On our quest to find the best vitamin C supplements on the market, I tested 10 different products, giving my professional perspective as a registered dietitian and board certified specialist in sports nutrition. The role of vitamin C has been credited with a myriad of health benefits including collagen production, wound healing, and even lowering blood pressure.
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Though vitamin C can absolutely play a role in these functions, dietary supplements aren’t necessarily the answer. That said, they are also forgiving parts of your routine, as they are one of the most harmless vitamin supplements you can try when taken responsibly. But there are so many out there, which one is best? Let’s give you a place to start with our picks.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider.
The 10 Best Vitamin C Supplements of 2025
- Best Vitamin C Supplement Overall: Performance Lab Vitamin C
- Best Powder Vitamin C Supplement: Nutricost Ascorbic Acid Powder
- Best Vitamin C Supplement Capsule: Thorne Vitamin C with Flavonoids
- Best Gummy Vitamin C Supplement: Nordic Naturals Vitamin C
- Best Liquid Vitamin C Supplement: Mary Ruth’s Megadose Vitamin C
- Best Vegan Vitamin C Supplement: Bulk Supplements Vitamin C
- Best Vitamin C Supplement for Absorption: Life Extension Vitamin C
- Best Vitamin C Supplement with Added Antioxidants: Garden of Life Vitamin C
- Best Vitamin C Supplement for Hydration: Emergen-C
- Best Vitamin C Supplement with Whole Food Ingredients: Megafood Ultra-C
Best Vitamin C Supplement Overall: Performance Lab Vitamin C
Good for: Those not looking to get their RDA of Vitamin C without large doses
Performance Lab is a brand that offers dietary supplements under the commitment of enhancing human performance. As a sports dietitian, I have to be blunt and say there isn’t a ton that vitamin C can do for athletic performance that can’t be accomplished with a healthy diet.
The 2 capsules went down pretty decently and I had no issues. But there’s only 250 mg of vitamin C, which I guess they justify by proclaiming it’s more bioavailable. Not that it’s abysmally low, but you can definitely find higher doses for a lower price, as this stuff is expensive for a vitamin C supplement.
Given this, I gave a 5 out of 5 for swallowability and a 2 out of 5 for price. I will say, although the price may be out of budget for a lot of people, I do like that there isn’t a lot of extra junk. I also like that the capsule is vegan and made from prebiotic fiber, which could contribute passively to some gut health benefits. So, as far as formulation, it earns a 4 out of 5.
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| Price per serving: | $1.23 |
| Serving form: | Capsule |
| Serving size: | 2 capsules |
| Calories per serving: | 0 |
| Vitamin C per serving: | 250mg |
| Other key ingredients: | None |
| Available flavors: | None |
| Third-party testing: | No |
Best Powder Vitamin C Supplement: Nutricost Vitamin C Powder
Good for: People who may be taking multiple powder supplements
Nutricost has made a name for themselves in the supplement industry for providing affordable products that also give the consumer what they need and their vitamin C supplement is no different. This is why we named it the best vitamin C powder on this list.
I was stoked when I saw how small the scoop was, though, if you thought your days of fishing your scoop out of your tub were over, you’ll have just one more using this product. It was a little messy the first time I used it.
This product offers one gram of vitamin C per serving, which is about 1,111% of your daily needs and at only three cents per serving — a steal. With that in mind, we rated a 5 out of 5 for formulation and a 5 out of 5 for price.
In terms of taste and solubility, I had some thoughts. After mixing this with eight ounces of water, as instructed, I was shocked by how quickly it dissolved. I barely had to mix it at all. However, this happiness quickly faded when I tasted it. Unfortunately, it’s so sour and since there are no fun and fruity flavor options, it was the only taste I got. Not the most pleasant. That said, I awarded a 5 out of 5 for solubility and a 2 out of 5 for taste.
| Price per serving: | $0.03 |
| Serving form: | Powder |
| Serving size: | 1 gram |
| Calories per serving: | 0 |
| Vitamin C per serving: | 1 gram |
| Other key ingredients: | None |
| Available flavors: | None |
| Third-party testing: | No |
Best Vitamin C Supplement Capsule: Thorne Vitamin C with Flavonoids
Good for: Individuals looking for a small serving vitamin C capsule
Thorne is a trusted brand among athletes and sports teams. I actually have personal experience with Thorne’s reputation. I’ve used and trusted Thorne for all my athletes’ supplement needs when I was the head of performance nutrition at the NBA G League. But what did I think of their vitamin C?
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I liked that the capsules were a manageable size that were easy to get down. The cellulose capsule means you’re spared of any acidic taste that you sometimes get with vitamin C supplements. Thorne earned a 5 out of 5 for swallowability and a 5 out of 5 for taste. I also gave a 5 out of 5 for formulation.
