Platform Comparison
OpenLoop vs Ola vs Beluga - deep analysis of pricing, margins, and operational differences to help Michael and Peter make the right decision.
Executive Summary
TL;DROpenLoop
Ola Digital Health
Beluga Health
Recommendation
The decision depends on what business you're building:
For "Malibu Mentality": If you want differentiated products (peptide stacks, longevity protocols), Ola is the only path — OpenLoop doesn't offer BPC-157, Rapamycin, TB-500. Get Beluga pricing too since ReadyRx proves the model. Talk to all three this week.
Upfront & Fixed Costs
One-time and recurring platform fees before patient revenue
| Cost Item | OpenLoop | Ola |
|---|---|---|
| Implementation | ||
| Setup Fee |
$6,000
$3K signing + $3K at first patient
|
$2,000
One-time (frontend + backend)
|
| LegitScript Certification |
Included
7-9 days turnaround
|
$700
One-time fee, 12-18 weeks typical
|
| Total Upfront | $6,000 | $2,700 |
| Monthly Recurring | ||
| Platform Fee |
$3,000/mo
Waived at >20 patients/month
|
$599/mo
Waived at >200 transactions/month
|
| Contract Term |
12 months
30-day termination notice
|
12 months
60-day termination notice
|
GLP-1 Medication Pricing
Semaglutide and Tirzepatide - the core revenue drivers
| Product | OpenLoop (All-In Patient Price) | Ola (Medication + Consult Cost) |
|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide Injection | ||
|
Semaglutide Injection
1mg/2.5ml vial, 4-week supply
|
$249/mo patient pays
You keep $124-140 (~50-56% margin)
|
$55-135 med + $25-45 consult
$80-180 cost, you set patient price
|
|
Semaglutide + B12
5mg/2.5ml vial
|
$349/mo patient pays
You keep $152-182 (~44-52% margin)
|
$70-130 med + $25-45 consult
$95-175 cost, you set patient price
|
| Tirzepatide Injection | ||
|
Tirzepatide Injection
Various doses, 4-week supply
|
$339/mo patient pays
You keep $138-196 (~41-58% margin)
|
$50-185 med + $25-45 consult
$75-230 cost, you set patient price
|
|
Tirzepatide + B12
Higher doses
|
$449-549/mo patient pays
You keep $180-250+
|
$90-185 med + $25-45 consult
$115-230 cost, you set patient price
|
| Oral GLP-1 (ODT/Sublingual) | ||
|
Semaglutide ODT
30 tablets, various doses
|
$299-349/mo
SubMagna sublingual available
|
$85-115 med + $25-45 consult
$110-160 cost, you set patient price
|
|
Tirzepatide ODT
30 tablets, various doses
|
$349-449/mo
Depends on dosage
|
$90-140 med + $25-45 consult
$115-185 cost, you set patient price
|
P&L Breakdown at Scale
Monthly profit comparison at different patient volumes - GLP-1 Semaglutide focus
Quick Comparison: Net Monthly Profit by Patient Count
| Scale | OpenLoop @ $249 | Ola @ $249 | Ola @ $299 | Winner @ $249 | Winner @ $299 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 patients | $13,000 | $8,100 | $13,100 | OpenLoop +$4.9K | Tie |
| 250 patients | $32,500 | $22,250 | $34,750 | OpenLoop +$10K | Ola +$2.3K |
| 500 patients | $65,000 | $48,500 | $73,500 | OpenLoop +$16K | Ola +$8.5K |
| 1,000 patients | $130,000 | $101,000 | $151,000 | OpenLoop +$29K | Ola +$21K |
| 2,500 patients | $325,000 | $262,500 | $387,500 | OpenLoop +$62K | Ola +$62K |
* Ola figures include estimated support costs. OpenLoop includes white-label CX.
OpenLoop P&L
Fixed price @ $249/patient. You get $130/patient margin.
| Scale | 100 pts | 500 pts | 1,000 pts |
| Revenue | $24,900 | $124,500 | $249,000 |
| Your Margin ($130/pt) | $13,000 | $65,000 | $130,000 |
| Platform Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Support Cost | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Labs | Included | Included | Included |
| NET PROFIT | $13,000 | $65,000 | $130,000 |
| Margin % | 52% | 52% | 52% |
Key: Simple, predictable. $130/patient scales linearly with zero additional ops cost.
