Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Strive Pharmacy vs Hormonally Balanced
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.
Strive Pharmacy
Patients whose OWN clinic already prescribes through Strive — not for shoppers looking to start a new GLP-1 prescription directly.
Visit Strive PharmacyHormonally Balanced
Cost-first shoppers who want women in one of Hormonally Balanced's seven served states who want a concierge, hormone-specialist-led practice and are comfortable calling for a price quote.
Visit Hormonally BalancedThe verdict
Strive Pharmacy takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 53 to 52. Strive Pharmacy is a 503A/503B compounding pharmacy that primarily serves OTHER healthcare providers and clinics — not a direct-to-consumer telehealth site. Hormonally Balanced still earns a C — Cost-first shoppers who want women in one of Hormonally Balanced's seven served states who want a concierge, hormone-specialist-led practice and are comfortable calling for a price quote.
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 Strive Pharmacy.
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 | Strive Pharmacy | Hormonally Balanced |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 53/100 | 52/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Tirzepatide / mo | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | — | — |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | — | — |
| Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #381 | #388 |
Strive Pharmacy
53/100Where the value is
- Is a real, named 503A/503B compounding pharmacy rather than an anonymous telehealth brand
- Transparent about being provider-facing first: the site does not pretend to be a consumer GLP-1 shopping destination
The tradeoffs
- Not a direct-to-consumer option at all — there is no way for a new patient to get a semaglutide or tirzepatide prescription by visiting strivepharmacy.com; you need an existing prescriber relationship with a clinic that already partners with Strive
- No consumer pricing for any GLP-1 product exists anywhere on the site
Hormonally Balanced
52/100Where the value is
- Named, credentialed CMO with a real specialty: Dr. Andrew Lenhardt, Urology, 25+ years of experience
- LegitScript-verified
- Serves seven states (MA, CA, TX, FL, NY, RI, NH), a broader footprint than many single-state boutique practices
The tradeoffs
- No pricing for the weight-loss shot program is published anywhere on the site, including a dedicated pricing URL that returns a 404 — a phone call is required for any number
- Private-pay/concierge model explicitly does not accept insurance
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.