AG1 vs Alternatives: Is Any Greens Powder Worth $99/Month?

AG1 by Athletic Greens has become the most recognizable greens powder on the planet. You have probably seen your favorite podcast host, YouTuber, or Instagram influencer holding that signature green pouch and praising it as a daily essential. The marketing is everywhere — and it works. But at roughly $99 per month, AG1 is one of the most expensive greens supplements on the market. So the question everyone asks: is it actually worth it, or are there AG1 alternatives that deliver similar benefits for significantly less money?

The honest answer is nuanced. AG1 is a genuinely premium product with 75 ingredients spanning vitamins, minerals, probiotics, adaptogens, and digestive enzymes. It is third-party tested and backed by a company that clearly invests in formulation. But — and this is important — cheaper alternatives can deliver 80-90% of the same benefits at 30-50% of the cost. The gap between AG1 and a well-formulated $40-50 greens powder is much smaller than the price gap suggests.

What Is AG1 and What Does It Actually Contain?

AG1, formerly known as Athletic Greens, is a daily greens powder that markets itself as a comprehensive nutritional foundation. Each serving packs 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole-food sourced nutrients into a single scoop. The formula is organized into four main complexes:

• Vitamins and minerals — Covers most of the essential micronutrients including vitamin C, vitamin E, biotin, zinc, selenium, chromium, and B vitamins. Many are dosed at or above 100% of daily value.
• Probiotics and digestive enzymes — AG1 includes 7.2 billion CFU of probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum) plus digestive enzymes to support gut health and nutrient absorption.
• Adaptogens and superfoods — Ashwagandha extract (KSM-66), Rhodiola rosea, reishi mushroom, and spirulina are included for stress adaptation and antioxidant support.
• Greens blend — Wheatgrass, barley grass, broccoli flower, and chlorella make up the core greens complex. These contribute phytonutrients, chlorophyll, and alkalizing compounds.

What Does the Research Say About Greens Powders?

The research on greens powders specifically is limited but promising. Most studies focus on individual ingredients rather than complete greens formulas. What we do know: greens powders can help fill micronutrient gaps, especially for people who do not eat enough vegetables. A 2019 study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that a greens supplement improved markers of nutrient status after 90 days. Probiotic blends in greens powders may support digestive health, though the strain specificity and CFU count matter more than marketing claims. Adaptogens like ashwagandha and rhodiola have independent research supporting stress reduction and recovery, but the doses in greens powders are often lower than what studies used.

The bottom line on the science: greens powders are not miracle products, but they can be a useful tool for covering nutritional bases — particularly if your diet is inconsistent. They do not replace vegetables, adequate protein, or a solid training program. If you want to understand how supplements fit into the bigger picture, check out our best supplements for beginners guide.

AG1 Pros and Cons

What AG1 Does Well

• All-in-one convenience — One scoop replaces a multivitamin, probiotic, greens supplement, and adaptogen stack. For people who hate taking multiple pills, this is genuinely appealing.
• Comprehensive formula — 75 ingredients is one of the broadest profiles in the greens category. Most competitors use 20-40 ingredients.
• Third-party tested — AG1 is NSF Certified for Sport, which means it has been independently verified for banned substances and label accuracy. This is a real differentiator in an unregulated industry.
• Strong brand trust — Athletic Greens has been around since 2010 and has iterated on the formula over 50 times. The company invests heavily in R&D and quality control.

Where AG1 Falls Short

• Price — At $99/month (or ~$79 with subscription), AG1 is 2-3x more expensive than many competitors with similar ingredient profiles. A large chunk of that cost funds influencer marketing, not ingredients.
• Proprietary blend concerns — While AG1 lists every ingredient, many of the individual doses within the blends are not disclosed. For example, the "Alkaline, Nutrient-Dense Raw Superfood Complex" lists the total blend weight but not how much of each ingredient you get. This makes it hard to evaluate whether key ingredients are at clinically effective doses.
• Taste is polarizing — AG1 has a tropical-pineapple flavor with an earthy undertone. Some love it, many find it unpleasant. Taste is subjective, but it is worth noting that alternatives like Bloom Greens tend to score higher on taste in user reviews.
• Influencer-driven marketing — AG1 sponsors hundreds of podcasts and creators, which means the reviews you see online are often paid endorsements. This does not mean the product is bad, but it does mean you should take the hype with a grain of salt. Learn to read supplement labels and evaluate products yourself.

