Wellness and health trends come and go, but multivitamins remain a household staple. In fact, about one in three U.S. adults take a multivitamin1, contributing to nearly 15 percent of dietary supplement sales, amounting to a staggering $8 billion!
Despite their popularity, multivitamins come in countless varieties, with nuances shaping the best multivitamins for men, women, and various life stages. Nutricost Multivitamin Probiotics + 22 Vitamins & Minerals, while not explicitly designed for a specific gender or life stage, may be a viable option for some.
In this Nutricost Multivitamin Review, join me, a registered dietitian, as I help you determine if it’s right for you. GGR’s Senior Director of Content Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, also shares her first-hand experience using the multivitamin. Let’s get into it!
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. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.
Multi-Fitness and Nutrition Experts Put Multivitamins to the Test
GGR’s expert testing team—comprised of personal trainers, nutritionists, dietitians, CrossFit Level 1 trainers, and weightlifting coaches—has rigorously tested dozens of options to identify the best multivitamins. Our product reviews are based on our GGR supplement testing methodology, covering several key factors rated from 1 to 5, such as:
- Price per serving
- Formulation
- Taste
- Swallowability
- Side effects
- Third-party testing
- Customer service
- Customer reviews
Nutricost Multivitamin
Nutricost Multivitamin
Product Highlights
- Budget-friendly
- High doses of 22 vitamins and minerals
- Probiotics for gut health
- Dairy-free, soy-free, non-GMO, gluten-free
- Third-party tested
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable
- Research-backed doses of 22 vitamins and minerals
- Probiotics for gut health
- 60 servings per bottle
- 60 day money-back-guarantee
Cons
- Some customers say the capsules taste bad and can be hard to swallow
Bottom Line
Nutricost Multivitamins has research-backed doses of 22 vitamins and minerals, and is also one of the most affordable multivitamin supplements.
A Quick Look at Nutricost Multivitamin
Nutricost is a one-stop shop for dietary supplements, offering over 500 products (!!) packaged in more than 20 categories—like Antioxidants, Women’s and Men’s Health, and Sports Nutrition. Its extensive inventory ranges from creatine to collagen to taurine to its multivitamin.
Nutricost’s multivitamin provides a probiotic blend and 22 essential vitamins and minerals in vegetarian capsules. It is also dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO, making it suitable for various dietary needs and preferences. However, you should consider these factors before buying.
Before You Buy
- Comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
- Available as gummies, although the formula differs from the capsules.
- No signs of banned-substance testing, which is a critical factor for athletes.
Is the Nutricost Multivitamin Worth It?
Nutricost’s multivitamin is one of the most cost-effective options, costing no more than $0.30 per serving. The multi holds value, but it may not be for everyone.
Great for:
- Budget-conscious consumers
- Those who want added probiotics
- Populations prone to nutrient inadequacies and deficiencies, such as vegans and seniors
Not recommended for:
- Those requiring a third-party tested multivitamin, especially athletes
- Replacing whole, nutrient-dense foods
- Individuals with a medical condition or taking a prescription who have not yet consulted their physician
Nutricost Multivitamin Specs
| Type | Capsules |
| Price per serving | Up to $0.30 |
| Serving size | 2 capsules |
| Notable ingredients | Various essential vitamins and minerals (like vitamin A, vitamin D, B vitamins, iron, and calcium), probiotic blend (see the “Formulation” section for these detailed specs) |
| Third-party tested? | Yes |
Experience Using the Nutricost Multivitamin
GGR Senior Director of Content Kate Meier tried the Nutricost Multivitamin with Probiotics. Because she tested on a short-term basis, its long-term effectiveness can’t be confidently assessed. However, she mostly noted the ease of simultaneously swallowing both capsules.
Let’s look into the details.
Price Per Serving
A 60-serving container costs $17.95 ($0.30 per serving) for a one-time purchase or $14.36 ($0.24 per serving) for a subscription on the Nutricost website. At the time of writing, it’s available on Amazon with a 30% discount, bringing the cost to $0.21 or $0.23 per serving, depending on whether you opt for a one-time purchase or a subscription.
Even without Amazon’s discount, Nutricost’s multivitamin is priced well below the average of other options on the market, earning it a perfect score of 5 out of 5 in this category.
