The one thing I’ve never liked about powdered protein or collagen is that, in most cases, the taste is pretty bad. That’s why I switched to collagen supplements in capsule form years ago.
One thing you have to be careful about, though, is picking the right product for your personal goals.
Why’s that?
There are different collagen types, and some of them are good for your skin, while others may help with joints and nails.
So, we spent about three months testing different products to see if we could come up with a list of the best collagen supplements. We'll skip the powders in this article and focus on the pill.
Here’s what we found.
12 Best Collagen Supplements (March 2023)
1 - Beyond Collagen by Live Conscious (Editor's Choice)
Beyond Collagen by Live Conscious takes the top spot on our list with its rich ingredient profile and noticeable physical effects.
This non-GMO product contains five different types of all-natural collagen, 20 amino acids, vitamin C, and biotin, which all work together to bring out the strength and beauty of your joints, hair, skin, and nails. These ingredients also help improve your health at a cellular level.
Moreover, Live Conscious products are manufactured in the USA and third-party tested to ensure accurate labeling.
Many customers say this supplement has made their skin look youthful again and helped their hair and nails grow.
- Dose : 10.1 g
- Helps strengthen the joints and nails
- Brings out the radiance of the hair and skin
- Contains five different collagen types
- The powder is flavorless and mixes easily into hot or cold drinks
- Proprietary collagen blend
2 - Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Collagen Hydrolysate
Transparent Labs earns the top spot on our list for its effectiveness, purity, and label accuracy.
The company’s collagen hydrolysate is a peptide supplement, the most effective collagen form. Therefore, it works better in reducing visible signs of aging, improving bone and joint health, and aiding recovery for athletes.
Its hydrolysate format allows it to mix and absorb better, whether you blend it with water, milk, or coffee.
It’s also free of gluten, GMOs, artificial sweeteners, coloring, and preservatives, making it one of the cleanest collagen products on the market.
- Dose : 11g
- Comes in the most effective form of collagen
- Helps reduce wrinkles and skin aging
- Supports bone and joint health
- Hydrolysate form means better mixability and absorption
- Uses stevia as a sweetener
3 - Purely Optimal Collagen Complex
Purely Optimal Collagen Complex deserves the first place on our list of the best collagen supplements. What we love about their Collagen Complex is the fact that its bovine collagen source is grass-fed. It has 5 different types of collagen, all packed into one easy-to-swallow pill.
It also works to strengthen bones with a formula entirely free of GMOs.
Assuming you aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients within this collagen supplement, Collagen Complex is considered one of the most trustworthy and effective supplements around.
- Dose : 1,500 mg
- Easy-to-swallow capsules
- Claimed to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and stretch marks
- Helps protect bones and joints
- Contains 5 major collagen types
- It may cause an allergic reaction in some users
4 - Dr. Emil's Nutrition Multi-Collagen Plus
First on our list of best collagen supplements is this one from Dr. Emil’s. Based on reviews, we found that this may have the best all-round effects due to a full range of collagen types and a high dose, sourced from chicken bone broth.
We also found that the capsules seem easy to swallow. If you're not a fan of powdered supplements, this collagen hydrolysate the one to try.
- Dose : 1,735mg
- Claims to contain collagen type 1, 2, 3, 5 & 10
- May work well for joint, hair, skin, and nails
- Non GMO and no unnecessary fillers
- Comes in easy to swallow capsules
- Full dose requires three capsules in one go
5 - Caribou Nutrition Multi-Collagen Pills
Caribou has aimed to create a collagen supplement with a broad mix of sources, including grass fed, pasture raised cows.
This may provide a higher purity that many reviewers say is improving the vibrance of their skin, hair, and nails.
There are also reports that it might support your gut health and digestion.
- Dose : 2,000 mg
- Uses a unique blend of chicken, grass fed bovine, and marine collagen
- Some positive reports that it may help with joint pain
- May also help to boost stomach and gut health
- It’s not cheap
6 - Orphic Nutrition Premium Collagen Peptides
What stood out for us with this product is that there were a lot of reviews that made positive statements about the collagen peptides helping with joint and back pain.
The vital proteins it provides, seem to target soft tissue in those areas [1].
- Dose : 1,500 mg
- Seems to work well for skin, hair, and nails
- Doesn’t leave a smell or aftertaste
- Online comments are positive about joint and back pain relief
- Pills seem to be quite large
7 - Youtheory Collagen
This is one of the few collagen supplements we found with the added bonus of some vitamin C.
It’s also one of the highest doses we could find, which might make it suitable for anyone with significant joint issues.
Just keep in mind that it might not be as effective for your skin and nails.
