This is a battle between two premium nootropics. They are well-dosed, well-researched, and well-backed by science and prominent figures in the health and wellness sector. Naturally, their price is higher than many of the other products on the market.
Is the price worth it? Which one to choose? My extensive comparisons should give you all the answers.
Qualia Mind is the ultimate all-in-one nootropic, boasting a formulation unparalleled in terms of ingredients and dosages. If you aim for every potential short-term effect and long-term brain health benefit and don’t mind paying for them, you won’t regret buying Qualia Mind.
But if the price is too high, you can go for another premium offering in Thesis for half the price. The personalization represented in six distinct formulations can enable you to use only the stuff that works best for you without the need to pay for dozens of ingredients.
| Feature | Winner |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Qualia Mind |
| Dosage | Qualia Mind |
| Short-Term Effects | Qualia Mind |
| Long Term Effects | Qualia Mind |
| Third-Party Testing | Draw |
| Clinical Research | Draw |
| Side Effects | Draw |
| User Reviews | Thesis |
| Price | Thesis |
Quick Verdict
Qualia Mind has perhaps the best formulation on the market, and no product stands much chance of winning a direct comparison of quality and effectiveness against it.
When we also include the price in the equation, Thesis becomes a worthy competitor, which can be the smarter choice for those who find the right blend for their needs.
What Is Qualia Mind?
Qualia Mind is a premium nootropic supplement with 28 ingredients in one of the most comprehensive and well-dosed formulas on the market.
The company behind Qualia Mind is called Neurohacker Collective.
They specialize in manufacturing supplements that boost cognitive performance, mental wellness, and total physical well-being, created by a team of dozens of MDs and PhDs.
Their method combines rigorous scientific research with holistic health ideas to address the underlying causes of health problems rather than just their symptoms.
Go to my full Qualia Mind review for a detailed look at the extensive ingredients list and my experience with the product.
What Is Thesis?
Thesis Nootropics was founded in 2017 by Dan Freed to provide a different outlook on cognitive performance products.
The brand takes a unique approach to nootropics, allowing you to select from a variety of formulations based on your needs.
Thesis consists of six pre-made blends, each with a unique function and formula, and you can use one, a few, or all, depending on what works for you. All formulations stick out with high doses of each ingredient, especially compared to many competitors.
Popular health and wellness advocates, like Dr. Andrew Huberman, Rich Roll, Dr. Gabirielle Lyon, and others, have endorsed the Thesis.
I’ve tried the Thesis starter pack and shared my experience with it, as well as going in-depth into the components of every blend in my Thesis review.
Qualia Mind vs. Thesis Main Differences
Benefits
Qualia Mind is a true all-in-one nootropic supplement covering every aspect of cognitive health and performance.
Qualia Mind enhances focus, memory, and mental clarity, working across several major neurological systems.
Its purpose is to support your body’s natural ability to upregulate the production of essential neurotransmitters, such as BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor), and other pathways necessary for proper brain function.
The Thesis range also covers all areas of cognition, but the approach is different. The six blends, Clarity, Creativity, Energy, Motivation, Logic, and Confidence, focus on a specific area with full power rather than simultaneously spreading more minor benefits to everything.
The branding may lead you to believe Thesis is completely customizable and you can choose ingredients, but this is not the case.
The customization is represented by the 6 formulas you can choose from, which is not as impressive as the marketing would lead you to believe but is still more personalization than any other nootropic.
Quali Mind and Thesis can be bought with or without caffeine, meaning everyone can experience their potent formulations, regardless of caffeine and stimulant tolerance or preference.
Ingredients
The two products have transparent ingredient lists, and each component’s dosage is specified. The lists are extensive, as Qualia Mind has a ton of components inside.
If we count all 6 Thesis blends, the ingredients are over 30. We will only go over the more important and proven ones.
Let’s start with Qualia Mind. I must say most of the dosages hit the levels established by clinical research, which is a rarity among nootropics.
