12 Best Vitamin Brands in 2023: How To Choose

• Best overall: Thorne Research | Skip to review
• Best vitamin brand for different diets: MegaFood | Skip to review
• Best for traceable ingredients: Ritual | Skip to review
• Best for rigorous testing: HUM | Skip to review
• Best for flexible vitamin subscription: Nurish by Nature Made | Skip to review
• Best brand for expert advice: Persona | Skip to review
• Best vegan vitamin brand: Garden of Life | Skip to review
• Best vitamin brand for athletes: Klean Athlete | Skip to review
• Best brand for budget vitamins: Amazon Elements | Skip to review
• Best brand for omega supplements: Nordic Naturals | Skip to review
• Best brand for vitamin gummies: SmartyPants | Skip to review
• Best for bulk buying: Kirkland Signature | Skip to review

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

Best overall: Thorne Research

• Why we chose it: Thorne offers customers stringent testing, a wide range of products, and fairly affordable prices, making it a good option for a wide range of people.
• Certifications: National Science Foundation (NSF), Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), and NSF Certified for Sport.
• Product range: multivitamins, vitamins, minerals, probiotics, fish oil, omega-3 supplements, fiber, collagen powders, protein powders, and creatine.
• Price range: $12–$67

Thorne Research products have received certifications stating they meet manufacturing, purity, and potency standards from organizations such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration and NSF International.

The company claims its supplements are free from contaminants, heavy metals, and fillers.

Certification by these different organizations means that:

• athletes can use more than 30 Thorne products NSF Certified for Sport with confidence that they contain all of what they should and none of what they should not
• Thorne’s manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and shipping centers have all passed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspections
• Thorne products, procedures, and manufacturing facilities meet the stringent standards of the Australian Department of Health Therapeutic Goods Administration

Thorne Research sells a range of vitamins and dietary supplements, including:

• multivitamins
• amino acids
• omega-3s
• probiotics
• sports supplements

With its rigorous testing and wide product range, many of which are suitable for athletes, Thorne offers vitamins for a wide range of needs.

Best for different diets: MegaFood

• Why we chose it: MegaFoods offers multivitamins that are organic, kosher, and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
• Certifications: B Corporation, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Glyphosate Residue-free, Plastic Neutral, gluten-free, kosher, and vegan.
• Product range: vitamins and multivitamins
• Price range: $16.99–$59.98

Many MegaFood vitamins have certifications stating that they are organic, kosher, and suitable for vegetarians or vegans. Additionally, the products are non-GMO verified.

Its products aim to address immune health, digestion, sleep, and pre- and postnatal needs.

Multiple third-party organizations have verified the quality and origin of this company’s supplements, including the USDA. It is also a B Corporation, meaning it meets high standards of social, environmental, and ethical practices.

MegaFood sells supplements in different forms that target a wide range of needs and are suitable for different diets, ages, and life stages.

Best for traceable ingredients: Ritual

• Why we chose it: Ritual offers high quality multivitamins on subscription for all life stages.
• Certifications: non-GMO, and USP for some products.
• Product range: adult and kids multivitamins, vitamins, synbiotics, protein powders, and skin supplements.
• Price range: $33–$39, variable by plan

Ritual is a subscription service that offers multivitamins tailored to a customer’s needs based on their age, sex, and health conditions, among other factors. This includes pregnancy, gut health, and overall well-being.

The products are third-party tested and only contain traceable ingredients. This means that Ritual shares exactly where it sources its ingredients, including its suppliers. This level of transparency makes Ritual unique.

Additionally, they are vegan-friendly. However, only some Ritual vitamins are USP-verified.

Ritual offers free shipping and flexible delivery dates. Plus, all products have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our Ritual review.

Best for rigorous testing: HUM

• Why we chose it: HUM offers products that go through triple testing for purity and potency.
• Certifications: Clean Label Project certified, and Non-GMO Project verified.
• Product range: vitamins and probiotics.
• Price range: $12–$40

HUM offers a wide range of vitamins for the following uses:

• vitamins for gut, vaginal, and skin health
• menopause symptoms
• women’s health
• sleep, stress, and energy

It also offers probiotics.

The company states that its products undergo three rounds of testing and a third-party lab verification process, which is the most rigorous approach of any company on this list.

All of the brand’s products are free from gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, artificial colors, soy, and GMO ingredients. Most HUM products are vegan.

Best flexible vitamin subscription: Nurish by Nature Made

• Why we chose it: Nurish by Nature Made offers personalized and flexible vitamin subscriptions to support all lifestyles.
• Certifications: some products carry the USP certification.
• Product range: vitamins and multivitamins.
• Price range: $4–$16

Nurish offers a variety of single and combination supplements and minerals. These aim to address:

• prenatal and postnatal health
• immune health
• joint health
• hair, skin, and nail health
• brain health

Nurish will design a person’s 30-day vitamin delivery based on their answers to a short online quiz. However, if a person’s health goals change, they can easily change what they get as needed. They can also pause deliveries, skip a month, and cancel their subscription as they wish.

