There are a number of nootropic supplements on the market advertised to enhance brain health and cognitive function. Among all of these, two of the most popular ones are Prevagen and Alpha Brain.
Both of these supplements have been around for over a decade, so it seems that at least a decent amount of people must be benefiting from their use (or at least think that they are!).
But what are the similarities and differences between Prevagen and Alpha Brain? And which one is the most beneficial?
We’ll answer those questions and more in this comparison of Prevagen vs Alpha Brain below!
About Prevagen
Prevagen is advertised as a memory improvement supplement. It was originally launched back in 2007 so it’s been around for over 15 years. It’s a quite basic formula with one main ingredient called apoaequorin, which they say has been clinically studied to support memory and overall cognitive function.
Prevagen is available in three different dosage strengths, although all of the formulas contain the same active ingredients.
About Alpha Brain
Alpha Brain is a nootropic created by Onnit Labs. This formula is designed to support several aspects of cognitive function, especially memory and focus.
There are several herbs and other natural compounds in Alpha Brain, including l-theanine, alpha-GPC, and phosphatidylserine, all of which are designed to work synergistically to boost brain power and support mental performance.
Prevagen vs. Alpha Brain: Comparison
Now that you know a little bit about both supplements, it’s time to compare Prevagen and Alpha Brain head-to-head! In the following sections, we’ll compare these two supplements’ formulations, benefits, value, reputation, and other factors to see which nootropic is better.
Comparison Table
| Supplement: | Prevagen | Alpha Brain |
| Active Ingredients | 2 | 12 |
| Proprietary Blends | No | Yes |
| Regular Price | $39.95 for 30 servings | $79.95 for 45 servings |
| Price/Serving | $1.31 | $1.78 |
| Subscription Savings | 10% | 15% |
| Potential Benefits | Memory, Cognitive Function | Memory, Focus, Processing Speed, Stress Management, Clarity |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 45 Days | 90 Days |
Prevagen vs. Alpha Brain: Supplement Formulation
Prevagen and Alpha Brain have very different formulas. Prevagen is much more basic, with just two ingredients: vitamin D3 and apoaequorin.
On the other hand, Alpha Brain contains 12 active ingredients, including:
- Theanine
- Phosphatidylserine
- Alpha-GPC
- Cat’s Claw Bark
- Bacopa
- Huperzine A
- Pterostilbene
- And more
10 of the 12 ingredients in Alpha Brain are in proprietary blends, which means it’s impossible to know the doses for those ingredients. Whereas with Prevagen, you can see the doses for both ingredients.
Clinical Data
Alpha Brain and Prevagen both have clinical research behind them. A clinical study on Prevagen showed that it improved a few aspects of cognitive function in healthy individuals and people with mild cognitive impairment. However, this study has faced a bit of criticism based on the researchers trying to “squeeze out” any meaningful data, because there were a lot of areas where Prevagen didn’t have significant effects.
A clinical trial on Alpha Brain showed that it enhanced memory, focus, and other aspects of cognitive function. But this was also sponsored by Onnit, so it could potentially have some bias.
Ingredient Diversity
Clinical research aside, it appears that Alpha Brain has the potential to offer a more diverse benefit profile given the ingredients.
For example, bacopa, Huperzia, and alpha-GPC can increase acetylcholine, which helps with memory and focus. Theanine affects alpha waves and can help manage stress. And tyrosine increases dopamine and norepinephrine for greater motivation and alertness.
Prevagen just has vitamin D and apoaequorin. These seem to benefit the brain too, but you probably won’t get as many benefits with just two compounds.
Prevagen vs. Alpha Brain: Benefits
There are a couple of shared potential benefits for Prevagen and Alpha Brain, including:
- Improved Memory
- General Cognitive Enhancement
- Better Mental Processing
But Alpha Brain also seems to have a few potential benefits not found in Prevagen, such as:
- Stress Reduction
- Improved Mood & Motivation
- Elevated Alertness
- Better Focus
These extra benefits are due to the fact that Alpha Brain simply has a wider range of ingredients.
Customer Feedback & Reviews
Prevagen and Alpha Brain have tens of thousands of reviews and ratings on Amazon. Prevagen was generally rated about 4.3 out of 5, and Alpha Brain was generally rated about 4.2 out of 5.
Since both products are so popular, there were several different sellers on Amazon, which all had slightly different ratings. But those numbers above are the averages and are generally reflective of how customers rate these supplements.
A lot of people said that Prevagen did help with memory and general brain health, although some people didn’t notice much or any benefits. Additionally, Prevagen users noted a higher occurrence of side effects, including headache, constipation, and even edema and hypertension (although these last two are rare).
Alpha Brain customers noted improved memory, focus, and overall mental performance. Many people also said it seemed to help with brain fog and energy levels. Again, though, not everyone noticed the benefits. There are also some noted side effects, such as headaches and nausea.
Other Considerations
A few other considerations that we’ll go over between Alpha Brain and Prevagen are the return policies, company reputation, and benefit preferences.
Return Policies
Prevagen has a 45-day money-back guarantee, whereas Alpha Brain has quite a bit longer one at 90 days. Both give you quite a bit of time to see if the products work, but it depends on how long of a timeline you’re looking for.
Company Reputation
Alpha Brain is made by Onnit, which has a pretty good reputation. Although, they only have a 3 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot.
Prevagen isn’t rated by Trustpilot. However, there are some potential concerns with this company given that it falsely advertised the effectiveness and claims for Prevagen. Essentially, they said that their study found several benefits for memory, making it seem like a very effective product, whereas, in reality, most of the effects weren’t any better than a placebo.
Prevagen vs. Alpha Brain: Value
Prevagen is available in Regular Strength, Extra Strength, and Professional Formula. It also comes in 30- or 60-count. So, when combined, there are several options.
You can pay anywhere from $1.25 to $3 per serving, depending on the strength and product size chosen.
Alpha Brain is available in a 30-count (15 servings) or 90-count bottle. The regular prices for those are $34.95 ($2.33/serving) and $79.95 ($1.78/serving).
You can save 10% on subscriptions with Prevagen and 15% on subscriptions with Alpha Brain.
Overall, Alpha Brain appears to be a bit better value, given that it doesn’t cost a whole lot more (and in some cases is actually lower-priced) than Prevagen while providing a greater range of effective ingredients. Of course, the use of proprietary blends lowers the overall value of Alpha Brain, so it could be better too.
Prevagen vs. Alpha Brain: Which Supplement is Better?
Based on all of the factors above, Alpha Brain is better than Prevagen as a total nootropic. This formula offers more effective ingredients to support a wider range of benefits as compared to Prevagen. At the same time, Alpha Brain is less likely to cause side effects and has a better company reputation.
With that said, Prevagen certainly has potential benefits. And if you’re only looking for improved memory and general cognitive health, it might be worth buying. After all, there are a lot of positive reviews.
But for people who want all-around support for focus, memory, mood, and mental performance, Alpha Brain is the better choice as an all-around nootropic.
