Modafresh vs Modalert: Which 200 mg Modafinil Should You Pick?

Written by Dr. Marcus Bennett · Medically reviewed by Dr. Elena Marquez, MD · Fact-checked November 2026 · How we review

If you've been comparing generic modafinil brands on Afinil, you may have noticed something odd about Modafresh and Modalert: the price ladders are identical. Ten tablets cost the same, a hundred cost the same, five hundred cost the same. So what's the difference, and does it matter which one lands in your cart?

How we put this together: on October 31, 2026 we went through Afinil's Modafresh 200 mg and Modalert 200 mg product pages and noted the prices, review counts, makers and claims on each. We checked the drug details against the US prescribing information for Provigil (modafinil). We haven't taken or lab-tested either brand, so there are no personal effect claims here. This is a buyer's comparison, not medical advice.

The quick answer

• Drug and dose: identical. Each tablet is listed as 200 mg modafinil.
• Maker: Sunrise Pharmaceuticals for Modafresh, Sun Pharma for Modalert, according to Afinil.
• Price per tablet: the same at every pack size from 10 to 500 tablets.
• Biggest pack: Modafresh stops at 500 tablets; Modalert goes to 1,000.
• Store reviews: 6 for Modafresh, 14 for Modalert, both averaging 4.7 out of 5.
• Legal status in the US: both prescription-only, neither FDA-approved.

In short, this is a choice between two makers, not two prices.

Side-by-side prices

Here's what Afinil listed on October 31, 2026. The per-tablet figures are the store's; prices change, so the live page and checkout are what count.

A few things stand out:

• The biggest saving is moving from 10 to 100 tablets. The price per tablet halves, from $3.99 to $1.99.
• Past 100 tablets the savings flatten out. Going from 200 to 500 tablets saves only 10 cents a tablet.
• Only Modalert has a real bulk tier. The 1,000-tablet pack drops to $1.09 each, but that's a lot of tablets to commit to, and they come with an expiry date.

For most buyers, the price table is a tie. If you'd buy 500 tablets or fewer, you'd pay the same for either brand.

Ways the total can drop

Both product pages advertise the same store-wide offers:

• Crypto discount: Afinil says Bitcoin payments get 24% off.
• Free shipping: the product pages mention free shipping on orders over $130, while the site banner mentions free express shipping over $180. Check which threshold applies at checkout.
• Returning customers and reviews: the pages mention $25 off for returning customers and $30 off for leaving a review.
• Free samples: the store advertises free Modvigil and Artvigil sample tablets with orders.

Who makes each brand?

Modalert: Sun Pharma

Modalert is Sun Pharma's modafinil brand, and Sun Pharma is one of the largest drug companies in India. Modalert has been sold on the export market for many years, which is why it's probably the most recognised generic modafinil name online. That long history is its main selling point. More people have bought it, written about it and compared it with other brands than almost any alternative.

Modafresh: Sunrise Pharmaceuticals

Afinil lists Sunrise Pharmaceuticals as Modafresh's maker and describes it as "a recent generic version of Provigil". It's a much less familiar name to Western buyers, and the brand has far less public discussion behind it. We couldn't independently confirm much about the manufacturer beyond what the vendor lists, so treat the maker detail as Afinil's claim and check the strip when it arrives.

The names sound alike, but Modafresh has nothing to do with Sun Pharma. "Sun" and "Sunrise" are different companies, at least according to the vendor's own listings.

What the product pages say, and what to doubt

Neither page is a neutral source. Here are the lines worth reading carefully.

On the Modafresh page

• "Approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for medical use." This is wrong for Modafresh. The FDA approved modafinil as a drug (Provigil), but it hasn't approved Modafresh as a product. Only FDA-approved brands and US generics carry that status.
• "Highly tolerable and safe for use." No medicine is simply safe. The US modafinil label carries warnings about serious rash, allergic reactions and psychiatric symptoms.
• "Buy Cheap Modafresh 200mg Online OTC." Modafinil isn't over-the-counter in the US. It's a Schedule IV prescription drug.
• "Fillers slightly differ in their side effects, onset, and duration." That may be true, but the page offers no data. Treat it as marketing rather than a finding.

On the Modalert page

• The export-stop banner. The page says Sun Pharma will stop allowing export of Modalert and Waklert "in a few months" because of "legal issues", and steers buyers toward ModaXL and ArmodaXL. We found no official Sun Pharma statement confirming this. The same page says Modalert is still available, so read the banner as a sales message rather than news.

What's the same in both

The active ingredient is what matters most, and here the two brands are equal. According to the US Provigil label:

• Dosing for narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea: 200 mg once a day in the morning.
• Dosing for shift work disorder: 200 mg about one hour before the shift starts.
• Higher doses: doses up to 400 mg a day have been used, but there's no consistent evidence of extra benefit over 200 mg.
• Timing: peak levels come about 2 to 4 hours after a dose, and food can delay that by around an hour.
• Half-life: about 15 hours after repeated doses.

