AG1 Review: The $99/Month Supplement Under the Microscope
If you’ve listened to any health podcast in the last five years, you’ve heard about AG1. Formerly known as Athletic Greens, it’s been promoted by Andrew Huberman, Joe Rogan, Rhonda Patrick, and dozens of other high-profile health influencers. It’s now available in airport vending machines. The company was valued at $1.2 billion in 2022.
AG1 costs around $99/month on subscription. It contains 75 vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients in a single daily scoop of green powder.
The question is simple: is it worth it?
The honest answer is more complicated than either the enthusiastic testimonials or the outright dismissals suggest. Here’s what the evidence actually shows.
What Is AG1?
AG1 is a “greens powder” — a category of supplement that blends vegetables, fruits, vitamins, minerals, probiotics, adaptogens, and other ingredients into a single product. The idea is that one scoop per day covers your nutritional bases, fills gaps in your diet, and supports energy, immunity, and gut health.
The formula contains 75 ingredients across several proprietary blends:
- A Alkalising (Greens) Complex
- A Nutrient Dense Extracts, Herbs & Antioxidants blend
- A Digestive Enzyme & Super Mushroom Complex
- A Dairy Free Probiotic blend
The key word there is “proprietary.” Of the 75 ingredients, only 26 have their individual dosages disclosed on the label. The remaining 49 are hidden inside proprietary blends, meaning you can see that an ingredient is present, but not how much of it you’re actually getting.
The Controversy: What Critics Are Saying
The Proprietary Blend Problem
The most substantive criticism of AG1 is its use of proprietary blends for the majority of its formula. This is a common industry practice — companies argue it protects their intellectual property — but critics point out it also makes it impossible to evaluate whether the dosages of individual ingredients are clinically meaningful.
For example, AG1 contains ashwagandha, which has genuine evidence behind it for stress reduction. But the clinical studies on ashwagandha typically use 300–600mg per day. If AG1 contains 10mg of ashwagandha hidden inside a proprietary blend, you’re not getting a therapeutic dose — you’re getting a marketing ingredient.
AG1’s chief science officer has stated that “each ingredient plays a synergistic role” and that the formula is “carefully calibrated.” But without disclosed dosages, consumers have no way to verify this.
The Influencer Marketing Machine
A January 2025 investigation by Fortune magazine described the scale of AG1’s influencer operation in detail. The company has paid hundreds of podcasters and health influencers to promote the product, often with affiliate deals that give them a financial incentive for every sale. Andrew Huberman has described AG1 as “the single best thing you can do for your foundational health.” Rhonda Patrick is listed as a scientific advisor to the company.
This doesn’t mean the product doesn’t work. But it does mean that a significant portion of the positive coverage you’ve seen about AG1 comes from people who are financially incentivised to say positive things about it.
A 2024 Substack investigation by journalist Scott Carney alleged that AG1 attempted to suppress a critical YouTube video about the product. AG1 denied the allegation.
The Heavy Metals Question
In 2022, independent testing by ConsumerLab found 2.1 micrograms of lead per serving of AG1. A separate comparison by Wellness Daddy found that AG1 contained 8x the cadmium, 10x the arsenic, and 18x the lead of a competing greens powder (Ora Organics).
To be fair to AG1: the company states that its heavy metal levels are below the guidelines set by US Pharmacopeia (USP) and NSF International, and the product is Informed Sport certified. Heavy metals are naturally present in soil and therefore in vegetables — any greens-based product will contain trace amounts. The levels found in AG1 are within regulatory limits.
However, California’s Prop 65 regulations require a warning label for products containing more than 0.5 micrograms of lead per daily serving. AG1 carries this warning. Whether 2.1 micrograms of lead per day is a meaningful health concern at the population level is genuinely debated among toxicologists.
The Dosing Oddities
Where AG1 does disclose ingredient amounts, some of the numbers are striking. The formula contains:
- 1,100% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin B7 (biotin) — excreted in urine at these levels
- 467% of the recommended amount of vitamin C — also water-soluble and excreted
- Only 6% of the recommended daily amount of magnesium — a mineral many people are genuinely deficient in
- Only 4% of the recommended daily protein intake
The McGill University Office for Science and Society described this pattern as “just in case” marketing: loading up on cheap, water-soluble vitamins creates the impression of a comprehensive formula, while the minerals and macronutrients that people actually tend to be deficient in are present in negligible amounts.
