Athletic Greens, recently re-branded to AG1, is a greens superfood powder that’s incredibly popular both within the US and globally.
Athletic Greens were actually one of the first greens powders I ever tried, and I became a fan of it instantly.
In fact, Athletic Greens is featured in many best greens powder lists – see here!
However, once I’d finished my pouch of Athletic Greens and decided to take a closer look at both the formula and the other greens powders on the market, I realized that there were a few things that let down Athletic Greens.
So, in this article, we’ll look at Athletic Greens and figure out why some people might be put off buying it, as well as look closely at some green powders that make a better Athletic Greens alternative.
Taking A Closer Look At Athletic Greens (AG1)
Athletic Greens is an NSF Certified for Sport® super greens formula. The formula contains 75 ingredients, including prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, and adaptogens.
It’s also suitable for a wide range of people as it’s vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, keto-friendly, paleo-friendly, and non-GMO.
Each ingredient in Athletic Greens is supposed to provide significant health benefits of its own. Still, the formula as a whole is supposed to boost the immune system, improve energy levels, enhance performance, push toxins from the body, support the digestive system, and reduce stress levels.
The formula also tastes great – it’s actually one of my favorite tasting super greens formula on the market! It’s flavored and sweetened with papaya, cherry, pineapple, vanilla, and stevia extract, and it’s super pleasant to drink.
So, Why Might You Want To Find An Alternative To Athletic Greens?
There are two main reasons why you may want to find an alternative to Athletic Greens. The first reason is due to the fact that the formula contains proprietary blends, meaning the ingredients label is not fully disclosed.
When a formula contains proprietary blends, it’s unclear how much of each ingredient exists within the formula. Therefore, it’s impossible to work out the efficacy of the formula.
Personally, I want to know how much of each ingredient exists within the supplements I take in order to be sure that they are sufficiently dosed and therefore effective.
I’m sure that it’s not just me that wants to ensure the supplements I take are actually effective, so that could definitely be a reason for wanting to search for an alternative!
The second reason why you may want to look for an alternative to Athletic Greens is due to the fact that the formula is one of the most expensive greens powders on the market.
The formula is has a cost per serving of between $2.90 to $3.56.
Therefore, you may want to look for a formula that is a little more friendly to your wallet.
So, let’s take a look at the three best alternatives to Athletic Greens!
Best Alternatives To Athletic Greens (AG1)
1Supergreen Tonik
I’ll be transparent from the outset – SuperGreen Tonik is my own super-green formula.
I created Supergreen Tonik because I couldn’t find a greens supplement that ticked all of my boxes and genuinely helped me in the ways that I needed.
Supergreen Tonik is a super greens powder that contains 38 scientifically proven greens, fruits, herbal extracts, and adaptogens.
It’s also vegan, keto and low-carb friendly, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, caffeine-free, and 100% natural.
Although each ingredient in SuperGreen Tonik has a long list of benefits attached to them, overall, the formula boosts energy levels, improves the immune system, reduces stress levels, improves sleep, increases mental clarity and focus, and reduces anxiety levels.
Supergreen Tonik is a refreshing Mint flavor and is naturally sweetened with stevia leaf extract.
It’s super tasty and mixes well – it can be added easily to smoothies, shakes, and juice, but it is also pleasant to consume simply with water.
Most importantly, Supergreen Tonik's ingredients label is fully disclosed.
Therefore, it’s clear how much of each ingredient exists within the formula – all of the ingredients are also fully disclosed, meaning they will be effective.
However, Supergreen Tonik may be priced on the higher side for some, but you do have to pay for a premium formula.
Although the formula isn’t as expensive as Athletic Greens, it is still a premium product on the greens market.
Therefore, with a cost per serving of between $2.10 to $2.90, the formula is cheaper than Athletic Greens AG1.
Pros
- Fully disclosed ingredients label.
- Sufficiently dosed ingredients.
- Pleasant taste (Berry or Mint flavor)
- 365-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Slightly more expensive than other formulas on the market.
Use code: LHG11 for 11% Off
Related: Athletic Greens vs Supergreen Tonik.
2Green Vibrance
Green Vibrance by Vibrant Health is a super greens supplement that contains more than 70 ingredients, including greens, fruits, enzymes, probiotics, prebiotics, and herbal extracts.
Green Vibrance has been on the market since 1992 and it’s won a number of awards over the years. Clearly, Vibrant Health is doing something right if they’ve been in business for nearly 30 years.
The formula is vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and some of the ingredients are certified organic.
Green Vibrance is supposed to target four main areas – nutrition, circulation, digestion, and immunity. The brand claims that the formula will help the body run in the most efficient way, increase energy levels, and boost the immune system.
The formula is reasonably priced, at a cost per serving of between $1.14 to $1.80.
Additionally, Green Vibrance is available in three flavors – original, chocolate coconut, and matcha tea flavor – they all taste good!
Although the ingredients label is fully disclosed and the amount of each ingredient is shown, there is an issue in terms of efficacy.
Unfortunately, it’s not possible for all of the ingredients within the formula to be sufficiently dosed.
In fact, to ensure that you are consuming a sufficiently dosed amount of each ingredient, you would need to take 2-3 servings of the formula per day.
Pros
- Trusted brand.