There’s not much to be desired. The dosage is great and I love the inclusion of the bioflavonoids. Studies done on vitamin C supplements have shown that bioflavonoids not only enhance the antioxidant properties1 of the supplement, but make them easier for the body to absorb as well.
I just had to knock a bit off of the score because, while Thorne had this product tested for safety and potency, it is not NSF Certified for Sport like nearly all of their other products.
| Price per serving: | $0.23 |
| Serving form: | Capsule |
| Serving size: | 1 capsule |
| Calories per serving: | 0 |
| Vitamin C per serving: | 500 mg |
| Other key ingredients: | Citrus bioflavonoids |
| Available flavors: | None |
| Third-party testing: | No |
Best Gummy Vitamin C Supplement: Nordic Naturals Vitamin C
Good for: People who prefer their vitamins in a gummy form
Nordic Naturals is true to its name and included no artificial flavors or colors in their vitamin C gummies, despite the little guys looking and tasting just like tiny orange slices. Like most of our GGR testers, I leapt at the opportunity to test this one when I found out it was a gummy vitamin.
Let me say, man, these things are tasty. They’ve also got a texture that just crumbles in your mouth, which I’m not sure is a good thing because that means that awesome taste doesn’t stick around for long! Given this feedback they earned a 5 out of 5 for texture and 5 out of 5 for taste.
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I did have to award a 3 out of 5 for formulation though. The dosage is fine, but I hate that there are four grams of two types of sugar per serving. That’s the equivalent of five skittles, which isn’t exactly what you want in an antioxidant supplement, especially for daily intake. Unlike many vitamin C gummies, there is no gelatin so it is a friendly product for vegans, which is good news!
| Price per serving: | $0.75 |
| Serving form: | Gummies |
| Serving size: | 2 gummies |
| Calories per serving: | 20 |
| Vitamin C per serving: | 250 mg |
| Other key ingredients: | None |
| Available flavors: | Orange |
| Third-party testing: | No |
Best Liquid Vitamin C Supplement: Mary Ruth’s Megadose Vitamin C
Good for: Those who don’t want to have to fuss with mixing or pills to get their vitamin C
This type of vitamin C is called “megadose” because it contains over 500% of your recommended daily allowance, and it is encased in special types of fats called liposomes that greatly enhance the vitamin C bioavailability2 compared to other sources like ascorbic acid, acerola, rose hips, or a multivitamin.
One serving is half a tablespoon, but that’s not included with the bottle, so if you are on the go, you’ll have to carry your measuring spoon around. Unfortunately, this isn’t the most convenient for everyone.
That said, I really liked the fatty texture of this. It coats your mouth and tastes kind of like a dreamsicle. So, I gave it a 5 out of 5 for taste. That said, I could totally see a lot of people not vibing with the texture, as it’s not typical of a vitamin supplement. The liposomal fat added could also make it tough to mix in other liquids if you don’t like the texture by itself. Thus, I had to give a 3 out of 5 for texture.
The formulation is also interesting. There’s a megadose of vitamin C, as promised, but there’s also the fat-soluble vitamin vitamin E included, which should be efficiently absorbed with the healthy fats of the supplement. That said, there’s only 23% of the RDA of vitamin E, which seems like a missed opportunity. So, I gave a 4 out of 5 for formulation.
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| Price per serving: | $0.83 |
| Serving form: | Liquid |
| Serving size: | ½ tablespoon |
| Calories per serving: | 70 |
| Vitamin C per serving: | 500 mg |
| Other key ingredients: | Vitamin E, Sunflower Seed Oil |
| Available flavors: | Orange |
| Third-party testing: | No |
Best Vegan Vitamin C Supplement: Bulk Supplements Vitamin C
Good for: People who want a vitamin C capsule they won’t have to restock often
Currently the #6 Best Seller in Vitamins & Minerals on the Bulk Supplements website, Bulk Supplements’ vitamin C has to be one of the cheapest, but most popular vegan vitamins out there. If you have trouble swallowing pills like me, you’ll love these. The capsules are quite small and you only need two. Also, they really don’t taste like anything.
That considered, I gave these a 5 out of 5 for swallowability and a 5 out of 5 for taste. Just be prepared to have this in your medicine cabinet for a while, as there is no smaller container available — only bulk.
