Multivitamin supplements are diverse in their ingredient lists, dosages, and formations, which can make it seem like a daunting task to try and pick the one that is best for you. You may have age, gender, or health-related reasons that you want to start supplementing with a multivitamin, but even those indicators may make it difficult to pick your best option. Across the market, you’ll find multivitamins that cover the entire complex of B vitamins, include added adaptogens, contain probiotics for gut health, or have specific ingredients to help your performance in the gym.
Whatever your reasoning may be for wanting to add a multivitamin supplement to your routine, this list of the best multivitamins has something for just about everyone. It contains options for capsules, powders, and gummies, as well as a customizable multivitamin pick. A multivitamin may improve your quality of life, boost your immune system, help regulate body functions (like generating cells), and prevent various diseases. If any of this sounds potentially beneficial to you, we’ve got you covered below with an array of the best multivitamins to suit almost every lifestyle.
Best Multivitamins
- Best Multivitamin Overall: Transparent Labs Multi
- Best Night and Day Multivitamin: Onnit Total Human
- Best Greens Powder Multivitamin: AG1
- Best Customizable Multivitamin: Ritual
- Best Multivitamin for Women: Legion Women’s Triumph
- Best Multivitamin Gummy: Smarty Pants Multivitamin
- Best Multivitamin for Women Over 50: Ritual Essential 50+
- Best Multivitamin for Athletes: Momentous Essential Multi
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. None of these supplements are meant to treat or cure any disease. If you feel you may be deficient in a particular nutrient or nutrients, please seek out a medical professional.
Best Multivitamin Overall
This pick has high doses of vitamins and minerals, comes in a vegetarian capsule, includes extra bonus ingredients like ashwagandha extract, and has a reasonable price per serving — all of this makes it a top pick in our book.
Transparent Labs Multi
This multi has a variety of vitamins and minerals along with some extras. You’ll find a hearty dose of over 100 percent of your daily needs for vitamins A, C, D, and K as well as a blend of B vitamins. Transparent Labs also included a host of minerals like zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, and more dosed strongly with at least 70 percent of your daily needs. In addition to the vitamins and minerals, you will find 300mg of organic ashwagandha, which may potentially help support mood and relieve stress.
Transparent Labs Multivitamin is an advanced micronutrient complex that includes 23 minerals, vitamins, and adaptogens to bring you a full spectrum of micronutrients. This contains 100% or more of your daily needs for 11 of the established daily values, while four supplements are extra and don't have a basic daily value requirement.
To round out the formula, this multi has 100mg of CoQ10, which may support heart health and energy production and one milligram of boron. You don’t have to worry about this multi breaking the bank either with each 30-serving bottle costing around $29.99 or about $1.00 per serving. Some people may not like that this isn’t a one-pill serving — each dose is four capsules.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Multi
- Folks who want a robust ingredient list as this multivitamin has not only vitamins and minerals, but ingredients for mood and heart support too.
- Those looking for a high dosage of their vitamins and minerals. This formula has a minimum of 100 percent of your RDI for all the vitamins included.
- People who want a cost-effective multi will appreciate that this is around $1.00 per serving.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Multi
- People who don’t enjoy taking pills won’t love this four-pill serving size.
- Anyone who wants a pre- or probiotic in their multivitamin.
- Those who prefer a powdered greens supp will want to look elsewhere.
The combination of solid ingredients, high dosages, and a reasonable price point make this our top multivitamin pick overall. Just be aware that the daily dose does require you to take four pills.
Best Night and Day Multivitamin
If you’re looking to really make the most of your multivitamin supplementation, a day and night pack may be just what you need. Onnit’s Total Human provides separate supplements for daytime and nighttime to ensure you’re maximizing your potential.
Onnit Total Human
Onnit Total Human comes with two packs — one for daytime and one for nighttime — that contain several Onnit supplements in one pack to deliver a full-scale multivitamin for all of your needs. They come in separate packets, which makes them easy to take and bring with you wherever you’re headed. Their daytime pack includes Alpha Brain, Shroom Tech Sport, Stron Bone, Active B Complex, Shroom Tech Immune, Krill Oil, and their Spirulina and Chlorella supplements.
Onnit Total Human is a multivitamin supplement that comes in individual packets of supplements for each day and night. Each packet includes an array of supps, from a B complex to antioxidants and even spirulina.
