4-way comparison
Wegovy vs Zepbound vs Compounded Semaglutide vs Compounded Tirzepatide
Side-by-side breakdown of all four — efficacy, cost, regulatory status, mechanism, and who each option fits best.
Side-by-side comparison
| Attribute | Wegovy | Zepbound | Compounded Semaglutide | Compounded Tirzepatide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLP1Zoom editorial score | 8.9/10 | 9.3/10 | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Generic name | semaglutide | tirzepatide | semaglutide (compounded) | tirzepatide (compounded) |
| Drug class | — | — | — | — |
| Regulatory status | FDA approved | FDA approved | Compounded | Compounded |
| Manufacturer | Novo Nordisk | Eli Lilly | Various compounding pharmacies | Various compounding pharmacies |
| Mechanism | — | — | — | — |
| Administration | Subcutaneous injection | Subcutaneous injection | Subcutaneous injection | Subcutaneous injection |
| Avg retail price | $1349/mo | $1086/mo | $250/mo | $299/mo |
| Without insurance | $1349–$1500/mo | $349–$1086/mo | $99–$350/mo | $149–$399/mo |
| Savings card max | $0/mo | $25/mo | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Shortage status | not_listed | not_listed | not_listed | not_listed |
Affiliate-disclosed
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FAQ
What is the difference between Wegovy, Zepbound, Compounded Semaglutide, and Compounded Tirzepatide?
Wegovy (semaglutide), Zepbound (tirzepatide), Compounded Semaglutide (semaglutide (compounded)), Compounded Tirzepatide (tirzepatide (compounded)) are GLP-1 medications used for weight management or type 2 diabetes. Key differences: Wegovy is FDA-approved; Zepbound is FDA-approved; Compounded Semaglutide is compounded (not FDA-approved as a finished product); Compounded Tirzepatide is compounded (not FDA-approved as a finished product).
Which is most effective for weight loss among the four?
Effectiveness varies by individual. In clinical trials, tirzepatide-based drugs (Mounjaro, Zepbound) produced ~20-22% average body-weight loss vs ~13-15% for semaglutide-based (Ozempic, Wegovy). Daily liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza) produced about 6-8% on average. Discuss with your prescriber.
Which is cheapest?
Cash retail price: Compounded Semaglutide $250/mo · Compounded Tirzepatide $299/mo · Zepbound $1086/mo · Wegovy $1349/mo. Compounded versions through telehealth typically run 50-80% less when legally available.
Can I switch between these four medications?
Yes — switching is clinically common, usually driven by side-effect tolerance, weight-loss plateau, insurance coverage changes, or supply issues. Most prescribers restart at the new drug's starting dose rather than dose-matching, because cross-drug equivalence is not 1:1 — particularly when switching between GLP-1-only (semaglutide, liraglutide) and GIP/GLP-1 dual-agonist (tirzepatide).
See per-drug deep dives: Wegovy review · Zepbound review · Compounded Semaglutide review · Compounded Tirzepatide review
Drill down to 3-way comparisons
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