1st Optimal vs SurpassMD
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 →
SurpassMD
Best for: coverage in all 50 states, which most of the register will not confirm
Visit SurpassMD →Two GLP-1 Providers chasing the same patients, trading off price, geography and what lands in the box differently. On our scoring, SurpassMD starts at $124/mo, and SurpassMD finishes ahead, 7.3 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.
SurpassMD
Homepage/FAQ: 'Semaglutide starts as low as $124/m ... for eligible patients. Actual pricing depends on medication, dose, and provider approval.'
Homepage/FAQ: 'tirzepatide starts as low as $184/m ... for eligible patients. Actual pricing depends on medication, dose, and provider approval.'
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
SurpassMD
Covered by the monthly price
Medication
In the price
Clinician visits
In the price
Shipping
Not stated
Lab work
Not stated
Coaching
Not stated
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
SurpassMD
7.3/10
Value25%
Effectiveness25%
User Experience15%
Trust & Safety15%
Accessibility10%
Support10%
Features & Coverage
| Feature | 1st Optimal | SurpassMD |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | — | $124/mo |
| Features | 8 features | 8 features |
| States Available | Not disclosed | 51 |
| Compounded | — | ✓ Yes |
| Brand Name | — | — |
| FSA/HSA Accepted | — | ✓ Yes |
| 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 SurpassMD
For patients who qualify, the floor is $124/month on semaglutide and $184/month on tirzepatide. Payment is cash only, with Klarna-style financing and HSA/FSA both accepted. Life Vitality LLC runs the site, putting patients in touch with independent providers who hold licenses; the compounded drug then leaves a 503A pharmacy under cold chain. Consent and clinical intake are handled on the telehealth platform belonging to OpenLoop.
Read our full SurpassMD 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
SurpassMD
What we like
- Publishes a price on its own site before the medical questionnaire, so it can be compared without handing over health information
- The monthly figure covers medication and consult
- Coverage is published for all 50 states
- No FDA warning letter matched this operator when we searched our enforcement register
Watch-outs
- No dispensing pharmacy is named in our record, so its accreditation cannot be looked up from here
- Its semaglutide and tirzepatide are compounded rather than FDA-approved, so they have not been reviewed by the agency for safety, effectiveness or manufacturing quality
Our Verdict
SurpassMD takes it, 7.3 against 3.9, and it is especially strong on coverage in all 50 states, which most of the register will not confirm. 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 SurpassMD if…
You want coverage in all 50 states, which most of the register will not confirm and an opening price near $124 a month.
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YourEra
Semaglutide at $99/month, 63% under the register median
From $99/mo
Get started →Gala
Moving between compounded and brand without changing seller
From $129/mo
Get started →Trimi Health
Knowing which pharmacy fills the vial — it names VialsRx
From $99/mo
Get started →1st Optimal vs SurpassMD: 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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