The nighttime pack includes their New Mood, Virutech, Key Minerals, Spirulina and Chlorella, Krill Oil, and Shroom Tech Immune supplements. Both the day and night packs require eight pills each, so if you’re not great about taking pills, this pick may not be ideal for you. As this is a fully robust day and night supplement, it is definitely reflected in the price. A one-month supply will cost you around $4.00 a day. If you opt to buy the two-month supply, you’ll save about $69.00 in total, whereas if you choose to buy three months upfront, you’ll save about $125.00.
Who Should Buy Onnit Total Human
- Those who want a fully robust multivitamin that has daytime- and nighttime-specific vitamins.
- Those who want a variety of supplements will like that these packs contain various Onnit supplements, such as Shroom Tech Sport, Krill Oil, and Active B Complex.
- Anyone who doesn’t want to be limited to one supplement.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Onnit Total Human
- Those who aren’t great at taking pills may want a multivitamin that is in powder form or that requires fewer pills per serving.
- Folks who want a simple formula will want to look for something that doesn’t include as many separate supplements as this product.
- Anyone on a budget will want to look for a more affordable supp.
Onnit Total Health is a robust multivitamin that includes a lineup of some of Onnit’s most loved supplements. It is specifically split into daytime and nighttime supplements to ensure you’re getting the most out of the product.
Read our full review of Onnit Total Human.
Best Greens Powder Multivitamin
Some people hate taking pills, or just prefer to drink their multivitamins. If you’re one of those people, or you enjoy stacking your supplements into one drink, AG1 greens powder may be a fabulous pick for you.
AG1
This greens powder is designed to fill any nutrient gaps you may have with a widely diverse formula of 75 top-notch vitamins, minerals, and whole-food nutrients. The comprehensive ingredients list contains pre and probiotics (38mg), phytonutrients (2,732mg), digestive support (154mg), and a superfood complex (7,388mg). Additionally, AG1 includes ingredients that can support metabolism, energy, and stress. AG1 is one of the most diverse greens powders out there with no proverbial nutrition rock left unturned.
This nutritious greens powder is NSF certified for sport and includes 75 absorbable ingredients and is free of gluten, sugar, dairy, eggs, and peanuts. It is compatible with vegan, keto, and paleo diets.
The flavor of this greens powder is a refreshingly light pineapple that is sweetened with stevia, though some people find the aftertaste of stevia less than desirable. We should also address what is likely the biggest deterrent for most folks and that is the price. A 30-serving pouch costs around $99 (about $3.30 per serving) while 30 individual serving travel packs cost around $109 (about $3.63 per serving). If you’re willing to pony up for AG1, you’ll have one of the best greens powder multivitamins on the market.
Who Should Buy AG1
- Those who want a powdered multivitamin rather than a pill supplement.
- Customers who want a really extensive list of ingredients beyond basic vitamins and minerals. This includes greens, superfoods, antioxidants, pre and probiotics, immune support, and more.
- Anyone who prefers to take their greens on the go will appreciate the travel pouch options.
Who Shouldn’t Buy AG1
- Those who prefer taking pills rather than having to drink their multivitamins.
- Anyone looking to save some coin can find a simpler and less expensive multivitamin.
- Those who want an unflavored multivitamin supplement.
AG1 is one of the most comprehensive greens powders on the market and it features a wide variety of support ingredients on top of vitamins and minerals. It contains superfoods, fruits, veggies, herbs, antioxidants, pre and probiotics, and more to help cover any nutritional gaps in your diet.
Best Customizable Multivitamin
Multivitamins vary in their ingredient list, dosages, and the vitamins and minerals that are present. If you’re having trouble finding exactly what you need for your gender/age group, look no further than Ritual, which offers an array of curated options.
Ritual
Ritual offers a multivitamin for just about everyone. Instead of making a “one size fits all” multi, they made several different formulas for various needs based on age, gender, and pre- and postnatal care. Their lineup includes multivitamins for nine groups: Multivitamin 18+ Women , Multivitamin 50+ Women, Prenatal Multivitamin, Postnatal Multivitamin, Multivitamin 18+ Men, Multivitamin 50+ Men, Multivitamin for Him (13-17), Multivitamin for Her (13-17), and Multivitamin 4+ for children.
Ritual lists the full dose and the location from which each ingredient was sourced for those who value ingredient transparency.
