NASC vs ILGM:
Which Seed Bank Wins?
North Atlantic Seed Co and ILGM are two of the most recommended US seed banks —but they serve very different growers. Here's the full breakdown.
Quick Verdict
NASC wins for experienced growers chasing original breeder genetics, Reddit credibility, and fast US shipping. ILGM wins for beginners who need a germination guarantee, growing support, and a foolproof experience.
US-Based ·Original Breeder Packs
4.8/5 ·30,000+ verified reviews
The most trusted seed bank in the US by community consensus. Stocks original packs from Mephisto, Night Owl, Ethos, and 100+ other breeders. Reddit's r/microgrowery and r/Autoflowers consistently rank it #1.
Netherlands-Based ·100% Guarantee
4.7/5 ·17,000+ Trustpilot reviews
The gold standard for beginner-friendly seed banks. ILGM's 100% germination guarantee is the strongest in the industry, and their growing guides have helped hundreds of thousands of first-time growers succeed.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | NASC | ILGM |
|---|---|---|
| Community Trust | Reddit #1 ★/span> | Strong (mainstream) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.8/5 ★/span> | 4.7/5 |
| Genetics Type | Original Breeder Packs ★/span> | House genetics |
| Germination Guarantee | Yes (credit) | 100% ★/span> |
| US Shipping Speed | 2– days ★/span> | 5– days (Netherlands) |
| Customs Risk | None (US-based) ★/span> | Low (stealth ship) |
| Beginner Resources | Good | Excellent ★/span> |
| Pricing | Varies by breeder | Mid-to-high |
| PayPal | ❌/td> | ❌/td> |
| Bitcoin Discount | ✓/td> | ✓10% off |
| Best For | Experienced growers, collectors, autos | Beginners, reliability, guaranteed success |
Why NASC Wins for Experienced Growers
NASC's dominant position in the community comes down to one fundamental thing: they stock original packs from the breeders that the cannabis community actually reveres. If you want Mephisto Double Grape, Night Owl Mango Isle, or Ethos Genetics —you buy them from NASC, not from a brand that reverse-engineers them into house genetics.
This is the distinction that matters most to intermediate and advanced growers. The Reddit cannabis community is deeply skeptical of house-brand genetics from larger commercial operations, and NASC consistently earns praise specifically because it's a trusted intermediary for authentic genetics rather than a producer of its own.
US-based shipping at 2– days is another practical win. No customs exposure, no weeks-long waits, full tracking. For US growers, this is a significant quality-of-life advantage over banks shipping from Europe.
Why ILGM Wins for Beginners
ILGM's 100% germination guarantee is the strongest in the industry —and crucially, it's actually honored. With 17,000+ Trustpilot reviews at 4.7/5, the track record backs up the promise. For a first-time grower whose seeds don't pop, ILGM's customer service will make it right without a fight.
Their growing guides are also legitimately best-in-class for beginners. Founder Robert Bergman built an entire educational ecosystem around the seed catalog —strain-specific guides, grow journals, forums, and step-by-step tutorials that take a complete novice through their first harvest.
The tradeoffs are real: ships from the Netherlands (5– days to the US), higher prices than some alternatives, and house genetics rather than original breeder packs. But for the beginner who wants maximum support and minimum risk, those tradeoffs are acceptable.
The Genetics Question
This is where experienced growers part ways with ILGM. The community criticism of ILGM isn't that their seeds are bad —most germinate fine and produce reasonable plants. The issue is that ILGM sells S1 (first-generation self-pollinated) versions of popular genetics rather than original packs. You might be buying "Gorilla Glue #4" genetics that have been self-pollinated rather than authentic GG4 from the original breeder.
For a beginner, this doesn't matter much. For a collector or someone paying premium prices expecting authentic phenotypes, it does. NASC's model of carrying actual breeder packs eliminates this concern entirely.
Who Should Choose Which?
You've grown before, you want authentic genetics, you care about what the Reddit community uses, or you want original breeder packs from top autoflower breeders. You're in the US and want 2– day shipping.
It's your first or second grow and you want maximum safety nets —germination guarantee, growing guides, responsive customer service. You're willing to pay a slight premium for peace of mind and don't need boutique genetics.
North Atlantic Seed Co
Original breeder packs ·Reddit's #1 ·2– day shipping
Visit NASC Read full review →/a>Affiliate link ·No cost to you
I Love Growing Marijuana
100% germination guarantee ·Best beginner support
Visit ILGM Read full review →/a>Affiliate link ·No cost to you