Mechanical pulps are traditionally bleached by either hydrosulfite or peroxide. Market demands for high brightness mechanical pulps have prompted consideration of alternative bleaching processes to achieve higher brightness in a cost effective manner. Most commonly, these processes utilize reductive (sodium hydrosulfite [Y], sodium borohydride [R] as Borol® solution) or oxidative (hydrogen peroxide [P]) bleaching chemicals in coupled bleaching sequences or non -conventional processes to achieve higher brightness.In this paper we examine a number of these alternative processes to determine brightness gain, and chemical cost. Specific bleach process which are examined include : Y, P, PY, PP, PR, RPP, PRP and Refiner Bleaching [Yref]. The results of this study provide a guideline for bleach process selection in terms of maximum brightness gain and chemical costs.