Widespread use of GLP-1 medications is here to stay. In fact, there are new formulas already in the works that are supposed to be even more effective for weight loss and appetite suppression. While GLP-1s are still sparking plenty of controversy, they’re not going away anytime soon, which is great news for those who need them.

I’ve shared a lot of opinions on GLP-1s on my podcast and on my blog. As a personal trainer and nutrition coach, GLP-1 use comes up a lot in conversations with my clients. One of the main questions that my clients ask me is where they should go to get the medications. Aside from going to their doctor for a prescription (which most people don’t want to do), I usually point them in the direction of an online provider.

A couple of months back, I had the opportunity to take a deep dive into Willow, and I shared a full review of that platform along with my experience and feedback (you can read the full review here). Inevitably, people start to compare these brands to others to see which one is the best fit, so when I had a client approach me the other day asking which provider I thought would be better, Willow or Hers, I decided to take a closer look at Hers to get the scoop. 

In this article, I’m sharing some information on both online women’s health providers as well as my personal experience, feedback, and recommendations as a personal trainer and online weight loss coach.

First, Willow Is Completely Unique

I have to start this comparison off by explaining that Willow operates very differently from all of the other GLP-1 providers out there in that they are the only provider that offers weight loss medications for cosmetic weight loss. What does this mean? This means Willow does not have a BMI requirement for obtaining a prescription for GLP-1s. 

So, as a healthy woman with a very normal BMI, I was able to get a prescription from Willow for a compounded GLP-1. Now, if you read my full review of Willow, you’ll see that I didn’t end up going through with the order and using the product, as I truly didn’t have a weight loss goal; I was just testing the process for research for my clients. But the fact remains that, if I wanted a GLP-1 medication, I am eligible through Willow. Thus far, Willow has been the sole platform on which I have been approved for medication.

This information is really important to know when comparing Willow to other weight loss medication providers, especially if you are someone with a normal BMI. There are obviously pros and cons to this approach, and I know it’s quite controversial, but the fact of the matter is that some people (even those with a “healthy” BMI) struggle with weight loss and an aggressive appetite that makes losing weight a struggle. 

There are plenty of women out there whose BMI falls within the healthy/normal range but are unhappy and uncomfortable in their bodies. These women have tried everything from a diet and exercise standpoint and are still coming up empty. This is when a program like Willow can make a significant difference in their ability to lose weight and to actually obtain these medications to do so. 

If you are a woman with a BMI under 27 who would like to explore using a GLP-1 medication, Willow is going to be your best bet for getting approved.

What’s It Like Using Willow?

I went through the entire purchasing process to get a GLP-1 through Willow, but ultimately cancelled my prescription before it had a chance to process. So while I didn’t actually inject a compounded medication from one of Willow’s partner pharmacies, I did experience their process for getting started and can share that with you.

Almost all GLP-1 providers utilize a very similar onboarding process; you start with a quiz to determine eligibility, pay, and then wait for a doctor to review your information. If you qualify and the doctor approves you, your prescription is sent to the pharmacy to be filled and will then be sent to your door for use. If it’s determined, after doctor review, that you’re not a good fit for the medication, you will be refunded, and no prescriptions will be ordered. This is how Willow operates, although the percentage of people who are refunded and not given a prescription is a lot smaller than most companies due to its support of cosmetic weight loss. 

Willow has customers start with a very basic and simple quiz. The questions don’t go too in-depth, but they do lead you down a path. I would imagine that most people get to the end of Willow’s quiz and are sent to the next step which is where you choose your medication and enter your payment information since Willow doesn’t discriminate based on BMI alone (there are other factors that can disqualify you from being eligible for Willow, by the way). 

When I went through the quiz, I was qualified. The next step was to add my payment method and verify my ID. Then, my information would be sent to the doctor for final review and approval. Once I paid, I then had access to the backend where I could send a direct message to my doctor and track my order. 

I messaged with the doctor a bit about my goals and my reason for being there, and ultimately cancelled my order as I didn’t want to invest in the medication as someone who didn’t really have a weight loss goal. The doctor was more than happy to cancel my order and initiate a refund. I also joined Willow’s Facebook community, which was really helpful as hundreds of women post in there about their journey. If you’re considering Willow, I highly recommend joining their Facebook group and connecting with other women on a similar journey.

