Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Nuform Health vs Open Water Rx
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.
Nuform Health
Shoppers willing to prepay a multi-month term upfront to hit the lowest advertised per-month rate.
Visit Nuform HealthOpen Water Rx
Cost-first shoppers who want all-inclusive compounded GLP-1 pricing from four named 503A pharmacies, if you qualify for the promo codes.
Visit Open Water RxThe verdict
Nuform Health and Open Water Rx tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 53/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with Nuform Health (ranked #378, a hair above #379) — Shoppers willing to prepay a multi-month term upfront to hit the lowest advertised per-month rate. But Open Water Rx 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 Nuform Health.
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 | Nuform Health | Open Water Rx |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 53/100 | 53/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $129/mo (starting dose, compounded) | $199/mo (promotional rate, plus a separate fee, compounded) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $199/mo (starting dose, compounded) | $339/mo (compounded) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $1,548 | $2,388 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $2,388 | $4,068 |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | Coverage not published |
| Oral / sublingual | No | Yes |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #378 | #379 |
Nuform Health
53/100Where the value is
- Transparent about the prepay structure on the pricing page itself — the plan lengths and total dollar amounts are spelled out, not hidden behind an intake quiz
- Physician-owned and operated per its own claim, with named co-founders
- Maintenance-tier pricing (for ongoing refills after the starter course) is published alongside starter pricing, not just the entry offer
The tradeoffs
- The advertised '$129/mo' and '$199/mo' figures are NOT month-to-month prices — the site explicitly does not offer monthly billing, and the real charge is a $389 or $499 lump sum due upfront for a 2.5-3 month term
- A separate '$170 physician fee' is advertised on the homepage but not reconciled anywhere against the GLP-1 pricing breakdown, so whether it stacks on top of the prepay plans is unconfirmed
Open Water Rx
53/100Where the value is
- Names four specific 503A compounding pharmacies (RedRock, HealthWarehouse, Precision Compounding, Triad Rx) — most competitors disclose zero
- Pricing is genuinely all-inclusive — clinician review, medication, and shipping bundled with no separate visit fee
- LegitScript certification seals displayed
The tradeoffs
- The lower, more prominent $159/$219 figures depend on promo codes (SEMASUMMER, FOUNDER) stacked on top of stated $199/$339 standing prices — unclear whether these codes are permanent
- A '12-Week Plan' at $169/month strongly implies a multi-month prepay requirement, but the page never states the actual upfront total
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.