Vitamin D is essential for bone health, muscle growth and development, and more. If you’re not getting enough of this nutrient from sun exposure, vitamin D supplements can help. Check out our picks.
Share on PinterestQuick look at the best vitamin D supplements
- Best overall: Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3 | Skip to review
- Most affordable: NOW Foods Vitamin D3 | Skip to review
- Best for vegans: HUM Nutrition Here Comes the Sun | Skip to review
- Best gummies: Nordic Naturals Zero Sugar Vitamin D3 Gummies | Skip to review
- Best liquid drops: Thorne Vitamin D/K2 Liquid | Skip to review
- Best chewable tablet: NOW Foods Chewable Vitamin D3 | Skip to review
- Best with omega oils: Mindbodygreen Vitamin D3 Potency+ | Skip to review
Sports Research D3 + K2
4.7 (41.4k+) from Amazon- Form: softgel
- Active ingredients: vitamin D 125 mcg (625% DV), vitamin K2 100 mg
- Certifications: non-GMO verified, certified vegan, certified gluten-free, third-party tested
If you’ve discovered you have a deficiency in vitamin D, you’re not alone. It’s particularly common among people who get limited sun exposure, as well as people with dark skin, people over age 65 years, and people who smoke. Breastfed infants and children with certain medical conditions are also susceptible to vitamin D deficiency.
If a healthcare professional has recommended a vitamin D supplement for calcium absorption, bone health, or muscle growth and development, we’ve vetted and narrowed down our recommendations to eight supplements for when vitamin D from sun exposure is not enough or inaccessible.
A note on price
- $ = under $0.10 per serving
- $$ = $0.10 to $0.50 per serving
- $$$ = over $0.50 per serving
Healthline’s picks of the best vitamin D supplements
Best overall
Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3
4.9 (579+) from Amazon- Form: capsule
- Number of servings: 120 per container
- Dose: 1 capsule per day, up to 5 days per week
- % DV: 1250%
- Price: $$
Healthline's review
If you have a severe vitamin D deficiency, a healthcare professional will likely recommend taking a high dose supplement — at least 10,000 international units (IU) daily. This may be followed by a maintenance dose of up to 6,000 IU once your levels normalize.
Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3 gets our pick as the best high dose vitamin D option because it’s third-party tested and provides 10,000 IU per serving.
Plus, unlike other products on the market, it’s hypoallergenic, non-GMO, and gluten-free, so it’s a great choice for people with food allergies or dietary restrictions.
Keep in mind that this product is not suitable for vegans since it contains vitamin D3 derived from lanolin, a type of fat secreted from sheep’s wool.
However, Pure Encapsulations also offers a lower dose vegan-friendly alternative, which is made with vitamin D3 sourced from algae.
Pros & cons
- vegetarian-friendly
- third-party tested
- manufactured in facilities that exceed the standards of U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP)
- gluten-free and non-GMO
- high dose not appropriate for all people
- not suitable for vegans
- vegetarian-friendly
- third-party tested
- manufactured in facilities that exceed the standards of U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP)
- gluten-free and non-GMO
- high dose not appropriate for all people
- not suitable for vegans
Product details
- Active ingredients: vitamin D (250 mcg)
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
- Active ingredients: vitamin D (250 mcg)
- Returns: free returns for Prime members
- Shipping: free shipping for Prime members
Most affordable
NOW Foods Vitamin D3
4.8 (5.5k+) from Amazon- Form: softgel
- Number of servings: 120 per container
- Dose: 1 softgel every 3 days
- % DV: 1250%
- Price: $
Healthline's review
We also like this high dose vitamin D from NOW Foods. It’s widely available and comes at a budget-friendly price.
Additionally, we appreciate the simplicity of the ingredients — including 10,000 IU of vitamin D3 derived from lanolin — and the fact that it’s non-GMO, kosher, and free of common allergens such as dairy, eggs, sugar, soy, and corn.
Pros & cons
- affordable cost at $0.05 per serving
- non-GMO
- third-party certified
- not suitable for vegetarians or vegans
- high dose not appropriate for all people
- affordable cost at $0.05 per serving
- non-GMO
- third-party certified
- not suitable for vegetarians or vegans
- high dose not appropriate for all people
Product details
- Active ingredients: vitamin D3 (250 mcg)
- Active ingredients: vitamin D3 (250 mcg)
Best for vegans
HUM Nutrition Here Comes the Sun
4.7 (127+) from HUM Nutrition- Form: softgel
- Number of servings: 30 per container
- Dose: 1 softgel per day
- % DV: 250%
- Price: $$$
Healthline's review
We like Here Comes the Sun for its high quality and vegan-friendly list of ingredients, including 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 derived from lichen.
