-
Follow Us
On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
5 Best multivitamins of 2024
This content should not be considered medical advice. The information provided is not meant to diagnose or treat any health conditions. Consult with your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine or taking any new supplements.
While experts agree that getting most of your nutrition from meals and healthy snacks is the best option, it’s not always feasible or possible. This is when multivitamins swoop in as a vitamin and mineral safety net, helping you get all the nutrients you need in a day to feel and operate at your best. Low appetite, poor diet, difficulty eating, hectic schedules and many other hurdles can easily get in the way of you and the nutrition you need to thrive.
So if you’re not consistently hitting the mark of the dietary guidelines, which include four to five cups of fruits and vegetables, six ounces of whole grains, three cups of dairy and five and a half ounces of lean protein each day, or you have nutrient needs above the average healthy American adult, a multivitamin may be able to help. But before you go grabbing the closest or cheapest multivitamin off the pharmacy shelf, keep in mind that not all supplements are created equal. You want to ensure you’re spending your money on a vitamin that will actually do what it claims. Keep reading to find the best multivitamin for you.
How we chose the best multivitamins
Supplements aren’t regulated like medications are in the United States, so choosing a multivitamin from a reputable company, preferably one that uses third-party testing to verify the vitamin’s purity and potency, is our number one priority. After safety, we looked for vitamins that contain all of the essential vitamins and minerals we need, especially ones that many people have difficulty getting through food, including vitamins A, D, E, and C, magnesium and calcium. We also like to see absorbable forms of vitamins and minerals used so that you’re body has the best chance of utilizing everything that the vitamin provides.
And while some supplements come with a high price tag, we chose the ones that offer the best value. While budget shopping won’t always get you the safest, most optimized multivitamin, you shouldn’t have to spend more than you’re comfortable with.
Top multivitamins
- Best overall: Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/ Day
- Best for women: Ritual Essential for Women 18+
- Best for men: Nature Made Multi for Him
- Best for kids: SmartyPants Kids Formula
- Best plant-based: Life Extension Plan-Based Multivitamin
Best overall: Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day
- NSF-Certified for Sport (if this variation is purchased)
- Easy on the stomach
- $1.20 per serving
About Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day
This two-a-day multivitamin has a good amount of vitamins and minerals for men and women without going overboard. While it may seem like a lot of some vitamins are present (4,167% of the DV for thiamine, for example), many vitamins are not completely absorbed from supplements, so these doses are pretty typical for multivitamins. Thorne is a reputable brand that does thorough in-house testing on all products but doesn’t offer third-party testing on everything. If you purchase the NSF-certified for Sport Basic Nutrients 2/Day, you can be assured that it has undergone rigorous testing for over 200 substances banned by major athletic associations.
Why we like it
- NSF-certified for Sport
- Includes most essential nutrients and supportive nutrients, including boron and lutein
- Only two pills per day
What to consider
- Not all variations are third-party tested
- A little more costly at $1.20 per dose
Best for women: Ritual Essential for Women 18+
About Ritual Essential for Women 18+
For women who eat a mostly healthy diet but want extra assurance and nutritional support, Ritual Essential for Women 18+ has everything you need without all the extras you don’t. Just two vegan capsules include vitamins D, E, K2, and B12, folate, iron, magnesium, boron and omega-3 fatty acids – all nutrients that are difficult for many women to get enough of through diet alone.
They left calcium and vitamin C out, which not all multivitamins for women do. Many women who eat fruits, vegetables and dairy are able to easily meet these nutrition needs, but if you’re not, this vitamin may not be suitable for you. Each dose is found in two vegan capsules and is infused with mint to help avoid any unpleasant taste. All ingredients are traceable, and the vitamins are USP certified, so you know they have everything they claim and nothing that they don’t.
Why we like it
- Third-party tested for purity and potency by USP
- Vegan and gluten-free
- Just two capsules each day
What to consider
If your diet is poor, you may need more nutrients than what is offered in this multivitamin
Best for Men: Nature Made Multi for Him
About Nature Made Multi for Him
Nature Made vitamins are found in pharmacies and shopping centers all over the country, and their low price might lead you to think they’re low in quality. This couldn’t be more wrong, especially when it comes to quality multivitamins for men. Even though each serving of this multivitamin for men is only $0.15, it includes all the nutrients men need and is USP-certified for purity and potency.
Just one easy-to-swallow pill has 22 vitamins and minerals that could be missing from an adult man’s diet. This multi leaves out iron, which can lead to constipation, as only 2 to 5% of adult males are deficient in this nutrient.
Why we like it
- Budget-friendly
- USP-certified
- Just one pill daily
What to consider
Does not contain iron, which may be ok for most males
Best for kids: SmartyPants Kids Formula
About SmartyPants Kids Formula
These kid-friendly gummies include all the vitamins and minerals kids need in addition to nutrients like omega-3 EPA and DHA essential fatty acids. The gummies are delicious and easy for kids to eat, making it more likely that they’ll actually want to take their vitamins each day. With food allergies being much more common in kids than adults, it’s helpful that these gummies are free from all nine major allergens.