Each multivitamin supplement contains ingredients specifically designed to support nutritional gaps and provide essential nutrients, but Ritual leaves out any ingredients that may not be suitable for the age or gender of the person taking the multivitamin. Each option has 30 servings per bottle, requires two vegan capsules, and costs about $1.00 per serving. The only exception to this is the 4+ multivitamin, which is an orange gummy rather than a capsule, and requires three gummies per serving. All of their multivitamins are non-GMO, gluten, and major allergen free, and made without artificial colorants.
Who Should Buy Ritual
- Those who want a multivitamin specified to their age and gender needs.
- Anyone who wants a multivitamin without artificial colorants, GMOs, or gluten.
- Folks who want a multivitamin that won’t break the bank as this is just $1.00 per serving.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Ritual
- Those who don’t want a gender-specific multivitamin. There are cheaper options on the market for those who are open to a more basic supplement.
- Customers who want a more robust list of ingredients.
- Folks who want a gummy or powder multivitamin.
Ritual multivitamins have you covered if you’re looking for a multivitamin that takes your age and gender into consideration. These formulas are all reasonably priced, high-quality, and vegan and allergen friendly.
Read our full review of Ritual Essential Multivitamin for Men.
Best Multivitamin for Women
Women have a unique set of needs to address when it comes to supplementing with a multivitamin. Legion Women’s Triumph is an all-natural multivitamin created for women and aimed toward providing energy and vitality, reducing stress and fatigue, and improving immune health and longevity.
Legion Women’s Triumph
This pick has some staples for women that other multivitamins may be lacking. This has almost 60 percent of your daily iron needs, which is especially important during menstruation when you’re losing more blood. It has 63mg of chasteberry, which has been suggested in studies to be beneficial for those who suffer from irregular periods, infertility, premenstrual cramps and pain, and cyclical breast pain. (4) Aside from the female-centric ingredients, this supp also has vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K, as well as some important staples like iodine, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Legion Triumph includes 10mg of iron per serving, which is 60 percent of your RDI. On top of that, you’ll find 22 key vitamins and minerals, like vitamin A, C, D, and E, vitamins K1 and K2, B vitamins, as well as calcium, magnesium, biotin, zinc, and iron.
It also sports some less common ingredients that may be beneficial, such as 500mg of maca powder, which may be helpful for increasing libido and improving sexual function. (5) Legion Women’s Triumph comes in veggie capsules, is all-natural, and costs around $1.60 per serving. Caution to those who hate taking pills: This supp requires you to swallow eight pills per serving.
Who Should Buy Legion Women’s Triumph
- Women who want a multivitamin specifically designed for their needs.
- Females who want a multi with a diverse range of ingredients, including staples like a full-spectrum of B vitamin and other lesser known, but helpful ingredients like chasteberry.
- Those who appreciate an all-natural supplement. This contains no artificial colors or ingredients.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Legion Women’s Triumph
- Women who cannot or prefer not to take several pills as this serving size is quite hefty at eight pills.
- Anyone who wants a simpler formula can find one that will also cost less.
- Those who prefer a gummy or a powder to a capsule.
If you want a multivitamin specifically catered towards your needs as a woman, Legion Women’s Triumph has your bases covered, and does it with an all-natural and vegetarian-friendly formula.
Best Multivitamin Gummy
Most multivitamins come in pill form, but for those who don’t enjoy pills or powders, Smarty Pants has made a multivitamin gummy that has 15 essential nutrients.
Smarty Pants Multivitamin
For those who hate taking a daily pill or who want to add a fun supplement to your stack, this orange-flavored multivitamin gummy may be an excellent option for you. Smarty Pants Multivitamin includes vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B9, B12, C, D3, E, K1, and K2. It also contains biotin, calcium, choline, iodine, zinc, sodium, fish oil, and inositol FCC.
Folks looking for the added benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids in their multivitamins may want to check out Smarty Pants Daily Gummy. These small chewable gummies provide a number of vitamins and nutrients as well as fatty acids from fish oil.
There are no synthetic colors or flavors, their fish oil is obtained from sustainable fisheries, and the gummies are free of the top eight allergens. This is made with gelatin though, so it may not be suitable for vegans, vegetarians, or pescatarians. The serving size calls for six gummies, which may be a happy bonus for gummy-loving adults out there. For those trying to avoid sugar, it’s worth noting that there are eight grams of sugar per serving. Smarty Pants is also an extremely affordable multivitamin option as you’ll only pay around $0.80 per serving.
Who Should Buy Smarty Pants Multivitamin
- Folks who love taking gummy supplements over a pill or powder.
