Alpha Brain and Neuriva are two blockbuster nootropic supplements based on popularity. The influencer led Alpha brain put nootropics on the map in mainstream health and wellness while Neuriva is readily available at your local grocery store.
Do they live up to their claims?
Quick Verdict
Alpha Brain is a much better nootropic, thanks to an extensive ingredients list comprised of several proven nootropics substances. Neuriva only has two active ingredients, one of which is highly speculative, and I don’t believe it can deliver tangible results in terms of brain performance.
While far from the best product on the market, Alpha Brain is a decent nootropic many people are happy using.
| Feature | Winner |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Alpha Brain |
| Dosage | Alpha Brain |
| Short-Term Effects | Alpha Brain |
| Long Term Effects | Alpha Brain |
| Third-Party Testing | Alpha Brain |
| Clinical Research | Alpha Brain |
| Side Effects | Draw |
| User Reviews | Draw |
| Price | Neuriva |
Quick Verdict
Alpha Brain is a superior nootropic supplement with a range of effective ingredients and a positive third party clinical trial.
Neuriva has 2 speculative ingredients, an in-house study, and a lawsuit. It is unlikely to be an effective nootropic and wasn’t in my experience.
What Is Alpha Brain?
Alpha Brain is a nootropic developed by Onnit Labs, a well-known manufacturer of health and fitness supplements and equipment. It is possibly the most popular nootropics supplement on the market, thanks to prominent podcaster and Onnit co-founder Joe Rogan’s endorsement.
This product is marketed as a cutting-edge, stimulant-free brain supplement that will help you get in the flow of any task and be better at it. It is one of the first nootropic supplements tested in double-blind, placebo-controlled studies.
My Alpha Brain review goes into detail on the formulation and my experiences.
What Is Neuriva?
Neuriva is a popular nootropic brain-boosting supplement available at large grocery stores such as Walmart and Target.
It is developed by the company Reckit, which also produces popular health and nutrition products such as Durex, Dettol, Mucinex and many others.
Neuriva is marketed as a brain health supplement, used daily to enhance cognitive performance in areas such as memory, focus, and learning ability.
The supplement is designed primarily for people wishing to improve their memory and mental clarity as they age.
My Neuriva review goes into detail on the formulation and my experiences.
Alpha Brain vs Neuriva Main Differences
Benefits
Alpha Brain is a comprehensive brain supplement that helps support cognitive function, including memory, mental speed, and concentration.
The formulation contains many ingredients that can potentially optimize how your brain works. Onnit likes to call the product the ultimate way to get in the zone and is a product people from different demanding fields, such as students, entrepreneurs, gamers, and working professionals, use
Neuriva is also designed to optimize brain health and give a brain boost to everyone needing it. However, the fewer components in the formulation have less potential for benefits.
The main ingredient, Neurofactor, is believed to increase the level of BDNF, which plays a critical role in the maintenance of brain cells, so the primary goal of Neuriva is to slow down age-related cognitive decline.
Ingredients
The big problem with the ingredient list on Alpha Brain is the exact dosages of each ingredient are undisclosed but are separated into three blends: Onnit Flow Bled, Focus Blend, and Fuel Blend. This still allows us to make estimations, but there is no way to be sure about dosages.
Neuriva has only two active ingredients, with the main being highly suspicious as a nootropic.
I will start with Alpha Brain’s ingredient list. Many of them are popular substances used in many nootropic formulations.
An amino acid found in green tea, L-theanine, is a powerful antioxidant incorporated in practically all nootropics due to its proven strong effects on stress relief [1] and improved verbal fluency and executive function [2]. The suggested dose is 200 mg, while Alpha Brain likely contains between 100 and 150 mg.
The second cornerstone nootropic component is L-tyrosine, which has been proven to enhance mind flexibility and multitasking [3]. I estimate roughly 250 mg in Alpha Brain.
The third popular component is the ayurvedic herb, Bacopa monnieri. Bacopa improves verbal learning, memory acquisition, and delayed recall by helping brain receptors process information [4].
Huperzine A is a component from the Alpha Brain formulation believed to potentially assist recovery from brain injuries and enhance brain function in Alzheimer’s disease patients [5,6].
Cat’s claw is a time-honored herb used to promote cognitive function and is frequently used in nootropics. Alpha Brain even lists it as a separate ingredient rather than a part of one of the blends. However, current clinical studies have not proven its efficacy.
