AG1 vs NÆRE Nectar 01: Which Is Better for Women?
AG1 by Athletic Greens is one of the most recognisable supplements in the world. With a nine-figure marketing budget, partnerships with elite athletes and high-profile podcasters, and a price point that signals premium quality, it has become the default answer to "what greens supplement should I take?"
But default isn't the same as best and for women specifically, there is a question worth asking honestly: was AG1 designed with your biology in mind?
This comparison isn't designed to be unfair to AG1. It's a well-made supplement. But transparency matters, and we started NÆRE because we felt as though there wasn't an all-in-one supplement like AG1 built by and for women - because sometimes just your daily routine is 'performing'. Women deserve to make informed choices rather than defaulting to the most heavily marketed option.
The Headline Difference: Collagen
This is the most fundamental difference between AG1 and NÆRE Nectar 01, and it matters enormously for women.
AG1 contains no collagen.
Nectar 01 contains 8,000mg of Peptan® Hydrolysed Marine Collagen (Type I) — the world's leading collagen peptide brand, with over 50 published clinical studies demonstrating measurable improvements in skin elasticity, firmness, and hydration. Specifically: 26% reduction in wrinkle volume, 28% increase in skin hydration, and 9% increase in collagen density.
Why does this matter for women specifically? Because collagen production is directly regulated by oestrogen. From the age of approximately 25, women lose collagen at around 1–1.5% per year. In the perimenopausal transition, that rate accelerates sharply - women can lose up to 30% of their skin collagen in the five years following menopause.
A supplement genuinely designed for women's long-term health addresses this directly.
Formulation: What's Actually in Each Product?
AG1 (Athletic Greens)
AG1 contains 75 ingredients across several proprietary blends. The use of proprietary blends means that while the combined weight of each blend is disclosed, the individual doses of most ingredients are not visible to the consumer.
This is a significant transparency issue for us, personally. An ingredient can appear on a label while being present at a fraction of the dose used in clinical research and without individual dose disclosure, there is no way for a consumer to assess effectiveness.
Price: ~£79/month (single pouch, direct)
NÆRE Nectar 01
NÆRE Nectar 01 contains 30 ingredients, every one listed individually with its full dose on the label. No proprietary blends.
Four patented actives:
- Peptan® Hydrolysed Marine Collagen (Type I, Fish) 8,000mg. The world's most clinically studied collagen, with peptides under 5,000 Da for optimal absorption
- AstaReal® Astaxanthin (from Haematococcus pluvialis) 2mg active. Nature's most potent antioxidant; demonstrated 15% improvement in skin elasticity and 15% decrease in oxidative stress markers
- Selenium SeLECT® (L-Selenomethionine) 55μg. The most bioavailable organic selenium; supports thyroid function, DNA repair, and immune defence
- BioPerine® (Black Pepper Extract) 5mg. Clinically proven to enhance absorption of nutrients across the entire formula
Additional key actives:
- Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid) — 100mg, for skin hydration from within
- Acerola Cherry Extract — 320mg providing 80mg natural Vitamin C (essential co-factor for collagen synthesis)
- Maca Root — 200mg, for hormonal balance, energy, and mood
- Supergreens Blend — Spirulina, Chlorella, Wheatgrass, Barley Grass, Broccoli, Kale, Spinach, Alfalfa, Matcha
- MCT (Coconut) — 1,000mg, for metabolic support and nutrient absorption
- Gotu Kola — 250mg, the "herb of longevity"
- Inulin (Chicory Root Prebiotic) — 536mg, for gut microbiome support
- Zinc Bisglycinate — 10mg
- Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) — 5μg
- Vitamin E, B3, B2, Biotin, Copper, Kelp (Iodine)
NÆRE uses Matcha Green Tea rather than green tea extract, providing a gentler, more sustained energy curve at a lower caffeine dose.
NÆRE was developed in collaboration with Dr Nigel Mercer, Board-Certified Consultant Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon and Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.
As featured in VOGUE and SheerLuxe.
