Mounjaro vs Zepbound cost: same tirzepatide, $499 vs $299 a month
As of October 19, 2026, Zepbound costs $299 to $449 a month self-pay on LillyDirect, while Mounjaro has no LillyDirect self-pay option: its list price is $1,112.16 per fill, and Lilly’s savings card brings it to $25 if your commercial plan covers it or $499 if it doesn’t. Both contain tirzepatide.
| Item | Mounjaro | Zepbound |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Tirzepatide (Lilly) | Tirzepatide (Lilly) |
| FDA-approved use | Type 2 diabetes | Weight management; obstructive sleep apnea with obesity |
| Manufacturer self-pay price | None found on LillyDirect | $299 (2.5 mg), $399 (5 mg), $449 (7.5–15 mg) |
| Commercial plan covers it | As little as $25 (1–3 month fill) | As low as $25 (savings card) |
| Commercial plan doesn’t cover it | $499 per 1-month fill with card | Self-pay $299–$449 applies |
| List price (WAC) | $1,112.16 per fill | $499–$1,086.37 per fill |
| Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | Not included (Part D may cover for diabetes) | $50 (KwikPen only) |
| Telehealth cash example | Hims: $1,899/mo | Hims: from $299/mo |
Why is Zepbound cheaper than Mounjaro for cash payers?
Lilly sells Zepbound directly to self-paying patients through LillyDirect at $299, $399 or $449 a month by dose[1]. We found no equivalent self-pay channel for Mounjaro: Lilly publishes only its list price of $1,112.16 per fill[2] and a savings card for commercially insured patients[3]. Telehealth programs reflect that gap: Hims and Hers list Zepbound from $299 but Mounjaro at $1,899 a month, medication only[4].
Which is cheaper with insurance?
If your commercial plan covers the drug you’re prescribed, both can cost about the same: as little as $25 with Lilly’s savings cards[3][5]. The Mounjaro card adds a second tier for commercially insured patients whose plan doesn’t cover it: as low as $499 for a one-month fill[3]. Government beneficiaries are excluded from both cards.
What does a year cost?
Arithmetic on published prices, 13 four-week fills a year: Mounjaro at the $499 not-covered card price is $6,487; at list price, $14,458.08[3][2]. Zepbound self-pay is $3,887 at 2.5 mg, $5,187 at 5 mg and $5,837 at 7.5–15 mg[1]. Doses are your prescriber’s decision.
Can I switch from Mounjaro to Zepbound to save money?
That is a prescribing question. The two products have different FDA-approved uses (Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes, Zepbound for weight management and sleep apnea with obesity)[6], and your prescriber decides which applies to you. This page compares prices only.
Questions people ask
Are Mounjaro and Zepbound the same drug?
Both contain tirzepatide and are made by Eli Lilly, but they are separate products with different FDA-approved uses: Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes, Zepbound for weight management and obstructive sleep apnea with obesity.
Is Mounjaro more expensive than Zepbound?
For cash payers, yes. Zepbound is $299–$449 a month on LillyDirect; Mounjaro has no LillyDirect self-pay price, a $1,112.16 list price, and $499 with Lilly’s card if your commercial plan doesn’t cover it.
Can I get Mounjaro or Zepbound for $25?
Yes, if you have commercial insurance that covers the drug: Lilly’s savings cards can bring either to as little as $25. Government beneficiaries are excluded.
Sources
Every price above links to one of these pages. We loaded each one and saved a copy on the date shown.
- Zepbound on LillyDirect (vial and KwikPen self-pay prices) . Eli Lilly and Company. Checked .https://www.lilly.com/lillydirect/zepbound
- Mounjaro cost information (list price) . Eli Lilly and Company. Checked .https://pricinginfo.lilly.com/mounjaro
- Mounjaro savings and coverage . Eli Lilly and Company. Checked .https://mounjaro.lilly.com/savings-resources
- Hims weight loss: medications and prices . Hims & Hers Health. Checked .https://www.hims.com/weight-loss
- Zepbound cost information (list price and direct-to-patient price) . Eli Lilly and Company. Checked .https://pricinginfo.lilly.com/zepbound
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) now available in multi-dose KwikPen . Eli Lilly and Company, published Feb 23, 2026. Checked .https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/zepbound-tirzepatide-most-prescribed-weight-management
- What to Know About the BALANCE Model for GLP-1s in Medicare and Medicaid and the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge . KFF, published May 11, 2026. Checked .https://www.kff.org/medicare/what-to-know-about-the-balance-model-for-glp-1s-in-medicare-and-medicaid/