For anyone looking for a significant brain upgrade, a preformulated nootropic stack is a great place to start.
In the nootropic stack market, two products stand out above the rest.
That’s Mind Lab Pro and Qualia Mind.
We recommend both products on this site and for a good reason. Each delivers results.
While many people try to pit one against the other, I feel that each one delivers results for different circumstances.
In this article, I break down the differences, similarities, pros, and cons of each so that you have a good idea of which stack works best for you.
Read More: Full Mind Lab Pro Review
Biohack Your Brainpower
What Is A Nootropic Stack?
A nootropic stack is a combination of more than one nootropic product.
Many nootropics users and biohackers “stack” multiple nootropics together to elicit the desired effect.
Stacking multiple nootropics can help amplify the effects of specific nutrients in the brain.
A good stack can enhance cognition, lower stress, boost mood, increase energy, and lower inflammation with the right formula.
With so many nootropics and supplements to play with, the trick is finding that right formula with the right doses at the right times.
This level of chemical sophistication is why I often recommend users opt for the preformulated versions.
Read More: Full Qualia Mind Review
Preformulated Nootropic Stacks
A preformulated nootropic stack usually includes a number of different nootropics, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
I like preformulated nootropic stacks like Mind Lab Pro and Qualia because they are formulated by scientists in labs with extensive chemistry backgrounds.
Many in the biohacking community forget that supplements are chemicals that react in the body, and more isn’t always better.
Rather, finding the right combinations with appropriate doses is what truly delivers results.
Most preformulated stacks offer this benefit.
Related: Why You Should Never Buy Supplements/Nootropics From Amazon
It’s also important to remember the idea of bio-individuality, and everyone reacts differently to certain products.
Not to mention, the cost of each nootropic in a preformulated stack can add up when purchased individually.
Overall the preformulated option is more cost-effective and safer than haphazardly consuming different nootropics together.
Mind Lab Pro Review
Mind Lab Pro is a solid, well-formulated stack with 11 ingredients, including 8 high-potency nootropics and 3 B-vitamin co-factors.
The ingredient list includes:
- Citicoline 250mg
- Rhodiola Rosea 50mg
- L-Theanine 100mg
- N-Acytel-L-Tyrosine (NALT) 175mg
- Pine Bark Extract 75mg
- Bacopa Monnieri 150mg
- Phosphatidylserine 100mg
- Lion’s Mane Mushroom 500mg
- B6 2.5mcg
- B9 100mcg
- B12 7.5mcg
Benefits
- Focus
- Concentration
- Memory
- Learning
- Cognition
- Neuroprotection
- Mood
Dose
2 capsules per day either in the morning or early afternoon. Up to 4 in more strenuous times when your brain needs more support.
The Good
I refer to Mind Lab Pro as the “Nootropic multi-vitamin” because it contains the foundational nootropics that every stack should include.
It is a clean formulation with holistic, natural ingredients, and no added fillers and excipients.
Unlike other formulas that seem to try and jam as much into one dose as possible, Mind Lab Pro’s ingredients are intentional, and all play a role in enhancing cognition.
Citicoline and Phosphatidylserine are great for improving acetylcholine production and flow.
Rhodiola and Bacopa are adaptogenic herbs that help modulate stress and mood.
The Lion’s Mane helps neural growth factor, memory, and focus.
L-Theanine and NALT will help with dopamine production and overall calm.
Pine Bark Extract works to lower inflammation.
For many people, this combination of nootropics should do the trick.
Mind Lab Pro also touts its care in sourcing as it verifies ingredient purity prior to manufacturing. Once encapsulated, the finished product is 3rd party tested to double-check safety and product assurance.
All Mind Lab Pro products are Vegan, gluten-free, allergen-free, GMO-free, caffeine-free, and banned substance tested.
Critique
Of all the nootropic stacks out there, Mind Lab Pro seems to include the least amount of ingredients.
While that doesn’t necessarily negate the positive benefits you get in this stack, it does leave some users with more to be desired.
Also, with the exception of a deal where you get 1 box free when you order 4, Mind Lab Pro doesn’t offer any discounts on its products.
Qualia Mind Review
Qualia Mind’s nootropic stack is one of the most advanced on the market. It includes 28 ingredients which are a mix of:
- 6 Nootropic compounds
- 7 Neuro-vitamins
- 2 Antioxidants
- 6 Adaptogen Extracts
- 5 Amino Acids
- 2 Choline Donors
Specific ingredients include:
- Huperzine A – 5 mg
- Celastrus Paniculatus Seed Extract – 60 mg
- Phosphatidylserine – 100mg
- Theobromine – 100 mg
- Uridine Monophosphate – 250 mg
- Coffeeberry® (caffeine) – 129 mg
- Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) – 25 mcg
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) – 100 mg
- Pantothenic Acid B5 (as calcium pantothenate) – 50 mg
- Niacin (as Niacinamide) – 50 mg
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) – 50 mg
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate) – 20 mg
- Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin) – 1000 mcg
- DHA (as Docosahexenoic Acid from Algae) – 80 mg
- Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ) – 10 mg
- Artichoke Stem and Leaf Extract – 500 mg
- Bacopa monnieri – 300 mg
- Coleus forskohlii Root – 20 mg
- Ginkgo biloba – 50 mg
- Mucuna pruriens Seed – 100 mg
- Rhodiola Rosea Root – 300 mg
- N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine – 250 mg
- Taurine – 200 mg
- L-Theanine – 200 mg
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine – 500 mg
- DL-Phenylalanine – 300 mg
- Alpha GPC – 200 mg
- Cognizin Citicoline – 150 mg
Benefits
- Beat brain fog
- Increased energy
- Amplify willpower
- Heighten creativity
- Increased Focus and Concentration
- Mental clarity
- Decreased procrastination
Dose
7 capsules in the morning on an empty stomach per day.
