Circle Medical vs EllieMD
Compare pricing, features, and medications to find the best GLP-1 provider for your weight loss journey
These two prices are not directly comparable
- Circle Medical: the $35 figure is a per-visit consultation fee, not a month of treatment - the medication is billed separately.
Circle Medical vs EllieMD: Overview
Choosing between Circle Medical and EllieMD for GLP-1 weight loss medication? Both are popular providers, but they differ in pricing, medication options, and service features.
Circle Medical offers both semaglutide and tirzepatide at $35/month with a rating of 8.7/10. EllieMD also provides both semaglutide and tirzepatide at $229/month with a 7.2/10 rating.
The price difference of $194/month is significant - Circle Medical is the more budget-friendly option, while EllieMD positions itself as a premium service.
Our recommended brand
After reviewing all 148 providers on this platform, we've identified CoreAge Rx as offering the most transparent pricing model. At just $99/month — the same price every month, every dose — there are no surprise charges or hidden fees. Combined with exceptional service quality, personalized support, and access to both semaglutide and tirzepatide, it represents the best value without compromising on care.
At a glance
Price Difference
$194/mo
Rating Difference
1.5
Winner
Circle Medical
Best For
Budget
Circle Medical
View full Circle Medical review →Rating
8.7/10Better
Monthly Price
$35Cheaper
Medications
semaglutidetirzepatideoral semaglutide
Pros
- ✓It bills your insurance instead of asking you to forget insurance exists. Circle Medical states it is in-network with most commercial plans
- ✓Publishes a real out-of-pocket figure rather than a marketing one: patients with accepted insurance paid an average of $35 per appointment over the previous six months
- ✓FDA-approved medication only - Wegovy, Zepbound and non-GLP-1 options such as Contrave when appropriate. No compounded product
- ✓No membership and no hidden fees, which is rare among insurance-accepting telehealth services
- ✓This is a full primary-care practice, so weight management sits inside ongoing medical care rather than being a standalone drug subscription
- ✓Clear, conventional eligibility criteria published up front: BMI 27+ with a weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes or sleep apnea, or BMI 30+ without one
- ✓A mobile app with regular provider check-ins
- ✓Honest about supply and coverage: the site warns these treatments have significant stock issues and are not always covered
- ✓Insurance verification is built into the booking flow, so you find out where you stand before the appointment
Cons
- ✗Your cost is whatever your plan says it is. $35 is an average, not a price - deductibles and exclusions can leave you paying far more
- ✗The medication itself is a separate cost from the visit, and coverage for weight-loss drugs is the single most commonly denied benefit in this category
- ✗You must live in the state you are treated in and have your primary pharmacy in that same state, which rules out anyone splitting time between states
- ✗The full list of available states is not published - you have to start booking an appointment to see it
- ✗You may be booked with any available provider (MD, DO, PA-C or NP) rather than choosing one
- ✗If your insurance denies weight-loss coverage, there is no cash-pay compounded fallback here
EllieMD
View full EllieMD review →Rating
7.2/10
Monthly Price
$229
Medications
semaglutidetirzepatide
Pros
- ✓Published pricing for both microdose programmes: $229/month for the single-agonist GLP-1 ($687 total) and $239/month for the dual-agonist ($717 total)
- ✓No hidden membership, shipping or consultation fees, stated as a headline on the microdose page
- ✓Available in all 50 states
- ✓The partner pharmacy is named - Clover Pharmacy - and described as dispensing from 503A-compliant, state-licensed facilities
- ✓Payment is refunded if the medical provider determines you are not eligible for an EllieMD programme
- ✓24/7 access to a provider is included in the plan rather than sold as an upgrade
- ✓A state-licensed, board-certified MD, DO or qualified medical provider reviews your intake, and a phone call may be required rather than everything being asynchronous
- ✓The compounding disclaimer is explicit: compounded medications are not FDA-approved and the FDA does not review them for safety, efficacy or quality
- ✓It discloses that vial appearance, contents and dosage may vary based on your personalised prescription
- ✓Offers a paid 15-minute consultation with a wellness expert that comes with a $25 credit toward your next order
Cons
- ✗The whole proposition is microdosing, which has no controlled trial evidence behind it. Every published GLP-1 outcome - the 15% and 20% figures the category is built on - comes from full therapeutic doses
- ✗Both prices are quoted per month but billed as a multi-month total ($687 and $717), so the real commitment is three months up front
- ✗Compounded medication, not FDA-approved
- ✗The catalogue mixes prescription GLP-1s with Thymosin Alpha-1, hormone therapy, protein supplements and skincare, which blurs the line between medicine and wellness retail
- ✗The claim that "community support can double weight loss efficacy" is footnoted to a 2015 Northwestern citation and used to market a product that citation did not test
- ✗No phone number, support email or business address is published
- ✗No insurance billing and no HSA/FSA information
- ✗It is not clear from the site whether full therapeutic dosing is available at all, or only microdoses
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Circle Medical | EllieMD |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $35 | $229 |
| Rating | 8.7/10 | 7.2/10 |
| Medications | semaglutide, tirzepatide, oral semaglutide | semaglutide, tirzepatide |
| Insurance Accepted | Yes | No |
| Support Hours | Not published | Company advertises 24/7 support from doctors and specialists, included in the plan |
| Live Chat | No | Available |
| Free Shipping | No | Yes |
| Shipping Speed | Prescriptions go to your own pharmacy rather than shipping from the provider | Typically 2-10 business days; no shipping fees |
| Mobile App | Available | No |
| Dedicated Coach | Not included | Not included |
| Follow-up Frequency | Regular provider check-ins to monitor progress | 24/7 direct access to a provider included in the plan |
| Money-back Guarantee | None published | Payment refunded if the medical provider determines you are not eligible |
| Cancellation Policy | Appointment-based care - there is no subscription to cancel | A refund and returns policy is published; multi-month programmes are billed as a total |
Which should you choose?
Choose Circle Medical if you:
- →Want to save $194/month with a more affordable option
- →Prefer a higher-rated service (8.7/10 vs 7.2/10)
- →Want more medication options to choose from
- →Need insurance coverage for your treatment
- →Value: it bills your insurance instead of asking you to forget insurance exists. circle medical states it is in-network with most commercial plans
Choose EllieMD if you:
- →Value: published pricing for both microdose programmes: $229/month for the single-agonist glp-1 ($687 total) and $239/month for the dual-agonist ($717 total)
Website previews
Circle Medical
EllieMD
Our recommendation
Circle Medical comes out ahead with a higher rating of 8.7/10. It also provides multiple medication options including both semaglutide and tirzepatide.
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