Circle Medical vs Ro
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 Ro: Overview
Choosing between Circle Medical and Ro for GLP-1 weight loss medication? Both are highly-rated 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. Ro also provides both semaglutide and tirzepatide at $149/month with a 8.6/10 rating.
The price difference of $114/month is significant - Circle Medical is the more budget-friendly option, while Ro 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
$114/mo
Rating Difference
0.1
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
Ro
View full Ro review →Rating
8.6/10
Monthly Price
$149
Medications
semaglutidetirzepatide
Pros
- ✓Prescribes FDA-approved, brand-name GLP-1s - Zepbound, Wegovy pen and pill, Ozempic, Saxenda and the new Foundayo pill - rather than compounded copies
- ✓Real insurance support: a dedicated team handles prior authorizations and appeals, and there is a free GLP-1 insurance checker you can run before paying anything
- ✓Publishes exact cash-pay prices for the Zepbound KwikPen: $299/mo at 2.5 mg, $399/mo at 5 mg and $449/mo at 7.5-15 mg with the manufacturer offer (checked July 26, 2026)
- ✓Membership is $39 for the first month, and as low as $74/mo if you prepay for a year
- ✓Long-established: trading since 2017, BBB accredited since 2018, and one of the largest telehealth platforms in the US
- ✓Prescriptions are typically filled and shipped within 1-4 days
- ✓Cash-pay Zepbound single-dose vials are available if you want to skip the insurance process entirely
- ✓Ongoing provider messaging, check-ins and progress tracking are included in the membership fee
Cons
- ✗The membership fee does not include your medication. At $149/mo month-to-month plus $449/mo for a maintenance dose of Zepbound, the realistic all-in cost is roughly $520-600 a month
- ✗The discounted $449 refill price depends on completing a check-in within 45 days of your last delivery. Miss that window and the price jumps to $499 for 7.5 mg, or $699 for the 10, 12.5 and 15 mg doses
- ✗All sales are final. Ro states it cannot issue refunds or accept returns on prescription products, except where it has made an error filling your prescription
- ✗The headline $74/mo membership rate requires prepaying a full year upfront
- ✗BBB lists 619 complaints, and Trustpilot sits at 3.8 from 4,796 reviews, with cancellation and billing the dominant negative themes
- ✗No customer phone number or support email is published on the site; support runs through your account
- ✗Because the medication price depends on your insurance, what you will actually pay each month cannot be known until after you have signed up and been assessed
- ✗The homepage claim 'Lose 20% body weight on average with Zepbound' comes from the manufacturer's trial of the branded drug, not from Ro's own patients
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Circle Medical | Ro |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $35 | $149 |
| Rating | 8.7/10 | 8.6/10 |
| Medications | semaglutide, tirzepatide, oral semaglutide | semaglutide, tirzepatide |
| Insurance Accepted | Yes | Yes |
| Support Hours | Not published | On-demand provider messaging (hours not published) |
| Live Chat | No | No |
| Free Shipping | No | Yes |
| Shipping Speed | Prescriptions go to your own pharmacy rather than shipping from the provider | Typically filled and shipped within 1-4 days |
| Mobile App | Available | Available |
| Dedicated Coach | Not included | Included |
| Follow-up Frequency | Regular provider check-ins to monitor progress | Ongoing check-ins plus on-demand provider messaging |
| Money-back Guarantee | None published | None - Ro states all sales of prescription products are final, except where it filled your prescription in error |
| Cancellation Policy | Appointment-based care - there is no subscription to cancel | Cancel the membership before your next billing date; charges already processed are not refunded |
Which should you choose?
Choose Circle Medical if you:
- →Want to save $114/month with a more affordable option
- →Prefer a higher-rated service (8.7/10 vs 8.6/10)
- →Want more medication options to choose from
- →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 Ro if you:
- →Want personalized coaching support included
- →Value: prescribes fda-approved, brand-name glp-1s - zepbound, wegovy pen and pill, ozempic, saxenda and the new foundayo pill - rather than compounded copies
Website previews
Circle Medical
Ro
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.
Get started with Circle MedicalRelated comparisons
Circle Medical vs CoreAge Rx
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