Sesame Care vs Collective
An in-depth comparison of two leading GLP-1 Providers
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Collective
Best for: the lowest flat medication price if you can absorb an annual membership fee
Visit Collective →Sesame Care and Collective are both GLP-1 Providers competing for the same patients, but they make different trade-offs on price, coverage, and what's included. In our scoring, Collective starts lower at $59/mo versus $149/mo, and Sesame Care is the option we'd start with for most patients. Below we break down pricing, what each plan covers, the six-dimension score, pros and cons, and exactly who should pick which.
Pricing
Sesame Care
Month-to-Month $99/mo, 3-Month $39/mo, 6-Month $49/mo, Annual $59/mo; includes video visits, unlimited messaging, follow-ups, labs (savings $60/3mo, $180/6mo, $480/yr)
$199/mo first two months, new self-pay patients, lowest doses (0.25/0.5mg) only; FAQ terms state offer valid through 2026-06-30 but $199 still advertised on 2026-07-14
low doses
high doses; maintenance dose $50/mo cheaper than Wegovy injection
NEW published pricing: $199 first two months (same new-self-pay intro terms as Wegovy); 2mg is $499/mo
$399/mo for 5mg; $449/mo for 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg, 15mg — unchanged vs stored
$399/mo 5mg, $499/mo 7.5mg, $699/mo 10-15mg (program page shows $398/$698 — Sesame's own pages disagree by $1)
NEW row on program page: 'Zepbound® Tirzepatide Starts at $1,086 per / mo' (retail-channel pen, distinct from LillyDirect KwikPen)
$199/mo at 2.5mg, $299 at 5.5mg and 9mg, $349 at 14.5mg and 17.2mg.
'Price with insurance: as low as $25 per / mo.' — copay varies by plan/PA outcome
Collective
Verbatim: 'Compounded Semaglutide: $59/month. Same price, every dose. Cancel anytime.' ⛔ EXCLUDES the required membership — the site states 'What does it cost? $59/month + $199 annual membership.' First-year total is $907 ($75.58/mo equivalent).
Verbatim: 'Compounded Tirzepatide: $69/month. Same price, any dose.' ⛔ EXCLUDES the required membership — 'The cost is $69/month + $199 annual membership.' First-year total is $1,027 ($85.58/mo equivalent).
Verbatim: 'Requires Collective membership: 21 day free trial, then a low annual $199 membership fee. No recurring monthly membership charges.' Charged yearly, not monthly. Terms of Use: 'all membership fees are non-refundable, and partial-period refunds are not provided.'
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What’s included
Sesame Care
Inclusions not disclosed.
Collective
What the monthly price covers
Medication
Included
Provider visits
Included
Shipping
Included
Lab work
Not disclosed
Coaching
Not disclosed
Score breakdown
Both providers are scored on the same six-dimension framework. The gradient bar marks the stronger side on each dimension.
Sesame Care
8.0/10
Collective
8.3/10
Value25%
Effectiveness25%
User Experience15%
Trust & Safety15%
Accessibility10%
Support10%
Features & Coverage
| Feature | Sesame Care | Collective |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $149/mo | ✓$59/mo |
| Features | ✓8 features | 3 features |
| States Available | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Compounded | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Brand Name | — | — |
| FSA/HSA Accepted | — | — |
| FDA Warnings | None | None |
About Sesame Care
Sesame is a transparent-pricing telehealth marketplace that connects patients directly with independent provider practices — distinct from the stocked-formulary model of most weight-loss platforms. Its weight-loss vertical is brand-name only (no compounding): a $39–$99/month subscription covers clinical care, while medication is billed separately at cash-pay rates, including Zepbound from $299 via LillyDirect and a Wegovy self-pay promo at $199/month.
Read our full Sesame Care review →About Collective
Collective (collective.org) is a membership-based telehealth platform from the founder of Thrive Market, selling compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide at a flat price on every dose. Medication is billed separately from a required annual membership, and the program bundles unlimited clinician messaging, dietitian access and express cold shipping.
Read our full Collective review →Pros & Cons
Sesame Care
What we like
- Marketplace transparency — pick a named provider with a displayed price before booking, unlike most opaque telehealth intake
- BBB-accredited and LegitScript-verified
- LillyDirect partnership unlocks Zepbound vial and KwikPen cash pricing matching Lilly's lowest direct rates ($299 at lowest dose)
- Wegovy self-pay promo ($199/mo for first two months, lowest dose, new self-pay) — among the lowest brand-Wegovy cash prices
- Honest subscription scope — clinical care only, medication billed separately
- Stocks both Wegovy pill ($149/mo low doses) and Foundayo orforglipron alongside injectables
- Lab work included in subscription for 41 states (excludes AZ/HI/ND/NJ/NY/OK/RI/SD/WY)
- Insurance route ($25/mo possible) is viable — providers assist with prior authorization
Watch-outs
- Marketplace model means clinician credentials and quality vary provider to provider
- Statewide availability can't be listed — it depends on which marketplace providers are licensed in your state
- No in-house pharmacy — fulfillment splits across LillyDirect, NovoCare, and your retail pharmacy
- Restrictive refunds — full refund only if you cancel 3+ hours before the first visit; no refund once the visit occurs
- Subscription commitment required — no genuine pay-per-visit option for weight loss
- Wegovy $199/mo promo applies only to new self-pay patients at the lowest dose; $349/mo after month 2
- Wegovy pill high doses ($299/mo for 9mg/25mg) cost about 2x the low-dose price as you titrate up
- Zepbound KwikPen high doses ($699/mo for 10–15mg) approach Lilly's list price
Collective
What we like
- The lowest published compounded GLP-1 medication prices we track — $59/month semaglutide and $69/month tirzepatide
- Flat pricing at every dose, so titrating up does not raise the bill
- Unlimited clinician messaging and registered-dietitian access are included rather than upsold
- 21-day free trial on the membership before the annual fee is charged
Watch-outs
- The advertised $59 and $69 exclude a mandatory $199 annual membership — the real first-year cost is $907 and $1,027
- Membership fees are non-refundable and no partial-period refunds are given
- Compounding pharmacies are described only as 'independent, third-party licensed pharmacies' and are never named
- State availability is not published on the marketing site
Our Verdict
Sesame Care is our recommended choice here, particularly for Brand-name GLP-1s at cash prices, no compounding. Collective is a solid alternative, especially if you want the lowest flat medication price if you can absorb an annual membership fee — compare the six-dimension breakdown and pricing below to weigh them for your situation.
Choose Sesame Care if…
You want Brand-name GLP-1s at cash prices, no compounding and a starting price around $149/mo.
Choose Collective if…
You want the lowest flat medication price if you can absorb an annual membership fee and a starting price around $59/mo.
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Breeze Meds
Compounded GLP-1 access with named prescribers and 4-pharmacy network
From $199/mo
Get started →Telos Rx
Needle-free, microdosed compounded GLP-1 with lab-monitored care
From $99/mo
Get started →GobyMeds
Budget-conscious shoppers
From $93/mo
Get started →Sesame Care vs Collective: FAQ
Key terms, explained
New to GLP-1s? Tap any term for a quick, plain-English definition.
- 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
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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.