Performance Lab vs Pure Encapsulations

This post is an in-depth comparison between Performance Lab^® vs Pure Encapsulations^®, two well-known supplement brands.

You will learn the difference in supplement offerings, company history and values, and the overall effectiveness of each company’s dietary supplements.

In the end, you should have a clear understanding of which brand is best for your health and brain optimization goals.

Who is Performance Lab?

Performance Lab^® was founded in 2015 by entrepreneur and experienced biohacker Dave Wright in the small town of Leamington Spa in the UK. The company manufactures their supplements in the USA.

Performance Lab^® leads in the nootropic supplement space because they are committed to producing clean and pure supplements. And they’ve developed their own patented NutriGenesis^® nutrients that mimic what used to be found in food.

NutriGenesis^® nutrients are grown in a unique culture that produces vitamins and minerals with the accompanying transporters and cofactors that ensures total absorption.

Their mission is to optimize human performance across all health domains, including healthy aging, energy and vitality, heart and brain health, immune system, healthy gut, strong muscles and bones, skin, hair, teeth, and nails.

Innovation is at the heart of Performance Lab‘s mission, as they work to produce high-quality, natural supplements backed by clinical research.

Their dedication to purity has made them a go-to choice in the biohacking community for those looking for a comprehensive health solution.

What supplements does Performance Lab sell?

The first supplement Performance Lab^® introduced in 2015 is now the world’s bestselling pre-made nootropic stack Mind Lab Pro^®.

Fast forward to 2018 and Performance Lab^® introduced their NutriGenesis^® Multivitamin for men and women.

The company then in quick succession introduced Performance Lab^® Energy, Performance Lab^® Omega-3, MCT Energy Oil, Sleep, Vision, Caffeine 2™, Prebiotic, Flex, Pre Lab Pro^®, and Immune.

Performance Lab^® then launched a series of individual vitamins and minerals in 2023 including NutriGenesis^® Iodine, B-Complex, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Selenium, Vitamin C, Vitamin D₃+K₂, and Zinc.

Their supplement range is designed with a focus on bioavailability and purity. Performance Lab^® developed an advanced supplement manufacturing technology called NutriGenesis^® with the intention of maximizing absorption and efficacy.

NutriGenesis^® is a patented process that replicates natural nutrient genesis to produce vitamins and minerals that are bio-identical to those found in whole foods. This helps your body absorb and utilize these nutrients quickly and effectively.

Performance Lab^® supplements are non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan-approved, vegetarian-approved, and free from synthetic additives.

The company uses NutriCaps^® capsules and NutriGels^® GelCaps made from prebiotic fiber to ensure quick release and delivery of the supplement contents.

Who is Pure Encapsulations?

Pure Encapsulations^® was founded by the Hamel brothers in 1991
in Willington, Connecticut. Their intention was to produce pure supplements that were backed by clinical studies.

The Hamel brothers started with multivitamins and went on to expand their supplement offerings to over 400 products. They built their reputation by selling to only healthcare professionals to be sold in doctor’s offices in more than 15 countries.

In 2004, they sold Pure Encapsulations^® to Atrium Innovations based in Quebec, Canada. Atrium also owned the supplement brands Garden of Life^® and Genestra^®.

In 2017, Atrium was bought by Nestlé Health Science which now holds Pure Encapsulations^® as well as 41 other supplement companies.

Pure Encapsulations^® is known for collaborating with medical professionals and nutrition experts when developing their supplement formulas meant to improve quality of life.

Their commitment to clean supplements and transparency has built a strong reputation among their customer base. And the dietary supplement industry as well.

What supplements does Pure Encapsulations sell?

Pure Encapsulations^® has an extensive range of 400 products that cater to many different health needs. But primarily catering to those looking to pay a little more for high quality, pure supplements.

The company offers dozens of various formulas including vitamins, minerals, bon, joint & muscle support, immune support, liver detox, heart & metabolism, vision, memory and mood, sleep, and energy & fitness supplements.

Pure Encapsulations^® supports their supplement sales by offering a quiz on their website to help customers select the right supplements for their wellness goals.

Pure Encapsulations^®  commits to using only the purest, high quality ingredients and supported by their clinical staff that ensures their products are safe for the individual and effective.

Are Performance Lab supplements better than Pure Encapsulations? 

Performance Lab^® and Pure Encapsulations^®  share a commitment to producing high quality supplements.

But Performance Lab^® has taken a big slice of the supplement market by offering ultra-clean supplements at affordable prices.

I am a customer of both companies. Pure Encapsulations^® for a couple of supplements, and Performance Lab^® since they launched in 2015.

For brain health and optimization, Performance Lab^® wins hands-down. The first product they introduced in 2015 was Mind Lab Pro^®. Which has gone on to be the bestselling pre-made nootropic stack on the planet.

But Pure Encapsulations^® is certainly at the top of my list of supplement brands if I cannot get what I need from Performance Lab^®. More on this distinction in the next section.

