Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
NextMeds vs Science & Co
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.
NextMeds
Shoppers who will call out and verify the exact price at checkout, given the site shows several different promo numbers at once.
Visit NextMedsScience & Co
A twelve-month committer, or someone who values a company stating plainly what it is and is not.
Visit Science & CoThe verdict
NextMeds and Science & Co tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 74/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with NextMeds (ranked #61, a hair above #62) — Shoppers who will call out and verify the exact price at checkout, given the site shows several different promo numbers at once. But Science & Co 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 NextMeds.
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 | NextMeds | Science & Co |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 74/100 | 74/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $79/mo (starting dose, promotional rate, compounded) | $149/mo month-to-month; $79 only on a twelve-month plan |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $129/mo (starting dose, promotional rate, compounded) | $199/mo month-to-month; $125 only on a twelve-month plan |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $948 | $1,788 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $1,548 | $2,388 |
| Coverage | All 50 states | Not disclosed |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #61 | #62 |
NextMeds
74/100Where the value is
- Names a real, NPI-verifiable clinical group (Lion MD: Dr. Ana Lisa Carr, Dr. Kelly Tenbrink) rather than an anonymous provider network
- Names six real compounding pharmacies (Belmar, Strive, Epiq Scripts, Casa Pharma Rx, The Pharmacy Hub, Foothills) instead of one generic claim
- Claims and states 'We service all 50 states'
The tradeoffs
- The live site shows at least three different headline promo prices ($69/$79/$89 for semaglutide) concurrently or near-concurrently, with no clear single 'current' number — a real transparency problem
- Aggressive countdown-timer urgency tactics ('Price increases in...', 'OFFER ENDS AUGUST 10TH AT MIDNIGHT!') are used to pressure signup
Science & Co
74/100Where the value is
- States twice in its footer that "Science and Co, Inc. is not a 503A or 503B compounding facility"
- Its own FAQ names the commitment behind the headline: "Plans start at $79 a month on the 12 month plan"
- The printed saving corroborates the reference price — 79 divided by 149 is 53%, exactly the "Save 47%" shown
The tradeoffs
- The number it leads with is a twelve-month commitment; the per-month rates are $149 and $199
- Only two figures are published per drug, so a three- or six-month plan cannot be priced without starting an intake
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.