9 Best Melatonin Supplements And Alternatives (2024)
The Good Trade editors endorse products we’ve personally researched, tested, and genuinely love. Learn more about our methodology and business model here.
Our team has tested and researched dozens of sleep aids for the best adults & kids supplements made with clean ingredients — these are our top picks.
Tossing and turning. Staring at the ceiling. Willing yourself to fall—and stay—asleep. We’ve been there. And it’s hard! The good news is, there are natural sleep aids we can turn to for a better night’s rest. Melatonin is particularly having a moment in the wide range of gummies, powders, and supplements on the market.
What is melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone that your brain produces in response to darkness. The NIH explains that melatonin is a large part of getting a good night’s rest and regulating your circadian rhythm. It’s particularly useful for helping reduce jet lag symptoms, support delayed sleep-wake phase disorder, and certain sleep disorders in children. Suggested doses of melatonin are between 0.5 to 5mg, though we recommend talking to your doctor. And if you’re interested in what other roles melatonin plays in your health, check out our piece on the subject by a functional doctor.
If melatonin isn’t the right fit for you, there are alternatives that you can consider. Magnesium (found in leafy greens, nuts, and seeds) and L-theanine (found in green tea) can help your body relax, while many CBD oils offer stronger solutions and even sleep-specific formulations. Ingredients like chamomile, valerian root, and reishi are comforting natural remedies that promote relaxation too. We’ve listed some melatonin-free options to help support your sleep (and an option for kids).
These nine sleep aids and alternatives harness naturally occurring ingredients like melatonin, magnesium, and adaptogens to calm both body and mind before heading to bed. Each of these sleep aids are made with natural and organic ingredients, and are formulated without any unnecessary additives to help optimize our health.
Pair these sleep aids with a solid bedtime routine (and maybe a new mattress, organic bedding and a silky sleep mask), and you’ll get the rest you need in no time.
Best Overall | Best For Kids | Best Vegan
1. Ritual
Best For | Delayed-release melatonin
Natural Ingredients | Italian melatonin, cellulose, psyllium seed husk, spirulina extract
Price | $25 for 20 capsules
Ritual’s BioSeries™ Melatonin is not your average sleep aid. The BioSeries™ technology supports your natural sleep cycle through a delayed 6 hour phase that gently releases melatonin to support your natural sleep-wake cycle. With 5mg of melatonin in total, 1g releases instantly to help you fall asleep, 3 mg releases throughout your rest so you stay asleep, with the last mg phasing out by morning and helping you feel well rested. Ritual’s melatonin is also vegan, non-GMO, and made traceable so you know exactly where each ingredient in the formula comes from.
Ritual Review | “I have had sleep problems for many years. I have tried many different medications including other melatonin products and finally went off them completely and tried this product. I liked the delayed release aspect of the product. I can honestly say that within an hour of taking this, I am ready for bed, and when I wake up to either let the dog out or go to the bathroom I can fall back asleep quickly. I know melatonin doesn’t work for everyone, but I am so glad that this has worked for me!” – Kmiranda, Amazon [See all reviews]
2. Hiya
Best For | Kids
Natural Ingredients | L-theanine, GABA, magnesium, calcium, vitamin B6, chamomile flower extract
Price | $35 for 30 servings
Hiya understands the dangers of sugar addiction in children and how conventional vitamins can contribute to this. To combat this, Hiya has formulated a kids bedtime chewable that not only contains zero added sugar but also zero melatonin! These vegan, gluten-free, GMO-free, and dairy-free vitamins support brain health, nighttime calm, focus and relaxation, all which promotes a good night rest when overstimulated. With no processed “gummy” ingredients and a delicious taste, kids will benefit and enjoy. Get 50% off your first purchase and free shipping!
