meds takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 84 to 82. Lean Meds charges $79 a month for compounded semaglutide and $109 for tirzepatide, flat at every dose, names the four pharmacies that fill the prescriptions, and advertises a $49 figure that is really its twelve-month rate. Brightmeds still earns a B− — Shoppers who want a low flat price at every dose on compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide, with the option to save more on a three-month pack.
Worth knowing either way: CoreAge Rx is one of our partners and leads our leaderboard, where partners are listed first (Cost-Efficiency Index 94/100). See how it stacks up: CoreAge Rx vs Lean Meds.
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 | Lean Meds | Brightmeds |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 84/100 | 82/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $79/moMonth-to-month, flat at every dose (the advertised $49 is the 12-month plan) | $129/moCompounded, month to month, same price at every dose; $99/mo on a 3-month pack billed $297 |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $109/moMonth-to-month, flat at every dose (the advertised $95 is the 12-month plan) | $149/moCompounded, month to month, same price at every dose; $119/mo on a 3-month pack billed $357 |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $948 | $1,548 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $1,308 | $1,788 |
| Coverage | All 50 states | 38 states + DC |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Yes |
| Rank here | #21 | #28 |
Lean Meds
84/100Where the value is
- A flat rate at every dose on both molecules, stated as such, so the price does not climb as a provider titrates
- Names all four pharmacies in its network with addresses, phone numbers and websites, and states the 503A designation in the footer of every page
- The full four-rung ladder for each molecule is printed on one page, so a reader can see what a commitment actually saves
The tradeoffs
- The homepage sells "Starting at $49/mo — same price every month, first order and every order after"; $49 is the twelve-month semaglutide plan and the month-to-month rate is $79
- A homepage chip reads "No auto rebill" while the terms say the payment method is automatically charged at recurring intervals until you cancel
Brightmeds
82/100Where the value is
- Month-to-month prices of $129 for semaglutide and $149 for tirzepatide are on the pricing page, and the price stays the same as your dose goes up
- A three-month pack lowers that to $99 and $119 a month, and you can choose month to month instead
- Medication, clinician visits, dose adjustments and shipping are included, with no membership, consultation or lab fee
The tradeoffs
- The advertised GLP-1 prices apply only in 38 states and D.C.; if you are already on a GLP-1 or transferring a prescription, you must contact support for pricing
- Its terms say fees are otherwise non-refundable, and month-to-month plans renew automatically until you cancel
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.