Pure Encapsulations vs Thorne: An Honest Comparison
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Pure Encapsulations and Thorne are two names that frequently surface as top contenders in health and fitness supplements.
Both brands have garnered attention for their high-quality products, rigorous standards, and expansive range of products. However, consumers often need help determining which brand better suits their health and performance needs in terms of the supplements offered, their quality, and sourcing practices. This article will give a transparent comparison of how Pure Encapsulations compares to Thorne. We’ll also introduce you to another popular supplement brand—Momentous—that we think you should consider.
At Momentous, we understand the importance of making informed decisions about your health. While we could easily focus only on our products' strengths, an honest comparison will serve you better.
This article aims to provide a transparent overview of how Pure Encapsulations and Thorne stack up against each other, while also highlighting the pros and cons of Momentous products. Our goal is to empower you to choose the brand and specific supplements that align best with your health and performance priorities.
An Overview of Pure Encapsulations
Pure Encapsulations is a trusted brand known for producing high-quality, hypoallergenic dietary supplements. Founded in 1991, the company emphasizes rigorous ingredient sourcing and manufacturing processes to ensure purity, potency, and efficacy. Its products are free from allergens such as gluten, dairy, and artificial additives, making them ideal for health and fitness enthusiasts.
Pure Encapsulations collaborates with healthcare professionals to create evidence-based formulations targeting various health needs, including immune support, gut health, and cognitive function. All products are manufactured in NSF-certified facilities. The brand is widely recognized for its scientific integrity and transparency.
Products Offered
Pure Encapsulations has 16 different product categories, some of which include:
Sleep: L-Theanine and Best-Rest Formula are among the top-sellers in this category.
Bones, Joints, & Muscles: Vitamin D3 and Magnesium Glycinate are two of the most popular products in this category.
Probiotics & Prebiotics: Probiotic G.I. and Daily Pure Pack - Healthy Gut are popular in this category.
Health & Wellness: Products such as the O.N.E. Multivitamin are among Pure Encapsulation’s best sellers.
Multivitamins, Vitamins, & Minerals: B-Complex Plus and Zinc 30 are top-selling products in this category.
Memory & Mood: O.N.E. Omega and Magnesium Glycinate are best sellers in this category.
Energy & Fitness: Ashwagandha and Thyroid Support Complex are two favorites in this category.
Women’s Formulas: Women’s Nutrients, a multivitamin formulated for women over 40, is one of the most popular products in this category.
Men’s Formula’s: DHEA and Men’s Nutrients are two of the go-to products in this category.
Certifications
Pure Encapsulations is NSF-GMP registered in the U.S., which means that its facilities comply with the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards set by the NSF. Compliance includes proper documentation, quality control, and manufacturing processes. Pure Encapsulations is also GMP-certified in Canada, and exceeds the standards of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) for supplement manufacturing.
Expert Partners
Pure Encapsulations has a Scientific Advisory Board comprised of more than a dozen experts across a number of nutritional health areas, including genomics, mental health and emotional well-being, weight management, immunology, gastrointestinal health, and more. They range from medical doctors to board-certified specialists in sports dietetics and naturopathic doctors to functional medicine experts.
An Overview of Thorne
Thorne is a leader in the nutritional supplement industry, known for its commitment to providing products that enhance health and well-being. With a foundation built on purity, integrity, and science, Thorne has been developing innovative health solutions for over three decades.
Their approach is rooted in a deep scientific understanding and a dedication to high-quality ingredients. Thorne's products are trusted by healthcare practitioners and patients worldwide, reflecting their status as a trusted partner in health and wellness.
Products Offered by Thorne
Thorne's extensive range of supplements is designed to address a wide array of health needs across various categories:
Sports Performance: Products like Catalyte and Creatine are designed to enhance athletic performance through superior nutritional support.
Healthy Aging: Supplements such as ResveraCel and Nicotinamide Riboside focus on cellular health and longevity.
Heart and Vascular Health: Offering Omega Plus and Vitamin K2 to support cardiovascular health.
Detoxification: Products like Liver Cleanse and Liver Cleanse are formulated to aid in detoxification processes.
Women’s Health: A dedicated line that includes Basic Prenatal and Meta-Fem, tailored to the specific nutritional needs of women.
Certifications
NSF Certified for Sport: Thorne ensures that their sports-related products are free from substances banned in athletic competition, adhering to the highest standards for sports supplements. While not every supplement in Thorne’s lineup carries the NSF label, we found that more than 30 of their 160+ supplements did at the time of this writing.
Expert Partners
Thorne collaborates with various experts and organizations, ensuring that their formulations are grounded in the latest scientific research:
Erin Andrews: Emmy-nominated sports broadcaster
Daniel Ricciardo: Formula 1 driver
Jrue Holiday: Professional basketball player
Organizations like UFC, USA Boxing, and USA Triathlon
An Overview of Momentous
Momentous is a stand-out player in the category of nutritional supplements, dedicated to empowering anyone looking to improve their health, wellness, or performance.
