Novi vs Ro: Which GLP-1 Provider Is Better?
By Iacob Pastina, Independent Researcher
Novi beats Ro overall, scoring 7.8/10 vs 7.2/10. Novi is more affordable at $133/mo vs $149/mo. Choose Novi for cash-pay patients who want compounded semaglutide or tirzepa. Choose Ro for users who want fda-approved brand-name glp-1 access includin.
A side-by-side comparison of Novi and Ro covering pricing, scores, medication types, insurance, and more to help you decide.
Novi
#14 of 46Telehealth 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 NoviRo
#40 of 46One of the most recognized telehealth brands, now restructured: Ro Body membership ($149/mo ongoing or $74/mo annual prepay) is priced separately from medication. Added Foundayo (Eli Lilly's FDA-approved oral GLP-1 launched April 6, 2026) alongside Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Mounjaro.
Visit Ro| Feature | Novi | Ro |
|---|---|---|
| Our Score | 7.8/10 | 7.2/10 |
| Starting Price | $133/mo | $149/mo |
| Medication Type | Compounded | Brand |
| Insurance Accepted | No | Yes |
| Best 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 | Users who want FDA-approved brand-name GLP-1 access including the new Foundayo (orforglipron) oral pill, with direct insurance billing |
| Ranking | #14 | #40 |
Pros & Cons Compared
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
Ro
Pros
- +Carries Foundayo (orforglipron) — Eli Lilly's FDA-approved oral GLP-1 launched April 6, 2026 — at $149-299/mo via LillyDirect matching
- +Direct insurance billing with major carriers — with coverage, Wegovy or Zepbound can cost $0-25/mo copay
- +Ro Body membership: $39 first month, $149/mo ongoing, or $74/mo on annual prepay ($100/mo savings)
- +Claims matched pricing with LillyDirect, NovoCare, and TrumpRx — some of the lowest cash brand prices available
Cons
- −Membership and medication are billed separately — readers need to add them together for the all-in monthly cost
- −Brand-name only — no compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide (compounded 'limited' footnote from prior years is not reliably offered now)
- −Without insurance, brand-name meds stack on top of the $149 membership ($199+ intro, $349+ ongoing for Wegovy injection)
Our Verdict
Novi edges out Ro with a score of 7.8/10 vs 7.2/10. If budget is your priority, Novi starts at $133/mo compared to Ro's $149/mo. Ro accepts insurance, which can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs. 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. Choose Ro if you want: users who want fda-approved brand-name glp-1 access including the new foundayo (orforglipron) oral pill, with direct insurance billing.