Noocube and Thesis are some of the nootropics that brought me many of the effects promised by their advertisements. The choice between them depends on a few factors which I discuss at length in this detailed comparison between two solid products.
At the end of it, you will be able to make the right choice about which one to buy.
Quick Verdict
Noocube is my choice because it better balances price and effectiveness. It provides a full spectrum of benefits, even if it takes a while for them to fully develop. It works across the board, improving memory, focus, and concentration.
That said, Thesis is also an excellent nootropic that can be better for many people. The 6 distinct blends let you experiment and find what works best. The company has also put a lot of effort into customer service and experience, and for many, the much higher price tag is worth it.
| Feature | Winner |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Draw |
| Dosage | Thesis |
| Short-Term Effects | Thesis |
| Long Term Effects | NooCube |
| Third-Party Testing | Draw |
| Clinical Research | Draw |
| Side Effects | Draw |
| User Reviews | Thesis |
| Price | Noocube |
Winner
NooCube is my #1 non-stimulant nootropic choice because it is an affordable all-in-one solution providing mental clarity.
Thesis is an excellent product that can be partially customized and can be a stimulant nootropic, but for most people, the extra price is not worth it.
What Is Noocube?
NooCube is a comprehensive nootropic that promotes razor-sharp focus, memory, and alertness, reduces brain fog and weariness, and improves overall brain health.
The all-natural, twelve-component, caffeine-free mix is intended for athletes, students, gamers, and working professionals from all walks of life. It has the potential to boost overall, long-term cognitive development and day-to-day performance.
The benefits of Noocube increase gradually and safely, as the supplement only contains tested and science-backed ingredients with no documented negative effects.
Find out my full experience and detailed breakdown of each ingredient in my Noocube review.
What Is Thesis?
Thesis Nootropics is a company specializing in cognitive performance products that was founded in 2017. The company offers a unique approach among nootropics, allowing you to choose from different formulations based on your brain chemistry and needs.
There are 6 pre-made blends, each with a different purpose, and you can mix and match to find what works best for you. Thesis is endorsed by popular health and wellness advocates such as Dr. Andrew Huberman, Rich Roll, Dr. Gabirielle Lyon, and many others.
I’ve tested four Thesis blends, and you can read about my experience with a full breakdown of over 30 ingredients in my Thesis review.
Noocube vs. Thesis Main Differences
Benefits
Noocube has numerous potential benefits and covers the entire range of cognitive performance. The supplement can improve focus, problem-solving skills, memory, and mental alertness.
Other benefits of Noocube include eye protection from screen-related fatigue and brain fog, making it especially appealing to people who work in front of screens all day.
The 6 Thesis blends span the whole spectrum of mental health and performance, with each blend having a tighter focus on a specific area. The blends are called Clarity, Creativity, Energy, Motivation, Logic, and Confidence. The names are self-explanatory about the specific blends’ key focus areas.
While the marketing will make you believe Thesis is truly customizable, the reality is you can choose only between the 6 blends.
But this is still a clever strategy because my experience with nootropics clearly shows different people react differently to formulations and ingredients.
With the options available, you can choose only the best blend, pick two and rotate their use, or pick any other way of administration that fits your needs. This is a level of freedom not found in any other nootropic.
Then, the option of picking every blend with or without caffeine is another solid benefit.
Ingredients
Noocube has a solid list of 12 ingredients working synergistically to boost brain power and let your cognition work at its best.
Each Thesis blend has fewer but more focused ingredients combining modern amino acids and the latest research with traditionally used herbs and plants.
An important point to make is that each Thesis blend can be ordered with or without caffeine and L-theanine in the perfect 1:2 ratio. This is the most potent instant nootropic mix, and every formulation works with it.
Noocube is currently at formulation version 3.0, which changed some of the sources to remove allergens. Let’s start by looking at what each Noocube ingredient brings.
L-theanine, an amino acid found in green tea, is a powerful antioxidant used in almost all nootropics due to its proven positive effect on stress reduction, verbal fluency, and executive function. [1][2]
The second core nootropic component is L-tyrosine, which improves mind flexibility and helps with the all-important multitasking [3].
