GLP-1 Drug Costs Compared: What Ozempic, Wegovy and Others Cost in 2026

Your GLP-1 cost depends on three things: which drug you take, how you pay and where you buy it. That’s why you’ll see numbers from $25 to $1,349 for what sounds like the same kind of medicine.

Below, one table lines up every GLP-1 sold in the U.S., per month, with the date we checked each price. Then a calculator shows what each way of paying adds up to over a year.

GLP-1 cost per month: what does every GLP-1 drug cost?

Here’s the monthly price of each GLP-1 at list price, through the maker’s cash program (or TrumpRx.gov for generics) and at licensed pharmacies abroad. “One month” differs by drug, so we spell it out.

Two things jump out. The makers’ cash programs cut Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro to less than half their list prices. And the cheapest FDA-approved option is a generic many people haven’t heard of.

GLP-1 price calculator: what will you pay per month and per year?

Pick your GLP-1, your dose and how you pay. You’ll see your lowest price first, then every option side by side, per month, per year and per dose.

What is the cheapest GLP-1?

The lowest FDA-approved cash price we found (paying without insurance) is generic liraglutide, the generic version of Victoza. TrumpRx.gov lists it from $133.58 for a box of 2 pens (checked Nov 14, 2026). That’s the lowest-priced home-delivery pharmacy it listed, shipping included; other pharmacies charged more. Each pen holds 18 mg, so 2 pens last 30 days at 1.2 mg a day. At 1.8 mg a day you’d need 3 pens, from $184.41.

According to its FDA label, generic liraglutide is a once-a-day shot approved, with diet and exercise, to improve blood sugar in people 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It’s also approved to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart-related death in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Saxenda has the same ingredient at a higher dose and is approved for weight management, so the two aren’t the same product.

Other low prices we found:

• GLP-1 pills from the makers: Ozempic tablets, the Wegovy pill and Foundayo cost $149 a month for their lowest doses. Higher doses cost $199 to $299.
• Ozempic and Wegovy pens: from $349 for 28 days through NovoCare Pharmacy. That’s close to the lowest brand Ozempic price we found abroad, $353.55 per 30 days.
• Lowest prices abroad: generic semaglutide tablets made in India, from $113.32 a month (3 mg), and brand Rybelsus, $160.64 a month. Neither is FDA-approved. In the U.S., Novo Nordisk is replacing Rybelsus with Ozempic tablets (see our Rybelsus page).

These drugs differ in ingredient, dose and approved use, so the cheapest one may not be right for you. Your prescriber decides which drug and dose fit your needs.

What is a GLP-1 drug?

A GLP-1 drug is a medicine that copies a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Your gut releases this hormone after you eat. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it helps lower blood sugar after meals and acts on the parts of the brain that control appetite.

Doctors prescribe GLP-1 drugs to treat type 2 diabetes or to help adults with obesity lose excess weight and keep it off. Some also have FDA-approved uses for heart, kidney, sleep apnea or liver conditions. Most are shots, given weekly or daily. A few are daily pills.

The FDA’s list of approved GLP-1 drugs includes Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus (all semaglutide), Trulicity (dulaglutide), Victoza and Saxenda (both liraglutide), Mounjaro and Zepbound (both tirzepatide), exenatide and Foundayo (orforglipron), a pill approved in 2026. Tirzepatide works on two hormones, GIP and GLP-1.

Why do GLP-1 prices vary so much?

GLP-1 prices vary because there are at least four different prices for the same medicine: the list price, what a pharmacy charges, the maker’s cash price and the price abroad.

• List price. The maker’s price before discounts. Novo Nordisk lists one Ozempic pen (about 28 days) at $1,027.51.
• U.S. pharmacy cash price. What a pharmacy charges without insurance. It can top the list price: the lowest we found for 90 days of Ozempic 1 mg was $3,576.43 (checked Nov 5, 2026), vs. a $3,302.70 list price.
• Maker’s cash price. Novo Nordisk (NovoCare Pharmacy) and Eli Lilly (LillyDirect) sell straight to people who pay cash.
• Price abroad. Licensed pharmacies in Canada, India and other countries often charge less, but their packs are not FDA-approved.

