See how AG1 Next Gen stacks up against IM8 Daily Ultimate Essentials across ingredients, testing, clinical research, taste, and value.
At a similar daily price, AG1 and IM8 are best compared by the evidence behind the finished product, not by treating the Supplement Facts panel like a simple scoreboard. AG1's advantage is stronger where the comparison carries the most weight: finished-product clinical research. AG1 has been studied as the formula people actually take, with research evaluating nutrient adequacy, microbiome outcomes, and vitamin/mineral absorption.
A supplement label can show what's included. It cannot tell you how the complete formula has been studied, whether the nutrients are absorbed in that formula, or what outcomes have been measured in people taking the finished product. That is where AG1 and IM8 start to separate.
IM8 offers a long list of nutrients and specialty ingredients. AG1 provides clinical substantiation: AG1 has been studied as a complete formula for nutrient adequacy, microbiome outcomes, and key vitamin/mineral absorption.
AG1 Next Gen and IM8 Daily Ultimate Essentials both cover a wide range of nutrients, but ingredient count alone does not give you the full picture. The more useful question is whether the formula has been built and studied to deliver clinically meaningful support as a whole product.
Higher label amounts do not automatically make a formula more effective. AG1 has clinically studied doses within a finished formula that has been evaluated for nutrient gaps, homocysteine reduction, microbiome enrichment, and absorption so you have tangible, evidence-based confidence in the supplement.
Clinical research is AG1's clearest advantage.
AG1 has finished-product clinical research, including published trials and a published conference abstract. That means AG1 is not only relying on research around individual ingredients. The formula has been studied as the product people actually take.
The cited evidence includes two published human studies and one published conference abstract, covering nutrient adequacy, nutrient status, microbiome outcomes, and vitamin/mineral absorption.1-3
AG1 research has evaluated nutrient absorption, nutrient gaps, and gut health. That is especially useful in a category where long ingredient lists can look impressive without vital context showing how the finished product performs in real life.
IM8 lists two clinical trials on its website. One finished-product study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as active, not recruiting, with no posted results as of August 2026.6 This is important to note because ClinicalTrials.gov is a centralized, public database operated by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It provides the public with comprehensive information about publicly and privately supported clinical research studies conducted around the world.
Both AG1 and IM8 are NSF Certified for Sport®, so certification is table stakes and definitely a strength for both products. This ensures products do not contain contaminants, unsafe levels of heavy metals, and contain no more than 290 substances prohibited by major sports organizations.The deeper question is about what each brand can show beyond the certification seal. AG1 maintains high for all products. AG1 partners with Alkemist Labs—a leader in botanical and nutraceutical testing—to confirm the botanical identity of raw ingredients that are used in the product and test product quality to ensure consistency across batches.Additionally, AG1 Next Gen is independently tested to verify that the vitamin, mineral, and ingredient amounts, as well as lack of allergens (like dairy, lactose, egg and peanuts), are accurately reflected in the product packaging. IM8 also uses third-party testing to verify allergens and ingredient amounts.AG1 also partners with the Detox Project to verify that Next Gen is tested for glyphosate residues to ensure ingredient purity. IM8 makes no additional claims beyond NSF Certified for Sport.
The key difference is the depth and transparency of the finished-product evidence. Clinical trials require considerable time and financial investment. AG1 makes that investment, tests the complete formula people actually take, and publicly shares its study designs and findings.
The cited evidence includes two published human studies and one published conference abstract, covering nutrient adequacy, nutrient status, microbiome outcomes, and key vitamin/mineral absorption.1-3 IM8 has registered a finished-product trial, but it has not published peer-reviewed findings showing how its complete formula affects nutrient status. The evidence supporting IM8's vitamin and mineral claims still relies more heavily on research into individual ingredients.
When comparing the two, the question is not just which product lists more nutrients. Which product can show a substantial and transparent body of whole-formula research, including controlled trials that measured objective outcomes? Only AG1 can offer this.
