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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, Embla wins on specific dimensions. Embla is the closest thing the US market has to a Noom-meets-Calibrate hybrid that actually leans into the medication. Heavy behavioral coaching, branded-first prescribing, structured 12-month curriculum. Best for buyers who want the program to do half the work.
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Side-by-side
| Embla | Costco / Success by Sesame | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts from | $249/mo (+ med separate) | $408/mo (incl. medication) |
| Monthly cost gap | Costco / Success by Sesame is $41/mo cheaper than Embla | |
| Lock-in | 12-mo lock-in | Month-to-month |
| Time to prescription | 7 days | 2 days |
| Consultation type | Live | Video |
| Affiliate network | Impact | CJ |
Score by dimension
Scores out of 10, equal-weighted across five dimensions. How we score. The winner of each dimension is highlighted.
| Embla | Costco / Success by Sesame | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Cancellation terms | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Onboarding experience | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Medication options | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Member reviews | 9.2/10 | 9/10 |
When to choose Embla
Best for structured behavior support
Patients who tried meds-only and bounced, and want a structured behavior program alongside GLP-1.
Embla wins on member reviews on the dimensional scoring. The caveat: Buyers who only want the script and find coaching content patronizing.
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, onboarding experience and runs $41/mo cheaper than Embla 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.
If cost is your main filter
Costco / Success by Sesame is the cheaper monthly: $208 all-in vs $249 for Embla. 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
Embla (12-mo lock-in) and Costco / Success by Sesame (month-to-month) 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 Embla cheaper than Costco / Success by Sesame?
Can I switch from Embla to Costco / Success by Sesame mid-treatment?
Which program has better member feedback?
Read the full reviews
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