It also stands out as a stellar option because it’s non-GMO, gluten-free, and made without any artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Like other supplements from HUM Nutrition, this vitamin D supplement is sustainably sourced, triple-tested for purity, and evaluated for potency by third-party labs.
Not only that, but HUM Nutrition also offers all customers free personalized nutrition advice from its in-house team of registered dietitians.
Pros & cons
- vegan source of vitamin D3
- third-party tested
- non-GMO
- gluten-free
- larger bottles not available
- high price point
- vegan source of vitamin D3
- third-party tested
- non-GMO
- gluten-free
- larger bottles not available
- high price point
Product details
- Active ingredients: vitamin D3 (50 mcg)
- Returns: returns within 30 days
- Shipping: free shipping on orders over $50
- Active ingredients: vitamin D3 (50 mcg)
- Returns: returns within 30 days
- Shipping: free shipping on orders over $50
Best gummies
Nordic Naturals Zero Sugar Vitamin D3 Gummies
4.5 (737+) from Amazon- Form: gummy
- Number of servings: 60 per container
- Dose: 1 gummy per day
- % DV: 125%
- Price: $$
Healthline's review
Nordic Naturals Zero Sugar Vitamin D3 Gummies are an easy-to-take, sugar-free option (sweetened with xylitol, a sugar alcohol) containing vitamin D from lanolin, which means they’re a good choice for vegetarians.
They’re also naturally colored with fruit and vegetable juice, non-GMO, and third-party tested for purity.
Plus, Nordic Naturals provides a certificate of analysis (COA) for every supplement. A COA is a document that confirms that a product meets its required specifications.
Pros & cons
- easy to take
- free of added sugar
- vegetarian-friendly and non-GMO
- third-party tested
- contains xylitol, which some people may prefer to avoid
- not suitable for vegans
- easy to take
- free of added sugar
- vegetarian-friendly and non-GMO
- third-party tested
- contains xylitol, which some people may prefer to avoid
- not suitable for vegans
Product details
- Active ingredients: vitamin D3 (25 mcg)
- Active ingredients: vitamin D3 (25 mcg)
Best liquid drops
Thorne Vitamin D/K2 Liquid
- Form: liquid
- Number of servings: 600 per container
- Dose: 2 drops per day
- % DV: 125%
- Price: $
Healthline's review
Thorne Vitamin D/K2 Liquid wins our vote because it’s one of the few vitamin D supplements that also provides vitamin K2, which works together with vitamin D and is necessary for heart and bone health.
This supplement also offers a convenient way to take your dose of vitamin D, especially if you dislike taking capsules or have difficulty swallowing. These drops can be mixed into any food or beverage.
It’s one of the most affordable options on our list and is free of soy, gluten, dairy, and artificial flavors and additives. Plus, it’s vegetarian-friendly, as it contains vitamin D derived from lanolin and vitamin K2 from geraniol, a plant-based compound found in many essential oils.
Pros & cons
- provides 167% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin K2
- affordable
- certified by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, an Australian regulatory agency
- gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly
- not third-party tested
- not suitable for vegans
- provides 167% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin K2
- affordable
- certified by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, an Australian regulatory agency
- gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly
- not third-party tested
- not suitable for vegans
Product details
- Active ingredients: vitamin D 25 mcg (125% DV), vitamin K 200 mcg (167% DV)
- Returns: free returns on unopened products within 45 days
- Shipping: free shipping on orders over $35
- Active ingredients: vitamin D 25 mcg (125% DV), vitamin K 200 mcg (167% DV)
- Returns: free returns on unopened products within 45 days
- Shipping: free shipping on orders over $35
Best chewable tablet
NOW Foods Chewable Vitamin D3
4.7 (1.1k+) from Amazon- Form: chewable tablet
- Number of servings: 120 per container
- Dose: 1 tablet every 2 days
- % DV: 625%
- Price: $
Healthline's review
For people who prefer getting their nutrient supplements in chewable form, NOW’s budget-friendly, sugar-free offering packs 5,000 IU of vitamin D3. This product is easy to find at many retailers and online.
