Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
PlushCare vs Zenbody
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.
PlushCare
Patients who want a real board-certified physician managing GLP-1s alongside general primary care, and are prepared to navigate insurance or a manufacturer cash-pay program rather than a single flat price.
Visit PlushCareZenbody
Shoppers who want the choice of a weekly injection or a daily oral tablet for either semaglutide or tirzepatide, and who will confirm the month-two price before paying.
Visit ZenbodyThe verdict
PlushCare and Zenbody tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 65/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers, so choose on fit. PlushCare: Patients who want a real board-certified physician managing GLP-1s alongside general primary care, and are prepared to navigate insurance or a manufacturer cash-pay program rather than a single flat price. Zenbody: Shoppers who want the choice of a weekly injection or a daily oral tablet for either semaglutide or tirzepatide, and who will confirm the month-two price before paying.
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 PlushCare.
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 | PlushCare | Zenbody |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 65/100 | 65/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $199/mo0.25 mg dose, plus a separate fee, brand-name | $149/moStarting-dose intro price for the injection, compounded; oral tablet from $199 |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $399/mo5 mg dose, plus a separate fee, compounded | $179/moStarting-dose intro price for the injection, compounded; oral tablet from $299 |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $2,388 | $1,788 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $4,788 | $2,148 |
| Coverage | All 50 states | Not published |
| Oral / sublingual | No | Yes |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #205 | #210 |
PlushCare
65/100Where the value is
- Board-certified physicians (not NP-only) available in all 50 states for general virtual primary care
- Publishes an unusually granular compounded-tirzepatide dose ladder ($399/$599/$749 by vial count) instead of a vague single 'starting at' figure
- Brand Wegovy via NovoCare's manufacturer program can beat most compounded prices ($199-399/mo) when the promotion is genuinely still active
The tradeoffs
- Compounded tirzepatide and semaglutide are each only available in about 39 states plus DC, narrower than PlushCare's general 50-state telehealth business
- A $19.99/mo membership and, for uninsured patients, a $129 visit fee sit on top of every medication price and are easy to miss from the headline drug price alone
Zenbody
65/100Where the value is
- Both semaglutide and tirzepatide come as a weekly injection or a daily oral tablet, with each format priced on its product page
- The monthly price includes the medication, clinical oversight, dose adjustments, care-team messaging and shipping, with no insurance needed
- You can pause or cancel at any time, and a cancellation keeps your access through the end of the billing period
The tradeoffs
- The advertised prices are introductory starting-dose figures; the site says flat monthly pricing applies after the first month but doesn't print that price, so check it at checkout
- The homepage also advertises 40% off your first month without saying which figure the discount applies to
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.