Ola P&L
You set price. Cost: ~$128/pt (med $95 + consult $25 + labs $8).
| Scale (@ $299 price) | 100 pts | 500 pts | 1,000 pts |
| Revenue | $29,900 | $149,500 | $299,000 |
| Medication ($95/pt) | -$9,500 | -$47,500 | -$95,000 |
| Consults ($25/pt) | -$2,500 | -$12,500 | -$25,000 |
| Labs ($8/pt amortized) | -$800 | -$4,000 | -$8,000 |
| Platform Fee | -$599 | $0 | $0 |
| Support (est.) | -$3,400 | -$12,000 | -$20,000 |
| NET PROFIT | $13,101 | $73,500 | $151,000 |
| Margin % | 44% | 49% | 50% |
Key: Higher ceiling with premium pricing. At $299, beats OpenLoop above ~200 patients.
Tirzepatide: Where Ola Wins Big
At higher price points (Tirzepatide @ $399/mo), Ola's economics become much more attractive:
| 1,000 Tirzepatide patients @ $399 | OpenLoop | Ola | Delta |
| Revenue | $399,000 | $399,000 | - |
| Your Margin (est ~42%) | $167,000 | - | - |
| Costs (med $140 + consult + labs + support) | - | -$193,000 | - |
| NET PROFIT | $167,000 | $206,000 | Ola +$39K/mo |
Key Insight: At commodity pricing ($249), OpenLoop wins at all scales due to included support. But at premium pricing ($299+), Ola catches up around 200 patients and pulls ahead. For Tirzepatide ($399), Ola wins by ~$39K/mo at 1,000 patients. The question isn't which is cheaper - it's what price you can command.
The Hidden Opportunity: High-Margin Specialty Products
GLP-1 is a commodity war (40-55% margins). The real money is in specialty peptides and supplements.
| Product | Your Cost (Ola) | Market Price | Margin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methylene Blue | $1.65/capsule | $49-99/mo | 97-98% | Cognitive enhancement, mitochondrial support |
| BPC-157 (oral) | $2.10/capsule | $79-149/mo | 97-99% | Gut healing, recovery - OpenLoop doesn't offer |
| NAD+ (troche) | $2.25/troche | $99-199/mo | 98-99% | Anti-aging, energy - needle-free option |
| Sermorelin (troche) | $1.50/troche | $149-299/mo | 99% | GH peptide - needle-free alternative |
| Rapamycin | $2.85/capsule | $99-199/mo | 97-99% | Longevity compound - OpenLoop doesn't offer |
| Tesofensine | $1.25/capsule | $79-149/mo | 98-99% | Weight loss alternative to GLP-1 |
| Sildenafil | $1.20/tablet | $49-99/mo | 98-99% | ED medication - high volume potential |
| Tadalafil | $1.20/tablet | $49-99/mo | 98-99% | Daily ED option |
| Finasteride | $0.55/tablet | $29-59/mo | 98-99% | Hair loss - sticky recurring revenue |
| PT-141 | $1.00/troche | $49-99/mo | 98-99% | Sexual wellness - premium positioning |
| Glutathione (troche) | $1.30/troche | $49-99/mo | 97-99% | Detox, skin health, anti-aging |
| Low-Dose Naltrexone | $0.95/capsule | $49-99/mo | 98-99% | Immune modulation, inflammation |
| GLP-1 Comparison (Semaglutide) | $249-299/mo | 40-55% | Commodity pricing, race to bottom | |
The "Malibu Mentality" Play
Instead of competing on GLP-1 price, position as a premium longevity and optimization brand. Offer curated stacks:
- Cognitive Stack: NAD+ + Methylene Blue + Semax
- Recovery Stack: BPC-157 + TB-500 + Glutathione
- Longevity Stack: Rapamycin + NAD+ + Metformin
- Vitality Stack: Testosterone + Sermorelin + DHEA
Revenue Math at 500 Patients
Pure GLP-1 (OpenLoop approach):
500 pts × $130 margin = $65K/mo
Diversified Longevity Brand (Ola):
- 200 GLP-1 pts × $120 = $24K
- 100 NAD+ pts × $95 = $9.5K
- 80 Hair pts × $25 = $2K
- 60 BPC-157 pts × $75 = $4.5K
- 40 Sermorelin pts × $145 = $5.8K
- 20 ED pts × $45 = $0.9K
Total: ~$47K/mo (fewer patients, more defensible, better LTV)
Bottom Line: If "Malibu Mentality" = premium optimization brand (not discount GLP-1), then Ola's catalog is the only path. OpenLoop is optimized for GLP-1 volume. Ola lets you build a differentiated longevity business with 97%+ margins on specialty products that OpenLoop doesn't even offer.
