You’ve heard of Alpha Brain from prominent podcaster Joe Rogan. But Nooceptin is likely a new name for you in the nootropics space. I’ve used them both and here is my verdict on two popular brain supplements.
Quick Verdict
Nooceptin is the better nootropic when compared to Alpha Brain. The ingredients list is transparent, and the dosages are much better when compared to Alpha Brain’s proprietary blends. This ensures a much higher chance of the product actually delivering on the big promises.
Many people are unhappy with Alpha Brain, and I count myself as one of them, as I have felt only minimal improvements when trying the product. At the same time, Nooceptin noticeably improved my productivity and workflow in various ways.
| Feature | Winner |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Nooceptin |
| Dosage | Nooceptin |
| Short-Term Effects | Draw |
| Long Term Effects | Nooceptin |
| Third-Party Testing | Draw |
| Clinical Research | Alpha Brain |
| Side Effects | Draw |
| User Reviews | Alpha Brain |
| Price | Alpha Brain |
Quick Verdict
Nooceptin is my nootropic choice because of the range of ingredients in the formulation and the mental sharpness I’ve felt using it.
That’s not to take a dig at Mind Lab Pro which also works well and is worth trying in your brain boosting stack.
What Is Nooceptin?
Nooceptin contains high-quality, scientifically proven substances that improve mental clarity, focus, and cognitive function. The way of enhancing brain health is more sensitive than that of caffeine-containing products and seeks long-term effects rather than short-term solutions.
SAP Nutrition produces Nooceptin, which is designed to help you do more in less time by keeping you focused, motivated, and sharp, thanks to its well-formulated ingredients list.
My Nooceptin review goes into full detail on the ingredients and experiences.
What Is Alpha Brain?
Alpha Brain is a nootropic developed by Onnit Labs, a well-known manufacturer of health and fitness supplements and sports 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 brain supplement that will put you in the flow. It is one of the first nootropic supplements to be tested in double-blind, placebo-controlled studies and one that has long been on the market and has accumulated a large number of reviews, both from professional reviewers and regular users.
My Alpha Brain review goes into full detail on the ingredients and experiences.
Nooceptin vs. Alpha Brain Main Differences
Benefits
The possible benefits of Alpha Brain and Nooceptin largely overlap. They aim to provide full-scale cognitive enhancement through natural ingredients like herbs, plants, and amino acids.
These enhancements include being more focused and less distracted, having better memory recall and retention, being calm and centered even in high-stress situations, multitasking better, and many more.
Both are non-stimulant nootropics, meaning there aren’t profound immediate effects, and the benefits are evident after the ingredients accumulate in the body.
Ingredients
My big issue with Alpha Brain is that the exact dosages of ingredients are hidden in proprietary blends. Still, it’s much better than other products with one big blend.
Alpha Brain has three blends, each with a disclosed total in milligrams. They are called Onnit Flow Bled, Focus Blend, and Fuel Blend.
Nooceptin does not deal with undisclosed blends and clearly states each ingredient’s quantity, making detailed comparisons and analyses easy.
A couple of the ingredients are shared between the two products, which is not a surprise since they are staples of many nootropics and are proven effective at enhancing various cognitive areas.
L-theanine, an amino acid found in green tea, is a potent antioxidant incorporated in practically all nootropics due to its proven strong effect on stress relief [1] and improved verbal fluency, executive function, and mood [2].
The suggested dose is 200 mg. Nooceptin matches that, while Alpha Brain likely contains around 100-150 mg in the Flow Blend.
The ayurvedic herb Bacopa monnieri is the second shared and highly potent component. It has been proven to improve verbal learning, memory acquisition, and delayed recall [4]. It also has an antioxidant and adaptogenic effect.
L-tyrosine is an important part of the Onnit Flow Blend, which improves mind flexibility and multitasking [3]. I estimate that Alpha Brain contains around 250 mg of L-Tyrosine, which is much less than the suggested 2 g, but it’s about as much as all nootropics use.
Another Alpha Brain ingredient in the Focus Blend is Huperzine A. This substance has been connected to potentially helping to heal from brain injuries and boost brain function in Alzheimer’s patients [8,9].
Cat’s claw has been listed as an individual ingredient and not a part of the blends in Alpha Brain.
The long-standing customs of different cultures traditionally used it to enhance cognitive performance, making it a frequent component of nootropic formulations.
Keep in mind that no conclusive studies back up the benefits at this time.
Other Ingredients in Alpha Brain deserving of mention are Alpha GPC and Pterostilbene. Alpha GPC shows promise in enhancing cognitive function and even outperforms caffeine in some tasks [11].
Pterostilbene may combat cognitive decline in relation to aging [12].
Nooceptin contains one of the best nootropics for anxiety and stress control, Panax ginseng. Studies demonstrate various cognitive benefits, including working memory performance and quicker recall. [5,6,7].
The other highly popular and age-old herb included in Nooceptin is Gingko Biloba. The 100 mg in the mix may improve working memory and processing speed [10].