Both products include nutrients connected to energy metabolism.AG1 Next Gen provides higher vitamin B12 and includes functional ingredients such as benfotiamine, myo-inositol, alpha-lipoic acid, CoQ10, adaptogens, and phytonutrients. AG1 also has research on the finished formula, including , which gives it a stronger evidence base than comparing amounts per serving alone.IM8 provides higher amounts of several B vitamins and more magnesium, and it also includes electrolytes and amino acids..
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This comparison is based on publicly available information from AG1 and IM8, including official websites, product details, ingredient information, and policy pages available at the time of writing.
90+ ingredients
Clinical research | Published finished-product clinical research evaluating nutrient biomarkers, microbiome changes, and vitamin/mineral absorption.1-3 | Relies primarily on ingredient-level evidence; public finished-product results are not available in the same way |
NSF certification | NSF Certified for Sport® |
Greens and phytonutrients | 13 g greens, phytonutrients, prebiotics, adaptogens, and functional ingredients within a clinically researched formula | 13.6 g raw superfoods, greens, fruits, and herbs complex |
Probiotics | 10 billion viable cells from five clinically studied Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains, including LGG—the most studied probiotic. | 10 billion CFU, 2 spore-forming Bacillus strains |
Prebiotics/fiber | 2 g of fiber from inulin and whole food ingredients | 3 g of fiber from blue agave inulin |
Vitamins and minerals | Bioavailable forms of clinically studied vitamins and minerals shown to help fill common nutrient gaps and improve key nutrient levels. In a clinical trial, key nutrients in AG1 were shown to be bioavailable in the body.2 | Higher in some vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, D, K2, B1, B2, B3, B5, magnesium, selenium, copper, chromium, and manganese, but relies on high doses of vitamins and minerals, without whole-formula research showing that it improves key nutrient levels. |
Vitamin D | Available separately through AG1 D3+K2 drops, so dosage can be tailored to individual needs, season, diet, and sun exposure | 2,000 IU/50 mcg included in the formula |
Specialty features | Adaptogens, functional mushrooms, CoQ10, alpha-lipoic acid, myo-inositol, benfotiamine | Electrolytes, amino acids, MSM, saffron, CRT8™ longevity complex |
Price per serving | About $2.63 per serving on a 30-day subscription ($2.30 for 90-day) | About $2.96 per serving on a 30-day subscription ($2.64 for 90-day) |
Best for | People who want a broad, fixed-dose formula and prioritize ingredient variety over finished-product research. |
The products are fairly equal when it comes to dosing the ingredients that matter. Both provide broad vitamin and mineral coverage, including many of the nutrients people look for in a daily supplement. Both formulas include B vitamins, antioxidant nutrients, minerals, probiotics, prebiotics, and plant-based ingredients.
AG1 still provides standalone amounts for select functional compounds, including alpha-lipoic acid, boron, myo-inositol, and benfotiamine. IM8 includes some comparable ingredients within larger blends, where individual amounts are not always listed.
There are some differences in the amounts listed on the label. IM8 provides higher amounts of some vitamins and minerals per serving, including vitamins A, C, D, and some B vitamins. AG1 provides higher amounts of others, including vitamin E, folate, vitamin B12, and zinc. Vitamin D3 is most absorbable in an oil-based form, which is why AG1 offers it separately from powdered AG1.
AG1 and IM8 both include probiotics, but they use different probiotic strategies. AG1 uses novel digital PCR (dPCR) technology to measure and report 10 billion viable probiotic cells with greater precision than traditional CFU testing. AG1 wrote a peer-reviewed paper discussing viable-but-nonculturable cells and bacterial enumeration methods in supplement products.4 Learn more about dPCR probiotic testing here.
That distinction is important because CFU testing only counts bacteria that form colonies in a lab. dPCR can help verify live, strain-specific probiotic cells, including cells that may not grow under traditional CFU testing conditions. This provides better reassurance that the dose of probiotics is precise and accurate.
AG1 includes five clinically studied Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains, including Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), one of the most-researched probiotic strains in the literature that has been shown in clinical studies to support gut and immune health.5 IM8 uses two spore-forming Bacillus strains plus a postbiotic.
