Quick answer: Both Hims and Ro are large telehealth platforms offering GLP-1 weight-loss medication online, but the market changed in 2025 and 2026. After the FDA ended the GLP-1 shortage, Hims wound down compounded GLP-1s and now sells branded Novo Nordisk drugs only. Ro offers branded GLP-1s (Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic), the new oral options, and works with insurance. Neither still competes on cheap compounded pricing the way they once did. If your priority is a focused, physician-supervised compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide program with transparent pricing, FormBlends is one option to compare. See /products/semaglutide or compare every option at /tools/provider-comparison.
Both companies began in men's health and expanded into weight loss. Both let you complete an online intake, get reviewed by a licensed provider, and receive medication by mail. The big 2026 story is regulatory. Once the FDA declared the semaglutide and tirzepatide shortages resolved (tirzepatide in December 2024, semaglutide in February 2025), mass compounding of those drugs was no longer permitted, and the platforms had to change what they sell.
Hims vs Ro: what is the main difference in 2026?
Answer: Hims pivoted to branded-only GLP-1s after settling with Novo Nordisk in March 2026, so new Hims patients get branded Wegovy (pen and pill) and branded tirzepatide, not compounded versions. Ro also leans on branded GLP-1s but offers a wider menu, including Ozempic, Zepbound, oral Wegovy, and the orforglipron pill, plus an insurance concierge. Ro emphasizes a fuller medical program with coaching; Hims is more streamlined.
At a glance
| Factor | Hims | Ro |
|---|---|---|
| Compounded GLP-1 | No longer offered (wound down 2026) | Brand-focused; brand and limited options |
| Branded GLP-1 | Wegovy pen, oral Wegovy, branded tirzepatide | Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, oral Wegovy, orforglipron |
| Membership | $39 first month, then ~$149/month | ~$145/month, or ~$74/month prepaid annually |
| Medication cost | Separate; e.g. Wegovy ~$299, oral Wegovy ~$249, Zepbound ~$399 | Separate; varies, insurance concierge available |
| Insurance | Now usable for branded Wegovy via savings card | Works with insurers to request coverage |
| Other meds | GLP-1 focus, some oral kits | GLP-1 plus adjuncts like metformin |
Does Hims offer oral tirzepatide?
Answer: no. There is no FDA-approved oral tirzepatide from Hims or anyone else as of 2026. Tirzepatide is injectable only. Hims does offer branded injectable tirzepatide, and it offers oral semaglutide (the oral Wegovy pill), but not an oral tirzepatide. Treat any "oral tirzepatide" marketing as inaccurate and confirm exactly what compound you would receive.
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Answer: Ro is the more likely of the two to include metformin, offering it as an adjunct for appropriate patients, especially those with insulin resistance. Hims has offered combination oral kits that can include metformin alongside other agents. Metformin is an older, inexpensive, FDA-approved diabetes drug sometimes used off-label as a mild weight aid. If a metformin option matters, confirm it at intake with either platform.
How much do Hims and Ro cost for weight loss in 2026?
Answer: both charge a separate membership plus medication, and prices shifted with the move to branded drugs. Hims requires a weight-loss membership (about $39 the first month, then around $149/month) with medication priced separately, for example branded Wegovy around $299/month, the oral Wegovy pill around $249/month, and Zepbound around $399/month, with insurance and the Novo Nordisk savings card able to cut Wegovy costs sharply for eligible patients. Ro Body membership runs about $145/month (or roughly $74/month prepaid annually) plus medication, and Ro works with insurers and offers direct-to-consumer branded pricing. Because both now lean on branded drugs, the old cheap-compounded math no longer applies. Compare current quotes side by side at /tools/provider-comparison.
Is Ro or Hims better for weight loss?
Answer: it depends on what you want. Choose Ro for a broader medical program, the widest branded GLP-1 menu, insurance help, and coaching. Choose Hims for a simpler, branded Novo Nordisk experience with savings-card support. Neither still offers the budget compounded option many people came for. If you want a focused compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide program with physician supervision and clear pricing, FormBlends is one option to compare through the provider comparison tool.
Hers vs Ro for weight loss: are the women's options different?
Answer: Hers is the women's brand of Hims, the same company, so the Hers weight-loss menu mirrors Hims with the same branded medications. Ro serves all genders under one brand. The clinical options are similar; the difference is branding and program structure, not the drug class.
What about the medications themselves?
Answer: both platforms now work mainly with branded GLP-1s. Semaglutide is the GLP-1 drug class studied in the STEP 1 trial, where it produced an average weight loss of 14.9 percent over 68 weeks. Tirzepatide is the GIP/GLP-1 drug class studied in the SURMOUNT-1 trial, which showed an average of about 20.9 to 22.5 percent at the 15 mg dose over 72 weeks. Where a platform still dispenses a compounded preparation, that is not described here as identical to the branded product.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ro or Hims cheaper in 2026?
Both moved to branded drugs plus a separate membership, so neither is the cheap compounded option it once was. Compare live quotes, including insurance and savings cards.
Does Hims still sell compounded semaglutide?
No. Hims wound down compounded semaglutide after settling with Novo Nordisk in March 2026 and now sells branded products.
Does Ro offer Zepbound or Wegovy?
Yes. Ro offers branded GLP-1s including Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, the oral Wegovy pill, and the orforglipron pill for eligible patients.
Does Hims or Ro accept insurance for GLP-1?
Both now work with insurance for branded GLP-1s, and Ro provides an insurance concierge. Hims patients can use the Novo Nordisk savings card for Wegovy.
Can I get oral tirzepatide from Hims or Ro?
No. Oral tirzepatide is not FDA-approved. Both offer oral semaglutide (oral Wegovy) instead.
Hers vs Ro, what is the difference?
Hers is the women's brand of Hims with the same medication menu, so the comparison to Ro matches Hims vs Ro.
Is FormBlends an alternative to Hims and Ro?
Yes. FormBlends is a physician-supervised telehealth program for compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide with transparent pricing, and it is one option to compare for that focused path.
Why did Hims and Ro change their offerings?
The FDA declared the semaglutide and tirzepatide shortages resolved in 2024 and 2025, which ended mass compounding and pushed both platforms toward branded drugs.
Sources
- Wilding JPH, et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (STEP 1). N Engl J Med. 2021. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
- Jastreboff AM, et al. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity (SURMOUNT-1). N Engl J Med. 2022. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038
- U.S. FDA. FDA clarifies policies for compounders as national GLP-1 supply begins to stabilize. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-alerts-and-statements/fda-clarifies-policies-compounders-national-glp-1-supply-begins-stabilize
- Pharmacy Times. Novo Nordisk Drops Hims & Hers: Inside the Compounded GLP-1 Crisis. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/novo-nordisk-drops-hims-hers-inside-the-compounded-glp-1-crisis
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