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Direct Meds vs GoodRx

GoodRx costs $100 less a month, and both sell tirzepatide.

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By Ruth Calder · Enforcement Editor
Editorially reviewed & fact-checked against primary sources · How we verify contentLast reviewed
Direct Meds logo

Direct Meds

6.4
★★★☆☆3.2/5

Best for: compounded semaglutide at $249/month

Visit Direct Meds →
VS
GoodRx logo

GoodRx

6.9
★★★★☆3.5/5

Best for: oral orforglipron alongside the injectables

Visit GoodRx →

If you are choosing between Direct Meds and GoodRx, the first difference is cost: GoodRx is $100 a month cheaper at the entry price. Both prescribe tirzepatide, so moving from one to the other would not change your drug. GoodRx leads our six-part score, 6.9 to 6.4. One of the two has an FDA warning letter on record, covered below.

Direct Meds vs GoodRx price

GoodRx is the cheaper way in: $149 a month against $249 a month at Direct Meds. That is $100 less each month (40% lower), or about $1,200 over a year of treatment.

Drug by drug: Tirzepatide costs the same at both, $299 a month.

Medications and formats

Both sell tirzepatide; only Direct Meds lists semaglutide; only GoodRx lists orforglipron.

On format, Direct Meds prices compounded injections, while GoodRx prices brand-name pens.

If you want the FDA-approved brand rather than a compounded version, GoodRx is the only one of the two with a brand-name price.

Where each one treats patients

Direct Meds does not publish where it ships, and GoodRx lists 50 states.

Pricing

Direct Meds

SublingualCompounded
$249/mo
semaglutide

'As low as $249' per month, on a 90-day supply billed monthly; some doses run as low as $237/mo.

InjectionCompounded
$297/mo
semaglutide

'As low as $297' per month ($9.58 a day), an 84-day three-pack billed monthly.

SublingualCompounded
$299/mo
tirzepatide

'As low as $299' per month ($9.65 a day) on a 90-day supply billed monthly. Down from $399 earlier.

InjectionCompounded
$399/mo
tirzepatide

'As low as $399' per month ($12.87 a day).

GoodRx

Foundayo (lowest dose, self-pay)Brand-name
$149/mo
orforglipron
Zepbound KwikPen (self-pay)Brand-name
$299/mo
tirzepatide

What each price covers

Direct Meds' price also covers the clinician visit, the medication itself and shipping, which GoodRx does not claim.

Direct Meds is silent on lab work and coaching.

GoodRx does not say what its price includes.

That matters most for the drug: unless GoodRx confirms otherwise, budget for medication on top of its listed price.

Direct Meds

Covered by the monthly price

Medication

In the price

Clinician visits

In the price

Shipping

In the price

Lab work

Not stated

Coaching

Not stated

GoodRx

Inclusions not disclosed.

Where each one scores higher

Overall, GoodRx scores 6.9 and Direct Meds 6.4 out of 10.

Direct Meds is stronger on user experience (8.0 vs 5.0) and support (7.0 vs 5.0).

GoodRx is stronger on value (5.0 vs 3.7), trust & safety (6.0 vs 3.5) and accessibility (10.0 vs 5.0).

Effectiveness is within half a point.

How we score

Direct Meds

6.4/10

Overall

GoodRx

6.9/10

Value25%

3.7A
vs
B
5.0

Effectiveness25%

10.0A
vs
B
10.0

User Experience15%

8.0A
vs
B
5.0

Trust & Safety15%

3.5A
vs
B
6.0

Accessibility10%

5.0A
vs
B
10.0

Support10%

7.0A
vs
B
5.0

FDA warning letters

The FDA sent Direct Meds a warning letter dated September 9, 2025 (letter 716822), and it is still open.

GoodRx has no FDA warning letter on record with us.

Features & Coverage

FeatureDirect MedsGoodRx
Starting Price$249/mo✓$149/mo
Features5 features✓6 features
States AvailableNot disclosed50
Compounded✓ Yes—
Brand Name—✓ Yes
FSA/HSA Accepted——
FDA Warning Letters1 letter✓None

About Direct Meds

The FDA sent Direct Meds a warning letter in September 2025 over misleading marketing, and customers have reported a documented pattern of unexpected 3-month commitment charges. We list the company with both disclosed in full; read the warnings and the cons first. Its products are compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, sold from Utah in injection and sublingual form.

Read our full Direct Meds review →

About GoodRx

GoodRx (NASDAQ: GDRX) is the largest US prescription savings platform. It publishes self-pay discount pricing on brand-name GLP-1 medications, with Foundayo (orforglipron) starting at $149/month and the Zepbound KwikPen (tirzepatide) starting at $299/month, redeemable at 70,000+ pharmacies nationwide. It also operates GoodRx Care, a telehealth arm that prescribes GLP-1s with online visits starting at $39.

Read our full GoodRx review →

Pros & Cons

Direct Meds

What we like

  • Shows its price before the medical questionnaire, so you can compare it without handing over health information
  • The monthly price includes the medication, clinician visits and shipping

Watch-outs

  • Semaglutide costs $249 a month, 35% above the $184 median for compounded semaglutide across the sellers we compare
  • Tirzepatide costs $299 a month, 20% above the $250 median for compounded tirzepatide across the sellers we compare
  • Confirm it serves your state before you start the intake
  • Ask which pharmacy fills the prescription before you pay, so you can check its license
  • The FDA has issued Direct Meds a warning letter. Read what it alleges: a letter flags a problem but does not by itself rule a seller out
  • Its semaglutide and tirzepatide are compounded rather than FDA-approved, so they have not been reviewed by the agency for safety, effectiveness or manufacturing quality

GoodRx

What we like

  • Orforglipron costs $149 a month, close to the $149 median for brand-name orforglipron across the sellers we compare
  • Tirzepatide costs $299 a month, 76% below the $1249 median for brand-name tirzepatide across the sellers we compare
  • Serves all 50 states
  • We found no FDA warning letters issued to GoodRx

Watch-outs

  • Ask which pharmacy fills the prescription before you pay, so you can check its license

Our Verdict

Winner: Direct Meds

Direct Meds is where we would start, above all for compounded semaglutide at $249/month. GoodRx undercuts it by $100 a month, so if the monthly bill is what decides it, GoodRx is the pick. GoodRx fits better if oral orforglipron alongside the injectables is your priority.

Choose Direct Meds if…

You want compounded semaglutide at $249/month and an opening price near $249 a month.

Choose GoodRx if…

You want oral orforglipron alongside the injectables and an opening price near $149 a month.

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5.9

Wellorithm

Compounded semaglutide at $247/month

6.6

Willow

Seeing what it charges before you answer any medical questions

6.5

Sesame Care

Oral orforglipron alongside the injectables

Direct Meds vs GoodRx: FAQ

GoodRx. It starts at $149 a month; Direct Meds starts at $249 a month, $100 more per month.
Yes, both sell tirzepatide. Direct Meds adds semaglutide. GoodRx adds orforglipron.
Direct Meds does not publish where it ships; GoodRx lists 50 states. Confirm your state before paying.
Only Direct Meds includes the clinician visit, the medication itself and shipping.
Direct Meds has an open FDA warning letter from September 9, 2025. GoodRx has none.
Direct Meds pays us a commission on sign-ups through our links; GoodRx does not. Scores are computed the same way for both.

Or see the full category ranking.

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