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Head to head · Omega-3 & Fish Oil

Carlson The Very Finest Fish Oil (Liquid) vs Sports Research Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil

Sports Research scores higher overall (9.0 vs 8.8 out of 10), mainly on value and experience. Carlson still leads on efficacy.

Updated September 2026 from our full reviews · How we score

One lemon-flavored teaspoon delivers 1,300 mg EPA+DHA from Norwegian-processed fish oil, IFOS certified; the high-dose pick for people who hate capsules.

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Higher score

950 mg EPA+DHA in a single IFOS-certified softgel from wild Alaska pollock, at roughly a third of a dollar per day; the value benchmark for fish oil.

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The short answer

Choose Carlson if…

  • People who cannot or will not swallow capsules
  • Higher EPA+DHA intakes in a single spoonful
  • Families who want a flavored liquid omega-3
  • You care most about efficacy

Choose Sports Research if…

  • One-softgel daily EPA+DHA
  • Budget-conscious buyers who still want IFOS testing
  • Pescatarians (fish-gelatin softgel)
  • You care most about value, experience

Side by side

The Very Finest Fish Oil (Liquid)Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil
Our score8.8 / 109.0 / 10
Efficacy (30%)9.08.6
Quality & Purity (25%)9.39.2
Value (20%)8.09.3
Experience (15%)8.48.9
Transparency (10%)9.39.2
FormLiquidSoftgel
Serving1 teaspoon (5 mL)40 servings per container1 softgel90 servings per container
Testing & certifications
Third-party tested
Third-party testedcGMP facility
DietaryGluten-free, Non-GMOGluten-free, Non-GMO
Key ingredients
  • EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)800 mg
  • DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)500 mg
  • DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)90 mg
  • Vitamin E (as d-alpha tocopherol)6.7 mg (45% DV)
  • EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)690 mg
  • DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)260 mg
  • Total omega-3 fatty acids as triglycerides1,040 mg
Flavors5 (Lemon, Orange, Mixed Berry…)—
Creator video reviews35

Pros and cons

The Very Finest Fish Oil (Liquid)

  • 800 mg EPA + 500 mg DHA + 90 mg DPA per teaspoon
  • IFOS certified with lot-level reports; Friend of the Sea certified
  • Clean lemon flavor with little aftertaste, per buyers and reviewers
  • Flexible dosing and five flavor options
  • 4.8 stars from 7,600+ buyer ratings
  • Must be refrigerated and used within 100 days of opening
  • Thick texture; can cloud or partly solidify when cold
  • Around $0.57 per gram of EPA+DHA, pricier than value softgels
  • Glass bottle is less convenient for travel

Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil

  • 690 mg EPA + 260 mg DHA in one softgel
  • IFOS certified with batch-level results in the public Nutrasource database
  • About $0.33 per daily softgel
  • MSC-certified wild Alaska pollock; IGEN non-GMO certified
  • 4.7 stars from 60,000+ buyer ratings; buyers report no fishy burps
  • DHA is relatively low (260 mg) compared with EPA
  • Unflavored, so any fishiness is not masked
  • Tocopherols are the only added antioxidant
  • Not suitable for fish allergies or vegans

Our verdicts

The Very Finest Fish Oil (Liquid)

The best liquid fish oil we reviewed: a potent 1,300 mg EPA+DHA per teaspoon, IFOS certification, sustainable sourcing and a flavor that even fish-oil skeptics tolerate. You have to refrigerate it and finish the bottle within 100 days, so it rewards daily users rather than occasional ones.

Full review

Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil

This is our value pick for fish oil: nearly a gram of EPA+DHA per day from one small softgel, IFOS certification with public batch reports, MSC-certified sourcing and a very low cost per serving. It lacks flavoring and leans EPA-heavy, but for most adults who want a straightforward daily omega-3, it is hard to beat.

Full review

What creators say

Questions people ask

Is Carlson better than Sports Research?
In our scoring, Sports Research Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil rates higher overall (9.0 vs 8.8 out of 10). Carlson leads on efficacy; Sports Research leads on value and experience. Scores weigh efficacy, quality, value, experience and transparency.
Who should choose Carlson over Sports Research?
Our reviews suggest Carlson is best for people who cannot or will not swallow capsules, higher EPA+DHA intakes in a single spoonful and families who want a flavored liquid omega-3, while Sports Research is best for one-softgel daily EPA+DHA, budget-conscious buyers who still want IFOS testing and pescatarians (fish-gelatin softgel).

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