Each batch is third-party tested to verify purity and potency, so you can be sure that what the bottle says is exactly what you’re giving your little ones.
Why we like it
- Third-party tested
- Easy to eat, most kids love the taste
- Includes 15 essential vitamins and minerals and omega-3 as DHA and EPA
What to consider
- Each serving has five grams of added sugars
- One serving is four gummies
Best plant-based multivitamin: Life Extension Plant-Based Multivitamin
About Life Extension Plant-Based Multivitamin
While many multivitamins include ingredients like gelatin, B12 from animal sources and vitamin D3 from lanolin, Life Extension Plant-Based Multivitamin is suitable for vegans and includes essential vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy. Just three capsules contain over 100% of most vitamins and minerals you need. They also contain a whole food complex that provides valuable plant phytonutrients, which the company claims is the equivalent of what you would get from three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit.
Life Extension is a reputable company and was rated number one in multivitamins by Consumer Labs in 2023. They participate in third-party testing, and while the results aren’t available on the website, you can request lab results for any product by emailing the company.
Why we like it
- Third-party tested
- Highly rated by Consumer Labs
- Includes extra plant polyphenols from the whole food complex
What to consider
Three capsules for one dose
How to choose a multivitamin
There are several multivitamins on the market that offer quality, safe and effective doses of various vitamins and minerals, but it may take some experimenting and researching to find the best option for you based on your budget, serving preference and unique needs.
- Value: A low price tag doesn’t always mean a supplement is low-quality, just as a high price tag doesn’t make a multivitamin superior. Look for a multivitamin that offers high value for its cost.
- Safety: Multivitamins, and all supplements for that matter, lack regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. To ensure your multivitamin is free from contaminants like heavy metals, make sure you’re buying from a brand that provides third-party testing of their supplements.
- Type of vitamin: A multivitamin does no good if you’re unable or willing to take it. You can choose from gummies, capsules, pills, liquids and even powders that mix into drinks to get a daily dose of vitamins. Find one that makes it easy and enjoyable to take so you actually do it.
Methodology
To compile this list, our writers and editors reviewed top products on the market, compared specs and features and created a short list of the top multivitamins. Then, we used product descriptions, reviews and user ratings to find the best multivitamins for each category. Note that we do not test every product but base our lists on our research, user reviews and expert opinions.
FAQ
Are multivitamins good for you?
Multivitamins can help you fill in nutrient gaps when you can’t get enough through your diet. Some also include supporting nutrients, herbs, or adaptogens that you may not eat in everyday foods, which can give you an extra boost as well.
Is it good to take a multivitamin every day?
Most people don’t need a multivitamin to meet their everyday nutrition needs. However, for some people, especially older adults or anyone who has a low appetite or difficulty eating a balanced diet, a multivitamin can help fill in any nutrition gaps.
What vitamins should adults be taking every day?
While most adults who have a varied and overall healthy diet do not need extra vitamins, many would benefit from a vitamin D supplement, especially during the colder months if you spend very little time in the sunlight. Taking calcium, along with vitamin D, can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis and fractures, especially in older age. A multivitamin can help you get some amount of several vitamins, helping you meet the needs of various vitamins and minerals with one supplement.
What vitamins should I not take daily?
Avoid taking daily large doses of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, without a doctor’s supervision as these tend to build up in the body, increasing the risk of overdosing.
References
Kiani, A. K., Dhuli, K., Donato, K., Aquilanti, B., Velluti, V., Matera, G., Iaconelli, A., Connelly, S. T., Bellinato, F., Gisondi, P., & Bertelli, M. (2022). Main nutritional deficiencies. Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene, 63(2 Suppl 3), E93–E101. https://doi.org/10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2022.63.2S3.2752 Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9710417/
Kim, N. H., Park, J. H., Park, D. I., Sohn, C. I., Choi, K., & Jung, Y. S. (2018). Should asymptomatic young men with iron deficiency anemia necessarily undergo endoscopy?. The Korean journal of internal medicine, 33(6), 1084–1092. https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2016.421. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6234398/
Sicherer, S. H., Warren, C. M., Dant, C., Gupta, R. S., & Nadeau, K. C. (2020). Food Allergy from Infancy Through Adulthood. The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice, 8(6), 1854–1864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2020.02.010 Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7899184/
Top-rated Vitamin and Supplement Brands and Merchants for 2023 Based on Consumer Satisfaction. Consumer Labs. 2023 February 25. Retrieved from https://www.consumerlab.com/news/top-rated-vitamins-and-supplements-2023/02-25-2023/
USDA. Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025. 2020 December. Retrieved from https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf
Victoria J. Drake, Ph.D. Micronutrient Inadequacies in the US Population: an Overview. Linus Pauling Institute. 2017 November. Retrieved from https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/micronutrient-inadequacies/overview#micronutrient-deficiencies-inadequacies
