Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Primary Clinic (Direct GLP) vs DrBrainRx
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.
Primary Clinic (Direct GLP)
Shoppers inside its 10 served states who want primary care bundled with the prescription and will price the membership in.
Visit Primary Clinic (Direct GLP)DrBrainRx
Shoppers willing to add a $25/month care fee onto the flat headline medication price.
Visit DrBrainRxThe verdict
Primary Clinic (Direct GLP) and DrBrainRx tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 65/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with Primary Clinic (Direct GLP) (ranked #156, a hair above #160) — Shoppers inside its 10 served states who want primary care bundled with the prescription and will price the membership in. But DrBrainRx 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 Primary Clinic (Direct GLP).
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 | Primary Clinic (Direct GLP) | DrBrainRx |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 65/100 | 65/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $85/mo (0.25-0.75 mg band, membership required, compounded) | $224/mo (all doses, plus a separate fee, compounded) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $133/mo (1.25-2.5 mg band, membership required, compounded) | $324/mo (all doses, compounded) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $1,020 | $2,688 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $1,596 | $3,888 |
| Coverage | WA, NM, AZ, UT, FL, DC, KS, OK, VA, GA | Coverage not published |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Yes |
| Rank here | #156 | #160 |
Primary Clinic (Direct GLP)
65/100Where the value is
- Both molecules are priced, as dose bands, so the cost of titrating up is visible rather than hidden
- The $89 membership buys unlimited primary care, direct text access and same-day appointments, not just a prescription
- Real per-dose pricing rather than one headline rate
The tradeoffs
- The medication price is on top of an $89/mo membership, which the FAQ states does not include the drug — all-in is about $174/mo semaglutide and $222/mo tirzepatide
- Prices are published as dose BANDS, and the cheapest tirzepatide band starts at 1.25 mg, below the 2.5 mg labeled starting dose
DrBrainRx
65/100Where the value is
- Named, credentialed medical director (Dr. Sara Siavoshi, board-certified neurologist and obesity-medicine specialist), not an anonymous provider pool
- Flat 'all doses' pricing with no upcharge as the patient titrates up, on the medication line itself
- Refills are explicitly patient-initiated and never auto-charged — a real anti-dark-pattern commitment
The tradeoffs
- The advertised $199/$299 headline prices exclude a separate $25/month 'care fee' that applies to every compounded order — the real all-in cost is $224/$324, roughly 8-13% higher than the number shown up front
- No compounding pharmacy named beyond a generic 'USP-certified pharmacies in the U.S.' reference
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.