1st Optimal vs AJ Peptide
An in-depth comparison of two leading GLP-1 Providers
WeightLossRankings.org is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
1st Optimal
Best for: GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program
Visit 1st Optimal →
AJ Peptide
Best for: people who want compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide from a prescription-only peptide brand
Visit AJ Peptide →1st Optimal and AJ Peptide are both GLP-1 Providers competing for the same patients, but they make different trade-offs on price, coverage, and what's included. In our scoring, 1st Optimal starts lower at $99/mo versus $195/mo, and AJ Peptide edges ahead overall (7.3 vs 6.7 out of 10). Below we break down pricing, what each plan covers, the six-dimension score, pros and cons, and exactly who should pick which.
Pricing
1st Optimal
Care membership only — the GLP-1 medication is billed separately and is not priced.
AJ Peptide
The card shows $95 with code AJP_100 ($100 off) and $195 as the original price; it does not say whether the coupon covers only the first charge.
The card shows $185 with code AJP_100 ($100 off) and $285 as the original price; it does not say whether the coupon covers only the first charge.
Get alerted when GLP-1 prices drop
Join the GLP-1 price-watch list — we re-verify 530+ providers' prices on their own sites and email you when tracked prices move.
What’s included
1st Optimal
What the monthly price covers
Medication
Not disclosed
Provider visits
Included
Shipping
Included
Lab work
Not disclosed
Coaching
Included
AJ Peptide
Inclusions not disclosed.
Score breakdown
Both providers are scored on the same six-dimension framework. The gradient bar marks the stronger side on each dimension.
1st Optimal
6.7/10
AJ Peptide
7.3/10
Value25%
Effectiveness25%
User Experience15%
Trust & Safety15%
Accessibility10%
Support10%
Features & Coverage
| Feature | 1st Optimal | AJ Peptide |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | ✓$99/mo | $195/mo |
| Features | 8 features | 8 features |
| States Available | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Compounded | — | ✓ Yes |
| Brand Name | ✓ Yes | — |
| FSA/HSA Accepted | — | — |
| FDA Warnings | None | None |
About 1st Optimal
1st Optimal is a Michigan-based telehealth and functional-medicine platform offering GLP-1 weight loss medications, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, as once-weekly injections or daily oral tablets. Its model pairs prescription GLP-1 therapy with at-home lab testing, blood-work interpretation, unlimited coaching, and personalized protocols framed around long-term weight loss and longevity. Care is delivered virtually by credentialed providers, and treatments ship to the home with no long-term contracts. The site does not publish monthly pricing or a state list.
Read our full 1st Optimal review →About AJ Peptide
AJ Peptide is a California telehealth brand that prescribes compounded semaglutide, tirzepatide and a microdose GLP-1, plus peptides such as sermorelin, tesamorelin and NAD+, through an affiliated medical group and a named 503A pharmacy. Its pitch is documentation and prescription-only access. Semaglutide is listed at $195 and tirzepatide at $285, shown as $95 and $185 with a coupon; the site does not say how often those amounts are billed.
Read our full AJ Peptide review →Pros & Cons
1st Optimal
What we like
- Offers both semaglutide and tirzepatide with injectable and oral formats
- Functional-medicine approach with at-home labs and blood-work interpretation
- Unlimited coaching and ongoing support included
- No long-term contracts
- Board-certified doctors and nurse practitioners referenced
Watch-outs
- No public monthly pricing disclosed
- No published state availability list
- Compounded vs branded sourcing not clarified on site
- Pricing only revealed after quiz or consultation
AJ Peptide
What we like
- Prescription-only: every product needs a licensed provider's evaluation, and nothing is sold as research-use-only
- Names its compounding pharmacy and the medical group that writes prescriptions, with addresses
- Both GLP-1 prices, and the coupon that lowers them, are on the product cards before any quiz
- Also offers a lower-dose microdose GLP-1 program and other peptides such as sermorelin, tesamorelin and NAD+
- Phone and email support with published weekday hours and a one-business-day reply target
- Cancel any time from your account or by email, as long as it is before the next billing date
- Says it serves patients in all 50 states, with some medications varying by state
Watch-outs
- The large price on each card is the coupon price; the regular price is $195 for semaglutide and $285 for tirzepatide
- No page says how often the price is charged; the billing interval only appears after you create an account
- Refunds are generally not offered, and charges already processed are non-refundable
- COA transparency is the main pitch, but no product Certificates of Analysis are posted; the testing table is marked illustrative
- The terms still carry another company's template text, including a testosterone program the site does not sell
- The intake says you are pre-qualified after one medication question and your height and weight
- The microdose GLP-1 card does not say which drug it contains
- No Trustpilot or BBB profile was found; the homepage testimonials are signed with initials only
Our Verdict
AJ Peptide edges out 1st Optimal with a higher overall score of 7.3/10 and is particularly strong for people who want compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide from a prescription-only peptide brand. 1st Optimal remains a solid alternative, especially if you're looking for GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program.
Choose 1st Optimal if…
You want GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program and a starting price around $99/mo.
Choose AJ Peptide if…
You want people who want compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide from a prescription-only peptide brand and a starting price around $195/mo.
Ready to start? Vetted GLP-1 providers
Vetted telehealth providers that prescribe GLP-1 online.
No insurance needed · vetted by our editors
WeightLossRankings.org is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
AgelessRx
Longevity-focused GLP-1 care
From $139/mo
Get started →Willow
Mainstream telehealth GLP-1 access
From $299/mo
Get started →Sesame Care
Brand-name GLP-1s at cash prices, no compounding
From $25/mo
Get started →1st Optimal vs AJ Peptide: FAQ
Key terms, explained
New to GLP-1s? Tap any term for a quick, plain-English definition.
- Semaglutide · Drugs and brands
- Tirzepatide · Drugs and brands
- Compounded GLP-1 · Pharmacy and drug forms
- 503A pharmacy · Pharmacy and drug forms
- PCAB accreditation · Pharmacy and drug forms
- Prior authorization (PA) · Insurance and regulatory
- Off-label use · Insurance and regulatory
- FDA Drug Shortage List · Insurance and regulatory
Related comparisons
Continue exploring 1st Optimal and AJ Peptide head-to-heads in the same category.
- 1st Optimal vs Amazon One Medical
- 1st Optimal vs Vytora Health
- 1st Optimal vs Collective
- AJ Peptide vs CoreAge Rx
- AJ Peptide vs EverSlim
- AJ Peptide vs Found
Or see the full category ranking.
Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Rybelsus® are trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. Mounjaro® and Zepbound® are trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company. All other product names and trademarks referenced on this page belong to their respective owners. WeightLossRankings.org is not affiliated with any pharmaceutical manufacturer. See trademark disclaimer.