What Are The Best Exogenous Ketone Supplements?

This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

HVMN Ketone ester bottle laying on a grey background
What Are the Best Exogenous Ketone Supplements to Buy?
Reviewed by the BioHackers Lab Team | Last updated: February 23, 2023

The best exogenous ketone supplement brands that we found are:

Using a good exogenous ketone supplement can help enhance your ketone levels when you are on a keto or low carbohydrate diet for different reasons, like a weight loss program.

I was interested to find out what are some of the best exogenous ketone boosting supplement drinks, powders & oils to use for me to review.

So, I went researching online for what are some of the top rated & most recommended brands who make exogenous ketone products that are available to buy online.

The Best Exogenous Ketones Supplements in 2024

Here is the list of recommended exogenous ketone supplements we reviewed for you to compare.


1. HVMN Ketone Ester – Most Powerful Exogenous Ketone

HVMN Ketone Ester

Overview
  • Type: Ketone Ester Drink
  • Servings: 3 bottles per pack
  • Need to Pre-mix: No
  • Fastest way to raise blood ketones available to the public
  • Helps boost athletic performance
  • Assists in athletic muscle recovery
  • Assists in enhancing cognitive (brain function) abilities
  • Easy to transport as a ready to drink small bottle
  • Doesn’t taste nice and no way around that at this stage
  • The taste may make some feel nausea when drinking a whole bottle in one go

Click to buy product on Amazon

The HVMN ketone ester is designed to be a quickly accessible source of ketone energy, and is a world first that is backed by years of research. The bottles come in a convenient drink that provides both an appetite suppression, plus physical and cognitive energy. The benefits of ketone esters, specifically HVMN brand, is that they help mimic the normal metabolism of endogenous (within the body) ketones. By processing them at the liver, you will get the fastest results possible, triggering ketosis and appetite suppression very quickly. Since esters are bound to alcohol molecules, they metabolize in the liver to deliver results quickly. The only downside is the taste, which is rather unpleasant.


2. KetoneAid KE4 Pro Ketone Ester

KetoneAid KE4 Pro Ketone Ester

Overview
  • Type: Ketone Ester Drink
  • Servings: Single bottle, 3 bottles or 12 bottels per pack options
  • Need to Pre-mix: No

Click to buy product on Amazon

KetoneAid is another good choice if you are looking for the most effective exogenous ketone supplement to help raise your ketone levels in your blood. The KE4 Pro ketone ester drink also uses D- Beta Hydroxybutyrate. It also contains some stevia and allulose along with natural cherry flavor to try help reduce the strong taste that occurs with ketone ester drinks.


3. Perfect Keto Exogenous Ketone Base – Popular Keto Salt Option

Tub of Perfect Keto BHB ketone supplement powder
Overview
  • Type: Ketone Beta-hydroxybutyrate Salt
  • Servings: 15 servings per container
  • Need to Pre-mix: Yes
  • BHB salts are an easy way for helping to raise ketone levels
  • Comes in five flavor options: Chocolate, coffee, salted caramel, vanilla and peach
  • Comes with pre-measure scoop
  • Easy to mix into low carb drink with no blender needed
  • Good to use in keto coffee and making keto mocha coffee
  • Single container wouldn’t be enough for a full month supply if used everyday
  • If you are monitoring calories then the salted caramel flavor contains the most per serving at 25 calories, with the vanilla at the least with only 15 calories, so be aware
  • Contains both stevia and monk fruit which some may not enjoy for a particular reason
  • Bitter aftertaste can be experienced
The Perfect Keto BHB salts are available to buy directly on the Perfect Keto website PLUS if you use the code BIOHACKERSLAB at checkout you will get a discounted price off the RRP price.
Buy on Perfect Keto button

Click to buy product on Amazon

Perfect Keto, founded by Dr Anthony Gustin, specialise in making lots of different keto friendly products. Their exogenous ketone base is a ketone salt product made with a BHB salt blend. Keto salts make taking exogenous ketones convenient when travelling for appetite suppression, using in the morning for a brain boost or before a workout to help boost energy levels without a glucose spike like regular sports drink can do. (ref)


4. Zhou Nutrition KETO DRIVE BHB Salts

No products found.

