Willow vs Hers: Which GLP-1 Weight Loss Program Should You Choose?

Willow keeps it simple, and that simplicity is one of its strongest selling points.

Compounded semaglutide (injectable OR sublingual tablets): $299/mo for most dosages. Whether you're on a starting dose or further along in your titration, the price generally stays the same. This is unusual — most telehealth GLP-1 providers increase pricing as your dose escalates because higher doses require more active pharmaceutical ingredient per vial.

Compounded tirzepatide (injectable only): Starts at $399/mo. Price increases at higher doses, up to approximately $549/mo depending on your titration schedule. Your Willow physician will outline exact pricing for each dose level during your consultation.

What's included in that price: Medication, prescription, physician consultations, ongoing support, and free 2-day shipping. There's no separate membership fee, no consultation charge, and no hidden shipping cost.

Optional add-on: Ondansetron (anti-nausea medication) for $30/mo. Not required. Many patients add it later if they experience nausea during dose increases.

Payment: Month-to-month. Your card is charged monthly. Cancel anytime before your next processing date and you won't be charged again.

Hers' pricing is where things get nuanced — and where a lot of people feel misled after signing up.

Compounded semaglutide (injectable): Hers' drug pricing page states GLP-1 injectables start "as low as $199/mo with a 6-month plan paid upfront in full." Other plan lengths (including 2-month and 4-month options) may be available at checkout, with shorter commitments priced higher per month. The exact plan options and totals you see will depend on what's available when you sign up — Hers notes that "actual price to customer will depend on product and subscription plan purchased."

That "$199/mo" number you see in their ads? It's the per-month equivalent of a lump-sum upfront payment for a multi-month plan. You're not paying $199 this month — you're paying several months' worth today, before your first shipment.

Oral medication kits (NOT GLP-1): From $69/mo with a 10-month prepay. These kits contain combinations of metformin, bupropion, naltrexone, topiramate, and vitamin B12. They are not GLP-1 medications. They work through different mechanisms (insulin sensitization, appetite regulation via different pathways, anti-craving effects). Some Hers customers report being steered toward these kits when they expected GLP-1 injections.

Brand-name GLP-1s (Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Zepbound): Available through Hers at significantly higher prices. These are FDA-approved, brand-name medications — but expect to pay substantially more than compounded options.

What's included: Medication, shipping, supplies, app access, 24/7 provider messaging, check-ins, and prescription adjustments. Free anti-nausea medication (ondansetron) if eligible. No separate consultation fee.

The refund reality: This matters. Hers' plans are prepaid, and refund eligibility depends on their policy and where you are in the subscription/shipping process. Based on customer reviews and Hers' published terms, refunds for partially used subscription periods appear to be limited and handled on a case-by-case basis. If you prepay for a multi-month plan and the medication doesn't work for you after month two, you may have difficulty recovering the unused portion. Read the current terms at forhers.com before purchasing.

Willow focuses exclusively on compounded GLP-1 weight loss medication. That's their entire business.

Compounded semaglutide (injectable): Administered once weekly via subcutaneous injection. This is the compound that has generated the most clinical data for weight loss. Willow physicians typically start patients on a low dose and titrate upward over several months to minimize side effects.

Compounded semaglutide (sublingual tablets): A daily dissolving tablet placed under the tongue. Needle-free, which appeals to many patients. However, we want to be honest here: multiple user reviews across Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs indicate that sublingual tablets may produce less consistent appetite suppression than injections. If strong results are your priority, injections are the more proven delivery method.

Compounded tirzepatide (injectable): Willow's premium option. Tirzepatide is a dual-action compound that targets both GLP-1 and GIP receptors. In clinical trials (SURMOUNT-1), patients on the highest dose of tirzepatide achieved an average body weight reduction of approximately 22.5% over 72 weeks — meaningfully higher than semaglutide in head-to-head comparisons. (Source: Jastreboff AM et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2022) If you've tried semaglutide and plateaued, or if you want the strongest available option, tirzepatide is worth discussing with your provider.

Personalized compounding: Willow's pharmacy may add supportive ingredients like vitamin B12, B6, or L-glutamine to your formulation based on your physician's recommendation. Your specific formulation is customized to your health profile.

Hers offers a broader medication menu — but that breadth comes with a caveat.

Compounded semaglutide (injectable): Similar to Willow in that it's a compounded version administered as a weekly injection. Hers operates its own compounding network across facilities in Arizona, Ohio, and California.

Oral medication kits: This is where things get tricky. Hers offers oral weight loss kits from $69/mo that contain combinations of metformin, bupropion, naltrexone, topiramate, and B12. These are not GLP-1 medications. They're off-label combinations of existing drugs that work through different mechanisms. Some customers report being recommended these kits during the intake process when they expected to receive GLP-1 injections. If your intent is specifically to get a GLP-1, make sure you're selecting the GLP-1 injectable plan — not an oral kit.

