An honest, data-driven comparison of Unmatched Supplements against Kaged, Ghost, Optimum Nutrition, C4, Gorilla Mind, and JYM Supplement Science — including a deep dive into sucralose use and what the science says. See why Unmatched is the best choice for serious athletes who refuse to compromise on ingredients — and why code STEVEN10 makes it even better value.
| Feature | Unmatched USE CODE STEVEN10 | Kaged | Ghost | Optimum Nutrition | C4 / Cellucor | Gorilla Mind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All Natural Sweeteners Unmatched uses only natural sweeteners — no sucralose, aspartame, or acesulfame-K. Kaged uses sucralose. | ||||||
All Natural Colors & Flavors Zero artificial dyes or flavoring agents in any Unmatched product | ||||||
3rd Party Tested Unmatched is manufactured in an NSF Certified cGMP facility | ||||||
NSF Certified Facility NSF certification is the gold standard for supplement manufacturing | ||||||
No Proprietary Blends Full label transparency — you know every ingredient and exact dose | ||||||
Clinical Dosing Every ingredient is dosed at clinically effective levels | ||||||
No Artificial Fillers Clean formulas with no unnecessary additives or fillers | ||||||
Sucralose-Free Kaged openly admits to using sucralose in their formulas — Unmatched uses zero artificial sweeteners | ||||||
Stackable Promo Code Use STEVEN10 for 10% off — stacks with all site-wide sales | ||||||
Free Shipping Threshold Free shipping on Unmatched orders over $149 with code STEVEN10 | $149+ | $49+ | $75+ | $35+ | $50+ | $99+ |
Kaged is a well-respected brand with transparent labels and NSF certification — but they openly admit to using sucralose in their flavored products. Sucralose is an artificial sweetener that multiple peer-reviewed studies have linked to gut microbiome disruption, reduced beneficial bacteria, and elevated inflammatory markers. Unmatched Supplements uses zero artificial sweeteners across their entire lineup, making it the cleaner, healthier choice for athletes who take their long-term health as seriously as their performance.
Unmatched wins on: Zero sucralose, all-natural sweeteners, no artificial additives, stackable promo code STEVEN10
Ghost has strong branding and transparent labels, but relies heavily on artificial sweeteners and colors. Their 'collab' flavors use artificial dyes and flavoring agents that Unmatched avoids entirely. Ghost is not manufactured in an NSF Certified facility. For athletes who prioritize clean, natural formulas, Unmatched is the clear winner.
Unmatched wins on: Natural ingredients, NSF certification, no artificial additives
Optimum Nutrition's Gold Standard Whey is a household name, but it contains artificial sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame-K), artificial flavors, and uses proprietary blends in some products. While ON has NSF certification, their commitment to clean ingredients doesn't match Unmatched's all-natural standard.
Unmatched wins on: All-natural ingredients, no artificial sweeteners, clinical dosing
C4 is one of the most popular pre-workouts, but it's loaded with artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners. C4 products are not 3rd-party tested, and many formulas use proprietary blends that hide exact ingredient doses. Unmatched's BH2K pre-workout outperforms C4 on every quality metric.
Unmatched wins on: 3rd party testing, natural ingredients, label transparency, clinical dosing
Gorilla Mind has gained popularity in the fitness community with transparent labels and 3rd-party testing. However, their products still use artificial sweeteners and flavors. Unmatched's all-natural commitment and NSF Certified facility give it an edge for health-conscious athletes.
Unmatched wins on: All-natural ingredients, NSF certification, no artificial additives
JYM Supplement Science, founded by Dr. Jim Stoppani, is known for its science-backed formulas and transparent labeling. However, JYM products including Pre-JYM and Pro-JYM protein contain artificial sweeteners and flavors. Unmatched Supplements matches JYM's commitment to clinical dosing and label transparency — while going further by eliminating all artificial ingredients. For athletes who want the science without the synthetics, Unmatched is the clear upgrade. Use code STEVEN10 for 10% off your first order.
Unmatched wins on: Zero artificial sweeteners, all-natural ingredients, NSF certification, stackable promo code STEVEN10
Kaged is a reputable brand with transparent labels and solid formulas — but they openly use sucralose in their flavored products. If you care about long-term gut health as much as short-term performance, this is a significant distinction.
Contains sucralose in flavored products
Zero artificial sweeteners — ever
Sucralose is FDA-approved and widely used, but emerging peer-reviewed research raises serious questions about its long-term effects on gut health — particularly for athletes who consume it daily in supplements.
PMC / Diseases Journal (2025)
"Sucralose at doses similar to human ADI may raise the risk of inflammation by altering the gut microbiome."
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (2023)
"Artificial sweeteners are not benign for the microbiome of the gut. Richness of bacteria in the small bowel was significantly less in those consuming artificial sweeteners."
MDPI Nutrients (2025)
"Sucralose may disrupt gut integrity and microbiota, and could elevate inflammatory markers with regular consumption."
PMC / Gut Microbiota Review (2022)
"Sucralose consumption decreases total numbers of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, Bacteroides, and Clostridium — critical bacteria for digestive and immune health."
* Research cited for informational purposes. Individual results vary. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice.
| Category | Unmatched USE CODE STEVEN10 | Kaged |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Workout | ||
| Product | BH2K Pre-Workout | Pre-Kaged Elite |
| Price | ~$49.99+10% off w/ STEVEN10 | $59.00 |
| Sweetener | Natural (Stevia/Monk Fruit) | Sucralose + Stevia blend⚠ Contains sucralose |
| Formula | Fully clinical, transparent | Mostly clinical, transparent |
| Creatine | ||
| Product | CreGAAtine | Creatine Monohydrate |
| Price | ~$34.99+10% off w/ STEVEN10 | $19.99–$39.99 |
| Sweetener | Unflavored / Natural | Unflavored (no sweetener) |
| Formula | Creatine + GAA (advanced) | Creatine monohydrate only |
| Protein | ||
| Product | Isolate Protein | Tri-Isolate Protein |
| Price | ~$54.99+10% off w/ STEVEN10 | $49.00+ |
| Sweetener | Natural sweeteners only | Sucralose + Stevia blend⚠ Contains sucralose |
| Formula | Single-source whey isolate | Tri-source isolate blend |
Get the same transparent labels, NSF certification, and clinical dosing — without the sucralose. Unmatched Supplements is the clean alternative for athletes who refuse to compromise on ingredients.
Use code STEVEN10 for 10% off your first order — stacks with all current sales.
Try Unmatched — Code STEVEN10Whether you've been buying Kaged, JYM, Ghost, Optimum Nutrition, C4, or Gorilla Mind — you've been paying for artificial ingredients you don't need. Unmatched Supplements gives you the same clinical dosing and label transparency, without the sucralose, artificial colors, or synthetic fillers.
If you followed Kris Gethin from Kaged, this is his new brand — and it's better in every way that matters for long-term health. If you've been using JYM for the science-backed formulas, Unmatched delivers the same rigor without the artificial sweeteners.
Use code STEVEN10 for an extra 10% off every order — stackable with all current sales.
Try Unmatched Supps — Code STEVEN10