Head-to-head · WeighScore
Cost Plus Drugs vs Nalena
The verdict
Nalena takes it — 71.2/100 to 58.5/100.
Nalena grades higher on WeighScore, our editorial score across cost value, dose & formulation, clinical oversight, labs & monitoring, fulfillment and contract terms. Nalena is a women-focused, GLP-1-only telehealth platform offering compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide with medication included — no separate membership or visit fees.
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Factor by factor
The same six graded dimensions, side by side. See the methodology.
The numbers
| Metric | Cost Plus Drugs | Nalena |
|---|---|---|
| WeighScore | 58.5/100 | 71.2/100 |
| Grade | C | C |
| Scorecard rank | #370 | #97 |
| Semaglutide | $279/mo (brand Ozempic) | $149/mo (starting dose, compounded) |
| Tirzepatide | Not disclosed | $149/mo (starting dose, compounded) |
| Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Compounded only |
| Oral / sublingual | Injection only | Injection only |
Graded #370 · C
Strengths
- Transparent pricing: wholesale cost + 15% markup + $5 pharmacy fee, the same for everyone
- Around $279/mo for branded Ozempic — well below typical retail list prices
- Mark Cuban's PBM-disrupting pharmacy, praised by Forbes Health, Wired, and KFF Health News
- Ships to all 50 states; genuine FDA-approved Novo Nordisk Ozempic, not compounded
- Partnered with 9amHealth so you can get prescribed and fill at Cost Plus pricing
Where it loses points
- Fulfillment only — no telehealth intake; you need a prescription from an outside clinician
- Ozempic is FDA-indicated for type 2 diabetes, not weight management — weight-loss use is off-label
- Wegovy availability has been spotty — check current stock before assuming it ships
- No compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide — brand only
- No clinical follow-up — side-effect monitoring falls to your prescribing clinician
Graded #97 · C
Strengths
- Compounded GLP-1 from $149/mo with medication included — near the floor of the compounded market
- Transparent fee model: no hidden fees, no membership, cancel anytime
- Money-back guarantee — uncommon among compounded telehealths
- Clinical provider disclosed: Beluga Health, P.A. in Houston, TX
- Women-focused positioning
Where it loses points
- Per-dose pricing not published — only the 'starting at $149' entry price
- No LegitScript, HIPAA, or NABP badges on public pages
- Compounding pharmacy partners not named (only 'multiple USA certified pharmacies')
- Houston address looks like a virtual office rather than a clinical facility
- No brand-name GLP-1s (Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, Mounjaro) — compounded only
Also worth a look
Neither is our top-graded pick — CoreAge Rx leads the scorecard
Across all 499 providers, CoreAge Rx grades highest at 91.8/100 (A−). Top of the scorecard: flat transparent pricing, both molecules, nationwide — no teaser-rate games.
Pricing/verification reflect each provider's public disclosures at last grading; the WeighScore is our editorial judgment per the methodology. Prices change — confirm on each provider's site. Not medical advice; see our disclosure.