1st Optimal vs Believe Health
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 →Believe Health
Best for: a GLP-1 microdose protocol offered alongside a published peptide catalog
Visit Believe Health →1st Optimal and Believe 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 1st Optimal edges ahead overall (6.7 vs 6.6 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.
Believe Health
Flat across all dosages. Shown against a struck-through $249 anchor.
Flat across all dosages. Shown against a struck-through $299 anchor. Labelled MOST CHOSEN.
Lower-dose protocol. Costs MORE than the standard semaglutide plan, and no molecule is named.
Daily oral option. No molecule named and no published bioavailability data for this route.
Get alerted when GLP-1 prices drop
Join the GLP-1 price-watch list — we re-verify 480+ 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
Believe Health
What the monthly price covers
Medication
Included
Provider visits
Included
Shipping
Included
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
Believe Health
6.6/10
Value25%
Effectiveness25%
User Experience15%
Trust & Safety15%
Accessibility10%
Support10%
Features & Coverage
| Feature | 1st Optimal | Believe Health |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | ✓$99/mo | $149/mo |
| Features | ✓8 features | 1 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 Believe Health
Believe Health (believe.health) is a physician-led telehealth brand offering compounded semaglutide, tirzepatide and a GLP-1 microdose protocol alongside a peptide catalog. Its GLP-1 prices are not published publicly: they appear only after an eligibility intake is completed and approved, at which point four flat-rate plans are shown, priced the same at every dosage with medication, physician review, coaching and a dietitian visit included.
Read our full Believe 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
Believe Health
What we like
- Offers semaglutide, tirzepatide and a dedicated GLP-1 microdose protocol, so low-dose starters are served explicitly
- States a $0 charge if you are not approved, so the eligibility check carries no cost
- Flat pricing at every dosage, with medication, physician review, care coaching and a dietitian visit included in one monthly figure
- Compounded in the USA is stated on the homepage
Watch-outs
- No price is visible before completing an eligibility intake — three rendered treatment pages carry zero figures
- The microdose plan costs MORE than the standard semaglutide plan ($199 versus $149), which is the opposite of what most buyers assume
- States served are not enumerated anywhere on the site
- No dispensing pharmacy named and no LegitScript badge displayed
- Two of the four plans name no molecule at all — sold only as GLP-1 Microdose and GLP-1 Oral
Our Verdict
1st Optimal edges out Believe Health with a higher overall score of 6.7/10 and is particularly strong for GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program. Believe Health remains a solid alternative, especially if you're looking for a GLP-1 microdose protocol offered alongside a published peptide catalog.
Choose 1st Optimal if…
You want GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program and a starting price around $99/mo.
Choose Believe Health if…
You want a GLP-1 microdose protocol offered alongside a published peptide catalog and a starting price around $149/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
MadeMed
Compounded GLP-1 in both injection and oral forms
From $219/mo
Get started →Found
Mainstream telehealth GLP-1 access
From $99/mo
Get started →GobyMeds
Budget-conscious shoppers
From $93/mo
Get started →1st Optimal vs Believe Health: 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 Believe Health head-to-heads in the same category.
- 1st Optimal vs Amazon One Medical
- 1st Optimal vs Vytora Health
- 1st Optimal vs CoreAge Rx
- Believe Health vs EverSlim
- Believe Health vs Found
- Believe Health vs NewSelf
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.