Hims vs Novi: Which GLP-1 Provider Is Better?
By Iacob Pastina, Independent Researcher
Hims beats Novi overall, scoring 7.9/10 vs 7.8/10. Novi is more affordable at $133/mo vs $199/mo. Choose Hims for men who want a well-known publicly-traded brand and fda-appr. Choose Novi for cash-pay patients who want compounded semaglutide or tirzepa.
A side-by-side comparison of Hims and Novi covering pricing, scores, medication types, insurance, and more to help you decide.
Hims
#12 of 49The household name in men's telehealth, publicly traded as Hims & Hers Health (NYSE: HIMS). In 2026 Hims added FDA-approved brand-name Wegovy (injection and pill) and Ozempic through a direct Novo Nordisk partnership — alongside their existing compounded semaglutide program. Brand recognition and product breadth are real strengths. The trade-off: Hims' verified Trustpilot rating is 3.0 stars across 8,286 reviews (May 2026) — significantly below smaller competitors like Henry Meds (4.5) or Eden Health (4.5). The 1-star pool is 28% — the highest 1-star rate in our table — clustered around subscription/billing complaints.
Visit HimsNovi
#14 of 49Telehealth 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.
Visit Novi| Feature | Hims | Novi |
|---|---|---|
| Our Score | 7.9/10 | 7.8/10 |
| Starting Price | $199/mo | $133/mo |
| Medication Type | Both | Compounded |
| Insurance Accepted | No | No |
| Best For | Men who want a well-known publicly-traded brand and FDA-approved Wegovy through the 2026 Novo Nordisk partnership — but should know going in that Hims' customer-experience signal is weaker than smaller competitors | 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 |
| Ranking | #12 | #14 |
Pros & Cons Compared
Hims
Pros
- +Publicly traded company (NYSE: HIMS) — SEC-filed financials, regulatory accountability that private competitors don't have.
- +2026 Novo Nordisk partnership — FDA-approved Wegovy injection, Wegovy pill, and Ozempic now available directly through Hims. Real brand-name access from a single platform.
- +$199/mo all-inclusive for compounded semaglutide, including consultations and shipping.
- +Polished app and web experience — among the best user interfaces in men's telehealth.
- +8,286 verified Trustpilot reviews is the second-largest review volume in our table (after Henry's 12,461) — significant real-world adoption.
Cons
- −Trustpilot rating is 3.0 stars / 8,286 reviews (May 2026) — significantly below Henry Meds (4.5), Eden Health (4.5), Yucca Health (4.6), MEDVi (4.4). The lowest customer-experience signal of any major brand we track.
- −28% of Trustpilot reviews are 1-star — the highest 1-star rate in our table. Top complaint themes: subscription handling, unexpected charges, customer service responsiveness.
- −Hims reviews span ALL their products (ED, hair loss, mental health, weight loss) — not just GLP-1. But the rating still applies because most users don't separate experiences by product.
- −'Hims Oral Kit' is NOT a GLP-1 — it's a non-GLP-1 metabolic combination (metformin + bupropion + topiramate + B12 + naltrexone). Easy to confuse with their compounded semaglutide. Read the product page carefully before signing up.
- −Brand Wegovy at $599/mo is not competitive with LillyDirect/NovoCare cash prices or with Hers ($149/mo for the same product via the same Novo partnership).
- −Generic high-volume support — large patient base means less personalized attention than smaller competitors.
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; same active ingredients as Wegovy/Ozempic and Mounjaro/Zepbound (semaglutide and tirzepatide respectively)
- +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
Hims edges out Novi with a score of 7.9/10 vs 7.8/10. If budget is your priority, Novi starts at $133/mo compared to Hims's $199/mo. Hims offers both brand-name and compounded medications, giving you more flexibility. Choose Hims if you want: men who want a well-known publicly-traded brand and fda-approved wegovy through the 2026 novo nordisk partnership — but should know going in that hims' customer-experience signal is weaker than smaller competitors. Choose Novi if you want: 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.
Still undecided? Editor's #1 Overall Pick
Embody
$299/mo · 7.3/10 · Compounded
If neither Hims nor Novi feels like the right fit, our overall #1 pick across all 49 GLP-1 telehealth providers is Embody — strongest balance of clinical oversight, transparent pricing, and verified availability.
Read Full Reviews
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