The full worth-it ranking
All 32 rows of the gated pool, in rank order. Every ingredient that clears the worth-it gates: evidence grade B- or better, purchasable as a supplement, and useful beyond a single occasion. This is the complete ranking behind the Top 10 leaderboard, published in full so it can be cited and checked. Situational and evidence-thin picks sit on the leaderboard page, outside this pool.
Ranking stamped October 2026
Each row carries its worth-it score with the scale in words: evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar. Adjusted for how broadly the benefit applies. Higher scores rank higher. The score is a price verdict on the evidence, not an evidence verdict: a strong but expensive staple can sit below a cheaper peer.
- 1A-
Creatine
The most studied sports supplement in the world, graded.
Serves: Muscle, Cognition, Longevity
~$8/mo
worth-it score 5.00
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$8/mo
evidence A-
worth-it score 5.00
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 2B+
Caffeine
The stimulant that sharpens alertness by blocking adenosine.
Serves: Cognition, Energy
~$8/mo
worth-it score 3.98
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$8/mo
evidence B+
worth-it score 3.98
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 3B
Vitamin D
The deficiency is common. The hype is louder than the data.
Serves: Longevity
~$7/mo
worth-it score 3.53
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$7/mo
evidence B
worth-it score 3.53
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 4B+
Psyllium Husk
Fiber with actual RCTs behind it.
~$10/mo
worth-it score 3.44
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$10/mo
evidence B+
worth-it score 3.44
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 5B
Vitamin C
Essential for deficiency; the megadose cold cure is mostly myth.
Serves: Longevity, Energy
~$6/mo
worth-it score 3.26
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$6/mo
evidence B
worth-it score 3.26
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 6B+
Beta-Alanine
The tingling amino acid with meta-analytic backing for hard efforts.
Serves: Muscle, Energy, Recovery
~$10/mo
worth-it score 2.93
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$10/mo
evidence B+
worth-it score 2.93
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 7B
Zinc
Cheap, essential, and easy to overdo.
Serves: Longevity, Recovery
~$8/mo
worth-it score 2.70
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$8/mo
evidence B
worth-it score 2.70
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 8B+
Plant Sterols and Stanols
The best-validated non-drug LDL intervention.
Serves: Longevity
~$13/mo
worth-it score 2.62
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$13/mo
evidence B+
worth-it score 2.62
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 9B-
Ginger Extract
Dirt-cheap root with real glucose and inflammation trials.
Serves: Longevity, Recovery, Stress
~$7/mo
worth-it score 2.43
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$7/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 2.43
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 10B-
Vitamin B6
Useful at RDA levels, risky megadosed.
Serves: Cognition, Longevity
~$7/mo
worth-it score 2.43
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$7/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 2.43
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 11B-
Boron
Tiny trials, real signals on testosterone and bone; needs bigger studies.
Serves: Longevity
~$7/mo
worth-it score 2.43
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$7/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 2.43
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 12B
Beetroot Extract (Dietary Nitrate)
The vegetable nitrate with real blood pressure trials.
Serves: Longevity, Energy, Recovery
~$14/mo
worth-it score 2.41
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$14/mo
evidence B
worth-it score 2.41
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 13B
Aged Garlic Extract
Odorless garlic with genuine hypertension trials.
Serves: Longevity
~$13/mo
worth-it score 2.16
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$13/mo
evidence B
worth-it score 2.16
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 14B-
L-Theanine
Calm focus in a capsule, best known next to caffeine.
Serves: Sleep, Stress, Cognition
~$13/mo
worth-it score 2.06
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$13/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 2.06
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 15B
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)
Great for triglycerides. The rest is still being argued.
Serves: Longevity, Cognition, Recovery
~$20/mo
worth-it score 2.01
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$20/mo
evidence B
worth-it score 2.01
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 16B+
Whey Protein
Fast-digesting dairy protein, rich in leucine, for muscle support.
Serves: Muscle, Recovery
~$30/mo
worth-it score 1.99
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$30/mo
evidence B+
worth-it score 1.99
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 17B
Curcumin
Turmeric's active compound. Strongest case is joint pain; everything else is promising but thinner.
Serves: Recovery, Longevity
~$23/mo
worth-it score 1.90
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$23/mo
evidence B
worth-it score 1.90
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 18B-
Magnesium
Essential mineral, noisy marketing. Here is what the trials say.
Serves: Sleep, Stress, Recovery, Muscle
~$12/mo
worth-it score 1.83
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$12/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 1.83
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 19B-
Ashwagandha
The adaptogen with the most trials, and the most caveats.
Serves: Stress, Sleep, Muscle
~$16/mo
worth-it score 1.82
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$16/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 1.82
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 20B-
Berberine
Called nature's metformin. The trials are smaller than the nickname.
Serves: Longevity
~$14/mo
worth-it score 1.66
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$14/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 1.66
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 21B-
Cocoa Flavanols
The chocolate compound behind the 21,000-person COSMOS trial.
Serves: Longevity, Cognition
~$20/mo
worth-it score 1.63
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$20/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 1.63
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 22B-
Krill Oil
Omega-3s with astaxanthin, at a premium.
Serves: Longevity
~$20/mo
worth-it score 1.63
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$20/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 1.63
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 23B
Inositol (Myo-Inositol)
One of the best-evidenced supplements in women's metabolic health.
Serves: Longevity, Energy
~$23/mo
worth-it score 1.61
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$23/mo
evidence B
worth-it score 1.61
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 24B-
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Antioxidant with the strongest supplement evidence in diabetic neuropathy
Serves: Longevity, Energy
~$15/mo
worth-it score 1.60
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$15/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 1.60
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 25B-
Bacopa
Ayurvedic memory herb with a consistent but slow-acting signal
Serves: Cognition, Stress
~$15/mo
worth-it score 1.60
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$15/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 1.60
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 26B-
NAC
The glutathione precursor hospitals actually use.
Serves: Longevity, Recovery
~$15/mo
worth-it score 1.60
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$15/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 1.60
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 27B-
Nattokinase
Real blood pressure effects in meta-analysis; a big null trial keeps it honest.
Serves: Longevity
~$15/mo
worth-it score 1.60
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$15/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 1.60
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 28B-
L-Citrulline
The nitric-oxide precursor with real vascular effects and small performance gains.
Serves: Muscle, Energy, Longevity
~$20/mo
worth-it score 1.39
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$20/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 1.39
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 29B-
Tongkat Ali
Southeast Asian root extract marketed for testosterone and male vitality
Serves: Muscle, Energy
~$23/mo
worth-it score 1.31
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$23/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 1.31
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 30B-
Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Mitochondrial nutrient with real depression and fatigue trial data
Serves: Cognition, Energy
~$23/mo
worth-it score 1.31
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$23/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 1.31
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 31B-
Electrolytes
Essential for athletes. Expensive salt water for everyone else.
Serves: Recovery, Energy, Muscle
~$30/mo
worth-it score 1.13
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$30/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 1.13
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
- 32B-
NR (Nicotinamide Riboside)
A vitamin B3 form that reliably raises NAD+ in human blood.
Serves: Longevity, Energy
~$45/mo
worth-it score 1.09
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
~$45/mo
evidence B-
worth-it score 1.09
evidence points squared, divided by the square root of monthly cost. Higher means more evidence per dollar.
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The leaderboard page runs this same ranking with goal and budget filters: show only what serves your goal, inside what you can spend. Filtering never changes a score or a rank; it only hides rows.
Filter the ranking on the leaderboard page →Gates, formula, and grade derivation are documented in full on the methodology page.