Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
ShedRx (Shed) vs Direct Meds
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.
ShedRx (Shed)
People who want a needle-free route or a brand-name option, and who will commit to twelve months to reach the lowest price.
Visit ShedRx (Shed)Direct Meds
Needle-averse shoppers who want a sublingual route on either molecule and will pay above the going rate for it, having accepted a three-month supply as the smallest unit sold.
Visit Direct MedsThe verdict
ShedRx (Shed) takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 87 to 71. The widest set of formats on the board — injection, drops, lozenges and a daily oral pill, plus a real brand Zepbound route — though its cheapest advertised rates need a year-long commitment. Direct Meds still earns a C — Needle-averse shoppers who want a sublingual route on either molecule and will pay above the going rate for it, having accepted a three-month supply as the smallest unit sold.
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 ShedRx (Shed).
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 | ShedRx (Shed) | Direct Meds |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 87/100 | 71/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $199/mo ($159 on a 12-month plan) | $249/mo (sublingual, 90-day supply billed monthly) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $299/mo ($239 on a 12-month plan) | $299/mo (sublingual, 90-day supply billed monthly) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $2,388 | $2,988 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $3,588 | $3,588 |
| Coverage | All 50 states | Not disclosed |
| Oral / sublingual | Yes | Yes |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Compounded only |
| Rank on the board | #3 | #34 |
ShedRx (Shed)
87/100Where the value is
- Four routes to a GLP-1 — injection, liquid drops, lozenges and a daily oral pill
- Brand Zepbound and Wegovy available alongside the compounded line
- Available in all 50 states, with health coaching included and a published 120-day weight-loss guarantee
The tradeoffs
- The advertised "as low as" prices ($159 semaglutide, $239 tirzepatide) require a TWELVE-MONTH commitment — month-to-month is $199 and $299
- Compounded medication is not FDA-approved the way brand Ozempic, Wegovy, or Zepbound are
Direct Meds
71/100Where the value is
- Sublingual AND injection on BOTH molecules — four GLP-1 SKUs, the widest formulation range of any provider on this board
- Every price is published per SKU in a public shop, with no quiz, intake or email capture in front of it
- Each product page prints a per-day equivalent beside the monthly rate ($8.03/day at $249), which is unusually concrete for this category
The tradeoffs
- $249/mo sublingual is well above this board's ~$144 median, and the injection route is $297 — the cheapest thing here is dearer than most rows' headline price
- The only purchasable option on every product page is a 90-DAY SUPPLY billed monthly, so three months is the smallest unit sold — there is no month-to-month rate to compare against the rows beside it
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.