Vilafinil vs Modalert: Which 200 mg Modafinil Makes More Sense?

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

Most brand comparisons on modafinil vendor sites end up being about price. This one doesn't, because at Afinil Vilafinil and Modalert sit on the same price ladder, cent for cent, from the 10-tablet pack to the 500-tablet pack. That leaves the other questions: who makes each one, how much user history there is, whether the brand will still be around next year, and what you actually get in the box.

A note on how we built this page. We didn't test either tablet ourselves or send samples to a lab. Everything below comes from Afinil's Vilafinil and Modalert product pages as they read on October 30, 2026, and from the US prescribing information for Provigil, the original modafinil brand. This is general information, not medical advice. We earn a commission if you order through our Afinil links, which doesn't change the price you pay.

The short version

• Active ingredient: the same. Afinil lists each tablet as 200 mg modafinil.
• Maker: Vilafinil comes from Centurion Laboratories; Modalert comes from Sun Pharma.
• Price: identical per tablet at every shared pack size. Only Modalert offers 1,000 tablets.
• Reviews: Modalert has 14 reviews on its listing (4.7 out of 5). Vilafinil has 6 (4.8 out of 5).
• Supply: the Modalert page carries a warning that exports may stop. The Vilafinil page has no such warning.
• US status: the same for both. Prescription only, and neither is FDA-approved.

If you were hoping one would be clearly cheaper, it isn't. Vilafinil is the pick for anyone who wants to avoid a brand that may soon disappear. Modalert is the pick for anyone who wants the best-known name, or the 1,000-pack price.

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Price: a dead heat up to 500 tablets

Here's what Afinil listed for each brand on October 30, 2026. These are list prices per tablet before any coupon or store credit.

So a 10-tablet pack costs about $39 for either one, and a 500-tablet pack about $799. The only place Modalert pulls ahead on price is the 1,000-tablet option, which works out to about $1,090.

That 1,000-tablet price is worth thinking about carefully. It's a big upfront spend, and modafinil tablets carry an expiry date. A prescribed dose of 200 mg once a day, as the Provigil label describes for narcolepsy and sleep apnea, would take close to three years to get through 1,000 tablets. Check the expiry date on any large pack against how long it would realistically last you before you go that big. For most people with a prescription, a smaller pack at a slightly higher per-tablet price is the safer buy.

Afinil also says orders over $130 ship free, with free express shipping from $180, and it runs a coupon program. Those terms apply the same way to both brands, so they don't change the comparison.

The makers: Centurion Laboratories and Sun Pharma

Vilafinil is listed under Centurion Laboratories, an Indian manufacturer. Afinil also sells Centurion's Modavinil (modafinil) and Armodavinil (armodafinil), so Vilafinil is really a second modafinil brand from the same company. It's one of the less talked-about modafinil generics, and you'll find far fewer user reports about it online than about Modalert.

Modalert is listed under Sun Pharma, one of India's biggest drug companies. Modalert has been one of the most widely discussed modafinil brands for years, which is why so many people use it as the reference point when they compare others.

Neither company's name tells you much about how a given tablet will feel. Both brands are generics of Provigil, which means they contain the same active drug at the same strength. What can differ between makers are the inactive ingredients, such as fillers and binders, plus tablet size, coating and packaging. Those differences matter for things like taste, how easy the pill is to split and allergies to specific fillers. They aren't expected to change how much modafinil you're getting.

One caution applies to both brands. Neither tablet is made for the US market or reviewed by the FDA, so the usual US checks on manufacturing and labeling don't apply. A big-name maker is reassuring, but it isn't the same thing as FDA approval.

Modalert's export warning

The biggest real difference between these two products right now isn't in the tablet. It's on the product page. Afinil's Modalert listing opens with a notice that, "in a few months", Modalert and Waklert won't be available because Sun Pharma will no longer allow export of the product from India due to legal issues. The page then points readers toward Afinil's own ModaXL brand as an alternative.

A few things to keep in mind about that notice:

• It doesn't give a date, and we couldn't find independent confirmation from Sun Pharma.
• The vendor has a commercial reason to steer buyers toward its own brands, so read it with that in mind.
• Modalert was still listed for sale, with all its pack sizes, when we checked.

Still, if you rely on one brand and don't like switching, this is a fair reason to think twice about building your routine around Modalert. Vilafinil's page carries no comparable warning. If Modalert does disappear from export vendors, anyone using it would need to talk to their prescriber about an alternative, and Vilafinil would be one of the obvious same-dose options.