What the Evidence Says About Greens Powders Generally
There is limited high-quality independent research on greens powder products specifically. Most of the studies cited by AG1 on its website are either funded by the company, use very small sample sizes, or study individual ingredients rather than the complete formula.
This doesn’t mean greens powders don’t work — it means the evidence base is thin. The honest position is: we don’t know whether a daily greens powder meaningfully improves health outcomes in people who already eat a reasonably balanced diet. The ingredients in isolation have varying levels of evidence behind them. The combination, at the doses present in AG1, has not been rigorously tested.
Who Might Actually Benefit from AG1?
Despite the criticisms, AG1 is not a scam. It is a legitimate product with third-party testing, real ingredients, and a genuine user base that reports positive experiences. The question is whether the benefits justify the price for your specific situation.
AG1 might be worth considering if:
- You have a genuinely poor diet and struggle to eat vegetables consistently
- You travel frequently and want a portable nutritional backup
- You’ve tried cheaper alternatives and found AG1 specifically works for you
- Cost is not a significant concern
AG1 is probably not worth it if:
- You already eat a reasonably varied diet with vegetables
- You’re looking for targeted supplementation for specific deficiencies
- You’re on a budget
- You want to know exactly what doses of each ingredient you’re taking
What to Take Instead: Better Value Alternatives
If your goal is to cover genuine nutritional gaps, you can do it more cheaply and with more transparency by buying individual supplements. Here’s what the evidence actually supports:
Vitamin D3 + K2 — The Most Important Supplement for Most People
Vitamin D deficiency is extremely common — estimates suggest 1 in 5 adults worldwide are deficient. Vitamin D supports immune function, bone health, and mood. K2 helps direct calcium to bones rather than arteries. A combined D3/K2 supplement costs around $15–20 per year.
Magnesium Glycinate — The Deficiency Most People Don’t Know They Have
An estimated 50% of people in Western countries don’t get enough magnesium. It’s involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions, supports sleep quality, muscle function, and stress response. Magnesium glycinate is the best-tolerated form. A quality supplement costs around $20–30 for three months' supply.
Omega-3 Fish Oil — For Those Not Eating Oily Fish Twice a Week
Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) have strong evidence for cardiovascular health, inflammation reduction, and cognitive function. If you’re not eating salmon, mackerel, or sardines twice a week, a quality fish oil supplement is worth taking. Look for a product with at least 1,000mg combined EPA+DHA per serving.
Creatine Monohydrate — If You Train
Creatine is the most researched performance supplement in existence. 3–5g per day improves strength, power output, and muscle recovery. It’s also showing promising evidence for cognitive function and healthy ageing. A month's supply costs around $8–15.
A Basic Multivitamin — As Insurance, Not a Foundation
If you want the “insurance” that AG1 promises, a basic multivitamin from a reputable brand (Thorne, Solgar, or Vitabiotics) provides a similar nutritional safety net at a fraction of the cost. It won’t have the probiotics or adaptogens, but for most people, those aren’t the reason they’re buying AG1 anyway.
The Cost Comparison
| Supplement | Monthly Cost | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| AG1 | ~$99/month | All-in-one convenience |
| Vitamin D3 + K2 | ~$1.50/month | Addresses most common deficiency |
| Magnesium Glycinate | ~$7/month | Sleep, stress, muscle function |
| Omega-3 (high strength) | ~$8/month | Cardiovascular, cognitive health |
| Creatine Monohydrate | ~$10/month | Performance, muscle, cognition |
| Basic Multivitamin | ~$7/month | Broad nutritional insurance |
| Full targeted stack | ~$33/month | More targeted than AG1 |
For roughly 30% of the price of AG1, you can build a targeted supplement stack with fully disclosed dosages, strong independent evidence, and no proprietary blends.
The Bottom Line
AG1 is a well-made product. It’s third-party tested, the company takes quality seriously, and many people genuinely feel better taking it. The controversy around it — the influencer marketing, the proprietary blends, the heavy metals question — doesn’t make it a scam.
But at $99 per month, it's an expensive way to get nutritional insurance, particularly when the dosages of most ingredients are hidden and the evidence base for the complete formula is thin. For most people, a targeted stack of individually evidenced supplements — vitamin D, magnesium, omega-3, and creatine if you train — will deliver more measurable benefit at a fraction of the cost.
If you love AG1 and it fits your budget, there’s no compelling reason to stop. But if you’re considering starting, the evidence suggests your money goes further elsewhere.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement.