Wegovy and Mounjaro are both weekly GLP-1 injections, but they're not the same drug: Wegovy is semaglutide (FDA-approved for weight loss) and Mounjaro is tirzepatide (FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, used off-label for weight). Tirzepatide tends to produce more weight loss, around 21 percent of body weight in trials versus about 15 percent for semaglutide. Both run over $1,000 a month at brand pricing; the compounded versions of each cost $69 to $150. If maximum weight loss is the goal, tirzepatide edges it; if you want the option that's FDA-approved specifically for weight loss, that's Wegovy.
Important: this is general information, not medical advice. Which medication is right for you is a decision for a licensed prescriber. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved; discuss risks and benefits with your provider.
Want either molecule for a fraction of the brand price? Both semaglutide and tirzepatide are available compounded from licensed telehealth providers. See the best verified GLP-1 providers, or our top-rated pick Embody (from $69/mo).
The quick answer
If you want the strongest average weight loss, tirzepatide (the drug in Mounjaro and Zepbound) has the edge, roughly 21 percent versus semaglutide's 15 percent in trials. If you want the medication that's FDA-approved specifically for weight loss, that's Wegovy (semaglutide). One wrinkle worth knowing: Mounjaro is technically the diabetes brand of tirzepatide; the weight-loss brand of the same drug is Zepbound. Most people comparing "Wegovy vs Mounjaro" are really comparing semaglutide vs tirzepatide, and either is available far cheaper as a compounded version.
What they actually are
- Wegovy = semaglutide, FDA-approved for chronic weight management. Same active drug as Ozempic (which is the diabetes brand).
- Mounjaro = tirzepatide, FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes. Doctors prescribe it off-label for weight loss, but the tirzepatide brand approved for weight loss is Zepbound.
So the real comparison under the brand names is the two molecules: semaglutide vs tirzepatide.
Weight loss: head to head
In the pivotal trials, semaglutide (Wegovy) produced about 15 percent average body-weight loss, while tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) produced about 20 to 21 percent. Tirzepatide works on two gut-hormone receptors (GIP and GLP-1) instead of one, which is the leading explanation for the larger effect. That doesn't mean tirzepatide is better for everyone, semaglutide works very well for most people and individual response varies, but on averages tirzepatide comes out ahead.
Side effects
Both are weekly injections with a similar side-effect profile, mostly gastrointestinal (nausea, constipation, diarrhea) that's worst early and eases as you titrate up slowly. Neither is clearly "gentler" for everyone; it's individual. Both carry the same class warnings your prescriber will review. Going up in dose slowly is what keeps side effects manageable on either one.
Cost comparison
| Wegovy | Mounjaro | |
|---|---|---|
| Active drug | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide |
| FDA-approved for | Weight loss | Type 2 diabetes (off-label for weight) |
| Avg. weight loss (trials) | ~15% | ~21% |
| Brand cash price/mo | ~$1,350 | ~$1,080 |
| Injection | Weekly | Weekly |
| Compounded version | Compounded semaglutide, $69 to $150/mo | Compounded tirzepatide, $119 to $150/mo |
Both brands cost over $1,000 a month without insurance, and coverage for weight loss is spotty. That's why most cash-pay patients get the same molecule as a compounded version.
The cheaper way to get either molecule
You don't have to choose between the drug you want and a price you can afford. Licensed telehealth providers dispense compounded semaglutide (Wegovy's molecule) and compounded tirzepatide (Mounjaro's and Zepbound's molecule) for a fraction of brand pricing:
| Provider | Compounded semaglutide | Compounded tirzepatide |
|---|---|---|
| Embody | from $69/mo | from $119/mo |
| SnagRx | from $69/mo | from $119/mo |
| Trimi | from $99/mo | from $99/mo |
| TrimRx | from $199/mo | from $349/mo |
Prices are starting rates; confirm at checkout, and use a provider with a licensed US pharmacy and clinician oversight. See the full ranked comparison.
Which should you choose?
- Want the strongest average weight loss? Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound, or compounded tirzepatide).
- Want the FDA-approved-for-weight-loss option? Wegovy (semaglutide, or compounded semaglutide).
- On a budget? Compounded semaglutide is usually the cheapest; compounded tirzepatide costs a bit more but delivers the larger average loss.
- Have diabetes too? That's a specific conversation for your prescriber, since Mounjaro and Ozempic are the diabetes-approved options.
Whichever molecule you and your prescriber choose, the compounded route makes it affordable.
FAQ
Is Wegovy or Mounjaro better for weight loss? On average, tirzepatide (Mounjaro's drug) produces more weight loss, about 21 percent versus 15 percent for semaglutide (Wegovy's drug). But Wegovy is FDA-approved specifically for weight loss, while Mounjaro is a diabetes drug used off-label. Individual response varies, so it's a prescriber conversation.
Are Wegovy and Mounjaro the same drug? No. Wegovy is semaglutide; Mounjaro is tirzepatide, a different molecule that acts on two hormone receptors instead of one. They're both weekly GLP-1 injections, which is why people compare them, but they're not interchangeable.
Is Mounjaro approved for weight loss? Mounjaro is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. The tirzepatide brand approved for weight loss is Zepbound (same drug, different label). Some prescribers use Mounjaro off-label for weight.
How much do Wegovy and Mounjaro cost? Both run over $1,000 a month at brand cash pricing (roughly $1,350 for Wegovy, $1,080 for Mounjaro), and weight-loss coverage is limited. Compounded versions of the same molecules cost $69 to $150 a month, which is why most cash-pay patients choose them.
Can I switch from Wegovy to Mounjaro or vice versa? Yes, many people switch molecules, usually for stronger results or cost. You re-titrate from a low dose, and it's a prescriber decision, so bring your history. Switching between compounded versions is common and straightforward with a good provider.
Which has fewer side effects, Wegovy or Mounjaro? They have a similar gastrointestinal side-effect profile, and neither is clearly gentler for everyone. Side effects are worst early and ease as you titrate up slowly on either one.
The bottom line
Wegovy vs Mounjaro really comes down to semaglutide vs tirzepatide. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) tends to deliver more weight loss on average (about 21% vs 15%), while Wegovy is the option FDA-approved specifically for weight loss. Both cost over $1,000 a month as brands, so most cash-pay patients get the same molecule compounded for $69 to $150. Decide the molecule with your prescriber, then compare the best verified providers on cost and legitimacy to get it affordably.