vs aas, I would say aas better bang for buck by far. In terms of off cycle, I would say definitely. Look at what you are comparing them to, for the most part otc products (I count hgh as a peptide). Very few otc products work, creatine, some prewkout prods do help get mentally dialed in and provide some creatine, but most of the stuff is overpriced junk. Peptides actually work, maybe they dont provide the quick results, or are the type of results that some hype up, but they do actually have an effect.
Look at igf, even if it does nothing else other than act as a gda and give a pump, it does that much better than any otc gda herbal product, and pump product. If you combine the price of the two otc prods (say anabolic pump and a prewkout powder) they would be as expensive or more than igf, and not quite as effective.
Looking at it from that perspective hands down peps, not even close. this is just my opinion.