Comparison
Zepbound vs Wegovy: cost, trial results and key differences
The two best-known weight-management injections compared on what is documented: the head-to-head trial, FDA-approved uses, forms and current self-pay prices.
Programs that list both Zepbound and Wegovy
- Ro$39 first month, then $149/mo membership (from $74/mo prepaid yearly). Lists Wegovy pill & pen, Zepbound, Foundayo.
- WeightWatchers Med+$25 first month, then $74–$84/mo on a 12- or 6-month plan. Lists Wegovy pill & pen, Zepbound, Foundayo.
- Amazon One Medical$39 message or $59 video visit, no membership required. Wegovy pill & injection, Zepbound, Foundayo.
- PlushCare$19.99/mo membership (first month free) + $129 self-pay visit, or insurance copay. Lists Wegovy pen & pill, Zepbound, Foundayo.
Not a ranking; facts from official pages, checked 9 November 2026. Buttons open the program’s site; we may earn a commission from some links. Disclosure.
Educational, not medical advice. Only a clinician licensed in your state can decide whether a prescription medicine is right for you. We do not give dosing instructions. In an emergency, call 911. Medical disclaimer.
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Short answer: Zepbound (tirzepatide) produced greater average weight reduction than Wegovy (semaglutide) in the SURMOUNT-5 trial. Wegovy has a cardiovascular risk-reduction indication, a pill version, and the lower introductory self-pay price.
Side by side
| Zepbound | Wegovy | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Eli Lilly | Novo Nordisk |
| Ingredient | tirzepatide: acts on GIP and GLP-1 receptors | semaglutide: acts on GLP-1 receptors |
| Forms | weekly injection: single-dose pen, KwikPen or vial | weekly injection pen (incl. Wegovy HD 7.2 mg) or prefilled syringe, or the daily Wegovy pill |
| Approved uses | chronic weight management; moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity | chronic weight management; cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with established cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight; injection also for MASH in certain adults |
| Diabetes brand with same ingredient | Mounjaro | Ozempic (injection), Rybelsus (tablet) |
| Self-pay price per month | $299 (2.5 mg), $399 (5 mg), $449 (7.5–15 mg) with refills within 45 days LillyDirect: Zepbound self-pay ↗ | Pen: $199 first 2 months (intro offer), then $349; HD $399. Pill: $149–$299 Wegovy cost & coverage (Novo Nordisk) ↗ |
| Savings with commercial insurance | as little as $25 for single-dose pens, if your plan covers Zepbound Lilly: Zepbound cost information ↗ | as little as $25 a month, subject to a maximum savings amount Wegovy cost & coverage (Novo Nordisk) ↗ |
| Head-to-head result (SURMOUNT-5, 72 weeks) | −20.2% mean weight change | −13.7% mean weight change |
| Boxed warning | thyroid C-cell tumors | thyroid C-cell tumors |
The SURMOUNT-5 trial in plain language
SURMOUNT-5 was a 72-week, open-label phase 3b trial in 751 adults without type 2 diabetes. Mean weight change was −20.2% with tirzepatide and −13.7% with semaglutide, and waist circumference fell by 18.4 cm and 13.0 cm. Gastrointestinal adverse events were the most common in both groups. The study was funded by Eli Lilly. Aronne LJ et al. Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity (SURMOUNT-5). N Engl J Med 2025 ↗
Beyond weight: approved uses can decide it
If you have established cardiovascular disease, note that Wegovy is FDA-approved to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with obesity or overweight. If you have moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea with obesity, Zepbound is approved for that. Insurers sometimes cover a medicine for one of these indications when they do not cover weight management.
Where online programs list each
From official program pages checked 9 November 2026: Zepbound: Ro, WeightWatchers Med+, PlushCare, Hims & Hers, Amazon One Medical, Knownwell, Form Health. Wegovy: Ro, WeightWatchers Med+, PlushCare, Hims & Hers, Amazon One Medical, Sesame, Knownwell, Form Health. Compare program fees.
Related guides
- GLP-1 cost in 2026: Zepbound, Wegovy, Wegovy pill and Foundayo prices
- Cheapest FDA-approved GLP-1 without insurance
- Which GLP-1 is best for weight loss?
- GLP-1 pills: Wegovy pill vs Foundayo
- FDA-approved GLP-1 medicines in the US
Sources
- Aronne LJ et al. Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity (SURMOUNT-5). N Engl J Med 2025 ↗ — checked 9 November 2026.
- FDA Zepbound approval announcement ↗ — checked 9 November 2026.
- Zepbound prescribing information (Lilly, PDF) ↗ — checked 9 November 2026.
- FDA approval package with Wegovy labeling, May 2026 (PDF) ↗ — checked 9 November 2026.
- LillyDirect: Zepbound self-pay ↗ — checked 9 November 2026.
- Zepbound KwikPen self-pay terms (Lilly) ↗ — checked 9 November 2026.
- Lilly: Zepbound cost information ↗ — checked 9 November 2026.
- Wegovy cost & coverage (Novo Nordisk) ↗ — checked 9 November 2026.
- Drugs@FDA: current product labeling ↗ — checked 9 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which works better, Zepbound or Wegovy?
In SURMOUNT-5, a 72-week open-label trial of 751 adults without type 2 diabetes published in the New England Journal of Medicine, mean weight change was -20.2% with tirzepatide (Zepbound) and -13.7% with semaglutide (Wegovy). The trial was funded by Eli Lilly. Individual results vary.
Is Zepbound cheaper than Wegovy?
Without insurance it depends on strength. As of 9 November 2026, the Wegovy pen is $199 a month for the first two months on an intro offer and then $349, while Zepbound is $299 to $449 a month with on-time refills. The Wegovy pill starts at $149.
Can I switch from Wegovy to Zepbound?
Switching is a clinical decision. Talk to your prescriber; do not change medicines on your own.
Is there a Zepbound pill?
No. Zepbound is an injection. Lilly's GLP-1 pill for weight management is Foundayo (orforglipron), a different medicine. The Wegovy pill is Novo Nordisk's oral semaglutide.
Do Zepbound and Wegovy have the same side effects?
They share many: gastrointestinal effects were the most common adverse events for both in SURMOUNT-5, and both labels carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors. Read each FDA label.