Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Willow vs Arc-1
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.
Willow
Cost-first shoppers who want an oral-tablet GLP-1 option at the same price as the injectable, with no annual commitment.
Visit WillowArc-1
Shoppers comparing headline GLP-1 starting prices who will click into the specific product page rather than trust the homepage figure.
Visit Arc-1The verdict
Willow takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 49 to 48. Willow is a direct-to-consumer telehealth provider offering compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide in both injectable and oral-tablet form at identical prices per format. Arc-1 still earns a C — Shoppers comparing headline GLP-1 starting prices who will click into the specific product page rather than trust the homepage figure.
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 Willow.
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 | Willow | Arc-1 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 49/100 | 48/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Tirzepatide / mo | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | — | — |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | — | — |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | Coverage not published |
| Oral / sublingual | Yes | No |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #429 | #431 |
Willow
49/100Where the value is
- Oral tablet formulations of both semaglutide and tirzepatide, priced identically to the injectable versions ($299/mo and $399/mo respectively) — a genuine format choice most compounded-drug competitors don't offer
- Month-to-month billing with no prepay or annual term required to get the advertised rate
- Named physician team publicly listed, including Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael Green, MD, plus 11+ other credentialed MDs/DOs
The tradeoffs
- Only 34 states served — notably narrower than WeightlessRx's 49-state footprint; residents of the other 16 states plus DC are excluded
- Site states medication cost 'varies by dosage and prescription' but never discloses what a higher maintenance dose actually costs beyond the $299/$399 starting figures
Arc-1
48/100Where the value is
- Both semaglutide and tirzepatide offered, with LegitScript Certified badge displayed and linked for verification
- Free 1-3 day shipping and a free consultation stated as included, with no separate visit-fee line item found
- Named founder physician (Dr. Todd Stearns) rather than an anonymous entity
The tradeoffs
- The homepage price ($199.99/mo for both drugs) and each drug's own product page (tirzepatide shows $149/mo) do not agree — the number you see depends on which page you land on
- Every dose variant on both product pages was shown as sold out/unavailable during this review, so the advertised price cannot currently be tied to a specific mg 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.