Nootroo vs. Alpha BRAIN

Vegetables or drugs?

Or… both??

The problem with such overgeneralized dichotomies is that they always leave out the third option: Both–the category that most of us seem to dwell in. On that note, dividing the nootropic stacks Nootroo & Alpha BRAIN based on their obvious difference in organic status (Nootroo = synthetic; Alpha BRAIN = organic) would be unnecessary.

Because really there’s only one thing I care about between these two: Which one is better?

Based on past reviews, I’d say that both products are good, but both may not be an appropriate decision here.

So let’s make a decision:

Formula Design

While the phrase “natural” comes as a stretch for any manufactured product, be it “organic” or not, the obvious key difference between these supplements is: Natural vs. Synthetic.

Alpha BRAIN emphasizes having “Earth Grown Nutrients”.

Nootroo delivers classic synthetic nootropics (i.e. racetams).

However, don’t let that be the alone deciding factor between these two. On the whole these nootropics are generally safe, nullifying most concern over their “organic” status. Rather, I’m more concerned with the primary bioactivities of each formula. Let’s see if we can pin them down:

Nootroo: Gold & Silver

Created by Bay Area geek & futurist Eric Matzner, Nootroo is a 1-2 stack-within-stack formula, delivering two synthetic-centered products for one:

• Gold. The Gold formulation supplies Noopept, a racetam-like compound with significant psychostimulatory effects. Plus caffeine & citicoline.
• Silver. The Silver chooses an actual racetam: Phenylpiracetam, in addition to caffeine (blended with L-Theanine) and more citicoline.

Noopept & phenylpiracetam are higher-grade racetam drugs, the latter earning a spot on the WADA Banned Substances lists for competing athletes. Adding citicoline is a smart move given the compound’s supply of choline precursor material, allowing the brain to keep up with Noopept & phenylpiracetam’s demands for increased neurotransmitter acetylcholine production.

Read my in-depth review on Nootroo.

Alpha BRAIN: Flow, Focus, & Fuel

Produced by Onnit, popularized by the likes of Joe Rogan, Alpha BRAIN is another big name in the manufactured nootropic industry. Whereas Nootroo delivers 2 separate formulas, Alpha BRAIN condenses 3 (*sigh* proprietary) blends into one formula, including:

• Flow Blend. L-Theanine & oat straw extract for alpha brainwave flow. Plus L-tyrosine & phosphatidylserine for additional support.
• Focus Blend. Neurotransmitter optimization via alpha-GPC, bacopa, & hup-A.
• Fuel Blend. Cerebral circulation (vinpocetine) & antioxidant neuroprotection (pterostilbene), plus, um… leucine? Perché?

Additionally, Alpha BRAIN features a patented (ac-11®) extract of Cat’s Claw, an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant herb that may possess significant neuroprotective value.

Read my in-depth review on Alpha BRAIN.

Unique Features

There’s very little overlap between these products, the only shared ingredient being L-Theanine. Even the choline sources vary between Nootroo & Alpha BRAIN, each supplying their own unique experience.

While not every feature deserves recognition here, there are a few important items that are relatively unique to each formula. Starting with Nootroo, those items are:

Nootroo

• Noopept. While not a true racetam, Noopept is believed to supply the cognitive effects of piracetam & aniracetam more immediately w/ an element of psychostimulation.
• Phenylpiracetam. One of the more potent racetams, delivering exceptional boosts on mental stimulation with a reasonable safety rating.
• Citicoline. I’m a big fan of citicoline, rating it as an essential compound to stack with racetams to avoid the racetam brain burnout side effect.
• Caffeine. You know what caffeine is. Nootroo has it, Alpha BRAIN does not.

Alpha BRAIN

• ac-11® Cat’s Claw. Only Onnit can supply the ac-11 extract of Cat’s Claw, making Alpha BRAIN entirely unique to the nootropic market.
• Oat Straw extract. L-Theanine is great for alpha brainwaves, and oat straw extract only bumps it up a notch, particularly for the older users.
• Phosphatidylserine. A key compound to brain cell membranes that may enhance brain health & function when supplemented.
• Alpha-GPC. Nootroo uses citicoline. Alpha BRAIN sides with alpha-GPC, which misses out on citicoline’s cytidine, but supplies more choline per serving.
• Vinpocetine. Potent circulatory enhancer, able to enact significant brain benefits in tiny doses.
• Pterostilbene. Pterostilbene is an analogue of resveratrol, except it’s believed to be 4x more bioavailable, possessing a significantly higher antioxidant capacity.

Potency & Quality

Before I get into potency & quality, I need to first discuss quantity.

Because both products have an issue with it (and that issue rhymes with “shmoshmiety”).

That’s right, both Nootroo & Alpha BRAIN resort to proprietary blends, hiding their individual ingredient dosages underneath this nefarious practice, rationalized by the desire to hide proprietary secrets from competitor manufacturers.

Sure, fine. I understand that. But I also don’t like it.

So both Nootroo & Alpha BRAIN begin this section tied at negative points.

Yet, they redeem themselves by supplying adequate overall dosages for their ingredients as well as a couple premium patented ingredients (Nootroo has SmoothCaffeine; Alpha BRAIN has ac-11). Nootroo is a little harder to criticize in this category as they provide fewer ingredients than Alpha BRAIN, and thus are subjected to fewer errors in manufacturing.

And Alpha BRAIN does have a few errors: B6 as pyridoxine HCl needs to be P-5-P form, L-Tyrosine needs to be N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine. But on the whole, I’d say both products are comparable in terms of potency & quality (although, Alpha BRAIN Instant is more potent & premium than regular Alpha BRAIN).

Value: Nootroo vs. Alpha BRAIN
	Price	Servings	Price Per Serving
Nootroo	$64.95	30	$2.17
Alpha BRAIN	$32.95	15	$2.20

 

Nootroo or Alpha BRAIN: Which is better?

Nootroo is synthetic brainpower

There are ways to supplement synthetic drugs without selling your soul, and Nootroo is one of those ways, mixing an impressive, short-sweet stack of well-researched nootropic drugs & compounds. The Gold & Silver design is very brain hacky & Silicon Valley-ey, which I can dig. Essentially, Nootroo is the zeitgeist formula of Bay Area biohackerdom, available to the rest of the world via the magical portals of online shopping.

Alpha BRAIN is Earth grown flower power

Compared to Nootroo’s acute effects on psychostimulation, Alpha BRAIN‘s benefits feel relatively intangible (it doesn’t even have caffeine fer shite’s sake). This has drawn plenty of ire from users used to synthetic nootropics, who feel that Onnit’s product is bunko garbage. Yet, Alpha BRAIN is backed by plenty of positive customer reviews as well for its noticeable boosts on relaxing free-flow cognition.