10 Best Vitamin C Supplements Reviewed & Compared

Potency

The pure ascorbic acid used as the key ingredient in a Vitamin C supplement is at its most potent in this specific product’s powder. A perfect 1:1 ratio of Vitamin C to formula is tough to beat, and the benefit of the powder format makes it easy to measure out specific dosages.

Purity

The only ingredient you are going to find in this powder is ascorbic acid. No effort has been made to purify it, which does limit its total potency. However, this lack of additional chemicals such as sodium helps to keep the formula pure.

Taste

It’s true that the high concentration of acidic substances in this powder will have a strong sour taste. This taste will disgust the majority of individuals who take it, but it can be mitigated to a degree if you mix it with a strong-tasting liquid such as juice.

Cost and Value

This is the most expensive supplement on this list, which is bound to turn off many individuals who are just looking for a bit of extra Vitamin C to help them get through flu season. However, if you’re looking for enough Vitamin C to last you for the next few years, this is the package to buy.

Potency

With 1000 mg of vitamin c per serving these pack a cold-killing punch. One user noted that the label uses the word "bioflavinoids" when bioflavinoids are the active ingredient in vitamin c that is a natural anti-oxidant and therefore this all vitamin C has bioflavinoids and that it seemed like a bit of a marketing gimmick.

Product Purity

It's certified to be clean and wholesome by an independent third party.

Effectiveness

User's noted how well this worked for everything from overcoming colds to maintaining good overall health.

Brand

Nature's Way has been in business since 1969, making them 50 years old this year. They are a trusted source of nutritional supplements and are based in Green Bay Wisconsin in the United States. They when the founder was looking for a way to heal his sick wife and turned to traditional native wisdom and the power of plants.

Value

For the quality, high dose, and effectiveness these are a good deal. Users were happy with how much they paid and it's is also readily available from a variety of sources.

Potency

With one-quarter of a teaspoon containing just over 1,100 mg of sodium ascorbate, this is an extremely potent Vitamin C formula. In fact, such a high potency can be negative, as it is much easier to take a considerably greater dosage than you may originally intend to.

Purity

Nutribiotic’s formula is made of Sodium Ascorbate, a substance derived from a combination of salt and ascorbic acid. Using the salt as a filtration method, this formula has extremely pure Vitamin C crystals packed in each serving. However, some residual salt is left in the formula to the detriment of its overall purity.

Taste

Since the ascorbic acid used to synthesize Vitamin C in this supplement was filtered, no bitter or tart taste is present when consuming this formula. Instead, there is a mild salty taste, which is due to the sodium filtration method used to get pure crystals. According to customers, this taste is considerably better than other supplements on the market.

Cost and Value

It’s true that this pack of supplements is on the more expensive side of the spectrum for Vitamin C prices. However, one year’s worth of servings are contained in just one bottle, thanks to the extremely high potency of this formula. Because of that, this ends up being one of the most inexpensive supplements once you account for volume.

Potency

In addition to having the standard 1,000 mg of Vitamin C derived from ascorbic acid, this supplement also contains a small amount of rose hips powder. This is another common source of Vitamin C that is natural, but the amount contained is insignificant when compared to the acid-derived portions of the formula.

Purity

Other than the vegetable-based coating used for manufacturing the capsules, this supplement only carries ingredients that provide the body with Vitamin C. The purity of NOW’s formula is slightly weakened due to the addition of rosehips since it offers a less pure source of the nutrient.

Taste

The addition of rosehips to the formula gives these capsules a sour or tart taste. This difference is subtle, however, and easily overpowered by the bitter-tasting ascorbic acid. For the most part, you should be able to avoid tasting these supplements at all if you swallow them whole with the aid of some liquid.

Cost and Value

Despite containing a few extra ingredients, the affordability of these Vitamin C supplements are easily comparable to many simpler products on the market. In many cases, these are actually more affordable than most tablets or capsule-based formulas, since one bottle can last for several months if taken at the minimum dose.

Potency

1000 mg of ascorbic acid is used to supply the Vitamin C in this supplement. Some individuals may be turned off by the synthetic nature of this chemical, but the fact is that this is the purest and easiest method of supplying great deals of this nutrient to your body.

Purity

The only other ingredient present in the formula for this supplement is cellulose in order to form the outside of each capsule. This means that you will only be ingesting Vitamin C from an extremely pure, albeit synthetic, source. The only way this supplement could be purer is if it came in a powder.

Taste

Fortunately, the cellulose lining used to make the capsules for this supplement do not have any particular taste to them. This means that you can take these pills with water and experience no negative taste whatsoever. There isn’t even an aftertaste, which is something most Vitamin C powders can’t say.

Cost and Value

Thanks to its no-frills approach to supplying the body with Vitamin C, there isn’t a great deal of cost to the production of these capsules. This allows Doctor’s Best to sell them at a very competitive price, providing an extra benefit to the customer. One package costs half as much as many competing brands and offers nearly double the number of servings.

Potency

While each capsule only contains 500 mg of Vitamin C, a comparable dose to most other formulas available for purchase can be achieved by simply doubling the dose. In fact, this seeming lack of potency can make it easier to fine-tune your dosing to fit specific dietary needs.

