Honest comparison

Why not just use Examine?

Examine is the reference library for supplement research. ProtocolEngine turns graded evidence into a plan for you, across habits, diet and supplements.

Choose Examine if

You want the deepest independent write-up on a supplement: doses, forms, effect sizes and every study, from a team that says it takes no ads and sells nothing. For depth and independence, Examine is ahead.

Choose ProtocolEngine if

You want graded evidence applied to you: a protocol built from your goals and routines, with habits and diet graded on the same scale, in German or French if you prefer.

Examine and ProtocolEngine, side by side

Evidence grade on each recommendation, linked to the papers
Examine
Yes: Yes. A to F grades per supplement and outcome, with links to the studies.
ProtocolEngine
Yes: Each graded supplement, habit and diet item shows its grade from S to E. Click it to see each paper and how it scored.
Depth per supplement: doses, forms, effect sizesExamine is ahead
Examine
Yes: Yes. 950+ supplements and 1,000+ outcomes, with dose and form guidance (company figures).
ProtocolEngine
Partly: Partly. Grades, effect sizes and doses from each paper, with less editorial depth per supplement.
Earns nothing from what it recommendsExamine is ahead
Examine
Yes: Yes, by its own account: no ads, no supplement sales, no sponsorships.
ProtocolEngine
Partly: Partly. We make and sell no supplements, but some shop links are affiliate links. Links never change a grade.
Updates when new research is published
Examine
Yes: Yes. Updated daily, with 100+ new study summaries a month.
ProtocolEngine
Yes: PubMed, bioRxiv and medRxiv are checked every day for new studies. Grades are recalculated as relevant studies are added.
Personal plan from your goals and routines
Examine
No: No for individuals. Goal guides are written for everyone, ExamineAI is not built to take your personal health data, and the Clinician Edition has a protocol builder for practitioners.
ProtocolEngine
Yes: A two-minute quiz builds a daily protocol around your goals, schedule and what you already take.
Habits, diet and supplements in one plan
Examine
Partly: Partly. Supplements first, some nutrition topics, no habit plan.
ProtocolEngine
Yes: All three are graded on the same scale and combined in one protocol.
Checks supplement and medication interactions
Examine
Partly: Partly. A drug and supplement safety checker in the Clinician Edition.
ProtocolEngine
Partly: Partly. Supplement pages list known interactions with common medications, and adding an item to your protocol checks it against your other supplements. It does not check your own medications: ask your pharmacist or doctor.
Available in Germany and the EU, in German and French
Examine
Partly: Partly. Available in Germany. We found English only.
ProtocolEngine
Yes: Yes. Available in English, German and French. Account data is stored in the EU.
Price
Examine
Examine+ $29 a month or $198 a year. Much of the site is free.
ProtocolEngine
Free to browse and to take the quiz. Premium: $12/mo or $99/yr

What you get	Examine	ProtocolEngine
Evidence grade on each recommendation, linked to the papers	Yes: Yes. A to F grades per supplement and outcome, with links to the studies.	Yes: Each graded supplement, habit and diet item shows its grade from S to E. Click it to see each paper and how it scored.
Depth per supplement: doses, forms, effect sizesExamine is ahead	Yes: Yes. 950+ supplements and 1,000+ outcomes, with dose and form guidance (company figures).	Partly: Partly. Grades, effect sizes and doses from each paper, with less editorial depth per supplement.
Earns nothing from what it recommendsExamine is ahead	Yes: Yes, by its own account: no ads, no supplement sales, no sponsorships.	Partly: Partly. We make and sell no supplements, but some shop links are affiliate links. Links never change a grade.
Updates when new research is published	Yes: Yes. Updated daily, with 100+ new study summaries a month.	Yes: PubMed, bioRxiv and medRxiv are checked every day for new studies. Grades are recalculated as relevant studies are added.
Personal plan from your goals and routines	No: No for individuals. Goal guides are written for everyone, ExamineAI is not built to take your personal health data, and the Clinician Edition has a protocol builder for practitioners.	Yes: A two-minute quiz builds a daily protocol around your goals, schedule and what you already take.
Habits, diet and supplements in one plan	Partly: Partly. Supplements first, some nutrition topics, no habit plan.	Yes: All three are graded on the same scale and combined in one protocol.
Checks supplement and medication interactions	Partly: Partly. A drug and supplement safety checker in the Clinician Edition.	Partly: Partly. Supplement pages list known interactions with common medications, and adding an item to your protocol checks it against your other supplements. It does not check your own medications: ask your pharmacist or doctor.
Available in Germany and the EU, in German and French	Partly: Partly. Available in Germany. We found English only.	Yes: Yes. Available in English, German and French. Account data is stored in the EU.
Price	Examine+ $29 a month or $198 a year. Much of the site is free.	Free to browse and to take the quiz. Premium: $12/mo or $99/yr

Check our side yourself

47,268

papers analyzed and graded so far

456

new papers added in the last 7 days

How every grade is calculated Today's research digest Try the interaction checker

Use both

Read Examine when you want to understand one supplement in depth. Use ProtocolEngine when you want to know what to do this week, given your goals, your routines and what you already take.

Both grade evidence. Examine writes the textbook. ProtocolEngine applies it to you, every day.

Build your protocol in 2 minutes See pricing

Facts about Examine were checked against Examine's own website on October 18, 2026. Prices and features change, so check their site before you buy.

Spotted something out of date or unfair? Tell us and we will correct it: hello@protocolengine.io

ProtocolEngine makes and sells no supplements. Some shop links elsewhere on the site are affiliate links; they never change a grade. ProtocolEngine provides general information based on published research. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Affiliate disclosure

Examine is a name or trademark of its owner, used here only to refer to it. ProtocolEngine is not affiliated with or endorsed by Examine.

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