A correction to Vilafinil's product page

While checking the Vilafinil listing, we noticed it describes the drug as effective for "excessive daytime sleepiness caused by sleep disorders like insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and narcolepsy". Insomnia doesn't belong in that list. Modafinil is a wakefulness-promoting drug, and insomnia actually shows up among the side effects in the Provigil label. Someone who already struggles to sleep should be especially careful with it and talk to a doctor first.

The Provigil label covers three uses: improving wakefulness in adults with excessive sleepiness linked to narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, or shift work disorder. With sleep apnea, it's meant to go alongside treatment of the underlying apnea, such as CPAP, not replace it. Modalert's page lists the same three conditions, which matches the label.

What's the same: the drug inside

Because both tablets are 200 mg modafinil, the facts that matter most for safety and effect are shared. From the US prescribing information for Provigil:

• Typical dose: 200 mg once a day, taken in the morning for narcolepsy or sleep apnea, or about an hour before the work shift for shift work disorder. Higher doses haven't been shown to add benefit in those uses.
• How long it lasts: modafinil has a long half-life, about 15 hours after repeated doses. Taking it late in the day can interfere with sleep that night.
• Common side effects: headache is the most common, followed by nausea, nervousness, a runny nose, back pain, diarrhea, anxiety, insomnia and dizziness.
• Rare but serious: severe skin rashes, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, have been reported. Stop and get medical help right away if a rash, blisters or swelling appear. Psychiatric symptoms have also been reported.
• Other medicines: modafinil can interact with some drugs, so your prescriber and pharmacist should know everything you take.

None of that changes between Vilafinil and Modalert. If one works for you and the other doesn't seem to, sleep, timing, food and expectations are more likely explanations than the brand itself.

How these two fit into Afinil's 200 mg lineup

Vilafinil and Modalert share Afinil's "standard" price ladder, starting at $3.99 a tablet for small packs. That puts them in the middle of what Afinil sells:

• Budget ladder: Modvigil (HAB Pharma) and Modapro (Cipla) started about a dollar a tablet cheaper at the 10-pack in our recent checks. If price is your main concern, those undercut both brands here.
• Standard ladder: Vilafinil, Modalert and Afinil's own ModaXL sit here.
• House brand: ModaXL is the brand Afinil itself recommends on the Modalert page as the alternative if Modalert stops being exported.

So if you're choosing only between Vilafinil and Modalert, price won't decide it. If you're open to other brands, the budget generics will save money at most pack sizes. Our comparison of Modvigil vs Modalert covers that gap, and the Vilafinil 200 mg review looks at Vilafinil on its own.

Reviews and track record

Modalert's Afinil listing had 14 reviews averaging 4.7 out of 5 when we checked. Vilafinil's had 6 reviews averaging 4.8. Neither number tells you much. Small review counts swing easily, the reviews are collected by the seller, and people who leave reviews aren't a random sample of buyers.

Track record matters more in a different way. Modalert has been around and discussed for a long time, so there's plenty of user experience out there for people who like to read before they buy. Vilafinil is quieter, which isn't a sign of a problem, just a sign that there's less to go on. If you value a brand with a long, public history, Modalert wins this one. If you're comfortable with a less-famous generic from an established manufacturer, Vilafinil gives up nothing on price.

US legal status: no difference

The rules are identical for both brands. Modafinil is a Schedule IV controlled substance under US federal law, and you need a valid prescription to buy it. Neither Vilafinil nor Modalert is an FDA-approved product, so neither is sold by US pharmacies. Bringing either into the country without a prescription isn't a legal option, no matter how a website describes it. Our guide on whether buying modafinil is legal goes into more detail.

If you have a prescription and insurance, the FDA-approved generic modafinil sold at US pharmacies may be the simplest route. Our page on modafinil cost without insurance compares pharmacy prices with what export vendors charge.

Before you order either one

• Talk to your prescriber about which product you plan to use, including the brand and maker.
• Start with a small pack. Both brands cost the same at 10 tablets, so there's no price penalty for testing tolerance first.
• Check the foil when it arrives. Make sure the maker name and strength match the listing: Centurion for Vilafinil, Sun Pharma for Modalert, 200 mg for both.
• Note the expiry date, especially on larger packs.
• Keep the drug away from others. It's a controlled substance, and sharing it isn't legal.
• Don't use the 1,000-pack price as a reason to buy more than you need. A cheaper tablet isn't a saving if it expires in a drawer.