The final two ingredients in Alpha Brain worth mentioning are Alpha GPC and Pterostilbene. Alpha GPC may enhance cognitive function and even outperform caffeine in some tasks [7].
Pterostilbene is believed to counteract cognitive decline due to aging [8].
Neuriva has a simple formulation of only two active ingredients. The first one is a coffee fruit extract. Coffee fruit grows on the same plant as coffee beans, and the extract is used as a nootropic called Neurofactor.
Studies show higher levels of BDNF, which is essential for brain function. This improves reaction times and decision-making accuracy [10, 11].
While the studies show great promise, there is one significant flaw: they were conducted and analyzed only by the company that manufactures coffee berry extract.
The other active ingredient in Neuriva is phosphatidylserine. Unlike coffee extract, phosphatidylserine is a well-studied nootropic substance that improves cognition in older adults and people with neurological disorders [11,12].
Neuriva is available in three versions: Original, Plus, and Ultra. The difference is in the quantity of each ingredient.
The Original comprises 100 mg of coffee fruit extract, the Plus contains 200 mg, and the Ultra includes an additional component called Alpinia Galanga, which is equally unsupported by research as Neurofactor.
Stimulant vs. Non-Stimulant
Alpha brain and Neuriva are non-stimulant nootropics. They do not contain caffeine or other substances known to provide an instant energy boost.
Neuriva contains coffee fruit extract, but the word coffee does not mean there is any caffeine in it. The coffee fruit contains a negligible 0.4-1% caffeine. This means for one dose of Neuriva, you will be taking 1 mg of caffeine.
Short vs. Long-Term Effects
The lack of stimulants also signifies the absence of significant or short-term effects. The natural ingredients work through accumulation in the body and gradually increase the effects.
In most cases, you can start noticing the effects during the second week of intake, and they become more pronounced around the fourth.
Keep in mind I haven’t felt the benefits of either of these nootropics, but both manufacturers suggest prolonged intake to feel the full effects.
Clinical Research
Alpha Brain was the first nootropic to release peer-reviewed research on their product. After 6 weeks, it was found using Alpha Brain dramatically improved delayed verbal recall and executive functioning when compared to a group that received a placebo [9].
The issue with the study is that Onnit funded it, so the possibility for bias is strong.
Neuriva has also gone through complete formula studies, but the bias there is even worse. The studies were paid for, conducted, and analyzed by corporations that manufacture the individual substances, and I can’t see a way for the studies to be accurate.
Neuriva has even gone through a court case after being accused of falsely marketing its product as scientifically proven to increase brain function. As an agreement on the case, the company has updated all labels and marketing materials by removing the term “clinically proven.”
Side Effects
I haven’t experienced any adverse effects from the two supplements, and none have been officially disclosed. However, when reading through user reviews, I’ve found a small percentage of people having unpleasant reactions.
Some people complain about nausea or headaches when taking Alpha Brain, but I assume these are usually people with pre-existing stomach problems.
For Neuriva, I’ve seen more than a few reviews talking about feeling light-headed or tired, so it’s good to know about this possibility.
User Reviews
While Alpha Brain and Neuriva are not my preferred nootropics, they present user reviews correctly and make all of them visible.
Alpha Brain is hugely popular thanks to being endorsed by Joe Rogan and being on the market for longer than most nootropics. It has a huge amount of user reviews.
The official product website has nearly 7000 reviews with an overall score of 3.5/5 stars. Many people did not feel the effects and had an experience similar to mine.
Things on Amazon are similar in terms of score with 4/5, but the number of reviews is almost 40,000, which means the overwhelming majority of people are happy with their purchase.
What surprises me a lot more is the level of satisfaction from Neuriva, which has a score of 4.2 on Amazon from almost 30,000 reviews. Even if the product has some benefits, such as increased levels of BDNF, they can hardly be noticed.
Of course, many don’t feel the effect or experience adverse effects, but the high overall score is a fact.
Price
| Product | Original / 1 Bottle | Plus / 1 Bottles | Ultra / 3 Bottles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Brain | $34.95 / 15 servings ($2.33/serving) | $79.95 / 45 servings ($1.78/serving) | $67.96 / 45 servings ($1.44/serving w/ subscription) |
| Neuriva | $26.31 / 28 servings ($0.94/serving) | $29.52 / 30 servings ($0.98/serving) | $49.86 / 45 servings ($1.44/serving) |
My Experience With Alpha Brain and Neuriva
My experience with the two nootropics hasn’t been positive. For the 30-day test periods, I haven’t felt any positive effects. But I assume if I take Alpha Brain for longer, it will eventually deliver cognitive enhancements.