Our mission is to deliver uncompromising quality through scientifically backed products designed to enhance physical and mental performance. Each of the supplements is meticulously formulated in collaboration with top scientists and industry experts, ensuring that we meet the highest standards of efficacy and safety.
At Momentous, we prioritize transparency and integrity in every product we create. Our supplements are favored by professional athletes and health enthusiasts alike, who trust us for our clear labeling, clean formulations, and the absence of unnecessary fillers or additives. From hormone support to cognitive function and foundational health, Momentous offers a comprehensive range designed to support every aspect of human performance.
Our commitment extends beyond just high-quality supplements. We engage in rigorous testing and quality assurance practices, with all our products third-party certified by leading organizations like NSF Certified for Sport. This dedication ensures that our customers receive only the safest and most effective supplements to support their health and wellness goals.
Products Offered by Momentous
At Momentous, our product range is carefully curated to address various aspects of health and performance enhancement. Here are the categories and specific products we currently offer:
Hormone Support: Our hormone support supplements are designed to optimize hormonal balance and support overall endocrine health. Products include Tongkat Ali, Rhodiola Rosea , Zinc, and our Male Hormone Bundle.
Sleep: We recognize the critical role of sleep in recovery and performance, so we provide supplements like Magnesium L-Threonate, L-Theanine, Apigenin, Elite Sleep, and more to promote restful sleep.
Cognitive Function: To boost mental clarity and cognitive agility, our offerings include Omega-3, Creatine, Brain Drive, Alpha GPC, and Tyrosine.
Foundational Health: Our foundational health supplements, such as Multivitamin, Omega-3, Collagen, and Vitamin D, ensure that your basic nutrient needs are met.
Athletic Performance: For those seeking to enhance physical performance, our products like Grass-Fed Whey Protein, Fuel, Recovery, Collagen, and Creatine are specifically formulated to support energy, recovery, and endurance.
Certifications
Our commitment to quality and safety is demonstrated through our rigorous certification process:
NSF Certified for Sport: Ensures that our supplements are free from substances banned by most major sports organizations.
Expert Partners
Momentous collaborates with leading experts who bring valuable insights and pioneering research into our product development:
Dr. Andrew Huberman: Leading neuroscientist and podcaster.
Dr. Kelly Starrett: A renowned physical therapist and three-time New York Times bestseller who specializes in movement and mechanics.
Dr. Stacy Sims: An author and leading expert on female physiology and training, helping us tailor supplements that address the specific needs of female athletes.
Dr. Andy Galpin: Holds a PhD in Human Bioenergetics and Muscle Physiology, coaches elite athletes and teams, contributes cutting-edge sports science to our formulations.
Pro and College Teams
NFL: Every team in the NFL buys and uses Momentous products in their locker rooms. Momentous products are also used by leading teams in the NBA, NHL, and NCAA. We are proud to work with Olympians, world record holders, and elite athletes across a wide range of sports, many of whom choose us because of our high-quality ingredients and rigorous testing.
Jordan Mazur: As the Director of Nutrition at a top NFL team, Mazur brings firsthand experience in sports nutrition at the highest level.
Brandon McDaniel: The VP of Player Performance at a top MLB team, McDaniel provides insights on athlete performance and recovery.
Jenna Stagland: Board-certified sports dietitian.
