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Kratom Near Me: Buying Kratom Online vs. In-Store

Millions of people worldwide are taking kratom to manage pain, alleviate anxiety, boost energy and focus, or wean themselves off opiate medications.

Despite how popular this herb is, it’s relatively difficult to find consistently high-quality kratom leaf.

Every batch of kratom is different — some much more potent than others.

The best place to order quality kratom near you is to order it online from one of the many AKA-approved vendors and have it delivered. Here’s what to look for and where to order kratom where you live.

Written by Wade Paul
Last Updated 12 months ago

Wade Paul

Founder & Editor-In-Chief

Wade Paul is the founder and editor-in-chief at Kratom.org.

Why You Should Buy Kratom Online

Today, the best place to buy kratom is online.

There are three key reasons for this:

  • Online kratom vendors have better prices & better selection
  • Shopping online is the easiest way to buy anything in 2023
  • The cost of shipping is cheaper, and the delivery times are faster than ever before

2022 was the year of online shopping, and the trend isn’t likely to end anytime soon.

While we’ve always preferred ordering online, the pandemic forced the industry to step it up and develop ways to make online shopping a better experience overall. Some shops chose to close up altogether and become online-exclusive; others redesigned their shopping portals and distribution model to make the process smoother for their customers.

As a result of these changes, the cost of kratom has decreased slightly over the last few months.

The cost of kratom is decreasing as vendors close their shops and move their warehouses to regions with cheaper land and lower operating costs. Larger warehouse spaces allow vendors to stock up on bigger orders, shaving thousands of dollars off the cost of their orders.

Most of these vendors pass the savings along to you through intermittent sales and discounts.

The Benefits of Buying Kratom Online

Lower Cost

Despite the higher quality and safety of an online vendor’s kratom, you’ll almost always spend less on kratom when shopping online. Local vendors are technically intermediaries; they don’t produce the product and usually buy it in bulk from another kratom company.

Adding a middleman increases the likelihood of contamination or unsafe handling, and you’re paying more to account for the commission added to the price.

Most online kratom vendors buy their kratom directly from the source, which means you’re paying for the product and nothing else. There is no upcharge to account for intermediaries, so you’ll pay less for a higher-quality product.

Also see: What’s the Cheapest Kratom? Save Money On Strains & Bulk Orders.

Better Selection

If you’ve visited a local smoke shop or other physical location that sells kratom, you’ve likely already noticed that the selection is minimal. This is because local shops have to manage shelf space carefully. Understandably, they only stock what they think will sell quickly, so they rarely have anything other than the most popular strains, which might not suit your needs.

Additionally, few physical shops focus exclusively on kratom, which means precious shelf space is likely full of other products. Since kratom likely isn’t a significant part of the shop’s revenue, they’ll probably dedicate only a small portion of their store to it.

When you buy online, you’re committing to a company that focuses on kratom and kratom alone. The more reputable kratom sites have many strains available, including red-vein, white-vein, and green-vein varieties. Shopping online is more likely to yield a strain that suits your needs exactly and provides all the benefits you’re looking for.

Safety & Consistency

Online vendors are superior in most cases because they tend to provide a safer and more consistent product. Online kratom vendors usually buy their kratom directly from the source, meaning the farmers or the processing facility. Not only do the best online vendors let you know precisely where their kratom is from, but they can also guarantee that the powder isn’t adulterated with additives or potentially harmful chemicals.

How do they guarantee this? Third-party testing. Trustworthy vendors put their products through rigorous third-party testing at professional testing labs. These tests verify the potency of the alkaloids and the purity of the product as a whole. The lab results are then available on their websites for customers to view. 

Many go the extra mile and become certified by the American Kratom Association (AKA). Vendors are certified by submitting their kratom to third-party labs to see if the product meets the AKA’s strict standards.

Retailers like gas stations, smoke shops, or other physical stores seldom go through this tedious process. You won’t have access to test results when you buy from a local shop, and you can never be sure you’re getting a pure and potent product.

The Hidden Dangers of Buying Kratom Locally

The retail kratom industry is dying.

The cost of operating a retail shop is unsustainable, forcing shop owners to order cheaper kratom leaves to increase profit margins and stay afloat.

