Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Refills vs Better MedSpa
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.
Refills
Cost-first shoppers who want a single account across GLP-1, ED, and hair-growth care, for shoppers willing to price-shop through intake before seeing a final number.
Visit RefillsBetter MedSpa
Shoppers who want an in-person Chicago/Illinois med spa GLP-1 program and are comparing the real month-to-month rate, not the quarterly-discounted headline.
Visit Better MedSpaThe verdict
Refills and Better MedSpa tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 46/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with Refills (ranked #453, a hair above #456) — Cost-first shoppers who want a single account across GLP-1, ED, and hair-growth care, for shoppers willing to price-shop through intake before seeing a final number. But Better MedSpa 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 Refills.
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 | Refills | Better MedSpa |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 46/100 | 46/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | Not disclosed | $300/mo (compounded) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | Not disclosed | $400/mo (compounded) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | — | $3,600 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | — | $4,800 |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | 1 state |
| Oral / sublingual | No | Yes |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #453 | #456 |
Refills
46/100Where the value is
- LegitScript-certified online pharmacy, badge confirmed on /how-refills-works
- Backed by named clinician network partners (Beluga Health, Bask Health, Wasef Health) rather than an anonymous 'doctor network'
- Multi-category platform (weight loss + ED + hair growth) under one account
The tradeoffs
- The only public price signal is the marketing headline 'GLP-1s from $5/Day' (~$150/mo) — there is no per-drug, per-dose, or itemized monthly breakdown anywhere on the site; real cost only appears deep in the my.refills.com intake funnel
- Neither the compounding pharmacy nor a medical director is named anywhere on the public site
Regulatory note: the FDA issued a warning letter to Refills Health, LLC dba Refills Health in February 2026. We still list and link to Refills; you should know the letter is on the public record before you decide.
Better MedSpa
46/100Where the value is
- Named medical director, Dr. Brett Brechner, DO, publicly credited on-site
- Real dollar pricing published on the memberships page for both semaglutide and tirzepatide, broken out by 1-month vs. 3-month commitment
- Serves Illinois statewide via telehealth with an in-person Lincoln Park, Chicago location
The tradeoffs
- The treatment page's advertised 'Starting at $290' is the 3-month PREPAID rate, not the standing price -- month-to-month semaglutide is actually $300/month
- No pharmacy name, LegitScript certification, or lab/COA testing disclosure found anywhere on the site
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.