Athletic Greens Vs. Ghost Greens: Which Is Better?

Could Athletic Greens (AG1) have a better alternative in Ghost Greens? I've been covering AG1 for a few years now and they are the gold standard in greens powder. This is probably due to the facts that they were almost the first on the scene, they have a legit medical advisory board and they are endorsed by some of the biggest influencers (like Joe Rogan).

The problem that the majority of consumers have is that AG1 costs $99 for a one-time purchase. Sure you can subscribe and get that price down into the $70's, but still there are cheaper options like Ghost Greens.

The questions become then, can you get the same benefits from Ghost Greens as you could get with AG1? Which one is truly better? Is AG1 worth the extra money? Or, can I save money and still get a great greens supplement with Ghost Greens?

I'll answer these questions and give my honest thoughts about each greens supplement.

Key Similarities and Differences

All About AG1 (Athletic Greens)

With a single scoop of Athletic Greens, you can harness the benefits of 75 different nutrients and superfood ingredients. Originally designed with gut health in mind, AG1 has been gaining popularity since its inception in 2009. Despite its vast whole-food profile, AG1 is actually very easy on the digestive system, adding in beneficial bacteria and digestive enzymes that aid in nutrient absorption, regularity, decreased bloating and more. Also added to Athletic Greens are functional mushrooms, antioxidants and herbs.

Key Features

• Contains 75 different nutritional ingredients.
• Nothing artificial has been added.
• The flavor of AG1 on its own has hints of vanilla, pineapple and ginger.
• Adaptogens have been added to help support your body’s natural stress response.
• Various vitamins and minerals fuel and support your cells.
• Antioxidants provide protection against oxidative stress and damage.
• An added synbiotic reinforces your gut barrier.

Things to Think About

• Expensive compared to other greens products
• Supports whole body health
• Supports sustained energy throughout the day.
• Helps boost the body’s natural immune response.
• Fills in nutritional gaps in your diet

What Separates AG1 From Ghost Greens?

• There are a lot more ingredients in AG1 than there are in Ghost Greens. Ghost Greens only has 19 greens and reds added in, along with a few other additional probiotics, prebiotics and digestive enzymes.
• AG1 is more expensive, but you get what you pay for.
• Adaptogens have been added to the AG1 formula. These are not in Ghost Greens.

All About Ghost Greens

Ghost Greens is made using 19 different greens and reds ingredients. In addition to these nutrients, Ghost has also added an antioxidant blend to their product, including prebiotics, probiotics and digestive enzymes. The brand markets their product as being beneficial for sourcing ample nutrients, helping build muscle, speed up your recovery time, supporting whole-body health and boosting your daily energy levels.

Key Product Features

• Ghost Greens contains 7 grams of carbohydrates and 3 grams of fiber in each serving.
• Contains whole food ingredients such as kale, matcha, wheat grass, oat grass and barley grass.
• Also added are red-based ingredients like cranberry, pomegranate and acai.
• 10 billion CFUs of probiotics are in each dose.

Things to Think About

• There is caffeine in Ghost Greens, sourced from ingredients like matcha and coffee extract.
• There is quite a bit of fiber in this product. This may cause GI upset while you get used it.
• Many of the ingredients in Ghost Greens are organic.
• Contains non-organic natural flavors, stevia and monk fruit extract.

What Separates Ghost Greens From AG1?

• In addition to including greens in Ghost Greens, there are also reds added to the formula.
• Ghost Greens is more affordable than AG1.
• Ghost participates in tree planting initiatives for every product sold.

Comparison Section

Let’s see how Athletic Greens and Ghost Greens compare in a breakdown of their formulas and features.

Comparing Greens Powder Formulas

We know that Ghost Greens has reds added to their nutrient blend, but let’s focus on the greens formula. Athletic Greens has a much more diverse profile of whole food ingredients. Just some the included ingredients are spirulina, alfalfa, chlorella, spinach, broccoli and kelp.