Citicoline is a popular ingredient in nootropics, including Nooceptin, for memory enhancement, although the dose here may be too low [11].
Lion’s Mane mushroom extract shows a variety of potential benefits. Studies show enhanced cognitive functions, especially memory and brain cell regeneration [12]. Regular consumption is linked to improvements in mental functioning, memory, and mood [13].
Stimulant vs. Non-Stimulant
Both Nooceptin and Mind Lab Pro are non-stimulant nootropics that do not stimulate the central nervous system in the same way that caffeine or other stimulants do.
This can be a drawback for someone like myself who prefers things with an immediate impact. But for those who find that stimulants make them drowsy or who are sensitive to caffeine, it is a significant benefit.
Short vs. Long-Term Effects
The full impact of these non-stimulant products will only become apparent with regular use. Despite the possibility of instant improvements in attention and anxiety relief, these nootropics are designed to provide long-term productivity gains.
On both products’ websites, the clear recommendation is to use for 3 months to ensure you get the full benefits.
My experiences with nootropics, in general, show me that if a product is good, you can expect the first noticeable results in about 7 days.
I usually test for 30 days, which is less than the recommended 3 months, but it’s enough to gauge whether a nootropic has any effects.
Clinical Research
Alpha Brain was the first nootropic to publish peer-reviewed research on its product. They found taking Alpha Brain for 6 weeks significantly improved delayed verbal recall and executive performance compared to a placebo-controlled group. [14].
The problem I have with this study is it was paid for by Onnit, so the doubt for bias will always be there.
Nooceptin does not have a study on the complete formula but does have a very nice ingredients page on the official website.
There, you can read in a lot more detail about every ingredient, how it works, and what the benefits are. Links to multiple studies for each ingredient accompany all the information.
User Reviews
Alpha Brain takes a bold and correct stance by revealing all customer reviews on their website.
Because it is such a popular product, thanks to Joe Rogan’s endorsement, there are approximately 7000 reviews on the website and nearly 40,000 on Amazon, and not all of them are positive.
The overall rating is 3.5 stars on the website and 4/5 on Amazon due to many people not feeling the effects and leaving one-star reviews.
Still, the positive reviews outweigh the negative ones. With such a high number of reviews, it’s undeniable that some people are happy with the product and are enjoying the benefits.
Nooceptin is a great product, but the lack of user reviews on their website or anywhere else is annoying. However, the company is completely transparent with its formula and dosages, which is a big sign of confidence in the product.
Side Effects
The most typical side effects of nootropics containing natural substances are stomach upsets such as nausea or bloating, as well as headaches. Typically, only a small proportion of the population experiences negative effects, and I am not one of them.
However, I’ve seen more than a few reviews in which folks reported nausea or headaches after using Alpha Brain. However, I believe these are mostly people with pre-existing stomach issues.
Since there aren’t any reviews on Nooceptin’s website, I can’t determine whether or not people are complaining about it.
Price
| Product | 1 Bottle | 1 / 2 Bottles | 1 / 3 Bottles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nooceptin | $69.00 / 30 servings ($2.30/ serving) | $138.00 / 60 servings ($2.30/serving) | $197.00 / 90 servings ($2.19/serving) |
| 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) |
My Experience With Nooceptin And Alpha Brain
Even though the ingredients and overall approach of the two products are similar, my experience with them hasn’t been the same.
Nooceptin proved to be an excellent supplement for me and has helped me work better across the board. I was less distracted, which is often an issue for me. I could focus much better and process complex information without the dreaded brain fog.
The effects were not immediate or life-changing, but as a tester of products, I am mindful of my condition and can undoubtedly say I benefited from Noocube.
Sadly, I can’t say the same for Alpha Brain. I guess I am one of the people who don’t feel the effect of it. Perhaps it’s the underdosed ingredients, or just the whole formulation doesn’t work for me.
The effects on focus and productivity were minor, and I cannot be sure I can attribute them to Alpha Brain.
But I’ve seen a lot of positive reviews and have spoken to people who had better results.
Should You Choose Nooceptin Or Alpha Brain?
My recommendation is to spend a bit more money and choose Nooceptin. The transparent ingredients list and better doses of the key components can deliver many of the benefits the marketing team promises.
Alpha Brain is a decent nootropic, but it can become much better if the doses of the ingredients are increased and made visible.
I do not trust proprietary blends, and my test period of Alpha Brain did not prove fruitful. Still, it’s worth noting different people react to supplements differently, and your experience may differ.
Alpha Brain is loved by many and can be suitable for you. However, my experience and clinical studies strongly point to Nooceptin as the clear winner in this comparison.
Winner
Nooceptin
A non-stimulant nootropic with a comprehensive formulation for smooth energy and long-term brain health.
CHECK CURRENT DEALSSecond Best Option
Alpha Brain
A nootropic supplement backed by prominent podcasters and clinical research for boosting brain function.
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.
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