Should You Drink 5-Hour Energy or MTE to Kickstart Your Day?

Of the many, many energy drinks on the market today, 5-Hour Energy is one of the most well-known household names. You can’t throw a stone without finding it in grocery stores, convenience stores or gas stations. It makes sense; no one is going to tell you they drank a 5-Hour Energy and didn’t feel more awake afterward. But the question is, is that 100% a good thing?

MTE may not have a lot of clout (yet!), but we’re all about substance over popularity… until we become popular; that’ll be cool. But MTE is also different. Does is reliably offer that needed energy boost? Yes. But that’s the tip of the iceberg for MTE, and the point at which 5-Hour Energy and MTE go separate ways.

How it Works

Where Does the Energy Come From? MTE vs 5-Hour Energy Stimulants

Obviously every energy-boosting drink has got to have stimulants. The important factors for health and efficacy, though, are which stimulants and at what dose?

5-Hour Energy utilizes:

B vitamins
Guarana
Taurine

In total, the caffeine in a shot of regular strength 5-Hour Energy tallies up to 200mg, which, in all honesty is pretty high! 400mg total is the max recommended daily intake of caffeine, and having half that all at once is likely to cause those jitters, anxiety and stress sweats that a double espresso does for some people. As well, the mega-doses of B vitamins may cause irritability, anxiety and tachycardia in some people.

MTE utilizes:

Green Tea
Maca
Methyliberine
Theacrine

These all-natural, plant-sourced ingredients work together for a calm, steady energy that lasts 6-8 hours and doesn’t leave you crashed after. That’s because, as opposed to super-charging your adrenal system with a bunch of caffeine, we use 50mg of caffeine (equivalent to 1/2 a cup of coffee) as a fuse for the other energy-boosting ingredients that prevent tiredness via neuronal modulation while promoting dopamine production.

Benefits

Advantages to Choosing MTE vs 5-Hour Energy for Your Daily Boost

5-Hour Energy is wholly focused on energy. It claims to offer the following benefits:

Increased energy for up to 5 hours
Improved focus
Enhanced mood
Improved physical performance
Reduced stress/anxiety

Clinical studies on the product are mixed on whether these claims are scientifically valid, and the levels of caffeine in the product may cause nausea, anxiety and headaches. People who are pregnant, have heart problems or are on medications should check with their doctor before drinking 5-Hour Energy.

MTE is health-focused, and energy is a byproduct of the overall support this healthy energy drink offers. MTE supports and promotes:

Calm, sustained energy for 6-8 hours
Improved mood
Better stress response
Physical recovery
Better focus and cognition
Better sleep
Immunity
Fights inflammation

The 11 key ingredients in MTE all have a wealth of scientific evidence behind them, not to mention hundreds, if not thousands of years’ experiential evidence to back these claims. That’s because we use adaptogens and nootropics to hack your body back into balance and reduce the effects of stress. This, in turn, increases your body’s ability to produce and reserve energy on its own, which reduces your need to consume a bunch of sugar and caffeine to get through the day.

Ingredients

How it’s Made: Nutrition Specs on 5-Hour Energy vs MTE

Speaking of ingredients, here’s the rundown of MTE’s blend of bioactive plants:

Ashwagandha
- Anti-stress, anti-anxiety, mood, motivation, focus
Amaranth
- Athletic performance, longevity, nutrition
Maca
- Energy, mood, memory, endurance
GABA
- Anti-stress, anti-anxiety, relaxation, mood, sleep
Holy Basil
- Immunity, resilience, mood, energy
Siberian Ginseng
- Nerve health, stamina, energy, immunity
Spirulina
- Inflammation, immunity, endurance
Saffron
- Mood, memory, cognition
L-Theanine
- Calm concentration, sleep, immunity
Green Tea
- Focus, motivation, athletic performance, energy
Theacrine
- Tranquil energy, mood, anti-inflammatory

On the other hand, 5-Hour Energy’s ingredients include:

Purified Water
Natural and Artificial Flavors
Sucralose
- Artificial sweetener
Potassium Sorbate
- Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
- Preservative
Citric Acid
- Flavor
Taurine
- Energy, focus
Glucuronic Acid
- Detoxifier
Malic Acid
- Flavor
N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine
- Focus, attention, memory, stress
L-Phenylalanine
- Mood, focus, attention, memory, stress
Caffeine
- Energy, focus
Citicoline
- Alertness, athletic performance, concentration
Niacin
- Energy, circulation
Vitamins B6 and B12
- Energy, metabolism, circulation, nerve function

Pricing

Weighing Wellness with Cost: Comparing MTE and 5-Hour Energy Price Points

It’s not easy to directly compare the prices of 5-Hour Energy vs MTE, because they’re used differently. You likely aren’t having a 5-Hour Energy everyday (we hope!), but MTE is meant to be consumed daily, so there will be an expense difference based on consistency of use.

In general, 5-Hour Energy is $2-$3 per shot in stores, and between $2.50 and $2.90 on their website, depending on the pack size you order. You’ll pay $5-$8 shipping for any order. Dissimilarly, MTE comes in a bag of powder that makes 30 servings, which breaks down to $5 per serving, with 15% off with a subscription. And shipping is free!

Packaging

What’s in the Box?! MTE vs 5-Hour Energy Packaging

Okay, so neither of these products actually come in boxes, but we couldn’t resist. (Se7en, anyone?) Anyway, let’s do a quick breakdown of MTE and 5-Hour Energy’s packaging:

5-Hour Energy shots are super-convenient. They’re tiny 2oz bottles you can easily stuff into your bag or pocket, and it also makes them easy to store at home, should you be someone that buys these things in bulk. But the bottles are plastic, so that’s not great – definitely not earth or sea creature-friendly. Still, it’s a bright, active and attractive little bottle.

MTE is different. We used to be a little shot – except our plastic was PCR – but now we’re a powder mix in a sustainably-produced bag! This not only cuts way down on packaging, because each package contains 30 servings instead of 1, but it also keeps plastic out of our landfills and seas. MTE’s design is clean and dynamic, with clear messaging and 100% of the nutrition information right there on the bag.

Other Highlights

Some Extra Fun Facts About MTE and 5-Hour Energy

Something fun about 5-Hour Energy is that, if you order from their website, you can build your own 24-pack to mix and match your favorite flavors/strengths. They also have a store locator feature, and a fitness and diet-focused blog.

MTE is a simple product, so many of our extra features are about what’s not in it, because we want to offer clean, healthy, sustainable energy with supportive benefits that accumulate over time. And you can’t do that with a bunch of nasty stuff. Here are some extra specs on our green powder:

No sugar bombs or artificial sweeteners
Less than a cup of coffee’s worth of caffeine
Keto
Gluten-free
Dairy-free
Kosher & Halal
Vegan
No herbicides/pesticides
No corn, egg or peanuts
No animal byproducts
Organic

As we’ve seen, there’s not a lot in common with MTE vs 5-Hour Energy; they’re not really for the same demographic. 5-Hour Energy offers a serious but short-term energy boost. MTE offers a sustained energy boost and support for stress, mood, sleep, immunity, and more, without the massive doses of caffeine, and with cumulative benefits. While 5-Hour Energy is truly an energy drink, MTE is a wellness drink that helps your body create its own natural, healthy energy for life. Check it out.