Our Methodology
How We Rank
Supplements
An honest, simple look at how we score products—what we measure, what we don't, and how to use these scores to find the best supplement for you.
The Short Version
Every supplement gets three scores, each from 0 to 100:
How much active ingredient you get for your money. Higher is better.
How much active ingredient you get per serving. For those who want stronger doses.
Fewer pills per serving means easier daily use. One softgel beats four capsules.
These three scores combine into one Overall Score. Think of it as a weighted average that balances cost, strength, and ease of use.
Smart Scoring: Multivitamins
For single-ingredient supplements, potency is simple: more is usually better. Multivitamins are different. "More" can be toxic. We use a specialized Formulation Score that balances two competing goals:
Coverage
A measure of completeness. We check for 22 core nutrients at meaningful inputs (>25% DV).
- Full CreditMeaningful dose (>25% DV)
- Half CreditTrace amounts (10-24% DV)
- No CreditMissing essential nutrient
Balance
A safety check. We penalize dangerous megadosing of toxic-prone minerals while allowing safe B-vitamin abundance.
Ranking vs. Peers
Percentile Ranking
We don't use arbitrary scales. Every score is a percentile rank within its category.
If a magnesium supplement has a Value Score of 85, it means that product offers better value than 85% of all magnesium supplements we track. A score of 50 means it's right in the middle—average value for its category.
Category-Specific Comparison
We only compare apples to apples. A vitamin D supplement is ranked against other vitamin D supplements—not against protein powders or probiotics.
This means a score of 90 in the magnesium category represents a different absolute value than a 90 in the omega-3 category. The score tells you how a product stacks up within its own competitive set.
Quick Reference
A Real Comparison
Let's walk through a real scenario. You're shopping for magnesium and comparing two products:
Budget Magnesium Oxide
Generic Brand
Premium Magnesium Glycinate
Doctor's Choice
How They Score
The budget option delivers significantly more magnesium per dollar. You get 400mg for $0.15 versus 120mg for $0.37—that's about 9× more magnesium per dollar spent.
The budget option also provides more magnesium per serving (400mg vs 120mg), placing it in the top tier for potency within the magnesium category.
Here the premium wins. Taking one capsule daily is much easier than swallowing two tablets. The premium product earns a higher convenience score.
So Which Is Better?
It depends on what matters to you.
If you want the most magnesium for your money and don't mind taking two pills, the budget option wins handily. If you prioritize ease of use and prefer a gentler form that's easier on your stomach (glycinate is known for better absorption and fewer digestive side effects), the premium option might be worth the extra cost.
Our scores help you see these trade-offs clearly. A lower score isn't a "bad" product—it's simply optimized for something different.
Value Score Explained
The Value Score answers: "How much active ingredient do I get for my money?"
How We Calculate It
We measure the cost per unit of active ingredient. For most supplements, this is cost per milligram. For vitamin D, it's cost per 1,000 IU. For probiotics, it's cost per billion CFU.
We then rank every product in the category by this metric. The product with the lowest cost per unit gets a score near 100. The most expensive per unit gets a score near 0. Everything else falls somewhere in between based on where it sits in that distribution.
Why This Matters
Raw price is misleading. A $10 bottle might look cheaper than a $30 bottle, but if the $10 bottle has 30 servings at 100mg each, and the $30 bottle has 120 servings at 500mg each, the "expensive" one is actually 10× better value.
Value Score normalizes everything to a fair comparison: how much of the stuff you actually came for do you get per dollar?
Potency Score Explained
The Potency Score answers: "How strong is each serving?"
How We Calculate It
We look at the amount of active ingredient per serving. A vitamin D supplement with 5,000 IU per softgel scores higher than one with 1,000 IU per softgel.
Like Value Score, this is percentile-based within category. The highest-dose product gets close to 100, the lowest gets close to 0.