Some of this cheap kratom is too weak or underpowered to give the effects you’re looking for. Others contain traces of harsh chemical fertilizers, heavy metals, or worse. Without testing it in a lab, there’s no way to know what’s inside your kratom. Online shops can offer links to the associated lab tests to prove the quality of their products — but this isn’t possible with retail vendors.

Additionally, many vendors hold their stock past or near the expiry date and don’t store the products properly.

While this isn’t inherently dangerous, it means that most of the active ingredients in the powder have been broken down and rendered inert.

Sometimes molds or bacteria can start to grow inside the package, which can cause allergies or inflammation, and further worsen symptoms like chronic pain.

Which Are the Best Online Kratom Vendors to Buy From?

There are plenty of excellent kratom vendors online today — most of them offer a similar range of high-quality products at a similar price.

The problem is that it’s difficult to gauge the quality of kratom leaf until you try it out yourself. The potency of kratom is highly variable to factors like growing conditions, harvesting, processing methods, and the duration spent in storage.

The kratom market has many middlemen, so most kratom vendors don’t know where their kratom comes from.

This is a big problem. Each batch of the popular Maeng Da kratom leaf from a single vendor could come from many different farms — each with varying potency levels.

This is true for all kratom strains.

The only way to ensure a kratom powder is consistent is to order from the same farmers for every batch.

The following brands source their kratom directly from the farms and offer consistent, high-grade, AKA-approved leaf powder and extracts.

1. Kona Kratom

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $45.00 — $115.00
Verified Vendor

Kona Kratom

4.95 / 5
Ranked 1 out of 190 vendors

Kona Kratom has staff living throughout Southeast Asia dedicated to finding new, exotic strains of kratom. As a result of this effort, this brand has one of the largest selections of kratom leaf powder we’ve seen yet.

They’re best known for their exceptionally potent Green Maeng Da, but they also offer over a dozen other top-notch kratom leaf powders.

2. Star Kratom

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $35 — $95
Verified Vendor

Star Kratom

4.9 / 5
Ranked 2 out of 190 vendors

Star Kratom is a small family-owned company operated out of the United States. They have family ties to Indonesia, allowing them to skip the middlemen and order fresh from the farm.

What sets this company apart is its priority on shipping and customer care. They reportedly make several trips per day to deliver shipments to the nearby postal hub to get your package out the door and on a plane as fast as possible. This brand has embraced the push to move online and has no plans to open a retail store.

If you need your kratom in a hurry — Star Kratom is the best option.

3. VIP Kratom

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $40.00 — $125.00
Verified Vendor

VIP Kratom

4.85 / 5
Ranked 4 out of 190 vendors

VIP Kratom calls itself a premium kratom supplier — and we tend to agree. This brand doesn’t dabble in anything but the best. The threshold for what this company considers premium is exceptionally high. They’ve been known to send entire shipments back to the source if it wasn’t strong enough.

Expect to pay a little more for this brand — but if you’re looking for unrelenting quality and potency every time, this is an excellent place to shop.

4. Golden Monk Kratom

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $39.99 — $254.99
Verified Vendor

Golden Monk Kratom

4.75 / 5
Ranked 5 out of 190 vendors

Golden Monk is a popular kratom vendor due to its affordable pricing and relatively high-quality products. The company doesn’t post third-party lab results for each product, but it is a member of the AKA’s Good Manufacturing Practices program. You can be reasonably confident that the kratom powders and capsules are safe and potent.

Golden Monk has a relatively large variety of strains available, including Maeng Da kratom and many other popular strains. Its prices are competitive, but shipping times can be a bit slow.

5. Kats Botanicals

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $$6.99 — $$99.99

Kats Botanicals

4.5 / 5
Ranked 10 out of 190 vendors

Kats Botanicals sells kratom powders and capsules, along with other botanicals, so its focus isn’t entirely on kratom. However, it has a decent selection of red, white, and green-vein varieties, so you will likely be able to find a strain that works for you. The prices are very affordable, especially if you purchase in bulk.

Kats Botanicals is accredited by the AKA and is a member of their GMP program. While each strain is reportedly lab-tested, the results aren’t posted on the website. Still, you can be reasonably confident that you’re getting a safe and potent product.

6. Laughing Lion Herbs

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $10.00 — $120.00
Verified Vendor

Laughing Lion Herbs

4.5 / 5
Ranked 14 out of 190 vendors

Laughing Lion Herbs is a great place for kratom — including great blends, extracts, and an aerosol spray — but they also sell kava. This vendor is certified by the AKA and goes above and beyond to make sure their customers are happy. You’ll find a great selection of strains and products with lab results to prove their potency.