- People who prefer a more straightforward multivitamin without the frills of some of the more robust ingredient lists as this has less than 20 vitamins and minerals, doesn’t contain fancy blends or include extras like prebiotics or adaptogens.
- Those who are avoiding any of the top eight allergens and want a naturally flavored and colored supplement.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Smarty Pants Multivitamin
- Those who don’t want to take six gummies per day.
- Folks who are avoiding sugar as these gummies have eight grams per serving.
- Pescatarians/vegetarians will want to steer clear of the gelatin in this formula.
Gummies are a great alternative way to take your multivitamin. Smarty Pants delivers delicious gummies with a solid ingredient list of nineteen important essential nutrients. The Orange flavor makes this a fun and tastier way to take your daily vitamins.
Best Multivitamin for Women Over 50
When you hit age milestones, you may need a more specified supplement to suit your changing needs. This pick is geared towards women who are 50 years of age or older who may have different supplementation gaps to fill than they did previously — such as supplementing for bone health to avoid fractures, or keeping joints healthy to avoid osteoarthritis.
Ritual Essential 50+
Ritual has a line of multivitamins that are specific to age ranges and genders. This formula has eight ingredients that are all traced back to their origination, which leaves the customer without question as to where their ingredients were sourced from. This specific pick is geared toward women who are 50 or older and aims to fill nutritional gaps and provide specific ingredients that are best suited to that demographic. This formula has 330mg of omega-3 DHA, which may help older women who struggle with rheumatoid arthritis or joint pain. (6)
A subscription-based multivitamin with transparent ingredient sourcing, easy-to-take capsules, and a formula specifically designed for women over 50 years old.
It also contains 250 percent of your daily needs for vitamin D, which can be helpful for aging women who may want to protect their bone density to avoid falls or breaks. (7) Osteoporosis is a common condition that mostly affects people of an older demographic, but especially post-menopausal women. This supplement contains 100mcg of vitamin K, 60mg of magnesium, and 0.7g of boron, all of which have been shown in studies to potentially reduce the risk of osteoporosis. (7) The bottle comes with a 30-day supply of multivitamins, which will cost you around $1.10 per serving.
Who Should Buy Ritual Essential 50+
- Women who are 50 or older and want a supplement that is specifically made with their needs (such as maintaining strong bones) in mind.
- Customers who want to know where their ingredients come from. All eight ingredients in this formula can be traced back to where they were sourced, supplied, and manufactured.
- Females who are post-menopausal and want ingredients to potentially reduce their heightened chance of getting osteoporosis.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Ritual Essential 50+
- Women who want a multivitamin with more than eight ingredients.
- Folks who prefer a powder or gummy multivitamin.
- Those who prefer to bulk buy their supplements, as this only comes in a 30-day supply.
Ritual Essential 50+ is formulated specifically to meet the nutritional needs that women in this demographic may need. It’s crafted with vitamin D and K, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, all of which may be helpful for women 50 and up to keep osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and joint pain at bay.
Read our full review of Ritual Essential Vitamin for Women.
Best Multivitamin for Athletes
Athletes have different needs nutritionally than non-athletes and even different needs from recreational lifters. This multi has a variety of well-dosed vitamins and minerals along with extra ingredients specifically designed to support athletes.
Momentous Essential Multi
Sporting a complete formula of 34 vitamins and minerals, Momentous cuts no corners with this multi. The robust ingredients list provides B vitamins on top of vitamins A, C, D, E, K1, and K2 — all dosed at a minimum of 100 percent of the recommended daily intake, with many going well above that. This can be particularly helpful for athletes who may need larger amounts of certain nutrients to compete and recover at the highest levels. You’ll also find calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, and chromium.
This multivitamin provides all the daily essentials, including vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and folate, among others. You can even subscribe to monthly deliveries.
While most of the user reviews for Momentous Essential Multi were positive, one marathoner was particularly excited about her performance while taking them. “I’ve been able to increase my weekly mileage and I actually feel better than I did with my previous lighter workload,” she says. “I’ve also collected new PRs in multiple distances over the past two months.”
Each four-capsule serving also provides a few extras that aren’t common vitamin staples, like muscadine grape powder (100mg) and citrus bioflavonoids (100mg), which can help speed up recovery by reducing inflammation. (12)(13) There’s also 10mg of trans resveratrol, which can help reduce inflammation and speed up metabolism. (14) Momentous costs around $54.95 for a 30-serving bottle, with each serving costing about $1.83. Some folks may not like the larger four-capsule serving size, so that may be helpful to keep in mind when weighing your options for multis as an athlete.
