Best Nootropic Supplements 2023 – Your Ultimate Guide
In this detailed guide, we take an in-depth look at five of the best 'nootropic' supplements on the market at the moment
Find the right product to support your goals with our in-depth guide to some of the best ‘nootropic’ supplements available at the moment.
The health and fitness supplements industry has grown a lot in recent years – and that means more choice than ever when it comes to picking a product that’s right for you.
So-called ‘nootropic’ supplements are products that usually contain a range of ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and plant extracts.
In what is an emerging category of supplements, more and more people are turning to products that can help to support their goals and targets.
On this page, we’ve picked out some of the best ‘nootropic’ supplements available on the market at the moment to help support you on your journey.
Whether you’re looking for a supplement to deliver some important vitamins or minerals, or are interested in trying a supplement containing a specific herbal extract, then you’re on the right page.
Our ‘nootropic’ supplement guide is going to focus on all of the basic things you need to know about this intriguing category of supplements, and also take a look at some of the leading products on the market at the moment.
Editor's note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. Our articles and the products featured in them are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. Always speak with a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, exercise routine, and/or taking any supplements.
So, with the introductions out of the way, let’s start taking a closer look at some of the best ‘nootropics’ on sale at the moment.
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Five Of The Best ‘Nootropic’ Supplements
| Rating | Summary | Website | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mind Lab Pro |
 
|
• 11 Ingredients • Caffeine Free • Cleanest Quality • Vegan Friendly | Buy Now | |
| Alpha Brain |
 
|
• 11 Ingredients • Caffeine Free • Reputable Brand • L-Theanine | Buy Now | |
| Form Nutrition Edge |
 
|
• Alpha GPC • 11 Ingredients • Caffeine Free • Vegan Friendly | Buy Now | |
| Hunter Focus |
 
|
• Nine Ingredients • Premium Product • Stimulant Free • Diverse Complexes | Buy Now | |
| Performance Lab Mind |
 