When Potency Matters
- →Therapeutic dosing: If your doctor recommended a specific high dose, you want a product that delivers it in as few pills as possible.
- →Correcting deficiency: When you need to build up levels quickly, higher potency means faster results.
- →Fewer pills: A single high-potency capsule beats taking five low-dose tablets to reach the same amount.
A Note on "More Isn't Always Better"
High potency isn't universally good. Some people only need maintenance doses. Some nutrients have upper limits where more becomes risky. The Potency Score tells you where a product sits on the spectrum—you decide what's right for your needs.
Convenience Score Explained
The Convenience Score answers: "How easy is this to take every day?"
How We Calculate It
We count the number of pills, capsules, or softgels per serving. Fewer is better. A product that requires one pill per day scores higher than one requiring four pills per day.
Why It's Weighted at 30%
The best supplement is the one you actually take. Research consistently shows that compliance drops when regimens become complicated. If you dread taking a handful of pills each morning, you'll skip days. A supplement you take 80% of the time beats a "better" one you take 40% of the time.
Examples
Overall Score & Sorting
The Overall Score is a weighted average of all three subscores:
Why These Weights?
We weighted Value highest because most people shopping for supplements care about getting good bang for their buck. Convenience comes second because compliance matters enormously. Potency is lowest because higher doses aren't always better—it depends heavily on individual needs.
Alternative Sorting Modes
Not everyone prioritizes the same things. That's why we offer different sorting options that reweight the scores:
Best for most shoppers looking for overall quality.
For budget-conscious buyers who want maximum ingredient per dollar.
For those who need stronger doses, regardless of cost.
For those who prioritize easy, simple daily routines.
What We Don't Measure
Our scores focus on quantifiable, objective metrics. Here's what falls outside our system:
Bioavailability & Absorption
Some forms of nutrients absorb better than others. Magnesium glycinate absorbs better than magnesium oxide. Methylcobalamin absorbs better than cyanocobalamin. We don't factor this in because absorption rates vary by individual and aren't consistently documented across products.
Third-Party Testing
We don't verify whether products have been independently tested for purity, potency, or contamination. Look for certifications like NSF, USP, or ConsumerLab if this matters to you.
Ingredient Sourcing
Whether ingredients are organic, non-GMO, sustainably sourced, or derived from whole foods versus synthetic sources isn't reflected in our scores.
Manufacturing Quality
GMP certification, facility cleanliness, quality control processes, and contamination testing aren't part of our scoring.
Effectiveness
We measure what's in the bottle, not whether taking that supplement will actually produce the health outcome you're hoping for. That depends on your individual biology, existing nutrient levels, and countless other factors.
Data Confidence
Not all products have complete data. We're transparent about this with confidence tiers:
We have complete data: price, servings, pills per serving, and a directly comparable potency metric (mg, IU, etc.). All three scores are calculated precisely.
We have price and servings, but potency uses a proxy metric. Common for probiotics (CFU varies in meaning), proprietary blends, and standardized extracts. Scores are estimates.
Missing key data fields. The product may not be scored at all, or scores should be taken with a grain of salt.
Important Notes
Prices Change
We update pricing regularly, but supplement prices fluctuate daily due to sales, stock levels, and market conditions. Always verify the current price before purchasing.
Affiliate Disclosure
When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. This has no effect on our scoring—the math is identical for every product regardless of commission rates. Our scores are calculated programmatically from product data, not influenced by partnerships.
Data Sources
Product information is sourced from manufacturer labels and retailer listings. While we strive for accuracy, always check the actual product label for the most current formulation and dosing information.
The Bottom Line
A high score means a product excels at the metrics we measure. A low score doesn't mean a bad product—it might be optimized for things we don't score, like premium ingredients or specialized formulations.
Use our scores as one input in your decision, not the only input. Your health needs, preferences, budget, and doctor's recommendations should all play a role. We're here to make comparison easier—the final choice is always yours.
← Start Exploring