SporesMD Alternative: Why Researchers Choose Inoculate the World

A Longer Track Record

Researchers can compare how long spore companies have been in business to assess the consistency of each brand. While both are trusted vendors, Inoculate The World has been in business since 2016, while SporesMD opened in 2022. Inoculate The World’s decade of expertise is worth considering when deciding where to make a purchase.

Verified products

It’s also worth considering the range of products sold by both companies, and whether the additional merchandise aligns with your values and risk tolerance. SporesMD and ITW both carry additional merchandise besides just spores, such as stickers, shirts, and consumables. ITW’s consumable line is medicinal tinctures and resins, which are organic and made in-house. We wouldn’t want to sell any consumable items that we don’t use ourselves. Conversely, SporesMD also carries products like vapes, Amanita gummies, and microdosing consumables. Products related to grey-market categories like this are often accompanied by ambitious marketing claims, while the testing, labeling, and regulatory oversight behind those claims can vary considerably. For example, many people might think they are purchasing a psilocybin microdosing product based on SporesMD’s marketing, when they are really purchasing Amanita, and potentially other unknown ingredients. It’s worth exercising healthy skepticism towards any company whose standards allow them to sell products like this because there are fewer independent standards for verifying what’s in a product. For more information on this subject, you can read our article on grey-market mushroom edibles.

Where Inoculate the World Comes Out Ahead

Strain Selection and Exotic Genetics

If you’ve got your eye on a specific strain or species, you’ll want to make sure your vendor has all the options you’re looking for. SporesMD carries a deliberately narrow line, mostly containing the most popular strains of Psiocybe cubensis. For example, they carry five strains of spore prints, while ITW’s selection of spore prints totals more than 100 strains. Here at ITW, our catalog contains all the same fan favorites you might be looking for, as well as 100+ niche strains, wild-foraged genetics, and other rarities for you to level up your microscopy projects.

Spore Viability and Quality Control

When choosing a spore company, lab standards are of the utmost importance, and any company you choose should offer transparency about their cleanliness and sourcing processes. Buyers may also want to consider whether a spore company makes their products themselves, or whether that company uses white labeling, meaning it sources products from another company and sells them under its own brand. ITW rigorously sources the highest quality genetics, many of which are foraged in the wild. Both SporesMD and ITW make their products in an ISO-7 cleanroom, so buyers can rest assured that they are purchasing from a lab with high standards. What sets ITW apart is its rigorous quality control, as well as the fact that all products are made in-house. While it may be more efficient to produce and test larger batches in one go, this can open the door for quality control issues, and make it easier to miss the small details. Here at ITW, we make all of our own products, which allows a level of quality control and consistent standards you couldn’t get elsewhere. All syringes are produced in batches of 50. Smaller batches allow for a greater attention to detail with regard to cleanliness and viability. Many companies test for contaminants right away, which will almost always yield clean results. In reality, potential contaminants often lay dormant early on, but their presence will become more obvious over time. At ITW’s lab, each batch sits for three to five days before testing, allowing us to catch any potential endospores and bacteria and make sure all samples are completely clean. For more information on ITW’s sourcing and quality control, you can read all about how their products are made.

ITW also offers certificates of analysis verifying each strain's composition and genetic makeup. Genetics COA's are  available upon request after purchase, and we make our COA's of product composition available publicly.

Expert-Backed Mycology Knowledge

ITW is established as an authority not just on mushroom spores, but within the entire mycology space. Inoculate The World’s Understory podcast is just one example of their commitment to holistic expertise on mycology, and building a thriving network within the mycology community. Customers can look to sources like Understory to continue their mycology education beyond the microscope, setting it apart from other spore companies such as SporesMD.

Pricing, Bundles, and Guarantees

When it comes to spore products, the famous saying, “cheap is expensive” definitely applies. While it’s possible to find all kinds of vendors out there with low prices, you often get what you pay for in terms of quality. Customers who go the cheaper route the first time around often face higher rates of contamination, stalled research, and other problems that force them to go back and repurchase supplies later on. Many of ITW’s customers find that they wish they had started with ITW to begin with, and that the higher upfront price is well worth the quality, speed, and support they receive compared to other companies in the industry.

Most spore companies provide bundle options, which allow customers to save money when they buy more. Both ITW and SporesMD offer generous savings when you bundle. For example, ITW’s 10 isolated syringe bundle deal is $220 at checkout, while SporesMD’s 10 isolated syringe bundle is $145. While ITW’s bundle may be a higher price up front, the added cost pays not just for ITW’s quality and selection, but also the freedom to choose from any isolated syringe on ITW’s menu.

