Plant People is well known for their broad assortment of functional mushroom supplements formulated to improve cognition, help you sleep, reduce stress, and more. But it’s not the only brand that puts the power of functional mushrooms in an easy-to-consume supplement. There are some great Plant People alternatives that can deliver all those same benefits and more.
Whether you prefer to chew gummies, swallow capsules, or mix mushroom powders into coffees and teas, we’ve got you covered. This article reviews six strong alternatives to Plant People. Let’s discover new ways you can benefit from functional mushrooms, find tasty new supplement forms and flavors, and discover a new brand that you might like even more.
At a glance:
6 Plant People Alternatives
Top Pick: Goomz
Focus, sleep better, or feel euphoric with Goomz mushroom gummies. Formulated with high-potency functional mushroom extracts, our tasty little chews deliver powerful benefits that can help you reach your health and wellness goals.
We make three different types of mushroom gummies, each of which includes a unique proprietary blend to deliver the most effective results.
Our Focus Gummies are formulated with Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps mushroom extracts. Lion’s mane supports brain health and reduces stress, while cordyceps mushrooms fight inflammation and boost physical energy. To make them even more powerful, we add energy terpenes, caffeine, and Kanna — a succulent plant extract that boosts serotonin levels and has a calming effect on the brain and body.
You’ll also find Lion’s mane extract, known for its anti-depressive and stress-relieving properties, in our Euphoria Gummies, along with Kava to help relax your muscles and Blue Lotus extract to promote a sense of calm. These gummies won’t make you hallucinate, but they do have psychoactive properties.
In our delicious Sleep Gummies, Reishi functional mushroom extract, Kava extract, magnesium, and rest terpenes combine to help relax your body and mind. Take them at night to unwind before bed, and they’ll help you sleep for a longer length of time and wake up feeling well-rested.
Our tasty gummies deliver targeted results, which is why many mushroom fans say that Goomz is among the best mushroom gummies available in 2024.
Shop all Goomz mushroom gummies here
Real Mushrooms
Capsules are easy to take on the go, while powders can be mixed into drinks, smoothies and meals. If you prefer this kind of convenience and customizable dosing, Real Mushrooms may be the Plant People alternative for you.
Real Mushrooms have a wide range of products that feature both isolated mushrooms to deliver one specific benefit and mushroom blends that deliver multiple benefits at once.
Lion’s mane, Cordyceps, and Reishi are some of the most powerful and most commonly produced mushroom supplements. Real Mushrooms makes capsules with all of these, as well as some less commonly used mushrooms like Turkey tail, Chaga, Tremella, and Maitake.
Real Mushrooms also make mushroom extract powders that you can add to coffees, teas, and smoothies. They offer functional mushroom dairy creamers and a mushroom hot chocolate mix that includes the company’s signature 5 Defenders Mushroom Complex with Reishi, Turkey tail, Chaga, Shiitake, and Maitake mushrooms.
Real Mushroom supplements contain roughly 20% to 30% beta glucans — the soluble dietary fibers in mushrooms that benefit your immune system, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, decrease inflammation, and improve gut health.
Shop all Real Mushrooms products here
Host Defense Mushrooms
Host Defense is one of the best alternatives to Plant People because they make an even wider range of functional mushroom products. Capsules, powders, tinctures, coffees, cocoas, and throat sprays are in their current product line-up, many of which contain additional ingredients to deliver even greater benefits.
The brand’s BrainPower Stack Powder features a combination of Lion’s mane and the essential vitamins niacin and vitamin B12. Its MycoBotanicals Brain Capsules feature Lion’s mane, Cordyceps, and Reishi, along with bacopa and ginkgo herbs to support memory and healthy blood flow to the brain.
Do you like tinctures but don’t love the flavor they impart on beverages or how they taste when applied straight to the tongue? Host Defense’s throat sprays are a unique alternative. The MycoShield throat spray is made with five powerful functional mushrooms and comes in tasty flavors like Peppermint, Citrus, Cinnamon, and Licorice.
Unlike the other brands on this list, Host Defense uses organic mushroom mycelium rather than extracting from the fruiting bodies. Fruiting bodies generally have higher concentrations of beneficial compounds, but because they’re made with high-quality mycelium, Host Defense supplements deliver effective results.
Shop Host Defense mushroom supplements here
Fungies
Fungies makes four varieties of yummy gummies that may help you level up your focus, endurance, immune function, and more. With fresh flavors like Blueberry and Strawberry, Mango and Pineapple, and Delicious Apple, these supplements are designed to support overall day-to-day wellness.
For healthier skin, opt for Fungies’ unique Tremella Mushroom Gummies. They’re packed with 100 mg of hydrating Tremella mushrooms that promote collagen synthesis to make your skin look plumper, more vibrant, and more radiant.
Prefer an assortment of different functional mushroom supplements? On the Fungies website, you can buy a convenient three-pack bundle that includes its Reishi, Lion’s mane, and Cordyceps varieties.