I love the price and it’s around what it should be for a vitamin C supplement, in my opinion. So, naturally, it earned a 5 out of 5 for price, but I had to knock the overall rating for not being tested for sport. However, such a supplement is hard to find with this brand.
| Price per serving: | $0.13 |
| Serving form: | Capsule |
| Serving size: | 2 capsules |
| Calories per serving: | 0 |
| Vitamin C per serving: | 1 gram |
| Other key ingredients: | None |
| Available flavors: | None |
| Third-party testing: | No |
Best Vitamin C Supplement for Absorption: Life Extension Vitamin C
Good for: People who want a high dose in a single tablet
Life Extension contains Bio-Quercetin, which they claim is a form of Quercetin that is up to 62x more absorbable than standard quercetin, a type of flavonoid antioxidant. Though there is no reliable research on this particular form of quercetin, studies done on the compound have shown that it can enhance the absorption of other nutrients by up to 50%3.
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Unlike some of the others I tried, these tablets are huge. I really had some trouble getting just one down, but hopefully someone who had better luck with pills will be more lucky. Personally, I rated a 2 out of 5 for swallowability. I also rated a 5 out of 5 for price, as $0.09 is pretty good for a highly absorbable supplement.
This product also earned a 3 out of 5 for formulation, in my opinion. It’s cool they include the Quercetin and one gram of vitamin C,” Destini says. However, the extra ingredients like silica and glycerin seem unnecessary.
| Price per serving: | $0.09 |
| Serving form: | Tablet |
| Serving size: | 1 tablet |
| Calories per serving: | 0 |
| Vitamin C per serving: | 1 gram |
| Other key ingredients: | Quercetin |
| Available flavors: | None |
| Third-party testing: | No |
Best Vitamin C Supplements with Added Antioxidants: Garden of Life Vitamin C
Good for: Individuals who want a little more for immune support than just vitamin C
Garden of Life, for as long as we’ve been familiar with the brand, has been committed to organic products that are sustainably sourced. So, if you’re passionate about the environment, this is a good brand to consider.
I can’t lie, I couldn’t stand the taste of these, though. Maybe it’s because all of the extra ingredients gave it a flavor I didn’t expect, but I honestly had to hold my nose. I couldn’t help but give it a 1 out of 5 rating for taste.
The caplets are also pretty big, probably to fit in all the extra antioxidants, so it makes sense. I could have swallowed them with only moderate difficulty if the taste wasn’t so bad. Compared to the others, this one earned a 3 out of 5 for swallowability.
On the positive side, I love that the formulation contains antioxidants from actual citrus fruits. But the total amount included is pretty small, so who knows if it’s enough to actually provide any health benefits. Still, it’s more than other brands offer, so I gave a 4 out of 5 for formulation.
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| Price per serving: | $0.56 |
| Serving form: | Caplet |
| Serving size: | 2 caplets |
| Calories per serving: | 0 |
| Vitamin C per serving: | 250 mg |
| Other key ingredients: | Citrus fruits blend, antioxidant blend |
| Available flavors: | None |
| Third-party testing: | No |
Best Vitamin C Supplement for Hydration: Emergen-C
Good for: Those who want to turn their vitamin C into a fun beverage
As a kid, the one good thing about catching a cold was my aunt handing me a cup of Emergen-C while I was tucked into bed. Emergen-C is arguably the most popular vitamin C supplement out there and for good reason, given how easy and pleasant it is to sip.
Without a doubt, the taste is a 5 out of 5. The fizziness and the not-too-sweet flavor make this a top tier supplement in my opinion. I just wish there wasn’t so much sugar. With six grams of sugar, it kind of sours all the extra vitamins and minerals in the powder, so I gave a 3.5 out of 5 for formulation.
I also like the added electrolytes. Many people who take this are actively sick and need hydration with their fluids. It mixes in a super complete and satisfying way, too. It mixes smoothly, too, earning a 5 out of 5 for solubility.
| Price per serving: | $0.43 |
| Serving form: | Powder |
| Serving size: | 9.1 grams |
| Calories per serving: | 35 |
| Vitamin C per serving: | 1 gram |
| Other key ingredients: | 7 vitamins, 6 minerals, and 2 electrolytes |
| Available flavors: | Orange, Pink Lemonade, Raspberry, Strawberry Kiwi, Tangerine, Tropical |
| Third-party testing: | No |
Best Vitamin C Supplement with Whole Food Ingredients: Megafood Ultra-C
Good for: Individuals who want a more wholesome vitamin C supplement
MegaFood’s Vitamin C supplement not only has 400 mg of vitamin C, but also includes essences of various fruits and vegetables that, similar to vitamin C, help to fight free radicals for a super potent supplement. Overall, the formulation was pretty good and I liked the dose of vitamin C.
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I will say, though, the tablets smell and taste like dog food. I have literally no other way to describe it; these were best put into a veggie capsule rather than vitamin C tablets. So, they earned a 1 out of 5 for taste.
