Nicotinamide mononucleotide vs. nicotinamide riboside — price-per-gram comparison across top brands
Last updated: April 2026 | Market prices surveyed across 8 brands
Prices below are based on April 2026 market research. NMN pricing has dropped significantly over the past two years as Chinese manufacturing scaled. Verify current pricing directly — promotions and bulk discounts shift frequently.
NMN products vary wildly in dose-per-capsule (100mg to 1,000mg) and count. Always compare by price per gram of NMN — not by bottle price or capsule count. A $25 bottle of 125mg capsules is much more expensive per gram than a $40 bottle of 500mg capsules.
| Brand | Form / Dose | Total NMN | Price | Per Gram | Monthly Cost (500mg/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoNotAge Best Value | Bulk powder | 60g | $47.95 | $0.80/g | ~$12.00 |
| Bulk Supplements | Bulk powder | 50g | $42.99 | $0.86/g | ~$12.90 |
| ProHealth Longevity | 300mg capsules × 60 | 18g | $35.99 | $2.00/g | ~$30.00 |
| Renue by Science | 500mg capsules × 60 | 30g | $59.95 | $2.00/g | ~$30.00 |
| Double Wood | 250mg capsules × 60 | 15g | $29.95 | $2.00/g | ~$30.00 |
| Life Extension | 300mg capsules × 30 | 9g | $36.00 | $4.00/g | ~$60.00 |
| Elysium Basis | NR-based formula × 60ct | ~15g NR equiv. | $60.00 | $4.00/g | ~$60.00 |
| Brand | Dose / Count | Total NR | Price | Per Gram | vs. Best NMN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tru Niagen (ChromaDex) | 300mg × 90ct | 27g | $89.95 | $3.33/g | 4.2× DoNotAge NMN |
| Tru Niagen (300mg × 30ct) | 300mg × 30ct | 9g | $40.00 | $4.44/g | 5.6× DoNotAge NMN |
| Elysium Basis NR | 250mg NR + 50mg pterostilbene | ~15g NR equiv. | $60.00 | $4.00/g | 5× DoNotAge NMN |
| Thorne NiaCel | 250mg × 60ct | 15g | $49.00 | $3.27/g | 4.1× DoNotAge NMN |
Most affordable route to NAD+ support: DoNotAge or Bulk Supplements bulk NMN powder at ~$0.80–$0.86/gram — roughly $12–$13/month at 500mg/day.
Best capsule option: ProHealth, Renue by Science, or Double Wood all land at ~$2.00/gram — competitive and quality-tested.
NR premium: Tru Niagen's extensive clinical evidence base comes at a significant per-gram premium (4–5× NMN). Worth it for those who specifically want NR's human trial data; value buyers can achieve similar NAD+ outcomes with NMN at a fraction of the cost.
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme present in every living cell. It functions as an electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (energy production) and as a substrate for several classes of enzymes central to longevity biology.
Sirtuins (SIRT1–7) are NAD+-dependent deacetylases that regulate gene expression, metabolism, stress response, and longevity pathways. SIRT1 mimics some effects of caloric restriction. SIRT3 protects mitochondria. All require NAD+ as a substrate — when NAD+ falls, sirtuin activity falls with it.
NAD+ and NADH cycle continuously in the electron transport chain to produce ATP. Age-related NAD+ decline correlates with reduced mitochondrial function, contributing to fatigue, metabolic slowdown, and decreased cellular energy availability.
PARP enzymes (poly-ADP-ribose polymerases) consume massive amounts of NAD+ when repairing DNA damage. As DNA damage accumulates with age, PARP activity increases and NAD+ is further depleted — a cycle that supplementation may partially interrupt.