L-theanine, an amino acid derived from green tea, is a very effective antioxidant commonly incorporated in nootropics due to its favorable effects on stress and anxiety reduction. Additionally, it boosts verbal fluency and executive function [1] [2].
L-tyrosine is another nootropic mainstay that is beneficial for mind flexibility and cognitive control [3].
Ninety percent of nootropic supplements contain Bacopa monnieri, and so does Qualia Mind. The ayurvedic herb improves verbal learning, memory acquisition, and delayed recall by helping brain receptors process information [4].
Huperzine A is thought to help with brain injury recovery and improve brain function in Alzheimer’s patients [6,7]. If the brain injury benefits are further proven, the substance may become very popular among combat athletes.
The standard versions of Qualia Mind contain 90, roughly as much as you would get from an espresso. Both present in Qualia Mind, L-theanine, and taurine make caffeine even more powerful, creating the ultimate nootropic combination.
I’ve already touched on L-theanine, but the combination with caffeine is noteworthy because the amino acid enhances the benefits of caffeine while lowering its negative effects [8][9].
Taurine also works effectively alongside caffeine and has been linked to better performance while minimizing the amount of caffeine needed to achieve the same effect [10].
Qualia Mind contains Citicoline, which optimizes brain pathways and boosts neural regeneration, focus, energy, and memory [11][12].
Rhodiola Rosea is used to aid the body in dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression [5].
Furthermore, Qualia Mind includes 100 mg of Phosphatidylserine, which has been shown to increase cognitive function.
Alpha GPC may improve cognitive function, memory, and focus [13].
Qualia Mind contains other substances such as Algae DHA, Ginkgo Biloba, L-dopa, and others, all of which contribute individually or synergistically to the formulation’s total potency and effectiveness.
Each Thesis combination contains 4 to 6 components (excluding the optional caffeine and L-theanine) chosen to improve the specific cognitive area. I will not mention every component separately but rather focus on the major ones in each mix.
The Clarity blend’s main ingredient is Alpha GPC, which has been demonstrated to improve cognitive function and physical performance [14,15].
The dosage is 500 mg, which is far greater than any other nootropic containing Alpha GPC. The other interesting ingredient is Lion Mane’s mushroom.
The Energy blend emphasizes the use of theacrine. The purine alkaloid is related to caffeine, and studies have shown it can boost energy, focus, cognitive function, response time, and endurance [16].
Additional beneficial ingredients in the Energy blend are citicoline and L-tyrosine
The Creativity blend’s primary components include the widely popular Ashwagandha root and Panax Ginseng, both of which have been shown to alleviate stress and anxiety. Dealing with them is a proven method to reignite your creativity.
The Motivation blend’s main constituents are L-Phenylalanine and Methylliberine, which should improve your mood and lower stress, making you more motivated.
The Thesis Confidence blend relies on a few speculative ingredients to deliver the stated results. These include Magnolia Bark, Sage, Saffron, Sceletium Tortuosum, Magenisum, and Ashwagandha Leaf and Root.
The final Thesis blend is the Logic blend, which uses Ginko Biloba, Phosphatidylserine, Bacopa Monnieri, and a few more ingredients in effective levels that correspond to the literature.
Stimulant vs. Non-Stimulant
The standard Qualia Mind version contains caffeine, which stimulates the nervous system and delivers fast energy, mood, and concentration boosts.
However, there is also a caffeine-free version for those who want to enjoy the product at any time of the day.
The Thesis approach to stimulants is similar. Each blend can be ordered with or without caffeine and L-theanine, which is a great option to have.
Short vs. Long-Term Effects
Nootropics mainly contain amino acids, vitamins, plants, and herbs, all of which work best when they accumulate in the body.
This is why you must take the supplements regularly and over a meaningful period of time to experience the full effects.
Of course, some effects are felt much quicker, even without caffeine in the formula. The standard Qualia Mind formula works well in the short and long term, thanks to its extensive list of components in high doses.