Brand-name FDA-approved GLP-1s: Hers lists brand-name medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Zepbound on their platform at cash-pay prices. These are FDA-approved, brand-name medications — but expect to pay roughly $1,799–$1,999/mo based on their published pricing page. If you have insurance that covers brand-name GLP-1s, your doctor's office is probably a better route than a telehealth provider.

Compounded tirzepatide: Not available through Hers. If tirzepatide is what you want, Hers is off the table entirely.

Both Willow and Hers (for their compounded options) offer medications prepared by compounding pharmacies. Here's what that means in plain terms:

Compounded medications are custom-prepared by licensed pharmacies. The finished products have not been individually evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. This is not the same as saying the active compounds themselves lack evidence — semaglutide and tirzepatide both have extensive clinical trial data behind them. But the specific compounded formulation you receive from a telehealth provider has not gone through the same evaluation process as a brand-name drug from Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly.

Why this matters right now: The FDA resolved the formal semaglutide drug shortage in February 2025. Under federal law, compounding pharmacies have more limited legal authority to produce copies of commercially available drugs outside of a shortage. The regulatory environment for compounded GLP-1s is actively evolving — the FDA has publicly indicated its intent to increase enforcement against mass-marketed compounded GLP-1 products. This doesn't mean your medication is going to disappear tomorrow, but it does mean this market could shift. Both Willow and Hers (and every other compounded GLP-1 provider) are operating within this regulatory landscape.

How to think about it: Compounded GLP-1s are how the vast majority of people access affordable GLP-1 weight loss medication right now. The alternative — brand-name Wegovy at $1,000+/mo — is simply out of reach for most people without insurance coverage. Compounding is legal, the pharmacies are licensed, and both Willow and Hers take steps to ensure quality (Willow is LegitScript-certified; Hers operates its own compounding facilities). But "affordable telehealth GLP-1 provider" and "FDA-approved" are not the same thing, and you should understand that distinction before you buy.

Willow is a privately held telehealth company and the sister brand of Winona, a well-known women's hormone replacement therapy (HRT) provider. If you've spent any time in women's health communities — especially perimenopause and menopause groups — you've likely seen Winona discussed extensively. Willow was launched as a dedicated weight loss arm, focused specifically on GLP-1 medications.

Chief Medical Officer: Dr. Michael Green, MD, OB/GYN — dual board-certified with over 30 years of clinical experience. Dr. Green is himself a GLP-1 patient, having personally used both semaglutide and tirzepatide for weight management. The fact that their CMO uses the medications he oversees is a meaningful credibility signal that few competitors can match.

Pharmacy partnerships: Willow works with licensed compounding pharmacies and is LegitScript-certified — an independent third-party verification that confirms compliance with healthcare laws, regulations, and guidelines.

Team size: Over 40 providers listed on their website, all licensed U.S. physicians.

Hers is the women's brand of Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE: HIMS), one of the largest direct-to-consumer telehealth companies in the United States. The company originally launched as Hims (targeting men's health) and expanded to Hers for women's healthcare. As of late 2025, the combined platform reported over 2.5 million subscribers — growing 21% year over year.

Scale and infrastructure: Being publicly traded means Hers operates under SEC reporting requirements, annual audits, and regulatory scrutiny that private companies don't face.

Pharmacy standards: Hers operates its own vertically integrated compounding network, including facilities in Arizona, Ohio, and California, with a total footprint exceeding one million square feet as of 2025. The specific pharmacy classification (503A vs. 503B) and its regulatory implications may vary — check Hers' current disclosures for the latest details.

Brand-name access: Hers lists brand-name FDA-approved GLP-1 medications (Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Zepbound) on their platform at cash-pay prices, giving them access to both compounded and FDA-approved options. (Note: Hims & Hers previously announced a collaboration with Novo Nordisk related to Wegovy; reporting has indicated that relationship has evolved, and Novo Nordisk has since taken legal action against Hims & Hers regarding their compounded semaglutide products.)

Willow's intake is designed for speed. Here's what to expect:

Step 1: Take the online quiz (~2 minutes). You'll answer questions about your weight loss goals, past attempts, and whether you've used GLP-1 medications before.

Step 2: Create your account. Name, email, state, date of birth, phone number. You'll also disclose whether you have diabetes or other relevant medical conditions.

Step 3: Choose your medication. You'll select between compounded semaglutide (injectable or sublingual) and compounded tirzepatide. You can also add ondansetron for nausea management. You can change your selection later after consulting with your physician.

Step 4: Verify your identity. Upload a photo of your driver's license or government ID plus a selfie.

Step 5: Physician review. A Willow doctor reviews your information, and if everything checks out, writes your prescription — often the same day. You'll receive a detailed message from your physician with your personalized dosing schedule (typically mapped out over 7+ months of titration).

Step 6: Pharmacy processing (2–4 business days) → free 2-day shipping via FedEx or UPS.

