"First month $99" is the loudest price in GLP-1 advertising — and the least informative. Intro pricing is a customer-acquisition cost wearing a price tag; what you'll actually live with is month four's number. We compared promo structures across the market and ran the twelve-month math. The rankings invert almost completely.
Key Takeaways
- The only number that predicts your spending is the steady-state renewal rate — month four's price, at your likely dose.
- A $99 intro that renews at $299 costs more over a year than no promo at $179 flat — by nearly $1,100.
- Promo red flags: renewal rate absent from the checkout page, promos requiring multi-month commitments, and intro prices on tiered plans (the promo discounts a tier you'll leave).
- The right way to use promos: pick your provider on steady-state price and quality first, then take whatever intro discount that provider happens to offer.
The Twelve-Month Inversion
| Offer as advertised | Month 1 | Months 2–12 (steady state) | Year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| “$99 first month!”, renews $299 | $99 | $3,289 | $3,388 |
| “$149 first month”, renews $199 | $149 | $2,189 | $2,338 |
| No promo, flat $179/mo | $179 | $1,969 | $2,148 |
| No promo, $99/mo annual commitment | $99 | $1,089 | $1,188 |
The flashiest promo finishes last by more than $2,000 against the unadvertised annual plan. This single table is most of what anyone needs to know about GLP-1 promotional pricing.
How Intro Pricing Actually Works
Acquiring a telehealth patient costs real money in ads. The intro discount is that budget handed to you directly — rational for the provider if steady-state margins recover it, which is why aggressive intros correlate with high renewal rates. Nothing sinister, but the correlation runs opposite to how shoppers read it: the bigger the splash, the harder the landing, more often than not.
Promo Fine Print Worth Reading
- The renewal rate's location. On the checkout page: honest. In the terms PDF: deliberate. Nowhere findable: leave.
- Commitment riders. "First month $99" that requires a 3-month minimum isn't a $99 offer — it's a $99 + 2× renewal bundle. Price the bundle.
- Tier interaction. On tiered plans, intros typically discount the starter tier — the one your titration path exits anyway. You're getting a coupon for the lobby.
- Promo stacking at renewal. Some providers run perpetual win-back offers; a polite cancellation attempt at month three often surfaces the real price floor. (Do this only where cancellation is genuinely self-serve — see our cancellation-policy comparison.)
The Correct Promo Algorithm
- Shortlist providers on steady-state price at your likely dose path, pharmacy quality, and support (the boring fundamentals).
- Only then look at intro offers among the shortlist — a promo is a tiebreaker, never a selector.
- Calendar the renewal date the day you sign up. The promo's real function is to make you forget it.
Transparent Steady-State Pricing We Track
Telos Rx — Semaglutide
Compounded semaglutide — from $49/mo on 12-month plans
Identical flat-at-every-dose structure on the semaglutide side.
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
Visit Telos Rx Paid linkWellorithm
Oral tablets — sema $147/mo, tirz $249/mo
Lowest published oral compounded pricing on our tracker.
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
Visit Wellorithm Paid linkEmbody
Injectable semaglutide — $149 first month
Our lead injectable pick: physician-supervised semaglutide with clean flat pricing after the intro month.
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
Visit Embody Paid linkVerdict: month one is a marketing expense — theirs. Month four is your actual life. Shop month four.
Affiliate disclosure: Links marked "Paid link" are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up through them, at no extra cost to you. This supports our independent research.
Compounded medication notice: Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not verify the safety, effectiveness, or quality of compounded drugs before they are marketed. Brand-name alternatives (Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, Rybelsus) are FDA-approved.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. GLP-1 medications are prescription drugs. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider about diagnosis, treatment, dosing, and whether these medications are appropriate for you.