How these actually work
Most of the peptides people reach for when they want more muscle are not anabolic in the way steroids are. They are growth-hormone secretagogues. That means they nudge your pituitary to release a pulse of your own growth hormone, which in turn raises IGF-1, the hormone that does most of the downstream work on tissue. So the effect is indirect. You are turning up a dial your body already controls, not injecting the end product.
There are a few families here. GHRH analogs (like CJC-1295, Sermorelin and Tesamorelin) mimic the signal that tells the pituitary to release GH. GHRPs and related ghrelin-mimetics (like Ipamorelin, Hexarelin, GHRP-2 and GHRP-6) hit a different receptor to trigger a sharper pulse, and the two families are often paired because they stack additively. IGF-1 LR3 skips the pituitary entirely and acts like the downstream hormone itself. MK-677 is the odd one out: an oral that mimics ghrelin so you can raise GH without an injection.
The ranked rundown
Here is each compound, what family it belongs to, who tends to use it, and the best verified price per milligram we are tracking. Click any name for the full price-comparison and lab data page.
1. CJC-1295 (GHRH analog)
A long-acting GHRH analog that raises baseline GH and IGF-1 over time. It is the classic pairing partner for a GHRP because the two signals stack. Used by people who want a steady, smooth elevation rather than a sharp spike. Best price we track is $69.99/10.0mg = $7.0/mg (Midwest Peptide), with top documented purity around 99.977 percent.
2. Ipamorelin (GHRP)
The gentlest of the GHRPs. It triggers a clean GH pulse with little effect on cortisol or hunger, which is why it is the most common starting point and the usual partner for CJC-1295. Best price we track is $44/10mg = $4.4/mg (EZ Peptides), top documented purity around 99.938 percent.
3. Sermorelin (GHRH analog)
An older, shorter-acting GHRH analog. It produces a more physiological, short-lived pulse and is often chosen by people who want a milder, more conservative profile. Best price we track is $74.99/10mg = $7.5/mg (Onyx Biolabs), top documented purity around 99.68 percent. We have a full breakdown comparing it to the others in Sermorelin vs Ipamorelin vs CJC-1295.
4. Tesamorelin (GHRH analog)
A potent GHRH analog best known in research for reducing visceral fat. People interested in body recomposition rather than raw size sometimes favor it. Best price we track is $42/10mg = $4.2/mg (Next Gen Peptides), top documented purity around 99.97 percent.
5. IGF-1 LR3 (IGF-1 analog)
This is the downstream hormone itself, in a long-acting form, so it bypasses the pituitary. It is the most direct of the group and also the most expensive per milligram by a wide margin. Best price we track is $59.96/1mg = $59.96/mg (Swiss Chems), top documented purity around 99.923 percent. Note the price is per single milligram, so it is not comparable on a flat dollar basis to the 10mg secretagogues.
6. Hexarelin (GHRP)
A stronger GHRP that drives a larger pulse but is more prone to desensitization with continuous use. Chosen by people who want maximum signal and are willing to cycle it. Best price we track is $39.99/5mg = $8/mg (Pinnacle Peptide Labs). We do not have a verified purity figure on file for this one yet.
7. GHRP-2 (GHRP)
A potent GHRP that also bumps appetite and can nudge cortisol and prolactin. Some people use the hunger boost during a bulk. Best price we track is $19.95/5mg = $3.99/mg (Swiss Chems). No verified purity figure on file yet.
8. GHRP-6 (GHRP)
Similar family to GHRP-2 with an even stronger hunger effect, which some want and others find unmanageable. Best price we track is $19.95/5mg = $3.99/mg (Swiss Chems). No verified purity figure on file yet.
9. MK-677 (oral secretagogue)
The only oral here. It mimics ghrelin to raise GH and IGF-1 without an injection, which is its main appeal. It can increase appetite and water retention. Because it is dosed in much larger amounts, the per-milligram figure looks tiny: best price we track is $89.95/600mg = $0.15/mg (Swiss Chems). No verified purity figure on file yet.
| Compound | Type | Best $/mg |
|---|---|---|
| CJC-1295 | GHRH analog | $7.0/mg |
| Ipamorelin | GHRP | $4.4/mg |
| Sermorelin | GHRH analog | $7.5/mg |
| Tesamorelin | GHRH analog | $4.2/mg |
| IGF-1 LR3 | IGF-1 analog | $59.96/mg |
| Hexarelin | GHRP | $8/mg |
| GHRP-2 | GHRP | $3.99/mg |
| GHRP-6 | GHRP | $3.99/mg |
| MK-677 | Oral secretagogue | $0.15/mg |
Per-milligram is only an apples-to-apples comparison within a similar dosing range. IGF-1 LR3 is priced per single milligram and MK-677 per 600mg, so do not read the table as a flat ranking of value. Always check the dose you would actually run.
The classic GH stack
If you only take one thing from this page: the most common protocol people run is not a single peptide but a pair. A GHRH analog and a GHRP hit two different receptors, so combining them produces a bigger, cleaner GH pulse than either alone. The textbook version is CJC-1295 with Ipamorelin, which is why those two top the list above.
How to choose and not overpay
Vendor sticker prices are misleading because vial sizes differ. A cheaper-looking vial can cost more per milligram once you account for how much peptide is actually inside. So the only number that lets you compare fairly is price per milligram, which is what we publish on every product page.
- Compare on price per milligram, never on vial price. A 5mg vial and a 10mg vial are not the same purchase.
- Insist on a recent COA. A third-party certificate of analysis tells you the purity you are actually paying for. Several compounds above have no verified purity figure on file yet, which is itself worth knowing before you buy.
- Match the dose to the vial. A peptide that needs only a fraction of a milligram per use will last far longer than the per-milligram price alone suggests.
- Cross-check the vendor. The cheapest per-milligram offer is only a deal if the lab data backs it up.
Frequently asked.
Which peptide builds the most muscle?
There is no single answer, and anyone promising one is overselling. The secretagogues raise your own GH and IGF-1 indirectly, so the effect is modest and depends heavily on your training and nutrition. Most people who use these run a GHRH analog and a GHRP together rather than chasing one magic compound.
Are these the same as steroids?
No. Steroids are anabolic hormones you administer directly. The peptides here mostly signal your body to release more of its own growth hormone, which is a much gentler and more indirect mechanism. The realistic muscle effect is far smaller, and the fundamentals still do the heavy lifting.
Why is IGF-1 LR3 so much more expensive per milligram?
Because it is the downstream hormone itself rather than a signal to release it, and it is dosed in much smaller amounts. The best price we track is $59.96/1mg, but that single milligram covers many more uses than the per-milligram figure makes it look, since the per-use dose is tiny.
Is MK-677 better because it is so cheap per milligram?
Not necessarily. MK-677 is dosed in hundreds of milligrams, so its $0.15/mg figure is not comparable to the injectable secretagogues that work in single-digit milligrams. It is the only oral option here, which is its real selling point, but cheap per-milligram does not mean cheap per dose.
Why do some compounds here have no purity listed?
Hexarelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6 and MK-677 do not have a verified third-party purity figure on file yet. That gap is exactly why we publish lab data alongside price. If a vendor cannot show a recent COA, treat the purity as unknown rather than assumed.