Direct Meds GLP-1 vs Novi: Which GLP-1 Provider Is Better?

By Iacob Pastina, Independent Researcher & Publisher

Reviewed & updated August 14, 2026 · Cites primary sources (FDA, NEJM, CMS) · Not medical advice

54 providers verified independently·Independent research·How we rank →

Short answer: Direct Meds GLP-1 scores higher on our rubric, 7.9/10 against 7.8/10. Full reasoning, pricing and the cases where the other one wins are below.

Visit Direct Meds GLP-1 - our pick of these two →or find your match

Direct Meds GLP-1 beats Novi overall, scoring 7.9/10 vs 7.8/10. Published pricing is not a like-for-like monthly comparison: Direct Meds GLP-1 is from $297/mo; Novi is from $133/mo. Choose Direct Meds GLP-1 for users who value published format-specific pricing and can independently monitor billing and cancellation. Choose Novi for cash-pay patients who want compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide on a no-commitment plan with named clinicians, unlimited check-ins, and aggressive promotional pricing as low as $99-$133/mo on the introductory offer.

A side-by-side look at Direct Meds GLP-1 and Novi to help you decide. We compare them on:

•Starting price per month
•Our overall score, out of 10
•Medication type, brand-name or compounded
•Whether they accept insurance
•Who each one is best for

Higher Rated

Direct Meds GLP-1

#8 of 54

7.9/10

Compounded GLP-1 program with published format-specific prices, offset by a sharply negative BBB complaint record around billing, cancellation, and fulfillment.

Visit Direct Meds GLP-1

Novi

#9 of 54

7.8/10

Telehealth platform for compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide with month-to-month billing, six named clinicians on staff, and a 3-minute pre-approval quiz. Novi emphasizes 'all-in transparent' pricing, medication, supplies, unlimited clinician check-ins, dose adjustments, and weight-loss coaching are bundled with no add-on fees. Standard pricing is $174/mo semaglutide and $283/mo tirzepatide; promotional pricing on the offer landing drops to $99-$133/mo semaglutide and $149-$166/mo tirzepatide with $200 off advertised.

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Feature	Direct Meds GLP-1	Novi
Why each one	Thorough clinical consultations focused on medical-grade patient experience rather than quick-turnaround prescribing.	Combination of six named clinicians (most compounded-only platforms disclose zero or one), month-to-month billing with no commitment, and aggressive promotional pricing as low as $99/mo on the offer landing, a flexibility-and-headcount profile most direct competitors at this price tier do not match.
Our Score	7.9/10	7.8/10
Headline Price	from $297/mo	from $133/mo
Medication Type	Compounded	Compounded
Insurance Accepted	No	No
Best For	Users who value published format-specific pricing and can independently monitor billing and cancellation	Cash-pay patients who want compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide on a no-commitment plan with named clinicians, unlimited check-ins, and aggressive promotional pricing as low as $99-$133/mo on the introductory offer
Watch out for	Compounded medications only, no brand-name Wegovy, Zepbound, or Ozempic on the menu	Compounded-only, no FDA-approved Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, or Mounjaro through the platform; no Foundayo or oral GLP-1 formats
Ranking	#8	#9
Get started	Visit Direct Meds GLP-1	Visit Novi

Pros & Cons Compared

Direct Meds GLP-1

Pros

+The published $297/mo compounded semaglutide injection tier includes medication, consultations, shipping, and pharmacy fees
+Format-specific prices are published on the site, which makes the advertised medication and service bundle easier to compare
+Fast pharmacy fulfillment: most orders ship within 48 hours of provider approval
+Responsive customer support with live chat available during business hours

Cons

−Compounded medications only, no brand-name Wegovy, Zepbound, or Ozempic on the menu
−The $297/mo injectable semaglutide rate sits above Henry Meds ($199) and TrimRx (starting at $179); Direct Meds' own sublingual semaglutide drops at $179 are the budget path if the premium stings
−BBB shows 248 complaints and roughly 1.1/5 customer-review stars, with recurring reports of unauthorized charges, cancellation difficulty, billing confusion, and unfulfilled or delayed orders

Novi

Pros

+Six disclosed clinicians on staff, Daniel Funsch MD, Michael Wasef MD, Takashi Nakamura MD plus three nurse practitioners (Hastings NP, Clements NP, Vergara DNP), more named providers than most compounded-only platforms publish
+Month-to-month billing with no minimum commitment, cancel before any renewal date with no early-termination penalty
+Aggressive promotional pricing on the offer landing, $99-$133/mo compounded semaglutide and $149-$166/mo compounded tirzepatide with a $200 OFF intro discount
+Unlimited clinician check-ins, dose adjustments, and weight-loss coaching included at no additional cost
+Free 2-day shipping; Novi markets compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, which are not FDA-approved brands or generics and are not established as equivalent to Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Zepbound
+100,000+ patients claimed and editorial coverage in Bloomberg, Forbes, and WebMD provide third-party signal

Cons

−Compounded-only, no FDA-approved Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, or Mounjaro through the platform; no Foundayo or oral GLP-1 formats
−Founding year, headquarters city, and corporate ownership are not publicly disclosed
−Promotional $99-$133 pricing applies to the introductory offer landing only, standard rate after any qualifying intro period is $174-$283/mo (verify the renewal rate before enrolling)
−Once medication is dispensed/shipped, prescriptions cannot be returned or refunded, typical for compounded telehealth but worth understanding
−Lab requirements before prescribing are not disclosed on public pages, unclear whether baseline bloodwork is required
−Multiple landing pages (offer-v4, offer-v6-low) show different headline prices, which can create pricing confusion before checkout

Our Verdict

Direct Meds GLP-1 edges out Novi with a score of 7.9/10 vs 7.8/10. Published pricing is not a like-for-like monthly comparison: Direct Meds GLP-1 is from $297/mo; Novi is from $133/mo.