Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Zera Health vs DudeMeds
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.
Zera Health
Shoppers who want a named 503A pharmacy and full 50-state coverage at a moderate compounded price.
Visit Zera HealthDudeMeds
Men ready to prepay three or four months of compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide, or who want brand Wegovy or Zepbound through the same account.
Visit DudeMedsThe verdict
Zera Health and DudeMeds tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 61/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers, so choose on fit. Zera Health: Shoppers who want a named 503A pharmacy and full 50-state coverage at a moderate compounded price. DudeMeds: Men ready to prepay three or four months of compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide, or who want brand Wegovy or Zepbound through the same account.
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 Zera Health.
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 | Zera Health | DudeMeds |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 61/100 | 61/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | Not disclosed | $179/mo4-month commit kit, billed $716 up front, compounded |
| Tirzepatide / mo | Not disclosed | $249/mo3-month commit kit, billed $747 up front, compounded |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | — | $2,148 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | — | $2,988 |
| Coverage | All 50 states | Not published |
| Oral / sublingual | Yes | Yes |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Yes |
| Rank here | #287 | #290 |
Zera Health
61/100Where the value is
- Named dispensing pharmacy — Strive Pharmacy, a 503A compounder — disclosed in the footer
- LegitScript Certified badge displayed
- States coverage across all 50 states with no exclusions listed
The tradeoffs
- The advertised '$149' semaglutide price is explicitly a first-month-only rate; the standing price is $179/mo
- Tirzepatide's '$199/mo' figure has no first-month/standing clarifier on the page, unlike semaglutide, so it's unclear if it will also step up after month one
DudeMeds
61/100Where the value is
- Plan prices are shown on its order pages before any questionnaire, including the total you'll be billed
- No membership or doctor fee, and shipping is free; follow-up consultations and dose adjustments are included
- Offers compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide plus brand Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound and Mounjaro, and a separate path for patients switching from another clinic
The tradeoffs
- No month-to-month plan is shown: semaglutide is a 4-month kit billed $716 and tirzepatide a 3-month kit billed $747, and the kits renew automatically
- Its consent terms say the first three months of medication are due and non-refundable even if you stop treatment
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.