The short answer
As of October 2026, the makers’ own self-pay prices run from $149 to $449 a month for most doses. Wegovy pills cost $149 to $299, Wegovy pens $349 after a $199 offer for the first two months, Zepbound KwikPens and vials $299 to $449, and Foundayo pills $149 to $299. These prices apply only through NovoCare Pharmacy, the Wegovy savings offer or LillyDirect.
At GLP-1 SOS we hear this from people whose plan just dropped coverage, and from people who never had it. In 2026 both makers publish fixed self-pay prices, but the price depends on the drug, the dose and where you fill. If you are not sure your plan pays, start with whether insurance covers a GLP-1 for weight loss. Every price below is from the maker’s own page, as of October 2026, and can change.
At a glance
Three things that set your price
1
The form
Pills have the lowest entry price. The Wegovy pill and Foundayo both start at $149 a month for the first dose.
2
The dose
Price climbs as you step up. Zepbound goes $299, then $399, then $449; the Wegovy pill goes $149, $199, then $299.
3
Where you fill
The listed prices need NovoCare Pharmacy, the Wegovy savings offer or LillyDirect. A regular pharmacy sets its own cash price.
What the price list actually says
Wegovy (semaglutide), from NovoCare. Pills: $149 a month for 1.5 mg, $199 for 4 mg and $299 for 9 mg and 25 mg (a month is 30 tablets). Pens: new patients pay $199 a month for the first two fills of 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg, then $349 a month for 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg, and $399 for Wegovy HD 7.2 mg (a month is 4 pens). Novo Nordisk says pricing will be updated after December 31, 2026.
Zepbound (tirzepatide), from Lilly. KwikPen and vials: $299 a month for 2.5 mg and $399 for 5 mg. From 7.5 mg to 15 mg it is $449 a month if you refill within 45 days; miss that window and the regular price is $499 for 7.5 mg and $699 for higher doses. The single-dose pen is different: without coverage, Lilly’s savings card brings it to as low as $499 a month.
Lab note
The cheapest GLP-1 is usually the one you refill on time, from the channel the price list names.
Foundayo (orforglipron), from LillyDirect. $149 a month for 0.8 mg and 2.5 mg, $199 for 5.5 mg, and $299 for 9 mg, 14.5 mg and 17.2 mg, with the two top doses needing a refill within 45 days. Lilly says the 2.5 mg and 5.5 mg prices are temporarily reduced through December 31, 2026. For how the pills compare beyond price, see Wegovy pill vs Foundayo vs Rybelsus.
Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss; NovoCare lists Ozempic pens at $349 a month for 0.25 mg to 1 mg and $499 for 2 mg. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide have no official price, and the FDA notes they are not FDA-approved or reviewed for safety, effectiveness or quality.
From the manufacturers’ price pages
Three numbers to plan with
$149
a month, the lowest listed self-pay price: the Wegovy pill at 1.5 mg (NovoCare) and Foundayo at 0.8 mg or 2.5 mg (LillyDirect)
45 days
the refill window that keeps Zepbound at $449 and top-dose Foundayo at $299 a month, per Lilly’s terms
13 fills
a year, not 12, for a weekly shot: one month of pens is 4 pens or 28 days on the NovoCare and Lilly pages
Sources: NovoCare Wegovy and Ozempic savings pages; Lilly Zepbound savings page; LillyDirect Foundayo page; all as of October 2026.
What to do
- Price the whole first year, not month one. Starting doses are the cheapest. Take the monthly price of the dose you expect to stay on and multiply by 13 for a weekly shot or 12 for a daily pill.
- Ask your prescriber which channel fits. Self-pay prices need a prescription sent to NovoCare Pharmacy or LillyDirect, or the Wegovy savings offer taken to your pharmacy. Ask before the first fill.
- Put refill reminders in your phone. Lilly’s lower prices for Zepbound at 7.5 mg and up, and for Foundayo at 14.5 mg and 17.2 mg, depend on refilling within 45 days.
- Compare, but compare like with like. Discount-card sites such as GoodRx show pharmacy cash prices. Check the exact drug, dose and number of pens or tablets against the maker’s price before you pay.
- Check HSA, FSA and Medicare options. LillyDirect says Foundayo is HSA and FSA eligible, depending on the plan. On Medicare Part D, both makers now point to a $50-a-month Medicare GLP-1 Bridge for eligible patients.