The key Willow difference: Willow does not publish a minimum BMI requirement. Their eligibility is determined by a licensed clinician based on your health history and goals — and many users report being approved even when other platforms turned them down for not meeting traditional BMI thresholds. If you're someone who wants to lose 10–20 pounds and has been turned away by other platforms, Willow is one of the few options that may approve you.

Hers takes a more comprehensive approach to intake — which can be a pro or con depending on your perspective.

Step 1: Complete the health questionnaire (~10–15 minutes). It covers eating habits, mental health history, medical conditions, lifestyle factors, and weight loss goals. It's more detailed than Willow's quiz, and some users find it feels more personalized. Others find it long and note that it recommends non-weight-loss Hers products (hair care, supplements) along the way.

Step 2: Provider review. A licensed clinician evaluates your information — typically within 24–48 hours. In most states, this happens asynchronously (no video call needed). Some states require a brief video or phone consultation.

Step 3: Treatment recommendation. Based on your profile, the provider recommends a specific treatment plan. Important: If the provider determines you don't qualify for GLP-1 injections, you may be recommended an oral medication kit instead. These oral kits are not GLP-1 medications — make sure you understand what you're being prescribed before paying.

Step 4: Choose your plan length. Hers offers multiple prepaid plan options — the specific lengths and pricing available may vary at checkout. Remember: the lowest per-month rates require longer commitments and larger upfront payments.

Step 5: Medication ships to your door.

Weeks 1–4 (Starting Dose): Your body is adjusting. Most patients start at the lowest dose to minimize side effects. You may notice reduced appetite and less "food noise" — that constant background hum of thinking about food. Nausea is most common during this period. Weight loss is typically modest in the first month.

Weeks 5–8 (First Dose Increase): Your provider will typically increase your dose. Appetite suppression becomes more noticeable. Side effects may briefly return at the new dose level but usually subside within a week or two. Weight loss accelerates for most patients.

Weeks 9–12 (Building Momentum): By month three, most patients have a clear sense of whether the medication is working for them. Hers reports that their customers lost an average of 11.1 lbs with compounded GLP-1 injections in the first two months (alongside a reduced-calorie diet and exercise). Individual results vary significantly — but this is when the habits you build (nutrition, exercise, hydration) start to compound with the medication's effects.

This is why Willow's month-to-month model is so valuable for first-timers. You'll know by month 2–3 whether GLP-1 medication is working for your body. With Willow, you've committed two to three months of payments. With Hers' prepaid plans, you've committed the full prepaid amount — regardless of whether month 3 tells you this isn't the right path.

Willow: Your assigned physician is available via messaging for guidance on side effect management. Ondansetron (a prescription anti-nausea medication) is available as a $30/mo add-on. Willow physicians can adjust your dosing schedule if side effects are severe.

Hers: Anti-nausea medication (ondansetron) is included at no additional cost if your provider determines you're eligible. The Hers app also includes step-by-step guides for managing side effects, created by their weight loss team. 24/7 provider messaging is included.

Willow is month-to-month. To cancel, you contact your care team or reach out through the patient portal before your next order processes. No cancellation fee. No penalty. No "retention specialist" trying to talk you out of it. If you cancel before your next processing date, you won't be charged again.

What happens after you cancel: Your current medication supply is yours. You simply won't receive the next month's shipment. Your physician access ends with your subscription.

Hers allows you to cancel your subscription at any time through your account dashboard. However — and this is critical — your cancellation is effective at the end of your current billing period.

The refund situation: Here's what Hers' terms of service actually say: refunds for partially used subscription periods are handled on a case-by-case basis, at Hers' sole discretion. In practice, based on customer reviews, most people who cancel mid-subscription do not receive refunds for unused months.

This means: if you signed up for a multi-month prepaid plan and you want to cancel after month 3, you've paid the full upfront amount and recovering the unused portion may be difficult based on Hers' refund policies.

Before you sign up for a Hers multi-month plan, ask yourself: Am I confident enough in this medication to commit this amount? If the answer is "I'm not sure yet," a month-to-month option like Willow reduces your risk substantially.

You've read the data. You've seen the pricing, the medications, the cancellation policies, and the real customer experiences. The comparison is clear — now it comes down to your specific situation.

If Willow is your fit — month-to-month flexibility, tirzepatide access, lower eligibility threshold, fast prescriptions — start Willow's 2-minute quiz below. You'll know within minutes if you qualify, and there's zero commitment until you decide to move forward.

If Hers is your fit — lowest possible semaglutide rate with upfront commitment, full app experience, or brand-name access — visit Hers' weight loss page below.

If neither fits — check out our full GLP-1 provider comparison or MEDVi review for additional options.

Whichever path you choose, you're making a decision that thousands of people make every month — and the data shows it works. The medication handles the appetite. The provider handles the logistics. Your job is to show up, stay consistent, and build the habits that outlast the prescription.

You've done the research. Now it's time to act on it.