The company has been around since 2014, and their experience shows in all they do, whether it’s the helpful customer service, competitive prices, or a user-friendly website.

7. Kraken Kratom

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $8.15 — $44.95
Verified Vendor

Kraken Kratom

4 / 5
Ranked 33 out of 190 vendors

Kraken Kratom is a relatively young company in the industry, but it quickly climbed the ranks by offering free one-day shipping for all orders. The selection of strains is a bit limited, but it does sell powders, capsules, and tinctures, so you’ll have your choice of dosing methods.

Kraken is AKA-certified and a member of the GMP program. It notes on the website that you can request a Guaranteed Analysis for any individual product, but the lab results are not posted for all customers to review before purchasing. We recommend that you request the COA before committing to a product.

8. Christopher’s Organic Botanicals

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $5.00 — $115.00
Verified Vendor

Christopher’s Organic Botanicals

4.5 / 5
Ranked 11 out of 190 vendors

Christopher’s Organic Botanicals is one of the few vendors that manage to exceed expectations in almost every area. The owners are dedicated to kratom advocacy, provide exceptional customer service, are transparent in where their kratom comes from, provide lab test results, are AKA-certified, and have competitive prices.

They’re also a great source for other botanicals — though their selection of kratom strains is smaller than some other vendors. Still, they carry a few rare strains and have the basics.

9. Kratom Spot

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $5.99 — $349.99
Verified Vendor

Kratom Spot

4 / 5
Ranked 26 out of 190 vendors

Kratom Spot has a relatively small selection of strains but carries a handful of each strain color. The company sells powders, capsules, and, unlike most other vendors, loose kratom leaves and liquid kratom extracts that you can drink like a shot. The prices for most products are a bit on the expensive side.

Kratom Spot is certified by the AKA and is a member of the GMP program. However, the individual products do not have lab results posted online, and there’s no indication that customers can get their hands on the results before purchasing.

10. Super Speciosa

Aka GMP Certified yes
Pricing $9.99 — $59.99
Verified Vendor

Super Speciosa

4.5 / 5
Ranked 15 out of 190 vendors

Super Speciosa is pretty standard as far as vendors go. While there’s nothing that stands out as exceptional, they’re consistent and truly care about providing high-quality kratom at affordable prices.

Their website provides all you need to know about how they process their kratom, and you can even get a free sample to see if you like it before investing in a larger amount.

What to Look for When Buying Kratom Online

There’s a common misconception that ordering kratom online is in some way more difficult to assess quality than in-store — but this is fundamentally untrue. In fact, it’s easier to assess the quality of a brand or product when shopping digitally.

Think about it.

Kratom powder isn’t sold in bulk when you order it at a local shop. It comes pre-packaged in a sealed container. Before you buy, there’s no way to see, smell, or taste the powder.

It has to be like this.

If kratom vendors keep their packages open, it will dramatically increase the rate of decay for the active ingredients and opens it up to the risk of contamination or adulteration. Kratom should always come in a sealed bag.

When you shop online, there are other aspects you can explore to assess the quality. Look for brand reviews, search for AKA accreditation, or compare the price with other online brands. 

Is The Brand Reputable? (Look For Past Reviews)

One of the best ways to avoid ordering bad-quality kratom is to source from reputable brands only. Avoid ordering from companies that don’t have any customer reviews or reviews that are overwhelmingly negative.

Have a look through the website and check for clear contact numbers or emails, information on the founder and core team members, and an office address. Many vendors don’t offer any real information on the company and aren’t easy to reach through email or phone — this is a major red flag to watch out for.

Does The American Kratom Association Accredit the Brand?

When searching online, you’ll want to ensure the vendor is part of the American Kratom Association (AKA) Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Standards Program.

The American Kratom Association created this program to establish a gold-standard manufacturing and packaging of kratom. To qualify as part of the program, participants must complete an annual independent 3rd party audit to ensure compliance with the program standards. 

It’s difficult for a vendor to remain a member unless they consistently test their products and submit them to the organization for review. Always look for evidence the company is a current approved member of the AKA before you buy.

What’s The Cost Per Gram?

