The Best Collagen Peptide Supplements (2025), According to R.D.s and Nutrition Coaches

Why We Like It

Transparent Labs gets high marks all around for its commitment to ingredient and labeling transparency — we’ve routinely ranked the brand’s grass-fed whey protein amongst some of the best whey isolates for such reasons. The Collagen Hydrolysate is no different having been tested for various heavy metals, bacteria, and yeast, and found to meet health standards in all areas. 

Lab testing aside, the supplement facts label on Transparent Labs’ Collagen Hydrolysate is pleasing to any nutrition professional’s eyes. The list is as short as can be, with hydrolyzed collagen alone on the unflavored version. Health-conscious folks who opt for the chocolate flavor, like I did, will be pleased to know that cocoa powder — not “natural flavors” — is used to create the rich chocolate taste. It is sweetened with stevia, which may be a dealbreaker for those who don’t like the taste of stevia or find it to interrupt digestion.

Our product tester tried the chocolate flavor and noted, “It’s not my favorite when mixed with water, but if you mix it with a milk product, the taste is a lot better,” rating it with 4 out of 5 possible points. Even a dairy-free beverage, like almond or oat milk, significantly improves the taste, in my opinion. As far as solubility, our tester awarded the Collagen Hydrolysate with the maximum of 5 out of 5 points, saying it dissolved completely, even in plain water.

From a sports nutrition coach’s perspective, I’m a big fan of the simple formula in this collagen peptides powder. It doesn’t have the highest amount of collagen per serving — some formulas have 20 grams per serving — but for the price and the fact that the collagen is hydrolyzed for enhanced absorption, I’m satisfied. Besides, research shows that dosages from 2.5 to 15 grams of collagen can be effective. For its simplicity, natural ingredients, and effective dose, I give the formula 4 out of 5 points. (2)

Why We Like It

Supplement seekers looking for an ultra-simple, organic collagen peptide supplement will love the Sports Research Organic Collagen. The label on the tub lists just one thing: organic hydrolyzed bovine collagen.

Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, is also a fan of this product, saying, “When it comes to supplements, I love when simplicity gets the job done. Sports Research Collagen uses one ingredient and provides an impressive amino acid profile to support healthy skin, hair, joints, and nails, along with muscle recovery.”

It provides an impressive amino acid profile, though with 10 grams of collagen per serving, “you might look for a more nutrient-dense option” if you want more than that, Bourgeois says. Still, as noted in the aforementioned study, collagen dosages as low as 2.5 grams may be effective, so this product is worthy of a 4-out-of-5-point rating in the formula category. (2) 

Other bonuses, according to Bourgeois, are that hydrolyzed peptides are said to be easier to digest and utilize and the product is third-party tested, unlike many other collagen products available.

After taste-testing Sports Research Collagen, it earned high remarks for taste and texture, too. “I like this collagen supplement compared to the others I’ve taken in the past,” our tester says. “There isn’t a strong smell or taste—it’s unnoticeable. I tried the unflavored collagen, and I did not taste anything when trying it in water and coffee, so I give it a 5 out of 5 for taste.”

“It’s also easy to mix the powder with water at room temperature,” our tester says, noting that the collagen did not stick to the sides of the cup or float on the top. It mixes well with hot coffee, too, our tester finds, but undissolved chunks persisted in cold coffee. Our tester was able to remedy the cold coffee issue by using a shaker bottle, and ultimately awarded the product a score of 5 out of 5 points for solubility.

Why We Like It

Cost-conscious shoppers will be fond of Nutricost Collagen, a grass-fed, hydrolyzed collagen peptide powder that costs less than $0.75 per serving. Just be sure to purchase the larger tub of 31 servings, rather than the smaller tub of 10 servings — the small tub is twice the price from a cost-per-serving standpoint. Of course, though, you can always utilize some Nutricost discount codes to really elevate your savings potential.

In addition to being budget-friendly upfront, Nutricost offers a 60-day money-back guarantee. You can return the product for a 100% refund of the list price you paid (not including shipping and handling). But wait! There’s more! If you sign up for the subscribe-and-save option, you can bring the cost per serving down to a very impressive 59 cents. 

