Head to head · Vitamins & Minerals
NatureWise Vitamin D3 5000 IU Softgels vs Sports Research Vitamin D3 + K2 (5000 IU)
NatureWise scores higher overall (8.5 vs 7.8 out of 10), mainly on quality & purity and value.
Updated October 2026 from our full reviews · How we score
An NSF-certified vitamin D3 mini softgel in olive oil for about 4 cents a day, but its 5,000 IU dose exceeds the 4,000 IU adult upper limit.
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Amazon's top D3+K2 pick: vegan lichen D3 plus MK-7 K2 in coconut MCT oil; the 5,000 IU dose exceeds the adult upper limit for daily use.
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 NatureWise if…
- Adults whose clinician has confirmed low vitamin D and recommends 5,000 IU
- Budget shoppers who want an independently certified vitamin D3
- People who find large pills hard to swallow
- You care most about quality & purity, value
Choose Sports Research if…
- Vegans who want lichen-derived D3
- People with a documented deficiency under medical guidance
- Anyone who wants D3 and K2 in one small softgel
Key differences
- Biggest scoring gap
- Value: NatureWise 9.7, Sports Research 7.8. This factor covers cost per effective serving compared with category peers.
- Independent testing
- Only NatureWise carries NSF Contents Certified; Sports Research has no independent certification we could verify. NSF Contents Certified: NSF confirms the product contains what the label says and no harmful levels of contaminants.
- Format
- NatureWise: softgel, 360 servings per container; Sports Research: softgel, 60 servings per container.
- Dietary labels
- Only NatureWise is labeled dairy-free. Only Sports Research is labeled vegan.
Ingredients they share
Per serving, as each label lists it.
| Ingredient | Vitamin D3 5000 IU Softgels | Vitamin D3 + K2 (5000 IU) |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D | 125 mcg (5,000 IU) | 125 mcg (5,000 IU) |
Side by side
| Vitamin D3 5000 IU Softgels | Vitamin D3 + K2 (5000 IU) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.5 / 10 | 7.8 / 10 |
| Efficacy (30%) | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Quality & Purity (25%) | 8.7 | 7.4 |
| Value (20%) | 9.7 | 7.8 |
| Experience (15%) | 8.8 | 8.8 |
| Transparency (10%) | 8.2 | 8.3 |
| Form | Softgel | Softgel |
| Serving | 1 Softgel360 servings per container | 1 veggie softgel60 servings per container |
| Price per serving | $0.04 | See retailer |
| Testing & certifications | NSF Contents CertifiedcGMP facility | Non-GMO Project VerifiedCertified VeganThird-party testedcGMP facility |
| Dietary | Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Soy-free, Non-GMO | Vegan, Gluten-free, Soy-free, Non-GMO |
| Key ingredients |
|
|
| Flavors | — | — |
| Creator video reviews | 5 | 5 |
Pros and cons
Vitamin D3 5000 IU Softgels
- NSF Contents Certified, confirmed in NSF's public listings
- About 4 cents a day for a year's supply at the brand's list price
- Very small softgels that buyers describe as tasteless and easy to swallow
- 5,000 IU exceeds the 4,000 IU adult upper limit for daily use
- Softgels can fuse together when shipped or stored in heat
Vitamin D3 + K2 (5000 IU)
- Certified Vegan and Non-GMO Project Verified, with no soy, gelatin or carrageenan
- D3 from lichen plus K2 as long-acting MK-7
- Tiny, easy-to-swallow softgel in an MCT oil base
- 5,000 IU exceeds the 4,000 IU adult upper limit for daily use
- No USP or NSF certification; testing claims are the brand's own
Our verdict: NatureWise vs Sports Research
NatureWise is the stronger product overall, 8.5 to 7.8 in our scoring, ahead on quality & purity and value. Each full review shows the evidence, testing and buyer feedback behind these scores.
What creators say
Questions people ask
Is NatureWise better than Sports Research?
Are NatureWise and Sports Research third-party tested?
Who should choose NatureWise over Sports Research?
What is the difference between NatureWise and Sports Research?
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