Wegovy vs Ozempic vs Zepbound vs Mounjaro: Side-by-Side Comparison & Brand Cheat Sheet (2026)

This brand-name cheat sheet is part of Weight Loss Rankings' living editorial database — 100+ research articles and 158+ clinically-reviewed GLP-1 telehealth providers, sourced only from primary FDA labels and peer-reviewed PubMed literature.

The GLP-1 market in 2026 is a brand-name mess. Six products share three active ingredients between two manufacturers, and the brand names give no hint about which is which. Patients consistently search for “is Zepbound the same as Mounjaro” (yes), “is Wegovy the same as Ozempic” (almost), and “is Zepbound a semaglutide” (no — it's tirzepatide) at a combined ~5,800 monthly searches. This cheat sheet untangles all of it in one place, with the FDA indications and dosing pulled directly from each product's prescribing information.

The one-page summary

The six branded GLP-1s that drive 99% of US prescriptions in 2026, side-by-side. For the canonical full reference list of every FDA-approved GLP-1 (including Saxenda, Trulicity, Victoza, the discontinued Byetta and Bydureon BCise, the three FDA-approved generic GLP-1s, and every late-stage investigational pipeline drug), see our GLP-1 medication list 2026 full reference.

Side-by-side: which GLP-1 is best for weight loss in 2026?

Patients comparing GLP-1 options for weight loss are usually weighing some combination of efficacy, dose schedule, oral vs injectable, indication-driven insurance coverage, and cash price. Here is the verified side-by-side picture across the six FDA-approved brands. Phase 3 efficacy numbers come from the canonical pivotal trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine for each weight-loss-indicated drug; full PMID citations are in our bariatric vs GLP-1 decision guide. The CV/diabetes-only drugs (Ozempic, Mounjaro, Rybelsus) list their own indication-specific endpoints — they are not FDA-approved for weight loss alone.

The honest summary: for chronic weight management with the largest published efficacy signal, the data favors Zepbound (tirzepatide) on the SURMOUNT-1 ~20.9% endpoint vs Wegovy (semaglutide)'s STEP-1 ~14.9%. SURMOUNT-5 (NEJM 2025) confirmed tirzepatide's edge in a head-to-head. For oral preference, Foundayo is the first FDA-approved oral weight-loss option without Rybelsus's fasting restrictions. For type 2 diabetes alone, Mounjaro generally outperforms Ozempic on A1C reduction (SURPASS-2). For lowest cash price, Foundayo at $149/mo is the cheapest brand-name option as of 2026-05-09. Insurance coverage is the dominant practical consideration for most patients — see our Cigna PA guide and Aetna PA guide for verbatim payer policy language.

Ozempic alternatives (semaglutide alternatives) for weight loss

“Ozempic alternatives” is one of the most-searched GLP-1 brand questions, but the framing usually conflates two distinct goals. Most searchers asking about Ozempic alternatives want one of:

• A different weight-loss-indicated GLP-1. The FDA-approved alternatives are Wegovy (same molecule as Ozempic, weight-loss indication, 2.4 mg dose), Zepbound (different molecule, different mechanism — tirzepatide, larger weight-loss effect size), Foundayo (different molecule — orforglipron, oral tablet), and Saxenda (older liraglutide). All four are FDA-approved for chronic weight management; Ozempic is not.
• A cheaper or more-accessible semaglutide. Wegovy through NovoCare self-pay is $299/mo (verified 2026-05-09) — historically much higher than this. Compounded semaglutide from licensed 503A pharmacies typically runs $99–$300/mo, though the FDA's enforcement-discretion grace period for compounded semaglutide ended February 2025 and the regulatory landscape is unsettled. The Costco Member Prescription Program offers Ozempic + Wegovy at $349/mo via the Sesame partner.
• A non-GLP-1 weight-loss option. The FDA-approved non-GLP-1 oral options are Qsymia (phentermine + topiramate), Contrave (naltrexone + bupropion), and Xenical / alli (orlistat). For evidence reviews on each, see our FDA-approved weight loss medications hub.