A Side-by-Side Comparison of Pure Encapsulations, Thorne, and Momentous
Before we get into a detailed comparison of Pure Encapsulations, Thorne, and Momentous, here’s a quick summary of what we’ve covered below:
| Category | Pure Encapsulations | Thorne | Momentous |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ingredients & Formulations | High-quality, research-backed ingredients; allergen-free; bioavailable active nutrient forms for absorption; based on scientific evidence. | Pure, clinically researched ingredients; no fillers/additives; emphasis on transparency; designed for bioavailability and efficacy. | No fillers/additives; developed with scientists using patented ingredients and clinical proof; innovative products informed by elite sports expertise. |
| Product Purity & Quality | Rigorous ingredient sourcing; allergen-free; artificial additive-free; hypoallergenic health solutions. | Extensive batch testing for purity and potency; free from contaminants; adheres to strict regulatory approvals. | NSF-certified facilities with rigorous inspections; Certified for Sport testing ensures products are free of banned substances and contaminants. |
| Manufacturing Standards | GMP-compliant and NSF-certified facilities; precise formulation; rigorous quality control. | FDA-GMP guidelines; strict quality control and traceability from raw materials to finished products. | NSF-certified facilities with regular and surprise inspections; Certified for Sport testing; high safety and compliance standards. |
| Customer Service | Personalized support; 30-day return policy (preauthorization required); 15% processing fee on returns (except for errors); shipping costs not reimbursed. | Supportive service with a 60-day return policy for risk-free buying. | No returns post-delivery; 60-minute order change/cancellation window; proactive support team for post-delivery issues. |
| Sustainability & Ethics | Responsible sourcing; eco-friendly packaging; minimizes environmental impact. | Eco-friendly packaging; responsibly sourced ingredients; minimizes environmental impact. | BPA-free, recyclable (HDPE 2) containers for products like Creatine, Protein, and Collagen. |
| Pricing (Per Serving) | Omega-3: $1.20 (600mg EPA, 400mg DHA); Magnesium: $0.20 (120mg Citrate/Malate); Subscribe & Save: 10% + free expedited shipping. | Omega-3: $0.58 (450mg EPA, 180mg DHA); Magnesium: $0.21 (135mg CitraMate); Subscribe & Save: 10% (1-2 items) or 20% (3+ items). | Omega-3: $1.33 (800mg EPA, 800mg DHA); Magnesium: $0.59 (220mg Malate); Subscribe & Save: 25% off 1st order, 10% after. |
| Shipping | Free shipping for orders over $100; free expedited shipping (1-3 days) for subscriptions. | Free ground shipping in the U.S.; international shipping available. | Free shipping for orders over $75 (U.S. only); ships to 200+ countries. |
INGREDIENTS AND FORMULATIONS
Pure Encapsulations
Pure Encapsulations uses high-quality, research-backed ingredients in its formulations, ensuring potency, purity, and efficacy. Their products are free from common allergens, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. The brand prioritizes bioavailability, selecting active forms of nutrients for optimal absorption. Each formula is developed based on scientific evidence to support specific health needs, catering to sensitive individuals and diverse wellness goals.
Thorne
Thorne is known for its commitment to pure, high-quality ingredients without unnecessary fillers or additives. They pride themselves on the fact that their products do not contain any harmful or unnecessary ingredients. Their products are often formulated with unique, clinically researched ingredients aimed at enhancing bioavailability and efficacy. Thorne emphasizes transparency in their formulations, providing extensive details about ingredient sourcing and benefits.
Momentous
No fillers or additives are used. Momentous works with some of the world's leading scientists who use the latest research to help us develop best-in-class products, often using patented ingredients and direct clinical proof. We also work with performance experts from the NFL to the NCAA who share their knowledge from elite sports to help us bring truly innovative products to market.
PRODUCT PURITY AND QUALITY
Pure Encapsulations
Pure Encapsulations ensures exceptional product purity and quality through rigorous ingredient sourcing, allergen-free formulations, and meticulous manufacturing standards. All supplements are free from artificial additives and designed to deliver safe, effective, and hypoallergenic health solutions.
Thorne
Thorne adheres to rigorous standards of purity and quality, ensuring that all products meet or exceed regulatory approvals. They conduct extensive testing on each product batch, ensuring that they are free from contaminants and that each ingredient is present in the potency specified.
Momentous
Every Momentous product is manufactured in a facility that is certified and audited by the NSF, the world’s foremost product testing organization. This means that the NSF inspects our facilities and audits our entire production process annually. It also conducts additional unannounced inspections. NSF inspectors test raw materials, observe batch control processes and internal lab capabilities, check for cross-contamination mitigation, machine cleaning protocols, and much more.
MANUFACTURING STANDARDS
Pure Encapsulations
Pure Encapsulations adheres to stringent manufacturing standards, including GMP compliance and NSF certification. Their supplements are produced in state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring precise formulation, and rigorous quality control to guarantee potency, purity, and safety in every product.
Thorne
Thorne maintains high manufacturing standards, with their facilities adhering to the guidelines of the FDA's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). They ensure strict quality control and traceability throughout the production process, from raw material sourcing to finished products.
Momentous
Momentous takes a rigorous approach to manufacturing supplements, setting themselves apart in an industry often criticized for lax regulations. They are committed to transparency and quality, manufacturing every product in NSF-certified facilities which undergo regular and surprise inspections to ensure purity and compliance. Furthermore, Momentous extends their commitment to safety by participating in NSF Certified for Sport testing, ensuring each product batch is free of banned substances and contaminants before reaching the market. This meticulous process, though costly and time-consuming, underscores their dedication to delivering trustworthy, high-performance supplements to their customers.
CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SATISFACTION
Pure Encapsulations
Pure Encapsulations is dedicated to exceptional customer service and satisfaction, offering personalized support and expert guidance. They prioritize transparency, providing detailed product information. Their commitment to quality and trust ensures customer confidence in achieving optimal health through reliable, science-based supplements.
