logo

Health & Wellness

The Top-Rated Nootropic Supplements of 2023

Peter Gold
Health Editor

Peter is a practitioner of naturopathic medicine, applying his craft in the Pacific Northwest. His passion is preventive care and self-healing. His philosophy is healthy habits help people live their lives to the fullest.

How We Found the Best Nootropic Supplements

Table of Contents

One of the most popular supplement categories today is focused on brain and memory health. These kinds of supplements are called nootropics, and they seek to improve memory, focus, mental energy, and problem-solving skills.1

The demand for nootropics comes not only from the 73 million baby boomers living in America but also college students, investment bankers, career-minded individuals to even busy moms all looking to gain an edge.2

The popularity has led to hundreds of nootropic supplements flooding the marketplace. While these supplements all promise to deliver benefits, the reality is that many fall short. Some of the most popular brands use ineffective or insufficient doses of ingredients, and many contain low-quality fillers.

With so many options, it seems many of us might still be unclear about what to look for in a quality brain and memory supporting supplement. To help cut through the clutter, we have compiled months of research about which are the key ingredients that have been shown in studies to benefit your cognitive health.

This short guide will help you know what to look for and what to avoid so you can make an informed decision when it comes to your nootropic needs. We will also list out the top 5 nootropic supplements sold today.

Let’s take a moment to understand precisely how nootropics work to improve your cognitive health and why it’s essential to add it to your daily routine.



A Good Nootropic Helps To:

Improve Memory9

Promote Focus and Alertness10

Enhance Learning17

Support Verbal Recall14

Support Analytical Thinking17

Boost Mental Energy9

Enhance Creativity11

Reduce Stress7

Fight Cognitive Decline6

Top 3 Criteria For A Quality Nootropic Supplement

We spent months researching nootropic supplements and gathering user feedback. There are specific ingredients that, when present in a formula, help differentiate high-quality nootropic supplements from generic ones. Below are the three most essential ingredients to consider before deciding on which nootropic brand is best for your needs.

4 Things To AVOID
When Buying A Nootropic Supplement

1. Formulas Lacking Essential Vitamins

The brain needs a steady supply of neuro-vitamins and nutrients so it can function properly. Avoid any formula which does not include a complex of B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, choline, and zinc.27-29

2. Not Backed By A Doctor

Creating an effective nootropic supplement requires a solid understanding of which ingredients to use and in what level of potency. Avoid a brand which is not supported by a credible doctor.

3. Insufficient Return Policy

A reputable nootropic supplement brand will demonstrate they have faith in their product by offering a 100% money-back guarantee policy. Some try to complicate their refund policies by placing limitations on what kind of returns they will take. Avoid any brand that does not have at minimum a no questions asked 90-day money-back guarantee.

4. Depending on Amazon Reviews

Research showed that in March 2019, there were 1.8 million new unverified reviews, with an average of 99.6% of them being 5-star reviews.30 Most of these reviews are from people paid to write them. These fake reviews inflate the number and overall star rating of a product. When deciding on a supplement that can impact your health, don’t rely on Amazon reviews as they can be extremely misleading.

2023’s Top Five Nootropic Supplements

Our review encompassed 89 different nootropic supplements, putting each through our rigorous Review Scout assessment process. To determine 2023’s Top 5 Nootropic Supplements, we look for predicted effectiveness, supporting studies, safety, pricing, return policy, and overall customer satisfaction.

