1st Optimal vs Royal Medical Center
An in-depth comparison of two leading GLP-1 Providers
WeightLossRankings.org is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
1st Optimal
Best for: GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program
Visit 1st Optimal →
Royal Medical Center
Best for: credentialed MD founder with all-inclusive program pricing
Visit Royal Medical Center →1st Optimal and Royal Medical Center 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 at $99/mo, and 1st Optimal edges ahead overall (6.7 vs 5.2 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.
Royal Medical Center
Pricing not publicly listed.
Get alerted when GLP-1 prices drop
Join the GLP-1 price-watch list — we re-verify 500+ providers' prices on their own sites and email you when tracked prices move.
What’s included
1st Optimal
What the monthly price covers
Medication
Not disclosed
Provider visits
Included
Shipping
Included
Lab work
Not disclosed
Coaching
Included
Royal Medical Center
What the monthly price covers
Medication
Included
Provider visits
Included
Shipping
Not disclosed
Lab work
Included
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
Royal Medical Center
5.2/10
Value25%
Effectiveness25%
User Experience15%
Trust & Safety15%
Accessibility10%
Support10%
Features & Coverage
| Feature | 1st Optimal | Royal Medical Center |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $99/mo | — |
| Features | ✓8 features | 7 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 Royal Medical Center
Royal Medical Center is a physician-led telehealth practice centered on hormone therapy that also offers a compounded GLP-1 weight-loss program covering both tirzepatide and semaglutide, plus a separate oral GLP-1 solution. Founded by Dr. Dagoberto Rodriguez, M.D., it advertises a single all-inclusive starting-at monthly figure bundling medication, supplies, labs and consultations, but publishes no dose-by-dose price and no checkout — the actual cost is quoted only after a medical intake. The dispensing pharmacy is named as Belmar Pharma Solutions.
Read our full Royal Medical Center 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
Royal Medical Center
What we like
- Physician founder Dr. Dagoberto Rodriguez, MD — Emory residency, former Coral Springs Medical Center chairman, U Miami faculty
- Program fee stated in plain language — medication, supplies, injections, lab monitoring and physician follow-ups all itemized as included
- All-inclusive pricing bundles medication, supplies, injections, lab monitoring, and physician follow-ups
- Broad catalog (HRT, TRT, peptides, ED, hair, vitamins) reflects an established multi-program clinic
- Florida physician with 30+ years of practice — a strong physician-led care signal
Watch-outs
- Operating legal entity not disclosed — only the 'Royal Medical Center' brand surfaced
- Dispensing pharmacy is named (Belmar Pharma Solutions) but its 503A/503B status is not published
- No LegitScript badge displayed
- States served not enumerated — site says 'nationwide' with no state list
- Real cost is quoted only after a medical intake — the advertised starting-at rate is the only figure published, with no dose ladder and no checkout
- No brand-name option — compounded tirzepatide, compounded semaglutide and an oral GLP-1 solution only
- Refund/cancellation policy and insurance acceptance not stated
- Unclear whether baseline labs are required before the first shipment
Our Verdict
1st Optimal edges out Royal Medical Center with a higher overall score of 6.7/10 and is particularly strong for GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program. Royal Medical Center remains a solid alternative, especially if you're looking for credentialed MD founder with all-inclusive program pricing.
Choose 1st Optimal if…
You want GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program and a starting price around $99/mo.
Choose Royal Medical Center if…
You want credentialed MD founder with all-inclusive program pricing.
Ready to start? Vetted GLP-1 providers
Vetted telehealth providers that prescribe GLP-1 online.
No insurance needed · vetted by our editors
WeightLossRankings.org is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
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 →Bodybuilding Health+
Fitness-brand compounded GLP-1 with hormone and performance programs
From $179/mo
Get started →1st Optimal vs Royal Medical Center: 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
Related comparisons
Continue exploring 1st Optimal and Royal Medical Center head-to-heads in the same category.
- 1st Optimal vs Amazon One Medical
- 1st Optimal vs Vytora Health
- 1st Optimal vs Collective
- Royal Medical Center vs CoreAge Rx
- Royal Medical Center vs EverSlim
- Royal Medical Center vs Found
Or see the full category ranking.
Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Rybelsus® are trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. Mounjaro® and Zepbound® are trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company. All other product names and trademarks referenced on this page belong to their respective owners. WeightLossRankings.org is not affiliated with any pharmaceutical manufacturer. See trademark disclaimer.