Ingredients and Formulation Quality Comparison

Performance Lab^® and Pure Encapsulations^® both prioritize high-quality ingredients in their supplements, but their approaches differ slightly.

Pure Encapsulations^® does produce formulas using high quality with some patented ingredients. But the company uses standard cellulose capsules. The company avoids including “other ingredients” such as silica, vegetable stearate, and stearic acid.

Performance Lab^® on the other hand uses their own patented vegan-friendly NutriCaps^® capsules and NutriGels^® GelCaps made from prebiotic fiber.  Which ensures that their supplements are quickly absorbed and highly effective.

Performance Lab^® also invented their own patented NutriGenesis^® method for growing nature-identical nutrients.

NutriGenesis^® technology is based on the Nobel Prize-winning research of Hungarian biochemist Albert Szent-Györgyi. The same guy who discovered Vitamin C back in the 1920s.[i]

Vitamins and minerals are grown on cultures of carrot, alfalfa, and Brewer’s Yeast.

The benefit of producing nutrients using this method is the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids include cofactors such as complex carbohydrates, probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, and antioxidants. Just like you’d get from plants.

Performance Lab^® supplements are optimized for absorption and efficacy. Their products are also free from synthetic additives, allergens, and artificial colorants, and emphasizing their focus on bioavailability and purity.

Here are a couple of examples.

 The Performance Lab^® NutriGenesis Multi for men and women includes 24 patented NutriGenesis^® vitamins and minerals that are cultured with cofactors including probiotics, fiber, enzymes, and antioxidants. Just like you’d get from food.

Their multivitamins are pure with no “other ingredients” in a daily dose of 4 NutriCaps^® prebiotic capsules instead of gelatin or cellulose.

The Pure Encapsulations^® PureGenomics^® Multivitamin includes 24 vitamins and minerals in their bioactive form along with FloraGLO^® lutein, and Zeaxanthin.

Their multivitamin comes in a daily 1 cellulose capsule including “other ingredients” trimagnesium citrate, ascorbyl palmitate.

 Another example for comparison is Performance Lab^® Vision which contains Black Current 300 mg, European Black Current extract 25 mg, European Bilberry extract 25 mg, Lutein 10 mg, Zeaxanthin 2 mg, Astaxanthin 4 mg, and Saffron extract 10 mg in 1 NutriCaps^® capsule and the only “other ingredient” is NuFlow^® rice concentrate.

Pure Encapsulations^® VisionPro Nutrients is basically a multivitamin supplement which includes small doses of alpha lipoic acid, taurine, resveratrol, FloraGLO^® lutein, Zeaxanthin, and lycopene in one cellulose capsule and “other ingredients” including hypoallergenic plant fiber, cellulose vegetarian capsule, and ascorbyl palmitate.

Performance Lab^® Vision and Pure Encapsulations^® VisionPro Nutrients are offered at a similar price-point. But the Performance Lab^® Vision supplement is a better value, and a much better, far more effective vision supplement.

I personally use Pure Encapsulations^® Quercetin, and Pure Encapsulations^® NAC. Because these supplements are not offered by Performance Lab^®.

Customer Experience and Reviews

We know that customer experience is critical when choosing a supplement brand. Because I’m sure you share the experience of checking the user reviews before buying a supplement.

Performance Lab^® consistently receives positive reviews for its modern, minimalist packaging and their clear commitment to clean, natural formulations.

Customers are vocal about the noticeable improvements in mental clarity, energy, and physical performance, as well as the brand’s transparency in ingredient sourcing and manufacturing processes.

Pure Encapsulations^® is known for its high quality, pure supplements.

Many Pure Encapsulations^® customers report positive outcomes related to immune support, cardiovascular health, and overall feelings of well-being.

Pure Encapsulations^® does have a long-standing reputation in the supplement industry for providing a sense of trust and reliability by many of its users.

Pricing and Value for Money

When comparing Performance Lab^® and Pure Encapsulations^®  in terms of pricing, there are some notable differences.

Performance Lab^® tends to position itself as a premium brand, with competitive prices while using high quality, advanced formulations, and focus on innovation.

While the cost may be a little higher compared to many other supplement companies, customers report finding value in the effectiveness and quality of their supplements.

Pure Encapsulations^® offers a broader range of products, with higher pricing compared to Performance Lab^®.

Their supplements provide good value for those looking for reliable, research-backed formulations without necessarily focusing on the cutting-edge advancements that Performance Lab^® prioritizes such as NutriGenesis^® vitamins and minerals.

Conclusion and Recommendation 

In conclusion, both Performance Lab^®  and Pure Encapsulations^® offer high-quality supplements designed to improve health and wellness, each with its own strengths.

Performance Lab^® excels in nootropic innovation and performance enhancement, making it ideal for those focused on optimizing their physical and cognitive performance at competitive prices.

Pure Encapsulations^®, on the other hand, is well-known for promoting high priced supplements and providing a good selection of supplements covering multiple health categories.

I like, use, and recommend both brands. Depending on your health goals, either brand is a suitable choice. But understanding your specific needs will help you make the best decision for your well-being.