Exogenous ketones (also called BHB ketones) are a supplement that offers some of the benefits of the keto diet — including improved cognitive function, reduced appetite, and anti-inflammatory benefits— even if you don’t follow a very-low-carb diet [*] [*][*].
In other words, whether or not you’re keto, BHB ketones offer benefits for everyone.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at top-rated exogenous ketone products from three well-known brands and compare them to one another:
- Keto Function’s Ignite Keto
- Perfect Keto Exogenous Ketones
- Zhou Nutrition’s Keto Drive
Keep reading for details including nutrition facts and ingredients, taste, price, and customer reviews.
But first, a quick refresher on how exogenous ketones work (and their scientifically proven benefits).
Exogenous Ketone Supplements — What Are They?
When you restrict carbs on a keto diet or when fasting, your body naturally produces ketones to use for energy[*].
Exogenous ketone supplements are nutritional supplements you can take that recreate this process. They contain beta-hydroxybutyrate (or BHB for short). Most of your cells can run on stored fat or dietary fat, but BHB is the main chemical that gives your brain energy when it’s low on carbohydrates[*]
Ketone supplements come in two main forms: salts and esters. Ketone salts are what you’ll typically find out there on the market since they are less expensive and have a better taste compared to ketone esters.
The good news is that you don’t have to be a full-fledged keto diet follower to receive some of the major health benefits of being on a keto diet.
Taking ketone supplements can help boost the ketone levels in your blood and give you some of the health benefits that come with reaching ketosis, such as [*]:
- More energy
- Better cognitive function
- Reduced hunger
And if you’re transitioning to the keto diet, ketone supplements can also provide you with an additional boost as your body adapts to being in ketosis.
Ignite Keto Overview
Ignite Keto is a BHB supplement produced by Keto Function, which has been selling keto-oriented products since 2017.
According to the manufacturer, Ignite Keto provides increased energy, enhanced physical performance, and improved focus.
There are three flavors:
- Citrus Splash
- Wild Berry
- Caffè Mocha
Citrus Splash is a customer favorite among its flavors, with one customer saying it tastes like a “less sweet Gatorade.”
Each container has 16 servings, with between 27-30 calories per serving.
Aside from ketone supplements, Ignite Keto also offers MCT oil and electrolytes.
Perfect Keto Overview
Perfect Keto Base Exogenous Ketones are doctor-designed to help curb your appetite, give you sustained energy and mental clarity throughout the day, and provide relief from temporary keto flu symptoms.
Our exogenous ketones come in 4 different flavors:
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Chocolate
- Vanilla
- Salted Caramel
They are also available as Unflavored Perfect Keto BHB Capsules.
Chocolate stands out as a customer favorite, with one reviewer commenting that you can achieve tastebud perfection just by mixing water with the chocolate flavor.
Each container has 15 servings, with between 45-60 calories per serving.
Perfect Keto also offers a variety of other products—from Whey Protein and Collagen—to Snack Bars and even Pancake Mix.
Keto Drive Overview
Zhou Nutrition, the maker of Keto Drive, is a Utah-based company founded in 2014. They offer a line of keto supplements but also sell a variety of general health supplements.
Zhou Nutrition positions Keto Drive as an exogenous ketone product that can help increase your blood ketone levels, boost athletic endurance, and improve mental focus.
Keto Drive comes in 3 flavors:
- Orange Mango
- Matcha Lemonade
- REVVED Black Cherry
If you’re a fan of Orange Tang, then you’re likely to enjoy the Orange Mango flavor according to customers.
Each container has 16 servings, with around 5 calories per serving. However, this might not be an accurate estimate of the caloric content of BHB since ketones contain comparable amounts of calories to other macronutrients.
Zhou Nutrition’s other products include fish oil capsules, vitamin c gummies, magnesium oil, and collagen.
Ingredients & Nutrition
Now that you know the basics of each ketone supplement, we’ll compare them on a more detailed basis, starting with the ingredients and nutrition facts.
Ingredients Summary
All three products are gluten-free, contain zero carbs, and have a similar (and effective) dose of active ketones. In other words, Ignite Keto, Perfect Keto BHB Base, and Keto Drive all deliver in the ingredients department where it counts.
Both Ignite Keto and Keto Drive contain caffeine, while PK BHB Base is caffeine-free. And although taking caffeine during the day can give you more energy, you might experience trouble sleeping if taken close to bed. In fact, one study found that consuming caffeine even just six hours before bed could decrease sleep time by one hour[*].
Essentially, if you like supplements with added caffeine, Ignite Keto or Keto Drive may be good choices, but Perfect Keto is a better fit if you don’t (or if you are taking ketone supplements in the afternoon or evening).
While Keto Drive claims the least amount of calories at just 5 kcal per serving, apparently, this is a labeling error as BHB ketones contain around 4-7 calories per gram[*]. Factoring this in, all of the products have a comparable number of calories (between 27-60 kcal per serving).
Keto drive also contains certain ingredients, such as xanthan gum and guar gum, which may cause minor adverse side effects in some people.
Most gums are considered safe by the Food and Drug Administration to use as a food additive; however, some people have noted digestive issues, such as gas, diarrhea, cramps, or bloating, after consuming xanthan or guar gum.
Guar gum specifically can sometimes contain traces of soy protein, so if you’re allergic to soy, there is a chance it can trigger an allergic reaction.
