Head to head · Vitamins & Minerals
Nature's Bounty Vitamin B-12 1,000 mcg vs NOW Foods Vitamin C-1000 Sustained Release
Nature's Bounty scores higher overall (8.5 vs 8.1 out of 10), mainly on efficacy and experience. NOW Foods still leads on quality & purity and transparency.
Updated September 2026 from our full reviews · How we score
A best-selling 1,000 mcg cyanocobalamin tablet at about 5 cents a day; small and easy to swallow, with no third-party seal.
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1,000 mg of vitamin C with rose hips in a sustained-release tablet for about 6 cents a day; far more than most people need, but cheap and cleanly made.
We may earn a commission when you buy through these links — it never affects our scores. How we make money
We may earn a commission when you buy through these links — it never affects our scores. How we make money
The short answer
Choose Nature's Bounty if…
- Adults over 50 and others at higher risk of low B12
- People who eat few or no animal foods
- Budget shoppers
- You care most about efficacy, experience
Choose NOW Foods if…
- People with low fruit and vegetable intake
- Smokers and endurance athletes
- Budget shoppers who want a large bottle
- You care most about quality & purity, transparency
Side by side
| Vitamin B-12 1,000 mcg | Vitamin C-1000 Sustained Release | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.5 / 10 | 8.1 / 10 |
| Efficacy (30%) | 8.8 | 7.4 |
| Quality & Purity (25%) | 7.2 | 7.6 |
| Value (20%) | 9.8 | 9.6 |
| Experience (15%) | 9.0 | 7.8 |
| Transparency (10%) | 7.5 | 8.8 |
| Form | Tablet | Tablet |
| Serving | 1 tablet200 servings per container | 1 tablet250 servings per container |
| Testing & certifications | None verified | cGMP facilityKosherHalal |
| Dietary | Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Non-GMO, Soy-free, Dairy-free, Sugar-free | Vegan, Gluten-free, Soy-free, Dairy-free, Non-GMO |
| Key ingredients |
|
|
| Flavors | — | — |
| Creator video reviews | 1 | 2 |
Pros and cons
Vitamin B-12 1,000 mcg
- About $0.05 per day
- 1,000 mcg dose compensates for limited absorption of oral B12
- Small, coated tablets that are easy to swallow
- Non-GMO, gluten-free and suitable for vegetarians
- No USP or NSF certification
- Brand site shows an outdated %DV and the Amazon listing has copy errors
- Far more B12 than people with normal levels need
Vitamin C-1000 Sustained Release
- About $0.06 per day
- 1,000 mg dose stays well under the 2,000 mg upper limit
- Vegan, kosher and halal, made without major allergens
- GMP-certified manufacturing
- Far above daily needs, and absorption drops below 50% above 1 g
- Large oval tablet with a noticeable vitamin smell
- No evidence offered for the sustained-release design
- No USP or NSF certification
Our verdicts
Vitamin B-12 1,000 mcg
For most people who need extra B12, this is the simplest and cheapest effective option: a well-studied form at a dose that compensates for limited absorption, in a tablet anyone can swallow. It lacks independent certification and its listings are sloppy, but the formula itself is sound.
Full review
Vitamin C-1000 Sustained Release
An inexpensive, well-made way to take 1,000 mg of vitamin C a day from a manufacturer with solid quality systems. Most people get enough vitamin C from food, so it suits heavy exercisers, smokers and people with low fruit and vegetable intake best; others can take it less often.
Full review
What creators say
Questions people ask
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