Overview
  • Type: Ketone Beta-hydroxybutyrate Salt
  • Servings: 16 servings per container
  • Need to Pre-mix: Yes
  • BHB salts are an easy way for helping to raise ketone levels
  • Comes in three flavor options: Orange mango, black cherry with caffeine and matcha lemonade
  • Only 5 calories per serving
  • Comes with pre-measure scoop
  • Easy to mix into low carb drink with no blender needed
  • Good for people wanting more tropical fruit taste options
  • Single container wouldn’t be enough for a full month supply if used everyday
  • The black cherry option contains added caffeine which is not suitable for caffeine sensitive people
  • Contains both stevia, malic acid and citric acid which some may not enjoy for a particular reason
  • Bitter aftertaste can be experienced

No products found.

Zhou Nutrition is based in Utah and make the Keto Drive product which is another good keto salt product to consider. They use the goBHB trademark BHB salt blend from compound solutions. This product is the provides the lowest amount of calories per serving. The company appears to pride themselves on their 60 day money back guarantee if you don’t like the product. (ref)


5. Kiss My Keto C8 MCT Oil

Kiss My Keto C8 MCT Oil

Overview
  • Type: Ketone MCT Oil
  • Servings: 63 servings per 32oz bottle
  • Need to Pre-mix: No
  • C8 oil is the best MCT oil for helping to raise ketone levels
  • Comes in a glass bottle
  • Pump dispenser so messy oil around the lid
  • 15g Caprylic Acid per tablespoon serving
  • Good to use in keto coffee
  • Not easy to transport if on the go
  • Taking too much MCT oil can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and loose stools
Click to buy product on Kiss My Keto

Click to buy product on Amazon

Kiss My Keto offers a pure C8 caprylic acid oil instead of a blend of C8, C10, and C12 like other MCT oils. This MCT oil should provide a cleaner, more intense energy and focus. In addition, Kiss My Keto comes in a glass bottle with a pump that delivers exactly 1 tablespoon of MCT oil, ending the need for spoons or measuring, which is pretty cool. (ref)


6. LevelUp Clean C8 MCT Oil

LevelUp Clean C8 MCT Oil

Overview
  • Type: Ketone MCT Oil
  • Servings: 64 servings per 32oz bottle
  • Need to Pre-mix: No
  • C8 oil is the best MCT oil for helping to raise ketone levels
  • Brown glass bottle option to avoid BPA-free plastic bottle option
  • 16oz and 32oz Size Bottles
  • 14g Caprylic Acid per tablespoon serving
  • Not easy to transport if on the go
  • Not much detail about the company or founders of the brand to be found

Click to buy product on Amazon

Level Up Clean MCT oil claims to offer a pure caprylic acid oil that offers superior energy by removing chemical structures that might inhibit the total usage of this MCT oil. This means that the Clean MCT Oil should not be able to be stored in the body as fat. Instead it will provide high amounts of energy, and convert to ketones rather instantly. The only downside being that it can cause some stomach discomfort, so if you’ve never used MCT oil before, you should start at a lower dosage and work your way up from there. (ref)


7. Perfect Keto MCT Oil Powder

Tub of Perfect Keto vanilla flavor mct oil powder
Overview
  • Type: MCT Oil powder
  • Servings: 30 per container
  • Need to Pre-mix: Yes
  • Ideal for getting the benefits of MCT oil without the possible oily mess
  • Helps boost blood ketone levels
  • Easy to mix into hot drinks as a keto creamer and smoothies
  • Comes in four flavor options: Unflavored, chocolate, vanilla and salted caramel
  • Some people may find MCT powder easier on their stomachs than the oil
  • Would be great if there was a pure C8 MCT powder option
  • Has slightly more calories at 70 calories per serving vs the 50 calories from Zhou Nutrition powder option
The Perfect Keto MCT Oil Powder containers are available to buy directly on the Perfect Keto website PLUS if you use the code BIOHACKERSLAB at checkout you will get a discounted price off the RRP price.
Click to buy product on Perfect Keto

No products found.

Mimicking the positive effects of MCT oil without having to deal with the difficulty of mixing oil into a water-based liquid, this powder provides the benefits of medium-chain triglycerides without the hassle. It comes flavored or unflavored, and can be used without the fear of digestive distress that MCT oil in its pure state often causes.