Common side effects listed on the label include headache, nausea, nervousness, runny nose, back pain, diarrhea, anxiety, insomnia, dizziness and indigestion. The label also says to stop and get medical help at the first sign of a rash. Your prescriber is the right person for dosing questions, whichever brand you choose.

So which one makes sense for you?

Choose Modalert if

• You want the most track record. More reviews and more years on the market give you more to go on.
• You know it already works for you. If you've used Modalert and it suits you, there's no reason to switch to a brand that costs the same.
• You genuinely need 1,000 tablets. It's the only one of the two with that tier.

Choose Modafresh if

• Modalert is out of stock or you're wary of the export banner. Modafresh is a like-for-like swap at the same price.
• You'd like to try a different maker. Some buyers prefer to compare brands for themselves, and a 10-tablet pack is a low-cost way to do it.

Consider something else if

• You want the lowest price per tablet. Some other 200 mg brands on Afinil are listed cheaper at mid-size packs. Our ModaXL vs Modalert comparison and Modavinil vs Modalert comparison cover two of them.
• You need fast US delivery. Both brands ship internationally. Afinil's US domestic option is built around ModaXL; see our domestic USPS shipping review.

How to try one without overbuying

Because the prices match, a sensible approach is to start small:

1. Buy the 10-tablet pack first. It costs about $40 for either brand.
2. Check what arrives. Make sure the strip names the brand, modafinil 200 mg, a maker, a batch number and an expiry date.
3. Only scale up once you're sure. The jump to a 100-pack saves the most per tablet, and there's little point going larger than you'll use before expiry.

Keep tablets in their original strips at room temperature, away from children.

Shipping and payment

Both products come from the same store, so the delivery terms are identical. Afinil's pages say orders placed by 5 pm Pacific ship the same day and that it offers a 30-day guarantee. International parcels can take one to several weeks depending on the shipping method. Payment options shown on the pages include cards, PayPal, Zelle and Bitcoin.

Legal notes for US buyers

Modafinil is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the US and needs a valid prescription. Neither Modafresh nor Modalert is FDA-approved, whatever a product page says. "OTC" wording doesn't make importing either one legal, and US customs can seize parcels. If you have a prescription, a US pharmacy can fill FDA-approved generic modafinil. Our Is buying modafinil legal? guide explains the rules in more detail.

Verdict

Modafresh vs Modalert is one of the easier calls on Afinil, because price isn't a factor: the two cost exactly the same per tablet up to 500 tablets. Modalert wins on track record, review count and the option of a 1,000-tablet pack. Modafresh is a like-for-like alternative from a different maker, useful if Modalert is unavailable or you want to compare brands, but its product page oversells it with an FDA claim that isn't true. If you have a prescription and no strong preference, start with a 10-pack of whichever brand you trust more and check the strip when it arrives.

*This page is for general information and isn't medical advice. Talk to a licensed healthcare professional before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.*

FAQ

Is Modafresh the same as Modalert?

They contain the same drug at the same strength: 200 mg of modafinil. They come from different companies, though. Afinil lists Sunrise Pharmaceuticals as Modafresh's maker and Sun Pharma as Modalert's. Fillers, tablet shape and packaging can differ.

Which is cheaper, Modafresh or Modalert?

Neither, up to 500 tablets. On October 31, 2026, Afinil priced both at $3.99 a tablet for 10, $1.99 for 100 and $1.59 for 500. Only Modalert came in a 1,000-tablet pack, at $1.09 a tablet.

Is Modafresh stronger than Modalert?

Not on paper. Both list 200 mg of modafinil, and we know of no published study comparing the two brands. Differences people report usually come from sleep, timing, meals, expectations or a particular batch.

Is Modafresh FDA-approved?

No. Afinil's Modafresh page says it is "approved by the FDA", but that's wrong. Neither Modafresh nor Modalert is FDA-approved. The FDA-approved modafinil products in the US are Provigil and its approved US generics.

Is Modalert being discontinued?

Afinil's Modalert page carries a banner saying Sun Pharma will stop allowing export of Modalert and Waklert "in a few months". We couldn't find an official Sun Pharma statement confirming that, so treat it as a vendor claim. The same page says Modalert is still for sale.

Which has more reviews?

Modalert, by a wide margin. On October 31, 2026 it had 14 reviews on Afinil against 6 for Modafresh, both averaging 4.7 out of 5. Either count is small, so don't read too much into the stars.

Do I need a prescription for Modafresh or Modalert in the US?

Yes. Modafinil is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the US. A vendor's "OTC" wording doesn't change that, and importing either brand without a prescription isn't a legal route.

Which one should I choose?

If you want the longest public track record or a 1,000-tablet pack, Modalert. If Modalert is out of stock or you'd simply like to try a different maker at the same price, Modafresh is a reasonable swap. There's no price reason to prefer one over the other below 500 tablets.