SkinnyRx vs TMates: Which GLP-1 Provider Is Better?

By Iacob Pastina, Independent Researcher & Publisher

Reviewed & updated September 15, 2026 · Cites primary sources (FDA, NEJM, CMS) · Not medical advice

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

Short answer: TMates scores higher on our rubric, 7.8/10 against 5.3/10. Full reasoning, pricing and the cases where the other one wins are below.

Visit TMates - our pick of these two →or find your match

TMates beats SkinnyRx overall, scoring 7.8/10 vs 5.3/10. Published pricing is not a like-for-like monthly comparison: SkinnyRx is $99 first month, rises after; TMates is from $158/mo. Choose SkinnyRx for users who want a choice of compounded glp-1 format, a weekly injection or a daily tablet taken under the tongue, at a low first month price. Choose TMates for users who want commitment-discount pricing on compounded glp-1s (semaglutide $158-$249/mo, tirzepatide $167-$297/mo, medication included) or a $99/mo clinical path to brand wegovy or zepbound filled at their own pharmacy.

A side-by-side look at SkinnyRx and TMates to help you decide. We compare them on:

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

SkinnyRx

#28 of 36

5.3/10

Direct-to-consumer telehealth platform operated by Lean Rx, Inc. (Sacramento, CA). Its Treatments menu carries four compounded GLP-1 formats, semaglutide and tirzepatide each as a once-weekly injection or a once-daily tablet taken under the tongue, plus two brand-name oral pills, the Wegovy Pill and the Foundayo Pill, both badged FDA-approved and both shown as Unavailable and offered through a SkinnyRx Membership. Every advertised price is a first month rate. Compounded medications are not sold in Alabama, Louisiana or Mississippi. Cash-pay only with HSA/FSA accepted; does not bill insurance. 4,100+ Trustpilot reviews at 4.8 stars.

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Higher Rated

TMates

#6 of 36

7.8/10

Telemedicine platform offering two distinct archetypes: compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide with medication included (semaglutide $158-$249/mo, tirzepatide $167-$297/mo on commitment pricing), and a clinical-service-only path to brand-name Wegovy/Zepbound at $99/mo where the prescription is sent to the patient's pharmacy. Phentermine also available. 2026 expansion added brand-name FDA-approved options.

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Feature	SkinnyRx	TMates
Why each one	Both GLP-1 molecules in both administration routes: semaglutide and tirzepatide, each as a once-weekly injection or a once-daily tablet taken under the tongue. The tirzepatide tablet in particular is a format almost no other DTC platform offers, and the two brand-name oral pills it lists alongside them are currently shown as Unavailable.	Two-archetype platform: (1) compounded GLP-1s with medication included and steep multi-month commitment discounts; (2) cheap $99/mo clinical service for brand Wegovy/Zepbound where you fill the prescription at your own pharmacy.
Our Score	5.3/10	7.8/10
Headline Price	$99 first month, rises after	from $158/mo
Medication Type	Both	Both
Insurance Accepted	No	Yes
Best For	Users who want a choice of compounded GLP-1 format, a weekly injection or a daily tablet taken under the tongue, at a low first month price	Users who want commitment-discount pricing on compounded GLP-1s (semaglutide $158-$249/mo, tirzepatide $167-$297/mo, medication included) or a $99/mo clinical path to brand Wegovy or Zepbound filled at their own pharmacy
Watch out for	Every advertised price is a first month rate and SkinnyRx does not publish what month two costs. Its terms say the renewal rate is described at checkout, and that discounts may be reversed if you cancel before the end of a promotional or committed term.	The $99/mo Wegovy or Zepbound tier buys the prescription and provider oversight only. TMates says it does not dispense or ship the drug, and no price for the medication itself appears on its product or category pages, so your own pharmacy bills you separately (checked 2026-09-03).
Ranking	#28	#6
Get started	Visit SkinnyRx	Visit TMates

Pros & Cons Compared

SkinnyRx

Pros

+Four compounded formats, both molecules as both a weekly injection and a daily tablet taken under the tongue, including the tirzepatide tablet that almost no competitor offers
+$99 for the first month on both the compounded semaglutide and the compounded tirzepatide injection, quoted on each product page, among the lowest entry rates in the compounded segment
+Fast onboarding: a short online intake, a prescription within 24 hours where no video visit is required, and free overnight shipping on all orders with tracking within 2 business days
+4,100+ Trustpilot reviews at 4.8 stars, among the strongest aggregate social-proof signals in the GLP-1 telehealth category

Cons

−Every advertised price is a first month rate and SkinnyRx does not publish what month two costs. Its terms say the renewal rate is described at checkout, and that discounts may be reversed if you cancel before the end of a promotional or committed term.
−SkinnyRx names its medical director, Sajad Zalzala, M.D., and names AyaRx as the telemedicine partner behind its medical services, but it does not name the compounding pharmacy that fills prescriptions and it publishes no founders or executive team.
−Cash-pay only, does not bill commercial insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. HSA/FSA payments are accepted, which is the main way to soften the cost.
−Independent reviews flag inconsistent customer-service responsiveness, a real consideration since titration support and dose adjustments run through chat
−FDA warning letter #717989, issued February 20, 2026 to Lean Rx, Inc. dba SkinnyRx, cites misleading labels and website claims for compounded GLP-1s. It is a labeling/marketing record, not an unsafe-medication finding

TMates

Pros

+Clinical-service-only path to brand Wegovy and Zepbound at $99/mo, prescription goes to patient's pharmacy (you fill separately using insurance or cash)
+Steep multi-month commitment discounts on compounded sema, $158/mo on 12-month plan ($1,900 upfront) vs $249/mo month-to-month
+Same price at all dose levels for compounded, no cost escalation as you titrate up
+Phentermine available at $149/mo for patients who benefit from a different appetite-suppressant approach

Cons

−The $99/mo Wegovy or Zepbound tier buys the prescription and provider oversight only. TMates says it does not dispense or ship the drug, and no price for the medication itself appears on its product or category pages, so your own pharmacy bills you separately (checked 2026-09-03).
−The best compounded rates require prepayment: $1,050 upfront for 6 months, $1,900 for 12. Start at $249 month-to-month if you want to test fit first.
−The intake is a 90-second quiz. Fast, but lighter screening than competitors with full medical intakes. Better suited to patients who already know GLP-1 basics.
−TMates prescribes brand-name but does not dispense it, and is not affiliated with Novo Nordisk (Wegovy) or Eli Lilly (Zepbound). Your own pharmacy fills the Rx.

Our Verdict

TMates edges out SkinnyRx with a score of 7.8/10 vs 5.3/10. Published pricing is not a like-for-like monthly comparison: SkinnyRx is $99 first month, rises after; TMates is from $158/mo. TMates accepts insurance, which can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs.