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Quick verdict
9amHealth is the better pick for most patients on overall scoring. 9amHealth treats GLP-1 as one tool inside a broader cardiometabolic program. Strong employer and insurance relationships, branded-first medication strategy, labs included. Best fit for patients with comorbidities, not pure weight-loss buyers.
That said, Shed wins on specific dimensions. Shed offers compounded semaglutide starting at $149/mo on the monthly plan (care and shipping included, no separate membership), escalating by dose. Six and twelve-month plans reduce the per-month cost further. Branded Wegovy, Zepbound and Foundayo are also available.
Side-by-side
| 9amHealth | Shed | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts from | $649/mo (incl. medication) | $149/mo (incl. medication) |
| Monthly cost gap | Shed is $400/mo cheaper than 9amHealth | |
| Lock-in | Month-to-month | Prepaid plan |
| Time to prescription | 5 days | 3 days |
| Consultation type | Live | Online |
| Affiliate network | Direct | - |
Score by dimension
Scores out of 10, equal-weighted across five dimensions. How we score. The winner of each dimension is highlighted.
| 9amHealth | Shed | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Cancellation terms | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Onboarding experience | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Medication options | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Member reviews | 8.4/10 | 8/10 |
When to choose 9amHealth
Best for diabetes and cardio risk
Patients with diabetes, prediabetes or cardiovascular risk who want GLP-1 inside full-spectrum metabolic care.
9amHealth wins on pricing transparency, cancellation terms, member reviews on the dimensional scoring. The caveat: Healthy BMI-only patients chasing the lowest GLP-1 price.
When to choose Shed
Best for all-in compounded with care included
Cash-pay patients who want an all-in compounded price with care included at a low entry price, and who are willing to commit to a longer plan for a lower monthly cost.
Shed wins on onboarding experience and runs $400/mo cheaper than 9amHealth at the entry tier ($249 vs $649). Over a year that's $4,800 you keep. The caveat: Patients who want the cheapest month-to-month compounded price at high doses, or who specifically want branded GLP-1s billed through insurance. Note also: Compounded GLP-1s are not FDA-approved and are made by a licensed pharmacy under a prescription.
If cost is your main filter
Shed is the cheaper monthly: $249 all-in vs $649 for 9amHealth. That's $400 a month or $4,800a year. The 12-month math matters most if you're planning to maintain on GLP-1 long-term. If you're running a 3-month trial, the $1200 delta is small against the cost of stopping early on the wrong dose. Insurance changes the picture: if either program runs prior auth and your plan covers Wegovy or Zepbound, branded with copay can beat both cash-pay totals.
If lock-in is your main filter
9amHealth (month-to-month) and Shed (prepaid plan) sit at different cancellation tiers. If you're first-time on a GLP-1 and unsure how you'll tolerate it, 9amHealth's easier cancellation is the safer trial.
FAQ
Is 9amHealth cheaper than Shed?
Can I switch from 9amHealth to Shed mid-treatment?
Which program has better member feedback?
Read the full reviews
All head-to-head comparisons → · Full chart → · Cost guide · Programs guide