Pure Encapsulations offers a return policy for products purchased directly from them or authorized sellers. To initiate a return, you must request preauthorization within 30 days of receipt. Claims for shortages or damages must be made within 7 days of receiving the package. All returns are subject to a 15% processing fee, and shipping costs are not reimbursed unless the return is due to their error. Refunds are issued after the returned products are received and processed.
Thorne
Thorne is committed to ensuring customer satisfaction through a supportive and responsive customer service framework. They offer a comprehensive return policy that allows customers to return any product within 60 days of purchase if they are not completely satisfied, ensuring a risk-free buying experience.
Momentous
Due to the consumable nature of our products and stringent quality standards, Momentous does not accept returns once products have been delivered. This ensures that the supplements maintain our high standard from production to consumption. However, customers have a 60-minute window post-purchase to make any changes to their order, including cancellations. For any issues that arise post-delivery, Momentous encourages customers to contact their customer service team, who are ready and eager to assist, ensuring customer satisfaction through proactive support.
SUSTAINABILITY AND ETHICAL PRACTICES
Pure Encapsulations
Pure Encapsulations emphasizes sustainability and ethical practices through responsible ingredient sourcing, eco-friendly packaging, and minimizing environmental impact. They prioritize transparency, quality, and partnering with suppliers who share their commitment to ethical standards.
Thorne
Thorne focuses on sustainability by implementing practices such as using environmentally friendly packaging and sourcing ingredients responsibly. They aim to minimize their environmental impact while maintaining high-quality production standards.
Momentous
We have recently introduced BPA-free, recyclable (HDPE 2) post-consumer plastic containers for our Creatine, Protein, Collagen, and Recovery products. The material used to produce our new containers—the same material used in milk cartons—is believed to be one of the most frequently recycled materials.
PRICING
Due to quality, testing, and certifications, we found that Pure Encapsulations, Momentous, and Thorne are fairly comparable in pricing. Let’s do a price comparison for price per serving of some of the most popular items these three brands offer, although note differences in potency and magnesium types (L-Threonate versus Citrate, for example).
| Category | Momentous | Thorne | Pure Encapsulations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omega-3 | $1.33 (800mg EPA, 800mg DHA per serving) | $0.58 (450mg EPA, 180mg DHA per serving) | $1.20 (600mg EPA, 400mg DHA per serving) |
| Magnesium | Magnesium Malate 220mg; $0.59 per serving | Magnesium CitraMate 135mg; $0.21 per serving | Magnesium Citrate/Malate 120mg; $0.20 per serving |
| Subscribe & Save Plans | 25% off first subscription order of any size, 10% off thereafter | Save 10% when you subscribe to 1-2 Thorne products, or 20% when you subscribe to 3 or more products | Save 10% with subscription + free expedited shipping |
SHIPPING
Pure Encapsulations
All orders over $100 receive free shipping. Products on subscription receive free expedited shipping (1-3 days).
Thorne
All U.S. orders receive free ground shipping. Additionally, Thorne ships internationally.
Momentous
Momentous ships internationally (they have customers in 200+ countries). They offer free shipping on orders over $75 (U.S. only).
OVERVIEW OF PURE ENCAPSULATIONS
Pure Encapsulations is a leading brand known for its high-quality, hypoallergenic dietary supplements. Founded in 1991, it prioritizes purity and potency, offering a wide range of products designed to support health and wellness. Free from common allergens and artificial additives, their formulations use bioavailable ingredients for optimal absorption. Manufactured in GMP-certified facilities, each product undergoes rigorous testing to ensure safety and efficacy. Trusted by healthcare professionals, Pure Encapsulations is dedicated to providing evidence-based, transparent, and effective nutritional solutions.
OVERVIEW OF THORNE
Thorne stands out for its commitment to pure, high-quality ingredients and stringent manufacturing standards. Their products, free from unnecessary additives, are formulated with clinically researched components to enhance efficacy and bioavailability. Thorne's facilities adhere to FDA's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and are regularly audited to ensure compliance with NSF standards.
They offer a generous 60-day return policy and are noted for their responsive customer service, underlining their commitment to customer health and satisfaction. Thorne also prioritizes sustainability, employing environmentally friendly packaging and responsible sourcing practices.
OVERVIEW OF MOMENTOUS
Momentous is dedicated to crafting supplements with no fillers or additives, collaborating with leading scientists and performance experts to produce innovative, high-quality products. All Momentous supplements are rigorously tested and certified by NSF and Informed Sport, ensuring they meet strict standards for purity and effectiveness.
Our manufacturing process is transparent, focusing on delivering products that athletes and active individuals can trust. While Momentous maintains a strict no-return policy on delivered products, they emphasize customer service and satisfaction, offering support and modifications within a short window after purchase.
Ready to try one of the highest-quality supplement brands designed for everyday performance?
Emma-Kate Lidbury
Emma-Kate Lidbury is a freelance writer and editor with 20 years of experience working in the health and fitness world.