Top AG1 Alternatives Worth Considering

If you want the benefits of a daily greens powder without paying the AG1 premium, these three alternatives deliver strong value:

Transparent Labs Prebiotic Greens (~$49/month)

Transparent Labs is known for fully transparent labels with no proprietary blends — every single ingredient dose is listed. Their Prebiotic Greens formula includes organic greens, prebiotic fiber, digestive enzymes, and probiotics. At roughly half the price of AG1, it delivers excellent nutritional coverage with the added benefit of knowing exactly what you are getting in every serving. This is our top recommendation for the best overall value in greens powders.

Bloom Greens (~$35/month)

Bloom has exploded in popularity on social media and for good reason — it tastes better than most greens powders, is budget-friendly, and includes a solid mix of greens, digestive enzymes, and probiotics. The formula is not as comprehensive as AG1 (fewer total ingredients), but for someone new to greens powders or on a tight budget, Bloom is a strong starting point. Flavor options are also much more varied than AG1's single offering.

Garden of Life Raw Organic Perfect Food (~$45/month)

If organic and clean-label matters to you, Garden of Life is the gold standard. It is USDA Organic certified, Non-GMO Project Verified, and made with raw whole-food ingredients — no synthetic vitamins or fillers. The formula focuses on organic greens, sprouts, and vegetable juices. It is less of an "everything blend" compared to AG1 (no adaptogens, fewer probiotics) but it is one of the cleanest greens powders on the market for those who prioritize ingredient sourcing.

When a Greens Powder Makes Sense (And When It Does Not)

Good Candidates for a Greens Supplement

• Frequent travelers — When your diet is inconsistent due to travel, a greens powder provides baseline micronutrient coverage that hotel restaurants and airports usually cannot.
• Picky eaters — If you struggle to eat a variety of vegetables, a greens powder helps fill micronutrient gaps without forcing foods you do not enjoy.
• Nutrient insurance seekers — Even people with good diets can have micronutrient gaps, especially in magnesium, zinc, and certain B vitamins. A greens powder acts as a safety net.
• Convenience-first people — If you would otherwise take zero supplements, one scoop of greens daily is better than nothing and far simpler than managing multiple individual supplements.

Who Probably Does Not Need a Greens Powder

• People already eating 5+ servings of vegetables daily — If you are consistently eating a variety of colorful vegetables, leafy greens, and fruits, the marginal benefit of a greens powder is minimal.
• People on tight budgets with diet basics not covered — If you are not hitting your protein targets or eating enough calories, a greens powder is not where your money should go first. Focus on protein intake and macro fundamentals before adding any supplement.
• People expecting dramatic results — Greens powders are subtle. You will not feel a dramatic energy boost or see visible changes overnight. If you are looking for noticeable performance improvements, creatine and adequate protein are far more impactful investments.

Our Top Picks

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The Bottom Line

AG1 is a legitimately good product — comprehensive, well-tested, and convenient. But "good" does not automatically mean "worth it" at $99 per month. For most people, an AG1 alternative like Transparent Labs Prebiotic Greens or Garden of Life delivers the vast majority of the same benefits at a fraction of the cost. The best greens powder is the one you will actually take consistently, and spending less on your supplement leaves more budget for the thing that matters most: real, whole food.

Before you spend a dollar on any greens powder, make sure your foundational nutrition is dialed in. Use our macro calculator to set your targets, focus on eating enough protein and vegetables, and treat greens powders as what they truly are — nutritional insurance, not a replacement for a solid diet. Compare all greens powders side by side →