Jardiance vs Ozempic comes down to a daily pill vs a weekly shot that work in different ways. Jardiance (empagliflozin) is an SGLT2 inhibitor pill that makes your kidneys flush extra sugar out in your urine. Ozempic (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 shot that helps your body release insulin, slows your stomach and cuts appetite.
In the trials that come closest to a head-to-head, semaglutide lowered A1C more and led to somewhat more weight loss. Jardiance has FDA-approved uses for heart failure and chronic kidney disease, even without diabetes. The two can also be used together.
The RX Index is the independent GLP-1 decision resource that scores telehealth providers and treatment paths on clinical legitimacy, care quality, transparency, access, and cost, so readers can choose the path that fits their situation.
Jardiance vs Ozempic at a glance
| Jardiance (empagliflozin) | Ozempic (semaglutide) | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug type | SGLT2 inhibitor | GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| How you take it | Pill, once a day in the morning | Shot, once a week |
| Label dose | 10 mg, up to 25 mg | 0.25 mg to start, up to 2 mg |
| Type 2 diabetes, adults | Yes | Yes |
| Type 2 diabetes, kids | Yes, age 10 and older | No, not established in children |
| Heart failure (with or without diabetes) | Yes | No |
| Chronic kidney disease | Yes, adults at risk of progression | Yes, adults with type 2 diabetes |
| Heart protection in type 2 diabetes with heart disease | Lowers risk of cardiovascular death | Lowers risk of major heart events |
| FDA-approved for weight loss | No | No |
| Most common side effects | Urinary tract infections, genital yeast infections | Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation |
| Medicare negotiated price, 30 days | $197, since January 1, 2026 | $274, starting January 1, 2027 |
Sources for every row are in the sections below.
Which one fits depends on your A1C, your heart and kidney health, your weight goals and what your plan covers. If you're trying to sort out GLP-1 options, The RX Index's Find My GLP-1 Path tool is free, takes about 2 minutes and needs no signup.
Does Ozempic or Jardiance lower A1C more?
Semaglutide did, in both trials that compared it with an SGLT2 pill. No trial has tested Ozempic shots against Jardiance directly, so here are the two closest:
| Trial | Who was in it | Semaglutide | SGLT2 pill | A1C drop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIONEER 2 (52 weeks) | 822 adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | Oral semaglutide 14 mg daily | Empagliflozin (Jardiance) 25 mg daily | 1.3 vs 0.9 points at week 26 |
| SUSTAIN 8 (52 weeks) | 788 adults with type 2 diabetes on metformin | Semaglutide 1 mg weekly shot (an Ozempic dose) | Canagliflozin (Invokana) 300 mg daily | Semaglutide about 0.5 points more |
What this means for you:
- PIONEER 2 used Jardiance itself, but semaglutide as a pill. The 14 mg tablet was Rybelsus, which FDA says is being replaced by Ozempic tablets.
- SUSTAIN 8 used an Ozempic dose, but a different SGLT2 pill. Canagliflozin works the same way as Jardiance, but it's a different drug.
Which causes more weight loss, Jardiance or Ozempic?
Semaglutide led to a bit more weight loss in these trials, but the gap was smaller than many people expect:
- PIONEER 2: Weight loss wasn't significantly better with oral semaglutide at 26 weeks. By week 52, people who stayed on treatment lost 4.7 kg (about 10.4 lb) on oral semaglutide vs 3.8 kg (about 8.4 lb) on Jardiance's drug.
- SUSTAIN 8: People on the semaglutide shot lost about 1.1 kg (about 2.3 lb) more than people on canagliflozin.
Neither Jardiance nor Ozempic is FDA-approved for weight loss. If weight loss is your main goal, our Ozempic vs Wegovy comparison covers the semaglutide brand that is approved for it, and our metformin vs GLP-1 guide covers another common first step.
