1st Optimal vs LIV by WellNow
An in-depth comparison of two leading GLP-1 Providers
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1st Optimal
Best for: coaching bundled into the price rather than sold separately
Visit 1st Optimal →
Two GLP-1 Providers chasing the same patients, trading off price, geography and what lands in the box differently. On our scoring, LIV by WellNow starts at $279/mo, and LIV by WellNow finishes ahead, 5.9 to 3.9. What follows: the prices, what each plan actually covers, the six-dimension score, where each one is weak, and who should pick which.
Pricing
1st Optimal
Pricing not publicly listed.
LIV by WellNow
What’s included
1st Optimal
Covered by the monthly price
Medication
Not stated
Clinician visits
In the price
Shipping
In the price
Lab work
Not stated
Coaching
In the price
LIV by WellNow
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
3.9/10
LIV by WellNow
5.9/10
Value25%
Effectiveness25%
User Experience15%
Trust & Safety15%
Accessibility10%
Support10%
Features & Coverage
| Feature | 1st Optimal | LIV by WellNow |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | — | $279/mo |
| Features | 8 features | 8 features |
| States Available | Not disclosed | 5 |
| Compounded | — | ✓ Yes |
| Brand Name | — | — |
| FSA/HSA Accepted | — | — |
| FDA Warnings | None | None |
About 1st Optimal
Neither a monthly price nor a list of states is published. 1st Optimal operates out of Michigan across telehealth and functional medicine, writing the GLP-1s semaglutide and tirzepatide either as a weekly injection or as a daily oral tablet. Around the prescription it stacks at-home lab testing, interpretation of the blood work, coaching without limit and protocols built individually, all framed as long-term weight loss and longevity. Credentialed providers work virtually, treatment goes to the home, and nothing binds you to a long contract.
Read our full 1st Optimal review →About LIV by WellNow
One flat figure, $279 per month, buys the compounded semaglutide, the injection supplies and as many virtual visits as you want with board-certified online providers; approval comes same-day and the drug arrives monthly. WellNow Urgent Care owns LIV, its weight-management arm. To qualify you must be 18 or older with a BMI of 30+, or 27+ carrying a weight-related condition. FDA approval does not extend to compounded semaglutide. Five states get it: Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. Insurance is refused.
Read our full LIV by WellNow review →Pros & Cons
1st Optimal
What we like
- The monthly figure covers consult, shipping, coaching
- No FDA warning letter matched this operator when we searched our enforcement register
- A live video visit with a clinician is required before a prescription, which is slower than a form and is the more careful intake
- Baseline bloodwork is required before a prescription
Watch-outs
- No price appears until the medical intake is complete, so the cost cannot be compared before health information is submitted
- No state list is on record here, so whether it serves your state cannot be confirmed from this page
- No dispensing pharmacy is named in our record, so its accreditation cannot be looked up from here
LIV by WellNow
What we like
- Publishes a price on its own site before the medical questionnaire, so it can be compared without handing over health information
- No FDA warning letter matched this operator when we searched our enforcement register
Watch-outs
- Semaglutide at $279 a month, 48% above the $189 register median for the same drug and form
- Coverage is published for 5 states only, so this may not reach you
- No dispensing pharmacy is named in our record, so its accreditation cannot be looked up from here
- Its semaglutide is compounded rather than FDA-approved, so it has not been reviewed by the agency for safety, effectiveness or manufacturing quality
Our Verdict
LIV by WellNow takes it, 5.9 against 3.9, and it is especially strong on compounded semaglutide at $279/month. 1st Optimal is no weak second and may fit you better on coaching bundled into the price rather than sold separately.
Choose 1st Optimal if…
You want coaching bundled into the price rather than sold separately.
Choose LIV by WellNow if…
You want compounded semaglutide at $279/month and an opening price near $279 a month.
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Found
Tirzepatide at $169/month, 37% under the register median
From $99/mo
Get started →Telos Rx
Starting below a standard dose, with microdose tiers
From $49/mo
Get started →MyDrHank
An oral route if you will not self-inject
From $25/mo
Get started →1st Optimal vs LIV by WellNow: FAQ
Glossary
The words sellers use, defined. Tap any term.
- 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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Or see the full category ranking.
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