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1st Optimal vs Ivologist

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
Ivologist logo

Ivologist

7.5
★★★3.8/5

Best for: patients who want a low first-month entry price or a fixed three-month prepay rather than an open-ended plan

Visit Ivologist

1st Optimal and Ivologist 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 Ivologist edges ahead overall (7.5 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.

Ivologist

Semaglutide Starter — recurring monthly planCompounded
$149$124/mo
Save 17% right now
semaglutide

$124 for a first month, then $149/month. Paying three months up front instead costs $397 in one charge.

Tirzepatide Starter — recurring monthly planCompounded
$249$224/mo
Save 10% right now
tirzepatide

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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

Ivologist

What the monthly price covers

Medication

Included

Provider visits

Not disclosed

Shipping

Not disclosed

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

Overall

Ivologist

7.5/10

Value25%

6.5A
vs
B
7.5

Effectiveness25%

7.0A
vs
B
7.0

User Experience15%

6.5A
vs
B
7.5

Trust & Safety15%

6.5A
vs
B
7.8

Accessibility10%

6.5A
vs
B
8.5

Support10%

7.4A
vs
B
7.4

Features & Coverage

Feature1st OptimalIvologist
Starting Price$99/mo$149/mo
Features8 features4 features
States AvailableNot disclosed50
Compounded✓ Yes
Brand Name✓ 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 Ivologist

Ivologist sells compounded semaglutide from $149/month and tirzepatide from $249/month, with a three-month prepay option at $397 and $697. LegitScript certified. Available in all 50 states. Also offers hormone therapy, hair regrowth, IV therapy, and longevity treatments. Over 20,000 patients served.

Read our full Ivologist 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

Ivologist

What we like

  • LegitScript certified
  • All 50 states coverage
  • Three-month prepay option avoids recurring billing entirely
  • Over 20,000 patients served
  • Both semaglutide and tirzepatide available
  • Consultation, medication, injection supplies and shipping quoted in one price

Watch-outs

  • No legal entity name or physical address disclosed on site
  • Broader platform — not a GLP-1 specialist
  • $75 deposit required to book the provider consultation, and the site does not say whether it is credited toward the program

Our Verdict

Winner: Ivologist

Ivologist edges out 1st Optimal with a higher overall score of 7.5/10 and is particularly strong for patients who want a low first-month entry price or a fixed three-month prepay rather than an open-ended plan. 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 Ivologist if…

You want patients who want a low first-month entry price or a fixed three-month prepay rather than an open-ended plan and a starting price around $149/mo.

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6.4

Direct Meds

Listed for disclosure only — see its FDA warning and BBB complaints first

7.6

Maximus

Men seeking compounded GLP-1 alongside testosterone optimization

8.0

Sesame Care

Brand-name GLP-1s at cash prices, no compounding

1st Optimal vs Ivologist: FAQ

1st Optimal is cheaper. Its lowest ongoing monthly cash price is $99/mo, compared with $149/mo for Ivologist. We compare standing (not first-month promo) prices so the figures reflect what you'd actually pay month to month.
Ivologist scores higher overall at 7.5/10 versus 6.7/10, and is particularly strong for patients who want a low first-month entry price or a fixed three-month prepay rather than an open-ended plan. That said, 1st Optimal is a better fit if you want GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program.
Ivologist lists availability in 50 states, while 1st Optimal's state list is not publicly listed.
Neither 1st Optimal nor Ivologist 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 $124/mo at Ivologist.

Key terms, explained

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

Or see the full category ranking.

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