Cost is another thing to consider when reviewing a company to decide if you want to buy from them or not. Although there are exceptions, the cost is generally linked to quality, so more expensive kratom tends to be more potent and pure. Don’t worry, though. There are ways to save money on kratom — you don’t have to spend a fortune. 

When calculating the cost of kratom from a brand, ensure you always reduce the total to the cost per gram. This will help you compare the prices between companies that offer different quantities. 

What Other Products Are Available?

Product selection will be more important to some users than others, but having variety is always beneficial. Red, white, and green varieties are commonly used to treat different things, and even specific red strains vary from others of the same color.

A company with a wide selection of strains provides you with some options to help you get the desired results.

Where Does the Kratom Come From?

Finally, the origin of the brand is an important consideration to make. Companies in the United States, Canada, the U.K., and other highly-regulated countries will generally be more reputable than those from other areas. It might be tempting to choose a company from Southeast Asia, where kratom is grown, but doing so can be unsafe given the fewer restrictions on processing and possible additives.

Is Kratom Legal Where I Live?

Kratom is legal throughout the United States except for Alabama, Indiana, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

Outside the US, kratom laws can vary substantially, and not all kratom vendors will ship beyond the US border.

Make sure you’re familiar with your local kratom laws before you order. Some services, such as mail forwarding companies, can help — but do so at your own risk. Kona Kratom is a safe bet for those living in states where kratom is legal.

Below are all of the U.S. states where kratom is currently legal:

Where to Buy Kratom in Canada

Currently, kratom is legal in Canada

It’s not banned or restricted in Canada, so residents can freely purchase and consume the herb without legal implications. However, kratom is not very accessible in the country, so most residents order it from U.S. companies — like Kona Kratom — and have it shipped to them.

Shipping kratom to Canada is typically quite expensive, so your best option is to find a reputable online vendor and order a strain you like in bulk. This will reduce shipping costs over time for you and keep your total to a minimum. Plus, you won’t need to restock too often or worry about running out.

Some online kratom vendors don’t ship to Canada, so residents routinely opt for a forwarding service like Skypax.

Where to Buy Kratom in the U.K. & Europe

Kratom is legal in much of the U.K., with some exceptions. 

Notably, it’s prohibited in the following countries:

The herb is permitted elsewhere throughout the U.K. Still, it’s regulated locally in many areas, so it’s always best to check the legal status in your specific city before purchasing. 

Many European kratom vendors — both online and local — offer powders, capsules, and other kratom products for purchase. Some online vendors that ship to the U.K. include Mitra Genie Kratom and DeKratomShop.

Where to Buy Kratom in Australia

Kratom is labeled as a Schedule 9 drug in Australia. Schedule 9 drugs are considered potentially dangerous and have little-to-no medicinal value. As such, they are prohibited for sale and consumption and may only be used for research purposes with proper approval. Other Schedule 9 drugs in Australia include heroin, ecstasy, and marijuana.

Unfortunately, given kratom’s legal status in Australia, residents don’t have any lawful means of procuring the herb. Some online companies may offer to ship illegally, but these brands should strictly be avoided, given their willingness to break the law.

Where to Buy Kratom in New Zealand

Currently, there is a complete ban on kratom in New Zealand except for medicinal purposes. Recreational users are unable to procure kratom legally in the country. However, you can buy kratom from a certified vendor if you have a prescription.

Once again, some online companies may offer to ship to New Zealand, but you should avoid purchasing from them. If they’re willing to cut corners and ship to a country where the substance is illegal, they are likely not being completely upfront about the quality and safety of their products.

What Type of Kratom Should I Buy?

Kratom comes in three primary strain varieties: white, green, and red. The color of each strain differentiates them; these significant differences happen mostly because of how the strains are harvested, affecting the benefits they provide. 

Alkaloids like mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine give kratom its powerful therapeutic traits. Harvest time is one factor in the concentration of these alkaloids.

Chances are, you want kratom for a specific purpose. To figure out what strain to use, you need to know the general benefits of each one.

Here’s a list of the kratom vein colors and what you can expect from each.

White Kratom Strains: Energizing & Nootropic Effects

White-vein kratom is harvested early in the plant’s maturation before the leaves become fully green. White strains are best known for their energizing capabilities, euphoria, stimulation, and nootropic effects. They’re typically not the best for pain relief, given that an early harvest halts the alkaloid production.