Peptide & Specialty Pricing
NAD+, Sermorelin, BPC-157, and other longevity peptides
| Product | OpenLoop | Ola (Your Cost) |
|---|---|---|
|
NAD+ Injection
200mg/ml, 5ml vial
|
$299/mo patient
You keep ~$80
|
$65 med + $60 consult + $23 lab
$148 cost → price at $225-299
|
|
Sermorelin
15mg lyophilized kit
|
$349/mo patient
You keep ~$80
|
$72-115 med + $60 consult + $74 lab
$206-249 cost → price at $299-350
|
|
BPC-157
Capsules, 500mcg
|
$299/mo patient
You keep ~$90
|
$2.10/cap + $60 consult + $65 lab
~$188/mo cost → price at $299-350
|
|
Glutathione Injectable
200mg/ml
|
$199/mo patient
You keep ~$103
|
$36-65 med + $60 consult
$96-125 cost → price at $199
|
|
TB-500
15mg lyophilized
|
Contact for pricing
Available via network
|
$165 med + $60-80 consult
$225-245 cost → price at $350+
|
TRT & HRT Pricing
Hormone replacement therapy (controlled substances)
| Product | OpenLoop | Ola (Your Cost) |
|---|---|---|
|
Testosterone Cypionate
200mg/ml, 10ml vial (3-month supply)
|
$199-249/mo patient
Includes labs (CMP, lipid, testosterone)
|
$40 med + $65 consult + $165 labs
~$90/mo cost (labs amortized over 3mo)
|
|
Female HRT (BiEst)
Cream or capsule, various doses
|
$149-199/mo patient
Includes labs
|
$25-33 med + $65 consult + $164 labs
~$90/mo cost (labs amortized)
|
Decision Matrix
Pros and cons at a glance
OpenLoop
- + 24/7 white-label CX - They answer as "Malibu Pharms", handle all pharmacy issues, broken vials, lost shipments
- + LegitScript in 7-9 days - vs 12-18 weeks typical
- + Labs included for GLP-1 patients - significant cost savings
- + Proven scale - 585K GLP-1 patients/month, ~30 pharmacies
- + Supply chain confidence - Won't launch until guaranteed supply
- + Payment: Stripe YOU own - Weekly remittance + QuickBooks ledger
- - Higher upfront - $6K vs $2K implementation
- - Less pricing control - Fixed patient prices in most categories
- - Can't brand vial - Regulatory restriction (box only)
Ola Digital Health
- + Lower upfront cost - $2,700 total to start
- + Full pricing control - Set your own patient prices
- + Lower platform fee - $599/mo vs $3K/mo (both waived at scale)
- + Faster to "live" - 21-25 days for frontend + backend
- + Lower medication costs at scale - Better margins if you can manage ops
- - You handle Tier 1 support - Need to staff or outsource
- - LegitScript separate - $700 + 12-18 weeks timeline
- - Labs not included - Add $23-165 per patient depending on service
- - 60-day termination notice - Longer commitment
Lab Pricing (Ola/RxAve)
Key lab panels you'll need to factor into Ola pricing. OpenLoop includes these for GLP-1 patients.
Product Catalog Comparison
What each platform actually offers - OpenLoop is curated, Ola is comprehensive
| Category | OpenLoop | Ola / RxAve |
|---|---|---|
| GLP-1 Weight Loss | ||
| Semaglutide |
Injection ($249/mo) Oral ODT ($279/mo) + B12 combos Microdosing ($179/mo) |
Injection ($55-130) ODT ($85-115) + B12/Glycine combos |
| Tirzepatide |
Injection ($339/mo) Oral ODT ($339/mo) + B12 combos Microdosing ($179/mo) |
Injection ($50-185) ODT ($90-140) + B12/Cyanocobalamin |
| Other Weight Loss | Not offered |
Metformin Phentermine Topiramate Tesofensine Alpha Lipoic Acid |
| Peptides & Longevity | ||
| NAD+ |
Injection ($229/mo) Nasal Oral dropper |
Injection ($65) Pre-mixed kit ($140) Nasal spray ($45) Troche ($2.25/ea) |
| Sermorelin | Injection ($229/mo) |
Injection ($72) Lyophilized kit ($115-165) Troche ($1.50/ea) RDT ($3.65/ea) |
| BPC-157 | Not in proposal |
Capsule ($2.10/ea) Injectable ($50) BPC/KPV combo ($4/ea) |
| TB-500 | Not in proposal |
Lyophilized kit ($165) Nasal spray ($185) |
| Glutathione | Not in proposal |
Injectable ($36-65) Troche ($1.30/ea) |
| SS-31 (Elamipretide) | Available (ask for pricing) |
Injectable ($450) + Levocarnitine ($325) |