The next active element is the ayurvedic herb Bacopa monnieri. The plant has been used individually and in formulations to increase verbal learning, memory acquisition, and delayed recall by improving the activity of brain receptors. [4]
Huperzine A is a substance linked with assisting recovery from brain injuries and enhancing brain function in patients with Alzheimer’s disease [8,9].
Cat’s claw is widely featured in nootropic formulations, including Noocube, because it has long been used to promote cognitive function. However, there is currently no clinical data to support these benefits.
Lutemax 2020 is a chemical in Noocube that has received considerable marketing attention. It is a combination of three carotenoids that benefits brain regions important for memory, listening comprehension, and visual acuity.
A study published in the Journal of Aging Research discovered older men and women with normal cognitive strength in their latter years had higher levels of the three carotenoids in the brain’s information-processing centers.
Panax ginseng, a well-studied ingredient in Noocube, has long been used to reduce stress. Recent research shows several cognitive benefits, such as improved working memory and speedier recall. [5,6,7].
Each Thesis blend has 4 to 6 ingredients (excluding the optional caffeine and L-theanine) picked to enhance the specific area it targets.
I will not list each substance individually (for this, you can check the full Thesis review) but focus only on the main ingredient in each blend.
The key ingredient of the Clarity blend is Alpha GPC, which has been shown to support cognitive function and physical performance [10,11]. The dose is 500 mg, which is much higher than in any other nootropic using Alpha GPC.
The Energy blend highlights the use of theacrine. The purine alkaloid is similar to caffeine, and studies show it can increase energy, focus, cognitive performance, and even reaction time and endurance in athletes [12].
The key ingredient of the Creativity blend is the popular Ashwagandha root, known to reduce stress and anxiety, which are common inspiration barriers. The dose in Thesis is again within the recommended range.
The Motivation blend’s star ingredients are L-Phenylalanine and Methylliberine, which should enhance mood and reduce stress, making you more motivated.
The Thesis Confidence blend uses a few speculative ingredients to provide the promised effects. These include Magnolia Bark, Sage, Saffron, Sceletium Tortuosum, Magenisum, and Ashwagandha Leaf & Root. As the name suggests, the formulation aims to make you more confident.
The last Thesis blend is the Logic blend, which harnesses the power of Ginko Biloba, Phosphatidylserine, Bacopa Monnieri, and a couple of others in efficacious doses matching the relevant clinical studies.
Stimulant vs. Non-Stimulant
Noocube is a non-stimulant nootropic, that doesn’t use the effect of caffeine to deliver a near-instant brain boost.
Thesis can be both. You have the option to order each blend with or without caffeine and L-theanine. While the stack works without fail, I would advise taking the caffeine-free version if you already drink coffee or take the pills in the evening.
I also chose to test the blends without caffeine to gauge their actual effect because I already know how caffeine and L-theanine affect me.
Short vs. Long-Term Effects
Non-stimulant nootropics work best over time. This phase lasts roughly 3 to 4 months before you may get the full benefits. Generally, the higher the doses are, the faster a product will work.
Thesis is highly confident in its products. Its starter pack contains 4 blends, so use one for a week and gauge the results. If the product is working, you will experience benefits within 1 week.
Clinical Research
All 12 of Noocube’s constituents have a scientific basis but to varying degrees. Some, such as L-theanine and Bacopa monnieri, have been extensively studied for their effects, whereas others have relatively minimal evidence.
According to the Noocube website, the effectiveness of Lutemax2020, which appears to be a core ingredient of the formulation, has been validated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo study of 59 healthy persons over 6 months [13].
Thesis contains many tested ingredients, and the site claims the company rigorously tested each blend before releasing it.
However, I couldn’t find any legitimate studies published, so I take the claims with a grain of salt.
Side Effects
Both products use natural ingredients that are generally well tolerated by most people, myself included. I haven’t experienced adverse effects from Noocube or any of the Thesis blends.
Of course, there is a possibility of suffering from adverse effects. They may include headaches, loss of appetite, and digestive issues, but they are usually minor if at all evident. If you experience persistent symptoms, you should stop taking the supplement.
User Reviews
Noocube does not allow users to view other customers’ reviews and only lists a few select ones, which, as expected, rave about the product.
So, if you want to gather some “real-world” experience with the product, you will have to do some digging online.
