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Quick verdict
LifeMD is the better pick for most patients on overall scoring. Mature publicly-traded telehealth with rare direct-supply deals from both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Membership is $75 the first month then $149/mo ongoing. The Wegovy pill is $149/mo at starter doses and $299/mo at full doses. Steady-state total runs about $448/mo (starter months about $298, first month $224). Wegovy injection runs higher and Zepbound vials from $349. Insurance navigation included. Opt-in money-back guarantee: stay enrolled 12 months and lose at least 10% body weight, or you're eligible for a refund per posted terms.
That said, PlushCare wins on specific dimensions. 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.
Side-by-side
| PlushCare | LifeMD | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts from | $19.99/mo (+ med separate) | $448/mo (+ med separate) |
| Monthly cost gap | LifeMD is $250/mo cheaper than PlushCare | |
| Lock-in | Month-to-month | Month-to-month |
| Time to prescription | 1 day | 2 days |
| Consultation type | Live | Async |
| Affiliate network | Impact | Impact |
Score by dimension
Scores out of 10, equal-weighted across five dimensions. How we score. The winner of each dimension is highlighted.
| PlushCare | LifeMD | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Cancellation terms | 7/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Onboarding experience | 9/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Medication options | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| Member reviews | 6.8/10 | 8.2/10 |
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 LifeMD
Best for insurance plus lifestyle support
Mainstream patients who want insurance navigation plus the option to cash-pay for branded GLP-1 at near-NovoCare/LillyDirect rates without leaving the platform.
LifeMD wins on pricing transparency, cancellation terms, medication options, member reviews and runs $250/mo cheaper than PlushCare at the entry tier ($298 vs $548). Over a year that's $3,000 you keep. The caveat: Patients chasing the absolute cheapest compounded option or wanting a pure cash-only flat rate. Note also: Publicly traded NASDAQ:LFMD with formal pharmaceutical supply agreements
If cost is your main filter
LifeMD is the cheaper monthly: $298 all-in vs $548 for PlushCare. That's $250 a month or $3,000a 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 $750 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 LifeMD (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 LifeMD?
Can I switch from PlushCare to LifeMD mid-treatment?
Which program has better member feedback?
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