Kate Meier, certified personal trainer and BarBend editorial member, says after testing that Nutricost may be one of her favorite collagen supplements. “I have been using collagen for years, and Nutricost may be my favorite because of how affordable it is and that it’s a quality formulation.”

Despite the lower cost, you won’t miss out on anything by choosing Nutricost over similar competing products. Nutricost Collagen includes 11 grams of collagen — a blend of type I and type III — that’s hydrolyzed for optimal absorption. 

There aren’t any funky unnecessary ingredients, either: just collagen in the unflavored version, and sweeteners and flavoring agents in the Chocolate, Vanilla, and Salted Caramel powders. Nutricost did opt to use “natural flavors” in its flavored options, which is no big deal but something to be aware of for those who prefer whole-food ingredients. The flavored collagen powders are also sweetened with stevia, which some people find to have an icky aftertaste or cause an upset stomach.

All things considered, I think the formula deserves 4 out of 5 points for providing an ample serving of collagen and containing no unnecessary ingredients. 

Solubility-wise, Meier raves, “This is probably the best, fastest-dissolving collagen I’ve ever used, and I’ve used probably 20-plus collagen supplements.” She gives it a 5 out of 5 for both solubility and taste. “Even in plain water, after stirring for just 15 seconds, there were no floaters, and you can’t taste anything.”

Why We Like It

Combining your collagen supplement with your best greens powder can be accomplished, especially when your collagen of choice is unflavored. However, this calls for you to purchase two separate containers and mix them accordingly, leading to more powder in your shaker and a higher potential for clumps and poor solubility. Collagen & Greens from Snap Supplements, though, makes your daily shake more convenient, combining grass-fed bovine collagen with superfood ingredients such as spirulina, wheatgrass, and other fruits and veggies.

We’ve yet to personally test this collagen and greens powder, but, as a certified sports nutrition coach, I do appreciate the convenience of the two-in-one design, helping minimize clutter in your kitchen. Accordingly, I rate Snap Supplements Collagen & Greens at 4 out of 5 for convenience.

The supplement facts label for this collagen supplement is hit and miss, though, in my opinion. For one, the “Super Greens Complex” has plenty of highlighted ingredients like barley grass, goji berry, and turmeric, but the actual dosages of each ingredient are hidden behind a proprietary blend. There’s no way to confirm just how much of each compound you’re getting within the 2-gram serving.

I rate the formulation at a conservative 3 out of 5, too, since there’s no information on the amount of colony forming units for the included probiotic lactobacillus acidophilus. This included probiotic strain can be beneficial for gut health, but, again, I’d like to see more concrete measurements. (37) For reference, many of the best probiotic supplements contain billions of CFUs per serving.

While there remain some questions around the formulation, I do enjoy the value of this collagen supplement and rate this Snap Supplements offering at 4 out of 5 for the category. Each container features 30 servings of the collagen-greens combo, equating to roughly $1.43 per serving. Plus, you do have multiple “Subscribe & Save” options available to land a discount on repeat orders.

Why We Like It

Part of what makes Pro Health Longevity Collagen an excellent choice for those with hair troubles is that it includes marine-based collagen, which is the type that has been most extensively studied for its effects on hair health.

Though more research is needed to support the use of collagen for hair health, some evidence does show promise. (3) For example, increases in total hair count, hair density, and hair regrowth have all been noted after supplementation with marine-based hydrolyzed collagen. (4)(5) These findings do lend some merit to supplementing with marine-based collagen as a healthy habit worth building if you’re interested in taking care of your luscious locks.

Registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois rates this collagen’s formula with 4.5 out of 5 points, stating that her “main hiccup” is that the manufacturer doesn’t disclose how much of each type of collagen is in the blend. “Those who prefer to know how much of each source is included in the blend may be turned off by the mystery of it all,” she says.

The blend includes an impressive 20 grams of collagen per serving and a hefty dose of hyaluronic acid, biotin, vitamin C, and zinc. The 250-milligram dose of hyaluronic acid is “on the upper end of what research has shown to be effective for skin health and significantly more than competing collagen powders,” Bourgeois says. (6)(7)

The biotin in this blend could also help strengthen your locks. Biotin is vitamin B7; individuals with a B7 deficiency may experience brittle, weak hair and/or hair loss (though biotin deficiency is rare). (8)(9) 

All of these benefits come with a cost: This is the most expensive collagen peptide powder in our guide, at nearly $2 per serving.

