Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Wisp vs Livea
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.
Wisp
Cost-first shoppers who want branded injectables plus a sublingual semaglutide alternative.
Visit WispLivea
Cost-first shoppers who want mN/WI residents wanting in-person clinic access, or telehealth patients in MN, WI, IA, or FL.
Visit LiveaThe verdict
Wisp takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 63 to 62. Wisp (hellowisp.com) is a US telehealth provider whose weight care vertical offers brand-name Wegovy, Zepbound, and Saxenda alongside a compounded sublingual semaglutide drops formulation at $225/month. Livea still earns a C — Cost-first shoppers who want mN/WI residents wanting in-person clinic access, or telehealth patients in MN, WI, IA, or FL.
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 Wisp.
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 | Wisp | Livea |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 63/100 | 62/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $225/mo (compounded oral) | $99/mo (starting dose, compounded) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | Not disclosed | $199/mo (starting dose, compounded) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $2,700 | $1,188 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | — | $2,388 |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | 4 states |
| Oral / sublingual | Yes | No |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Yes |
| Rank here | #202 | #208 |
Wisp
63/100Where the value is
- Broad GLP-1 menu — branded injectables (Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda) plus a compounded sublingual option
- LegitScript certified with named board-certified providers (Dr. Shannon Chatham DO, Andrea Sleeth WHNP-BC)
- Unusually candid about the sublingual option's limits, noting effectiveness in patients may vary
The tradeoffs
- The $99/mo tirzepatide figure is a consultation-and-care subscription, not the medication: Zepbound is filled at a pharmacy of your choice at its own cost, which Wisp does not publish
- The compounded semaglutide option is sublingual drops, which Wisp itself describes as less effective than injection
Livea
62/100Where the value is
- Hybrid model offers real in-person clinic locations (8 across MN & WI), not telehealth-only
- Low headline starting price for semaglutide ($99/mo)
- Broader wellness service menu (nutrition, hormone therapy, NAD+) beyond just GLP-1s
The tradeoffs
- Tirzepatide explicitly flagged 'when available,' implying inconsistent supply
- No named medical director or specific compounding pharmacy partner
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.