#1 Stonehenge Health Dynamic Brain

A+

Overall Grade

#1 Stonehenge Health Dynamic Brain

  • OVERALL RATING 9.6/10
  • Predicted Effectiveness 9.7/10
  • Ingredient Quality 9.6/10
  • Value 9.5/10
  • Return Policy 9.8/10
  • User Rating 9.6/10
PROS
  • 40 Vitamins and Nutrients
  • Contains Phosphatidylserine, Bacopa Monnieri, and Huperzine A
  • Includes the nutrient Choline
  • Endorsed by a Doctor
  • Vegetarian Capsules, Non-GMO, Gluten, Lactose, and Antibiotic Free, No artificial ingredients or fillers
  • Verified 90-day 100% money-back return policy
CONS
  • Often out of stock due to high demand
Why We Chose It

Stonehenge Health’s Dynamic Brain is Review Scout’s top choice. This formula contains a potent dose of 40 different vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, including all three of the essential ingredients Phosphatidylserine, Bacopa Monnieri, and Huperzine A.

Dynamic Brain also includes the nutrient Choline, needed to make the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which plays a crucial role in memory.
We were impressed that this formula included a robust Vitamin B
complex and a large variety of other essential vitamins and nutrients
that studies have demonstrated play a protective role against cognitive
decline.5

We were able to verify that Stonehenge Health’s formula does not
contain any synthetic fillers or artificial ingredients and is non-GMO.
Stonehenge Health backs its products with a no-questions-asked, 90-day
money-back guarantee and is one of the few brands to be
endorsed by a board-certified doctor. We also like that they offer
customers discounts on bundles. Click on the link below to see their
current specials.

*Results are based on user-generated experiences with these products, and individual results may vary.
Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.

#2 Qualia Mind

A-

Overall Grade

#2 Qualia Mind

  • OVERALL RATING 8.7/10
  • Predicted Effectiveness 9.4/10
  • Ingredient Quality 9.5/10
  • Value 6.8/10
  • Return Policy 9.8/10
  • User Rating 8.2/10
PROS
  • 28 Vitamins and Nutrients
  • Contains All 3 Essential Ingredients
  • Vegetarian Capsules, Non-GMO, and Vegan
  • Endorsed by a Doctor
CONS
  • Very expensive monthly price
  • Must take 7 pills per dose
  • Mixed consumer reviews
  • Return policy limited to first time purchase only
Why We Chose It

Qualia Mind is a popular brand thanks in part to their heavy web
advertising. The product contains a robust array of 28 different vitamins
and nutrients, including all three of our top recommended ingredients.
However, Qualia has about 30% fewer ingredients than the top-ranked
brand on our list, yet it is more than three times the price for a 30-day
supply. Qualia enrolls customers in a monthly auto-ship program, which
has an introductory price of $69.50 for the first month and $119.00 for
each month after that. If you are not a fan of having your card
automatically charged each month, then the price for a 30-day supply
is a jaw-dropping $139.00. Qualia Mind is endorsed by a physician and is
GMO and gluten-free. However, consumers have provided mixed
reviews on how well the product works. The company offers a limited
100-day money-back guarantee, as it only applies to your very first
order.

*Results are based on user-generated experiences with these products, and individual results may vary.
Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.

#3 Genius Consciousness

B+

Overall Grade

#3 Genius Consciousness

  • OVERALL RATING 8.4/10
  • Predicted Effectiveness 8.1/10
  • Ingredient Quality 8.7/10
  • Value 8.4/10
  • Return Policy 9.8/10
  • User Rating 7.1/10
PROS
  • Contains Phosphatidylserine
  • Contains Huperzine A
  • Non-GMO, Soy and Gluten-Free
CONS
  • Does not contain Bacopa Monnieri
  • Does not come in capsule form
  • Does not contain essential vitamins and nutrients
  • Conflicting return policies
Why We Chose It

Genius Consciousness by The Genius Brand is a popular product that contains ten different ingredients, including two out of the three critical ingredients. It is missing the inclusion of the essential Bacopa Monnieri. We were disappointed to see a lack of essential vitamins and nutrients, such as a B complex. A drawback of this product is that it does not come in a convenient capsule but rather a watermelon flavored powder, which some may find a hassle to mix with water each day. Consumers have also reported mixed reviews on the taste. The return policy for Genius Consciousness is unclear as their website product page indicates a 30-day return policy, but elsewhere on the site indicates a 90-day return period.