Willow Weight Loss Options

At the time of writing this, Willow has 3 GLP-1 medication options to choose from:

• Compounded semaglutide $299/month
• Compounded Tirzepatide $399/month
• Semaglutide Tablets $299/month

If I were going to go through with my order, I was going to go for the compounded Tirzepatide as it’s more effective than Semaglutide. While the tablets sound very appealing due to the fact that no needles or injections are required, I’ve read dozens of customer testimonials stating that they didn’t work very well for them. For most patients who start off on the tablets, it isn’t until they switch to the injections that they actually start to experience real appetite suppression and weight loss. 

Compounded Tirzepatide is the most expensive option, but it’s also the most effective. Willow will compound whichever medication you choose with something like B12, B6,  L-glutamine, etc. Your doctor will help you decide which compound is best for you based on your goals, symptoms, and preferences.

My Experience With Hers

Prior to exploring Hers for weight loss, I had actually used Hers in the past to get birth control, so I was already familiar with the platform and how it operates. In order to get a good feel for how they approach prescribing weight loss medications, I started their online quiz. Hers’ quiz was much more in-depth and personalized than Willow’s. It probably took me a good 10 minutes to work my way through the quiz, but I definitely felt supported and understood along the way.

I used all of my current weight information and ultimately was not approved for treatment at the end of the quiz. I anticipated this as my BMI is not above their qualifying number. I thought Hers’ intake process was really in-depth; they talked a lot about symptoms and side effects and whether I’d want a customized treatment plan to help support them. It seems as though Hers is really working the “customized” angle for their compounded medications, which is great.

Although I wasn’t approved for weight loss medications through Hers, I do think they would provide a good experience to those who do based on my previous experience obtaining birth control pills. When I was using Hers for a prescription contraceptive, the process was really smooth and easy, and shipping was fast and convenient. I didn’t have any complaints at all. 

Hers Weight Loss Medication Options

One cool thing about Hers is that they offer the real (name brand) medications in addition to the compounded versions. The name-brand medications are much more expensive than the compounded medications; however, they are highly effective if you have the budget. Hers includes access to: 

• Wegovy $1350/month
• Ozempic $1799/month
• Mounjaro $1899/month
• Zepbound $1899/month
• Generic Liraglutide $299/month

Hers also offers compounded semaglutide; however, I noticed that it was really hard to find them on their website. It seemed as if they were only promoting the medications directly from the manufacturer, not the compounded medications, although I’m sure it’s an option at the end of the quiz if you qualify. I did a little digging around and discovered that Hers starts their compounded semaglutide at $165/month (depending on the dosage and prescription plan). I didn’t see an option for compounded tirzepatide at this time.

Additionally, Hers has several oral medications that they offer for weight loss. I am not sure of the effectiveness of these medications and would advise you to speak with your doctor and do your research before opting for one of these:

• Bupropion
• Metformin
• Topiramate
• Vitamin B12
• Naltrexone

Closing Thoughts On This Comparison

When comparing these two popular women-focused weight loss medication providers, there are a number of differences between them, but the most important thing to know (in my opinion), is that Willow approves medication for cosmetic weight loss which means you have a much higher chance of getting approved if you’re someone who doesn’t have a ton of weight to lose. 

When it comes down to it, both Willow and Hers provide a very similar experience, which starts with a quiz and ends with either the medication being sent to your home address or with a denial. As far as the customer experience goes, both Willow and Hers have secure platforms that allow you to connect with a licensed doctor for questions and concerns. 

Medications from both providers are similarly priced, but Hers offers access to the name-brand medications, so if that’s the route you want to take, Hers will be your best bet between the two of these. If you’re looking for compounded tirzepatide, Willow is your best bet for that between the two.

I’m not sure if Hers has an online community, as I didn’t see one when I was going through the process, but Willow does, and I find it to be very helpful and informative. If I were to want to get a prescription for a GLP-1, I would definitely go with Willow, as I know they would approve me. Willow has less access to name-brand medications, but I wouldn’t want to spend that much on the prescription personally, so I would be fine with the compounded version. Neither Hers or Willow accepts insurance, so this would be an out-of-pocket expense.

Regardless of which option you choose, I think you’ll have a pretty similar experience, so it really just comes down to what type of medication you want (name brand, compounded, tablets, etc.) and whether or not you have a BMI that would qualify for typical prescription GLP-1 parameters.

Finally, I can’t close this article without mentioning that if you do decide to start a GLP-1, make sure you’re strength training and eating a diet high in protein so that you can maintain your muscle and set yourself up for a healthy, sustainable weight loss. If you need help with that, you can join my strength training app, Simply Strong, and we can make progress together!