1st Optimal vs Cost Plus Drugs
An in-depth comparison of two leading GLP-1 Providers
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1st Optimal
Best for: Patients wanting GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program
Visit 1st Optimal →
Cost Plus Drugs
Best for: the cheapest transparent-pricing brand-name Ozempic channel
Visit Cost Plus Drugs →1st Optimal and Cost Plus Drugs 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, Cost Plus Drugs starts at $279/mo, and Cost Plus Drugs edges ahead overall (7.1 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
Pricing not publicly listed.
Cost Plus Drugs
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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
Cost Plus Drugs
7.1/10
Value25%
Effectiveness25%
User Experience15%
Trust & Safety15%
Accessibility10%
Support10%
Features & Coverage
| Feature | 1st Optimal | Cost Plus Drugs |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | — | $279/mo |
| Features | ✓8 features | 5 features |
| States Available | Not disclosed | 50 |
| Compounded | — | — |
| 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 Cost Plus Drugs
Mark Cuban's transparent-pricing online pharmacy. Sells branded Ozempic at the wholesale acquisition cost plus 15% markup plus a flat $5 pharmacy fee — publicly disclosed margin formula. Pharmacy fulfillment only; no telehealth intake. Ships to all 50 states. Distinct from telehealth platforms that route brand-name semaglutide through similar discount channels.
Read our full Cost Plus Drugs 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
Cost Plus Drugs
What we like
- Transparent pricing: wholesale cost + 15% markup + $5 pharmacy fee, the same for everyone
- Around $279/mo for branded Ozempic — well below typical retail list prices
- Mark Cuban's PBM-disrupting pharmacy, praised by Forbes Health, Wired, and KFF Health News
- Ships to all 50 states; genuine FDA-approved Novo Nordisk Ozempic, not compounded
- Partnered with 9amHealth so you can get prescribed and fill at Cost Plus pricing
Watch-outs
- Fulfillment only — no telehealth intake; you need a prescription from an outside clinician
- Ozempic is FDA-indicated for type 2 diabetes, not weight management — weight-loss use is off-label
- Wegovy availability has been spotty — check current stock before assuming it ships
- No compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide — brand only
- No clinical follow-up — side-effect monitoring falls to your prescribing clinician
Our Verdict
Cost Plus Drugs edges out 1st Optimal with a higher overall score of 7.1/10 and is particularly strong for the cheapest transparent-pricing brand-name Ozempic channel. 1st Optimal remains a solid alternative, especially if you're looking for Patients wanting GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program.
Choose 1st Optimal if…
You want Patients wanting GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program.
Choose Cost Plus Drugs if…
You want the cheapest transparent-pricing brand-name Ozempic channel and a starting price around $279/mo.
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GobyMeds
Budget-conscious shoppers
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Compounded GLP-1 alongside NAD+, peptide and longevity add-ons
From $197/mo
Get started →Wellorithm
Compounded GLP-1 access with oral tablet options across 49 states
From $147/mo
Get started →1st Optimal vs Cost Plus Drugs: 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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