*Results are based on user-generated experiences with these products, and individual results may vary. Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.

#4 InstantATT

C

Overall Grade

#4 InstantATT

  • OVERALL RATING 7.7/10
  • Predicted Effectiveness 7.5/10
  • Ingredient Quality 8.1/10
  • Value 7.5/10
  • Return Policy 7.2/10
  • User Rating 8.2/10
PROS
  • Contains Bacopa Monnieri
  • Caffeine Free for those abstaining
CONS
  • Does not contain Phosphatidylserine
  • Does not contain Huperzine A
  • Limited 30-day return policy
Why We Chose It

InstantATT contains seven different ingredients intended to improve memory and focus. We liked that it includes Bacopa Monnieri and a choline source. However, the formula is lacking our top-ranking ingredients Phosphatidylserine and Huperzine A. This formula uses a vegetarian capsule, but there is no mention of the ingredients being non-GMO. This manufacturer claims their product is thirty times more effective at boosting alertness but have no substantiation to back up this claim. We are very wary when a manufacturer makes sensational claims that can’t be supported with actual studies. InstantATT backs their product with a very limited 30-day refund period.

*Results are based on user-generated experiences with these products, and individual results may vary.
Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.

#5 Addrena Focus Pep

C-

Overall Grade

#5 Addrena Focus Pep

  • OVERALL RATING 7.1/10
  • Predicted Effectiveness 7.3/10
  • Ingredient Quality 6.8/10
  • Value 7.1/10
  • Return Policy 6.8/10
  • User Rating 7.4/10
PROS
  • Contains Huperzine A
  • Good for consumers looking for a stimulant nootropic
CONS
  • Doesn’t contain Phosphatidylserine or Bacopa Monnieri
  • Contains Guarana which may not be safe for all users
  • Consumer complaints of nausea.
  • Limited 30-day Return Policy
Why We Chose It

Addrena Focus Pep primarily markets to students and athletes. It has a total of ten ingredients, with half of them being stimulants. We liked that the product contains Huperzine-A but was disappointed that it did not include Bacopa Monnieri or Phosphatidylserine. This product has two potentially unsafe ingredients, Guarana and Bitter Orange, and does not list the amounts used. Both are stimulants and may not be safe for some with certain medical conditions or those sensitive to high levels of caffeine. Some users of Addrena Focus Pep have reported diarrhea and feeling nauseous. This product comes in tablet form and uses the binder dicalcium phosphate, which can also cause a gastrointestinal disturbance. Lastly, Addrena Focus Pep backs their product with a minimal 30-day refund period, but only if you use no more than 14 tablets.

*Results are based on user-generated experiences with these products, and individual results may vary. Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.