Formulation
Nutricost’s multivitamin earns a 3 out of 5 rating for its formulation. While we’ll explore its potential strengths and drawbacks, let’s first review what a two-capsule serving provides:
- Vitamin A: 1,260 mcg (140% DV)
- Vitamin C: 180 mg (200% DV)
- Vitamin D (cholecalciferol): 50 mcg (250% DV)
- Vitamin E: 60 mg (400% DV)
- Vitamin K: 120 mcg (100% DV)
- Thiamin (Vitamin B1): 12 mg (1000% DV)
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 17 mg (1308% DV)
- Niacin: 25 mg (156% DV)
- Vitamin B6: 7 mg (412% DV)
- Folate: 400 mcg DFE (100% DV)
- Vitamin B12: 60 mcg (2500% DV)
- Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5): 100 mg (2000% DV)
- Calcium: 50 mg (4% DV)
- Iron: 10 mg (56% DV)
- Iodine: 113 mcg (75% DV)
- Magnesium: 40 mg (10% DV)
- Zinc: 11 mg (100% DV)
- Selenium: 140 mcg (255% DV)
- Copper: 1.5 mg (167% DV)
- Manganese: 2.3 mg (100% DV)
- Chromium: 35 mcg (100% DV)
- Molybdenum: 45 mcg (100% DV)
- Vanadium: 20 mcg (% DV not established)
- Probiotic enzyme blend: 45 mg (% DV not established)
Potential Strengths
- Comprehensive nutrient coverage: Provides 100% DV for many essential vitamins and minerals.
- Probiotic enzyme blend for gut health: May diversify your microbiome, improve digestion, and alleviate digestive symptoms like bloating, according to registered dietitian Perry Nix.
- Greater absorption: Provides some forms of micronutrients—like ferrous bisglycinate chelate (iron)—that may be better absorbed.
Potential Drawbacks
- No noted gender and life stage differences: Does not address any targeted nutrient differences for gender and life stage. For instance, it includes 400 micrograms of folate, which is critical for fetal development. However, unlike prenatals, including those among the best multivitamins for women, folate is not called out to consumers.
- Excessive vitamin intake: Although some concentrations are higher than others, all vitamins well exceed recommended intakes. More isn’t always better, even with beneficial nutrients. Toxic effects of vitamin and mineral supplements2, including vitamins A and E, can occur.
- Low in certain minerals: Provides only 4% DV for calcium and 10% for magnesium, which may be insufficient for some individuals, especially if their diet is low in these minerals.
- Lacks biotin: Most known for hair and nail health, biotin3 may be a nutrient of interest for some consumers.
Overall, the high concentrations of certain vitamins could pose risks if not monitored, and some essential minerals are provided in relatively low amounts. Moreover, some strengths (like the added probiotics) may be drawbacks to others and vice versa.
All this to say, it’s crucial to choose a multivitamin that aligns with your specific needs, ideally guided by a healthcare professional.
Taste and Swallowability
Kate Meier, GGR’s senior director of content, tested the Nutricost Multivitamin with Probiotics. Although the capsules are about the length of a quarter and have a slightly “vitamin-y” taste, she found them easy to swallow and tolerable, giving them a perfect 5 out of 5 for taste and swallowability.
Side Effects
Because Kate tried the supplement for a short-term period, she couldn’t comment on any long-term adverse effects. However, she didn’t experience any initial side effects, resulting in a perfect 5-out-of-5 score in this category.
Multivitamins are generally safe, but side effects can occur, especially if you consume more than needed. This can happen easily (and mindlessly), whether from the multivitamin alone or combined with other supplements—even some of the best pre-workouts contain various vitamins and minerals, which can contribute to an excess intake.
Third-Party Testing
Nutricost supplements are manufactured in a GMP-compliant, FDA-registered facility and undergo third-party testing for purity and safety. However, it’s unclear who conducts these independent tests and whether the supplements are screened for banned substances, a crucial consideration for competitive athletes.
Due to these uncertainties, Nutricost receives a 4-out-of-5 rating in this category.
Nutricost Multivitamin vs Rootine Vitamin
Rootine Vitamin
Rootine Smart Multivitamins
Product Highlights
- Individualized multivitamin supplement
- Formulated using results from blood tests
- Tests available for blood vitamin content, mineral content, hormones, and DNA
- Can use third-party DNA test results
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Personalized based on blood test results
- Slow-release microbeads
- Blood vitamin, mineral, and hormone tests available
- Can upload third-party DNA test results
Cons
- No robust evidence to back up DNA-based nutrition
- Expensive, starting at $94/month
- Subscription required
Bottom Line
Rootine Smart Multivitamins are personalized vitamin and mineral supplements based on your individual nutritional needs. Rootine uses tests for blood vitamin content, blood mineral content, some hormones, and DNA to determine your vitamin formula.
As a tech-based company, Rootine formulates personalized multivitamins based on blood work and DNA tests. While Rootine already appears to differ from Nutricost, let’s highlight how it stands out:
- Personalized nutrition: Formulates personalized nutrient levels based on DNA tests and blood work.