Who Should Buy Momentous Essential Multi
- Folks who want a robust ingredient list as this multivitamin has 34 ingredients.
- Athletes looking for a high dosage of their vitamins and minerals. This formula has a minimum of 100 percent of your RDI for all the vitamins included.
- People who want some bonus ingredients in their multi, like muscadine grape powder or citrus bioflavonoids. These may aid in athletic performance and recovery.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Momentous Essential Multi
- People who don’t enjoy taking pills won’t love this four-pill serving size.
- Anyone who wants a pre- or probiotic in their multivitamin.
- Those who prefer a powdered greens multivitamin will want to look elsewhere.
Momentous Essential Multi has a formula with high dosages and a reasonable price point. The 34 ingredients make this a top pick for athletes looking to fill in nutritional gaps, as well as reduce inflammation and speed up recovery.
Benefits of Multivitamins
Multivitamins are wildly popular, and there are formulas made for nearly everyone — like children, people over 50, men, women, and athletes, among countless others. They are a good idea for people who are picky eaters or on a restricted diet to help cover their bases for micronutrients. Taking a vitamin doesn’t replace eating a well-rounded diet, but it may help top off or round out any inconsistencies in your nutrient intake. There are numerous vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients in multivitamins, so we broke them down to talk about how each may be beneficial.
What’s in a Multivitamin?
Ingredients in multivitamin supplements will vary greatly from product to product. Making a supplement pick that is right for you will require having some insight into what each ingredient’s purpose is, allowing you to make an informed choice as to what will best suit your needs. Below, we explain some of the staple ingredients found in multivitamins to help you make your pick.
Biotin
Biotin is an ingredient found in many multivitamins as it is a helpful B vitamin. It is often used as a supplement for hair and nail health, as some studies suggest it may be quite effective for building stronger nails. (15)
Zinc
Zinc is an essential micronutrient and is depended upon for human growth and development. A zinc deficiency can have serious side effects on the reproductive, immune, and nervous systems. (16)
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient and antioxidant, which can have major effects on your vision, growth, cell health, reproductive system, and immune health. As it is an antioxidant, it may be helpful to remove free radicals from the body, potentially protecting you from heart disease and cancer. (16)
Folic Acid
Another B vitamin, folic acid — also known as folate — is found in leafy green veggies and beans, peas, and nuts, and plays an important role in red blood cell formation. It can also be an important nutrient for formation, growth, and function of the cells that make up your body. (17)
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is another essential nutrient, antioxidant, and immune system supporter. One study suggests that vitamin C may be helpful for fighting off infection, and may prevent and treat respiratory conditions, as well as systemic infections. (18)
Vitamin D
If you have ever lived somewhere that doesn’t get a ton of sunlight year-round, you know the importance of supplementing with vitamin D. Although you can obtain vitamin D from food sources, one of the main ways your body produces vitamin D is through exposure to sunlight.
It’s an essential nutrient needed to help build and maintain healthy bones and regulate cell functions. It may also work as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant to promote health for your immune system, mental health, and brain and muscle function. (19)
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is exclusively obtained through diet and supplementation. It is an antioxidant and may play a major role in mitigating diseases, such as cancer, cataracts, and arthritis. It may also help provide potential benefits for aging. (20)
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a vitamin found in foods like almonds and broccoli, which may have positive effects for bone health and blood clotting. It may also lower your risk of fracturing bones and developing osteoporosis. (21)
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are often obtained through fatty fish in your diet, or through a fish oil, krill oil, or omega-3 supplement. Omega-3s may have positive effects on joint health and heart health, and they may help reduce risks of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, depression, and dementia. In addition, these fatty acids may be beneficial in brain development. (22)
Iron
Iron is an important supplement for those who suffer from blood disorders like anemia, and may be extra helpful for women during menstruation cycles when there is a lot of blood loss in the body. Iron is a key mineral for producing red blood cells, and with an iron deficiency, you may feel extra tired, have trouble concentrating and performing, or experience shortness of breath. (23)
Magnesium
Magnesium is another essential mineral found fairly abundantly in the body. It is an important electrolyte that may allow for proper function in the nervous system, muscles, and enzymes. It may help with hypertension, migraines, insomnia, PMS, and mood disorders, as well. (24)
Calcium
Calcium is best known for its potential to help build and maintain strong bones. This may make it extra helpful for those who are aging, folks who suffer from osteoporosis, and anyone on a vegan diet. (25)
Coenzyme Q10
Also known as CoQ10, coenzyme Q10 is an essential compound in the body, and maintaining high levels of CoQ10 may help mitigate neurodivergent diseases (like ADHD, autism, and bipolar disorder, to name a few), diabetes, cancer, muscular diseases, and heart failure. (26)
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid, also known as ALA, can be used to help treat chronic diseases caused by oxidative stress. It is an antioxidant and may be helpful for mitigating cardiovascular disease. (27)
How Much Do Multivitamins Cost?
