Three names, two categories
Sermorelin, ipamorelin, and CJC-1295 get compared constantly, usually as if they were three versions of the same thing. They are not. All three are growth-hormone secretagogues, meaning they nudge your own body to release more growth hormone rather than adding hormone from outside. But they split into two different families, and once you see that split the rest of the comparison gets a lot simpler.
The key division is GHRH analogs versus a GHRP. Sermorelin and CJC-1295 are GHRH analogs. Ipamorelin is a GHRP. They pull on different levers, which is exactly why people often run one from each group together instead of picking a single winner. This is a research-use comparison only, not medical advice or dosing guidance.
What each class actually does
GHRH analogs mimic growth-hormone-releasing hormone, the signal that tells your pituitary to keep producing and releasing growth hormone. Sermorelin is the shorter-acting member of this group, so its signal is brief and works close to your natural rhythm. CJC-1295 is built to be longer-acting than sermorelin, so the same kind of baseline-raising signal lingers rather than fading quickly. We are describing duration qualitatively on purpose here, because half-life numbers vary by source and formulation and we will not invent them.
Ipamorelin sits in the other family. It is a GHRP, a growth-hormone-releasing peptide, and it works through a separate receptor to trigger a pulse of growth hormone. Ipamorelin is known for being selective, which in plain terms means it tends to push the growth-hormone lever without spilling much onto other hormones the way some older GHRPs did. So instead of raising the floor, it creates a clean burst.
- Sermorelin (GHRH analog): shorter-acting, raises baseline GH, stays close to natural patterns.
- CJC-1295 (GHRH analog): longer-acting than sermorelin, same baseline-raising idea with a more sustained signal.
- Ipamorelin (GHRP): selective, triggers a clean GH pulse through a different receptor.
Specific dosing, timing, and protocols are outside the scope of this page. Treat everything here as background for research, not instructions.
Head to head
Here is the comparison on the axes that actually separate these three: class, mechanism, how long the signal lasts described in plain terms, and the best price per mg we currently see in our vendor data.
| Peptide | Class | Mechanism | Duration | Best $/mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sermorelin | GHRH analog | Raises baseline GH | Shorter-acting | $7.5/mg (Onyx Biolabs) |
| CJC-1295 | GHRH analog | Raises baseline GH | Longer-acting than sermorelin | $7.0/mg (Midwest Peptide) |
| Ipamorelin | GHRP | Triggers a clean GH pulse | Pulse-style signal | $4.4/mg (EZ Peptides) |
Purity matters as much as price when you are comparing vendors. Top reported purity in our data runs high across all three, with CJC-1295 leading at 99.977 percent, ipamorelin at 99.938 percent, and sermorelin at 99.68 percent. You can dig into the third-party numbers on the lab data page rather than taking any single vendor's word for it.
Which to pick, and why people pair them
If you are choosing a single compound to research, the question is really which lever you care about. Sermorelin keeps the signal short and close to natural patterns. CJC-1295 gives the same baseline-raising effect but in a longer-acting form. Ipamorelin is the odd one out because it does not raise the baseline at all, it fires a pulse.
That difference is exactly why so many people do not pick just one. A GHRH analog and a GHRP act through separate receptors, so pairing one from each family targets both the baseline and the pulse at once. The most common version of this is CJC-1295 with ipamorelin, which is why those two get bundled so often. We break that combination down in our CJC-1295 and ipamorelin stack guide.
Price and value
Per milligram, ipamorelin is the cheapest of the three at $4.4/mg from EZ Peptides ($44 for 10mg). CJC-1295 comes in at $7.0/mg from Midwest Peptide ($69.99 for 10mg), and sermorelin at $7.5/mg from Onyx Biolabs ($74.99 for 10mg). So the two GHRH analogs land close together, and the GHRP is the value pick on raw price per mg.
- Cheapest per mg: ipamorelin at $4.4/mg (EZ Peptides).
- Middle: CJC-1295 at $7.0/mg (Midwest Peptide).
- Top of this group: sermorelin at $7.5/mg (Onyx Biolabs).
Cheapest per mg is not automatically the best buy, though. If you are pairing a GHRH analog with a GHRP you are buying two compounds, so the combined cost and the purity behind each one both come into play. Pull up the individual pages for sermorelin, ipamorelin, and CJC-1295 to see the current vendor lineup, or jump straight to the best price section.
Frequently asked.
Is CJC-1295 better than sermorelin?
Neither is strictly better, they are both GHRH analogs that raise baseline growth hormone. The practical difference is duration: CJC-1295 is longer-acting than sermorelin, while sermorelin keeps the signal shorter and closer to natural patterns. On price they are close, $7.0/mg for CJC-1295 versus $7.5/mg for sermorelin in our data. Which suits a given research goal depends on whether you want a sustained or a briefer signal.
Can you combine sermorelin, ipamorelin, and CJC-1295?
The common pairing is a GHRH analog with a GHRP, most often CJC-1295 with ipamorelin, because they act through different receptors and target the baseline and the pulse separately. Stacking sermorelin and CJC-1295 together is redundant since both are GHRH analogs doing the same job. We are not giving dosing or protocol advice here; see our CJC-1295 and ipamorelin stack guide for the background.
Which of the three is cheapest?
Ipamorelin, at $4.4/mg from EZ Peptides ($44 for 10mg). CJC-1295 is $7.0/mg and sermorelin is $7.5/mg. Note that prices change, so check the live numbers before buying.
What is the difference between a GHRH analog and a GHRP?
A GHRH analog (sermorelin, CJC-1295) mimics growth-hormone-releasing hormone and raises your baseline growth hormone. A GHRP (ipamorelin) works through a separate receptor to trigger a pulse. Because they act on different pathways, one from each family is often paired together.