Tested and written by Martin Ebner, certified personal trainer.
Formula and evidence last checked October 2026.
Bradley Cooper takes one pill in Limitless and suddenly has access to every corner of his brain. Mind Lab Pro isn’t that. Nothing is.
I first tried it because I spend long days moving between coaching, writing and running a business. My attention is regularly pulled in six different directions, so a supplement promising better focus without another hit of caffeine had my attention.
What I noticed was subtle. I felt more focused, more energised and, surprisingly, calmer. I found it easier to settle into a task and stay there, without feeling wired or waiting for the inevitable crash.
That was my experience. It isn’t proof, so let’s look at what’s actually in Mind Lab Pro, what the research found and whether it deserves your money.
THE QUICK VERDICT
Mind Lab Pro is a credible caffeine-free nootropic with a transparent formula. Unusually for a supplement in this category, the finished product itself has been tested in three controlled human trials.
The results are encouraging, particularly for memory and information processing, but they’re not conclusive. The studies were relatively small, received commercial funding and produced a mixture of positive and neutral findings.
I liked it. The effects weren’t dramatic, but that was part of the appeal. I felt focused without feeling overstimulated, and I’d happily use it again during a demanding project.
It won’t rescue dreadful sleep, remove stress from your life or turn you into Bradley Cooper. If your basics are in place and you want some additional support for focus and memory, however, Mind Lab Pro is one of the more credible options I’ve reviewed.
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MIND LAB PRO AT A GLANCE
Price: $69 for a one-off purchase
Serving size: Two capsules
Servings per bottle: 30
Caffeine: None
Suitable for vegans: Yes
Best suited to: Demanding periods of work, study or creative focus
Main drawback: It’s expensive, particularly if you intend to take it continuously
My verdict: A credible formula with promising research, but not an essential supplement
Prices and subscriptions can change, so check the official product page before ordering.
WHAT IS MIND LAB PRO?
Mind Lab Pro is a caffeine-free nootropic made by Performance Lab Group. A nootropic is simply a substance or combination of substances intended to support aspects of mental performance such as focus, memory and attention.
The current Mind Lab Pro v4 formula contains 11 active ingredients, including citicoline, bacopa, lion’s mane, phosphatidylserine, L-theanine and three B vitamins. Everything is listed with its dose, so you know exactly what you’re taking.
That should be standard across the supplement industry, but it still isn’t.
The lack of caffeine also separates Mind Lab Pro from many focus supplements. You shouldn’t expect an immediate rush or a dramatic burst of energy. It’s designed to provide something steadier and more subtle.
This is a supplement for mental performance, not a pre-workout. If you’re primarily looking for help with training, read my Pre Lab Pro review.
WHAT’S IN MIND LAB PRO?
A standard two-capsule serving currently provides:
Citicoline: 250 mg
Bacopa monnieri: 150 mg
Lion’s mane mushroom: 500 mg
Phosphatidylserine: 100 mg
N-acetyl L-tyrosine: 175 mg
L-theanine: 100 mg
Rhodiola rosea: 50 mg
Maritime pine bark extract: 75 mg
Vitamin B6: 2.5 mg
Vitamin B9: 100 mcg
Vitamin B12: 7.5 mcg
It’s a sensible-looking formula, but a long ingredient list doesn’t automatically make a good product. Evidence for the individual ingredients varies, and research using one dose or extract can’t simply be pasted onto another product.
The more useful question is whether this exact combination has been tested. In this case, it has.
CITICOLINE
Citicoline is involved in the production of phosphatidylcholine, an important component of cell membranes. It’s also a source of choline, which the body uses to produce the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
It’s one of the more interesting ingredients in the formula, particularly in relation to attention and memory. Mind Lab Pro uses 250 mg per standard serving.
BACOPA MONNIERI
Bacopa has a long history of traditional use and some reasonably promising human research behind it, particularly for memory.
It isn’t normally associated with an immediate buzz. Studies examining bacopa tend to use it consistently over several weeks, which is another reason not to judge the entire product after one morning.
LION’S MANE
Lion’s mane has become one of the trendiest ingredients in the nootropic world. Early research is interesting, but it hasn’t earned the miraculous reputation occasionally attached to it online.
Mind Lab Pro contains 500 mg from both the mushroom’s mycelium and fruiting body. I’d view it as a promising part of the wider formula rather than a reason to buy the product on its own.
PHOSPHATIDYLSERINE
Phosphatidylserine is a fatty substance found in cell membranes, including those in the brain. It has been studied in relation to memory, attention and age-related cognitive changes.
Mind Lab Pro provides 100 mg derived from sunflower lecithin.
N-ACETYL L-TYROSINE AND RHODIOLA
Tyrosine is used to produce several neurotransmitters involved in attention and the stress response. It may be most useful when you’re operating under pressure, although Mind Lab Pro uses the N-acetyl form and research doesn’t always transfer neatly between different forms.
