Methodology · Updated April 2026

Methodology

How we collect data, verify pricing, calculate ClearScore, and structure provider reviews. Every number on this site traces back to one of the methods below.

Pricing Data Collection

We track cash-pay monthly pricing across 90 online and in-person GLP-1 weight-loss providers. Pricing is pulled from each provider's main public pricing page and verified against the new-patient checkout flow when available.

The price we record is the headline monthly fee a new patient sees on the program's main pricing page. Where a provider charges a separate consultation fee or labs fee, we capture each separately. Where pricing is dose-dependent, we record the starter-dose price and flag it.

Prices are re-verified on the first of every month and the page footer shows the most recent verification date. The full dataset is downloadable as CSV from the 2026 GLP-1 Cash-Pay Pricing Index.

What we exclude from pricing tables

• Programs without published cash-pay pricing.
• Programs priced below $50 per month, which usually reflect non-medication services (diet companion subscriptions, coaching-only memberships) rather than GLP-1 medication access.
• Promotional first-month-only discounts when the long-term steady-state price is materially higher.
• Insurance-billed pricing. List prices for branded medications run $900 to $1,400 per month before insurance.

ClearScore (0 to 100)

ClearScore is our composite metric for ranking providers. It is calculated from the following inputs:

• Patient ratings across six dimensions (overall, value, ease of use, support, medication quality, results), weighted by review volume
• Price transparency (whether prices are published clearly without account creation)
• Medication variety (compounded, branded, oral, dose flexibility)
• Geographic coverage (number of US states served)
• Operational signals (verified founding date, headquarters disclosure, public clinician credentials)

ClearScore is recalculated whenever provider data is refreshed. A score below 50 typically reflects either a new provider with limited public data or operational red flags. A score above 80 reflects established operators with strong patient ratings, transparent pricing, and broad medication offerings. ClearScore is not a clinical recommendation. It is a composite of business and patient-experience signals.

Review Process

Every provider review follows the same template:

1. Public-data pull: pricing, medications, states served, founding date, clinical leadership
2. Patient-review aggregation: Trustpilot, BBB, Reddit (r/Mounjaro, r/Zepbound, r/loseit), Google Business Profile
3. Direct platform inspection: navigate the signup flow as a new patient, document the experience
4. Cross-reference with state pharmacy board records and 503A/503B status where compounded medications are involved
5. Editorial pass for accuracy and consistency

Reviews are refreshed when pricing changes, when the provider modifies its program structure, or when material new information emerges (regulatory action, security breach, ownership change).

Compounded vs Branded Classification

We classify GLP-1 programs into three categories based on the medication delivered:

• Compounded semaglutide: pharmacy-compounded semaglutide produced under FDA shortage rules (sections 503A or 503B)
• Compounded tirzepatide: pharmacy-compounded tirzepatide under the same regulatory framework
• Branded GLP-1: FDA-approved branded products (Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Saxenda) prescribed and dispensed through the program

A program offering both branded and compounded options is counted in both categories where the comparison is informative.

Updates and Versioning

Year-stamped pages (e.g. "2026 GLP-1 Pricing Index", "Best GLP-1 Programs 2026") are refreshed annually. Time-sensitive pages (drug shortages, payer coverage, manufacturer pricing) are reviewed quarterly. The full ClearScore dataset is recalculated whenever provider data is updated.

Data Requests

Researchers and journalists are welcome to request custom data cuts (e.g. "all providers offering oral semaglutide", "median pricing in New York"). Email hello@clearmetabolic.com with the question. We typically respond within 48 hours and provide data free of charge with a citation request.