Nurish states that most of its products are gluten-free and have no artificial flavors.

Best for expert advice: Persona

• Why we chose it: Persona offers customers advice from a team of nutritionists and registered dietitians. It also provides free consultations for subscribers looking for personalized health advice and one-on-one wellness coaching.
• Certifications: no third-party certifications at present.
• Product range: multivitamins and supplements.
• Price range: $20–$90, variable by plan

Persona is a personalized subscription service providing monthly deliveries of vitamins and supplements.

To get their personalized recommendations, customers have to complete an online assessment covering their:

• age
• gender
• reasons for taking supplements
• specific health concerns
• dietary concerns

The company’s website states that it offers customers one-on-one expert advice. The company’s Medical Advisory Board comprises seven doctors and seven nutritionists.

Persona sells a variety of products, including:

• weight loss support supplements
• sleep supplements
• women’s multivitamins
• men’s multivitamins
• CBD supplements

The products do not have USP verification. The company says that doctors have approved its recommendations, and its ingredients have undergone multiple quality tests. Each product comes with a safety certificate, but this does not come from an independent lab.

Read our Persona review.

Best vegan vitamin brand: Garden of Life

• Why we chose it: Garden of Life offers a good selection of vegan-based supplements from raw fruits and vegetables.
• Certifications: some products are Informed Choice, NSF Certified for Sport, Friend of the Sea, or Marine Stewardship Council certified. Some products have organic, carbon-neutral, vegan, or gluten-free certification.
• Product range: multivitamins, vitamins, minerals, probiotics, fiber, omega-3s, collagen, and protein powders.
• Price range: around $12–$72.99

This brand sells dietary supplements that are free from gluten, soy, and dairy and many do not contain animal ingredients. Over 130 of its products are vegan, making it a great option for those wanting a wide choice of vitamins without any animal ingredients.

The Garden of Life website states that its vegan products have Vegan Awareness Foundation certification. This organization’s stringent guidelines require that products:

• do not contain meat, fish, fowl, or animal by-products, egg or egg products, milk or milk products, honey or honey bee products
• do not involve animal testing
• do not contain animal-derived GMOs or genes
• are manufactured in facilities maintained to prevent cross-contamination between vegan and nonvegan products

Learn about the most important supplements for vegans.

Best vitamin brand for athletes: Klean Athlete

• Why we chose it: Klean Athlete products are free from substances banned in competitive sports.
• Certifications: NSF Certified for Sport and non-GMO.
• Product range: multivitamins, vitamins, minerals, omega-3s, collagen, protein powders, electrolyte powders, and creatine.
• Price range: around $32–$60

Klean Athlete states that its products are made with and for athletes. All of its products have the Certified for Sport certificate from NSF International.

NSF International is a third-party reviewer of sports-related supplements and products. Its certification indicates that products are free from contaminants and adhere to the regulations of sports organizations.

Klean Athlete sells a wide range of products, including:

• probiotics
• vitamins
• recovery supplements

Klean Athlete differs from some manufacturers targeting athletes by emphasizing healthy eating, natural products, and science-based claims.

Learn more about vitamins and supplements for athletes.

Best brand for budget vitamins: Amazon Elements

• Why we chose it: Amazon Elements offers customers very affordable supplements that have gone through testing for quality and efficacy.
• Certifications: USDA organic, non-GMO, vegan, and gluten-free.
• Product range: multivitamins, vitamins, and powders.
• Price range: around $7–$36

Amazon Elements is a relatively new brand, and its products are available to buy online using an Amazon Prime account.

It claims its vitamins and supplements have undergone thorough testing, although they do not have USP verification.

The company also says that it manufactures its products in a facility in the U.S. that follows GMP guidelines. Each product has a COA accessible via QR labels on the packaging.

Amazon Elements offers a variety of products, including:

• multivitamins
• biotin
• iron
• prenatal
• omega-3s

Best for omega supplements: Nordic Naturals

• Why we chose it: Nordic Naturals offers high quality omega supplements for a range of diets.
• Certifications: non-GMO verified with some products carrying the NSF certification for sport.
• Product range: fish oil and omega-3s, probiotics, multivitamins, vitamins, and minerals.
• Price range: around $13.56–$58

Nordic Naturals sells a wide range of omega supplements, including options suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

The company provides its own COA for every product on request. ConsumerLab.com has also tested and verified some of these products.

Nordic Naturals also sells a range of dietary supplements alongside omegas, including:

• probiotics
• collagen
• vitamin B complexes
• multivitamins

On the company website, Nordic Naturals states that omega-3 fatty acid supplements from marine-based sources are the easiest for the body to absorb. It also states that Nordic Naturals omega-3 supplements come from sustainably-gathered marine sources.

Learn about the best omega supplements.

Best brand for vitamin gummies: SmartyPants

• Why we chose it: SmartyPants offers customers a variety of easy-to-take gummy supplements that contain FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) ingredients.
• Certifications: Clean Label Project’s Purity Award and Clean Label Certification.
• Product range: prebiotics, omega-3s, probiotics, and multivitamins.
• Price range: around $9.99–$36.95

SmartyPants produces a variety of vitamins and dietary supplements for adults and children.

