Mounjaro vs Ozempic: Which Is Better? A1C, Weight Loss, Cost
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Ozempic (semaglutide) are both GLP-1 medicines, each a weekly injection. They were tested against each other in SURPASS-2. Ozempic self-pay starts at $199 per month.
- Tested head to head
- SURPASS-2
A quick look at Mounjaro and Ozempic
Comparing Mounjaro and Ozempic
| Mounjaro | Ozempic | |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Mounjaro |  Ozempic |
| Active ingredient | tirzepatide | semaglutide |
| Manufacturer | Eli Lilly | Novo Nordisk |
| How it is taken | Weekly injection | Weekly injection |
| Approved for | Type 2 diabetes and heart risk | Type 2 diabetes and heart risk, plus kidney disease linked to type 2 diabetes |
| First FDA approval | 2022 | 2017 |
| Most common side effect | Nausea 18% vs 4% on placebo | Nausea 20.3% vs 6.1% on placebo |
| List price | $1,112.16 per fill | $1,027.51 per pen |
| Self-pay from | Not listed | $199 per month |
| FDA shortage | Resolved December 19, 2024 | Resolved February 21, 2025 |
Sources: FDA label, FDA label (DailyMed), pricinginfo.lilly.com, Novo Nordisk pricing.
Head-to-head comparison: weight loss results
SURPASS-2 gave Mounjaro to one group and Ozempic to another, so the numbers compare directly.
| Trial | Who took part | Length | Group | A1C change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SURPASS-2 | Adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | 40 weeks | Tirzepatide 5 mg weekly | -2.01 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
| SURPASS-2 | Adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | 40 weeks | Tirzepatide 10 mg weekly | -2.24 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
| SURPASS-2 | Adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | 40 weeks | Tirzepatide 15 mg weekly | -2.3 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
| SURPASS-2 | Adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | 40 weeks | Semaglutide 1 mg weekly | -1.86 percentage points (mean HbA1c change) |
Trial sources: SURPASS-2 (PubMed).
Side effects compared
Each label compared its own participants with its own placebo group, so check each drug beside its own placebo first.
| Side effect | Mounjaro | Placebo (Mounjaro trials) | Ozempic | Placebo (Ozempic trials) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 18% | 4% | 20.3% | 6.1% |
| Diarrhea | 17% | 9% | 8.8% | 1.9% |
| Decreased Appetite | 11% | 1% | Not listed | Not listed |
| Vomiting | 9% | 2% | 9.2% | 2.3% |
| Dyspepsia | 8% | 3% | Not listed | Not listed |
| Constipation | 7% | 1% | 5% | 1.5% |
| Abdominal Pain | 6% | 4% | 7.3% | 4.6% |
Price and coverage compared
| Medicine | How you pay | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mounjaro | List price before insurance | $1,112.16 per fill |
| Mounjaro | Mounjaro Savings Card (insured) | from $25 for up to a 3-month fill |
| Mounjaro | Commercial plan that does not cover it | $499 per month |
| Ozempic | List price before insurance | $1,027.51 per pen |
| Ozempic | Ozempic Savings Offer (insured) | up to 3 months, with the price starting at $25 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay: Ozempic pill (from 1.5 mg) | $149 per month |
| Ozempic | If you pay yourself, the Ozempic pen intro covers the first 2 fills at 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg doses | $199 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay: 0.25 mg Ozempic pen, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg | $349 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay: Ozempic pen 2 mg | $499 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay via TrumpRx | $199 per month |
In November 2026, prices were checked at pricinginfo.lilly.com, mounjaro.lilly.com, Novo Nordisk pricing, NovoCare, TrumpRx.
Who should pick which?
- Ozempic has the kidney disease approval in type 2 diabetes.
- Mounjaro is approved for some children under 18
- When you pay cash yourself, Ozempic has a published self-pay price of $199 per month.
Your prescriber takes into account your health history, other medicines and coverage. The choice to switch between them belongs to your prescriber.