#1 Best Overall
Nature Made
Multi for Him
8.5Excellent
A USP Verified, iron-free men's multi dosed near 100% DV for about 11 cents a day; basic nutrient forms and gelatin are the trade-offs.
USP
2 videosMultivitamins
Category
Multivitamins
Daily nutrient insurance, compared on doses, forms, testing and real cost
- Products scored
- 6
- Average score
- 7.7
- Video reviews
- 26
Top picks
Our favorite multivitamins
#2
Thorne
Basic Nutrients 2/Day
8.2Good
Two-capsule, iron-free multi with active B vitamins and chelated minerals, NSF certified; trade-offs are a strong smell and B-vitamin doses far above the DV.
NSF SportNSF Contents
5 videos Shop$1.20/serving
#3 Best Value
Centrum
Adults Multivitamin
8.0Good
The drugstore benchmark: one tablet with 24 nutrients near 100% DV, including iron, iodine and folic acid, for about six cents a day. No third-party seal.
4 videosMultivitamins
The essentials
What to know about multivitamins
A multivitamin/mineral supplement (MVM) combines vitamins and minerals in one daily tablet, capsule, gummy or liquid. There is no regulatory definition of what a multivitamin must contain, so formulas range from nine nutrients to more than two dozen, at doses from a fraction of the Daily Value to many times it. About a third of U.S. adults take one, according to NIH survey data.
Their clearest role is filling gaps. People on restricted diets, older adults and women who could become pregnant are more likely to fall short on nutrients such as vitamin D, B12, iodine, folate or iron. The evidence for disease prevention is more modest: in the Physicians' Health Study II a daily multivitamin modestly lowered cancer incidence in male physicians, but in the COSMOS trial it did not reduce heart attacks, strokes or deaths, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force judged the evidence insufficient to recommend multivitamins for preventing heart disease or cancer.
We compare multivitamins on how well doses match real needs without exceeding upper limits, the ingredient forms used, third-party testing, price per daily serving and how easy they are to take every day.
Every product
All multivitamins we’ve reviewed
6 products
Best Overall
Nature Made
Multi for Him
8.5Excellent
A USP Verified, iron-free men's multi dosed near 100% DV for about 11 cents a day; basic nutrient forms and gelatin are the trade-offs.
USP
2 videosMultivitamins
Thorne
Basic Nutrients 2/Day
8.2Good
Two-capsule, iron-free multi with active B vitamins and chelated minerals, NSF certified; trade-offs are a strong smell and B-vitamin doses far above the DV.
NSF SportNSF Contents
5 videos Shop$1.20/serving
Best Value
Centrum
Adults Multivitamin
8.0Good
The drugstore benchmark: one tablet with 24 nutrients near 100% DV, including iron, iodine and folic acid, for about six cents a day. No third-party seal.
4 videosMultivitamins
Trending
Ritual
Essential for Women 18+
7.5Good
A nine-nutrient women's multi with vegan D3, methylfolate and 330 mg algal DHA; top-tier transparency, but no iodine or zinc and a premium price.
USPNon-GMO+1
5 videos ShopMultivitamins
OLLY
Women's Multi
7.3Mixed
A best-selling berry gummy with 800 IU D3, folate and iodine, NSF certified; a partial multi with no iron, little zinc and 2 g added sugar.
NSF Contents
5 videosMultivitamins
Trending
MaryRuth's
Liquid Morning Multivitamin
6.5Mixed
The TikTok-favorite raspberry liquid multi: easy for pill-averse users, with active B vitamins, but almost no minerals and a small proprietary blend.
Clean Label
5 videos ShopMultivitamins
Buying guide
How to choose multivitamins
The five things we look at first — and what they mean for you.
- 01
Match the formula to who you are
Needs differ by age and sex. Menstruating women need about 18 mg of iron a day, while men and postmenopausal women need 8 mg and usually do better with low-iron or iron-free formulas. Women who could become pregnant should look for folate and iodine, and adults over 50 benefit from reliable vitamin B12. Gender-specific labels help, but always read the actual panel.