Price: £89/month (direct subscription)
Natural vs Synthetic
AG1 is heavy on the science and lab-creation. When placed side by side, the difference is clear: AG1’s listed vitamin-and-mineral blend appears to be largely made up of isolated, synthetic or manufactured nutrient forms with only around 17% natural or natural-derived ingredients. By contrast, our formula is built primarily from whole-food powders, botanicals, algae, marine collagen, plant fibres and natural extracts - with over 99% natural or natural-derived ingredients by formula weight. For women, this matters because the body is not designed to thrive on isolated nutrients alone; it responds best to nutrition delivered alongside the natural co-factors, fibres, polyphenols and phytonutrients found in real ingredients. A more natural, food-led formula supports beauty, energy, skin, digestion and whole-body wellbeing in a way that feels more aligned with the body, not forced, not overcomplicated, and not dependent on a long list of lab-made inputs. Because when it's natural and devoid of bulking agents and fillers your body is solely concentrating on utilising the nourishment Nectar 01 is providing.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | AG1 | NÆRE Nectar 01 |
|---|---|---|
| Marine collagen | ✗ None | ✓ 8,000mg Peptan® |
| Hyaluronic acid | ✗ None | ✓ 100mg Sodium Hyaluronate |
| Astaxanthin | ✗ None | ✓ AstaReal® 2mg |
| Selenium | Partial | ✓ Selenium SeLECT® 55μg |
| Natural Vitamin C | ✗ Synthetic | ✓ Acerola Cherry Extract |
| Full dose transparency | ✗ Proprietary blends | ✓ Every ingredient dosed |
| Patented actives | Partial | ✓ 4 patented actives |
| Caffeine | ~45–50mg (green tea extract) | Low (matcha) |
| Formulated for women | ✗ | ✓ |
| Natural Focus | ✗ | ✓ |
| Price/month | ~£79 | from £89 |
Who Is Each Product Designed For?
AG1 was built for the high-performance wellness consumer, originally athlete-adjacent, now broadened to include anyone who wants a comprehensive greens supplement. If your primary goal is a broad-spectrum greens and nutrient formula and collagen, skin health, and women's hormonal priorities are not important to you, AG1 is a reasonable choice.
NÆRE Nectar 01 was designed from the ground up by women for women, specifically for the nutritional priorities of women in their 30s, 40s, and beyond who care about skin health, hormonal support, bone density, collagen, and long-term whole-body wellbeing. It addresses the systems most affected by hormonal fluctuation across a woman's life. It was not a men's supplement that was repackaged.
The Transparency Argument
With AG1, the vitamins and minerals are transparent but most botanical ingredients are grouped in proprietary blends, meaning the consumer cannot verify whether individual actives are present at effective doses.
With NÆRE, every ingredient and every dose is on the label. Full stop.
The Value Question
When you factor in what NÆRE includes that AG1 doesn't: 8,000mg Peptan® collagen alone would cost £35/month + to purchase separately, AstaReal® Astaxanthin is a premium patented active, and Selenium SeLECT® adds further cost, NÆRE's formula represents strong value for women who would otherwise need multiple separate supplements to replicate the formula.
The Bottom Line
AG1 is a good supplement. It is not a supplement designed for women's specific nutritional biology, and it does not address collagen, the most direct nutritional intervention available for the skin, joint, and bone changes that women experience across their lives.
If you're a woman considering AG1, or already taking it and wondering whether it's the right fit, there is now a formula that was actually built with you in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is NÆRE a good alternative to AG1 for women?
A: NÆRE Nectar 01 contains everything AG1 offers in terms of greens and micronutrient support, with the addition of 8,000mg Peptan® marine collagen, AstaReal® Astaxanthin, Selenium SeLECT®, and Hyaluronic Acid — none of which are in AG1. For women who want to address skin health, collagen, and women's specific nutritional needs, NÆRE is the more complete formula.
Q: Does AG1 contain collagen?
A: No. AG1 does not contain collagen in any form. If supporting skin firmness, elasticity, and the accelerated collagen loss associated with hormonal change is a priority, AG1 does not address this.
Q: Why does NÆRE use Acerola Cherry instead of regular Vitamin C?
A: Acerola Cherry Extract is a natural, whole-food source of Vitamin C with superior bioavailability compared to synthetic ascorbic acid. As the essential co-factor for collagen synthesis, the quality of the vitamin C source directly affects how well the body converts collagen peptides into structured collagen.
Q: Is AG1 suitable for women over 40?
A: AG1 can be taken by women of any age. However, it does not contain the ingredients most relevant to women in their 40s, specifically collagen, hyaluronic acid, astaxanthin, and maca root for hormonal and energy support during perimenopause.
Q: What's the best greens supplement for women in the UK?
A: For women who want comprehensive support across skin, energy, hormones, and long-term health, NÆRE Nectar 01's formula — combining clinically dosed marine collagen with four patented actives and a full-spectrum greens and micronutrient profile — is the most complete option currently available in the UK.