Compare GLP-1 options for weight loss
Heart and kidney: where Jardiance stands out
Both drugs have FDA-approved heart and kidney uses, but Jardiance covers more people. Its label includes adults with heart failure and adults with chronic kidney disease, whether or not they have diabetes. Ozempic's heart and kidney uses are only for adults who also have type 2 diabetes.
| FDA-approved use | Jardiance | Ozempic |
|---|---|---|
| Lower risk of cardiovascular death and heart-failure hospital stays in adults with heart failure | Yes | No |
| Lower risk of kidney decline, kidney failure, cardiovascular death and hospitalization in adults with chronic kidney disease | Yes | No (only with type 2 diabetes, below) |
| Lower risk of kidney decline, kidney failure and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease | Covered by its broader kidney use | Yes |
| Lower risk of cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease | Yes | Ozempic lowers risk of major heart events (heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular death) |
Farxiga (dapagliflozin), another SGLT2 pill, has similar heart-failure and kidney uses on its label. See our GLP-1 and kidney disease guide and GLP-1 FDA indications chart for more.
Can you take Jardiance and Ozempic together?
Yes, they can be used together, and the combination has been studied. In SUSTAIN 9, adults with type 2 diabetes already on an SGLT2 pill added either semaglutide 1 mg weekly or a placebo for 30 weeks. Semaglutide lowered A1C by 1.42 points more than placebo and body weight by 3.81 kg (about 8.4 lb) more. Stomach side effects were more common with semaglutide (37.3% vs 13.2%).
Whether that's right for you is your prescriber's call. Your plan may also have its own rules for covering two diabetes drugs.
Jardiance vs Ozempic side effects
They cause different kinds of side effects:
- Jardiance: The most common are urinary tract infections and genital yeast infections. Its label also warns about ketoacidosis (a dangerous buildup of acids in the blood), dehydration, serious urinary infections, and a rare but serious infection of the genital area called Fournier's gangrene. Your doctor should check your kidney function before you start. The label says to stop it at least 3 days before surgery or long fasting, if possible.
- Ozempic: Nausea is the most common. In Ozempic's diabetes trials, 15.8% had nausea on 0.5 mg and 20.3% on 1 mg, vs 6.1% on placebo. In SUSTAIN 8, 10% stopped semaglutide because of side effects vs 5% for canagliflozin.
Ozempic has a boxed warning, the FDA's most serious kind: in rodents, semaglutide caused thyroid C-cell tumors, and it isn't known if that happens in people. Do not use Ozempic if you or a family member has had medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Its label also warns about pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, kidney injury from dehydration, and diabetic eye disease complications.
Both can cause low blood sugar when used with insulin or a sulfonylurea. Get medical help right away for severe belly pain, signs of an allergic reaction, or fever with pain or swelling in the genital area.
Jardiance vs Ozempic cost
Your cost depends mostly on your coverage. Here's what we could verify:
| Price | Jardiance | Ozempic |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare negotiated price, 30-day supply | $197, effective January 1, 2026 | $274, effective January 1, 2027 |
| List price CMS used | $573 for 30 days (2023) | $959 for 30 days (2024) |
| Current Novo list price | Not checked | $1,027.51 per pen (28 days) |
| Commercial savings card | Not checked | As little as $25 a month, up to $100 off a month, for up to 48 months, if your plan covers Ozempic |
| Manufacturer cash price | Not checked | $349 a month (0.25 to 1 mg) or $499 (2 mg); new patients pay $199 for 2 fills of 0.25 or 0.5 mg through December 31, 2026 |
A Medicare negotiated price is what Medicare and your Part D plan pay for the drug, not your copay. What you pay still depends on your plan's deductible and copay rules. Novo Nordisk says most Medicare Part D plans cover Ozempic, but people with Medicare can't use the $25 savings card.
For more, see does Medicare cover Ozempic, does insurance cover Ozempic and our Ozempic savings card guide.
Which should you ask your doctor about?
Here's how the choice tends to break down. Your doctor decides what's right for you.
| If this sounds like you | What to ask about |
|---|---|
| You need a bigger A1C drop | Semaglutide lowered A1C more in both comparison trials |
| You have heart failure or chronic kidney disease | Jardiance has FDA-approved uses for both, with or without diabetes |
| Weight loss matters to you | Semaglutide led to more weight loss in the trials, but Ozempic isn't approved for weight loss |
| You'd rather take a pill | Jardiance is a daily pill; Ozempic also comes as a daily tablet now. Our best GLP-1 pill for diabetes guide compares them |
| You get frequent urinary or yeast infections | Ask whether an SGLT2 pill is a good fit |
| You've had pancreatitis, or MTC or MEN 2 runs in your family | Ask whether a GLP-1 is safe for you |
| You're already on one and A1C is still high | Ask about adding the other, as in SUSTAIN 9 |
If you're also weighing other diabetes options, see our Victoza vs Ozempic comparison.
