Affiliate Disclosure
This post contains links through which we may earn a small commission should you make a purchase from a brand. This in no way affects our ability to objectively critique the products and brands we review.
Top 10 Best Collagen Supplements in 2024
Research-Based Article
Evidence Based Research To fulfill our commitment to bringing our audience accurate and insightful content, our expert writers and medical reviewers rely on carefully curated research.
Read Our Editorial Policy
- Best Overall Collagen Supplement: Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Protein
- Best Marine Collagen Supplements: Further Food Marine Collagen
- Best Pure Bovine Collagen Supplement: Hi-Health Collagen Peptides
- Best Collagen Supplement for Joints: ProHealth Longevity Collagen Peptides
- Best Collagen Supplement for Skin Health: Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen
- Best Anti-Aging Collagen Supplement: Thorne Collagen Plus
- Best Collagen for Gut Health: Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Gut Restore
- Best Tasting Collagen Powder: Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel
- Best Collagen Capsules: Sports Research Multi Collagen Pills
- Best Liquid Collagen Drink: Vital Proteins Collagen Water
- FAQs About Collagen Supplements
Although many people just know collagen as a powder you mix in your coffee, this increasingly trendy supplement is actually an essential structural protein in our bodies.
However, as we age—even as earlier as our 20s and 30s—collagen synthesis declines, contributing to wrinkles, thinning skin, joint health issues, slow muscle recovery, and digestive issues.
The benefits of collagen are becoming more and more documented—and so are the number of collagen supplements on the shelf—but how do you choose between the hundreds out there?
In this article, we’ve scoured the market for the 10 best collagen supplements you can buy, including our top pick, Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Protein, plus collagen supplements for joints, skin, anti-aging, gut health, and more.
| Best Overall | Best Marine | Pure Bovine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Ancient Nutrition | Further Food | Hi-Health |
| Collagen Content | 20g | 6.6g | 20g |
| Cost | $52.95 for 22.5 servings ($2.35/serving) Shop Now | $29.99 for 28 servings($1.07/serving) Shop Now | $29.99 for 14 servings($2.14/serving) Shop Now |
Best for: Anyone looking for a high-quality, ethically sourced collagen supplement with multiple collagen types to support gut, joint, skin, hair, and nail health.
For a comprehensive collagen powder—and our pick for the best collagen supplement—try Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Protein, containing ten types of collagen from four sources, the most types available in one supplement on the market today.
The collagen in this supplement comes from pasture-raised cows and multiple grass-fed or cold liquwild-caught animals, including hydrolyzed bovine collagen, chicken bone broth, fermented eggshell membrane, and hydrolyzed collagen from fish.
In addition to four of the most common types of collagen (I, II, III, and V), Ancient Nutrition also utilizes Type X collagen, which facilitates new bone formation in articular cartilage—the smooth tissue that covers the ends of bones to make joints easier to move—in addition to types IV, VII, VIII, XII, and XXII.
The fermented eggshell membrane is where the majority of the lesser-seen collagen types are found, which lend support to gut, joint, skin, hair, and nail health.
Plus, Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Protein contains 100% of your Daily Value for vitamin C, which can support collagen production, and 2 billion CFUs of the probiotic Bacillus coagulans to support gut health.
In addition to the unflavored collagen powder, which is excellent for mixing into any hot or cold liquids, Ancient Nutrition also carries single-serve collagen packets and vanilla, chocolate, cucumber lime, strawberry lemonade, and cold brew collagen flavors.
Best for: Pescatarians looking for collagen supplementation; anyone wanting affordable and sustainably sourced marine collagen powders.
Not everyone wants a bovine-based collagen—and Further Food Marine Collagen is our number one choice for a marine collagen supplement.
Further Food also produces one of the few collagen powders that are solely marine-based, which, according to the brand, is absorbed 1.5 times faster than bovine collagen and is 40% more satiating than whey, soy, or casein protein.
This marine collagen is sustainably sourced from the skin and scales of wild-caught North Atlantic codfish (don’t worry, it doesn’t taste fishy) and contains Types I, II, and III collagen.
With just one ingredient, Further Food has a lower price point than many other collagen powder supplements on this list, making it an accessible option for many.
Plus, Further Food collagen powder is third-party-tested and cGMP-certified.
However, this collagen supplement has the lowest collagen per serving—just 6.6g per scoop—but the higher bioavailability may make up for that.
Best for:
Hi-Health Collagen Peptides is a 100% pure bovine collagen supplement—no additives, fillers, or extra ingredients here.
With 20 grams of collagen per serving (Types I and III from the hides of grass-fed, pasture-raised cows), Hi-Health Collagen Peptides is a great supplement for supporting general digestive, joint, and skin/hair/nail health.
This simple collagen powder is unflavored and dissolves well, meaning you can add it to just about anything without affecting the flavor or texture—many people add collagen to their coffee, tea, smoothies, or even to baked goods.
One downside is the small container size (only 14 servings per canister).