| Other Peptides | B12 MIC ($145/mo) |
GHK-Cu ($60-200) PT-141 ($1-2/troche) Semax/Selank ($65-120) Thymosin Alpha ($185) 5-Amino-1MQ ($2.75/ea) Methylene Blue ($1.65/ea) IGF LR3 ($170) Tesamorelin ($70) AOD-9604 ($4.80/ea) VIP ($90-130) + 20 more |
| Hormone Replacement | ||
| Male TRT |
Testosterone Cypionate ($119-169/mo) Cream/Oral options Enclomiphene ($139-189/mo) Gonadorelin add-on ($35/mo) Anastrozole included Labs included, 35 states
|
Testosterone Cypionate ($25-55) Cream ($26) Troche ($0.84-1.20/ea) Enclomiphene ($1.50-2.50/ea) Anastrozole ($0.72-1.20/ea) Nandrolone ($36) Oxandrolone ($2.70-3.90/ea) |
| Female HRT |
Estradiol pill ($66/mo) Estradiol patch/cream ($89/mo) + Progesterone Non-hormonal ($59/mo) Testosterone for women ($169-199/mo) |
BiEst all ratios ($25/cream, $0.72/cap) Estradiol ($26 cream) Progesterone DHEA ($0.95-1.20/ea) Testosterone cream ($26) Armour Thyroid ($1.20-1.80/ea) |
| Sexual Health | ||
| ED Medications |
Sildenafil combos ($70-156) Tadalafil combos ($96-156) Triple/Quadruple powered Single-dose vials ($99-119) Daily Tadalafil ($112) |
Sildenafil ($0.50-2/ea) Tadalafil ($0.60-3/ea) Vardenafil Oxytocin combos PT-141 troches |
| Hair Loss | ||
| Treatments |
Topical combos ($75-85/mo) Oral combos ($65/mo) Finasteride/Minoxidil/Tretinoin Dutasteride options Biotin supplement ($35/mo) |
Finasteride ($0.55-1.20/ea) Minoxidil ($0.36/ea, $42 foam) Dutasteride Tretinoin ($30) Combos with GHK-Cu |
| Specialty / Other | ||
| Unique Offerings |
Care Coaching add-on Alcohol reduction protocols Smoking cessation Sleep support combos |
Rapamycin/Sirolimus Low-Dose Naltrexone Ketamine Ivermectin Full dermatology line Vitamin D3 |
Key Insight: OpenLoop has a curated, turnkey menu with built-in patient journeys and fixed pricing. Ola/RxAve has a massive catalog (200+ SKUs) with component pricing, giving you flexibility to build custom protocols. If you want to offer specialty peptides like BPC-157, TB-500, or Rapamycin, Ola is your only option. If you want simplicity and proven weight loss protocols, OpenLoop is easier.
Market Pricing Landscape
What competitors are charging patients - use this to calibrate your pricing strategy
| Competitor | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Competitors (Telehealth / Cash-Pay) | |||
| ReadyRx |
$299/mo
$249/mo if 3-month prepay
|
$399/mo
No multi-month discount
|
No membership fee. 5% weight loss guarantee (28 weeks). Not available in AR, KS, KY, LA, MS, NM, SC (+ CA, NC for Tirz)
|
| Henry Meds |
$197-397/mo
Varies by dose
|
$249-349/mo
Oral tablets available
|
All-in pricing (no extra fees). +$100 for dose increases. Under Lilly lawsuit.
|
| Hims & Hers |
$199/mo
6-12 month prepay required
|
Not offered
Semaglutide only
|
$99/mo for military, veterans, teachers, nurses, first responders. Wegovy partnership with Novo Nordisk.
|
| Ro |
$149-299/mo
Body program tiers
|
$399+/mo
Premium tier
|
Vertically integrated. Own pharmacy. Weight loss coaches included.
|
| Brand-Name (Insurance or Cash) | |||
| Ozempic/Wegovy |
$900-1,300/mo
Without insurance
|
- |
Novo Nordisk. Manufacturer savings programs available.
|
| Mounjaro/Zepbound | - |
$1,000-1,200/mo
Without insurance
|
Eli Lilly. Suing compounders aggressively.
|
Pricing Strategy Insight: Most competitors cluster at $249-299 for semaglutide. Premium positioning ("Malibu Mentality") could justify $299-349 if you deliver superior experience. At $349, you'd be at the high end but still 70% below brand-name. That's the sweet spot for premium + accessible.
Critical Questions to Ask
Before signing with either platform, get clarity on these deal-breaker questions.
Questions for OpenLoop
Pricing & Margins
- What's the EXACT margin split per product? (Not ranges - specific numbers)
- How do multi-week discounts (12/24/52 weeks) affect our margin?