Citations
  1. Suliman, Noor Azuin, Che Norma Mat Taib, Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas, Mohd Ilham Adenan, Mohamad Taufik Hidayat Baharuldin, and Rusliza Basir. 2016. “Establishing Natural Nootropics: Recent Molecular Enhancement Influenced By Natural Nootropic”. Evidence-Based Complementary And Alternative Medicine 2016: 1-12. Hindawi Limited. doi:10.1155/2016/4391375.
  2. Bureau, U.S. 2020. “By 2030, All Baby Boomers Will Be Age 65 Or Older”. The United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/12/by-2030-all-baby-boomers-will-be-age-65-or-older.html.
  3. Kulkarni, Reena, KJ Girish, and Abhimanyu Kumar. 2012. “Nootropic Herbs (Medhya Rasayana) In Ayurveda: An Update”. Pharmacognosy Reviews 6 (12). http://www.phcogrev.com/article/2012/6/12/1041030973-784799949.
  4. Singh-Manoux, A., M. Kivimaki, M. M. Glymour, A. Elbaz, C. Berr, K. P. Ebmeier, J. E. Ferrie, and A. Dugravot. 2012. “Timing Of Onset Of Cognitive Decline: Results From Whitehall II Prospective Cohort Study”. BMJ 344 (jan04 4): d7622-d7622. BMJ. doi:10.1136/bmj.d7622.
  5. Del Parigi, Angelo, Francesco Panza, Cristiano Capurso, and Vincenzo Solfrizzi. 2006. “Nutritional Factors, Cognitive Decline, And Dementia”. Brain Research Bulletin 69 (1): 1-19. Elsevier BV. doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2005.09.020.
  6. Gómez-Pinilla, Fernando. 2008. “Brain Foods: The Effects Of Nutrients On Brain Function”. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 9 (7): 568-578. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1038/nrn2421.
  7. Sandi, Carmen. 2007. “Memory Impairments Associated With Stress And Aging”. CRC Press/Taylor & Francis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK3914/#ch12.r3.
  8. Panossian, Alexander, and Georg Wikman. 2010. “Effects Of Adaptogens On The Central Nervous System And The Molecular Mechanisms Associated With Their Stress—Protective Activity”. Pharmaceuticals 3 (1): 188-224. MDPI AG. doi:10.3390/ph3010188.
  9. 2020. Ujconline.Net. http://ujconline.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/3-UJEAS-1314-Rv.pdf.
  10. McGlade, Erin, Allison Locatelli, Julia Hardy, Toshikazu Kamiya, Masahiko Morita, Koji Morishita, Yoichiro Sugimura, and Deborah Yurgelun-Todd. 2012. “Improved Attentional Performance Following Administration In Healthy Adult Women”. Food And Nutrition Sciences 03 (06): 769-773. Scientific Research Publishing, Inc,. doi:10.4236/fns.2012.36103.
  11. Beaty, Roger E., Yoed N. Kenett, Alexander P. Christensen, Monica D. Rosenberg, Mathias Benedek, Qunlin Chen, and Andreas Fink et al. 2018. “Robust Prediction Of Individual Creative Ability From Brain Functional Connectivity”. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences 115 (5): 1087-1092. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi:10.1073/pnas.1713532115.
  12. Glade, Michael J., and Kyl Smith. 2015. “Phosphatidylserine And The Human Brain”. Nutrition 31 (6): 781-786. Elsevier BV. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2014.10.014.
  13. Cenacchi T, et al. 2020. “Cognitive Decline In The Elderly: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Multicenter Study On Efficacy Of Phosphatidylserine Administration. – Pubmed – NCBI “. Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov. Accessed February 7 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8323999.
  14. Kato-Kataoka, Akito, Masashi Sakai, Rika Ebina, Chiaki Nonaka, Tsuguyoshi Asano, and Takashi Miyamori. 2010. “Soybean-Derived Phosphatidylserine Improves Memory Function Of The Elderly Japanese Subjects With Memory Complaints”. Journal Of Clinical Biochemistry And Nutrition 47 (3): 246-255. The Society for Free Radical Research Japan. doi:10.3164/jcbn.10-62.
  15. F, Russo. 2020. “Bacopa Monniera, A Reputed Nootropic Plant: An Overview. – Pubmed – NCBI “. Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov. Accessed February 7 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15898709.