However, as each serving contains the higher range of collagen (20g per scoop), you could easily use half a scoop to have this collagen powder last you the month and still get a respectable 10g per serving.
Best for: People with joint pain or stiffness or those looking to prevent joint issues with collagen.
ProHealth Longevity Collagen Peptides is an excellent choice for supporting joint health, as this collagen supplement contains a multi-collagen blend (5 types from 4 sources).
Adding up to 20 grams of collagen per serving, ProHealth Longevity Collagen Peptides contains Types I, II, III, V, and X collagen peptides from beef, marine, chicken bone broth, and eggshell membrane sources.
This collagen is particularly beneficial for joint health because of the following ingredients:
- Chicken bone broth: Contains Type II collagen, which helps to reduce joint pain
- Eggshell membrane: Contains Types I, V, and X collagen, which are good for reducing joint pain and stiffness and helping support joint mobility.
- Hyaluronic acid: Helps to lubricate joints and fight against joint pain and stiffness.
- Vitamin C, glycine, and proline: Pro-collagen compounds that support collagen production in the body.
We also love that this collagen is easily dissolvable, third-party tested, and contains zinc and biotin to support skin health and gut health benefits.
Best for: People looking for a collagen supplement to support healthy skin (as well as nail and hair health).
As one of the most well-known collagen brands, Vital Proteins has plenty to offer—and their Beauty Collagen does not disappoint, containing additional ingredients to support skin elasticity and hydration.
In addition to 15g of bovine collagen per serving, Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen comes with 120mg of hyaluronic acid—a compound that acts like a sponge to retain water in the skin—and 2 billion CFUs of probiotics.
A flavored collagen powder, Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen also contains organic strawberry powder, coconut water powder, organic agave inulin, and organic lemon juice powder, adding up to 2g of total sugar per serving (although it’s not added sugar).
However, some complaints about this collagen are that it does not dissolve well in cold liquids, so mixing with hot beverages or blending it into smoothies might be a better option.
Best for: Anyone wanting a collagen supplement in powder form with additional supportive ingredients for anti-aging.
Thorne Collagen Plus is one of the more unique collagen supplements out there, containing 13g of bovine collagen peptides, a patented black and red currant polyphenol blend, Japanese white peach extract, and nicotinamide riboside.
Polyphenols are plant-based compounds that act as antioxidants in the body, fighting oxidative damage from free radicals and reactive oxygen species—a common cause of age-related symptoms and disorders.
Japanese white peach extract contains natural ceramides—compounds that make up the protective barrier on the outer layer of skin, supporting multiple aspects of skin health, including skin hydration and preventing skin aging.
Nicotinamide riboside is a precursor to NAD+, an essential coenzyme found in virtually every cell in the body; its typical age-related decline is linked to internal and external signs of aging.
With this impressive lineup of ingredients, the price tag on this supplement is reasonable—you get a lot more than just collagen here, considering the boost to skin moisture, anti-aging benefits, and much more.
Thorne also performs four rounds of testing for each product they manufacture, are NSF certified, cGMP-compliant, and certified by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, an Australian government agency that ensures supplement safety.
Best for: People looking for collagen capsules to help with digestive problems, including constipation, gas, and bloating.
Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Gut Restore is an excellent collagen supplement for anyone who deals with frustrating digestive issues—especially constipation, gas, and bloating.
Although these capsules contain significantly less collagen per serving than other collagen supplements (874mg), they have a plethora of gut-supporting ingredients, including:
- SBO (Soil-Based Organism) Probiotics: 5 billion CFUs of SBO Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus subtilis can survive the harsh digestive tract and support healthy bowel transit time and gut flora.
- Xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS): A prebiotic that allows your healthy gut bacteria to survive and thrive.
- Herbal Blend: Organic fermented peppermint leaf, organic fermented ginger, organic fermented slippery elm bark, and organic apple cider vinegar soothe the gut and support a healthy microbiome.
The collagen in Ancient Nutrition Gut Restore comes from fermented eggshell membrane, hydrolyzed bovine hide, chicken bone broth protein concentrate, and hydrolyzed collagen from fish (haddock, cod, and pollock), which provide 10 different types of collagen to support gut health.
Best for: People who want more flavorful collagen powders; anyone looking for shake-like collagen powders.
If you don’t like the idea of mixing collagen into your coffee or drinking a unflavored collagen powders, Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel is the collagen supplement for you, as it acts more like a protein powder.
With tasty ingredients like coconut milk powder, monk fruit extract, and either vanilla extract or organic fair-trade cocoa, Primal Kitchen Chocolate Coconut Collagen Fuel and Vanilla Coconut Collagen Fuel are two delicious ways to get your collagen in.
This keto-friendly collagen powder contains 11 grams of collagen (bovine) per serving (Types I and III) with no sugar, gluten, dairy, whey, or soy.
However, reviewers have mentioned that Collagen Fuel has some trouble entirely dissolving in water, so blending it into smoothies or shaking it well in a shaker bottle might be the best way to consume this product.
Best for: People who prefer pills to collagen powders; anyone looking for on-the-go or convenient collagen supplementation.
