Alloy vs Cost Plus Drugs
An in-depth comparison of two leading GLP-1 Providers
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Alloy
Best for women in menopause/perimenopause who want a Menopause Society-certified clinician AND the broadest brand+compounded GLP-1 formulary in our directoryStarting at $80/mo
Cost Plus Drugs
Best for the cheapest transparent-pricing brand-name Ozempic channelStarting at $279/mo
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Alloy | Cost Plus Drugs |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 7.4/10 | ✓8.5/10 |
| Starting Price | ✓$80/mo | $279/mo |
| Editorial Rating | 3.7 ★ /5 | ✓4.3 ★ /5 |
| Features | ✓8 features | 5 features |
| States Available | 0 | ✓50 |
| Compounded | ✓ Yes | — |
| Brand Name | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| FSA/HSA Accepted | — | — |
| FDA Warnings | None | None |
Pros & Cons
Alloy
Pros
- ✓Broadest GLP-1 formulary in our catalog: brand Wegovy + brand Zepbound + oral Wegovy + compounded semaglutide + compounded tirzepatide + compounded liraglutide
- ✓All consulting doctors are certified by The Menopause Society — only ~1,000 such certified practitioners exist among ~20,000 OB-GYNs in the US
- ✓Brand-name Wegovy starting at $199/mo and compounded liraglutide starting at $80/mo cover both ends of the price/access spectrum
- ✓STARTGLP1 promo code knocks $50 off the first month per the public site
Cons
- ✗Not available in Louisiana or Mississippi (verified) — readers in those two states should be routed elsewhere
- ✗Initial consultation is $49 and is separate from medication cost — readers should know there's a non-refundable upfront fee
- ✗Menopause-specialty framing — best fit for women in menopause/perimenopause, not the right product for men or younger women whose primary need is weight loss
Cost Plus Drugs
Pros
- ✓Transparent pricing formula: wholesale acquisition cost + 15% markup + $5 pharmacy fee — publicly disclosed and the same for everyone (no insurance gatekeeping, no negotiated PBM rebate games)
- ✓~$279/month for branded Ozempic is meaningfully below retail pharmacy list prices for the same FDA-approved manufacturer product
- ✓Mark Cuban's PBM-disrupting platform has earned editorial credibility from Forbes Health, Wired, and KFF Health News for its pricing transparency
- ✓Ships to all 50 states; same FDA-approved Novo Nordisk Ozempic, no compounded reformulation
- ✓Partnered with 9amHealth for telehealth prescribing — you can get the prescription separately and pay Cost Plus pricing for fulfillment
Cons
- ✗Pharmacy fulfillment only — no telehealth intake, no prescribing clinicians on staff. You need a valid Ozempic prescription from an external clinician (PCP, endocrinologist, or telehealth provider) before Cost Plus can fill it
- ✗Ozempic is FDA-indicated for type 2 diabetes, not chronic weight management — your prescribing clinician's documentation matters for off-label weight-loss use
- ✗Wegovy availability through Cost Plus has historically been spotty — verify current Wegovy SKU status before assuming it ships
- ✗No compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide — brand-only model
- ✗No clinical follow-up included — fulfillment-only model means side-effect monitoring is on your prescribing clinician
Our Verdict
Cost Plus Drugs edges out Alloy with a higher overall score of 8.5/10 and is particularly strong for the cheapest transparent-pricing brand-name Ozempic channel. Alloy remains a solid alternative, especially if you're looking for women in menopause/perimenopause who want a Menopause Society-certified clinician AND the broadest brand+compounded GLP-1 formulary in our directory.
Glossary references
Key terms in this article, linked to their canonical definitions.
- Semaglutide · Drugs and brands
- Tirzepatide · Drugs and brands
- Compounded GLP-1 · Pharmacy and drug forms
- 503A pharmacy · Pharmacy and drug forms
- PCAB accreditation · Pharmacy and drug forms
- Prior authorization (PA) · Insurance and regulatory
- Off-label use · Insurance and regulatory
- FDA Drug Shortage List · Insurance and regulatory
Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Rybelsus® are trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. Mounjaro® and Zepbound® are trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company. All other product names and trademarks referenced on this page belong to their respective owners. WeightLossRankings.org is not affiliated with any pharmaceutical manufacturer. See trademark disclaimer.