Hims vs PlushCare
Cash-pay brand-name GLP-1s from Hims against brand-name GLP-1s billed through your insurance by PlushCare's virtual primary care.
Short answer
Both prescribe brand-name drugs. With drug coverage, PlushCare is the cheaper route: $19.99 a month plus your copay, and it handles the prior authorization. Without coverage, Hims' cash price is far lower, about $298 a month on the Wegovy pill, against PlushCare's estimate of about $1,000. Hims has an FDA warning letter on record.
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Is Hims or PlushCare better?
Coverage decides this pair. PlushCare is a primary-care practice with board-certified physicians by video, low published fees and prescriptions sent to your own pharmacy, where your insurance applies. Hims is cash-only, with low starting cash prices for the Wegovy pill, Foundayo and Zepbound and a membership on top. PlushCare usually needs two visits and a lab order before prescribing, and its membership fee is never refunded; Hims may prescribe without a video visit, depending on your state. Hims received FDA warning letter 716567 in September 2025, linked in the table below.
How they differ
- Published up front
Hims
From $149/mo for medication plus a required membership ($39 first month, then $149/mo) — about $298/mo all-inPlushCare
$19.99/mo membership plus $129 per visit without insurance (a copay with it) — medication billed separately- Insurance
Hims
Cash-pay onlyPlushCare
Works with insurance- How you're seen
Hims
Video visit / Async intakePlushCare
Video visit- Medications
Hims
Branded medicationPlushCare
Branded medication- FDA warning letter
PlushCare
None on record
| Hims | PlushCare | |
|---|---|---|
| Published up front | From $149/mo for medication plus a required membership ($39 first month, then $149/mo) — about $298/mo all-in | $19.99/mo membership plus $129 per visit without insurance (a copay with it) — medication billed separately |
| Insurance | Cash-pay only | Works with insurance |
| How you're seen | Video visit / Async intake | Video visit |
| Medications | Branded medication | Branded medication |
| FDA warning letter | Warning letter 716567 | None on record |
What each one costs and includes
Month-to-month prices a new patient can buy, with any required membership counted in. First-month promotions and prepaid averages are labeled as such.
- First full month
Hims
$39 the first month, then a $149 monthly membership plus medication from $149: about $298 a month on the Wegovy pill or FoundayoPlushCare
$19.99 a month (first month free) plus $129 a visit without insurance, or your copay; the drug is billed by your pharmacy- Once you're on a steady dose
Hims
About $348 a month on a Wegovy pen and $448 on Zepbound at starting prices; higher-dose prices aren't listedPlushCare
Depends on drug coverage; without it, branded weight-loss drugs run about $1,000 a month by PlushCare's own estimate- What the fee covers
Hims
24/7 provider messaging, the app, a peer community and an optional smart scale; medication is extraPlushCare
Messaging, same-day appointments and lab discounts; visits are billed separately- Medications
Hims
Brand-name only: the Wegovy pill and pen, Zepbound, Foundayo, the Ozempic pill and pen, and MounjaroPlushCare
Brand-name: Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda and Contrave for weight, sent to the pharmacy you choose- Insurance
Hims
Cash-pay; the medication charge is FSA/HSA-eligible but the membership isn'tPlushCare
In network with most major insurers for visits, and handles prior authorizations for the drug- Commitment and refunds
Hims
The membership renews monthly, and canceling it also ends your medicationPlushCare
Cancel anytime; the membership fee is never refunded- How care works
Hims
An online visit, by video only where your state requires it, then 24/7 messaging in the appPlushCare
A board-certified primary-care physician by video, often the same day; usually two visits and labs before a prescription- Look elsewhere if
Hims
You want insurance to pay for the drug or want to see every dose price before startingPlushCare
You're paying cash for the drug, want compounded medication or want a coached weight program
| Hims | PlushCare | |
|---|---|---|
| First full month | $39 the first month, then a $149 monthly membership plus medication from $149: about $298 a month on the Wegovy pill or Foundayo | $19.99 a month (first month free) plus $129 a visit without insurance, or your copay; the drug is billed by your pharmacy |
| Once you're on a steady dose | About $348 a month on a Wegovy pen and $448 on Zepbound at starting prices; higher-dose prices aren't listed | Depends on drug coverage; without it, branded weight-loss drugs run about $1,000 a month by PlushCare's own estimate |
| What the fee covers | 24/7 provider messaging, the app, a peer community and an optional smart scale; medication is extra | Messaging, same-day appointments and lab discounts; visits are billed separately |
| Medications | Brand-name only: the Wegovy pill and pen, Zepbound, Foundayo, the Ozempic pill and pen, and Mounjaro | Brand-name: Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda and Contrave for weight, sent to the pharmacy you choose |
| Insurance | Cash-pay; the medication charge is FSA/HSA-eligible but the membership isn't | In network with most major insurers for visits, and handles prior authorizations for the drug |
| Commitment and refunds | The membership renews monthly, and canceling it also ends your medication | Cancel anytime; the membership fee is never refunded |
| How care works | An online visit, by video only where your state requires it, then 24/7 messaging in the app | A board-certified primary-care physician by video, often the same day; usually two visits and labs before a prescription |
| Look elsewhere if | You want insurance to pay for the drug or want to see every dose price before starting | You're paying cash for the drug, want compounded medication or want a coached weight program |
Hims
- Access
- From $149/mo for medication plus a required membership ($39 first month, then $149/mo) — about $298/mo all-in
- Medications
- Branded
- Insurance
- Cash-pay
- Visit
- Video visit / Async intake
What we like
- FDA-approved brand-name medication only, including the Wegovy and Foundayo pills
- Starting medication prices shown for every drug
- 24/7 messaging with licensed providers, plus an app, peer community and optional smart scale
Watch-outs
- The required $149 membership roughly doubles the headline price: about $298 a month all-in at the cheapest
- No per-dose price ladder, so the cost of moving up a dose isn't shown
Pick Hims if: You're paying cash and want the app-first experience.
Check Hims availability →Read the full Hims review →
PlushCare
- Access
- $19.99/mo membership plus $129 per visit without insurance (a copay with it) — medication billed separately
- Medications
- Branded
- Insurance
- Works with insurance
- Visit
- Video visit
What we like
- Board-certified primary-care physicians by video, often the same day, in all 50 states and D.C.
- In-network with most major insurers for visits, and prior authorizations are handled for you
- Brand-name medication sent to the pharmacy you choose
Watch-outs
- Medication and labs are billed separately from the membership and visits
- Without coverage, branded drugs cost about $1,000 a month by PlushCare's own estimate
Pick PlushCare if: Your insurance covers a brand-name GLP-1 and you want a doctor for everything else.
Check PlushCare availability →Read the full PlushCare review →Want the full field? See every option in our GLP-1 providers roundup, or narrow by tirzepatide / semaglutide and price.