- Are there volume-based margin improvements at 500, 1000, 5000 patients?
- What happens to pricing if medication costs change? Do we absorb or pass through?
Operations
- What's the SLA for prescription fulfillment? (24hr? 48hr?)
- What happens if a pharmacy runs out of stock? Auto-routing to backup?
- Can we see the Telescope patient portal demo before signing?
- What patient data do we own vs. what stays with OpenLoop?
Compliance & Risk
- How are you handling the Eli Lilly lawsuits against compounders?
- What happens to our patients if your pharmacy partner gets shut down?
- Do you have D&O / E&O insurance that covers us as a client?
- What's the exit clause if FDA changes compounding regulations?
Growth
- Can we add peptides (NAD+, Sermorelin) later? Same terms?
- What's the process to add new product categories?
- Do you have brand guidelines or can we fully customize patient-facing materials?
Questions for Ola
Pricing & Margins
- Can we negotiate lower medication costs at volume commitments?
- Are there preferred pharmacy partners with better pricing than the rate card?
- What's the consult cost for follow-ups vs. initial visits?
- Can we do async-only to keep consult costs at $25 for maintenance patients?
Operations
- Is the Tier 1 support requirement negotiable? Can we outsource to a partner you approve?
- What's your average ticket volume per 100 patients? (So we can staff appropriately)
- Can we integrate our own CRM/support tools, or must we use yours?
- What's the handoff process when a ticket escalates to Tier 2 (your team)?
LegitScript & Compliance
- The 12-18 week LegitScript timeline - can you expedite? What's needed from us?
- Do you have a compliance officer we can work with on marketing copy?
- What claims can/can't we make on our website and ads?
Technical
- API access - can we build custom patient experiences on top of your platform?
- White-label depth - can we fully customize the patient portal UI?
- What analytics/reporting do we get access to?
- Can we do A/B testing on patient flows?
Third Option: Beluga Health
The platform behind ReadyRx. Worth a call to compare pricing and capabilities.
Company Profile
| Founded | 2019, Dover DE |
| Team Size | ~34 employees |
| Founders | Dr. Jonah Mink (physician/CEO) + Jacob Mink (engineer/CTO) |
| Coverage | All 50 states |
| Compliance | HIPAA, SOC 2, ISO 27001, LegitScript |
| Pricing | Not public - requires demo call |
What They Provide
- Nationwide board-certified physician network
- White-label eCommerce platform
- Pharmacy/fulfillment partnerships
- Labs & imaging integrations
- Complete regulatory/compliance framework
- Flexible APIs for custom integrations
Their pitch: "Start selling in days, not months" at "a fraction of the price"
Known Clients Using Beluga
Why consider Beluga: ReadyRx is successfully operating on Beluga at $299 semaglutide / $399 tirzepatide pricing with 5% weight loss guarantees. If they can achieve that margin structure, it's worth understanding Beluga's economics. Schedule a demo to compare against OpenLoop and Ola.
Platform Client Intelligence
Who's using each platform - verified via consent pages, press releases, and API endpoints.
OpenLoop Clients
Pattern: Established DTC brands, diverse categories (CGM, alcohol, mental health, weight loss)
Ola Clients
Pattern: Newer brands, focused on men's/women's health, TRT/HRT/ED - exactly your space
Beluga Clients
Pattern: ReadyRx is direct competitor at scale. Most similar to Malibu Pharms vision.
Intel Insight: OpenLoop powers established brands across diverse categories. Ola powers newer brands in exactly your space (TRT/HRT/weight loss). Beluga powers ReadyRx, your most direct competitor. Worth understanding what makes ReadyRx successful on Beluga before making a decision.
Next Steps
OpenLoop Action Items
- PRIORITY: Get Telescope demo (patient portal)
- PRIORITY: Request final pricing proposal with exact margins per SKU
- Confirm SS31 availability and pricing
- Ask about multi-week discount structures (12/24/52 weeks)
- Review contract for termination clauses and liability coverage
- Get references from 2-3 existing clients at similar scale
Ola Action Items
- PRIORITY: Schedule demo call (if not done)
- PRIORITY: Get final pricing on GLP-1 and peptides
- Clarify: Is Tier 1 support requirement negotiable?
- Ask about LegitScript timeline with their assistance
- Get pharmacy network details (how many states, shipping times)
- Request API documentation for custom integrations
Beluga Action Items
- PRIORITY: Schedule demo via belugahealth.com
- Get pricing structure and fee breakdown
- Ask about ReadyRx's setup - what they're using
- Clarify: Do they handle CX or do you?
- Ask about product catalog - GLP-1, peptides, etc.
- Timeline to launch and LegitScript process