Sweetened with the sugar alcohols sorbitol and xylitol, it also contains natural vanilla and peppermint flavors. Additionally, it’s kosher, soy-free, and gluten-free.
Note that because this product is made with cellulose, the vitamin D it contains is less absorbable than the vitamin D in oil-based capsules.
Pros & cons
- only need to take 1 tablet every 2 days
- budget-friendly
- free of added sugars
- third-party certified by UL Solutions
- contains sugar alcohols, which some people may prefer to avoid
- less absorbable than oil-based capsules
- not suitable for vegans
- only need to take 1 tablet every 2 days
- budget-friendly
- free of added sugars
- third-party certified by UL Solutions
- contains sugar alcohols, which some people may prefer to avoid
- less absorbable than oil-based capsules
- not suitable for vegans
Product details
- Active ingredients: vitamin D3 (125 mcg)
- Active ingredients: vitamin D3 (125 mcg)
Best with omega oils
Mindbodygreen Vitamin D3 Potency+
- Form: softgel
- Number of servings: 30 per container
- Dose: 1 softgel daily
- % DV: 625 %
- Price: $$$
Use code "HEALTHLINE20" for 20% off.
SHOP NOW AT MINDBODYGREENHealthline's review
Mindbodygreen vitamin D3 potency+ contains a blend of vitamin D3 and organic medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) from coconut, which can help improve absorption and potentially make it easier to digest. This is because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and requires dietary fat in order to be absorbed.
This product contains organic flaxseed oil, avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, and omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids. It’s also non-GMO, dairy-free, soy-free, and gluten-free. There is gelatin in the product, though, so it’s not suitable for vegans.
Mindbodygreen products are third-party tested, but the names of the labs aren’t disclosed.
What our tester says
Healthline editors Candice Abellon and Kelli McGrane both tested mindbodygreen’s Vitamin D3.
“I’d recommend these vitamin D capsules based on the fact that they were easy to swallow,” Abellon commented. She also noted the high quality packaging and the substantial feel of the brown glass bottle, highlighting its aesthetic and protective qualities.
That being said, she cautioned, “It’s nice that the D3 for this vitamin is derived from a plant or algae, but the capsule has bovine gelatin, so it’s not vegetarian or vegan.”
McGrane appreciates the brand’s commitment to quality and third-party testing, finding the product easy to use daily with its one-a-day formulation.
“With that said,” she added, “the company’s products aren’t cheap, and some ingredients seem like they’re there more for advertising purposes than because there’s substantial research to back up their effectiveness.”
McGrane continued, “While I do like the product, I’m debating continuing with it because I have to purchase it from mindbodygreen’s website.”
Lastly, as a registered dietitian, McGrane also raised a concern about the high dosage of this product, advising that it is best suited for those specifically directed by a healthcare professional to take 5,000 IUs of vitamin D.
Healthline editors Candice Abellon and Kelli McGrane both tested mindbodygreen’s Vitamin D3.
“I’d recommend these vitamin D capsules based on the fact that they were easy to swallow,” Abellon commented. She also noted the high quality packaging and the substantial feel of the brown glass bottle, highlighting its aesthetic and protective qualities.
That being said, she cautioned, “It’s nice that the D3 for this vitamin is derived from a plant or algae, but the capsule has bovine gelatin, so it’s not vegetarian or vegan.”
McGrane appreciates the brand’s commitment to quality and third-party testing, finding the product easy to use daily with its one-a-day formulation.
“With that said,” she added, “the company’s products aren’t cheap, and some ingredients seem like they’re there more for advertising purposes than because there’s substantial research to back up their effectiveness.”
McGrane continued, “While I do like the product, I’m debating continuing with it because I have to purchase it from mindbodygreen’s website.”
Lastly, as a registered dietitian, McGrane also raised a concern about the high dosage of this product, advising that it is best suited for those specifically directed by a healthcare professional to take 5,000 IUs of vitamin D.
Pros & cons
- third-party tested
- gentle on digestion
- enhanced absorption due to MCT oil
- expensive
- not suitable for vegans because of gelatin capsule
- third-party tested
- gentle on digestion
- enhanced absorption due to MCT oil
- expensive
- not suitable for vegans because of gelatin capsule
Product details
- Active ingredients: organic algel vitamin D3
- Active ingredients: organic algel vitamin D3
Comparing the best vitamin D supplements
ProductsPriceTypeDose% of DV Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3$$capsule10,000 IU1,250%NOW Foods Vitamin D3$softgel10,000 IU1,250%HUM Nutrition Here Comes the Sun$$$softgel2,000 IU250%Nordic Naturals Zero Sugar Vitamin D3 Gummies$$gummy1,000 IU125%Thorne Vitamin D/K2 Liquid$liquid1,000 IU125%NOW Foods Chewable Vitamin D3$tablet5,000 IU625%mindbodygreen vitamin D3 potency+$$$softgel5,000 IU625%*This product has been third-party tested by an accredited lab to ensure purity and potency.