The formulation is good, though, despite some filler ingredients. This product also offers a great dose for those who don’t want a megadose. Plus, there’s even more whole food ingredients than vitamin C, which makes for a great value for only $0.50 per serving. With that feedback, I awarded a 4 out of 5 for formulation and a 4 out of 5 for price.
| Price per serving: | $0.50 |
| Serving form: | Tablet |
| Serving size: | 1 tablet |
| Calories per serving: | 0 |
| Vitamin C per serving: | 400 mg |
| Other key ingredients: | Organic oranges, blueberries, cranberries, brown rice, broccoli, parsley leaf, carrots & beetroot |
| Available flavors: | None |
| Third-party testing: | No |
How We Picked and Tested the Best Vitamin C Supplements
Our supplement experts searched for products from brands they trust, with formulations and forms that might appeal to consumers with interests, goals, and budgets different from our own. Our top ascorbic acid supplements are ranked based on the following factors:
Proper Dosages
Many products contain doses of vitamin C much higher than the RDA. This is likely due to the common knowledge that a water-soluble vitamin like vitamin C is super hard to reach a toxicity with as the body tends to use what it needs and then purge the excess in one’s urine. Thus, the amount of vitamin C was important as there’s no good reason to underdose as a supplement company except to cut costs.
Pure Ingredients
Taking a supplement that’s often offered at doses way higher than the RDA, there’s already a reluctance around safety. So, we looked for supplements that delivered vitamin C sourced from natural sources rather than synthetic ones such as ascorbic acid, elderberry, acerola, and rose hips.
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Price
Let’s be honest, vitamin C is pretty low on the priority list of nutrients to supplement as we usually get enough vitamin C from food. Take it from us, you’re a far way away from scurvy (a vitamin c deficiency) unless you follow a strict carnivore diet. So, getting the supplement at an affordable price is key from a practical standpoint.
Benefits of Vitamin C Supplements
To be frank, the role of vitamin C in the body is important, but that doesn’t mean you need to supplement. That said, there could be some situations where the effects of vitamin C could be benefited from through supplementation.
May Provide Immune Support
The most well-known of the effects of vitamin C is its role in immune support. A common misconception is that, if you take enough vitamin C, you can cure things like the common cold much sooner. However, science has debunked this claims.
Where vitamin C can help the immune system, however, is to help with the production of white blood cells, which play a role in fighting pathogens in the body. Intake of vitamin C can also protect these white blood cells4 in the immune system from the damage of free radicals.
Second, vitamin C helps these white blood cells function more effectively while protecting them from damage by potentially harmful molecules, such as free radicals.
Promotes Heart Health
There’s actually a good amount of strong evidence that those with higher levels of vitamin C may have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It was suggested that vitamin C’s ability to fight the damage of free radicals in the blood vessels helps make them more pliable5.
That said, most analyses and healthcare professionals that work with cardiovascular disease say that vitamin C from food like orange juice, other citrus fruits and brussels sprouts, not supplements6, is what actually helps exert benefits such as lower cholesterol.
Helps Maintain Positive Iron Status
As a very important nutrient, iron plays many different roles in the body, but the main function is the transportation of oxygen, which is super important for those who are athletic. Where does vitamin C come in? It’s been shown that vitamin C helps to significantly increase iron absorption from foods7.
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This is extremely useful for those who follow a plant-based or vegan diet as plant sources of iron from food tend to be poorly absorbed. It’s also great for people with anemia who may not want to rely on iron supplements. In fact, one study showed that those with high levels of vitamin C had a reduced risk of developing anemia, especially after taking a vitamin C supplement8.
Potential Side Effects
As mentioned, if you get too much vitamin C, your body is actually pretty good at excreting it efficiently. However, that doesn’t mean you should be careless with your intake, especially since most supplements of ascorbic acid contain amounts way higher than the RDA.
That’s because the RDA is only a guideline to help prevent vitamin C deficiency, it doesn’t mean that’s how much you should take to see health benefits like enhanced wound healing or collagen production. Here are some side effects that are signs you might be getting too much vitamin C:
- Stomach upset
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
So, do not consume more than the upper limit of vitamin C which has been established as 2 grams by the National Institutes of Health. You also want to talk to a healthcare provider about vitamin C supplements if you have kidney stones or liver problems.
How Much Vitamin C Should I Take Per Day?
Vitamin C should be consumed on a daily basis no matter what age you are, but this is not necessarily mean you should always get it from taking supplements. Adults only need 90mg a day, which can be achieved easily with food sources of vitamin C.
