Wegovy® vs Saxenda®
Wegovy (FDA-approved for chronic weight management) vs Saxenda (FDA-approved for chronic weight management) — semaglutide and liraglutide perform very differently in clinical trials.
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14.9%
Avg weight loss Wegovy*
From
$199/mo
Wegovy
June 2026
8%
Avg weight loss Saxenda*
From
$145/mo
Saxenda
June 2026
What are they?
Both are purpose-built for obesity treatment, but Wegovy uses semaglutide (weekly) while Saxenda uses liraglutide (daily) — and average outcomes differ by roughly 9 percentage points.
Wegovy
Weight ManagementFDA-approved specifically for chronic weight management in adults with obesity (BMI 30+) or overweight (BMI 27+) with at least one weight-related condition.
Maker
Novo Nordisk
Approved
2021
Format
Weekly injection or daily pill
Max dose
2.4 mg
Saxenda
Weight ManagementFDA-approved for chronic weight management since 2014. Uses liraglutide — a GLP-1 receptor agonist that requires daily injection. Generic liraglutide was approved in August 2025, reducing costs.
Maker
Novo Nordisk
Approved
2014
Format
Daily injection
Max dose
3 mg
Quick comparison
How they stack up on the metrics that matter most.
| Feature | Wegovy | Saxenda |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Semaglutide | Liraglutide |
| FDA approved for | Weight loss | Weight Management |
| Avg weight loss | 14.9%† | 8%† |
| Administration | Weekly injection or daily pill | Daily injection |
| Insurance | Limited | Moderate |
| Monthly Price | From $199/mo | From $145/mo |
Wegovy
Semaglutide
Saxenda
Liraglutide
Wegovy
Weight loss
Saxenda
Weight Management
Wegovy
14.9%†
Saxenda
8%†
Wegovy
Weekly injection or daily pill
Saxenda
Daily injection
Wegovy
Limited
Saxenda
Moderate
Wegovy
From $199/mo
Saxenda
From $145/mo
† Average weight loss data: Wegovy — STEP-1 (semaglutide 2.4 mg, 68 weeks); Saxenda — SCALE (liraglutide 3 mg, 56 weeks).
More energy,
less weight
How you ramp up
Both medications use a gradual dose escalation to minimize side effects.
Wegovy
- 1
0.25 mg
Weeks 1–4
- 2
0.5 mg
Weeks 5–8
- 3
1.0 mg
Weeks 9–12
- 4
1.7 mg
Weeks 13–16
- 5
2.4 mg
Weeks 17+
(Maintenance)
- 6
7.2 mg
Weeks 21+
(After 4+ wks at 2.4 mg)
Saxenda
- 1
0.6 mg
Week 1
(Daily)
- 2
1.2 mg
Week 2
(Daily)
- 3
1.8 mg
Week 3
(Daily)
- 4
2.4 mg
Week 4
(Daily)
- 5
3.0 mg
Week 5+
(Maintenance)
Start your weight‑loss
journey today
Weight loss compared
Clinical trial data showing average body weight reduction over 68 weeks.
Wegovy (2.4 mg)
Saxenda (3 mg)
† Average weight loss data: Wegovy — STEP-1 (semaglutide 2.4 mg, 68 weeks); Saxenda — SCALE (liraglutide 3 mg, 56 weeks).
What to expect
How they stack up on the metrics that matter most.
| Side Effect | Wegovy (2.4 mg) | Saxenda (3 mg) |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 44% | 39.3% |
| Diarrhea | 30% | 20.9% |
| Vomiting | 24% | 15.7% |
| Constipation | 24% | 19.4% |
| Headache | 14% | 13.6% |
| Fatigue | 11% | 7.5% |
Wegovy (2.4 mg)
44%
Saxenda (3 mg)
39.3%
Wegovy (2.4 mg)
30%
Saxenda (3 mg)
20.9%
Wegovy (2.4 mg)
24%
Saxenda (3 mg)
15.7%
Wegovy (2.4 mg)
24%
Saxenda (3 mg)
19.4%
Wegovy (2.4 mg)
14%
Saxenda (3 mg)
13.6%
Wegovy (2.4 mg)
11%
Saxenda (3 mg)
7.5%
Side effects may be more noticeable during dose escalation, but individual experiences vary and some risks can be serious. GLP-1 medications are not appropriate for everyone. Review important warnings, contraindications, and the FDA label or Medication Guide with a licensed healthcare provider before starting or switching treatment.
The bottom line
Branded GLP-1 medications can offer effective weight loss, requiring individualized risk-benefit clinical evaluation.
Two different GLP-1 options
- Wegovy delivers substantial weight loss, weekly convenience, appetite control, and cardiovascular risk reduction backed by robust obesity-focused clinical trial evidence and safety data.
- Saxenda supports steady weight loss, appetite reduction, flexible daily dosing, and long-standing clinical experience demonstrating effective, sustainable metabolic health improvements for many patients.
Providers may pay BestGLP1 a referral fee. We disclose this for FTC compliance; rankings remain editorial.
What you
need to know
Yes — in clinical trials, Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) produced an average weight loss of about 15% of body weight, while Saxenda (liraglutide 3.0 mg) produced about 8.0%. Wegovy’s weekly dosing and longer-acting molecule generally outperform daily liraglutide.
Saxenda has a longer FDA-approved track record for chronic weight management (since 2014) and now has a generic liraglutide version, which lowers the cost. Some patients also prefer or tolerate daily dosing, and insurance coverage for Saxenda can be broader in certain plans.
Yes, with guidance from your provider. Because the medications use different molecules, your provider will typically restart you at the lowest Wegovy dose (0.25 mg weekly) and titrate up to manage tolerability and side effects.
Generic liraglutide contains the identical active ingredient as Saxenda and is held to the same FDA bioequivalence standards, so efficacy is expected to match. The main differences are price and packaging — generic versions are noticeably cheaper as of August 2025.
Yes. Both Wegovy and Saxenda require a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. A consultation is required to assess whether treatment is appropriate for you.
- Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg). Trial: STEP 1 (1,961 participants, 68 weeks, adults with obesity/overweight without Type 2 Diabetes). Average weight loss: −14.9% vs −2.4% placebo. Wilding et al., NEJM 2021.
- Saxenda (liraglutide 3.0 mg). Trial: SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (3,731 participants, 56 weeks, adults with obesity/overweight without Type 2 Diabetes). Average weight loss: −8.0% vs −2.6% placebo. Pi-Sunyer et al., NEJM 2015.
BestGLP1 publishes these guides for informational and comparison purposes only. The information on this site is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and is not a substitute for guidance from a licensed healthcare professional. GLP-1 medications must be prescribed and monitored by a qualified provider; consult your provider to determine whether treatment is appropriate for your individual circumstances. Prices, side-effect rates, and clinical figures shown here are general references drawn from manufacturer labelling and published trials, and may not reflect your specific situation.
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Providers may pay BestGLP1 a referral fee. We disclose this for FTC compliance; rankings remain editorial.