For the broader “what is GLP-1” primer covering every FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonist (including the diabetes-only and discontinued legacy drugs Trulicity, Victoza, Byetta, Bydureon BCise), see our new GLP-1 complete guide.

Is Wegovy the same as Ozempic?

Almost. Both Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient — semaglutide — and are made by the same manufacturer, Novo Nordisk. Both are weekly subcutaneous injection pens. The differences are [1, 2]:

• Maximum dose. Wegovy goes up to 2.4 mg weekly (the weight-management dose). Ozempic goes up to 2.0 mg weekly (the diabetes dose).
• FDA indication. Wegovy is approved for chronic weight management in adults and adolescents with obesity, plus cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with known heart disease and obesity. Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with T2D and heart disease, and — most recently — reducing the risk of kidney disease progression in adults with T2D + CKD (the FLOW trial indication, approved January 2025).
• Insurance coverage. Ozempic is covered by most insurance plans for T2D patients because it's a diabetes drug. Wegovy is frequently excluded from commercial plans because anti-obesity drug coverage is still a volatile category. This is the single biggest practical difference.
• Room-temperature storage window. Ozempic gets 56 days at room temperature after first use; Wegovy gets only 28 days. See our storage guide for the full FDA-label comparison.

In clinical effect they are essentially identical at equivalent doses. Patients sometimes find their insurance will cover Ozempic but not Wegovy even though a prescriber could achieve similar weight loss outcomes with either. This drives a lot of off-label Ozempic prescribing for weight loss — which is legal but complicated.

Is Zepbound the same as Mounjaro?

Yes — they are the same drug. Both contain tirzepatide, are manufactured by Eli Lilly, and are weekly subcutaneous injection pens. The only differences [4, 5] (also covered in our deeper Mounjaro vs Zepbound complete comparison):

• FDA indication. Zepbound is approved for chronic weight management and obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes. Same molecule, two labels.
• Insurance coverage. Like Ozempic vs Wegovy, Mounjaro is covered for diabetes patients while Zepbound coverage for weight management is inconsistent across commercial plans.
• Packaging. Different pen colors and different pharmacy labels, but the active drug inside is identical.

If you are asking “should I use Zepbound or Mounjaro?” the honest answer is “it depends on what your insurance covers and what your prescriber writes. The drug is the same.”

Is Zepbound a semaglutide? Is Wegovy a tirzepatide?

No. This is the most confused GLP-1 brand question on Google:

• Zepbound is tirzepatide, not semaglutide. Tirzepatide is a dual GLP-1 + GIP receptor agonist made by Eli Lilly. Semaglutide is a single GLP-1 receptor agonist made by Novo Nordisk. Different molecules, different manufacturers.
• Wegovy is semaglutide, not tirzepatide. Same molecule as Ozempic and Rybelsus, different brand and indication.

The quickest way to remember: if the brand starts with W or O, it's Novo Nordisk's semaglutide. If the brand starts with Z or M, it's Eli Lilly's tirzepatide. If it's Rybelsus, it's oral semaglutide. If it's Foundayo, it's the new oral non-peptide orforglipron.

What is Rybelsus?

Rybelsus is oral semaglutide — the same active ingredient as Wegovy and Ozempic, but formulated as a daily pill rather than a weekly injection [3]. To survive stomach acid, Rybelsus uses a special absorption enhancer (SNAC) and must be taken on an empty stomach with no more than 4 ounces of water, then the patient must wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other oral medications.

Rybelsus is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes only. It is not approved for weight management. The practical constraint of the empty-stomach-plus-30-minute-wait rule has limited its uptake compared to injectable semaglutide.

What is Foundayo?

Foundayo (orforglipron) is the newest entry in the category — FDA-approved on April 1, 2026 [6]. It is the first non-peptide small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for chronic weight management. Unlike Rybelsus (which is still a peptide and requires empty-stomach dosing), Foundayo is a true small molecule that can be taken any time of day with or without food.

Foundayo is made by Eli Lilly and is positioned between the injectable drugs and the older oral semaglutide in the market. See our Foundayo approval deep-dive for the full ATTAIN-1 trial data and the $25-$149/month launch pricing.