GLP-1 cost without insurance: how do the makers’ cash programs work?

Without insurance, the makers’ self-pay programs are usually the cheapest FDA-approved way to buy a brand GLP-1. You pay cash and the medicine ships to you (checked Nov 14, 2026):

• NovoCare Pharmacy (Novo Nordisk): Ozempic pens and tablets, Wegovy pens and the Wegovy pill. Insurance isn’t accepted. People with Medicare can use it, but the cost won’t count toward their deductible or out-of-pocket limit.
• LillyDirect (Eli Lilly): Mounjaro, Zepbound, Foundayo and Trulicity. Some Zepbound and Foundayo prices apply only if you refill within 45 days.
• TrumpRx.gov: a federal website that lists the makers’ cash prices and, for generics, pharmacy cash prices. You can’t buy drugs on it directly. Medicare.gov says these purchases don’t count toward your Medicare deductible or out-of-pocket maximum.

What about compounded GLP-1s?

Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are often sold for less. But the FDA says compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, which means the agency doesn’t review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they’re sold. The FDA has also warned about illegal online sales of GLP-1 drugs that could contain too little, too much or none of the active ingredient. We don’t list compounded drugs on eDrugSearch.

GLP-1 cost with insurance: what will your plan cover?

With private insurance, what you pay depends on your plan’s drug list, deductible and copay. The makers say the amount you pay will largely depend on your plan.

• Savings cards. If your plan covers the drug, the makers’ cards can bring your cost down to as little as $25. Limits apply: up to $100 off a month for Ozempic and Wegovy, up to $150 for Mounjaro and Trulicity, and up to $200 per prescription for Saxenda (for up to 12 months). Zepbound and Foundayo cards have monthly and yearly limits. None can be used with Medicare, Medicaid or other government programs.
• Diabetes vs. weight loss. Some GLP-1 drugs are approved for type 2 diabetes (such as Ozempic and Victoza) and others for weight management (such as Wegovy and Saxenda). Whether your plan covers a drug, and for which use, depends on your plan.
• Prior authorization. Your plan may require your doctor to ask for approval first. NovoCare says this can take up to 10 business days, so ask your doctor’s office about timing.

GLP-1 cost with Medicare: does Medicare cover GLP-1 drugs?

Yes, in two ways. Medicare drug plans (Part D) may cover GLP-1 drugs used for type 2 diabetes and some other medical conditions, depending on the plan’s drug list. And since July 1, 2026, a temporary program called the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge covers certain GLP-1 drugs for weight management.

• Part D costs in 2026: no Medicare drug plan may have a deductible above $615. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches $2,100, you pay nothing more for covered drugs that year. In 2027 those amounts rise to $700 and $2,400.
• Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: runs July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027. Eligible people with Part D pay $50 for a one-month supply (28 or 30 days) of Foundayo, Wegovy (pen or pill) or Zepbound KwikPen, not Zepbound vials. You must meet body mass index (BMI) and health rules, and your provider must request prior approval. The $50 doesn’t count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket limit, and Extra Help can’t lower it. People with type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe sleep apnea or fatty liver disease aren’t eligible, but their Part D plan may cover a GLP-1. Neither are people whose Part D plan already covers their GLP-1.
• Coming in 2027: starting January 1, 2027, Medicare’s negotiated price for semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy) is $274 for a 30-day supply. That’s what Medicare pays, not your copay.

Open enrollment for 2027 Medicare plans ends December 7. Our free Medicare Drug Cost Check and our open enrollment guide can help you compare.

Can you buy GLP-1 drugs from Canada or other countries?