Find the GLP-1 path that fits you
What we actually verified
- Read the Jardiance (January 2026) and Farxiga (June 2026) labels on DailyMed, and the Ozempic prescribing information (revised May 2026), for uses, doses, warnings and side effects.
- Read the PIONEER 2, SUSTAIN 8 and SUSTAIN 9 trial abstracts on PubMed.
- Checked CMS's negotiated Medicare prices for 2026 and 2027.
- Opened Novo Nordisk's Ozempic list price and savings pages.
- Did the kilogram-to-pound math ourselves.
All checks were done on November 2, 2026. What we did not do: check Jardiance's current list price or savings card, get quotes from insurers or pharmacies, or check generic SGLT2 pill prices. Confirm costs with your plan or pharmacy before you fill.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jardiance the same as Ozempic?
No. Jardiance is an SGLT2 inhibitor pill taken once a day. Ozempic is a GLP-1 shot taken once a week. Both treat type 2 diabetes, but they work in different ways and have different side effects.
Is Ozempic stronger than Jardiance?
For lowering A1C, semaglutide did better in the trials that compared it with an SGLT2 pill. In PIONEER 2, oral semaglutide lowered A1C by 1.3 points vs 0.9 for Jardiance's drug at 26 weeks. Jardiance has heart-failure and kidney uses that Ozempic doesn't.
Do you lose more weight on Jardiance or Ozempic?
Semaglutide led to somewhat more weight loss. In PIONEER 2, people who stayed on treatment lost 4.7 kg (about 10.4 lb) on oral semaglutide vs 3.8 kg (about 8.4 lb) on Jardiance's drug at 52 weeks. Neither drug is FDA-approved for weight loss.
Can you take Jardiance and Ozempic together?
Yes, if your doctor prescribes both. In the SUSTAIN 9 trial, adding weekly semaglutide to an SGLT2 pill lowered A1C by 1.42 points more than placebo over 30 weeks.
Is Farxiga similar to Jardiance?
Yes. Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is also an SGLT2 inhibitor pill with heart-failure and kidney uses. Its 2026 Medicare negotiated price is $178.50 for 30 days, vs $197 for Jardiance.
How much does Jardiance cost with Medicare?
Medicare's negotiated price for Jardiance is $197 for a 30-day supply, starting January 1, 2026. Your copay depends on your Part D plan. Ozempic's negotiated price of $274 starts January 1, 2027.
Still not sure which GLP-1 path fits you? Take The RX Index's free Find My GLP-1 Path quiz — about 2 minutes, no signup.
Sources
- Jardiance (empagliflozin) label, DailyMed (Boehringer Ingelheim, January 2026; checked November 2, 2026)
- Farxiga (dapagliflozin) label, DailyMed (AstraZeneca, June 2026; checked November 2, 2026)
- Ozempic prescribing information (Novo Nordisk, revised May 2026; checked November 2, 2026)
- PIONEER 2: oral semaglutide vs empagliflozin, Diabetes Care, 2019 (PubMed) (checked November 2, 2026)
- SUSTAIN 8: semaglutide vs canagliflozin, Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2019 (PubMed) (checked November 2, 2026)
- SUSTAIN 9: semaglutide added to SGLT2 inhibitors, 2019 (PubMed) (checked November 2, 2026)
- CMS: negotiated prices for 2026 (checked November 2, 2026)
- CMS: negotiated prices for 2027 (PDF) (checked November 2, 2026)
- FDA drug shortage data: semaglutide (checked November 2, 2026)
- Novo Nordisk: Ozempic pricing (list price) (checked November 2, 2026)
- Ozempic: savings and self-pay offers (checked November 2, 2026)