Hiya Review | “This multivitamin is a MUST buy for a kiddo. I feel so confident in the quality of Hiya’s ingredients, and my son literally yells with excitement when it’s time to take his vitamin (and asks for more lol). So thankful I found this. I actually just ordered the bedtime vitamin as well!” – Holly D. [See all reviews]
The Good Trade Partner
3. Plant People
Best For | Melatonin-free gummies
Natural Ingredients | Reishi mushroom, saffron extract, GABA, corydalis, passionflower, chamomile
Price | $35 for 30 servings
Plant People’s melatonin-free WonderSleep Gummies are here to support deep, restorative rest by harnessing the power of mushrooms! The brand was founded by Gabe Kennedy and Hudson Gaines-Ross who both experienced traumatic spinal injuries and found healing in plant-based medicine. As a result, they wanted to create an innovative line of regenerative plant and mushroom supplements to help others. The WonderSleep Gummies stand out with their potent inclusion of clinically-studied ingredients like saffron and reishi to help ease you into a soothing sleep that’ll have you feeling refreshed by the morning. Plus, WonderSleep’s vegan formula is backed by over 100 doctors and medical providers and contains no artificial additives like corn syrup and food dyes. With all these features, it’s no “wonder” (hah!) these gummies have been sold out twice! And if you prefer shopping in stores, you can find Plant People nationwide at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Erewhon and REI. (Not to mention online on Amazon too!)
Plant People Review | “I’ve tried every supplement possible, as well as black out curtains, mask, red light. The list goes on and on. My problem is not falling asleep, it’s staying asleep. I toss and turn dozens of times between the hours of midnight and 5am. These gummies put me in a super deep sleep. No more trips to the bathroom, no more changing body positions all night long, no more lying awake waiting for the alarm to sound. Excellent product! I’ve only used them for a week and a half and already made a 2nd purchase. I’ve referred a friend as well.” – April [See all reviews]
The Good Trade Partner
4. Needed
Best For | Pregnancy-safe formulas
Natural Ingredients | Magnesium gluconate, magnesium citrate, magnesium taurate, L-theanine, L-glycine, and chamomile
Price | Starting at $35/mo
For expecting parents looking to support their sleep and relaxation, rest easy with the Sleep + Relaxation Support supplement from Needed. Science-backed and recommended by over 4000 health practitioners, this formula is packed with three forms of magnesium and soothing botanicals to safely send you off to sleep. Third-party tested and formulated by experts, each ingredient is carefully selected to enhance sleep quality, relaxation, and stress reduction. The lightly sweet, chamomile flavor is the perfect way to wind down and settle in for a night of top-quality Zzzs.
Needed Review | “I’m 25 weeks pregnant and the insomnia has been awful – this has helped me sleep through most of the night (still wake up to pee every hour but what can ya do!). I didn’t realize how well this worked until my doctor recommended I switch to the Calm magnesium supplement to tackle some other issues and it did not work nearly as well – my body was restless, I couldn’t fall asleep or stay asleep, and I had leg cramps again. I just ordered more and am switching back to this – if you struggle with sleep, give it a try!” – Anna [See all reviews]
The Good Trade Partner
5. Juna
Best For | Plant-based phytomelatonin gummies
Natural Ingredients | Passionflower, tart cherry, elemental magnesium, phytomelatonin, wild jujube, L-tryptophan
Price | $42 for 30 servings
Mom-founded brand Juna formulates their Nightcap Sleep Gummies to relax you through each stage of sleep; and help optimize your body to regulate its natural sleep cycle. Made with organically-grown ingredients and phytomelatonin from St. John’s wort, each gummy delivers a mini dose of melatonin to naturally encourage your body to produce its own. Users report that Juna’s Nightcap gummies help them fall asleep, increase stage 3 deep sleep, make it easier to fall back asleep if awakened, and help them feel rested and refreshed in the morning. With results like these, this antioxidant-rich and doctor approved formula gets two thumbs up from us!
