HANDS-ON REVIEW
Zivolife Microalgae Sticks (Klebsormidium flaccidum ZL01) Review: Is It Worth It?
A single-ingredient green microalgae powder in pre-measured 3 g stick packs: tear, pour into water or a smoothie, and you're done.
Quick answer: Zivolife is a clean, genuinely one-ingredient green in a format that's easy to stick with: tear, pour, stir. Each stick brings a useful amount of iron and vitamin K, lab testing on every lot and nothing added, and the subscription brings the price down to about $2.30 a day. It isn't a protein powder, a meal or a treatment, and the research on this strain is early, so buy it as a convenient whole-food habit. If that's what you're after, try a month on subscription and use the 30-day guarantee if it doesn't fit your routine.
A Zivolife stick poured into water next to the 30-stick pouch. Photo: Zivolife.
Our verdict
Zivolife is a clean, genuinely one-ingredient green in a format that's easy to stick with: tear, pour, stir. Each stick brings a useful amount of iron and vitamin K, lab testing on every lot and nothing added, and the subscription brings the price down to about $2.30 a day. It isn't a protein powder, a meal or a treatment, and the research on this strain is early, so buy it as a convenient whole-food habit. If that's what you're after, try a month on subscription and use the 30-day guarantee if it doesn't fit your routine.
The short version
Zivolife is a whole-food supplement made from one ingredient: Klebsormidium flaccidum var. ZL01, a patented strain of green microalgae. It comes as 30 single-serve 3 g stick packs that you stir into water, juice, a smoothie or a shake. There are no fillers, flavors or added sweeteners. The brand says it provides plant protein, fiber including beta-glucans, vitamins, minerals and carotenoids, and tests every lot with the lab Eurofins. Per stick, the label shows 10 calories, 2 g of protein, 25% of the daily value for iron and 50% for vitamin K. It is a convenient nutrition add-on, not a meal replacement or a treatment for anything. A subscription costs $69.30 a month (30% off), or $99 one-time, with a 30-day money-back guarantee on your first order.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Truly one ingredient: whole microalgae with nothing added
- Pre-measured stick packs with no scoops, capsules or tubs, easy for travel and the office
- A meaningful dose of iron (25% DV) and vitamin K (50% DV) in each 3 g stick, per the label
- Every lot tested by Eurofins, and the brand cites cGMP and HACCP certification
- A different species from spirulina or chlorella, if you want something new in your routine
- Subscription saves 30%, ships free, and can be paused or cancelled anytime
- 30-day money-back guarantee on your first order
Cons
- Pricey: $69.30 a month on subscription, or $99 one-time, for 30 small servings
- Each stick has 2 g of protein and under 1 g of fiber, so it isn't a protein or fiber supplement
- Research on this strain is early, with no human trials on the finished product
- The guarantee covers first orders only, and you pay return shipping on the unused product
How it works
Tear a stick
Each pouch holds 30 single-serve 3 g sticks, one per day.
Stir it in
Mix it into 8 to 12 oz of water, juice, a smoothie or your protein shake. The brand also says you can add it to food.
Stay consistent
Take one stick daily at any time of day. The subscription delivers a fresh pouch every month.
Who it's for
- People who want a simple, one-ingredient plant addition to their diet
- Travelers and busy professionals who like pre-portioned sticks
- Smoothie and shake drinkers looking for a whole-food mix-in
- Anyone who has tried spirulina or chlorella and wants a different microalgae
What is Zivolife, and what is Klebsormidium flaccidum?
Zivolife is a dried, whole-plant powder of a single green microalgae, Klebsormidium flaccidum var. ZL01. The brand says this strain is patented and describes it as sitting at the evolutionary bridge between water algae and land plants. You won't find it in most supplement aisles. Spirulina is technically a cyanobacterium and chlorella is a different green alga, so Zivolife is a different food from both.
The format is the selling point. Instead of a tub and scoop, you get 30 sealed 3 g stick packs in a pouch. Tear one, pour it into a drink, stir, and drink. There's nothing to measure, and the sticks are easy to keep in a desk drawer or travel bag. The brand says the sticks are vacuum-sealed for freshness.
