Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Sesame Care vs Shapely
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.
Sesame Care
People who specifically want FDA-approved brand-name medication (including the Wegovy pill or oral Rybelsus) from an established, verified marketplace and will budget for a two-part cost.
Visit Sesame CareShapely
Cost-first shoppers who want insurance-accepted telehealth with compounded sema $99/mo and tirz $166/mo; CA, FL, NY, TX (expanding).
Visit ShapelyThe verdict
Sesame Care takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 86 to 55. The widest real brand-name GLP-1 access on the board — a LegitScript- and BBB-recognized national marketplace running since 2018 that dispenses FDA-approved Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, Mounjaro and Rybelsus, not compounded copies. Shapely still earns a C — Cost-first shoppers who want insurance-accepted telehealth with compounded sema $99/mo and tirz $166/mo; CA, FL, NY, TX (expanding).
Worth knowing either way: our overall #1 pick is CoreAge Rx (Cost-Efficiency Index 94/100 — the top of the board). See how it stacks up: CoreAge Rx vs Sesame Care.
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 | Sesame Care | Shapely |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 86/100 | 55/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $149/mo (brand) | Not disclosed |
| Tirzepatide / mo | Brand (Zepbound) | Not disclosed |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | — | — |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | — | — |
| Coverage | Nationwide | 4 states |
| Oral / sublingual | Yes | No |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Yes |
| Rank on the board | #6 | #308 |
Sesame Care
86/100Where the value is
- Widest brand-name formulary we list — Wegovy pen and pill, Zepbound, Ozempic, Mounjaro and oral Rybelsus, all FDA-approved rather than compounded
- Established national marketplace operating since 2018, with LegitScript certification and BBB recognition
- Wegovy pill starts around $149/mo, and oral routes are available for the needle-averse
The tradeoffs
- Two-part cost — the medication price is separate from a platform subscription, so the all-in monthly runs above the $149 headline
- A generalist telehealth marketplace, not a dedicated GLP-1 program
Shapely
55/100Where the value is
- Founded by Dr. Justin Zaghi, MD/MBA — Harvard-trained, board-certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine, with Medical Director Ana Lisa
- Brand-name GLP-1s (Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, Mounjaro, Foundayo) covered by major PPO and Medicare at copay
- Compounded semaglutide from $99/month with free 2-day shipping, syringes, and supplies included via 503A/503B pharmacy
The tradeoffs
- Currently available only in California, Florida, New York, and Texas — 46 states unserved despite announced expansion
- Telehealth subscription ($99/mo self-pay, $49 first-month promo) is charged separately from compounded medication cost
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.