If you’re averse to taking collagen supplements in powder form—or simply want the convenience of pills—Sports Research Multi Collagen Pills are some of the best capsule-form collagen supplements available.
In addition to a multi-collagen complex from eggshell membranes, grass-fed cows, wild-caught fish, and free-range chicken, Sports Research Multi Collagen Pills contain hyaluronic acid and vitamin C for additional skin, joint, and gut health benefits.
However, the amount of collagen per serving is substantially lower than what you’d find in a powder (1600mg, or 1.6g).
When you think about how much powder you have to use in a 2-scoop serving of other collagen supplements, it makes sense that the collagen content in capsules would need to be much lower.
As it is, you still have to take three capsules of this supplement to reach 1600mg of collagen.
Best for: People wanting to drink their collagen without mixing it themselves; anyone looking for a tasty collagen drink to take on the go.
Last but not least, Vital Proteins Collagen Water is an option for people who want a convenient collagen drink premixed for them.
However, you pay the price for convenience—each bottle costs double to triple the amount of other collagen supplements on this list.
Vital Proteins Strawberry Lemon Collagen Water contains 10 grams of collagen (bovine) and 3g of sugar, with additional ingredients like strawberry juice, lemon juice, and monk fruit extract.
These collagen drinks also come in other flavors, including Blackberry and Lemon Slice.
FAQs About Collagen Supplements
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies, contributing not only to skin elasticity but also to nail growth and strength, gut integrity, and joint mobility.
Up to 30% of all the proteins in your body are collagen—including up to 70% of skin, hair, nails, and almost 100% of connective tissues made from collagen.
While collagen contains 18 different amino acids, it is formed primarily by glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, which are not commonly found in high amounts in other dietary proteins.
Proline and hydroxyproline support skin elasticity by facilitating the growth of dermal fibroblasts—the primary cell type in skin connective tissue—while glycine is essential for gut health and joint, tendon, and ligament functioning and mobility.
However, it’s important to note that collagen is not a complete protein (meaning it does not contain all nine of the essential amino acids that our bodies don’t produce on their own)—it only contains eight of them. Keep this in mind when shopping collagen powders, or more generically labeled protein powder as well.
What Are the Different Types of Collagen?
Nearly 28 different types of collagen have been identified, but types I through V are the most abundant in the body, and types I, II, and III are most commonly found in collagen supplements.
– Type I: The most prevalent form in the body, this type provides a fibrous structure to our skin, nails, hair, bones, tendons, connective tissues, and ligaments. Type I collagen is typically considered the best type for promoting healthy skin.
– Type II: This type is found mainly in the cartilage, which helps the joints to remain fluid and mobile.
– Type III: Commonly found in the muscles, blood vessels, cartilage, and reticular fibers, like bone marrow.
– Type IV: Found in the basement membrane, a matrix of tissues that forms a barrier where cells meet connective tissues.
– Type V: Less common in collagen supplements, this type is found in the placenta, hair, the corneal stroma of the eye, and various other cell surfaces.
Some collagen protein powder products (like Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen) also utilize Types VII, VIII, X, XII, and XXII collagen, further supporting joint, gut, hair, nail, and skin health.
In addition to the different types, there are collagen supplements from varying animal sources, including from the bones, hides, and cartilage of chickens, pigs, and cows or from the scales and skin of fish (known as a marine collagen supplement).
Do Vegan Collagen Supplements Exist?
Although some brands may state that they sell “vegan collagen supplements,” there is no such thing.
While you can certainly support collagen synthesis with vitamin C-rich foods or hyaluronic acid, vegan collagen supplements do not exist.
What Is the Difference Between Collagen and Collagen Peptides?
You may have seen several terms on collagen supplements, such as collagen peptides, which can also be called collagen hydrolysate or hydrolyzed collagen.
The difference between these terms is that collagen protein is made up of long chains of amino acids, while collagen peptides are shorter chains of amino acids that are essentially broken down portions of the larger collagen protein.
Due to their shorter structure, collagen peptides are more bioavailable collagen supplements and are easier to digest.
What Brand of Collagen Supplements Is Best for Anti-Aging?
Thorne Collagen Plus is a great brand of collagen for anti-aging, as it contains additional ingredients like Japanese white peach extract, polyphenols, and nicotinamide riboside.
What Are the Side Effects of Taking Collagen Supplements?
Collagen supplementation is generally very well-tolerated with a low risk of side effects. Some people may experience digestive issues like diarrhea or abdominal pain from collagen supplements, but that’s rare and generally from high doses.
You Might Also Like
How to Stay Focused Without the Jitters
Energy drinks and sugary snacks may be louder, sweeter, and faster-acting than natural sources of sugar, but rarely are those benefits conferred without some form of reckoning down the road.
Read More
How Does Glucosamine Relieve Joint Pain?
Sure, gravity wins in the end, but that doesn’t mean we can’t use everything at our disposal to keep our weight-bearing joints from breaking down prematurely.
Read More