Ghost Greens focuses on broccoli, kale, matcha, wheat grass, spirulina, chlorella, wheat grass, barley grass and alfalfa as its main green ingredients. Some of these ingredients have also been added to the brand’s Spectra Total ORAC Blend, so there’s a bit of double-dipping in this regard.

Comparing Taste

AG1 has a fruity flavor to it when you consume it mixed with plain water. It’s not overly earthy or unpleasant. You don’t feel like you have to mix AG1 into a smoothie or some other beverage to mask its flavor. This can’t be said for all greens powders.

The matcha tea that is in Ghost Greens really stands out when you first take a sip of it. There are other natural flavors added to the product, but they don’t really stand out as being the predominant flavor notes.

Comparing Cost and Overall Value

The price point of Athletic Greens is substantially higher than that of Ghost Greens, but you get a lot more ingredients and value from AG1. With 75 ingredients in each dose of AG1, this is much more than what Ghost Greens includes. If you’re not looking for adaptogens or some of the other additions to AG1, then the affordability of Ghost Greens may tempt you.

Both AG1 and Ghost Greens come in the exact same size (30 servings). The cost of Ghost Greens is $44.99, whereas Athletic Greens is $99 for the same size. AG1 is also available in convenient travel packs, but the cost is a little higher for those.

Main Differences Between AG1 and Ghost Greens

The formulas of these two products really stand out when comparing them. Both products really seem to stand out as supporting gut health and whole-body health, but AG1 accomplishes these benefits with the use of approximately 75 different ingredients. Ghost Greens doesn’t provide as many nutritionally-dense components.

Ghost Greens has added different reds to their formula. However, Athletic Greens also has different fruits and vegetables in their product that are outside the “greens” category.

The price difference should also be noted. However, as we mentioned earlier, it’s understandable that Athletic Greens would charge more for their product. Because of the large number of ingredients it includes and the types of ingredients that are used (adaptogens, probiotics, etc.), we would expect to pay more.

Ghost Greens has a bit more probiotics in their supplement. There are 10 billion CFUs in each dose, while AG1 has 72 billion CFUs.

Which Is Better Ghost Greens or Athletic Greens?

We believe that if you’re adding a greens product to your daily routine, then you’re probably looking to increase your nutrient intake in a way that will benefit your entire body. The best way to do this is with a product that has a large number of beneficial ingredients in it. While we do think that Ghost Greens has some great ingredients and can be beneficial, Athletic Greens really can’t be beat with its 75 different ingredients. It includes everything from whole food ingredients to probiotics and adaptogens. We’ll gladly pay a little bit more money to get the benefits our bodies need to thrive each day.

My Recommendations

Ideally, you’ll want to take a look at each of these products before deciding which one will meet your needs the most. Athletic Greens has quite the internet following, which you can see on various social media platforms and all over the web. Ghost Greens is relatively new, having just come out in 2016. They’ve had a little less time to build their brand and perfect their product formula.

Consider the different ingredients that are in each of these products. Both provide some key nutrients, but there are other things to think about, like probiotic count, prebiotics, digestive enzymes, adaptogens, herbs and antioxidants. Determining which of these you want versus what you’d like to skip will help you make a decision.

If you want a product that provides you with everything your body needs to feel energized, healthy and regulated each day, we recommend trying Athletic Greens to start with.

Choose Athletic Greens If…

• You’re looking for a very vast nutritional profile.
• You’re interested in the use of adaptogens for a healthy stress response.
• A gut-health focus is something you find favorable.
• You want to purchase a greens product from a very established brand.
• You’re concerned with the flavor of your greens product. AG1 is very palatable.
• You want an all-in-one greens product included in your daily routine.
• You want to promote better digestion, nutrient absorption, regularity and comfort in your gastrointestinal system.

Choose Ghost Greens If…

• You would like to stick with a simpler formula to see how your body reacts to a greens supplement.
• You’re concerned with affordability and need to keep the cost of your purchase down.
• You like the idea of an added caffeine boost (from coffee extract and matcha).
• You want a higher probiotic count in each serving (10 billion CFUs in Ghost Greens).
• You want many of your ingredients to come from organic sources.
• You would like to save some money on a traditional subscription delivery system.