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Quick verdict
Strut Health is the better pick for most patients on overall scoring. One of the cheapest legitimate compounded options in the US market thanks to a niche oral lozenge format. No membership fee, free shipping, free consults and physician access included. Trade-off: lozenge bioavailability data is thin compared to standard injectable semaglutide.
That said, Calibrate wins on specific dimensions. Calibrate is a coaching and insurance-navigation program whose value proposition has weakened as direct-to-consumer pricing from Lilly and Novo undercut the 'we'll handle insurance for you' pitch. Cut its fee from $299 to $199 in 2026.
Side-by-side
| Calibrate | Strut Health | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts from | $224/mo (incl. medication) | $149/mo entry dose (injectable semaglutide) (incl. medication) |
| Monthly cost gap | Strut Health is $25/mo cheaper than Calibrate | |
| Lock-in | 3-mo minimum | Month-to-month |
| Time to prescription | 14 days | 3 days |
| Consultation type | Live | Async |
| Affiliate network | Impact | Direct |
Score by dimension
Scores out of 10, equal-weighted across five dimensions. How we score. The winner of each dimension is highlighted.
| Calibrate | Strut Health | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 5/10 | 9/10 |
| Cancellation terms | 6/10 | 9/10 |
| Onboarding experience | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Medication options | 7/10 | 4/10 |
| Member reviews | 9.2/10 | 6.8/10 |
When to choose Calibrate
Best for committed behavioral coaching
Patients who specifically want behavioral coaching and have insurance that covers branded GLP-1s. Calibrate's clinicians and coaches handle prior authorization paperwork well.
Calibrate wins on medication options, member reviews on the dimensional scoring. The caveat: Cash-pay patients. With $597 upfront plus $199/mo plus medication separate, the all-in is rarely under $400/mo. Direct LillyDirect or NovoCare paths beat this on price. Note also: Restructured in 2024 amid demand declines
When to choose Strut Health
Best for oral semaglutide entry
Cost-sensitive patients who want needle-free GLP-1 entry under $100/mo and don't mind a less-studied delivery format.
Strut Health wins on pricing transparency, cancellation terms, onboarding experience and runs $25/mo cheaper than Calibrate at the entry tier ($199 vs $224). Over a year that's $300 you keep. The caveat: Anyone who wants brand-name FDA-approved semaglutide or insurance-billed care. Note also: Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved
If cost is your main filter
Strut Health is the cheaper monthly: $199 all-in vs $224 for Calibrate. That's $25 a month or $300a 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 $75 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
Calibrate (3-mo minimum) and Strut Health (month-to-month) sit at different cancellation tiers. If you're first-time on a GLP-1 and unsure how you'll tolerate it, Strut Health's easier cancellation is the safer trial.
FAQ
Is Calibrate cheaper than Strut Health?
Can I switch from Calibrate to Strut Health mid-treatment?
Which program has better member feedback?
Read the full reviews
All head-to-head comparisons → · Full chart → · Cost guide · Programs guide
