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1st Optimal vs Allara Health

An in-depth comparison of two leading GLP-1 Providers

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By Eli Marsden · Founding Editor
Editorially reviewed & fact-checked against primary sources · How we verify contentLast reviewed
1st Optimal logo

1st Optimal

6.7
★★★☆☆3.4/5

Best for: GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program

Visit 1st Optimal
VS
Allara Health logo

Allara Health

7.6
★★★3.8/5

Best for: insurance-based branded GLP-1 care

Visit Allara Health

1st Optimal and Allara Health 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 $149/mo, and Allara Health edges ahead overall (7.6 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

Weight Loss Care membership — medication not includedBrand-name
$99/mo
semaglutide

Care membership only — the GLP-1 medication is billed separately and is not priced.

Allara Health

Complete Care membership (self-pay)Brand-name
$149/mo
semaglutide

Cash-pay rate when insurance is out of network; medication is not included.

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What’s included

1st Optimal

What the monthly price covers

Medication

Not disclosed

Provider visits

Included

Shipping

Included

Lab work

Not disclosed

Coaching

Included

Allara Health

What the monthly price covers

Medication

Billed separately

Provider visits

Included

Shipping

Not disclosed

Lab work

Not disclosed

Coaching

Included

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

Overall

Allara Health

7.6/10

Value25%

6.5A
vs
B
7.0

Effectiveness25%

7.0A
vs
B
8.0

User Experience15%

6.5A
vs
B
7.5

Trust & Safety15%

6.5A
vs
B
8.0

Accessibility10%

6.5A
vs
B
8.0

Support10%

7.4A
vs
B
7.5

Features & Coverage

Feature1st OptimalAllara Health
Starting Price$99/mo$149/mo
Features8 features7 features
States AvailableNot disclosedNot disclosed
Compounded
Brand Name✓ Yes✓ Yes
FSA/HSA Accepted
FDA WarningsNoneNone

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 Allara Health

Allara Health (allarahealth.com) is an insurance-accepting telehealth platform focused on women's metabolic and hormonal health, including PCOS, serving 44 states plus DC. Providers may prescribe FDA-approved branded GLP-1s like Wegovy and Zepbound, plus oral options such as Metformin, Contrave, and Topiramate. Care combines board-certified physicians and NPs (including OB-GYNs and endocrinologists) with dietitians. With insurance, patients pay their copay or deductible; self-pay is $149/month for Complete Care or $125/month for nutrition coaching. Allara reports serving 45,000+ women.

Read our full Allara Health 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

Allara Health

What we like

  • Prescribes FDA-approved branded GLP-1s (Wegovy, Zepbound)
  • Accepts insurance with self-pay option from $149/month
  • Women's-health and PCOS specialization with hormonal/metabolic testing
  • Board-certified physicians, OB-GYNs, endocrinologists, plus dietitians
  • Oral alternatives (Metformin, Contrave, Topiramate) available
  • Broad coverage across 44 states plus DC
  • Reports 45,000+ women served

Watch-outs

  • Membership covers visits; GLP-1 medication coverage depends on your plan
  • Not available in all states for medical care
  • Focused on women's health, not a general GLP-1 provider
  • Out-of-pocket branded GLP-1 cost can be high if not insurance-covered

Our Verdict

Winner: Allara Health

Allara Health edges out 1st Optimal with a higher overall score of 7.6/10 and is particularly strong for insurance-based branded GLP-1 care. 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 Allara Health if…

You want insurance-based branded GLP-1 care and a starting price around $149/mo.

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7.4

MadeMed

Compounded GLP-1 in both injection and oral forms

8.3

Found

Mainstream telehealth GLP-1 access

7.4

Breeze Meds

Compounded GLP-1 access with named prescribers and 4-pharmacy network

1st Optimal vs Allara Health: FAQ

1st Optimal is cheaper. Its lowest ongoing monthly cash price is $99/mo, compared with $149/mo for Allara Health. We compare standing (not first-month promo) prices so the figures reflect what you'd actually pay month to month.
Allara Health scores higher overall at 7.6/10 versus 6.7/10, and is particularly strong for insurance-based branded GLP-1 care. That said, 1st Optimal is a better fit if you want GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program.
Neither 1st Optimal nor Allara Health publicly lists its exact state availability. Most national GLP-1 telehealth providers operate in the majority of states — confirm your state is covered during sign-up.
Neither 1st Optimal nor Allara Health is currently an affiliate partner, so we earn no commission from either. We rank all providers editorially using the same six-dimension framework and disclose any commercial relationships.
For Semaglutide, 1st Optimal is cheaper at $99/mo versus $149/mo at Allara Health.

Key terms, explained

New to GLP-1s? Tap any term for a quick, plain-English definition.

Continue exploring 1st Optimal and Allara Health head-to-heads in the same category.

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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.