Purity

Instead of using the most common and most pure form of Vitamin C, ascorbic acid, American Health Ester-C uses a slight variation on this synthetic formula called Calcium Ascorbate. It’s very similar to ascorbic acid but also contains a small amount of calcium, which provides further nutritional value but does detract from the overall purity of this supplement.

Taste

The taste for this supplement isn’t as noticeable as most others since it comes in capsules instead of powders. However, people who have taken these capsules as intended say that the taste is decent, especially when compared to other formulas on the market. Grinding it up for whatever reason will result in a bitter taste.

Cost and Value

At roughly 7 cents a capsule, these are some of the most affordable supplements on the market, second only to bulk ascorbic acid powder bags. For the cost of one month’s supply for a competing brand, you can get enough American Health Ester-C to last you roughly 4 months.

Potency

Containing 1,000 mg of Vitamin C in roughly a quarter of a teaspoon, Bronson’s Vitamin C powder supplement is extremely potent. This ensures that each package contains a high volume and offers a good value, but it also increases the risk of developing adverse effects from ingesting too much.

Purity

This supplement is made solely of Ascorbic acid, a chemical that is used to synthesize Vitamin C. Adding the fact that it comes in powder form and thus doesn’t require gelatin or rice flour to contain it, this is one of the purest sources of Vitamin C you can buy.

Taste

The unfortunate downside of this supplement being incredibly pure is that nothing has been added to make the taste more appealing. Expect a very bitter taste when mixing this solution with water. Because of this, you may want to mix it with a tastier liquid or add some sugar.

Cost and Value

The base price for this powder supplement is pretty high when compared to many others listed here, but this evens out once you account for the volume factor. If you’re looking for a supply of Vitamin C that will last you for months, this is the absolute best value for your money.

Potency

In addition to containing 1,000 mg of Vitamin C, this powder supplement utilizes liposomal encapsulation and delivery technology to increase its potency. What those big words mean is that the manufacturers of this supplement used liposomes, or tiny spherical containers, to bypass the membrane layer and directly provide your bloodstream with Vitamin C.

Purity

Although the majority of this powder formula is made from ascorbic acid, an incredibly pure synthetic source of Vitamin C, there are a few other ingredients added that dilute the purity of this product. One additional element that is prominently featured is soy lecithin, the source of the lipids used to facilitate the liposomal delivery technology.

Taste

Some customers have noticed no taste when taking this formula, while others have noticed a strong unappealing taste. In any case, you shouldn’t expect this powder to taste good. One recommendation to dilute this strong taste is to mix this formula in with a tastier liquid such as orange juice.

Cost and Value

This container of Vitamin C comes at a higher cost than many others of its kind, and it doesn’t balance out when looking at the volume per container either. However, the increased price is justified due to the liposomal delivery technology that was implemented in this formula. This ensures that all of the Vitamin C becomes absorbed in your body, as opposed to other highly-concentrated supplements that your body will usually filter out.

Potency

This Vitamin C powder doesn’t have the same potency per serving as some other powders. This is because it derives its key ingredient from natural fruit-based sources instead of Ascorbic acid, which is the most common source. Despite this diminished potency, more Vitamin C can be added easily and safely by doubling the dosage.

Purity

Some individuals may see the fact that the Vitamin C in this supplement is derived from multiple sources as a lack of purity. However, the fact that Nature’s Way uses goji and kiwi fruit extract instead of the standard Ascorbic acid, this lack of purity is made up for with the quality of its ingredients.

Taste

Despite the composition of this supplement being derived mostly from sweet fruits, the taste of this Vitamin C powder more closely resembles chili powder, according to one online reviewer. It’s not the most unpleasant-tasting powder on the market, but the taste can take you by surprise if you aren’t careful.

Cost and Value

The cost for one package of this powder is low, but this initial affordability doesn’t stack up when accounting for volume. One package contains enough servings for roughly a month, but when you consider the diminished potency, this really translates to two weeks of double servings. However, if you’re interested in a more natural supplement and don’t need 1000 mg with each serving, this is a fine price.

Potency

It’s difficult to determine exactly how potent this Vitamin C product is, since it is administered in a very different way than all other products on this list. As a topical serum, five to seven drops are rubbed into the skin, purportedly helping to promote healthier and clearer skin. It won’t fulfill the nutritional requirements that other Vitamin C supplements will, but it does provide some nutritional value.

Purity

Being designed primarily to aid in repairing damaged skin, this serum is mixed with several other chemicals intended for this purpose. Because of this, the purity of this product is low, but it still manages to accomplish the task it sets out to with the aid of these additions. In addition, this serum is vegan, despite these extra chemicals.

Taste

Since this product isn’t taken orally, taste shouldn’t be an issue. In order to achieve the highest effectiveness, you should avoid putting any of this substance in your mouth and instead put in on your skin. However, some customers have noticed a strange metallic taste in their mouths as a side effect, so be wary of this possibility.

Cost and Value

When compared to other skin care products and topical creams, this Vitamin C supplement is quite affordable. However, when compared to the multitudes of oral Vitamin C supplements that aren’t intended for skin care, these cost a great deal more than most. However, the specific features offered by this package make them worth this higher price.