Hims vs Ro for GLP-1 Weight Loss: Cost, Dosing, and What You Actually Get

Updated May 2, 2026

Hims and Ro are the two biggest names in U.S. telehealth weight loss. Both offer GLP-1 medications, both promise faster access than traditional clinics, and both have spent millions in advertising convincing you they're the obvious choice. So which one actually gives you the best value in 2026?

The short answer: Hims is cheaper at the entry tier, Ro has a wider medication selection at higher tiers, and neither is the absolute cheapest option on the market. We'll walk through what each one really costs, what's included in the monthly fee, and where smaller competitors like Yucca Health, Sprout Health, and Strut Health beat both on price.

Quick Comparison: Hims vs Ro at a Glance

Pricing and details below reflect publicly listed information as of early 2026; both providers update their pricing and formularies regularly, so verify before subscribing.

Hims Weight Loss Program: Deep Dive

Hims (technically "Hims & Hers" since the 2020 brand merge) entered the weight loss space in 2024 and quickly became one of the most aggressively priced compounded GLP-1 channels. Their pitch is simple: a $79/month entry tier that's hard for most other telehealth services to match.

Hims pricing tiers

• $79/mo: Oral compounded semaglutide kit. Includes the medication and provider oversight; lab work is sometimes required and may be billed separately.
• $199/mo and up: Branded injectable GLP-1s, typically Wegovy or Zepbound depending on availability and insurance status.
• Add-ons: Lab work, supplements, and accelerator programs are often offered as upsells during onboarding.

What medications does Hims prescribe?

The $79 tier is compounded semaglutide in oral form — a different formulation from injectable Wegovy or Ozempic. Compounded oral semaglutide is generally less potent dose-for-dose than injectable semaglutide, so weight-loss expectations should be calibrated accordingly. Hims also offers compounded injectable semaglutide and branded injectables, but these are not always available in every state and may be priced higher than the headline number suggests.

Hims pros

• Lowest entry-tier pricing of the major national telehealth brands as of early 2026.
• Same-account access to other Hims & Hers services (mental health, primary care, hair) if you're already a customer.
• Asynchronous intake in most states, so you can complete signup without scheduling a video visit.

Hims cons

• Tirzepatide selection is more limited than Ro's; expect availability to vary by state.
• The $79 oral tier is compounded oral semaglutide, which is not equivalent to brand Wegovy and is generally less potent dose-for-dose than injectable semaglutide.
• Add-on charges (lab work, supplements, "accelerator" programs) can push the real monthly total above the headline $79. Read the cart total at checkout, not the marketing page.
• Hims doesn't always publicly name the compounding pharmacy supplying its medication; ask before subscribing if that matters to you.

Ro Weight Loss Program: Deep Dive

Ro (formerly Roman) was one of the first national telehealth brands to launch a dedicated weight-loss product called the Body Program. They built it around a more medical-grade pitch — provider visits, body composition tracking, and a wider medication menu — than Hims' marketing-heavy approach.

Ro Body Program pricing

As of early 2026, Ro's publicly listed Body Program pricing tiers are:

• $149/mo first month for compounded semaglutide injectable, with the introductory rate stepping up after the first fill (typical ongoing rate is in the $200–$299 range; verify your tier's number at checkout because it varies by dose and state).
• ~$299/mo and up for tirzepatide tiers (compounded or brand depending on availability and state).
• Higher tiers reach into the $400+ range for certain brand-name formulations or higher dose escalations — specific upper-bound pricing varies, so check current rates.

What medications does Ro prescribe?

Ro's Body Program covers both semaglutide and tirzepatide, with compounded options at the lower tiers and brand-name medications (Wegovy, Zepbound, sometimes Mounjaro for diabetes diagnoses) at higher tiers. Compared to Hims, Ro has historically been quicker to add tirzepatide as a default option rather than a workaround.

Ro pros

• Wider medication menu than Hims, with more reliable tirzepatide access.
• Onboarding leans medical: typically requires lab work, sometimes a video consultation, and a more detailed health-history intake than Hims' async flow.
• Brand-name Wegovy and Zepbound are available through Ro for users with insurance that covers them.

Ro cons

• Higher entry price than Hims ($149 vs $79 as of early 2026).
• The $149 first-month rate is a marketing intro, not the steady-state cost. Budget for the ongoing tier to land closer to $200–$299/mo for compounded semaglutide.
• Lab requirements add 5–10 days to time-to-medication for users who don't already have recent labs on file.
• Like Hims, Ro doesn't always front-and-center disclose its compounding pharmacy partner. Ask during signup if that matters to you.

Head-to-Head: Where Each One Wins

Cost

Hims wins on the absolute cheapest tier. The $79/mo oral compounded semaglutide is the lowest you'll find from a major national telehealth brand. But the compounded oral form is also less potent than injectable semaglutide, so you may need higher doses or more time to see results, which can change the value calculation. At the injectable tier ($199/mo Hims vs $149/mo Ro first month), Ro is briefly cheaper before normalizing higher.