- Different nutrients: May include nutrients different from Nutricost, such as alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and omega-3s.
- Microbead form: Comes in tiny microbeads compared to Nutricost’s two-capsule serving.
- Price: Costs about $3.13 per day, not including the price of a DNA test.
- Testing and data protection: Undergoes in-house third-party testing and protects personal medical data similarly to hospital standards.
- Returnability: No returns since the formulations are personalized, but you can cancel your subscription.
While the decision is ultimately yours, Nutricost presents a more affordable and readily available option, while Rootine offers personalized nutrition and a more tailored approach. Refer to the accompanying table and our Rootine Vitamins Review for more insights.
| Nutricost Multivitamin | Rootine Vitamin | |
| Type | Capsules | Microbeads |
| Price per serving | Up to $0.30 | $3.13 per pack/day |
| Serving size | 2 capsules | 1 pack of microbeads |
| Notable ingredients | Various essential vitamins and minerals (like vitamin A, vitamin D, B vitamins, iron, and calcium) and probiotic blend | Varies |
| Third-party tested? | Yes | Yes |
Customer Experience
We rate Nutricost a perfect 5 out of 5 for customer experience, largely thanks to its 60-day money-back guarantee. You can try the multivitamin for 60 days and, if unsatisfied, return it for a refund or exchange through their return portal. They’ll even cover the return cost if you purchased the $1.98 “free returns for store credit + exchange protection” at checkout.
Nutricost also stands out with its Accessibility Feature, marked by a white and blue “stick figure” icon in the right-hand corner of the website. You can select from predefined profiles—such as “Vision Impaired” and “Cognitive Disability”—or customize text colors, font sizes, and more.
To contact Nutricost, you can email or call the customer service team. While the “Contact Us” page mentions a contact form, it was not visible during my visit.
Ordering the Nutricost Multivitamin
Ordering Nutricost’s multivitamin is straightforward: Add it to your cart, follow the checkout prompts, and sign up for a subscription if desired. Orders placed on Nutricost’s website typically ship within two business days and are free for orders over $59.
Nutricost supplements are available through third-party sellers, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target. However, if you purchase from these retailers, you’re subject to their policies.
Customer Reviews
Nutricost Multivitamin currently has almost 1,700 ratings on Amazon, averaging 4.5 out of 5 stars. Customers mostly appreciate its potency, third-party testing, and great price and value. However, there are mixed reviews on its smell and flavor.
Final Verdict of Our Nutricost Multivitamin Review
Nutricost offers one of the most budget-friendly multivitamins on the market. But before spending up to $0.30 daily on this multi, consider these final thoughts:
- Provides 100% of the daily value for most of its 22 included nutrients, though it features high concentrations of some vitamins and lower concentrations of certain minerals.
- Contains probiotics that may improve gut health and digestion.
- Undergoes third-party testing for safety and purity, but there’s no indication that it is free from banned substances.
- Comes in capsule form, with mixed opinions on its taste and smell.
- Also comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee if you find them intolerable or are unsatisfied for any reason.
Full Rating
Nutricost Multivitamin
Nutricost Multivitamins has research-backed doses of 22 vitamins and minerals, and is also one of the most affordable multivitamin supplements.
Product Brand: Nutricost
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 13.95
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.5
Nutricost Multivitamin: FAQs
Is Nutricost a good brand of vitamin?
Nutricost offers budget-friendly supplements that are third-party tested for quality and safety, and its multivitamin is no exception.
Is Nutricost really third-party tested?
Nutricost supplements undergo third-party testing for purity and safety. However, they don’t appear screened for banned substances, which is crucial for competitive athletes.
Which brand is best for multivitamins?
We don’t consider one brand the best for multivitamins, as the ideal choice depends on individual needs and preferences. However, many reputable brands excel in critical areas that guide our GGR methodology, such as label transparency, third-party testing, and cost.
Some of our top multivitamin brand recommendations include Transparent Labs, Ritual, Legion, Nutricost, Nature Made, Pure Encapsulations, and Optimum Nutrition.
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
- National Institutes of Health. Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements – Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated February 15, 2024. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/MVMS-HealthProfessional/
- Wooltorton E. Too much of a good thing? Toxic effects of vitamin and mineral supplements. CMAJ. 2003 Jul 8;169(1):47-8. Erratum in: CMAJ. 2003 Aug 19;169(4):283. PMID: 12847042; PMCID: PMC164945.
- Bistas KG, Tadi P. Biotin. [Updated 2023 Jul 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554493/
