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The best budget supplements according to our independent reviews
You don’t have to spend big to get quality supplements. Discover the cheap and cheerful vitamins, minerals and more that impressed our experts
No matter what the slick marketing might suggest, high-quality supplements don’t have to come at a premium price.
We've reviewed hundreds of supplements at Which? and found that cheaper ones often outperform more expensive rivals. For example, they may have better dose levels, better bioavailability or fewer fillers.
To help you shop smarter and find the perfect supplement for your needs, we’ve rounded up a selection of the best cheaper supplements which impressed our nutrition and supplement experts.
From vitamin D drops to magnesium, these picks prove that a big brand name doesn’t automatically mean top billing.
Health? or Hype?
Make the right choice with recommendations you can trust, backed by expert testing.
‘Our research of more than 250 supplements in 10 categories over the last year has shown that pricey big brands can disappoint while some budget supermarket options have impressed. But it’s not always the same brands who come out well, and there may be reasons to pay more (for example, specialist formulas like sprays and drops).'
Shefalee LothWhich? principal researcher and nutritionist
The cheaper supplements that impressed us
Which? Great Value buys
On this page, Which? members have exclusive access to:
Our full list of affordable Great Value and Best Buy products.
Cost per daily dose and per serving calculations.
Expert testing insight from our experts.
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1. A multivitamin under £5 that’s a solid all-rounder
This supermarket option was the only product in our multivitamin tests that earned a Best Buy recommendation – and it was also one of the cheapest.
While not quite the highest scorer overall, it won out because it contains all 23 key nutrients our expert panel expect to see in a multivitamin.
Overall, we found that it's a good all-rounder and offers good value for money.
This Best Buy and Great Value option includes a range of magnesium forms that the body can readily absorb.
Its score was slightly brought down by the inclusion of some less effective forms. However, our experts felt that, when mixed with the other forms, this shouldn't be an issue.
This iron supplement was the cheapest Best Buy in our tests.
One tablet contains 14mg of iron, which is 100% of the Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) for iron in the UK. The tablets are also relatively small, so shouldn't be too troublesome to swallow.
4. One of the best-value creatine supplements we’ve reviewed
This creatine powder scored top marks from our expert panel – and for good reason.
One rounded teaspoon (3.4g) offers the 3-5g of creatine per day that studies show has benefits. Simply mix into 250ml of cold water or a protein shake to support strength and recovery on workout and rest days.
If you’re shopping for a vitamin D supplement to see you through the winter months (and beyond), this simple yet effective supplement is almost as good as it gets.
The liquid drop format provides a handy alternative for those who don’t like swallowing tablets or capsules, and it works out as exceptional value
6. A budget-friendly probiotic with good evidence behind it
While research into probiotics is still relatively new compared to other supplements, this affordable pick impressed our expert panel for its range of well-evidenced bacterial strains (14 in total).
To earn a Best Buy recommendation, a probiotic supplement has to be backed by high-quality human trials and show sound scientific validity. We found that all 14 strains of bacteria in this supplement had clinical research supporting their use.
A protein powder that delivers on fuel and flavour, this Great Value option contains whey protein.
It carries the Informed Choice and Informed Protein logos, which show that random batches are tested to check for banned substances and protein content.
8. A vegan protein powder that’s complete – and cheaper than most
This Great Value vegan protein powder scored highly for its mix of pea, sunflower and rice proteins, making it a complete protein. Its cost per serving was the lowest of the supplements we tested.
Available in vanilla and chocolate flavours, it’s Informed-Sport accredited. This means that each batch undergoes third-party testing for manufacturing quality and banned substances like steroids and stimulants.
9. A bargain B12 supplement that covers all your needs
This affordable own-brand supplement contains an absorbable form of vitamin B12 at a dosage that’s more than sufficient for daily needs. B12 supplementation can be helpful for some people as it becomes harder to absorb this essential nutrient as you age. It can also be tricky to get enough from your diet if you’re vegan (this supplement is vegan-friendly).
Log in now or join Which? to reveal this Great Value product – and compare all of our independent reviews of the best B12 supplements – plus more advice on who might need it.
10. An exceptional high-strength omega-3 supplement
This is one of the cheapest Best Buy omega 3 supplements we've reviewed, based on daily dose.
Our analysis showed that some ‘high strength’ products can be bulked out with general fish oil rather than DHA and EPA, the key omega 3 oils you need. However, this pick was one of the exceptions, offering a genuine high-strength dose at a great price.
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Why you can trust our supplement reviews
Our reviews are independent and unbiased. We buy everything we test, looking at a range of price points and types to cover different budgets and needs. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.
Our expert panel: every supplement we review is analysed by Shefalee Loth: Which?'s lead health and wellbeing researcher and a registered nutritionist, along with consultant dietitian Sophie Medlin. They both have many decades of experience in this space. Sophie has advised on supplement development, and Shefalee has been scrutinising supplements for Which? for more than eight years.
In-depth analysis: to assess the supplements, we look at the available evidence to determine optimal formats and dosages, as well as the additives or extras that are less desirable. We also consider claims made, cost per dose and more so you can be confident you're getting the best value and quality.
Independent lab tests: we send the top-scoring supplements to an independent lab for testing to make sure they contain the amount of vitamin, mineral or nutrient claimed on the label. Only those that pass this test get a Which? Best Buy recommendation.
Great Value you can trust: supplements that do well in our testing and are also significantly cheaper than others on test are labelled as Great Value, so you can spot the best budget options at a glance.
