1st Optimal vs Meli Health
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 →
Meli Health
Best for: people who want compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide from a service that names its pharmacy
Visit Meli Health →1st Optimal and Meli 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 $229/mo, and both land at 6.7/10 overall. 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.
Meli Health
$147 for the first month, then $229 a month, as checkout states. Checkout pre-selects a $29.95 priority review add-on that you can untick
$179 for the first month, then $299 a month, as checkout states. Checkout pre-selects a $29.95 priority review add-on that you can untick
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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
Meli Health
What the monthly price covers
Medication
Included
Provider visits
Included
Shipping
Included
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
Meli Health
6.7/10
Value25%
Effectiveness25%
User Experience15%
Trust & Safety15%
Accessibility10%
Support10%
Features & Coverage
| Feature | 1st Optimal | Meli Health |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | ✓$99/mo | $229/mo |
| Features | ✓8 features | 6 features |
| States Available | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Compounded | — | ✓ Yes |
| Brand Name | ✓ Yes | — |
| FSA/HSA Accepted | — | ✓ Yes |
| 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 Meli Health
Meli Health is a telehealth company that sells compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, prescribed by clinicians in the LocumTele network and filled by Rush Pharmacy, alongside NAD+, sermorelin and other wellness treatments. The first month costs $147 for semaglutide or $179 for tirzepatide, then $229 or $299 a month. It serves 49 states but not California.
Read our full Meli 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
Meli Health
What we like
- Names both its clinician network, LocumTele, and the compounding pharmacy that fills orders, Rush Pharmacy
- Treatment pages show the first-month and ongoing monthly price before you start the intake
- Your card is pre-authorized and charged only if a physician prescribes treatment
- The monthly price includes the provider consultation, medication and free expedited shipping
- Month-to-month plan you can cancel from your patient portal or by email
- Intake and clinician review happen online, with no in-person visit
Watch-outs
- The results screen says your plan is approved, with a countdown timer, before any clinician has reviewed your answers
- Checkout pre-selects a $29.95 priority review add-on, so you must untick it to pay the advertised price
- The $147 and $179 prices are first-month offers; plans renew at $229 and $299 a month
- Checkout advertises a money-back guarantee, but the refund policy rules out refunds once medication is dispensed
- Support is by email only, though the site advertises unlimited 24/7 support
- You must cancel at least 48 hours before your billing date to avoid the next charge, with no prorated refunds
- The LegitScript seal on the site could not be matched to a LegitScript record, and there is no Trustpilot profile
- Not available in California
Our Verdict
Both 1st Optimal and Meli Health score equally well overall — the right choice depends on your priorities.
Choose 1st Optimal if…
You want GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program and a starting price around $99/mo.
Choose Meli Health if…
You want people who want compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide from a service that names its pharmacy and a starting price around $229/mo.
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Brightmeds
Compounded or brand GLP-1 bundled with TRT and peptides for men
From $100/mo
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Oral-lozenge compounded GLP-1 access
From $99/mo
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Best overall value
From $149/mo
Get started →1st Optimal vs Meli 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
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