8. Zhou Nutrition MCT Powder with Prebiotic Fiber

No products found.

Overview
  • Type: MCT Oil powder
  • Servings: 45 per container
  • Need to Pre-mix: Yes
  • Ideal for getting the benefits of MCT oil without the possible oily mess
  • Helps boost blood ketone levels
  • Easy to mix into hot drinks as a keto creamer and smoothies
  • Comes in one flavor options: Unflavored
  • Contains acacia fiber to assist the gut microbiome
  • Contains slightly less MCT’s at 9g per serving vs 10g per serving from Perfect Keto option
  • Having a chocolate and vanilla option might be good for some wanting to make keto flavored coffee
  • Would be great if there was a pure C8 MCT powder option

No products found.

Another MCT oil powder, this one includes a prebiotic fiber. This increases the satiating, appetite-suppressing effects of the MCT oil by combining them with filling fiber. It also improves gut health, as prebiotics are show to be better at improving gut flora than probiotics.


Buyers Guide on Exogenous Ketone Supplements

I know that you are looking for the best options for exogenous ketones, but here is some more detail as to what constitutes quality exogenous ketone supplements and why they are useful for those seeking nutritional ketosis.

What Are the Different Types of Ketone Supplements?

1. Ketone Esters

This is pure ketones bound to alcohol esters. The benefits are that your body will immediately use them, but they taste awful, like rubbing alcohol. There are also very few commercial sources of esters thus far, but for quickly entering ketosis, it is difficult to do better than these esters.

2. Ketone Salts

These products bind ketones to a salt of calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium to improve the body’s ability to absorb the ketones. These are easy to use, mix well with drinks, and make up most of the exogenous ketone market.

3. MCT Oils

MCT oil and refined coconut oils are the most widely distributed products in this category. They are typically tasteless and provide quick ketosis and ketosis-derived energy and focus. The downside is they are known to cause intestinal distress, particularly when you first start using them.

4. “Fake” Ketones

Raspberry ketones have been marketed heavily in the last few years, but they’re not really ketogenic at all. Instead they are derived from the chemicals that give raspberries their delicious smell, and while they’re “technically” ketones, there is little evidence they affect ketosis or fat loss at all.

What Do Exogenous Ketones Do?

Exogenous ketones put the body in an immediate state of nutritional ketosis, making it so that you metabolically burn fat instead of sugar. The ketones also blunt your appetite while still providing energy.

In fact, because ketone metabolism skips insulin production and blood sugar swings almost entirely, it provides exceptional mental clarity, which is another reason why some people take exogenous ketones, even if they don’t need or want to lose weight.

What Are the Benefits of Using Exogenous Ketones?

  1. Appetite Suppression – Even more helpful for weight loss, ketones blunt your appetite to help prevent snacking and overeating, plus, prevent insulin swings that create hunger and cravings.
  2. Increased Mental Clarity – Without the ups and downs in blood sugar caused by insulin, the brain functions sharper and can possibly help with brain fog feelings and during periods of stress like meetings, exams and deep thinking tasks.
  3. Reduce Keto Flu Symptoms – By helping to provide higher BHB ketones that can help the body get more energy can help reduce the severity of the keto adaptation period “keto flu” plus the slats in ketone salts may provide electrolyte support.

Do Exogenous Ketones Help with Weight Loss?

Yes, exogenous ketones are great for people who want to use ketosis for aiding weight loss. By causing the body to enter a state of ketosis very soon after ingestion helps to reduce your appetite. This can help someone both reduce their excess calories eaten per day without all the cravings and hunger that dieting often creates.

Supplementing with exogenous ketones also makes it easier to function with less food, which aids intermittent fasting so that a person can also help boost their endogenous ketone production.

However, do not rely exclusively on exogenous ketones as a weight loss product as they will not work then. You have to also adjust your dietary choices and manage your daily calorie intake. (ref)

Related Products to Buy

Ways to Watch and Listen

Join others in easily hearing how to optimise your health like diet, fitness and mental health, from experts & personal success stories on the Biohackers Lab podcast show.

YouTube
Watch
Apple Podcasts
Listen
Google Podcasts
Listen
Spotify
Listen
Overcast
Listen
Castbox
Listen