  16. Stough C, et al. 2020. “The Chronic Effects Of An Extract Of Bacopa Monniera (Brahmi) On Cognitive Function In Healthy Human Subjects. – Pubmed – NCBI “. Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov. Accessed February 7 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11498727.
  17. Peth-Nui, Tatimah, Jintanaporn Wattanathorn, Supaporn Muchimapura, Terdthai Tong-Un, Nawanant Piyavhatkul, Poonsri Rangseekajee, Kornkanok Ingkaninan, and Sakchai Vittaya-areekul. 2012. “Effects Of 12-Weekbacopa Monniericonsumption On Attention, Cognitive Processing, Working Memory, And Functions Of Both Cholinergic And Monoaminergic Systems In Healthy Elderly Volunteers”. Evidence-Based Complementary And Alternative Medicine 2012: 1-10. Hindawi Limited. doi:10.1155/2012/606424.
  18. Aguiar, Sebastian, and Thomas Borowski. 2013. “Neuropharmacological Review Of The Nootropic Herb Bacopa Monnieri”. Rejuvenation Research 16 (4): 313-326. Mary Ann Liebert Inc. doi:10.1089/rej.2013.1431.
  19. Vollala, Venkata Ramana, Subramanya Upadhya, and Satheesha Nayak. 2011. “Enhancement Of Basolateral Amygdaloid Neuronal Dendritic Arborization Following Bacopa Monniera Extract Treatment In Adult Rats”. Clinics 66 (4): 663-671. FapUNIFESP (SciELO). doi:10.1590/s1807-59322011000400023.
  20. Vishnupriya, P., and V. Padma. 2017. “A Review On The Antioxidant And Therapeutic Potential Of Bacopa Monnieri”. Reactive Oxygen Species 3 (8): 111‒120-111‒120. https://www.aimsci.com/ros/index.php/ros/article/view/75.
  21. Sun QQ, et al. 2020. “Huperzine-A Capsules Enhance Memory And Learning Performance In 34 Pairs Of Matched Adolescent Students. – Pubmed – NCBI “. Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10678121.
  22. Thuy Trang Nguyen, Tuong Kha Vo. 2017. “Current Advances In Transdermal Delivery Of Drugs For Alzheimer’s Disease”. Indian Journal Of Pharmacology 49 (2): 145. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5497436/.
  23. Xu, Zhi-Qiang, Xiao-Min Liang, Juan-Wu, Yuan-Feng Zhang, Chun-Xia Zhu, and Xiao-Jiang Jiang. 2011. “Treatment With Huperzine A Improves Cognition In Vascular Dementia Patients”. Cell Biochemistry And Biophysics 62 (1): 55-58. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1007/s12013-011-9258-5.
  24. “Huperzine A, A Novel Promising Acetylcholinesterase… : Neuroreport”. 2020. LWW. https://journals.lww.com/neuroreport/Abstract/1996/12200/Huperzine_A,_a_novel_promising.20.aspx.
  25. Ved HS, et al. 2020. “Huperzine A, A Potential Therapeutic Agent For Dementia, Reduces Neuronal Cell Death Caused By Glutamate. – Pubmed – NCBI “. Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9141073.
  26. Yang, Guoyan, Yuyi Wang, Jinzhou Tian, and Jian-Ping Liu. 2013. “Huperzine A For Alzheimer’S Disease: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Clinical Trials”. Plos ONE 8 (9): e74916. Public Library of Science (PLoS). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0074916.
  27. Yang, Guoyan, Yuyi Wang, Jinzhou Tian, and Jian-Ping Liu. 2013. “Huperzine A For Alzheimer’S Disease: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Clinical Trials”. Plos ONE 8 (9): e74916. Public Library of Science (PLoS). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0074916.
  28. Gibson, Gary E., Joseph A. Hirsch, Pasquale Fonzetti, Barry D. Jordan, Rosanna T. Cirio, and Jessica Elder. 2016. “Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) And Dementia”. Annals Of The New York Academy Of Sciences 1367 (1): 21-30. Wiley.
    doi:10.1111/nyas.13031.
  29. Harrison, Fiona, Gene Bowman, and Maria Polidori. 2014. “Ascorbic Acid And The Brain: Rationale For The Use Against Cognitive Decline”. Nutrients 6 (4): 1752-1781. MDPI AG. doi:10.3390/nu6041752.
  30. Amazon Flooded With Millions Of Fake Reviews In 2019 – Reviewmeta Blog “. 2019. Reviewmeta.Com. https://reviewmeta.com/blog/amazon-flooded-with-millions-of-fake-reviews-in-2019/.