The Good
This stack is loaded with a lot of cognitive-enhancing nutrients.
Each nutrient can give you a boost in a specific way, and many pairs well with each other. This is great for enhancing different cognitive processes, including:
- Dopamine signaling
- Glutamate signaling
- Choline signaling
- Mental resilience
- Neuroprotection
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity
- Cellular energy and metabolism
In a serving, you’re getting a number of nootropics that can boost mood, cognition, and processing speed while lowering stress and fighting inflammation. That is a potent 1-2 punch of offense and defense.
Many reviews around the internet tout Qualia as a game-changer and a nootropic that “actually works.”
Compare this stack dollar for dollar to each individual nootropic, and it’s not even close.
You would have to spend hundreds of dollars a month and have an overflowing kitchen drawer to get the amount of nutrition included in a serving of Qualia.
Qualia Mind also offers a monthly subscription where you get over 50% off the first month and close to 15% off on future months.
Critique
That being said, I am a believer in the idea that more isn’t always better.
Biochemistry is complicated. Especially individual biochemistry. What works for one person doesn’t always work for others.
While there are many great ingredients in this stack, if even just one ingredient triggers a negative reaction in you, it can throw off all the other nutrients’ validity.
Not to mention a stack with so many ingredients means there’s a longer supply chain, which means more room for error in the actual formulation.
In any supplement, there’s always a high risk of toxicity. The more ingredients, the higher chance for toxicity.
However, Qualia guarantees its products are gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO. It has no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners, and is also made with HPMC vegetarian capsules. Qualia Mind is not kosher.
It is important to note that Qualia does test ingredients for purity, heavy metals, and microbial contamination and tests the finished product to ensure quality during manufacturing further.
As opposed to Mind Lab Pro, they don’t seem to 3rd party test their product, which can be a red flag to many, including me.
Mind Lab Pro vs. Qualia Mind- Head To Head
| Nootropic Stack | Servings | Discounts Available | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mind Lab Pro | 30 | Buy 3 bottles, get 1 free | Buy Now |
| Qualia Mind | 22 | 50% off first bottle, Use 15INSAVINGS” For Additional 15% Off | Buy Now |
Both Mind Lab Pro and Qualia Mind are high-quality nootropic products, and no matter which one you choose, you should see benefits.
Ingredients
I give the edge to Qualia here because of the sheer amount of nootropics used in one formula.
They also include both caffeine and non-caffeinated options paired with l-theanine, which is a potent mind-stimulating combo.
Mind Lab Pro does have Lion’s Mane, which is one of my favorite all-around nootropics, especially for neuroplasticity and BDNF. There’s also Pine Bark extract, which is a potent anti-inflammatory herb.
However, Qualia’s formula is designed to give you plenty of neural growth and anti-inflammatory benefits.
If Lion’s mane is important to you, then Mind Lab Pro is a great option.
Quality
This is a tough one because both products tout their attention to detail and testing in their formulations.
I will give the edge to Mind Lab Pro because of their commitment to 3rd party testing.
Performance
Users are finding benefits to both formulations. It seems Qualia Mind has more positive reviews.
I would caution people on relying too heavily on other users’ experiences with supplements as everyone is different, and each person’s results with a product are highly individual.
Cost
Even with Qualia’s included discounts, Mind Lab Pro is the more cost-effective option.
When you factor in a 4 pack for the cost of 3, it gets even better.
That being said, Qualia does include almost 3x the ingredients and should cost more for that alone.
Conclusion
To sum up, both Qualia and Mind Lab Pro are 2 well-respected nootropic brands that deliver results.
Because everyone reacts differently due to bio-individuality, you have to be your own n=1 and find which formula works best for you.
For a deeper dive, be sure to check out my full reviews of each nootropic stack.
Also, remember that these nootropics’ success is highly dependent on your ability to optimize more foundational issues like gut health, stress, and sleep.
Let me know what you think!
I have been using Mind Lab Pro for a few months now and the initial subtle indications it was working have become much more easy to recognize.I get the same amount of work done,at a higher standard,in 6 hours that used to take 8.Mostly a matter of better focus and multi tasking at a higher level.I expect good things from Qualia as I just ordered two bottles.The plan is to switch over for a few weeks and then rotate them on a monthly basis to keep my brain from getting used to the same old thing.
Nice! Let us know how it goes.