1st Optimal vs Fridays
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 →
1st Optimal and Fridays 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 $249/mo, and Fridays 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
Care membership only — the GLP-1 medication is billed separately and is not priced.
Fridays
The month-to-month rate, stated on /weight-loss as 'Starting at $150/mo ($249/mo for month-to-month plan)'. ⚠ FRIDAYS' TWO PAGES DISAGREE: /pricing simultaneously advertises 'Starting at $117/mo' with '$279/mo with an annual plan' and 'SAVE 58% use code NYNY12', while /weight-loss puts the plan rate at $150. The $117 recorded as the promo is COUPON-GATED, not a standing rate, and the two pages cannot both be right about the annual figure ($150 vs $279).
Month-to-month rate from /weight-loss: 'Starting at $240/mo ($359/mo for month-to-month plan)'. The $198 promo is coupon-gated — /pricing shows 'Starting at $198/mo', '$389/mo with an annual plan', 'SAVE 50% use code NEWYOU12'. Same cross-page conflict as the semaglutide row.
'Ozempic® | Name Brand Semaglutide Injection | $1498 / mo'. Brand cash price, no insurance.
'Zepbound® | Name Brand Tirzepatide Injection | $1828 / mo'. Brand cash price, no insurance.
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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
Fridays
What the monthly price covers
Medication
Included
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
Fridays
7.1/10
Value25%
Effectiveness25%
User Experience15%
Trust & Safety15%
Accessibility10%
Support10%
Features & Coverage
| Feature | 1st Optimal | Fridays |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | ✓$99/mo | $249/mo |
| Features | ✓8 features | 2 features |
| States Available | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Compounded | — | ✓ Yes |
| Brand Name | ✓ Yes | ✓ 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 Fridays
Telehealth weight-loss provider selling compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide alongside brand Ozempic and Zepbound. Month-to-month is $249 and $359; the far lower figures it advertises are coupon-gated or require an annual commitment, and its own two pricing pages disagree about what that annual rate is.
Read our full Fridays 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
Fridays
What we like
- Both semaglutide and tirzepatide available
Watch-outs
- Pricing not publicly disclosed
Our Verdict
Fridays edges out 1st Optimal with a higher overall score of 7.1/10 and is particularly strong for mainstream telehealth GLP-1 access. 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 Fridays if…
You want mainstream telehealth GLP-1 access and a starting price around $249/mo.
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Sesame Care
Brand-name GLP-1s at cash prices, no compounding
From $25/mo
Get started →Try Ageless
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From $119/mo
Get started →Sunlight
Compounded GLP-1 with unlimited telehealth visits and free shipping
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Get started →1st Optimal vs Fridays: 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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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.