|
• Four Ingredients • Uses NutriGenesis • Clean Formula • Vegan Friendly | Buy Now |
What Are ‘Nootropic’ Supplements?
The word ‘nootropic’ comes from a combination of Ancient Greek words noos meaning “mind” and trope meaning “a turning”.
It’s worth pointing out that the word ‘nootropic’ is sometimes also associated with prescription medications and drugs. This page is only focused on food supplements and we’re not going to look at any ‘nootropic’ prescription medications or drugs in this guide.
Modern life can be hectic, and the idea behind taking a ‘nootropic’ supplement is that its ingredients may be able to help support some important bodily processes.
The main idea behind ‘nootropic’ supplements is that they can contain ingredients which may help to support brain-related processes and functions such as mental performance and psychological function.
Many ‘nootropic’ supplements are marketed as being able to help with things such as focus and concentration.
It’s important to note, however, that despite the claims you may hear or read, it’s usually the individual ingredients, not the products as a whole, that may bring some benefits to the table.
As we mentioned above, a so-called ‘nootropic’ is a supplement which usually contains a range of ingredients, including things such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and herbal extracts.
The basic idea behind a ‘nootropic’ supplement is that its ingredients may help to provide some important nutrients that can help to keep you firing on all cylinders.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
Some ‘nootropics’ also contain stimulants such as Caffeine as part of their ingredients formulas. Whether you go for a supplement which uses Caffeine or not will generally come down to personal preference.
The key thing to bear in mind when selecting a ‘nootropic’ supplement is usually the ingredients formula.
Most supplement makers will clearly disclose the exact ingredients on their labels so that you can do some of your own research into them and see whether you’ll think they’ll bring you a benefit or not.
Is Taking A ‘Nootropic’ Supplement Worth It?
As mentioned above, when it comes to selecting a quality ‘nootropic’ supplement, ingredients formulas are probably the most important aspect to consider.
For instance, a supplement you choose may contain a range of important vitamins and minerals in its ingredients formula.
You should be able to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need by following a varied, balanced diet and overall healthy lifestyle. But the ‘topping up’ of certain important nutrients through supplementation can help to protect against potential shortfalls from dietary sources, and support the vast number of important roles they play in the body.
Other ingredients in ‘nootropic’ supplements are often herbal or plant extracts. These are often the key inclusions in the formulas, and many of them do have some promising research behind them.
Modern life seems to be more hectic than ever (Photo: Adobe Stock)
However, the evidence supporting the benefits of herbal or plant extract ingredients can vary quite a lot, so it’s always worth doing some of your own research into each individual ingredient before committing to a supplement.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that not all ‘nootropic’ supplements live up to the hype. For instance, in Europe, there are strict regulations about what supplement companies can and cannot say about their products and the ingredients they contain.
The problem with some of the marketing regarding supplements in general is that they are often touted as ‘magic pills’ that will bring huge benefits. It’s always best to do some of your own research and take a look at some of the claims being made before making a purchase.
With all that being said, ‘nootropic’ supplements are an incredibly popular emerging category of product, and there are lots of options out there.
So, let’s now focus in on our picks of five of the best ‘nootropic’ supplements out there at the moment.
Best ‘Nootropic’ Supplements – Five Top Picks
Now that we’ve covered the basic points to bear in mind when it comes to nootropics, it’s time to focus on our pick of five of the best ‘nootropic’ supplements out there right now.
We compiled this list to include both products we’ve tried and tested, along with purely research-based inclusions, to provide a range of good-quality options.
Editor's note: Any health claims about the ingredients mentioned in this article are listed as authorised on the EU Register at the time of publishing. Additionally, you should carefully check the ingredients information shown on the official website of any product you're considering purchasing, as formulas may change from time to time and therefore may differ from what's shown on this page.
1) Mind Lab Pro
Product website: www.mindlabpro.com
Mind Lab Pro is one of the most popular nootropic supplements on the market at the moment. Made by a company called Opti-Nutra, this stimulant-free supplement contains a unique blend of vitamins, amino acids and plant extracts delivered in a vegan-friendly, clean-label formula. Among the 11 active ingredients in its formula are vitamins B6 and B12, both of which contribute to normal psychological function and normal homocysteine metabolism, as well as normal energy release and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Mind Lab Pro also contains the amino acids L-Theanine and L-Tyrosine, along with a blend of popular ‘nootropic’ plant extracts including Lion’s Main Mushroom, Rhodiola Rosea, Bacopa Monnieri and Citicoline. What’s impressive about the Mind Lab Pro formula is that it doesn’t contain any unnecessary additives or ‘filler’ ingredients. It has a clean-label, Caffeine-free formula and the exact doses of each individual ingredient are clearly shown on the label, so you know exactly what is inside each vegan-friendly capsule. As one of the market-leading supplements, Mind Lab Pro carries something of a premium price tag, but you can save a bit of money on the price per bottle if you’re willing to buy more than one at a time from the official site.
2) Alpha Brain
Product website: www.onnit.com
Alpha Brain is one of the most well-established supplements in the ‘nootropic’ space. Made by health and wellness brand Onnit, Alpha Brain is a Caffeine-free ‘nootropic’ which contains a blend of vitamins, amino acids and herbal extracts. Among its ingredients is vitamin B6, which contributes to normal energy release and normal psychological function. Alpha Brain uses 11 active ingredients in its impressive stimulant-free formula. Among them are the amino acids L-Theanine and L-Tyrosine and L-Leucine. It also includes some very popular ‘nootropic’ ingredients, including Bacopa Monnieri and Toothed Clubmoss Extract. Other ingredients include Cat’s Claw Extract. The Onnit brand is well-established in the wellness space, and Alpha Brain is one of the market leaders when it comes to supplements in this category, having been endorsed by the likes of Joe Rogan over the years. You can get Alpha Brain in a bottle containing either 30 or 90 capsules from the official Onnit website.
3) Form Nutrition Edge
Product website: www.formnutrition.com
Edge is a daily-use nootropic “enhancer” made by the UK-based supplements company Form Nutrition. Using 11 active ingredients in total, it combines herbal extracts with ‘nootropic’ ingredients and other inclusions such as a B-Vitamin complex. It’s a vegan-friendly supplement which uses Alpha GPC, Bacopa Monnieri, Ginkgo Biloba and Phosphatidylserine as the main active ingredients in its formula. It also uses a carefully-formulated selection of B Vitamins, including B6 and B12, both of which contribute to normal energy release and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Vitamin B12 also helps to support the normal functioning of the nervous system and contributes to normal psychological function. Each bottle of Edge contains 60 plant based capsules, and it’s been designed to be a “daily use” supplement to be used alongside a healthy diet and lifestyle. You can buy Edge directly from the manufacturer on the Form Nutrition website, and the glass jars are recyclable under Form’s reForm programme.