This could look like just 6 ounces of orange juice and 1 cup of raw brussels sprouts. If you smoke, you’ll need more vitamin C than others due to a higher production of free radicals. For others, 500mg to 1 gram is a reasonable place to shoot for.
Buying Guide: What to Look for in Vitamin C Supplements
Vitamin C deficiency is rare, so you don’t have to worry about getting the right amount of vitamin C from supplements. Scurvy is a scary pirate disease that comes along with bleeding gums, poor wound healing, and anemia. However, it’s very rare in the US. That said, you may get medical advice from a professional to take a supplement and, if that happens, this is what to look for.
Bioavailability
Supplements containing ascorbic acid, a common form of vitamin C, have comparable bioavailability9 to natural ascorbic acid in foods. However, factors like dosage or addition of ingredients like Quercetin and liposomes can help your body absorb vitamin C better.
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Form
Vitamin C is derived from foods like elderberry and citrus fruits that are acidic in nature, so they can also taste that way in supplements. If this isn’t your jam, choosing a form like vitamin C gummies that are easier to tolerate may be preferable.
FAQs About the Best Vitamin C Supplements
What is the best vitamin C supplement to take?
Our testing and research led us to compile the following list of the best Vitamin C supplements on the market:
–Best Vitamin C Supplement Overall: Performance Lab Vitamin C
-Best Powder Vitamin C Supplement: Nutricost
-Best Vitamin C Supplement Capsule: Thorne Vitamin C with Flavonoids
-Best Gummy Vitamin C Supplement: Nordic Naturals Vitamin C
-Best Liquid Vitamin C Supplement: Mary Ruth’s Megadose Vitamin C
-Best Vegan Vitamin C Supplement: Bulk Supplements Vitamin C
-Best Vitamin C Supplement for Absorption: Life Extension Vitamin C
-Best Vitamin C Supplement with Added Antioxidants: Garden of Life Vitamin C
-Best Vitamin C Supplement for Hydration: Emergen-C
-Best Vitamin C Supplement with Whole Food Ingredients: Megafood Ultra-C
Is it better to take 500mg or 1000mg of vitamin C?
Studies have shown that either of these doses can provide positive health benefits.
Which is better, ascorbic acid or liposomal vitamin C?
Both sources of Vitamin C can provide benefits, but liposomal Vitamin C is more favorable for Vitamin C absorption.
Which form of vitamin C is best absorbed?
Liposomal Vitamin C is among the sources of Vitamin C that are most easily absorbed and commonly found in today’s supplements. This form of Vitamin C also helps with the absorption of fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin D and Vitamin A.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
References
- Gupta A, Al-Aubaidy HA, Narkowicz CK, et al. Analysis of Citrus Bioflavonoid Content and Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitory Potential of Commercially Available Supplements. Molecules. 2022;27(15):4741. Published 2022 Jul 25. doi:10.3390/molecules27154741
- Tinsley GM, Harty PS, Stratton MT, Siedler MR, Rodriguez C. Liposomal Mineral Absorption: A Randomized Crossover Trial. Nutrients. 2022;14(16):3321. Published 2022 Aug 13. doi:10.3390/nu14163321
- Gasmi A, Mujawdiya PK, Lysiuk R, et al. Quercetin in the Prevention and Treatment of Coronavirus Infections: A Focus on SARS-CoV-2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2022;15(9):1049. Published 2022 Aug 25. doi:10.3390/ph15091049
- Huijskens MJ, Walczak M, Koller N, et al. Technical advance: ascorbic acid induces development of double-positive T cells from human hematopoietic stem cells in the absence of stromal cells. J Leukoc Biol. 2014;96(6):1165-1175. doi:10.1189/jlb.1TA0214-121RR
- Juraschek SP, Guallar E, Appel LJ, Miller ER 3rd. Effects of vitamin C supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95(5):1079-1088. doi:10.3945/ajcn.111.027995
- Moser MA, Chun OK. Vitamin C and Heart Health: A Review Based on Findings from Epidemiologic Studies. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2016; 17(8):1328. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17081328
- Hurrell R, Egli I. Iron bioavailability and dietary reference values. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91(5):1461S-1467S. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2010.28674F
- Deng, et al. Efficacy of vitamin C with FE supplementation in patients with iron deficiency anemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Blood Vessels, Thrombosis & Hemostasis.
- Bhoot HR, Zamwar UM, Chakole S, Anjankar A. Dietary Sources, Bioavailability, and Functions of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) and Its Role in the Common Cold, Tissue Healing, and Iron Metabolism. Cureus. 2023;15(11):e49308. Published 2023 Nov 23. doi:10.7759/cureus.49308
