Zepbound vs Wegovy cost: $299–$449 vs $349 a month self-pay
As of October 19, 2026, Zepbound costs $299, $399 or $449 a month self-pay depending on dose, and Wegovy costs $349 at every standard dose ($199 for new patients’ first two fills; $399 for Wegovy HD). With commercial coverage both can be $25. On Medicare’s GLP-1 Bridge both are $50 (Zepbound KwikPen only).
| Item | Zepbound | Wegovy |
|---|---|---|
| Starting dose, self-pay | $299 (2.5 mg) | $199 intro (first 2 fills), then $349 |
| Second step | $399 (5 mg) | $349 |
| Higher doses | $449 (7.5–15 mg, on-time refills) | $349 (up to 2.4 mg); $399 HD 7.2 mg |
| Late-refill price | $499–$699 | No refill-timing rule |
| "Month" | 28 days (13 fills a year) | 1 box of 4 pens |
| Commercial insurance | As low as $25 | As little as $25 (max savings $100/mo) |
| Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | $50 (KwikPen only) | $50 (pen and pill) |
| TrumpRx listing | $299/mo (orig. $1,087) | $199/mo (orig. $1,349) |
Which is cheaper over a year?
Arithmetic, single dose all year. Zepbound at $449 for 13 four-week fills is $5,837[1]. Wegovy at $349 for 12 boxes is $4,188, or $3,888 with two $199 intro fills[2]. At Zepbound 5 mg ($399 × 13) the total is $5,187. Real-world totals depend on dose changes your prescriber makes. Build your own mix in the comparison builder.
Why can Zepbound cost more even though it starts lower?
Lilly prices Zepbound by dose ($299 / $399 / $449) while Novo prices all standard Wegovy pen doses the same ($349)[1][2]. Lilly’s 28-day month also means 13 fills a year. And Zepbound’s higher-dose price depends on refilling within 45 days.
Is cost the only difference?
No. They are different molecules (tirzepatide and semaglutide) with different labels; Zepbound is also approved for obstructive sleep apnea with obesity[3], and Wegovy for cardiovascular risk reduction[2]. Clinical choice is for you and your prescriber. This page compares prices only.
Questions people ask
Is Zepbound or Wegovy cheaper without insurance?
At the starting dose, Wegovy is cheaper for new patients ($199 for two fills) and Zepbound 2.5 mg ($299) is cheaper than Wegovy’s standard $349. At maintenance doses, Wegovy ($349) is $100 a month cheaper than Zepbound 7.5–15 mg ($449).
Are Zepbound and Wegovy the same price with insurance?
Both manufacturers offer commercial savings cards that can bring the cost to $25 a month if your plan covers the drug.
Which is cheaper on Medicare?
Both are $50 a month under the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge for eligible enrollees, but only the KwikPen version of Zepbound is included.
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
- Wegovy savings offer and self-pay prices (pen, HD pen and pill) . Novo Nordisk (NovoCare). Checked .https://www.novocare.com/obesity/products/wegovy/savings-offer.html
- 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/
- TrumpRx.gov — listed GLP-1 prices ("Lowest Presidential Deal") . U.S. Government (TrumpRx.gov). Checked .https://trumprx.gov/
- Zepbound cost information (list price and direct-to-patient price) . Eli Lilly and Company. Checked .https://pricinginfo.lilly.com/zepbound