How We Rank GLP-1 Providers: Our Methodology Explained

Most GLP-1 comparison sites don't tell you how they rank providers. That's a problem, because without methodology transparency, you have no way to evaluate whether their recommendations reflect genuine quality assessment or paid placement. We built Compare GLP-1 to be different.

This article explains exactly how we evaluate providers, what we check, how we score, and where our revenue comes from. If you disagree with our methodology, we want to hear about it — that's how we improve.

Our three principles

The scoring system: 100 points, five categories

What we check in each category

Pricing Transparency (25 points)

We verify advertised pricing by going through each provider's enrollment flow. We check whether the advertised price is the total cost or whether additional fees (membership, enrollment, consultation, shipping) increase the real monthly expense. Providers that charge one transparent, all-inclusive price score highest. Providers with dose-increase surcharges are penalized based on the magnitude of the increase. We publish the price we verify, not the price the provider advertises.

Clinical Oversight (25 points)

We evaluate the medical consultation process. Does the provider conduct a thorough health history review? Are prescribers board-certified physicians, NPs, or PAs with appropriate credentials? Is there ongoing clinical monitoring with dose adjustments, or is the prescription a one-and-done affair? Providers offering structured programs with regular check-ins and proactive dose management score higher than those offering prescription-only services.

Medication Quality (20 points)

For compounded medications, we check whether the compounding pharmacy holds state accreditation and/or LegitScript certification. We verify cold-chain shipping practices and ask about quality testing protocols. For brand-name providers, we verify that they prescribe through licensed pharmacies with standard pharmaceutical supply chain practices. Any provider with FDA warning letters, state enforcement actions, or documented quality issues receives a mandatory disclosure and score reduction.

Patient Experience (15 points)

We evaluate responsiveness of customer support, clarity of communication during onboarding, quality of patient education materials (injection training, side-effect guidance, dietary recommendations), and the overall user experience of the platform. We review available patient feedback across multiple sources, weighting patterns over individual reviews.

Speed & Convenience (15 points)

We measure the typical time from completed consultation to medication delivery. We evaluate the refill process (automatic vs. manual), platform usability (app quality, website design), and the range of medication formats available (injectable, oral, lozenge). Providers offering multiple format options score higher for convenience.

How we handle conflicts of interest

We earn affiliate commissions from some — not all — of the providers we review. This creates an inherent conflict of interest that we manage through three mechanisms. First, our scoring methodology is fixed and published before we evaluate any provider. Second, we include providers in our comparisons regardless of whether they offer affiliate programs — if a provider scores well but doesn't pay us, it still appears in our rankings. Third, every affiliate link is visibly labeled "Paid link" so readers always know when a click generates revenue for us.

We believe this approach is more honest than the alternatives: sites that hide their affiliate relationships, sites that only feature paying providers, or sites that claim to be "unbiased" while running undisclosed paid placements.

How rankings change over time

Provider rankings are not static. We re-evaluate monthly based on updated pricing, new regulatory developments, changes in service offerings, and patterns in patient feedback. A provider can move up by improving transparency, expanding service options, or earning quality certifications. A provider can move down by raising prices without adding value, receiving regulatory actions, or degrading service quality.

When a ranking changes, we note the change in our monthly update articles and explain the reason. Transparency about changes is as important as transparency about the initial methodology.

How to use our rankings

Our rankings represent a general assessment of provider quality across the five categories above. But the "best" provider for you depends on your specific priorities. If cost is your primary concern, weight the Pricing Transparency category most heavily. If you have complex health needs, Clinical Oversight matters more. If you're needle-averse, Speed & Convenience (which includes format options) becomes critical.

For a personalized match, try our provider quiz — it weights the categories based on your answers to find the best fit for your situation. Or explore our full provider comparison table to filter and sort providers by the criteria that matter most to you.

Questions about our methodology? We welcome feedback. Transparency isn't a one-time disclosure — it's an ongoing commitment to getting this right.