Sleep · head-to-head
ZMA vs Sleep Drink Mix
Sleep head-to-head, graded on doses and price
by Various (NOW, Optimum)
B
C
Formula · Deal
by PreSleep
A+
A
Formula · Deal
Our pick
Our pick: Sleep Drink Mix — better formula on the numbers.
Side by side
| ZMA | Sleep Drink Mix |
|---|
| Formula grade | B | A+ |
|---|
| Deal grade | C | A |
|---|
| Price | $19.99 / 30 srv | $37.49 / 30 srv |
|---|
| Per serving | $0.67 | $1.25 |
|---|
| DIY bulk cost/serving | $0.12 | $0.49 |
|---|
| Markup over DIY | 5.3× | 2.6× |
|---|
| Ingredients at clinical dose | 2 of 3 | 3 of 3 |
|---|
| Bottom line | Marked up | Worth it |
|---|
ZMA verdict
An honest, cheap classic — the zinc and magnesium are dosed properly, only the B6 runs light. ZMA won't work miracles (the testosterone claims are overblown unless you're deficient), but as a sleep/recovery mineral stack it's legit and the raw minerals are pennies in bulk.
Sleep Drink Mix verdict
A rare one that clears the bar on every active: 500mg magnesium glycinate, a full 3g of glycine, and 500mg of L-theanine — all at or above their studied sleep doses, with no proprietary blend and just stevia and natural flavor as filler. At ~$1.25/serving it's a fair premium over the ~$0.49 it costs to build the same three actives in bulk, since you're buying a ready-to-mix flavored drink. One of the better-formulated sleep products here — the magnesium is on the high side (loose stools for some), but that's the only nitpick.
Full ZMA review →
Full Sleep Drink Mix review →
More Sleep grades
Educational only — not medical advice. Grades and clinical doses are computed from public labels against sourced research (citations on the main site); prices last verified 2026-07-21. Expensive Powder has no sponsors; bulk links may earn an affiliate commission, which never affects a grade. Talk to a clinician before starting any supplement.