As for Neuriva, I don’t see how the heavily skewed studies and the lackluster formulation can provide any noticeable effects. Perhaps there are certain benefits from the product in the long run, but they are more likely preventive rather than active.
Should You Choose Alpha Brain or Neuriva?
If you are limited to choosing only between Alpha Brain and Neuriva, I would strongly recommend Alpha Brain.
The Onnit product contains many proven nootropic substances known for various benefits, such as improved memory, better focus, and mind flexibility. The problem is the doses are insufficient to produce dramatic effects, and you may need to take it for a long time before feeling anything.
Neuriva, on the other hand, relies only on a speculative substance, and the fiascos surrounding their marketing claims do not breathe any confidence in me. After trying the product myself, I can safely say it’s not worth it, and there aren’t any noticeable cognitive benefits to gain from it.
My advice is to choose a nootropic with similar ingredients as Alpha Brain but better formulated, like Noocube, Nooceptin, or Mind Lab Pro.
Winner
Alpha Brain
A nootropic supplement backed by prominent podcasters and clinical research for boosting brain function.
CHECK CURRENT DEALSSecond Best Option
Neuriva
A 2 ingredient nootropic supplement that is unlikely to give you brain boosting benefits.
CHECK CURRENT DEALSReferences
- Hidese, S., Ogawa, S., Ota, M., Ishida, I., Yasukawa, Z., Ozeki, M., & Kunugi, H. (2019). Effects of L-theanine administration on stress-related symptoms and cognitive functions in healthy adults: a randomized controlled trial. Nutrients, 11(10), 2362.
- Williams, J. L., Everett, J. M., D’Cunha, N. M., Sergi, D., Georgousopoulou, E. N., Keegan, R. J., … & Naumovski, N. (2020). The effects of green tea amino acid L-theanine consumption on the ability to manage stress and anxiety levels: A systematic review. Plant foods for human nutrition, 75, 12-23.
- Steenbergen, L., Sellaro, R., Hommel, B., & Colzato, L. S. (2015). Tyrosine promotes cognitive flexibility: evidence from proactive vs. reactive control during task switching performance. Neuropsychologia, 69, 50-55.
- Morgan, A., & Stevens, J. (2010). Does Bacopa monnieri improve memory performance in older persons? Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. The journal of alternative and complementary medicine, 16(7), 753-759.
- Li, J., Wu, H. M., Zhou, R. L., Liu, G. J., & Dong, B. R. (2008). Huperzine A for Alzheimer’s disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (2).
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- Parker, A. G., Byars, A., Purpura, M., & Jäger, R. (2015). The effects of alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine, caffeine or placebo on markers of mood, cognitive function, power, speed, and agility. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 12(sup1), P41.
- Dutta, B. J., Rakshe, P. S., Maurya, N., Chib, S., & Singh, S. (2023). Unlocking the therapeutic potential of natural stilbene: Exploring pterostilbene as a powerful ally against aging and cognitive decline. Ageing Research Reviews, 92, 102125.
- Solomon, T. M., Leech, J., deBros, G. B., Murphy, C. A., Budson, A. E., Vassey, E. A., & Solomon, P. R. (2016). A randomized, double?blind, placebo controlled, parallel group, efficacy study of alpha BRAIN® administered orally. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 31(2), 135-143.
- Reyes-Izquierdo, T., Nemzer, B., Shu, C., Huynh, L., Argumedo, R., Keller, R., & Pietrzkowski, Z. (2013). Modulatory effect of coffee fruit extract on plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in healthy subjects. British Journal of Nutrition, 110(3), 420-425.
- Robinson, J. L., Hunter, J. M., Reyes-Izquierdo, T., Argumedo, R., Brizuela-Bastien, J., Keller, R., & Pietrzkowski, Z. J. (2020). Cognitive short-and long-term effects of coffee cherry extract in older adults with mild cognitive decline. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 27(6), 918-934.
- Kang, E. Y., Cui, F., Kim, H. K., Nawaz, H., Kang, S., Kim, H., … & Go, G. W. (2022). Effect of phosphatidylserine on cognitive function in the elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ????????, 54(1), 52-58.
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