1st Optimal vs Novera MD
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 →
Novera MD
Best for: low advertised prices on compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide with B12, if you can finish the intake first
Visit Novera MD →1st Optimal and Novera MD 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, Novera MD starts lower at $94.31/mo versus $99/mo, and Novera MD edges ahead overall (7.0 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.
Novera MD
Compounded semaglutide with B12, weekly injection. Klarna pay-later offered on the product page.
Compounded tirzepatide with B12, weekly injection. Klarna pay-later offered on the product page.
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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
Novera MD
Inclusions 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
Novera MD
7.0/10
Value25%
Effectiveness25%
User Experience15%
Trust & Safety15%
Accessibility10%
Support10%
Features & Coverage
| Feature | 1st Optimal | Novera MD |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $99/mo | ✓$94.31/mo |
| Features | 8 features | 8 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 Novera MD
Novera MD is a telehealth brand that prescribes compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, each mixed with vitamin B12, through the WizDoc network of independent licensed providers. It also sells hormone therapy, MIC + B12, NAD+, sermorelin and glutathione. Product pages list semaglutide from $94.31/mo and tirzepatide from $164.31/mo, but the plan length behind those figures is shown only after the intake.
Read our full Novera MD 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
Novera MD
What we like
- Low advertised starting prices: compounded semaglutide from $94.31/mo and tirzepatide from $164.31/mo
- The intake's first screen says month-to-month with cancel anytime, and HSA/FSA cards are accepted
- Names its clinical network: independent licensed providers in the WizDoc provider network make every prescribing decision
- The intake screens for the main GLP-1 safety exclusions, including pregnancy, thyroid cancer history and recent bariatric surgery
- Hormone therapy, MIC + B12, NAD+, sermorelin and glutathione are sold under the same brand
Watch-outs
- The "starting at" prices don't say which plan length they belong to; plan options and totals come only after the intake
- The intake asks for your email and full name on its second screen, before any health question
- No company or legal entity is named anywhere on the site, terms or privacy policy
- The dispensing pharmacy is not named; the site says only that a state-licensed pharmacy in its network ships the medication
- No refund policy is published in the terms; the intake only promises "Guaranteed or it's free" without the conditions
- Shows a LegitScript seal, but no certification record could be confirmed in LegitScript's public directory
- The domain dates from March 2026, yet the site claims 20K+ patients; testimonials praise products it doesn't sell
- Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are not FDA-approved, and both formulas here include B12
Our Verdict
Novera MD edges out 1st Optimal with a higher overall score of 7.0/10 and is particularly strong for low advertised prices on compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide with B12, if you can finish the intake first. 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 Novera MD if…
You want low advertised prices on compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide with B12, if you can finish the intake first and a starting price around $94.31/mo.
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Collective
The lowest flat medication price if you can absorb an annual membership fee
From $59/mo
Get started →MadeMed
Compounded GLP-1 in both injection and oral forms
From $219/mo
Get started →Found
Mainstream telehealth GLP-1 access
From $99/mo
Get started →1st Optimal vs Novera MD: 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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