- Dose : 6,000 mg
- Might be the most suitable for joint issues due to high dose
- Contains some added vitamin C
- Dairy, soy, and gluten free option to avoid allergies
- Only contains three types of collagen
8 - Physician's Choice Bioactive Collagen Pills
This is a product that has been created for anti-aging benefits in women. We noted in quite a few reviews that it might help to improve skin elasticity within about four weeks.
It has some vitamin C mixed with it, so it may also help with immunity.
The supplement may also improve your joints and reduce inflammation. But for the full dose, you’ll need to swallow five pills.
- Dose : 2,500 mg
- Specifically formulated for women to help with the appearance of skin and hair
- Reports of it showing improvements within four weeks
- The vitamin c and grass fed source of bovine collagen should also promote healthy joints and bones
- You’ll have to remember to take five pills
9 - Zeal Naturals Collagen Peptides
Another one of the stronger products available, this one is also marketed as Keto and Paleo supportive as there are no carbohydrate fillers.
It also contains the amino acids that work to keep your skin and joints healthy.
The only thing we’d say is that swallowing six capsules might not suit everyone, in which case you may want to consider a collagen powder supplement.
- Dose : 3,000mg
- Uses hydrolyzed grass fed collagen from cows for better quality
- Keto and paleo friendly due to no carb fillers
- Positive reports that it may help with joint health within weeks
- Swallowing six capsules might not suit everyone
10 - NutriRise Hydrolyzed Collagen Complex
This is one of few collagen supplements that is purely based on marine sources. By using wild caught and sustainable fish stocks, it claims to provide a higher quality source of the main types of collagen.
Just keep in mind that you might get a slightly fishy aftertaste, which you might find a bit too strong if you're not used to that. In that case, you may want to consider another brand instead.
- Dose : 1,500 mg
- Contains the most important collagen types
- Sourced from wild caught fish and sustainable stocks
- Certified gluten free and non GMO for added peace of mind
- Might leave a slightly fishy aftertaste
11 - Reserveage Ultra Collagen Booster
This is another one formulated as a beauty enhancer for women.
It comes with hyaluronic acid and an added herbal blend that suggests it may help to detox and rejuvenate your skin.
It’s a considerably lower dose than the above products, so keep that in mind when comparing the prices.
- Dose : 1,000 mg
- Contains hyaluronic acid and an herbal blend for added skin benefits
- Specifically formulated for women
- Capsules seem to be easy to swallow compared to a collagen powder
- Not the strongest dose available
12 - Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
This is the final collagen peptides supplement we’ll recommend, and we like it because it’s available in a nice bulk-order bottle.
There are also positive reviews about its effects on skin health due to its amino acids profile, which may be particularly interesting to women.
Just keep in mind that the pills are pretty large, and you may want to break them down a bit.
- Dose : 3,300 mg
- Good bulk serving option
- Positive reports on it promoting skin health
- Some users have reported relief for joint issues
- The capsules are pretty large to get used
Buyer’s Guide - How to Pick the Best Collagen Supplement?
1 - Compare The Dosage
The good thing with collagen supplements is that they are pretty easy to compare based on the dosage. Compared to the powdered form, a collagen pill is also a lot easier to take if you need higher dosage.
This is much more important than looking at the number of servings, which could be a bit misleading.
If you have serious joint issues, then aim for something stronger, like supplements designed for relieving joint pain. And if you just want to boost your appearance, then a lower dose may work fine.
2 - Pay Attention To The Collagen Source And Types
Collagen supplements and pills can be sourced from many different animal products. Chicken, cows, and eggs are very common, but marine collagen is becoming more popular as a sustainable option.
The important thing to look out for is the type of collagen the supplement contains. The main ones for the human body are type 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10.
The blend of these collagen types with hyaluronic acid and antioxidants maintains skin elasticity and texture and promotes better collagen production in the body.
We generally recommend getting all of them in one supplement, as this may give you the best overall results.
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What Is The Best Collagen Supplement?
Of all the collagen supplements we tested, we found that Beyond Collagen by Live Conscious had the best effects on the whole body.
It has five different types of collagen and is complimented by biotin and vitamin C, amplifying its beautifying and strengthening effects on the hair, skin, nails, and joints.
Also, it doesn’t alter the taste of the beverage you mix it into and dissolves very easily.
If you’re looking for an effective and safe collagen product, this one is certainly worth adding to your supplement regimen.
Our #1 Recommendation
Beyond Collagen by Live Conscious
- Helps strengthen the joints and nails
- Brings out the radiance of the hair and skin
- Contains five different collagen types
- The powder is flavorless and mixes easily into hot or cold drinks
- Proprietary collagen blend
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