How we chose the best vitamin D supplements
- Effectiveness: The products on our list contain vitamin D3 for optimal absorption.
- Forms: We included supplements in a variety of forms, including gummy, chewable, liquid, and capsule.
- Ingredients: We looked for supplements that are free of unnecessary ingredients.
- Price: We included products to suit a range of budgets.
- Brand reputation: The brands on our list are trusted by healthcare professionals.
- Third-party testing: We prioritized supplements that have undergone testing by an independent lab or been third-party certified.
- Vetting: The products on our list have been vetted to ensure that they align with Healthline’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being.
Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We fact-check health claims, evaluate ingredients, and look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline.
To choose the products on this page, we considered all the vitamin D supplements that passed our vetting process. Then, we personally tested some of them to narrow down our list even further.
Refresh on vitamin D
Vitamin D is not common in food
Sun exposure is the main source of vitamin D.
There are two forms of vitamin D
Vitamin D2 is found in plants, and vitamin D3 is found in animal-sourced food, like fish oil.
Many benefits of vitamin D
It helps with calcium absorption, bone health, immune function, and disease prevention.
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that plays a key role in many aspects of health.
Because vitamin D is found naturally in very few food sources and is mostly obtained through sun exposure, many people have an increased risk of deficiency.
Vitamin D supplements can help ensure that you’re getting the amount of vitamin D you need. They come in two forms: vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. While both forms can increase blood levels of vitamin D, vitamin D3 can raise vitamin D levels higher and for longer than vitamin D2.
How to choose the best vitamin D supplement for you
Before you decide on a vitamin D supplement, getting your nutrient levels checked is wise. A blood test is the only way to find out whether you are deficient, insufficient, sufficient, or optimal in any nutrient.
A healthcare professional can order blood work and help you determine an appropriate dosage if a supplement is necessary for you. At-home testing kits may also be useful to measure your vitamin D levels.
Useful supplement shopping guides
- How to Choose High Quality Vitamins and Supplements
- How to Read Supplement Labels Like a Pro
Frequently asked questions about vitamin D
What is the most effective vitamin D to take?
Research shows that vitamin D3 is more effective than vitamin D2 at increasing blood levels of vitamin D. A 2020 study also found that both liquid and capsule vitamin D3 supplements can raise vitamin D levels efficiently.
Research shows that vitamin D3 is more effective than vitamin D2 at increasing blood levels of vitamin D. A 2020 study also found that both liquid and capsule vitamin D3 supplements can raise vitamin D levels efficiently.
Which form of vitamin D is best absorbed?
Vitamin D3 is typically better absorbed and used by the body than vitamin D2. Keep in mind, vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, so it requires dietary fat in order to be full absorbed. It’s a good idea to take your vitamin D with a meal containing healthy fats.
Vitamin D3 is typically better absorbed and used by the body than vitamin D2. Keep in mind, vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, so it requires dietary fat in order to be full absorbed. It’s a good idea to take your vitamin D with a meal containing healthy fats.
Which vitamin D is most useful?
The most useful vitamin D will contain D3 and meet your individual needs for dosing and other preferences, like cost and dietary restrictions, and form, like capsule, liquid, or chewable.
The most useful vitamin D will contain D3 and meet your individual needs for dosing and other preferences, like cost and dietary restrictions, and form, like capsule, liquid, or chewable.
What is the best strength of vitamin D to take daily?
The best strength of vitamin D can vary based on individual needs and levels, and it’s possible to overdo it. Be sure to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized dosage recommendations.
The best strength of vitamin D can vary based on individual needs and levels, and it’s possible to overdo it. Be sure to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized dosage recommendations.
The bottom line
The products above are among the best vitamin D supplements on the market and suit a wide variety of needs. Just keep in mind that for optimal absorption, it’s best to take vitamin D supplements with a meal containing fat, such as olive oil or peanut butter.
Before taking any new supplements, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional to determine whether — and how much — you need to supplement.