Head-to-head · WeighScore
1st Optimal vs Aspen
The verdict
1st Optimal takes it — 61.6/100 to 58.4/100.
1st Optimal grades higher on WeighScore, our editorial score across cost value, dose & formulation, clinical oversight, labs & monitoring, fulfillment and contract terms. 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.
We may earn a commission if you start care through some of these links, at no extra cost to you. It never moves the WeighScore, which is the weighted average of the six factors shown for every provider, and what we write about a provider is the same either way. See our disclosure.
Factor by factor
The same six graded dimensions, side by side. See the methodology.
The numbers
| Metric | 1st Optimal | Aspen |
|---|---|---|
| WeighScore | 61.6/100 | 58.4/100 |
| Grade | C | C |
| Scorecard rank | #291 | #373 |
| Semaglutide | Not disclosed | $279/mo (3-month plan, compounded) |
| Tirzepatide | Not disclosed | $399/mo (compounded) |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | All 50 states |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Oral / sublingual | Yes | Injection only |
Graded #291 · C
Strengths
- 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
Where it loses points
- 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
Graded #373 · C
Strengths
- LegitScript-certified with an independently verifiable seal (#50306023) and HIPAA compliance — a strong trust signal for a compounded-GLP-1 telehealth
- Names its dispensing pharmacy: Red Rock Compounding Pharmacy, LegitScript-certified and NABP-accredited, licensed in 49 states plus DC
- Flat pricing at every dose ("same price at every dose, no surprises") plus free expedited shipping, so your cost won't rise as you titrate up
- Competitive prepay rates — compounded semaglutide as low as $179/mo (12-mo) and tirzepatide $299/mo — with zero interest and no credit check
- Money-back guarantee for qualifying patients who complete the full 28-week program without losing weight; available in all 50 states + DC
Where it loses points
- Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide only — no brand-name Wegovy, Zepbound or Ozempic — and compounded GLP-1s aren't FDA-reviewed or approved
- Even the "monthly" plan requires a 3-month commitment with three months of medication shipped and billed upfront — limited month-to-month flexibility
- Standing month-to-month pricing is steep ($279 semaglutide, $399 tirzepatide); the lowest rates require 6- or 12-month prepay
- The provider chooses semaglutide vs tirzepatide for you, so you can't freely pick your own molecule
- Registered as Aspen Health Systems LLC at a Sheridan, WY address; async model with no routine video visit
Also worth a look
Neither is our top-graded pick — CoreAge Rx leads the scorecard
Across all 499 providers, CoreAge Rx grades highest at 91.8/100 (A−). Top of the scorecard: flat transparent pricing, both molecules, nationwide — no teaser-rate games.
Pricing/verification reflect each provider's public disclosures at last grading; the WeighScore is our editorial judgment per the methodology. Prices change — confirm on each provider's site. Not medical advice; see our disclosure.