no, it is not like taking a steroid. that doesn't mean taking a steroid is better, though. you gotta weigh the good and the bad with steroids, my friend. they don't call it "the dark side" for no damn reason. i still cringe when i remember watching my friend lactate blood onto the floor. yes, blood, from puffy nipples.
anywho, activate is not synthetic test introduced into your system in large amounts. it frees up more of YOUR test, which does have a mild "steroid" effect. it just doesn't free up nearly as much, but it does free up a lot. i'd suggest you take it. it's worth a run. also, stack it with a good test booster. a lot of companies got fancy t-boosters, but you can/would do well with something like, and i AM biased toward NOW foods, "Testojack 100." Take three of them a day with your activate. and you're a weight-slammin'/humpin' machine.
on a cut, this stack will help you preserve/sometimes gain strength. on a bulk, i speculate you'd gain mass at a higher rate.