Green Kratom Strains: Balanced, Moderate in Everything

Green-vein kratom is known as a hybrid because it’s harvested at peak maturation after the leaves have gained their green color and before they start to fade to a reddish hue. Green strains can provide varying effects depending on the origin and specific strain, but they tend to offer some of the benefits of white and red strains in more moderation.

Red Kratom Strains: Pain Relief & Relaxation

Red-vein kratom is harvested late in the tree’s maturation after the leaves have begun to change color. Red strains tend to be more sedative and are the best for pain relief. They’re used most often to treat chronic pain and insomnia.

Yellow Kratom Strains: Well-Rounded & Mild

Yellow kratom strains also exist, but they aren’t actually a different strain. The color comes from a unique drying or fermenting process, usually done for on white-vein kratom strains. Therefore, yellow kratom tends to be uplifting, energizing, and euphoric, much like white-vein kratom, though less powerful.

The specific kratom strain you choose should be selected based on the effects you’re looking to achieve. This is partially why kratom vein variety in a vendor’s selection is so important. If you choose what a local vendor has available, you might be disappointed and never find what you’re looking for. Online vendors usually have a much better selection, so they’re more likely to have a strain that suits your needs exactly.

Where to Buy Kratom for Pain

If you want to purchase a kratom strain for pain relief, your best option is a potent red-vein variety. Red-vein strains generally offer the best analgesic properties.

The highest-regarded pain-relieving kratom strain is Red Maeng Da. It has a high alkaloid content that offers intense sedation and relief for severe pain in high doses.

Other potent pain-relieving kratom strains include:

These strains all have a high concentration of the alkaloid 7-hydroxymitragynine, which is best known for its pain-relieving capabilities. Experts maintain that this alkaloid interacts with pain receptors similar to how opioids affect the body, blocking pain signals traveling within the central nervous system.

Where to Buy Kratom for Sleep

Red-vein kratom is also generally the best strain choice to use as a sleep aid. The high concentrations of 7-hydroxymitragynine block pain signals and suppress the central nervous system to provide intense relaxation and sedation in higher doses.

One of the most popular kratom strain for sleep is Red Sumatra. Like most reds, it’s a potent sedative commonly used to treat insomnia, restlessness, and difficulty staying asleep. It’s also a central nervous system depressant, so it can reduce anxiety and help with sleep if a busy mind keeps you awake at night.

Other popular strain choices for use as a sleep aid include:

Where to Buy Kratom for Energy

While red strains are best for sedation, white kratom strains tend to be far more energizing and stimulative. This is primarily due to their high concentration of the alkaloid mitragynine. White-vein kratom’s alkaloids can cause spikes in hormones like adrenaline and an increase in the uptake of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. This can lead to feelings of improved focus and intense energy.

Most users looking for energy choose White Maeng Da kratom. Maeng Da kratom is generally regarded as one of the most potent varieties in any color, and the white variation is known for intense stimulation.

If you deal with anxiety or don’t need a huge boost, green strains are the way to go. Most offer enough energy without being overwhelming.

Popular strains for an energy boost include:

Where to Buy Kratom for Mood

Many kratom users seek out kratom strains for mood improvement or a sense of euphoria. As mentioned earlier, certain kratom alkaloids can trigger an increased uptake of dopamine and serotonin, both of which are neurotransmitters closely linked to mood and positive feelings.

One of the most widely used kratom strains for euphoria and an improved mood is White Maeng Da. It’s a popular choice for producing feelings of euphoria, and it can trigger a surge in dopamine that makes the user feel good and happy.

Other popular choices for mood enhancement include:

Wrapping Up: Where to Buy Kratom Near Me

Kratom is rapidly increasing in popularity worldwide, with more and more users turning to this natural herb every day for sedation, stimulation, mood enhancement, euphoria, improved concentration and focus, and pain relief.

Kratom remains a widely unregulated herb in most areas worldwide, which means it’s up to you as the user to ensure you’re buying a safe and potent product. The best option for purchasing kratom is from a reputable online vendor accredited by the American Kratom Association, which puts its products through extensive third-party lab testing.

Kona Kratom, Star Kratom, and VIP Kratom are three of the best online brands for safety, consistency, and potency. Each of these carries a good selection, so you’ll find what you need regardless of the effects you’re after.

Further Reading