Nootropics are brain supplements. And ‘supplement’ implies they do not make you more intelligent. Rather, they add onto and improve the capabilities you already have by enhancing brain efficiency. That said, people do not necessarily have the same reason for using a nootropic. Some are looking to boost their memory, others are keen on sharpening their concentration, there are those who want to improve their verbal communication etc.
Mind Lab Pro and Alpha Brain are two of the best brands in the nootropic marketplace. Each claims to stand out from competing products in its ability to enhance focus, memory, learning, mood and mental energy. This comparison of Mind Lab Pro and Alpha Brain saves you the time and effort that you would otherwise have to endure to know which of the two is more likely to work for you. So, let’s get to it.
What is Mind Lab Pro?
As a smart drug that powers the mental pathways controlling the brain’s chemicals, waves, protection and regeneration, Mind Lab Pro is a holistic nootropic that addresses short and long term brain health goals. Its research-backed and carefully selected ingredients are tailored to driving peak cognitive performance. Mind Lab Pro enlarges knowledge retention, accelerates information recall, sharpens concentration, magnifies multitasking, spurs enthusiasm, heightens motivation and cultivates calmness. When used consistently for the medium and long term, this brain supplement maintains neural plasticity and slows brain aging.
Mind Lab Pro is a product of Opti-Nutra, a supplement manufacturer based in the UK. Other than its flagship product Mind Lab Pro, Opti-Nutra also makes more than a dozen supplements under its Performance Lab label. These include Performance Lab Mind, Performance Lab Sleep, Performance Lab Energy, Performance Lab Prebiotic, Performance Lab NutriGenesis Multi and Performance Lab Carb.
What is Alpha Brain?
An established brand in the mind supplement space, Alpha Brain enhances memory, focus, thought speed and overall cognitive function by increasing the brain’s alpha waves and optimizing the production of neurotransmitters. It is formulated to equip your brain with what it needs to function at its best. You won’t find that many supplements that have sold more than a million bottles; Alpha Brain has done so which is a powerful stamp of consumer approval. It is the brain supplement most people testing out nootropics for the first time will go for you.
Alpha Brain is made by Onnit Labs Inc, a US based wellness company. In April 2021, global consumer goods giant Unilever, announced it had entered into an agreement to buy Onnit Labs. It's unclear whether the acquisition has since been concluded. Other than Alpha Brain, Onnit makes more than a dozen supplements including Onnit New Mood, Onnit Krill Oil, Onnit Shroom Tech Sport and Onnit Joint Oil.
Key Features
Mind Lab Pro
- Enlarges knowledge retention.
- Accelerates information recall.
- Sharpens concentration.
- Spurs enthusiasm and motivation.
Alpha Brain
- Enhances memory.
- Improves focus.
- Improves focus.
- Elevates cognitive function.
Ingredients
Common Ingredients
Ingredient | Mind Lab Pro | Alpha Brain |
|---|---|---|
Phosphatidylserine | 100 mg | Unknown (in Onnit Flow Blend) |
Vitamin B6 | 2.5 mg | 10 mg |
L-theanine | 100 mg | Unknown (in Onnit Flow Blend) |
L-tyrosine | 175 mg | Unknown (in Onnit Flow Blend) |
Bacopa monnieri | 150 mg | Unknown (in Onnit Focus Blend) |
Mind Lab Pro and Alpha Brain have five ingredients in common which is well above average when comparing two supplement brands. That being said, four of the five ingredients the two have in common are contained within proprietary blends in Alpha Brain’s case. That makes it difficult to perform a like-for-like comparison.
The one shared ingredient where amount is known in both is vitamin B6. In which case, Alpha Brain has four times as much of it. This might not offer a meaningful advantage since it far exceeds the EU’s nutrient reference value (NRV). To be fair, Mind Lab Pro’s vitamin 6 is also more than 175 percent higher than the NRV. Still, both fall within the UK’s upper level safety band (barely for Alpha Brain).Unique Ingredients in Mind Lab Pro
Unique Ingredients in Alpha Brain
Side Effects
As nootropics made from natural, research-backed ingredients, neither Mind Lab Pro and Alpha Brain have any known side effects. That said, brain chemical composition varies from person to person which implies response, reaction and experience of using these mind supplements will vary.
In particular, some Alpha Brain users have reported experiencing sleep problems, irritability, nausea and diminished appetite. Mind Lab Pro causes drowsiness for some.
Talk to your doctor before getting onto any nootropic especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication, using any supplement, or have been diagnosed with a long-term illness.
Price and Offers
Alpha Brain is available in the 30-capsule bottle (15-day serving) for $34.95 and the 90-capsule container (45-day serving) for $79.95. Mind Lab Pro costs $69 per bottle of 60 pills (30-day serving). There isn’t much difference in price when you factor the number of servings per bottle.
You get a discount when you order at least three bottles of Mind Lab Pro. Alpha Brain goes one better and has bulk discounts starting at orders of two bottles.
Mind Lab Pro offers a 60-day money back guarantee that excludes shipping costs. Alpha Brain provides refunds within 90 days (for the 90-capsule container) but under significantly more stringent conditions.
Mind Lab Pro has free shipping for orders of three bottles or more. Alpha Brain offers free shipping but this is limited to a minimum order size of $150 and that are destined for the contiguous US.
Pros and Cons
Mind Lab Pro
PROS
CONS
Alpha Brain
PROS
CONS
Final Verdict
There are dozens of nootropic brands and no single one is suitable for every person out there looking for a brain supplement. People shop for nootropics for different reasons. Also, each of our brain chemical compositions is unique. For some, Mind Lab Pro will be the nootropic to go for whereas for others, Alpha Brain is best. But looking at all the attributes of these two products, Mind Lab Pro does have the edge.
Unlink Alpha Brain, Mind Lab Pro avoids proprietary blends which inadvertently conceal the actual quantities of distinct ingredients. And even where quantity is disclosed as is the case for vitamin B6, Mind Lab Pro is more in tune with the EU’s NRV.
Also, with some users complaining of nausea, irritability, as well as appetite and sleep problems, you are more likely to have an unpleasant experience with Alpha Brain than with Mind Lab Pro. Drowsiness is the main concern with Mind Lab Pro.
While the two products don’t have much difference in pricing, Mind Lab Pro has better terms for free shipping and refunds.
Whichever product you eventually choose, talk to your doctor before getting onto any nootropic especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication, using any supplement, or have been diagnosed with a long-term illness.
Mind Lab Pro
- Enlarges knowledge retention.
- Accelerates information recall.
- Sharpens concentration.
- Spurs enthusiasm and motivation.
Alpha Brain
- Enhances memory.
- Improves focus.
- Improves focus.
- Elevates cognitive function.
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