- 70+ ingredients.
- Fully disclosed ingredients label./li>
Cons
- Not all ingredients can be sufficiently dosed.
3Organifi Green Juice
Organifi Green Juice (check my review here) is a greens powder that contains 10 potent superfood and adaptogen ingredients.
The formula is USDA certified organic, meaning 95% or more of the ingredients are organic, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, vegan-friendly, and keto-friendly.
The formula is supposed to reduce stress levels, reduce food cravings, regulate hormones, improve hydration, increase energy levels, and promote a balanced pH state within the body.
Organifi Greens is naturally mint-flavored and sweetened with monk fruit extract. The taste of the formula is incredibly pleasant and is palatable enough to drink simply with water!
The formula has a cost per serving between $1.99 to $2.33 depending on whether you choose to purchase it on a one-time purchase or a subscription. This is the “middle of the row” supplement in terms of price on this shift!
However, unfortunately, the ingredients within the formula do exist within proprietary blends. Therefore, it’s unclear how much of each ingredient exists within the formula – this is a real shame!
It’s unlikely that all of the ingredients within the formula will be sufficiently dosed.
However, it’s confirmed that the formula contains 600mg of ashwagandha, which is just over the standard recommended dose of this ingredient. So, this will certainly provide benefits.
Pros
- Popular brand.
- Pleasant taste.
- USDA-Certified Organic.
Cons
- Made up of proprietary blends.
So, Which One Should You Choose?
If you’re looking for a super greens supplement that is fully disclosed, definitely contains sufficiently dosed ingredients, and tastes great, Supergreen Tonik comes out on top!
However, Supergreen Tonik is more cost-effective than Athletic Greens.
Therefore, if you are on a lower budget, the best choice for you is Green Vibrance.
This formula is much cheaper than the other alternatives, it contains a vast number of ingredients, and it tastes great. However, not all of the ingredients are sufficiently dosed.
If you are looking specifically for a USDA-Certified organic formula, or you’re looking for a more adaptogen-focused formula, you may want to take a look at the Organifi Greens formula.
How To Choose A Supplement That That Works For You
If you’re wanting to choose your own greens powder or nutritional supplement, then you need to have an adequate checklist to ensure that you choose the best one for you. So, here’s what you need to focus on if you’re searching for a greens supplement!
Not all super green powders are made equal and there’s often a lot of marketing hype to look through.
So, if you truly want to choose a high-quality supplement, here’s a checklist you should stick to!
A Fully Disclosed Ingredients Label – The effectiveness of any supplement is reliant on the ingredients and amount of the ingredients in the formula. The amount of each ingredient should meet the standard recommended dose of that ingredient for the supplement to be effective.
Potent Ingredients – Whether you’re buying a super red, super greens, or multivitamin supplement, you need to make sure that the ingredients within the supplement are actually potent and going to provide benefits.
Pleasant Taste – Obviously, you want to choose a formula that has a pleasant taste so that you can enjoy it!
Cost-Effective – You shouldn’t go for the cheapest or most expensive supplement out there – you should choose a supplement that is genuinely cost-effective!
Money-Back Guarantee – Try to order from companies that offer a money-back guarantee – these companies are typically more trustworthy and the money-back guarantee obviously helps if you don’t like the supplement!
The Bottom Line: Whichever Greens You Buy, Make Sure It’s High-Quality One!
Just because Athletic Greens is a great super greens powder doesn’t mean that it’s the right formula for you, and it certainly isn’t the only high-quality superfood formula out there.
So, if you’re looking for a high-quality alternative to Athletic Greens, you now know exactly which super greens formulas on the market can provide you with similar benefits to the Athletic Greens formula.
Just remember, one of the most important things that you need to prioritize when you’re looking for a super greens powder is transparency, both in terms of the company that you’re buying from and the ingredients label on the product.
LifeHacker Guy Greens Recommendation
Some Call This An "Extreme" Step...
Most super greens supplements are disappointing.
I learned this the hard way. After creating this blog in 2018, I spent months buying and testing all the most popular brands.
I wasn’t happy with the results so I did something you might call "extreme"....
In 2019 I created my own brand that ticks every single box of what I look for in a super greens product:
- No hidden ingredient amounts - we have full disclosure labelling, so you know EXACTLY whats inside
- Ingredient amounts that make a difference - we include the minimum effective amounts supported by research, and most of the time, MORE
- Ingredients that help immunity, boost mental clarity and shake off brain fog - making for a much more productive and happy lifestyle
No more worrying about ineffective ingredients or too low dosages. I finally have a product I KNOW does the job it’s made to do.
I use it every day and, after years of battling Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), I now have my energy (and my life!) back.
The good news? I made my brand available to the public so you can see and feel the difference for yourself.
Any option on removing stevia which is to be avoided with sibo, gerd and other gastro & autoimmune issues?
Hi Adam, can you review the Swolverine Greens & Reds? I have used it and liked the flavour. Just curious to see how it stacks up against these in your opinion.
Cheers!
Sure Mason, I will put this product on the list. It may take me a few weeks to take a look but will put the link here once I have taken a good look.
Cheers,
Adam
Thanks for this helpful article. I’ve been searching for an alternative to Athletic Greens / AG1 and have found it thanks to your diligence and research. Cheers!