Many of its products are available in gummy form, which may suit people who have difficulty swallowing tablets and capsules.

SmartyPants provides batch-specific certificates of compliance for its products. However, it is not clear whether this certification derives from third-party analyses.

Consumers may be concerned about the sugar content of gummies. However, the SmartyPants website states the company uses organic sugar cane and other healthy products to provide the sweetness it takes to make gummies palatable.

The company also states that the coloring agents used in their gummies come from organic turmeric and black carrot juice.

Yet, this does not mean they are healthy and are probably not a good fit for people with diabetes or a high insulin level.

Best for bulk buying: Kirkland Signature

• Why we chose it: Kirkland Signature offers customers a variety of budget-friendly supplements that come in large quantities.
• Certifications: USP certified.
• Product range: vitamins, multivitamins, minerals, and fish oil.
• Price range: $14.49–$33.99

Kirkland Signature is a Costco Wholesale brand that sells several USP-certified vitamins and minerals. Many of its products come in bottles of 100–600 pieces, which is a good, cost-effective option for families or those who cannot buy their supplements regularly.

The range includes:

• individual vitamins, such as A, C, and D
• multivitamins
• minerals
• fish oil

The USP certification of Kirkland Signature products, which means they pass tests for quality, potency, and purity, sets these vitamins apart from other bulk vitamins.

The table below compares the products in this article on key features:

Dietary supplements, such as vitamins, are subject to limited evaluations from the FDA. The FDA does not review vitamins on the marketplace for safety, efficacy, or quality.

This means that vitamins may not contain the ingredients or dosage manufacturers claim they do, as contents may vary between batches.

Although the FDA does require that manufacturers of vitamins follow Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs), this is not a widely enforced standard.

That said, the FDA does take action against adulterated or misbranded dietary supplements.

Third-party testing

People can determine the quality of a vitamin or dietary supplement by looking for brands certified by various third-party organizations.

Manufacturers can volunteer for third-party testing to indicate that their products are reliable and safe.

Products undergoing third-party testing may have undergone evaluation for:

• the standardized quality between batches
• correctly stated dosage
• ingredient purity
• potentially harmful contaminants
• label transparency

Vitamins may have a certificate of analysis (COA), which declares that a product has undergone testing for safety and quality.

Some third-party organizations that assess vitamin and supplement brands include the Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG), ConsumerLab.com, and NSF International.

Two of the most common certifications for vitamin brands are United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and #1 Pharmacist Recommended.

The following are common questions and answers about choosing the best vitamin brands.

What certifications should I look for when choosing the best vitamin brand?

The following are third-party certifications that people can look for when choosing the best vitamin brands:

• COA
• USP
• #1 Pharmacist-Recommended
• BSCG
• NSF International
• ConsumerLab.com

Such certifications demonstrate that a vitamin or dietary supplement brand has undergone third-party testing and evaluation for safety, efficacy, and quality.

What does ‘USP-verified’ mean?

The USP is an independent organization that verifies and certifies products that meet specific quality standards.

To gain USP verification, a product must:

• not contain a certain number or quantity of contaminants
• contain the ingredients on its label in advertised amounts and potencies
• break down properly in the body

In addition, the company must follow the FDA’s CGMPs concerning sanitation and control.

What is the #1 Pharmacist Recommended seal?

For nearly 2 decades, U.S. News & World Report and Pharmacy Times have collaborated on an annual survey that goes out to pharmacists nationwide.

The survey asks pharmacists for their top picks of various healthcare-related products, including vitamins and supplements. Successful products will feature a seal. Anyone looking for this seal should be sure that it reflects the current year’s winning products.

What vitamin A brand is best?

The best vitamin A brand will carry a certification such as the USP Certification or NSF International. These third-party organizations conduct tests on the supplements to ensure that what is on the label is actually in the bottle. Additionally, these tests will ensure that the product does not contain high levels of contaminants, such as heavy metals.

Are some vitamin brands better than others?

Yes, some vitamin brands are better than others. People should prioritize buying vitamins from brands that put their products through rigorous third-party testing and are transparent about their ingredients. Additionally, people should ensure that the vitamins do not exceed the recommended daily allowance of a nutrient and provide clear dosage instructions.

Is Nature Made a good brand?

Nature Made was the first national vitamin brand to earn USP Verification on many of its products. Additionally, a high number of its products carry the USP Dietary Supplement Verified Mark compared to competitors. As such, people can rely on Nature Made to provide good quality products that also come at reasonable prices.

What vitamins are FDA-approved?

The FDA does not approve dietary supplements, including vitamins, for any purpose.

A wide range of vitamin brands is available in stores or online. Researching various online reviews can help determine whether a brand offers good quality products.

Before a person makes a purchase, they should check whether the product has undergone a quality analysis. It may be best to opt for supplements that have third-party certifications.

Anyone interested in taking vitamins or other supplements should consult a doctor first.