Rhodiola is commonly described as an adaptogen. There’s some evidence that it may help with fatigue and perceived stress, but it shouldn’t be presented as a cure for either.
L-THEANINE
L-theanine is found naturally in tea and is often paired with caffeine because it may help take the rougher edges off the stimulant.
Mind Lab Pro contains 100 mg but no caffeine. That fits the product’s calmer approach and may partly explain why my own experience felt focused rather than frantic.
MARITIME PINE BARK AND B VITAMINS
Maritime pine bark contains plant compounds called proanthocyanidins. The formula also provides vitamins B6, B9 and B12, all of which contribute to normal nervous-system function.
B vitamins matter, but taking more than you need won’t automatically turn you into a genius. They’re supporting players here, not the main event.
WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH ACTUALLY SHOW?
Most supplement companies rely on studies involving individual ingredients and then suggest that their finished product will produce the same results.
Mind Lab Pro has gone a step further. Three double-blind, placebo-controlled human trials have tested the complete formula.
That’s a meaningful strength, but it doesn’t place the results beyond criticism.
THE INFORMATION-PROCESSING STUDY
A 30-day study involved 105 healthy adults. Sixty-one received Mind Lab Pro and 44 received a placebo.
The Mind Lab Pro group improved on tests of simple reaction time, choice reaction time and anticipation, with statistically significant differences between the groups.
Those are encouraging results, but the study used a pseudo-randomised design rather than full randomisation. It also received commercial funding through ICS Digital.
You can read the information-processing study here.
THE MEMORY STUDY
A second 30-day study involved 49 healthy adults, with 36 receiving Mind Lab Pro and 13 receiving a placebo.
The treatment group improved across several memory measures. The clearest differences between the groups were seen in immediate and delayed recall.
Again, there are limitations. The sample was small and unevenly divided, and repeatedly completing the same memory assessments may have produced some practice effects.
The study was funded by Opti-Nutra, although the paper states that the sponsor had no access to the data and no influence over the findings.
You can read the published memory study here.
THE EEG STUDY
The third trial lasted 60 days. Thirty-two participants completed it, with 17 receiving Mind Lab Pro and 15 receiving a placebo.
Researchers found changes in communication between areas of the brain during a decision-making task. However, Mind Lab Pro didn’t improve reaction time or choice accuracy.
That distinction matters. A measurable change in brain activity is interesting, but it doesn’t automatically mean somebody will think faster or perform better in everyday life.
The study was funded by Performance Lab Group, although the researchers stated that the company had no access to the data and no influence over the analysis or publication.
You can read the EEG study here.
MY READING OF THE EVIDENCE
There’s a genuine signal here, particularly for information processing and memory. Mind Lab Pro has considerably more finished-product research than the average nootropic.
It’s still a small evidence base, though. The trials need to be repeated by researchers with no commercial connection to the product, using larger and more evenly divided groups.
I wouldn’t call Mind Lab Pro conclusively proven. I would call it promising and better supported than most of its competition.
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I TOOK MIND LAB PRO?
I work long hours, move between clients and spend more time at a computer than most people would probably assume. I also carry a fair bit of stress and regularly have several things demanding my attention at once.
When I took Mind Lab Pro, I felt more focused, more energised and, surprisingly, calmer. I found it easier to sit down, begin a task and remain with it.
The effect wasn’t dramatic. I didn’t feel wired, unusually stimulated or detached from reality. I simply felt a little more capable of dealing with the work in front of me.
On particularly demanding days, I occasionally took the additional two capsules around lunchtime, as permitted by the directions. I wouldn’t recommend starting there. Two capsules were enough to establish how I responded before considering more.
I can’t separate the supplement from expectation, sleep, workload or everything else happening in my life at the time. That’s the limitation of any personal review. I can tell you what I noticed, but I won’t pretend my experience settles the science.
HOW LONG DOES MIND LAB PRO TAKE TO WORK?
The manufacturer says Mind Lab Pro can begin working in around 30 minutes. You may notice something relatively quickly, but the product’s controlled trials lasted between 30 and 60 days.
That makes a few weeks of consistent use a more sensible test than swallowing two capsules and waiting for a dramatic switch to flip.
If you try it, pay attention to whether you’re finding it easier to start work, remain focused and recall information. Don’t keep taking it indefinitely simply because you’ve bought the bottle.
MIND LAB PRO OR COFFEE?
Coffee and Mind Lab Pro aren’t really doing the same job.
Caffeine is a stimulant. It can rapidly increase alertness, but it can also leave some people jittery, anxious or staring at the ceiling when they should be asleep.
Mind Lab Pro contains no caffeine. The effects are likely to feel less immediate and less obvious, but it also avoids adding another stimulant to your day.
You can use Mind Lab Pro alongside coffee, but that doesn’t mean everybody should. If you already rely on caffeine from breakfast until bedtime, I’d sort that out before buying another supplement.
