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Head to head · Collagen

Sports Research Collagen Peptides vs Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides (Unflavored)

Sports Research and Vital Proteins finish level in our scoring (8.0 vs 8.1), so the right pick depends on what you value most — Sports Research is stronger on transparency, Vital Proteins on quality & purity.

Updated September 2026 from our full reviews · How we score

Single-ingredient bovine collagen with a full amino acid profile on the label, NSF Certified Gluten-Free; 11 g scoops make the dose flexible, and it is a TikTok Shop staple.

Check price on AmazonShop on TikTok Shop20.3K+ sold

We may earn a commission when you buy through these links — it never affects our scores. How we make money

Read the full review

20 g of grass-fed bovine collagen peptides per serving and nothing else, NSF Certified for Sport; the TikTok Shop and Amazon bestseller that set the category.

Check price on AmazonShop on TikTok Shop24.5K+ sold

We may earn a commission when you buy through these links — it never affects our scores. How we make money

Read the full review

We may earn a commission when you buy through these links — it never affects our scores. How we make money

The short answer

Choose Sports Research if…

  • People who want a single-ingredient collagen with full label detail
  • Adjustable dosing, from 11 g to 22 g
  • Daily use in hot coffee or tea
  • You care most about transparency

Choose Vital Proteins if…

  • Athletes who need NSF Certified for Sport products
  • People who want a single-ingredient collagen for coffee
  • Buyers who value third-party verification over price
  • You care most about quality & purity

Side by side

Collagen PeptidesCollagen Peptides (Unflavored)
Our score8.0 / 108.1 / 10
Efficacy (30%)7.07.2
Quality & Purity (25%)8.39.0
Value (20%)8.38.4
Experience (15%)8.48.2
Transparency (10%)9.28.0
FormPowderPowder
Serving1 scoop (11 g)41 servings per container4 level tbsp (20 g)14 servings per container
Testing & certifications
Certified Gluten-FreeThird-party testedcGMP facility
NSF Certified for SportcGMP facility
DietaryGluten-free, Dairy-free, Keto-friendly, Non-GMOGluten-free, Dairy-free, Paleo, Keto-friendly, Sugar-free, Non-GMO
Key ingredients
  • Hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides11 g
  • Glycine2,400 mg
  • Hydroxyproline1,020 mg
  • Collagen peptides (from bovine hide)20 g
  • Protein18 g
Flavors4 (Unflavored, Vanilla, Dark Chocolate…)5 (Unflavored, Vanilla, Chocolate…)
Creator video reviews35

Pros and cons

Collagen Peptides

  • Single ingredient: hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides
  • Typical amino acid profile printed on the label
  • NSF Certified Gluten-Free; IGEN non-GMO; cGMP compliant
  • About $0.73 per 10 g collagen at Amazon pricing
  • 4.6 stars from 130,000+ buyer ratings; 20,000+ sold on TikTok Shop
  • 11 g scoops mean two scoops for a 20 g dose
  • Label warns it clumps in cold liquids
  • No sport-specific certification
  • Informed Choice claim on some retail copy could not be verified

Collagen Peptides (Unflavored)

  • 20 g bovine collagen peptides per serving, single ingredient
  • NSF Certified for Sport listing; NSF-certified cGMP facility per the brand
  • Unflavored and mixes easily into hot drinks
  • Made without dairy or gluten; 0 g sugar
  • Huge review base: 4.6 stars from ~70,000 buyer ratings
  • Label does not list an amino acid profile
  • Paper canister holds only about 14 servings and ships without a scoop, per a TikTok reviewer
  • Amazon listing carries a California Prop 65 warning for lead
  • Easy to confuse with the Advanced version that adds hyaluronic acid and vitamin C

Our verdicts

Collagen Peptides

A clean, honestly labeled collagen with a published amino acid profile, reasonable pricing and an enormous review base. It lacks a sport certification, and the small 11 g scoop means most people will need two for a typical 20 g dose, but for everyday collagen use it is one of the easiest recommendations.

Full review

Collagen Peptides (Unflavored)

The safest choice if you want a plain collagen powder: a full 20 g dose, one ingredient and NSF Certified for Sport status. The science behind collagen for skin is weaker than the marketing suggests, and the small canister is not the cheapest per gram, but few competitors match its verification.

Full review

What creators say

Questions people ask

Is Sports Research better than Vital Proteins?
They score about the same in our reviews (8.0 vs 8.1 out of 10). Sports Research leads on transparency; Vital Proteins leads on quality & purity. Choose based on the factors that matter most to you.
Are Sports Research and Vital Proteins third-party tested?
Sports Research has no independent certification we could verify; Vital Proteins carries NSF Certified for Sport. Sport-level certifications screen for banned substances, which matters for drug-tested athletes.
Who should choose Sports Research over Vital Proteins?
Our reviews suggest Sports Research is best for people who want a single-ingredient collagen with full label detail, adjustable dosing, from 11 g to 22 g and daily use in hot coffee or tea, while Vital Proteins is best for athletes who need NSF Certified for Sport products, people who want a single-ingredient collagen for coffee and buyers who value third-party verification over price.

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