4) Hunter Focus
Product website: www.hunterevolve.com
Hunter Focus is a premium-priced, Caffeine-free supplement containing a range of nine active ingredients ranging from popular plant extracts to amino acids. The Hunter range of supplements is made by a company called Roar Ambition, who also manufacture a wide range of other fitness and lifestyle-related supplements. Among the ingredients in the Hunter Focus supplement are the amino acids L-Theanine and L-Tyrosine. Some of the plant extracts included in each capsule of Hunter Focus are Ashwagandha Extract, Lion’s Mane Mushroom and and Bacopa Monnieri, as well as Maritime Pine Bark Extract. Hunter Focus also includes Phosphatidylserine and Passion Flower Extract in its fairly straightforward ingredients formula. Each bottle of Hunter Focus contains 120 capsules, and you can get it from the official Hunter Life website.
5) Performance Lab Mind
Product website: www.performancelab.com
Performance Lab Mind is a simply-formulated, clean label, stimulant-free supplement made by Opti-Nutra, the same company behind Mind Lab Pro. Unlike some of the other supplements on this page, Performance Lab Mind contains just four active ingredients in its formula, with a focus on providing a cleanly-formulated supplement without any unnecessary additions. Performance Lab Mind does not use any stimulants in its formula and instead it leans on popular plant extracts such as Maritime Pine Bark Extract. The Performance Lab Mind supplement also contains Citicoline, L-Tyrosine and Phosphatidylserine in its simple and clear formula. The supplement is vegan-friendly and only contains two other ingredients aside from the active ones (the plant-based capsule and rice concentrate). Each bottle contain 30 capsules, and you can buy it directly from the manufacturer on the official Performance Lab website.
Some Of The Ingredients To Look For
As you have probably noticed for yourself, there is some crossover in terms of ingredients when it comes to the leading supplements in this category.
As we mentioned above, some of these ingredients have some promising research behind them, and some of them less so. Let’s now take a look at some of the most commonly-used ‘nootropic’ ingredients and assess some of the potential benefits they may bring to the table.
• Vitamin B6 – This is an important B Vitamin that we need to get from our diets. It’s also one of the most commonly-used vitamins in ‘nootropic’ supplements. B6 in particular contributes to normal energy release and normal psychological function, as well as the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
• Vitamin B12 – Again, this is another key B Vitamin which is found in certain foods. Vitamin B12 also contributes to normal energy release and normal psychological function, as well as the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It also helps with normal homocysteine metabolism.
• Niacin – Also sometimes referred to as Vitamin B3, this is another important nutrient that we need to get from our nutrition. Niacin plays a number of important roles in the body, including helping with normal psychological function and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
• L-Theanine – This is an amino acid that’s found in tea leaves. It has some promising research behind it and is one of a number of commonly-used ingredients found in ‘nootropic’ supplements. It’s also often found paired with Caffeine in the same supplement.
• Lion’s Mane Mushroom – This is an extract which comes from an edible mushroom found in the tooth fungus group. It’s commonly found in a number of the leading ‘nootropic’ supplements on the market at the moment.
• Bacopa Monnieri – Again, this is one of the most popular ‘nootropic’ supplement ingredients. It’s a plant extract which comes from a perennial herb native to the wetlands of southern and Eastern India, Australia, Europe, Africa, Asia, and North and South America.
• Citicoline – Also sometimes known as CDP-choline, Citicoline is a source of choline and cytidine. Again, it’s one of the most commonly-used ‘nootropic’ food supplement ingredients.
• Ashwagandha – This is an extract which comes from a plant called Withania Somnifera. As a nutritional supplement, Ashwagandha has some promising research behind it and it has a track-history of being used in traditional Ayurvedic practices.
• Caffeine – You probably don’t need any introduction to Caffeine. It’s one of the most popular stimulants on the planet. Not all ‘nootropic’ supplements use stimulants such as Caffeine in their formulas, but some do. When assessing the dose and doing your research, remember that you’d expect to find around 100mg of Caffeine in a regular cup of coffee.
A supplement containing vitamins and minerals can complement a healthy, varied diet (Photo: Adobe Stock)
What About Potential Side Effects?
Like most supplements, the ingredients in ‘nootropics‘ do have the potential to cause some side effects.
Although most of them contain clean and clear ingredient formulas consisting of things such as plant extracts, amino acids plus vitamins and minerals, it’s always important to do your research into each of the ingredients on the label.
Some potential side effects are more obvious. For instance, we know that too much Caffeine can cause problems. However, some of the other ingredients require more research and analysis.
As a general rule, you should not take any new supplements without first speaking to your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have any underlying medical condition, or are taking any prescription medication.
As we’ve mentioned in this article, we think it’s best to err on the side of caution and speak to your doctor before taking a new supplement or making any major lifestyle changes regardless.
It’s also very important that you carefully read the label of any product you purchase, checking all of the warnings and the directions. Make sure that you do not exceed the recommended dose shown on the product packaging.
Anything Else To Bear In Mind?
As we have mentioned above, it’s really important to do some thorough research before thinking about trying a new supplement.
We strongly advise that you speak to your doctor or a certified medical professional before thinking about taking a new supplement for the first time.
It’s also important to remember that food supplements are not intended to replace a varied, balanced diet and a healthy overall lifestyle.
It’s probably best to regard supplements as potential ‘companions’ that can help to support your already-healthy and sensible lifestyle choices.
It’s always a good idea to ensure that you’re sticking to a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise and ensuring that you’re getting enough restorative sleep.
Wrapping Things Up – Our Final Thoughts
So, that brings us to the end of our look at some of the best ‘nootropic’ supplements on the market at the moment.
We’ve walked you through the basic things you need to know about this emerging category of products, including some of the ingredients to look for and the benefits they can bring to the table.
We’ve also discussed the potential issues that may come with such supplements, and have underlined why it’s important to do some thorough research before committing to a product.
Mind Lab Pro and Alpha Brain are two market-leading nootropic supplements which have a long track-history in the industry, but all of the products on this list contain at least some interesting and promising ingredients.
