Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
TeleClinic vs StaveMD
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.
TeleClinic
Shoppers outside California, New Jersey and South Carolina who want a cheap first month and a rate that's locked as the dose goes up.
Visit TeleClinicStaveMD
Shoppers who want an oral or injectable compounded GLP-1 with easy cancellation and are willing to confirm the plan price at checkout.
Visit StaveMDThe verdict
TeleClinic takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 78 to 77. TeleClinic's standard rate is $199 a month for compounded semaglutide and $299 for tirzepatide, locked as your dose rises, after a $79 or $149 first month; Rush Pharmacy fills every order. StaveMD still earns a C — Shoppers who want an oral or injectable compounded GLP-1 with easy cancellation and are willing to confirm the plan price at checkout.
Worth knowing either way: CoreAge Rx is one of our partners and leads our leaderboard, where partners are listed first (Cost-Efficiency Index 94/100). See how it stacks up: CoreAge Rx vs TeleClinic.
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 | TeleClinic | StaveMD |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 78/100 | 77/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $199/moCompounded, standard monthly rate, same at every dose; $79 first month | $199/moStarting price, compounded injection or dissolving tablet |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $299/moCompounded, standard monthly rate, same at every dose; $149 first month | $249/moStarting price, compounded |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $2,388 | $2,388 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $3,588 | $2,988 |
| Coverage | 47 states | All 50 states and D.C. |
| Oral / sublingual | No | Yes |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #51 | #57 |
TeleClinic
78/100Where the value is
- Names its pharmacy (Rush Pharmacy, a 503A compounder) and its physician network (LocumTele)
- Price-lock: the monthly rate stays the same as your dose increases, for as long as you're a member
- Publishes a full list of the 47 states it serves
The tradeoffs
- The $79 and $149 headline prices cover only the first month; after that it's $199 and $299, or $139 and $219 a month for the first quarter if you pay quarterly
- Not available in California, New Jersey or South Carolina
StaveMD
77/100Where the value is
- Cancel any time from your account with no phone call or notice period, and request a refund for any month whose medication hasn't been ordered
- Offers compounded semaglutide as a weekly injection or a daily dissolving tablet, plus tirzepatide and a lower-dose microdose program from $179 a month
- Names its pharmacies, led by Red Rock Compounding Pharmacy in Utah, and its medical group, OpenLoop Healthcare Partners
The tradeoffs
- Every price is a "starting from" figure; the site says longer programs cost less per month and are billed upfront but doesn't print the price of each plan length
- The banner's "Start for $179/mo" is the microdose program, not the standard semaglutide or tirzepatide dose
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.