Thesis is also a fast-working supplement, even in non-caffeinated versions. The Starter pack includes four different blends with a week’s worth of pills each, which the company considers enough time to decide whether the blend is good for you.
I would still expect more significant results if you take a blend for over a month.
Clinical Research
All of the ingredients in the two formulations have clinical research to back them up to a different degree. Some are well-studied on humans, and others only have animal tests, but what both products lack is a complete formulation study.
Qualia Mind does have something we can latch on to, but the study was done alongside multiple lifestyle and diet changes, so the benefits cannot be attributed to the supplement alone, and the company acknowledges that.
Thesis claims each blend undergoes rigorous testing, but no results or peer-reviewed studies are published, so we can only guess how true the statement is.
Side Effects
Nootropics conquered the health and wellness market because they promised to improve brain power and health using only natural ingredients, not artificial chemicals.
This means there aren’t many severe or unexpected side effects you can suffer from.
Still, with so many ingredients in each product, you may experience dizziness, headaches, digestive issues, lightheadedness, or some other minor inconveniences.
I haven’t had any issues with either product and have found almost no user reviews complaining of adverse effects.
User Reviews
Qualia Mind has received over 2,300 reviews and a total score of 4.5/5. I read through many reviews, and most rave about the product, as one would expect from such a high-quality supplement.
Thesis receives similar praise for a lot more reviews (around 8000). It seems everyone has a favorite blend or two they feel solid effects from and others that are not as effective.
I assume this was Thesis’s idea in the first place and also matches my experience.
Price
| Product | First Purchase / 1 Bottle | One Time Purchase / Subscription | Subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualia Mind | $39.00 / 22 servings w/ subscription ($1.77/ serving) | $159.00 / 22 servings ($7.22/ serving) | $139 w/ subscription ($6.31/serving) |
| Thesis | $119 / 30 servings ($3.96/ servings) | $79 / 30 servings ($2.63/ servings) |
My Experience With Qualia Mind And Thesis
As expected, Qualia Mind works. I took the standard version, so naturally, the caffeine/ L-theanine/taurine stack picks me up almost immediately and lets me plow through my daily work and routine without effort.
While this is great, there are much cheaper ways to take the three ingredients. However, Qualia Mind also improved other more subtle elements of my cognition, such as working memory, understanding, and the ability to focus.
My experience with Thesis matches what many share in user reviews and even from the paid reviews of celebrities. Some blends work excellently for some, others don’t.
I tried the non-caffeinated Starter Pack and felt the solid effects of Logic and Clairy despite the short period I took them. At the same time, Motivation and Confidence had no noticeable effect at all.
Should You Choose Qualia Mind Or Thesis?
Qualia Mind is one of the best nootropics on the market, if not the best, if we don’t consider the price. If you also enjoy using caffeine as a stimulant, the standard version is the ultimate all-in-one supplement to make every day more productive, focused, and creative.
But whereas in most comparisons, Thesis is the much more expensive product, in this one, it is two times cheaper.
The option to get Thesis with caffeine at no extra price makes it a genuine alternative to Qualia Mind. It takes a bit of time and work to find which Thesis blends work the best, but once this is done, you can get concrete benefits for half the price.
Thesis also has excellent customer service and some nice perks, like taking a quiz to determine which blends are better for you and chatting with an online coach to help you optimize your experience. Are these really necessary?
For me, no, but some people are happy to pay extra for them, and since Qualia Mind is still much more expensive, I recommend you try out Thesis if Qualia is over your budget.
Best For Short & Long Term
Qualia Mind
Code “LBEB” saves 15%
A comprehensive stimulant-based nootropic formula for effective cognitive enhancement on all levels.
Best Customizable Option
Thesis
A potent and well-dosed nootropic divided into six different blends, which you can choose from.
CHECK CURRENT DEALSReferences
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