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Quick verdict
Costco / Success by Sesame is the better pick for most patients on overall scoring. Costco bundles Success by Sesame care with discounted self-pay branded GLP-1 at Costco Pharmacy. The medication price is genuinely low for a brand-name pen: the Wegovy or Ozempic injection is $349/mo self-pay, with care from $59/mo on the annual plan. The catch is a paid Costco membership, and the bundle has no member outcome record yet.
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.
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Side-by-side
| Costco / Success by Sesame | Shed | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts from | $408/mo (incl. medication) | $149/mo (incl. medication) |
| Monthly cost gap | Costco / Success by Sesame is $41/mo cheaper than Shed | |
| Lock-in | Month-to-month | Prepaid plan |
| Time to prescription | 2 days | 3 days |
| Consultation type | Video | Online |
| Affiliate network | CJ | - |
Score by dimension
Scores out of 10, equal-weighted across five dimensions. How we score. The winner of each dimension is highlighted.
| Costco / Success by Sesame | Shed | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Cancellation terms | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Onboarding experience | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Medication options | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Member reviews | 9/10 | 8/10 |
When to choose Costco / Success by Sesame
Best for Costco members
Existing Costco members who want discounted self-pay branded GLP-1 with light telehealth care attached.
Costco / Success by Sesame wins on pricing transparency, cancellation terms, member reviews and runs $41/mo cheaper than Shed at the entry tier ($208 vs $249). Over a year that's $492 you keep. The caveat: Anyone who is not a Costco member, wants a compounded option, or wants a long member-review track record.
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 tied dimensions on the dimensional scoring. 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
Costco / Success by Sesame is the cheaper monthly: $208 all-in vs $249 for Shed. That's $41 a month or $492a 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 $123 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
Costco / Success by Sesame (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, Costco / Success by Sesame's easier cancellation is the safer trial.
FAQ
Is Costco / Success by Sesame cheaper than Shed?
Can I switch from Costco / Success by Sesame to Shed mid-treatment?
Which program has better member feedback?
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