1st Optimal vs Auren Rx
An in-depth comparison of two leading GLP-1 Providers
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1st Optimal
Best for: GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program
Visit 1st Optimal →
Auren Rx
Best for: knowing exactly which physician group and pharmacy handle your care
Visit Auren Rx →1st Optimal and Auren Rx 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 $129/mo, and Auren Rx edges ahead overall (7.2 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.
Auren Rx
$259/mo on Subscribe & save with pause or cancel anytime; $299/mo if you take the no-commitment monthly plan instead. Medication and pharmacy fulfillment are included in the membership fee when using the Auren Rx Pharmacy Network.
Same plan price as semaglutide; the physician selects the molecule. $299/mo on the no-commitment monthly plan.
$129/mo on Subscribe & save, $149/mo no-commitment.
$129/mo on Subscribe & save, $149/mo no-commitment.
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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
Auren Rx
What the monthly price covers
Medication
Included
Provider visits
Included
Shipping
Included
Lab work
Not disclosed
Coaching
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
Auren Rx
7.2/10
Value25%
Effectiveness25%
User Experience15%
Trust & Safety15%
Accessibility10%
Support10%
Features & Coverage
| Feature | 1st Optimal | Auren Rx |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | ✓$99/mo | $129/mo |
| Features | ✓8 features | 7 features |
| States Available | Not disclosed | 50 |
| Compounded | — | ✓ Yes |
| Brand Name | ✓ Yes | — |
| FSA/HSA Accepted | — | ✓ Yes |
| 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 Auren Rx
Auren Rx is a New York-registered telehealth brand selling compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide at $259 a month on auto-refill, plus a low-dose microdose GLP-1 track at $129, NAD+, sermorelin, glutathione, GHK-Cu, tretinoin and oral minoxidil. It is unusually specific about who provides care: the physician group Wasef Health PC under Michael Wasef MD, and Houston compounding pharmacy VialsRX, both named with addresses and phone numbers. The initial online visit is free and no membership fee is charged until a physician has reviewed you and you choose to proceed.
Read our full Auren Rx 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
Auren Rx
What we like
- Names the prescribing group (Wasef Health PC, Michael Wasef MD) and the pharmacy (VialsRX) with full addresses and phone numbers.
- Carries a genuine LegitScript seal (ID 51130066) served from LegitScript's own asset host.
- The first online visit is free and no membership fee is charged until a physician approves and you elect to proceed.
- An "on-demand" mode lets you pause auto-payments without canceling, rather than forcing a full cancellation.
Watch-outs
- The homepage advertises GLP-1 "from $129/mo", but that is the microdose track; the standard semaglutide and tirzepatide plan is $259-$299.
- NAD+ is advertised on the homepage "from $125/mo" while its own product page prices it at $179 on auto-refill and $209 monthly.
- At $259/mo, standard compounded GLP-1 pricing sits well above the market median for this category.
- Membership fees already paid are non-refundable, and the listed New York address is a mail suite rather than a clinic.
Our Verdict
Auren Rx edges out 1st Optimal with a higher overall score of 7.2/10 and is particularly strong for knowing exactly which physician group and pharmacy handle your 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 Auren Rx if…
You want knowing exactly which physician group and pharmacy handle your care and a starting price around $129/mo.
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Budget-conscious shoppers
From $99/mo
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Longevity-focused GLP-1 care
From $139/mo
Get started →Willow
Mainstream telehealth GLP-1 access
From $299/mo
Get started →1st Optimal vs Auren Rx: 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
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