- Budget for the side-effect basics too. Many people need digestive support in the first months, and separate bottles add up. GLP-1 SOS Daily Gut Relief puts magnesium, ginger, peppermint, probiotics and B vitamins in one formula, 2 capsules with dinner, designed to support regular bowel movements and digestive comfort.*
*GLP-1 SOS Daily Gut Relief supports regular bowel movements and digestive comfort. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Two kinds of price
A listed price, or a price to question
Listed and predictable
- NovoCare Pharmacy or the Wegovy savings offer
- LillyDirect for Zepbound and Foundayo
- A dose-by-dose price table
- A visible end date (December 31, 2026)
Ask more questions
- A counter price you did not check first
- A missed refill window that resets the price
- A compounded product with no FDA approval
- A website selling without a prescription
If a price looks far below the lists above, ask what exactly you are buying.
When to call your doctor
Before you change how you buy or take your GLP-1, talk to your prescriber if:
- You want to switch drugs, forms or doses to save money
- You plan to stretch doses or skip weeks because of cost
- You missed 2 weeks or more, or are considering a compounded or online product
- You take insulin or a sulfonylurea, since changes affect blood sugar
- You have severe stomach pain, repeated vomiting or signs of dehydration (call the same day)
A cheaper plan is only cheaper if it is still safe for you.
From the people behind the Lab
You do not have to figure this out alone.
GLP-1 SOS is the daily companion made for life on a GLP-1. Plain answers like this one, a support team that replies to real questions from real people, and daily formulas like GLP-1 SOS Daily Gut Relief, designed around the side effects that come with the medication. The GLP-1 Lab is our free education arm: no login, no paywall, no hype. Side effects are part of the road. Suffering through them is not.
Questions people also ask
How much is Wegovy without insurance in 2026?
As of October 2026, NovoCare lists Wegovy pills at $149 a month for 1.5 mg, $199 for 4 mg and $299 for 9 mg and 25 mg. Wegovy pens are $199 a month for a new patient’s first two fills, then $349 a month for 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg, and $399 for Wegovy HD 7.2 mg. Pricing will be updated after December 31, 2026.
How much is Zepbound per month without insurance?
Lilly lists the Zepbound KwikPen and vials at $299 a month for 2.5 mg and $399 for 5 mg. From 7.5 mg to 15 mg it is $449 if you refill within 45 days, otherwise $499 for 7.5 mg and $699 for higher doses. The single-dose pen without coverage is as low as $499 with Lilly’s savings card.
Is the GLP-1 pill cheaper than the shot?
At the start, usually yes. The Wegovy pill and Foundayo both begin at $149 a month. At maintenance, the Wegovy pill at 25 mg and Foundayo at 9 mg and up are $299 a month, against $349 for the Wegovy pen and $449 for the Zepbound KwikPen at 7.5 mg and up. Results and side effects matter more than price, so decide with your prescriber.
Why is compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide cheaper?
Compounded versions are not FDA-approved and have no official price, so costs vary widely. The FDA says it does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness or quality, and it has reported adverse events linked to dosing errors. If you use one, use a licensed pharmacy and a prescription, and read whether side effects differ on compounded GLP-1s.
Can I use Ozempic or Mounjaro savings cards if I pay cash?
Usually not. Copay cards like the Ozempic card, as low as $25, are for commercial insurance that covers the drug; government plans are excluded. Without coverage, the option is the maker’s self-pay price: NovoCare lists Ozempic pens at $349 a month for 0.25 mg to 1 mg after a $199 new-patient offer. Ozempic and Mounjaro are diabetes drugs, so ask your prescriber which fits.
Sources (7)
- Wegovy savings offer and self-pay pricing. NovoCare, Novo Nordisk, accessed October 2026.
- Ozempic savings offer and self-pay pricing. NovoCare, Novo Nordisk, accessed October 2026.
- Zepbound savings and self-pay pricing. Eli Lilly and Company, accessed October 2026.
- Foundayo self-pay pricing. LillyDirect, Eli Lilly and Company, accessed October 2026.
- Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets, Prescribing Information. Novo Nordisk / FDA, revised June 2026.
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) injection, Prescribing Information. Eli Lilly, revised August 2026.
- FDA’s Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, content current as of October 1, 2026.
Reviewed by the GLP-1 SOS editorial team · Education, not medical advice · Talk to your prescriber about your dose and your symptoms.