Some customers may prefer the lower upfront price of the SporesMD bundle, but wish it was more customizable. The SporesMD bundle option does not allow the customer to choose any specific strains, or even specify whether they’d prefer magic mushroom species like cubensis, or gourmet liquid cultures.

It’s also worth considering a company’s replacement policies. Even if you go with a reputable supplier, there are many factors that contribute to your research results, so you’ll want your spore supplier to offer a replacement policy in case anything goes wrong. SporesMD does not offer a general viability or contamination replacement guarantee for products once they are opened or used in independent testing. Inoculate The World guarantees satisfaction, and is happy to work with customers on any issues they encounter throughout the research process.

Shipping and Turnaround

Customers can appreciate the speed, discretion, and reliability that have become typical for most spore companies in business today. Both SporesMD and Inoculate The World have quick processing and shipping times that customers can expect. Processing times are typically within one business day, and shipping times can range from 3-5 days. Both sites offer reliable and discreet shipping with plain boxes.

It’s also worth considering whether a given spore company can ship to your location. While both companies can only ship to areas where spores are legal, Inoculate The World offers international shipping options for many destinations outside of the US, while SporesMD does not ship internationally.

Customer Support

Every spore company should have a strong system for customer support. SporesMD can be contacted by email, and should respond to any questions or concerns quickly. Inoculate the World prides itself on its customer support and quick response times. We are here to help with any issues and can be contacted anytime.

How to Vet Any Spore Vendor

It can be overwhelming to vet all the different spore options out there. Here’s an easy checklist to help you choose a trustworthy spore supplier.

Confirm Batch-Level testing: Look around to see if the supplier offers information about their quality control and testing. If they don’t offer information about their testing protocol, you might want to find another supplier.

Check shipping restrictions: You’ll want to make sure a spore company can ship to your state before purchasing.

Read reviews: Look around on a spore website’s reviews page, and try to read not just the positive reviews, but also the negative ones. You can also look around on forums like Reddit or Shroomery to see what people are saying about a company outside of its official platform. Any company might have a few people making negative comments about them online, but do the reports seem to be generally positive? If so, that’s a good indicator of a company’s reputation.

Contamination guarantee: Figure out if the supplier offers a guarantee in case research projects go wrong. Issues do happen, even to the best mycologists with the best supplies. You’ll want to double check what guarantees are included with your purchase, and make sure any supplier takes ownership over their side of the process should anything go wrong.

Order one before ordering many: You may want to make a small order before stocking up on every strain in a supplier’s catalog. This way, you can vet a company for quality using a small order, instead of risking your money and time on a large order from the beginning.

Info on legality

It’s worth noting that spores are sold for microscopy and taxonomy, and not for cultivation or consumption. Spores are legal in most US states, but whether magic mushrooms are legal depends on the country or state. Thus, all spore vendors, including ITW, are limited to the states where spores are legal.

Is SporesMD Legit?

SporesMD is definitely a legit mushroom spore site, but many buyers prefer to get their spores from ITW because of their excellent track record and wide selection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best SporesMD alternatives?

SporesMD is a good spore company, but many customers prefer alternatives like Inoculate The World, Spore Works, and PNW Spore.

Does ITW carry the same strains as SporesMD?

SporesMD and ITW carry many of the same strains of Psilocybe cubensis. SporesMD focuses on a selected, intentionally small catalog of some of the most popular strains, while ITW carries these same popular strains, along with other rare spores for advanced researchers, and those looking to branch out.

How does the pricing compare between ITW and SporesMD?

SporesMD and Inoculate The World are pretty similarly priced. One liquid culture from SporesMD will cost $29.99, while ITW’s isolated syringe, their special version of a liquid culture is $30. That’s a $.01 difference for ITW’s verified spores and vast catalog.

How long has ITW been in business?

ITW has been in business since 2016, so it’s their tenth year in business! In that decade, they've established their high quality and rigorous testing, as well as fast shipping, high quality service, and industry expertise.

What is the difference between a spore syringe vs liquid culture?

A spore syringe, often referred to as a multi-spore syringe, contains spores suspended in sterile water. A liquid culture contains a nutrient broth, with mycelium suspended throughout. ITW’s isolated syringes are comparable to liquid cultures.