1st Optimal vs Nurx
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 →
1st Optimal and Nurx 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, Nurx starts lower at $79/mo versus $99/mo, and Nurx 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
Care membership only — the GLP-1 medication is billed separately and is not priced.
Nurx
Nurx's own recurring charge, verbatim: 'If you receive weight management treatment from Nurx, you will pay a recurring monthly $79 provider support fee.' A separate ONE-TIME $79 consultation fee applies first: 'Anyone who requests weight management treatment will be charged a $79 consultation fee.' Neither appears in any headline price. Medication is on top of both and Nurx does not dispense the brand GLP-1s — every pen is marked 'In-person pharmacy pick up only' / 'not shipped by Nurx', with cost given only as an average: Zepbound and Ozempic and Mounjaro from $1,000/mo, Wegovy and Saxenda from $1,300/mo, Victoza from $650/mo. Oral options Nurx does fill run $15-$75/mo (metformin $15, topiramate $15-30, bupropion+naltrexone $60, the Nurx 3-in-1 pill $75), so a 3-in-1 reader pays $154/mo all-in, not $75.
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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
Nurx
What the monthly price covers
Medication
Billed separately
Provider visits
Billed separately
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
Nurx
7.5/10
Value25%
Effectiveness25%
User Experience15%
Trust & Safety15%
Accessibility10%
Support10%
Features & Coverage
| Feature | 1st Optimal | Nurx |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $99/mo | ✓$79/mo |
| Features | ✓8 features | 3 features |
| States Available | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Compounded | — | — |
| 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 Nurx
Established women's telehealth brand. For weight management it prescribes brand-name GLP-1s for in-person pharmacy pickup rather than shipping them, and fills lower-cost oral options itself. Its own charges are a one-time $79 consultation and a recurring $79/mo provider support fee, both excluded from every advertised medication price.
Read our full Nurx 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
Nurx
What we like
- Both semaglutide and tirzepatide available
- Compounded GLP-1 access
Watch-outs
- A one-time $79 consultation fee and a recurring $79/mo provider support fee sit on top of every advertised price
- Does not ship brand GLP-1s — every pen is in-person pharmacy pickup only, at an unquoted pharmacy price
- Publishes no price for its compounded semaglutide, and offers no compounded tirzepatide at all
- Limited public information on program details
Our Verdict
Nurx edges out 1st Optimal with a higher overall score of 7.5/10 and is particularly strong for mainstream telehealth GLP-1 access. 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 Nurx if…
You want mainstream telehealth GLP-1 access and a starting price around $79/mo.
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Maximus
Men seeking compounded GLP-1 alongside testosterone optimization
From $199.99/mo
Get started →Sesame Care
Brand-name GLP-1s at cash prices, no compounding
From $25/mo
Get started →Try Ageless
Lowest-tier compounded GLP-1 in injection, troche and sublingual forms
From $119/mo
Get started →1st Optimal vs Nurx: 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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