Knowing where to buy nootropics is almost as important as knowing what nootropics to buy.
Whether you’re a seasoned nootropic enthusiast or entirely new to cognitive enhancement, purchasing from a trusted vendor can go a long way toward ensuring a positive experience with nootropics.
Buying nootropics that are classified as dietary supplements – for instance, L-carnitine, choline, L-theanine, creatine, etc. – can be as simple as a visit to the local health food chain, big box discount outlet, drug store, or any retailer that carries vitamins and related products. However, the more experimental nootropics such as the racetams, phenibut, adrafinil, Noopept, etc. typically cannot be marketed as supplements and are not carried by most offline retailers, so using these powerful cognitive enhancers usually means purchasing from an online vendor.
Choosing the right nootropic vendor requires a bit of research, but it’s well worth the effort; buying from a trusted source goes a long way toward guaranteeing that your purchase is fairly priced, shipped quickly, and that the nootropics you receive are potent and safe.
Here’s a summary of some factors to consider when selecting a vendor, followed by our recommendations for the best nootropic vendors.
What to Look for in a Nootropics Vendor
- Quality Control – There are many factors to consider when deciding on a nootropics supplier, but quality control is the most important of all. Buying from suppliers with a history of quality control issues is putting your health and safety at risk, and that’s a gamble no one can afford to take. That’s why it’s crucial to do some research on vendors before buying, and the perfect starting point is a visit to the vendor’s site for a review of their policies on product testing. The best suppliers rely on third-party laboratory testing to determine purity, composition, potential contamination, and more. It’s also important to find out what experiences other nootropic users have had with various vendors by reading forums, blog posts, and articles like this. The nootropic community is your best resource when it comes to finding a trusted, respected, and reliable supplier.
- Inventory and availability – The range and type of nootropics that suppliers carry vary considerably, so make sure the vendor you’re considering stocks the specific items you want in the form that you want. Some suppliers offer only capsulized nootropics, some specialize in bulk powder options, and others sell both; some vendors have a broad selection of common nootropics and well-known pre-made stacks, while others have a smaller selection but feature newer or more exotic options.
- Pricing and discounts – The cost of nootropics can vary considerably among suppliers, so don’t assume that pricing is standard. Be sure to look for ways to save on your purchase; some suppliers offer price discounts for large purchases or free shipping for orders over a specific dollar amount, and many trusted vendors also provide discount codes via forums and online communities such as r/Nootropics.
- Shipping – This can be a deciding factor, particularly if you’re considering buying from a vendor located outside the country in which you reside. Most trusted vendors do offer international shipping with some limitations; be sure to check each vendor’s website for detailed shipping information, which may include a list of countries to which that vendor does not ship to or a list of substances that cannot be shipped to specific countries.
Finding a supplier that carries the inventory you’re looking for and whose policies, pricing, shipping, and discount policies all suit your needs, location and budget can be quite a challenge.
To help you with your search, here is a list of our recommended vendors.
The Best Nootropic Vendors
1. Pure Nootropics
Pure Nootropics is high on our list of trusted suppliers. They place a strong emphasis on quality control, with all products assayed at no less than 98% purity and screened for toxic impurities. Pure Nootropics uses a third-party lab for all testing. Their selection of powerful standard nootropics such as the racetams, Noopept, adrafinil, phenibut, etc. is good, though there are times when you’ll notice that certain nootropics are temporarily marked as out of stock. While some nootropics are available in capsule form, others are available as powders only. Pure Nootropics accepts standard payment options and ships internationally with some exclusions; check their website for more information.
2. Nootropics Depot
Nootropics Depot is a respected and reliable vendor, with a good selection of the common synthetic nootropics like the racetams, phenibut, and Noopept, along with herbal nootropics like ashwagandha and bacopa monnieri. Their products are available in both bulk powder and capsule form. The company is run by an excellent team, and they have a reputation for their vigorous quality and purity testing. Nootropics Depot accepts standard payment options (however, sometimes near the end of the month they only accept bitcoin and e-check) and ships internationally with some exceptions, subject to the laws and regulations of the destination nation.
3. Amazon
Amazon – yes, Amazon, the granddaddy of internet shopping sites – is actually an excellent destination for the basics such as choline, L-theanine, creatine, etc. Amazon doesn’t carry some of the more potent nootropics like the racetams, adrafinil, or Noopept, but it’s a convenient and cost-effective choice for buying cognitive enhancers that are classified as dietary supplements. They carry such a vast selection of brands that you can often find excellent deals. Amazon Prime members get free two-day US shipping for qualifying purchases, and standard payment options are accepted. When ordering from Amazon, keep in mind that they carry a wide range of brands and that not all may be up to par in terms of quality.
Wrapping Up
The time you invest in finding the right nootropic supplier is time very well spent.
Nootropics are powerful substances that can have an enormous impact on your mood, memory, concentration, mental abilities, and overall health and well-being.
Working with a reliable supplier is a crucial first step toward safe and effective cognitive enhancement.
Planning to start a new supplementation regimen? See our medical disclaimer.