The variance in price for multivitamins typically ranges from around $0.60 per serving to over $4.00 per serving for more robust picks. Most of our picks fall somewhere in this range, and although there are some on the pricier end, we included many very affordable options to add to your supplement stack.
Best Multivitamin Overall | Transparent Labs Multi | $29.99
Per serving: $1.00 |
Best Night and Day Multivitamin | Onnit Total Human | $117.26
Per serving: $3.91 |
Best Greens Powder Multivitamin | AG1 | $99.00
Per serving: $3.33 |
Best Customizable Multivitamin | Ritual | From $33.00
From Per serving: $1.10 |
Best Multivitamin for Women | Legion Women’s Triumph | $49.99
Per serving: $1.67 |
Best Multivitamin Gummy | Smarty Pants Multivitamin | $32.66
Per serving: $1.09 |
Best Multivitamin for Women Over 50 | Ritual Essential 50+ | $39.00
Per serving: $1.30 |
Best Multivitamin for Athletes | Momentous Essential Multi | $54.95
Per serving: $1.83 |
To figure out the price per serving, all you have to do is take the price of the whole container, and divide it by the number of servings present in the container. Rest assured that all of the products we have included on this list are well worth their price tags.
How We Chose the Best Multivitamins
Multivitamins are diverse and abundant across the market. We tried a plethora of different multivitamin supplements to bring you our personal favorites for price, various goals, age, and gender-specific needs, as well as form. Check out our supplement testing methodology for more information.
Price
Price will always be something we take into consideration when making our picks. Although we have picks that range from less than a dollar to over four dollars, we do our best to pick supplements that are worth the price tag they hold. The ingredient list, dosages, and brand quality will all affect the prices. Typically, the longer the ingredient list and higher the dosages, the more expensive the pick is.
Less expensive picks may include proprietary blends. A proprietary blend doesn’t disclose the amount of each ingredient, and therefore might be less expensive than a multi with fully dosed individual ingredients. Most of our picks are between $1.00 and $2.00 per serving — we think there should be something that works for any budget here.
Various Goals
For some, the goal may be to fill a nutritional gap. Others may need to supplement a specific vitamin or mineral, while others could just want to improve their performance in the gym or in their sport. Regardless of why you’re supplementing with a multi, we tried to find options that would work no matter what your goals are.
We selected each supplement for a different reason, and you may find that a certain “best” works for your needs better than others. Whether you’re wanting a gummy over a pill, opting for a greens powder, need to find a simple formula, or looking for a super stacked multivitamin to meet day and nighttime needs, we have a pick to match your goals.
Age and Gender
As we age, our needs greatly change with supplementation. It may be that your red blood cell count isn’t as high as it used to be, or that you want to fight early onset osteoporosis or arthritis, or keep your brain healthy to preemptively protect yourself from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. We tried to make multivitamin selections based on various needs for different age groups, but we also considered the fact that men, women, and nonbinary folks have different needs, too.
Those who menstruate may have a greater need for iron supplementation. Whatever your age and gender identity may be, there are needs your body might have that differ, and we did our best to include appropriate picks based on age and gender criteria.
Formulation
We wanted to pick multivitamins that range in their form. Although you’ll widely see multivitamins in pill or capsule form, that isn’t the only way to get your vitamins and minerals in. We tried to make picks that would fall outside of pills for those who have trouble swallowing pills or who just prefer to take their supplements in another way. This list contains some pills (which range between requiring one and 16 pills daily), but we also included a gummy vitamin, as well as powdered multivitamins to ensure there was a diverse range of options for all customers.
What to Consider Before Buying a Multivitamin
Since multivitamins are so diverse in their formulation, we dug around for some of the best options out there for you to consider when adding a multi to your daily routine. When looking at this list and making your decision, we think you should consider the ingredients and dosage, form, and price before buying.