NAD+ levels oscillate with circadian rhythm. NAMPT (the rate-limiting enzyme in NAD+ biosynthesis) is circadian-clock regulated. Supplementing NMN in the morning may align with natural NAMPT peaks, though timing research is still developing.
| Factor | NMN | NR |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular size | Larger (334 Da) | Smaller (255 Da) |
| Steps to NAD+ | One (NMN → NAD+) | Two (NR → NMN → NAD+) |
| Absorption debate | Gut converts to NR before absorption (some evidence); direct uptake via Slc12a8 transporter (mouse data) | Well-documented intestinal absorption |
| Human clinical trials | Growing — Washington Univ., Keio Univ., others | More established — Tru Niagen sponsored multiple RCTs |
| Blood NAD+ elevation | Comparable to NR in most head-to-head data | Comparable to NMN; may differ by tissue type |
| Price per gram (2026) | $0.80–$4.00 | $3.27–$4.44 |
| Value verdict | ✅ Better value — similar efficacy, lower cost | More established brand evidence base |
NMN addresses NAD+ depletion — one of the core hallmarks of aging — but not all of them. The longevity-focused peptides on this site work through different pathways and are often used alongside NAD+ precursors as complementary interventions:
| Compound | Primary Pathway | Complements NMN By… |
|---|---|---|
| NMN (this page) | NAD+/sirtuin axis, mitochondrial energy, DNA repair | — |
| Epithalon | Telomerase activation, epigenetic regulation | Addressing telomere shortening — a separate aging pathway |
| GHK-Cu | Collagen synthesis, gene expression, antioxidant defense | Tissue structure maintenance and anti-inflammatory signaling |
| Sermorelin | Growth hormone axis restoration | Counteracting somatopause (GH decline after ~30) |
| Collagen Peptides | Structural protein substrate | Providing building blocks for the collagen synthesis NMN-supported sirtuins regulate |
For a complete overview of longevity-focused peptides, dosing concepts, and how they interact with NAD+ biology, see our Longevity Peptides Guide and Healthy Aging Guide.
Most human clinical trials have used 250–500mg daily. David Sinclair (whose lab's animal research popularized NMN) reportedly takes 1,000mg daily, though this is anecdotal and exceeds most trial doses. For most people starting out, 250–500mg/day provides meaningful NAD+ elevation with a reasonable evidence base. Higher doses (750–1,000mg) may offer additional effect but come with proportionally higher cost and less human safety data. The half-life of NMN is relatively short, so some researchers split dosing into two daily administrations.
Morning is the most commonly recommended timing — NAMPT (the enzyme that regenerates NAD+ endogenously) peaks in the morning following circadian rhythms. Some researchers suggest taking NMN in the morning could complement rather than compete with natural NAD+ synthesis cycles. Avoid taking NMN late at night, as NAD+-sirtuin activation may interfere with sleep quality in some individuals. Taking it with a small amount of food may improve tolerability, though it's not strictly required.
The NMN molecule is the same regardless of form factor. The relevant differences are: (1) purity and testing — reputable bulk suppliers like DoNotAge publish third-party purity certificates (>98% NMN); check that yours does too; (2) stability — NMN degrades with heat, light, and moisture, so bulk powder needs proper storage (cool, dark, sealed container); (3) dosing accuracy — capsules are pre-measured, powder requires a milligram-accurate scale. For those comfortable with these considerations, bulk powder provides NMN at $0.80–$0.86/gram vs. $2.00–$4.00/gram for capsules — a meaningful saving at 500mg/day protocols.
Human evidence is growing but still developing. Confirmed: oral NMN supplementation raises blood NAD+ levels in multiple human trials (Washington University 2021, Keio University 2022, others). Confirmed in some trials: improvements in muscle function, insulin sensitivity, and aerobic capacity. Not yet confirmed in humans: the longevity and healthspan extension seen in mouse models. The gap between "raises NAD+" and "extends healthy lifespan" in humans has not been bridged by published clinical evidence as of 2026. The current evidence supports NMN as an NAD+ precursor — the downstream longevity effects remain plausible but unproven at the human level.