Juna Review | “Just tried these for the first time as in the past I’d wake up constantly throughout the night. I actually look forward to taking these every night. They taste lovely—soothing—and I fall asleep within five minutes after consuming…and now sleep through the night!! What a difference! The best part is I have ZERO after effects in the morning. Totally refreshed. Will be taking these from now on…” -Amy K. [See all reviews]
6. Moon Juice
Best For | PMS symptoms
Natural Ingredients | Magnesium, L-theanine, natural fruit extracts & flavors
Price | $42 for 30 servings
When melatonin isn’t helping, sometimes magnesium will! Moon Juice’s Magnesi-Om contains three bioavailable types of magnesium that release slowly to help you wind down. The powder is sweetened with monk fruit and easily dissolves in water (or any drink of choice). As a bonus, it’s known to alleviate PMS symptoms, too! With over 2,000 five-star reviews, it’s worth giving this sustainably sourced sleep aid a try. Choose from berry, blue lemon or a multipack set.
Moon Juice Review | “…I have been consistently drinking my moon juice about 20 minutes before bed for the last several weeks and my sleeping length and quality is so much better! And, as a menopausal woman this has been a game changer.” – Renee L. [See all reviews]
7. HUM
Best For | Budget-friendly melatonin
Natural Ingredients | Melatonin, vitamin B6, calcium
Price | $12 for 30 capsules
HUM is on a mission to become the best, most reliable nutrition biz in the world—and the team is well on its way. Each formula contains only natural and sustainable ingredients and is triple-tested for purity and independently verified for potency. The Beauty zzZz formula comes with 3mg of melatonin and vitamin B6 to help reset your circadian rhythm. It won’t just help you fall asleep—you’ll stay asleep, wake up refreshed, and repeat.
Hum Review | “This product works better than any prescription or vitamin I have ever used. I have dealt with trouble sleeping my entire childhood, and now I have the rest I need to start a new day. I sleep all night and wake up refreshed in the morning. I highly recommend this product if you have trouble sleeping after being on many medications and vitamins that have never quite worked.” – Raylynn B. [See all reviews]
8. Beam
Best For | Melatonin powders
Natural Ingredients | Melatonin, reishi extract, magnesium, hemp, L-theanine
Price | $76 for 30 servings
Beam aims to help improve your mental and physical wellbeing with their line of hemp-powered products. Their bestselling Sleep Powder can be made like a regular cup of hot cocoa and contains 3mg of melatonin, L-theanine and reishi, all ingredients that ease you into rest mode. If you need a bit more support, Beam also carries extra strength capsules at 6mg of melatonin. We love the powder: just a half scoop—frothed with warm oat or almond milk 😋 —is the perfect serving about an hour before bed. Save the full scoop for weekends when you can sleep in!
Beam Review | “I ordered this product and didn’t use it. Then one night a few weeks ago, I was ready for bed and really wanted a good solid sleep without a pill. I found this bag of beam I’d purchased and decided to give it a try. Wow. I couldn’t believe the amazingly deep recovery sleep I had! I decided to try it again the next night to see if it was a one-shot deal. Nope! It worked again! And it’s worked every night since! I highly recommend this product if you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. I use a Whoop band and my recovery is well into the 90s now every time I use this!” – Ann H. [See all reviews]
9. Mary Ruth’s Organics
Best For | Vegan gummies & chewables
Natural Ingredients | Melatonin, L-theanine, lemon balm, passionflower, chamomile
Price | Starting at $20 for 30 servings
Mary Ruth’s Organics’ assortment of adults and kids gummies and chewables are delicious, affordable, and filled with all the essential ingredients we’re looking for in the perfect sleep supplement! Whether you’re seeking a basic melatonin gummy for general use, or a specialized formula infused with added sleep support ingredients like passionflower and lemon balm, these gummies and chewables have you covered! Everything is certified vegan, non-GMO, and free from potential allergens like dairy and nuts, making them perfect for kids. (Psst, there’s also a melatonin-free option available!)
Mary Ruth’s Organics Review | “My kids take it 30 minutes before bed and it works. All three of them would struggle to fall asleep. Bed time goes so much smoother now. They love the taste and the shape of the gummy 🌙” – Sarahi C. [See all reviews]