Shop all Fungies mushroom supplements here
Freshcap
You can find powders and capsules of all of your favorite functional mushrooms at Freshcap. Lion’s mane, Cordyceps, Reishi, Chaga, and Turkey tail extract powders are available from this brand, as is an Ultimate Complex Mushroom powder with all of the aforementioned 'shrooms plus Maitake fruiting body extracts.
Freshcap powders are ideal for mixing into smoothies, coffee drinks, and teas, but you can also add them to food. Mix them into sauces, soups, and stews, and you can enjoy a full serving of functional mushrooms with every meal.
Freshcap also makes Shroomies immunity bites — chewable chicken-flavored treats for dogs. You and your pup can boost your health and wellness with a daily dose of Freshcap supplements and treats.
Shop Freshcap mushroom supplements here
Nootrum
Nootrum makes powders, capsules, coffee, and gummies. Some of their products isolate individual mushrooms, and some contain powerful functional mushroom blends.
Nootrum’s mushroom gummies are formulated with Cordyceps mushrooms, L-theanine, ginger, and Amanita mushrooms with muscimol to reduce stress. Their mushroom powder contains Cordyceps, Reishi, Shiitake, Maitake, and Turkeytail to boost immunity, boost energy, and sharpen your mind. To reap the benefits of one particular type of mushroom, opt for Nootrum capsules with Lion’s mane, Reishi, Chaga, or Cordyceps.
One thing that makes Nootrum such a great Plant People alternative is that they use a more powerful extraction process to yield a 20:1 extract. Plant People mushroom supplements are about five times more potent than most generic brands on the market, but Nootrum supplements pack an even more powerful punch.
Shop Nootrum mushroom supplements here
What Factors Should Be Considered When Choosing an Alternative to Plant People?
Choosing a supplement brand is easier when you know what to look for. There are five important factors to consider before deciding to purchase new supplements.
Ingredients
Every functional mushroom provides its own benefits, so it’s important to know exactly what type of mushrooms are in the formulation. For example, Lion’s mane boosts cognitive function. Cordyceps mushrooms give you energy. Reishi mushrooms can help you relax and fall asleep. Choose supplements that deliver the specific benefits you need to reach your health and wellness goals.
In addition to the type of mushrooms, consider all of the ingredients a supplement contains. Not all supplements are suitable for everyone, as certain ingredients may cause negative interactions with prescription medications or have adverse effects on people with certain medical conditions.
Consider the quality and potency of ingredients too. Some supplements are made from the fruiting bodies of mushrooms (the caps and stems), and others are made with mushroom mycelium (the roots). Generally, the fruiting bodies contain higher concentrations of the beneficial compounds.
Supplement Form
Mushroom supplements come in a variety of forms, including gummies, capsules and tablets, powders, and tinctures.
If you want a flavorful option that tastes like a treat, opt for gummies. If you prefer to take your supplements on the go, capsules and tablets are easy to toss in a travel bag and swallow with a quick swig of water. If you don’t enjoy chewing or swallowing supplements, consider a powder or tincture that you can mix into a smoothie, a cup of coffee, or a cup of tea.
You should take supplements on a regular basis to achieve maximum results, so choose the form that makes the most sense for your lifestyle.
Flavor
People who prefer supplements with great flavor usually choose mushroom gummies. Unlike capsules that have no taste and powders that can have an off-putting flavor or scent, functional mushroom gummies burst with fresh, fruity flavors that make them taste more like candy than any other supplement form.
Brand Reputation
When shopping for supplements, choose reputable brands that list all their ingredients and are transparent about where their products are made. Avoid brands that don't provide this information on their packaging or website.
Brands become reputable when they use high-quality ingredients and deliver the benefits they claim their products can provide. With so many strong brands to choose from, there’s no reason to select a questionable one that could at best be ineffective and at worst be harmful to your health.
Price
Mushroom supplements are intended to be taken daily, so do some cost calculations to make sure you’re buying a brand that you can afford. Keep the dosage levels in mind as well; some brands recommend taking one per day, while others recommend taking two daily. Consider what a one-month supply will cost you and buy enough to last you for at least 30 days.
Where to Buy the Best Plant People Alternatives
All of the brands we reviewed above are excellent alternatives to Plant People functional mushroom supplements. If you like Plant People capsules, try Host Defense or Nootrum. Prefer mixing your mushrooms into coffees and smoothies? Real Mushrooms and Freshcap powders are great alternatives. And if you’re ready to enjoy the burst of flavor that you can only get with gummies, check out Fungies and Goomz.
Our Goomz mushroom gummies are powerful and potent, made with top-quality, high-potency functional mushroom extracts and other natural ingredients that deliver effective results. Whether you want to focus and concentrate during the day, sleep at night, or enjoy a euphoric feeling on your day off, Goomz has the gummies for you.