Our product testers awarded Pro Health Longevity Collagen 4 out of 5 points for taste and 5 out of 5 points for solubility. “I couldn’t detect it at all in my coffee, but I could pick up a little taste in plain water,” our tester says. They note that the collagen mixes excellently in both water and coffee, though it does produce a lot of foam if you blend it. No big deal if you like frothy smoothies.

Why We Like It

This simple blend of collagen, calcium, and vitamin C is an excellent choice for women and people of any gender who want to enhance their body’s natural synthesis of collagen and support their bone health. 

Kate Meier, BarBend editorial team member and certified personal trainer, has been taking collagen for years. She tested Gainful Collagen, noting that she likes the formula. “I love the collagen content as well as added vitamins and minerals,” she says.

The 10 grams of collagen supports the strengthening of connective tissues, including tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. With 50 milligrams of vitamin C — more than 50% of the daily recommended value — per serving, this blend also contributes to your body’s endogenous (internal) synthesis of collagen. 

Gainful Collagen also includes a small amount of calcium. At 50 milligrams (4% of the daily recommended value), it’s not a ton of calcium, but every bit matters for people who may be facing osteoporosis or age-related bone mineral density loss. 

Vitamin C may play a role in bone health, too: A 2007 case-control study associated lower serum vitamin C levels with a greater risk of osteoporosis-related fractures. (10) Other research has found a positive association between vitamin C supplementation and bone mineral density. (11)(12)

In terms of taste, Meier gives this a 5 out of 5. “The best part of collagen in your coffee is not knowing there is collagen in your coffee, and Gainful is truly unflavored and unnoticeable,” she says. 

This straightforward formula is free from artificial sweeteners, preservatives, dyes, and flavor agents. It’s collagen, plain and simple, with the bonus of containing small amounts of essential vitamins and minerals — acting as a quasi- best multivitamin in the process. Though it doesn’t have the highest amount of collagen per serving, I think this formula earns a solid 4 out of 5 points for its no-frills nature. 

Meier warns that the solubility isn’t perfect. “While it dissolved completely in my coffee, I noticed that if I mixed it with water, there were still pieces of it even minutes after allowing the cup to settle,” she says, rating solubility an overall 4 out of 5.

Why We Like It

If you’re looking for an on-the-go collagen supplement, similar to choosing a pre-made best protein shake over a standard powdered supplement, consider Momentous Collagen Shots. This liquid collagen formula is much like a running gel: Tear off the top and squeeze it into your mouth. With no stirring or shaking needed, it’s a great option for people who travel often or take their supplements on the way to or from work and the gym. 

“If you’ve taken running gels, then this should be a breeze to take,” says Rosie Borchert, BarBend expert tester. “Even if you haven’t used gels before, I think it’s pretty easy to take.” Borchert rates the shot with 4 out of 5 points for “swallowability.”

The Momentous Collagen Shot earned 3 out of 5 points for taste because it has a slight aftertaste, although “if you do it like a shot, that aftertaste isn’t nearly as strong,” Borchert notes. Otherwise, it tastes slightly sweet with hints of orange, according to our tester.

Those watching their sugar intake should know that the shot contains 3 grams of sugar, 2 of which are added sugar. It’s not much, but worth noting.

As far as the formula, it’s pretty standard, with 10 grams of hydrolyzed bovine collagen per serving. It also includes 35 milligrams of vitamin C to encourage enhanced collagen synthesis in the body. For its simplicity and effective dosing, Momentous collagen earns 4 out of 5 points in the formula category. 

Individuals on a tight budget may want to look elsewhere: Momentous Collagen Shots cost about $2.80 per serving, compared to the typical $1-$2 per serving range.

Why We Like It

Bulletproof may be known for its MCT-enhanced Bulletproof Coffee (a popular option for athletes following the keto diet), but the brand manufactures a number of other supplements, too — collagen being one of them. Bulletproof Collagen is available Unflavored or in Vanilla and Chocolate flavors. There are also caffeinated and probiotic-enhanced versions available. 

