1st Optimal vs Kin Meds
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 →
Kin Meds
Best for: compounded and brand-name GLP-1 plus a longevity stack on one platform
Visit Kin Meds →1st Optimal and Kin Meds 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, Kin Meds starts at $149/mo, and Kin Meds edges ahead overall (7.4 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.
Kin Meds
$53 off first order, applied automatically at checkout per kinmeds.com/glp1-discount ('Save $53 on first order -Discount applied at checkout')
$53 off first order, auto-applied; discount page quotes starting dose 'as low as $49/week' first month
Entry pricing — likely insured/savings-card tier; cash-pay NovoCare standard pen is $299/mo (oral pill $149)
Entry pricing — likely insured/savings-card tier; cash-pay LillyDirect vials run $299-$449/mo
Matches the LillyDirect $149/mo starter cash price for Foundayo
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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
Kin Meds
7.4/10
Value25%
Effectiveness25%
User Experience15%
Trust & Safety15%
Accessibility10%
Support10%
Features & Coverage
| Feature | 1st Optimal | Kin Meds |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | — | $149/mo |
| Features | 8 features | 8 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 Kin Meds
Kin Meds is a LegitScript-verified telehealth platform offering both compounded GLP-1s (semaglutide from $199/mo, tirzepatide from $249/mo) and brand-name FDA-approved options including Wegovy injection and pill, Zepbound and Foundayo from $149/mo. Beyond weight loss, it bundles a longevity and wellness menu — Sermorelin, NAD+, glutathione, TRT, plus hair, skin and sexual health — so members can manage multiple protocols on one account.
Read our full Kin Meds 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
Kin Meds
What we like
- Publicly lists $199/mo compounded semaglutide and $249/mo compounded tirzepatide
- Brand-name options too — Wegovy injection and pill, Zepbound, Foundayo from $149/mo entry pricing
- LegitScript verified
- Clearly identifies itself as the intake platform and a licensed third-party pharmacy as the dispenser
- Broad longevity menu (Sermorelin, NAD+, Glutathione) plus TRT, hair, skin, and sexual health
- Telehealth flow clearly disclosed: questionnaire, provider review, tailored plan, ongoing support
Watch-outs
- Legal entity name and state of incorporation not publicly disclosed
- The third-party pharmacy partner isn't named, and Kin Meds isn't itself a licensed pharmacy
- Per-state availability not listed
- $149/mo brand pricing is the insured entry tier — cash-pay patients should expect higher real costs
- Lab work and dose-titration support not clearly described
- Breadth across 8+ categories signals a broad DTC platform, not a GLP-1 specialist
Our Verdict
Kin Meds edges out 1st Optimal with a higher overall score of 7.4/10 and is particularly strong for compounded and brand-name GLP-1 plus a longevity stack on one platform. 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 Kin Meds if…
You want compounded and brand-name GLP-1 plus a longevity stack on one platform and a starting price around $149/mo.
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GobyMeds
Budget-conscious shoppers
From $93/mo
Get started →RNK Health
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 Kin Meds: 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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Or see the full category ranking.
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