1st Optimal vs NuBloom
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 →
NuBloom
Best for: a physician-founded, whole-person GLP-1 and hormone program
Visit NuBloom →1st Optimal and NuBloom 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 NuBloom edges ahead overall (7.6 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.
NuBloom
Homepage/product page: '$149/mo ... Once-weekly GLP-1 Injections, month to month subscription.' Single monthly price with doses 0.25/0.5/1/1.7/2/2.4 mg listed; BMI 27+.
Product page: '$279/mo. Once-weekly GLP-1/GIP Injections, month-to-month subscription.' Doses 2.5/5/7.5/10/12.5/15 mg listed; BMI 27+.
Microdose Tirzepatide product page: '$249/mo ... Month to month subscription.'
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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
NuBloom
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
NuBloom
7.6/10
Value25%
Effectiveness25%
User Experience15%
Trust & Safety15%
Accessibility10%
Support10%
Features & Coverage
| Feature | 1st Optimal | NuBloom |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | ✓$99/mo | $149/mo |
| Features | 8 features | 8 features |
| States Available | Not disclosed | 49 |
| 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 NuBloom
NuBloom is a women's metabolic-health telehealth practice founded by family and integrative-medicine physician Dr. Marianne Pinkston Mueller, offering compounded GLP-1 therapy alongside hormone, gut-health and longevity care. Compounded semaglutide starts at $149/month and compounded tirzepatide at $279/month, billed as month-to-month subscriptions with dose ladders shown openly; a 90-day guided program adds coaching for $599/month. Care is delivered through an affiliated, LegitScript-certified telehealth network across 49 states. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
Read our full NuBloom 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
NuBloom
What we like
- Transparent, openly published pricing: compounded semaglutide $149/mo and tirzepatide $279/mo as flexible month-to-month subscriptions
- Founded and medically led by a named physician (Dr. Marianne Pinkston Mueller, family/integrative medicine, 25+ years)
- Whole-person model pairs GLP-1s with hormone, gut-health and longevity care plus in-depth lab testing
- State coverage published openly: 49 states listed on the site (all except Mississippi)
- Optional 90-day 1:1 coaching program with weekly meetings and unlimited text support ($599/mo)
- Dose ladders shown up front (semaglutide 0.25–2.4 mg; tirzepatide 2.5–15 mg), plus a lower-cost microdose tirzepatide at $249/mo
- Care delivered through Telegra MD, a LegitScript-certified telehealth organization
Watch-outs
- Compounding pharmacy partners are not named anywhere on the site — a transparency gap
- NuBloom's own LegitScript/PCAB status is not displayed; only its telehealth partner is certified
- Compounded medications are not FDA-approved; one FAQ loosely calls them 'FDA-approved,' contradicting the product pages
- All sales are final and medical consult fees are non-refundable; no returns on prescription products
- Disputes go to binding individual arbitration; the Terms' governing-law state is left as an unfilled '[STATE]' placeholder
- Legal entity is listed only as 'NuBloom,' with no LLC/Inc. suffix or business address published
- Whether the consultation and shipping are bundled into the monthly price is not clearly stated
Our Verdict
NuBloom edges out 1st Optimal with a higher overall score of 7.6/10 and is particularly strong for a physician-founded, whole-person GLP-1 and hormone program. 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 NuBloom if…
You want a physician-founded, whole-person GLP-1 and hormone program and a starting price around $149/mo.
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PeterMD
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From $215.67/mo
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LGBTQ+-inclusive compounded GLP-1 telehealth
From $199/mo
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Lab-monitored compounded GLP-1 with mandatory video visit
From $112/mo
Get started →1st Optimal vs NuBloom: 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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