The world of nootropics is filled with duds and snake oil. There are a lot of companies out there that claim to have produced a nootropic that will alter your brain like no other but fail to even come close.
Many supplement companies just fill their nootropics with loads of caffeine in hopes that you won’t notice it doesn’t really work when your heart is pumped and blood pressure is elevated.
Because there are so many different nootropics out there, it can be hard to distinguish the bad from the good and the good from the amazing.
Today I am going to reveal the top 10 nootropics currently available. Let’s get started!
Table of contents
1. Mind Lab Pro
Having tried almost every single popular nootropic available for purchase, Mind Lab Pro is definitely one of the best around. If you look at the ingredients, you’ll notice that it’s a pretty simple concoction — nothing too out of the ordinary. That is exactly why we like it. Mind Lab Pro gives you everything you need and nothing you don’t. Many nootropics are full of “fillers” which sound like great ingredients on the label but actually do nothing except keep costs down for the supplement company. Mind Lab Pro has no additives, it’s caffeine free, and it is the only nootropic we’ve reviewed that has a 100% clean label.
2. Optimind
If you want energy with your focus, Optimind is our recommendation. It has just the right amount of caffeine so that you get a nice boost but don’t feel overly caffeinated during the day. The mixture of ingredients such as Bacopa, Vinpocetine, and Huperzine A allow for a heightened focus with the energy that comes with Optimind. We’ve tried Optimind with and without drinking coffee (or energy drinks). When taking it with another caffeine source, such as coffee, our testers felt “wired” so we recommend only taking Optimind if you’re not getting caffeine from other sources during the day.
3. Lumonol
Energy, focus, and productivity all reach new heights when Lumonol is involved. One of our testers even mentioned how Lumonol was similar to taking his prescribed ADHD medication, Adderall. Lumonol has one of the more complex ingredients list we’ve seen. However, complex doesn’t mean bad. In this case, complex means good. One of the best ingredients seen in Lumonol is Noopept. This supplement is, in our experience, one of the best nootropics for increasing focus. Funnily enough, it is rarely included in many of the most popular nootropics.
4. Alpha Bain
Out of all the nootropics on this list, chances are you’re familiar with this one the most. Why? It’s been popularized by it’s massive following due to podcast advertisements and celebrity endorsements. The real question is, does it work? Yes, it does. Alpha Brain is popular for more than just good marketing. The company behind it, Onnit, has combined great ingredients such as L-Leucine, L-Theanine, and L-Tyrosine to form a nootropic that pushes the limits when it comes to cognitive performance. It also contains no stimulants, like Mind Lab Pro.
5. TruBrain
Easily one of the most unique nootropics that we’ve ever tried, TruBrain is the first drinkable brain boosters available. If you’re like me and enjoy parsing out supplement usage throughout the day, TruBrain might be right for you. Being a drink, it allows you to take sips when and as you need to. Its convenient packaging also means you can carry it around in your backpack, briefcase, or pockets. Carrying around capsules isn’t as easy. In terms of ingredients, TruBrain (like Lumonol) includes the “brain boosting” Noopept.
6. SPRINT by Nootrobox
If you’re looking for the a nootropic that takes the basics of energy and focus to another level, SPRINT might be what you want. It’s ingredient list is short and sweet: Caffeine, L-Theanine, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vinpocetine, and L-Tyrosine. However, all of those ingredients are just what the brain needs for no-crash energy and focus. In fact, many die-hard nootropics users are fans of just using Caffeine and L-Theanine (the first two ingredients in SPRINT). This is because L-Theanine mellows out the side effects of caffeine and even helps reduce crashing.
7. RISE by Nootrobox
Possibly the simplest nootropic that can be purchased, RISE includes just three ingredients (Bacopa Monnieri, Rhodiola Rosea, and A-GPC). To the naked eye, it may seem like there’s no reason why this nootropic should be on our “best of 2017” list. But it is. That is because we like simple nootropics that work and RISE just works. It takes the top three popular nootropic ingredients around, puts them together, and makes a darn good nootropic. RISE is perfect for those who are a bit confused by the endless ingredients on some nootropic labels and just want the basics.
8. CILTEP
Touted as one of the best brain boosting supplements around by entrepreneur and human guinea pig, Tim Ferriss, CILTEP just works. When looking at the label, you’ll see some of the same ingredients that the other nootropics on this list have except when it comes to Artichoke Extract and Forskolin. These two ingredients add another layer to the energy and focus that many of the nootropics provide. That added layer is creativity. Taking CILTEP has personally helped me become much more creative and focused at the same time. It allows me to write for much longer periods without becoming mentally fatigued.
9. Modafinil
The secret “smart drug” that many CEO’s and startup founders swear by, Modafinil is one of the original drugs that began the world of nootropics. Modafinal is not actually a supplement but rather a drug that (currently in America) you need to be prescribed. It is often given for Shift Work Sleep Disorder. This is a sleep disorder that occurs most often in those who have to work odd hours and must be awake while working (e.g. truck drivers that have to work odd and unexpected hours). Modafinil is known for being the “best of the best” when it comes to nootropics but it is only available to those who are prescribed. For that reason, it is near the end of our “best nootropics” list.
10. Noopept
Last but certainly not least is Noopept. I mentioned this nootropic above when talking about Lumonol and TruBrain (both of which contain it). In my experience, it is such a powerful nootropic that it actually doesn’t even need to be combined with any other ingredients for its effects to be felt. Some say that it is as powerful as Modafinil when it comes to providing high quality focus and concentration.
I’ve used Lumonol before at the library. That one really took me to the next level! I banged out a midterm paper in two hours. It was like 4,000 words!