MIND LAB PRO OR PRE LAB PRO?
Choose Mind Lab Pro if your priority is sustained mental work, studying, writing or staying focused during a demanding day.
Choose Pre Lab Pro if your priority is training. It combines caffeine with other ingredients intended to support energy, attention and exercise performance.
There’s some crossover, but they’re built for different jobs. You don’t need both simply because they’re made by related companies.
THE PROS
The full formula has been tested in three controlled human trials
Every active ingredient and dose is disclosed
It contains no caffeine or other obvious stimulants
I found the effects useful without feeling wired
It’s vegan and free from several common allergens
One bottle provides 30 standard servings
The formula is third-party tested, according to the manufacturer
THE CONS
$69 per bottle is expensive
The finished-product research is still limited
All three trials received commercial funding
One trial found changes in brain activity without better reaction time or accuracy
The effect may be too subtle for anyone expecting an immediate buzz
It can’t compensate for poor sleep, constant stress or a dreadful diet
WHO IS MIND LAB PRO FOR?
Mind Lab Pro makes the most sense for somebody facing a genuinely demanding period of work, study or creative effort who wants support without adding more caffeine.
It may also appeal to people who dislike the wired feeling produced by stronger stimulant-based focus supplements.
It makes less sense if money is tight, your sleep is a mess or you’re hoping a supplement will create motivation that isn’t currently there. If the basics are off, Mind Lab Pro can wait.
HOW TO TAKE MIND LAB PRO
The standard serving is two capsules in the morning, ideally before eating.
The manufacturer says you can add another two capsules around lunchtime if required. Don’t exceed four capsules per day, and don’t assume that taking more will produce better results.
I’d begin with two capsules and establish how you respond. If you’re sensitive to supplements or take anything else that affects mood, attention or sleep, be particularly cautious.
SIDE EFFECTS AND SAFETY
I didn’t experience any side effects while taking Mind Lab Pro.
The controlled trials also suggest that the product was generally well tolerated, but the participant numbers were too small to establish that nobody will experience problems.
Caffeine-free doesn’t mean side-effect-free. The formula contains several active ingredients, and individual responses will vary.
Stop taking it if you feel unwell. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, take prescription medication, have a medical or mental health condition, or aren’t sure whether one of the ingredients is suitable for you, speak to a doctor or pharmacist before using it.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
DOES MIND LAB PRO CONTAIN CAFFEINE?
No. Mind Lab Pro is caffeine-free and doesn’t rely on a stimulant to create an obvious energy boost.
DOES MIND LAB PRO ACTUALLY WORK?
Three controlled human trials have produced promising results for information processing, memory and brain-network activity. However, the studies were relatively small, commercially funded and didn’t produce positive results across every measure.
My own experience was positive, but the evidence isn’t strong enough to promise that everybody will notice the same thing.
CAN YOU TAKE MIND LAB PRO EVERY DAY?
The manufacturer recommends daily use and the product trials lasted between 30 and 60 days. That doesn’t mean everybody needs to take it continuously.
I’d use it when I had a clear reason, assess whether it was helping and reconsider once that demanding period had passed.
CAN YOU TAKE MIND LAB PRO WITH COFFEE?
Mind Lab Pro contains no caffeine, and the manufacturer doesn’t prohibit combining it with coffee. You should still consider your total caffeine intake and how it affects anxiety, energy and sleep.
IS MIND LAB PRO SAFE?
It appeared to be generally well tolerated in the available trials, and I didn’t experience any problems. That isn’t a guarantee of safety for every person.
Check the complete ingredient list and speak to a qualified medical professional if you take medication, have a health condition or have any reason to question whether it’s suitable for you.
IS MIND LAB PRO VEGAN?
Yes. The current formula uses plant-based capsules and is listed by the manufacturer as suitable for vegans.
HOW MUCH DOES MIND LAB PRO COST?
At the time of this review, a one-off bottle costs $69 and contains 30 standard servings. Monthly and four-month subscriptions reduce the cost per bottle.
MY VERDICT
Mind Lab Pro is a credible product with three finished-formula trials behind it. That gives us more to judge than a label supported only by studies on separate ingredients.
The results are promising rather than definitive, and the commercial funding behind the research should be kept in view. It’s also expensive enough that I wouldn’t recommend buying it without a clear reason.
My own experience was positive. I felt calmer, more focused and better able to stay with demanding work. I liked that it didn’t feel like another stimulant, and I’d use it again if I had a large project ahead of me.
I wouldn’t take it indefinitely just because the bottle says you can. Use it when you have a reason, pay attention to whether it’s genuinely helping and don’t allow any supplement to take credit for the work you’re doing yourself.
If that sounds like what you’re looking for, hit the button below to check the current Mind Lab Pro price and subscription options.
Use code EXTRA10 at checkout for 10% off
If you’re still weighing up the options, you can compare Mind Lab Pro with the rest of my supplement reviews and guides.