If you're thinking of switching away from Modalert

Some readers land on this comparison because of Modalert's export notice. If that's you, a calm approach works better than stocking up in a panic.

1. Don't buy a huge pack just in case. If the notice turns out to be right, a 1,000-tablet stockpile may outlast its expiry date. If it turns out to be wrong, you've tied up a lot of money for nothing.
2. Talk to your prescriber now, not when your supply runs out. Ask whether a same-dose generic from another maker is fine for you, or whether the FDA-approved generic from a US pharmacy would make more sense.
3. Try any new brand with a small pack before you commit to more, so you can notice how you feel on it.
4. Keep notes on timing, sleep and side effects for the first week on a new brand. That gives your prescriber something concrete to work with if anything seems different.

Vilafinil is one same-dose option. Afinil's own ModaXL and the budget brands are others. None of them is "the same pill", but they're all listed as 200 mg modafinil.

Myths worth clearing up

"Sun Pharma tablets are stronger." Both brands are listed at 200 mg. A bigger company doesn't put more drug in the tablet.

"Less-known brands are fakes." Being less famous doesn't make a product counterfeit. Checking the maker and strength on the foil is a better test than how often a name appears online.

"If it's sold online without a prescription, it must be legal." It isn't, in the US. How a vendor labels a product doesn't change federal law.

Which should you pick?

Pick Vilafinil if:

• you want a brand with no supply warning on its listing;
• you're comfortable with a less widely reviewed generic from Centurion Laboratories;
• you'll buy 500 tablets or fewer, where the price is identical anyway.

Pick Modalert if:

• you want the best-known modafinil brand, with the most user history;
• you have a prescription and a realistic plan to use a 1,000-tablet pack before it expires;
• you're already using it and your prescriber is happy for you to continue, while keeping an eye on the export notice.

Either way, the drug is the same, the dose is the same, and the US rules are the same. Your prescriber's advice should come first, and a smaller first order is the sensible starting point with any brand you haven't taken before.

Verdict

Vilafinil vs Modalert is one of the rare comparisons where price doesn't break the tie. Afinil charges the same per tablet for both up to 500 tablets, so the decision comes down to supply and familiarity. Modalert has the name and a deep 1,000-tablet discount, but its own listing warns that exports may stop. Vilafinil is the quieter brand with no such warning. For most buyers with a prescription and a modest order size, Vilafinil is the lower-risk choice for continuity. For those who specifically want Modalert's history, it's still on sale for now. Just check the details again before ordering, since both prices and stock can change.

Whatever you choose, keep the basics in place: a valid prescription, a small first order, a check of the foil when it arrives, and an honest conversation with your prescriber about how the medicine is working for you.

FAQ

Is Vilafinil the same as Modalert?

Both contain 200 mg of modafinil, the active drug in Provigil, so they're meant to work the same way. They come from different companies: Afinil lists Centurion Laboratories for Vilafinil and Sun Pharma for Modalert. Inactive ingredients can differ, and neither product is FDA-approved for sale in the US.

Which is cheaper, Vilafinil or Modalert?

Neither, up to 500 tablets. On October 30, 2026, Afinil listed 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 Vilafinil stronger than Modalert?

No. Both are listed as 200 mg modafinil. We found no study comparing the two brands directly, and reports of one feeling stronger usually reflect sleep, timing, food or expectations rather than a real difference in dose.

Who makes Vilafinil?

Afinil names Centurion Laboratories, an Indian company that also makes Modavinil and the armodafinil brand Armodavinil. We couldn't independently verify the supply chain, so check the maker printed on the foil when your order arrives.

Is Modalert going to be discontinued?

Afinil's Modalert page, checked October 30, 2026, says Sun Pharma will stop allowing Modalert exports from India in a few months because of legal issues. It gives no date and we haven't found independent confirmation, so treat it as the vendor's statement.

Does Vilafinil treat insomnia?

No. Vilafinil's Afinil page lists insomnia among the conditions it treats, but that's a mistake: modafinil keeps people awake and insomnia is one of its listed side effects. The Provigil label covers excessive sleepiness from narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea and shift work disorder.

Can I switch between Vilafinil and Modalert?

Talk to your prescriber first. The dose is the same, so switching usually wouldn't change how much you take, but they should know exactly which product you're using.

Is it legal to buy Vilafinil or Modalert in the US?

Modafinil is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the US and needs a valid prescription. Neither brand is FDA-approved, and ordering either from overseas without a prescription isn't a legal route.