Zivolife nutrition facts: what one stick actually gives you
The nutrition label on the brand's product page lists, per 3 g stick: 10 calories, 0 g fat, 1 g carbohydrate, under 1 g of dietary fiber, 0 g sugar and 2 g of protein. The micronutrients stand out more: 4.3 mg of iron (25% of the daily value), 95 mcg of vitamin A (10% DV) and 64 mcg of vitamin K (50% DV), plus small amounts of calcium, potassium and vitamin E. The brand also says the protein is complete, with all nine essential amino acids, and that it contains beta-glucan fiber, carotenoids and polyphenols.
So set your expectations by the numbers. This is a micronutrient-dense green, not a protein shake or a fiber supplement. Two grams of protein and under a gram of fiber are small amounts next to a typical daily target. One practical note: because one stick provides half your daily vitamin K, anyone taking a blood thinner such as warfarin should talk to their doctor before adding it, as with any vitamin K-rich food.
Zivolife price, subscription and guarantee
On the brand's store when we checked, a 30-stick pouch was $99 as a one-time purchase or $69.30 a month with Subscribe & Save, which works out to about $2.30 a day. The brand says the subscription price is locked as long as you stay subscribed, ships free, and can be paused, skipped or cancelled from your account with no minimum. Buying through our link doesn't change your price.
The 30-day money-back guarantee applies to your first order only. You email support within 30 days of purchase, send back the remaining product in its original packaging with tracking, and pay the return shipping yourself. The policy says refunds are typically processed within six weeks, and special promotions and trial offers are excluded. If you're unsure, start with one month and decide within the window.
Zivolife vs spirulina, chlorella and greens powders
Spirulina and chlorella are the familiar microalgae supplements, sold as tablets or bulk powders. Zivolife's pitch is a different species with its own nutrient profile, in pre-measured sticks with a single ingredient. If you're happy with your current spirulina, there's no urgent reason to switch. If you want something new or prefer stick packs, Zivolife is the more convenient format.
Multi-ingredient greens powders take the opposite approach, blending dozens of vitamins, greens and extras into one scoop. Our AG1 review and Bloom greens review cover that style. And if protein is the real goal, a dedicated powder like the one in our Orgain vegan protein review gives you far more per serving than any microalgae stick.
Is Zivolife legit? Testing and what the research says
Zivolife is sold by Z Worldwide Inc. with published refund, shipping and privacy policies. The brand says every lot is tested by Eurofins, a large independent testing lab, and its product images show cGMP and HACCP certification marks and a patent on the ZL01 strain. The product page shows a 4.9/5 average from its own customer reviews. We couldn't find an independent review profile with enough reviews to judge.
On the science, the honest summary is that this is a new ingredient. There is published research on the ZL01 strain itself, but no human clinical trials on the finished product. The brand's label carries the standard FDA statement that the product isn't intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Treat Zivolife as a convenient way to add a whole-food green to your day, judged on taste, convenience and price, not as a fix for any health problem.
Frequently asked questions
What is Zivolife?
A single-ingredient whole-food supplement made from Klebsormidium flaccidum var. ZL01, a patented green microalgae, sold as 30 stick packs of 3 g each.
How do I take it?
Stir one stick a day into 8 to 12 oz of water, juice, a smoothie or a shake. Any time of day works.
How much protein is in a stick?
The label shows 2 g of protein per 3 g stick, along with 10 calories. It adds nutrients but isn't a protein supplement.
How much does Zivolife cost?
When we checked, it was $69.30 a month with Subscribe & Save or $99 for a one-time pouch of 30 sticks.
Is it the same as spirulina or chlorella?
No. Spirulina is a cyanobacterium and chlorella is a different green alga. Zivolife is a separate species, Klebsormidium flaccidum.
Is Zivolife third-party tested?
The brand says every lot is tested by Eurofins, an independent lab.
Can I cancel the subscription?
Yes. The brand says there's no minimum and you can pause, skip or cancel anytime from your account.
What is the return policy?
First orders have a 30-day money-back guarantee. Return the remaining product in its original packaging with tracking. You pay return shipping.
Is it safe with blood thinners?
One stick gives about 50% of the daily value for vitamin K, which can affect blood thinners like warfarin. Check with your doctor first if you take one.
When you buy through links on this page, TopCrate may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA; this product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Prices accurate as of publish time.