- 02
Check doses against upper limits
More is not better. Compare each nutrient with its tolerable upper intake level, especially if you also take single-nutrient supplements or eat fortified foods. Watch vitamin D (4,000 IU), zinc (40 mg), iron (45 mg), preformed vitamin A (3,000 mcg), supplemental magnesium (350 mg) and folic acid (1,000 mcg). NIH notes that some multivitamin users exceed limits for niacin, vitamin A, iron and zinc.
- 03
Look for independent testing
Label accuracy varies, so third-party certification is the best available check that a bottle contains what it claims. USP Verified and NSF certifications confirm contents and screen for contaminants, and NSF Certified for Sport adds banned-substance testing for athletes. Claims of third-party testing without a named certifier are harder to verify, so give them less weight.
- 04
Don't pay extra for the wrong things
Premium features such as methylfolate, methylcobalamin and chelated minerals can matter for some people, but NIH finds no evidence that B12 absorption differs by form, and folic acid is the form behind the research on neural tube defect prevention. Proprietary blends, token botanical additions and vague marketing terms add cost without clear benefit. Compare price per daily serving, not per bottle.
- 05
Pick a format you will actually take
Consistency matters more than perfection. Gummies are easy to take but usually supply fewer nutrients, little or no iron and a few grams of sugar. Liquids suit people who cannot swallow pills but may need refrigeration. Tablets and capsules pack the most nutrients per dollar. Most multivitamins are best taken with a meal to limit stomach upset and help absorb fat-soluble vitamins.
Head to head
Popular comparisons
Ingredients
Compare by ingredient
Video reviews
What creators say about multivitamins
Frequently asked questions
Key sources
- Multivitamin/mineral Supplements: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (NIH Office of Dietary Supplements)
- Vitamin, Mineral, and Multivitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: Final Recommendation Statement (US Preventive Services Task Force, 2022)
- Multivitamins in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease: the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) randomized clinical trial (Am J Clin Nutr, 2022)
Do multivitamins prevent heart disease or cancer?
The evidence does not support taking them for that purpose. In 2022 the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concluded that evidence is insufficient to judge the benefits and harms of multivitamins for preventing cardiovascular disease or cancer, and it recommends against beta carotene and vitamin E supplements for that goal. In the COSMOS trial, a daily multivitamin did not reduce cardiovascular events or deaths in older adults, although the earlier Physicians' Health Study II found an 8% lower cancer incidence in men.
Who is most likely to benefit from a multivitamin?
People whose diet or life stage makes gaps likely: those eating restricted or mostly plant-based diets, older adults who may absorb less vitamin B12, women who could become pregnant and need folate and iodine, and people with low intakes of iron or vitamin D. NIH also notes that the groups at highest risk of shortfalls are often the least likely to take multivitamins.
Is it safe to take a multivitamin with other supplements?
Usually, but add up the totals. Combining a multivitamin with separate vitamin D, zinc, iron, vitamin A or B6 can push intake past upper limits, and extra vitamin K matters for anyone taking warfarin. High-dose biotin, common in hair and nail products, can distort some lab test results. Bring your full supplement list to medical appointments.
Are gummy multivitamins as good as tablets?
They are easier to take but usually less complete. Gummies often leave out iron and several minerals and contain added sugar; the best-selling gummy we reviewed provides 2 g of added sugar and no iron, calcium or magnesium. If a gummy is the only multivitamin you will take consistently, it can still cover common gaps such as vitamin D and B12, but check what it omits.
When is the best time to take a multivitamin?
With a meal. Food helps the body absorb the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K and reduces the nausea that iron, zinc and B vitamins can cause on an empty stomach, a complaint that shows up often in buyer reviews. Morning or evening matters less than consistency, so pick a time you will remember, and keep iron-containing products out of children's reach.
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