Comparison · updated October 16, 2026

SkinnyRx vs TMates: TMates if you want to use insurance

SkinnyRx and TMates differ in what you pay, which medicines they list and their insurance terms. Compounded medicines are not FDA-approved.

These two prices are different kinds of bill, so read the line under each price before you compare them.

Compare plans and terms

SkinnyRx and TMates pay us a commission when you join through our links. That never changes a score, an order or a fact on this page. How we make money

Which should you choose, SkinnyRx or TMates?

Short answer: Choose TMates if you want to use insurance. If that doesn't matter to you, compare their plans below.

SkinnyRx is best for

Cash-pay readers comparing compounded injections and dissolving tablets with a clinician, after confirming the refill bill and evidence for the exact formulation.

Choose TMates if

  • you want to use insurance

The available assessments do not establish a score winner, so choose by the medicine, total cost and care you need.

By Iacob Pastina, Independent Researcher & Publisher
Reviewed & updated · Cites primary sources (FDA, NEJM, CMS) · Not medical advice

SkinnyRx vs TMates side by side

SkinnyRx and TMates compared fact by fact
SkinnyRxTMates
Price$99First month, ask the renewal pricefrom $158/mo
MedicineBothBrand-name and compounded
Needle-free optionBothYes, a pill or other oral form
InsuranceNo insurance listedAccepts insurance
ConsultationBothIncluded
ShippingFree (overnight on all orders)Free (for compounded; brand-name filled at patient's pharmacy)
Where it ships47 for compounded medications (its terms exclude Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi and bar residents of those states from ordering them); branded offerings may be available in all statesMost states
Trustpilot4.8 / 5 across 4,100 reviewsNot tracked
BBB ratingNot trackedB (not accredited)
Our score5/10 Mixed6/10 Fair
Assessment limitsChecked Oct 16, 2026; a rating claim didn't match Trustpilot.Checked Oct 16, 2026; few independent reviews yet.

What SkinnyRx and TMates plans cost

SkinnyRx

A four-product compounded menu with separate injection and dissolving-tablet pages for semaglutide and tirzepatide. Compare the exact formulation, introductory bill and renewal terms; the different routes are not established as clinically equivalent.

All 4 SkinnyRx plans
  • Compounded Tirzepatide (tablets)$199Oral dissolving tablet, quoted at $199 for the first month. Confirm the exact dispensing directions and later bill; this is not an FDA-approved oral tirzepatide product.
How SkinnyRx bills

$99 is a first month rate quoted on the compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide injection product pages. SkinnyRx does not publish a month two price; its terms say the renewal rate is described during checkout.

We checked SkinnyRx's prices on September 26, 2026.

TMates

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.

All 11 TMates plans

We checked TMates' prices on September 3, 2026.

What to watch for with SkinnyRx and TMates

SkinnyRx

  • 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.
SkinnyRx's strengths, cautions and terms

Strengths

  • Four product-specific options to discuss with a clinician: semaglutide or tirzepatide, each as an injection or a dissolving tablet
  • $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
  • A public Trustpilot profile provides service feedback to read alongside the FDA record and the written billing terms; those reviews do not establish tablet effectiveness

More to watch for

  • 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
Medicines listed
  • Semaglutide (compounded, injectable)
  • Wegovy Pill (brand-name oral semaglutide, badged FDA-approved on its product page but shown as Unavailable and offered via SkinnyRx Membership, no price published, verified 2026-09-03)
  • Foundayo Pill (brand-name orforglipron, badged FDA-approved on its product page but shown as Unavailable and offered via SkinnyRx Membership, no price published, verified 2026-09-03)
  • Semaglutide (compounded, oral dissolving tablets; confirm placement with the dispensing pharmacy)
  • Tirzepatide (compounded, injectable)
  • Tirzepatide (compounded, oral dissolving tablets; confirm placement with the dispensing pharmacy)
Insurance
No insurance support listed
Consultation
Included
Shipping
Free (overnight on all orders)
States
47 for compounded medications (its terms exclude Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi and bar residents of those states from ordering them); branded offerings may be available in all states
Cancellation
The September 22 terms allow renewal processing up to five days before the next period and require cancellation at least five days before the applicable renewal-processing date. They include non-refundable fees, return-before-refund conditions and possible reversal of promotional discounts. Product FAQs use simpler cancellation/refund wording. Ask support for the exact deadline, refund eligibility and any return requirement in writing before paying; canceling is not a guaranteed refund.

TMates

  • 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.
TMates' strengths, cautions and terms

Strengths

  • 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

More to watch for

  • 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.
Medicines listed
  • Semaglutide (compounded, injectable or oral)
  • Tirzepatide (compounded injectable; the product page also shows an Oral format, but every dosing instruction on it describes a weekly injection)
  • Phentermine (oral)
  • Wegovy (brand-name clinical service only, prescription, not dispensing)
  • Zepbound (brand-name clinical service only, prescription, not dispensing)
Insurance
Lists insurance support. Confirm coverage for your plan.
Consultation
Included
Shipping
Free (for compounded; brand-name filled at patient's pharmacy)
States
Most states. TMates advertises all 50 states on its homepage and 50+ states on its about page, while its semaglutide page says it ships to most states based on medical eligibility (checked 2026-09-03)
Cancellation
Product pages say cancel anytime. The terms give a full refund only before the medical review, or after it if you do not qualify. Once a prescription is written and sent to a pharmacy there is no refund, and a denied refund request leaves any payment plan in force (checked 2026-09-03)

Compounded medicines are not FDA-approved, and the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are sold. Read the FDA's explanation of the risks.

SkinnyRx vs TMates: common questions

Is SkinnyRx or TMates cheaper?

At least one headline price is a starting, introductory, prepaid or partial figure, so neither is simply cheaper.

  • SkinnyRx$99first month, ask the renewal price
  • TMatesfrom $158/mostarting price

Which is better, SkinnyRx or TMates?

Neither wins outright on our scores, so the better one is the one that fits your medicine, budget and care needs.

TMates lists insurance support, and SkinnyRx does not.

Do SkinnyRx and TMates offer brand-name medication?

SkinnyRx and TMates both list brand-name and compounded medication.

Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Your prescriber decides which medicine suits you.

Do SkinnyRx and TMates take insurance?

TMates lists insurance support, and SkinnyRx does not.

Confirm coverage for your exact plan and prescription before you pay.

Where these facts come from

SkinnyRx:prices checked September 26, 2026, score evidence assessed October 16, 2026.Read our SkinnyRx review

TMates:prices checked September 3, 2026, score evidence assessed October 16, 2026.Read our TMates review

We score on a published methodology, and partnership never changes a score or a fact here.

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