The point isn't simply “AG1 has more probiotic strains.” AG1 uses clinically studied strains and uses novel dPCR technology to identify active probiotic cells.
Taste is a personal preference with a supplement you take every day. AG1's Next Gen original flavor is light and smooth with hints of pineapple and vanilla, with additional flavor options available like Berry and Citrus for those who want more variety.
IM8's flavor is acai and mixed berries with earthy undertones, but there are three flavors available. Neither product uses artificial sweeteners.
AG1 has the edge on pricing, with a cost that's around 0.33 cents cheaper per serving for both the 30-day and 90-day subscriptions—a savings of about $10 for a 30-day subscription, and $30 for a 90-day subscription. That's around $120 of savings for a 90-day subscription over the course of a year, which is definitely notable.
Although AG1 offers better value over IM8 in terms of pricing, the question should still come back to the proof. AG1 gives you finished-product clinical research, clinically studied probiotic strains, viable-cell probiotic testing with dPCR, nutrient-gap support, microbiome support, and absorption/bioavailability research.
IM8 gives shoppers higher amounts of many vitamins and minerals, plus vitamin D and saffron, but lacks finished product clinical evidence to support many of their claims.
There are add-ons available with both products. AG1 offers D3+K2 drops separately, which adds a step but also allows vitamin D to be dosed separately based on your individual needs rather than getting a fixed amount inside a daily powder. IM8 offers a separate longevity product.
AG1 Next Gen may be a better fit if you want:
Overall, AG1 is the stronger choice for people who want a clinically researched daily supplement with finished-formula proof, clinically studied probiotics, and measurable support for nutrient gaps, microbiome health, and absorption.
In a clinical trial, key nutrients in AG1 Next Gen with established roles in immune function, like Vitamin C and Zinc, were absorbed quickly and were shown to be bioavailable in the body.
AG1 also includes clinically studied probiotic strains, including LGG, and gut health is closely connected to immune function.5
IM8 provides higher amounts of some nutrients involved in immune function, including vitamin C, vitamin D, and selenium.
AG1's separate D3+K2 drops make vitamin D support more flexible, since vitamin D needs can vary based on diet, sun exposure, season, and age. When gut health, zinc, vitamin E, phytonutrients, finished-product research, and flexible D3+K2 support are considered together, AG1 has the stronger overall case for daily immune health support.
Both AG1 and IM8 include probiotics and prebiotics, but they use different approaches.
AG1 provides 10 billion viable cells from five clinically studied Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains, including LGG. AG1 uses dPCR testing to measure viable probiotic cells with greater precision than traditional CFU testing.
IM8 provides 10 billion CFU from two spore-forming Bacillus strains, plus a 25 mg postbiotic.
AG1's gut health strength comes from clinically studied strains, more precise viable-cell measurement, and finished-product research showing microbiome support.
Prebiotics help feed beneficial bacteria in the gut. AG1 includes 2 grams of fiber with inulin, while IM8 lists 3 grams of dietary fiber from blue agave inulin.
AG1 pairs its prebiotics with clinically studied probiotics, viable-cell testing, phytonutrients, and finished-product microbiome research.
AG1 includes bromelain, an enzyme from pineapple. IM8 includes a broad digestive enzyme blend with enzymes such as amylase, protease, cellulase, and lipase.
Find more on Gut Health.
AG1 is the better choice for people who want a clinically researched daily nutrition supplement with finished-product evidence. AG1 has been studied for nutrient adequacy, microbiome outcomes, and vitamin/mineral absorption, and it includes clinically studied probiotics measured as viable cells with dPCR.
IM8 may be preferred by people who want higher amounts of specific vitamins and minerals; vitamin D is included in the formula.
AG1 gives you confidence in how the finished formula has been studied. That makes AG1 the stronger overall choice for most people looking for an effective daily Foundational Nutrition supplement they can trust.
Product details may change over time. Users should review official brand pages for the most current information.