Thesis has access to the full database of over 8,000 reviews on its official website, but you have to scroll through them page by page and can’t filter to see only the negative ones.
The general opinions in the reviews match mine. Some blends work excellently for some people, while others don’t.
This makes sense and confirms Thesis’s thoughtful approach of first sending you a starter pack to test 4 blends and then letting you buy only the ones you like.
Price
| 1 Bottle | 3 Bottles / Subscription | 5 Bottles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noocube | $64.99 / 30 servings ($1.95/ serving) | $129.99 / 90 servings ($1.44/serving) | $194.99 / 150 servings ($1.29/serving) |
| Thesis | $119 / 30 servings ($3.96/ serving) | $79 / 30 servings ($2.63/ serving) |
My Experience With Noocube And Thesis
Both Thesis and Noocube provided positive cognitive effects for me. Noocube is a personal favorite of mine, combining tangible benefits with an affordable price, and I have used it beyond the test period to do a review.
Noocube promises to help users overcome procrastination and pointless distractions while increasing their focus and organization. I’m happy to say the promise was fulfilled for me, and I became more productive.
My attentiveness improved, and the afternoon brain fog was significantly reduced. The results are not quick or revolutionary, but they are apparent if you are self-aware.
I tried the Thesis starter pack and got mixed results. Confidence and Motivation blends did nothing for me, but the Logic and Clarity blends helped me concentrate better on demanding tasks like writing.
In retrospect, the results are pretty impressive because of the short test period for each blend. I assume the effect will be more noticeable with longer use, at least from the effective blends for me.
Should You Choose Noocube Or Thesis?
I usually recommend Noocube over other similar nootropics because it strikes a good balance between price and quality and has had a positive effect on me. It has twice as many ingredients as a single Thesis blend, although several are underdosed.
Thesis is for those who want to experiment a bit more and see which formulation works better for them. This is determined by multiple factors such as genetics and lifestyle, and chances are at least a couple of Thesis blends will be beneficial for you.
The downside is the higher price and the time and money you need to spend to figure out which is your favorite blend.
The product also has excellent customer service, gives you access to a quiz to recommend which blends are more suitable, and let’s you work with a health coach to optimize your experience.
These things are a nice touch if you don’t mind the higher price.
Winner
NooCube Brain Productivity
A non-stimulant nootropic with a comprehensive formulation for smooth energy and long-term brain health.
CHECK CURRENT DEALSSecond Best Option
Thesis
A well-dosed Nootropic with six different blends, letting you choose and use only the ones working best for you.
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.
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- Park, K. C., Jin, H., Zheng, R., Kim, S., Lee, S. E., Kim, B. H., & Yim, S. V. (2019). Cognition enhancing effect of panax ginseng in Korean volunteers with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Translational and Clinical Pharmacology, 27(3), 92-97.
- Kennedy, D. O., Reay, J. L., & Scholey, A. B. (2007). Effects of 8 weeks administration of Korean Panax ginseng extract on the mood and cognitive performance of healthy individuals. Journal of Ginseng Research, 31(1), 34.
- Kennedy, D. O., & Scholey, A. B. (2003). Ginseng: potential for the enhancement of cognitive performance and mood. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 75(3), 687-700.
- 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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- Traini, E., Bramanti, V., & Amenta, F. (2013). Choline alphoscerate (alpha-glyceryl-phosphoryl-choline) an old choline-containing phospholipid with a still interesting profile as cognition enhancing agent. Current Alzheimer Research, 10(10), 1070-1079.
- Kansakar, U., Trimarco, V., Mone, P., Varzideh, F., Lombardi, A., & Santulli, G. (2023). Choline supplements: An update. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 14, 1148166.
- Kuhman, D. J., Joyner, K. J., & Bloomer, R. J. (2015). Cognitive performance and mood following ingestion of a theacrine-containing dietary supplement, caffeine, or placebo by young men and women. Nutrients, 7(11), 9618-9632.
- Nicole T. Stringham, Philip V. Holmes, James M. Stringham, Effects of macular xanthophyll supplementation on brain-derived neurotrophic factor, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and cognitive performance, Physiology & Behavior,Volume 211, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112650.
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