Now that we’ve covered the important high-level details, here’s a complete breakdown of nutrition information and ingredients for each product, including the amount of BHB ketones:
Ignite Keto Ingredients & Nutrition Facts
- 16 servings per container
- Between 27-30 calories per serving (depending on flavor type)
- Ingredients: Calcium, Sodium, Magnesium, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Natural Flavor, Stevia, Stevia Leaf Extract (non-GMO), Organic Caffeine, Organic Coffee Powder, Natural Beet Root Powder
- No artificial additives, preservatives, or fillers
- Contains 12g of BHB ketones
Perfect Keto Ingredients & Nutrition Facts
- 15 servings per container
- Between 45-60 calories per serving (depending on flavor type)
- Ingredients: Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Natural Flavors, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Calcium Silicate, Stevia Leaf Extract, Beet Juice, Monk Fruit, Seal Salt
- No artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or fillers
- Gluten-free and doesn’t contain dairy or soy
- Contains 11.3g of BHB ketones
Keto Drive Ingredients & Nutrition Facts
- 16 servings per container
- 5 calories per serving (which may be based on an incorrect estimate of the caloric content of BHB, as ketones do contain comparable amounts of calories to other macronutrients)
- Ingredients: Calcium, Sodium, Magnesium, Vitamin A, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Lemon Flavor with Other Natural Flavors, Natural Orange Flavor, Natural Black Cherry Flavor, Silica, Stevia, Stevia (Leaf Extract), Red Beet Juice Powder, Salt, Gum Blend (Gum Acacia, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum), Natural Colors (Turmeric, Spirulina), Caffeine Anhydrous
- Contains 11.7 BHB Ketones
Note: For each brand, certain ingredients may vary slightly from flavor to flavor
Taste Comparison
Have you ever had to hold your nose and down something in an instant, nearly gagging with each sip just to drink it all? That’s the worst-case scenario with raw ketones (especially ketone esters as opposed to salts).
Taste is important. And if ketone supplements are going to be a staple in your diet, you need something that doesn’t taste like radioactive waste. Or, better yet, you want something you can look forward to each day, and that actually tastes good, too.
With the right flavor profile, you can even use exogenous ketones in healthy recipes (more on this below in a moment).
Here’s what you need to know about how each brand tastes and the available flavors.
Ignite Keto Taste
Ignite Keto receives generally positive reviews regarding taste, with its Citrus Splash flavor coming out on top as the most popular choice among customers.
One review, in particular, noted the Citrus Splash flavor as tasting like a “less sweet Gatorade.”
Here are some more customer reviews on Ignite Keto’s taste:
- “I tried several different flavors but mixing the Citrus with a lime seltzer and ice tastes delicious and perfect for summer days!
- “I mix mine with 1 oz of Minute Maid Light Lemonade that only has 1g carb in it and water. It gives it a bit more of a dreamsicle taste.”
Perfect Keto Taste
Reviews for Perfect Keto are highly favorable, which probably stems from our company’s extensive focus on testing and continual improvement.
Perfect Keto Exogenous Ketones also went through a six-month reboot that resulted in a better-tasting product rid of the bitter taste you might find with other ketone supplements.
Regarding flavor, Chocolate stands out as a customer favorite. One reviewer commented that “10-12 ounces of water + 1 scoop of Perfect Keto = perfection.”
While just mixing with water is a go-to, for some, there are a ton of other delicious recipes you can make using Perfect Keto Exogenous Ketones.
Check out some of these keto-friendly recipes below from the Perfect Keto blog for ideas:
- Chocolate Sea Salt Smoothie
- Peaches & Cream Fat Bombs
- Sugar-Free Chocolate Strawberry Gummies
- Vanilla Bean Smoothie
- Chocolate Sea Salt Peanut Butter Bites
Keto Drive Taste
Most customers give Keto Drive high marks for taste, especially for the Orange Mango flavor.
One reviewer even compared it to the Orange Tang drink. Here are some reviews to help you understand what to expect:
- “The orange mango Keto Drive actually tastes really good. I was hoping for something that was just bearable but this product is actually enjoyable to drink.”
- “LOVED this product. It tastes delicious! This has an Orange Tang flavor!”
Comparing the Price of Ignite Keto, Perfect Keto, and Keto Drive
The three brands are premium brands. You can find cheaper ketone products on the market, but they tend to lack the same level of quality regarding nutrition, ingredients, and taste.
Now, here’s how these premium ketone products compare on a cost basis.
The serving size for each product is a little different. For easy comparison, below are the costs per ounce (not per container) for each product.
- Ignite Keto: $5.88 per ounce (16 servings)
- Perfect Keto: $4.85 per ounce (15 servings)
- Keto drive: $4.82 per ounce (16 servings)
Ignite Keto is the most expensive of the three, coming in at $5.88 per ounce. Both Keto Drive and Perfect Keto have similar price points.
You’ve probably noticed you can save a bit with lower-priced discount brands — but going with a generic, non-premium product may not give you the most bang-for-your-buck.
Generic products often don’t hold themselves to the same standard as premium ones. For example, generic products may contain fillers, preservatives, or other ingredients you don’t want.
Some products may even call themselves “ketogenic,” but , aren’t even real ketone products, or contain sugar or carbs that can spike your blood sugar and defeat the purpose of taking ketones.
The takeaway: Be careful when deciding between premium and generic ketone products. It’s probably not worth saving 25 cents or so per serving, only to undermine your results.
Which Exogenous Ketone Supplement Is Best?
Ultimately, you’re going to want to go with the ketone supplement that gives you the most value for your money but still delivers noticeable results.
Along with those, it’s also important to consider taste, ingredient quality, and any additives that might affect the benefits or other properties of ketone supplements.
If you’re looking for a high-quality product across the board—one that will keep your energy levels up, help curb hunger, and give you some relief in case you find yourself dealing with the keto flu — then the top choice is Perfect Keto BHB ketones.