Real Mushrooms vs Nootropics Depot Lion's Mane 2026

By Erin Rose Updated October 8, 2026 How we score

Buy Real Mushrooms for the most beta-glucan per dollar: $0.19 per 100 mg of beta-glucan, against $0.43 for Nootropics Depot. Nootropics Depot is one 500 mg capsule a day for less money ($0.50 against $0.58).

We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It never changes a score or the order.

Better buy

Real Mushrooms

6.5/10

Cost: $0.58 a day (2 capsules)
Testing: No testing list found

Check price

Nootropics Depot

5.0/10

Cost: $0.50 a day (1 capsule)
Testing: No testing list found

Check price

Real Mushrooms Lion's Mane

Per 100 mg beta-glucan: $0.19
A serving: 1,000 mg in 2 capsules
Beta-glucan: 300 mg a serving (label; its page says “>30%”)
Extract: hot-water extract (no ratio stated)
Bottle: 120 capsules, $34.95 at the brand’s list price

Nootropics Depot Lion's Mane 8:1 Extract

Per 100 mg beta-glucan: $0.43
A serving: 500 mg in 1 capsule
Beta-glucan: 115.5 mg a capsule (posted lot report)
Extract: 8:1 dual extract (water and ethanol)
Bottle: 60 capsules, $29.99 at the brand’s list price

Neither is on a public testing list we checked on October 6, 2026. Both post a lab report. Costs are at each brand’s list price, checked October 6, 2026.

Which gives more beta-glucan for the money?

Real Mushrooms, by about 2.2 times. Its label states 300 mg of beta-glucan in 2 capsules, and its page says more than 30%. Nootropics Depot’s product page states no figure; the lot report it posted measured 115.5 mg a capsule. Both are the brands’ own figures. We did not test either product. Per gram of extract, Real Mushrooms costs $0.58 and Nootropics Depot $1.00.

Cost per 100 mg of beta-glucan at each brand’s list price, checked October 6, 2026. Real Mushrooms’ label states 300 mg; its page says more than 30%, so its true cost could be lower.
Product	Beta-glucan a day	Cost a day	Per 100 mg beta-glucan
Real Mushrooms Lion's Mane	300 mg (2 capsules, label)	$0.58	$0.19
Nootropics Depot Lion's Mane 8:1 Extract	115.5 mg (1 capsule, lot report)	$0.50	$0.43

What we got wrong. Until October 6, 2026 this page said Nootropics Depot’s capsule is 300 mg with 25% beta-glucan. The label, product page and lot report say 500 mg a capsule, and the product page states no percentage.

Is either one third-party tested?

Neither is on NSF/ANSI 173, NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Choice or Informed Sport (read October 6, 2026), or on our September 22, 2026 copy of USP’s list. Both brands post lab reports. Nootropics Depot posts one for each lot, made by Omnient Labs. Real Mushrooms posts one from SGS on its capsule page (April 7, 2025): 30.5% beta-glucan, plus tests for metals and microbes. Our scores: Real Mushrooms 6.5/10, Nootropics Depot 5.0/10; the gap is the dose, 1 g against 500 mg a serving.

Who should buy which?

Costs are at each brand’s list price.
If you want	Buy
The most beta-glucan for your money	Real Mushrooms Lion's Mane, 2 capsules a day, $0.58.
One small capsule a day, for less	Nootropics Depot Lion's Mane 8:1 Extract, 1 capsule a day, $0.50, with a posted report for each lot.
A product on a public testing list	Double Wood Lion's Mane Mushroom 500 mg, on NSF/ANSI 173. It states no beta-glucan.

The 3 best lion’s mane supplements · Real Mushrooms vs Host Defense · How much to take

Sources

Labels: realmushrooms.com (Organic Lion’s Mane capsules) and nootropicsdepot.com (Lion’s Mane 8:1 extract), read October 6, 2026. Nootropics Depot lot report HC8CS1071026 (Omnient Labs, 180-capsule bottle). Real Mushrooms SGS report VR25-01992.002 on its capsule page, read October 7, 2026. Prices: each brand’s own list price for the pack named.
Testing lists: NSF/ANSI 173, NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Choice and Informed Sport, read October 6, 2026; USP Verified from our copy of September 22, 2026.

This page is for information. It is not medical advice.