Before you order from a pharmacy abroad, know the rules. Federal law generally doesn’t allow individuals to import prescription drugs; under its personal importation policy the FDA has long used enforcement discretion for some personal-use shipments, generally no more than a three-month supply. Congress declared in Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act section 804(j)(1), 21 U.S.C. 384(j)(1), that enforcement against individuals should focus on imports posing a significant threat to public health.

• You need a prescription. Legitimate pharmacies, in the U.S. and abroad, ask for one. Never buy from a website that doesn’t.
• Packs made for other countries are not FDA-approved, even when they carry the same brand name and active ingredient.
• Pens must stay cold. Ozempic, Wegovy and Trulicity pens need refrigerated shipping before first use, per their U.S. labels. Check that the pharmacy ships them cold.
• Customs rules for mailed orders change on January 20, 2027. Read what the 2027 customs rules mean.

For step-by-step help, see our guide to buying prescription drugs from Canada safely.

What did the FDA say about GLP-1 drugs and eye problems in November 2026?

On November 9, 2026, the FDA said GLP-1 drugs may raise the risk of a rare eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). NAION can cause sudden, painless vision loss in one eye, and the loss can be permanent.

• The FDA is requiring warnings about NAION on the labels of all GLP-1 drugs.
• In the FDA’s review of 126 clinical trials, NAION occurred at a rate of 6.4 cases per 100,000 person-years in people taking GLP-1 drugs, compared with 3.8 in people taking a placebo or another diabetes medicine.
• Symptoms the FDA lists include sudden vision loss in one eye (sometimes noticed on waking), blurred or missing parts of your vision, colors that look off and blurry or hazy spots.

If you take a GLP-1 drug and have questions about this warning, talk to your doctor. You can read the full FDA safety communication.

Compare GLP-1 prices today

Prices change often, so check before you buy. Each drug page shows U.S. prices, prices abroad, the maker’s programs and the date we checked:

• Ozempic prices
• Wegovy prices
• Rybelsus prices
• Generic semaglutide tablet prices
• Trulicity prices
• Mounjaro prices
• Zepbound prices
• Victoza prices
• Generic liraglutide (generic Victoza) prices
• Saxenda prices
• Byetta and generic exenatide prices

Anyone can compare prices for free. Members also see which pharmacy has each price.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest GLP-1 drug I can buy without insurance?

The lowest FDA-approved price we found is generic liraglutide (generic Victoza): from $133.58 on TrumpRx.gov for 2 pens, which last 30 days at 1.2 mg a day (checked Nov 14, 2026). The makers’ GLP-1 pills start at $149 a month. Your prescriber decides which drug is right for you.

How much does a GLP-1 cost per month without insurance?

Most brand GLP-1 drugs list at about $1,000 to $1,350 a month. Through the makers’ cash programs, they cost $149 to $499 a month, depending on the drug and dose.

How do I get a GLP-1 for $25 a month with insurance?

If your private insurance covers the drug, the makers’ savings cards can lower your cost to as little as $25, up to each card’s savings limit. They can’t be used with Medicare or Medicaid.

Does Medicare pay for GLP-1 drugs for weight loss?

Through the temporary Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, yes, for people who qualify. From July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027, eligible people with Part D pay $50 a month for Foundayo, Wegovy or Zepbound KwikPen. You must meet BMI and health rules, and your provider must request approval.

Is there a generic GLP-1?

Yes. FDA-approved generic liraglutide (the ingredient in Victoza) is sold by several makers, and generic exenatide is sold in place of brand Byetta. There’s no FDA-approved generic of Ozempic, Wegovy or Rybelsus, and no FDA-approved biosimilar of Trulicity.

Are GLP-1 drugs from Canada FDA-approved?

No. Packs made for sale in Canada or other countries are not FDA-approved, even when they have the same brand name and active ingredient as the U.S. version. You still need a prescription from your doctor.

eDrugSearch doesn’t sell medicine and doesn’t give medical advice. Questions about your treatment belong with your doctor or pharmacist.