Convenience

Hims wins on speed if you don't already have current lab work on file. Their async intake gets you to a prescription decision faster, and they're more permissive about starting without recent labs. Ro is slower at intake by design — they want labs first — which is a feature if you want medical oversight and a friction point if you just want medication. Both ship within a few business days once approved; we haven't done back-to-back testing of the apps and won't pretend we have.

Medical oversight

Ro is the more medically-oriented setup based on its public marketing and intake requirements. Lab work is required, the health history is more detailed, and the prescriber side of the experience is positioned as primary care rather than transactional. Hims' onboarding is faster and lighter. If you have multiple comorbidities, want closer follow-up, or expect to be on therapy long-term, Ro's setup leans in your direction. If you just want fast access to compounded semaglutide and don't want extra steps, Hims is built for that.

Flexibility

Both are month-to-month with no long-term contracts. Verify the cancellation flow in current ToS before signing up — both have offered online cancellation, but auto-refill defaults mean you may need to actively cancel rather than just stop ordering. Switching medications mid-program is easier on Ro because of the wider formulary. On Hims, moving from oral to injectable usually means a fresh consultation and a tier upgrade.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Hims and Ro spend the most on advertising, which is part of why they're priced where they are. Several smaller telehealth providers offer comparable or lower pricing on compounded GLP-1s. Three worth knowing about (publicly listed pricing as of early 2026 — verify current rates before subscribing):

• Strut Health — Oral compounded semaglutide starting around $99/mo with auto-refill. The cheapest oral option we've seen after Hims, but the auto-refill means you have to remember to cancel actively if you stop.
• Yucca Health — Compounded semaglutide around $175/mo first month, tirzepatide around $258/mo. No live video visit required, which is the fastest path to a prescription among providers we've looked at. Tradeoff: less rapport with a prescriber and a thinner medical safety net.
• Sprout Health — Compounded semaglutide around $199/mo, tirzepatide around $249/mo. Pricing is mid-pack but transparent and consistent — their public pages don't lean on intro-month tricks.

None of these are household names, but their pricing competes well at the compounded tier. Live rates for all three update on the main comparison tool — we list them there because the prices shift more often than article copy can keep up with.

How to Choose the Right Provider

Pick the path that matches your priority:

• Lowest cost overall: Strut Health ($99/mo oral) or Hims ($79/mo oral). Both are compounded semaglutide. Compare every sub-$200/month GLP-1 option for context.
• Best for tirzepatide: Ro Body Program at $299/mo, or Yucca Health at $258/mo. See our tirzepatide vs semaglutide cost breakdown for which is right for you.
• Brand-name Wegovy or Zepbound: Both Hims and Ro offer them, but pricing is closer to retail and insurance is the cheapest path. Check our cheapest Wegovy guide if you don't have coverage.
• You have commercial insurance: Skip telehealth entirely if your plan covers Wegovy or Zepbound — manufacturer savings cards drop copay to $25/month. Our savings card guide walks through every program.
• You're on Medicare: Telehealth providers cannot bill Medicare for GLP-1 weight-loss meds. Wait for the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program launching July 2026 or use TrumpRx as a self-pay bridge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hims or Ro cheaper for GLP-1 medications?

Hims is cheaper at the entry tier ($79/mo for oral compounded semaglutide vs Ro's $149/mo first-month rate on compounded semaglutide). For tirzepatide, Ro starts around $299/mo while Hims focuses on its branded injectable tier at $199/mo. The cheapest path on either platform is the compounded oral or low-dose injectable; brand-name medications cost meaningfully more on both.

Can I get tirzepatide from Hims or Ro?

Ro offers tirzepatide as part of its Body Program, with starting prices around $299/mo as of early 2026. Hims has historically focused on semaglutide-based protocols and brand-name injectables; tirzepatide availability through Hims is more limited and varies by state. Always confirm current medication availability during the consultation, since both providers update their formularies frequently.

Do Hims and Ro use compounded or brand-name medications?

Both offer compounded semaglutide as their lowest-cost tier and brand-name medications at higher tiers. Hims' $79/mo oral kits are compounded; their $199/mo+ injectables include brand-name options. Ro's $149/mo first-month rate is compounded semaglutide; brand Wegovy and Zepbound are available at significantly higher prices that often require insurance to be affordable. We cover the broader compounded-vs-brand tradeoff in our compounded semaglutide vs brand Wegovy guide.

What happens if I want to switch from Hims to Ro (or vice versa)?

You can switch at any time, but the new provider will typically require a fresh consultation, often new lab work, and your dose may restart depending on how much time has passed since your last fill. Cancel the old subscription before starting the new one to avoid double charges. Both providers have month-to-month billing, so there's no contractual lock-in to break. See our guide to switching GLP-1 medications for the cost implications of switching not just providers but also drug class.