Bulletproof Collagen contains collagens type I and type III. Type I is the most common collagen in the body and is critical for providing skin elasticity. Type III is found in many tissues in association with type I, and may play a role in the size regulation of type I collagen. (13)(14)

The regular Unflavored, Chocolate, or Vanilla powders pack 20 grams of collagen per serving, which is on the high end across collagen supplements. The Unflavored version boasts an incredibly simple ingredients list, which includes just one ingredient: hydrolyzed bovine collagen.

The Chocolate and Vanilla versions, on the other hand, come with a list of other ingredients you may or may not want in your collagen supplement: MCT oil, coconut creamer powder, maltodextrin, stevia, and erythritol, to name a few. None of these are inherently bad, but if you prefer a simpler formula, the unflavored option is your better bet. 

I rate the unflavored version with 5 out of 5 points for its simplicity and high dose of collagen, and the flavored versions with 3 out of 5 points due to the extra and, frankly, unnecessary ingredients; the overall score averages out of 4 out of 5 points for the formula. 

Our testers rated Bulletproof Collagen with 5 out of 5 points for both taste and solubility, saying, “The flavor really is unflavored. I couldn’t detect it at all in my coffee and not much in water, either; I mixed it with a spoon in a cold drink, and in my hot coffee with a spoon, and in both instances, it dissolved almost entirely with minimal effort.”

Why We Like It

Competitive athletes must take special care when choosing supplements to ensure they are free from performance-enhancing drugs or any other substances banned in their sport. Like the best clean protein powders, BUBS Naturals Collagen is an excellent choice for athletes because it’s an NSF Informed Sport product, meaning it has undergone extensive testing to ensure it’s free from banned substances. 

Our product tester, a competitive weightlifter, confidently used BUBS Natural Collagen for months and had positive things to say, overall. They awarded it 5 out of 5 points for taste (or lack thereof): “Not even a hint of taste in my coffee,” our tester said. 

BUBS didn’t score quite as high in the solubility department, but still earned a very respectable 4 out of 5 points. Our tester said, “There were still some small pieces floating in my coffee, but it’s not enough to deter me from drinking it.” 

In addition to its solid taste and texture, this collagen peptide powder has a straightforward formula: It’s just collagen, and 20 grams of it per serving at that. The sports nutrition coach in me is thrilled with this — it’s simple and effectively dosed — and I give it 5 out of 5 points for formula.

This isn’t the least nor most expensive collagen powder available, with the price per serving falling at around $1.70 for the larger tub (28 servings). Our tester opted to try the travel packs, which have a higher cost per serving ($1.85) but are more convenient. “I love the single-serve travel packs, which were an easy way for me to keep up my collagen intake while I was on the road for work,” our tester said.

Why We Like It

Prefer a pill over a powder? HUM Collagen Love might be the right collagen peptide supplement for you. “These capsules are pretty small, definitely smaller than a fish oil pill, for instance,” our expert tester says. “Personally, I don’t have any issues taking them. “They don’t have any taste or aftertaste at all, which is great.”

This third-party tested capsule contains hydrolyzed, grass-fed bovine collagen, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants. Vitamin C is important for natural collagen synthesis in the body, and hyaluronic acid has been shown to reduce wrinkles and increase skin hydration. (15) (16) “I like that the formula has some vitamin C in it,” one of our testers said. “That way, you probably don’t have to take an additional vitamin C supplement.”

The formula also contains other ingredients with potential skin health benefits. Chondroitin sulfate, a compound that provides structure to the skin, may have anti-aging properties, and grape-seed extract may reduce UV-related oxidative stress in the skin. (17) (18)

Still, one serving contains just 6 grams of collagen, leading me to rate the formula with 3.5 out of 5 points. If a lot of collagen is what you’re after, you may want to try another option with 10 to 20 grams per serving.

At $1.33 per serving, HUM Collagen Love is reasonably priced. Our tester didn’t have any issues with the taste — the capsules are flavorless — and said that the capsules are small enough to swallow easily. HUM Collagen Love earned 5 out of 5 points for both taste and “swallowability.” That said, one of our testers noted: “You have to take three per dose, which can be a bit much, especially if you’re taking other supplements.”