Ingredients and Dosage
This is one of the biggest varying factors when it comes to multivitamins as the ingredients and dosages in these products are not always intuitive. As some of these picks are specifically geared towards an age range, gender, or specific need, you’ll find that the ingredients and dosages will change based on the nutrient gap each product is aiming to fill.
It’s good to think about what your needs are for a multivitamin. You may need to fill a certain nutrient gap, supplement for an illness, promote immune health, help with mental health, or take charge of your body as you enter a new decade of life. Whatever your reasoning is, you’ll want to find a supplement that has the ingredients and dosages to suit those needs.
Form
The form of a multivitamin is really user-dependent. While some people like taking pills because they’re an easy and mess-free way to get your nutrients in, some may be pill-averse and prefer a powder to stack with other supplements. If neither of those tickles your fancy, a multivitamin gummy may be the best choice for you. Whatever your reasoning, you’ll want to think of what fits your needs and lifestyle best before settling on a new multivitamin.
Price
As we know, prices tend to vary between brands. Price tends to fluctuate based on the ingredients, dosages, and quality of the product. For example, one of our more expensive picks costs over $4.00 per day, but that’s because it includes sixteen different pills that you take, split between daytime and nighttime packs. It is a far more robust multivitamin supplement than any other on our list, and that is going to jack up the cost a bit.
There are simpler formulas as well, which offer a solid price point while still delivering a robust list of ingredients. If a supplement has a proprietary blend, it may make the supplement less expensive as well, as the dosages aren’t individually listed when they’re in a proprietary blend. Reasonably, there should be a product that fits almost any budget on this list, as our range is between around $0.60 per serving to over $4.00 per serving, leaving wiggle room for price points in between.
When Should I Take Multivitamins?
Although there isn’t a straightforward or correct “one size fits all” answer to this, we highly suggest looking at your individual multivitamin supplement to see what they suggest for timing. Some may have B complexes at the forefront and want you to take it first thing in the morning. Other formulas may suggest taking it with a meal, taking it several times throughout the day, or may have you take it before bed.
Final Word
Multivitamins are not cookie-cutter supplements, but they can be extremely beneficial for anyone who is looking to fill a nutrient gap, optimize their mental or physical health, or preemptively start combatting symptoms of age and disease before they strike. Multivitamins can be an effective way to get your micronutrients in without breaking the bank or stressing about the diversity of your food choices.
It’s always best to speak with your healthcare provider when adding a multivitamin into your routine — especially if it’s to combat a disease or if you have any hesitations — but there should be a safe and effective multivitamin for you out there. On this list, we’ve included an array of picks for gender, price, specific goals, and more. When you’re looking for your perfect match, we’ve got you covered.
FAQs
Do I need to take a multivitamin to be healthy?
A multivitamin isn’t necessary in order for your body to function properly or to be at your peak health. A multivitamin supplement is meant to be a tool to help you optimize your health or help fill a nutrient gap in your diet. For example, a vegan may want to supplement with iron to offset their diet if they’re not getting enough iron from their food source. It is up to each individual as to why they use a multivitamin supplement, but it isn’t a necessity.
How do I know which multivitamin is right for me?
Multivitamins are not a one size fits all supplement. Multis are extremely diverse and each person will have a different reason or need to supplement with one. It’s best to first address the reason you may need or want to start taking a multivitamin, and then to look at the ingredients and formulas that may be best-suited to assist you with your personal goals.
How much do multivitamins cost?
Multivitamins are usually among the cheaper supplements you can purchase, though more specialized and all-encompassing multis may range higher in price. Generally, you can expect to spend around $20 to $120 on a pack of multis for the month, but the price per serving can range from $0.60 to $4.00, depending on which type of multi you choose.
What is the best multivitamin?
With such a wide variety of formulas, it can be challenging to know what the right multivitamin is for you. We’re fans of the Transparent Labs Multi thanks to its robust and comprehensive formula. It contains at least 100 percent of the recommended daily intake for all vitamins, as well as some extras like CoQ10, boron, and organic ashwagandha.
What if I have a hard time swallowing a multivitamin?
Although a distinct number of multivitamins come in pill or capsule form, there are many options on the market that come in other forms. You can find pills, capsules, powders, and gummy multivitamins widely available across the market. Rest assured that if you don’t enjoy or cannot take pills, there are other options available to you.