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Quick verdict
PlushCare is the better pick for most patients on overall scoring. PlushCare is a primary-care telehealth platform that happens to prescribe GLP-1s, not a GLP-1 specialist. That distinction makes it the strongest pick for the insured and the most expensive for everyone else.
That said, Knownwell wins on specific dimensions. Knownwell is the most clinically credentialed name in the new wave: hybrid clinics plus telehealth, founded by a Harvard obesity-medicine physician. Insurance-led model. The opposite of cash-pay compounded culture, and proud of it.
Side-by-side
| PlushCare | Knownwell | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts from | $19.99/mo (+ med separate) | Insurance-billed (+ med separate) |
| Monthly cost gap | Knownwell is $249/mo cheaper than PlushCare | |
| Lock-in | Month-to-month | Month-to-month |
| Time to prescription | 1 day | 14 days |
| Consultation type | Live | Live |
| 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.
| PlushCare | Knownwell | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Cancellation terms | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Onboarding experience | 9/10 | 5/10 |
| Medication options | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Member reviews | 6.8/10 | 9.4/10 |
When to choose PlushCare
Best for insurance-covered branded
Patients with commercial insurance that covers Wegovy or Zepbound. PlushCare's PCPs handle prior authorization paperwork well.
PlushCare wins on onboarding experience on the dimensional scoring. The caveat: Cash-pay patients comparing on monthly cost. The membership + visit fees + cash medication math is rarely competitive against specialists.
When to choose Knownwell
Best for primary-care integration
Patients with strong insurance who want primary care plus obesity medicine in one practice.
Knownwell wins on medication options, member reviews and runs $249/mo cheaper than PlushCare at the entry tier ($299 vs $548). Over a year that's $2,988 you keep. The caveat: Cash-pay-only buyers, uninsured patients or anyone who wants async-only care.
If cost is your main filter
Knownwell is the cheaper monthly: $299 all-in vs $548 for PlushCare. That's $249 a month or $2,988a 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 $747 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
PlushCare (month-to-month) and Knownwell (month-to-month) sit at the same cancellation tier. Read both cancellation policies directly before signing; the on-page summary covers the headline but not the deletion-of-account or refund-window edge cases.
FAQ
Is PlushCare cheaper than Knownwell?
Can I switch from PlushCare to Knownwell mid-treatment?
Which program has better member feedback?
Read the full reviews
All head-to-head comparisons → · Full chart → · Cost guide · Programs guide