Generic vs compounded vs brand-name

All of the above are brand-name products — the FDA-approved, manufacturer-labeled versions sold through pharmacies at brand pricing. A separate market exists for compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, which are prepared by 503A and 503B compounding pharmacies from the same active pharmaceutical ingredients but are not FDA-approved as finished products.

Compounded GLP-1s are sold primarily through telehealth providers at significantly lower cash prices than the brand names. They ship in vials rather than pens, and the patient draws their own dose with an insulin syringe. They are not generics — a generic is an exact copy of a brand-name drug that the FDA has approved as bioequivalent, and no such generics exist for these drugs. For the distinction and the quality considerations, see our compounded semaglutide bioequivalence investigation, our PCAB accreditation guide, and our Wegovy pen vs compounded vial deep-dive.

Which drug should I ask my prescriber about?

For most adult patients with obesity and no diabetes, the current decision tree looks roughly like this:

1. If insurance covers it: Wegovy (larger data package for weight management) or Zepbound (larger effect size in head-to-head trial comparisons). Zepbound wins on effect size; Wegovy wins on cardiovascular outcomes data (SELECT).
2. If you have type 2 diabetes: Ozempic or Mounjaro (insurance coverage is almost universal for T2D) with off-label weight management as a secondary benefit.
3. If cost is the primary constraint: Foundayo at $149/month self-pay (if the lower effect size is acceptable) or compounded semaglutide/tirzepatide (typically $150-$300/month).
4. If needle aversion is the issue: Foundayo (daily pill, no food restrictions) or Rybelsus (daily pill, strict food restrictions — less practical).

For the detailed comparison of effect sizes across all the approved drugs, see our tirzepatide vs semaglutide head-to-head.

Common misspellings (wegoby, monjaro, senaglutide, wovegy)

Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, Mounjaro, semaglutide, and tirzepatide are routinely searched under a long tail of misspellings. None of these are real or distinct medications. If you arrived here from one of these searches, the canonical brand or generic name is to the right:

• wegoby, wovegy, wegrovy, wygovy → Wegovy (semaglutide for chronic weight management).
• monjaro, monjouro, monjarou → Mounjaro (tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes; the same molecule is sold as Zepbound for weight management).
• senaglutide, simaglutide, semiglutide → semaglutide (the generic name for the active ingredient in Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus).
• lozempic, ozenpic → Ozempic (semaglutide for type 2 diabetes).
• zepbond, zepbund, zepboud → Zepbound (tirzepatide for chronic weight management and obstructive sleep apnea).
• terzepatide, tirzepetide, tirzapatide → tirzepatide (the generic name for the active ingredient in Zepbound and Mounjaro).

These are common search-engine typos and Google autocomplete-suggested misspellings, not alternate brand names or different drugs. There is no medication named “wegoby,” “monjaro,” or “senaglutide” — every URL above resolves to the canonically-spelled brand or molecule reference.

Related research and tools

For the weight loss prediction at each drug scaled to your body weight, use our weight loss calculator. For the onset and steady-state timing, see our how long does GLP-1 take to work guide. For injection technique across all the pens, see our injection guide. For the Foundayo approval news, see our Foundayo deep-dive. For compounded vs brand comparison, see our pen vs compounded vial guide. And for the FAQ-density disambiguation hub answering all 21 patient-language same-as / class-membership / brand-vs-generic questions in one place (with FAQPage rich snippet schema), see our GLP-1 disambiguation FAQ hub. For the complete injectable guide covering every FDA-approved weight-loss injection with verbatim FDA label safety quotes, SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head data, and verified 2026 cash-pay pricing, see our weight loss injections guide 2026. For the strictest-exclusion state Medicaid case study in our 50-state series — Illinois Medicaid (HFS), doubly-anchored on 89 Ill. Adm. Code § 140.441(b) plus HFS PDL absence with zero Wegovy / Zepbound / Saxenda entries, no cardiovascular or MASH carve-back-in, and a unique in-house PBMS architecture unlike any other state in the cluster — see our Illinois Medicaid GLP-1 coverage (2026).