Our bodies don’t make every single nutrient we need to survive. Some things, like omega-3 fatty acids, must be supplemented by our diets. But when food deserts, the rising price of food, and simple distaste for fish mean that 68% of adults and 95% of children in the United States don’t get enough omega-3 fatty acids, it’s critical to find outside sources.
Krill oil is an unsung hero among omega-3 supplements. It has all of the benefits of fish oil with a few added nutritional bonuses, and it’s a more sustainable option for the Earth’s health. We pored over all of the krill oil supplements and came up for air with our top seven picks.
In this guide, we’ll discuss what makes krill oil so good and how you can find the best supplement for you before diving deep into each of our top products.
Don’t have time to read the whole article right now? We’ve made a list of our top picks below.
Kori Krill Oil is derived from eco-harvested Antarctic krill. Their dedication to quality ingredients and the environment is unmatched.
Kori Krill focuses on one product - their Krill Oil. Ingredients are transparent and sourced sustainably. Save 10% when you subscribe, and get free shipping when you order two or more items.
Winner: 1MD Nutrition
The most important thing that a supplement can do is work well. The krill oil should be the main focus, and any added ingredients should work in service to boost your omega-3 levels. When we look at the effectiveness of different krill oils, we investigate their ingredients and doses, how they’re made (including GMP and other manufacturing certifications), and their testing process.
1MD Nutrition doesn’t shy away from the fact that krill oil supplements are used for health benefits. They maximize your total doses of every single nutrient you should look for in krill oils, from astaxanthin to omega-3s. Specifically, it contains the highest dose and proportion of EPA and DHA (174mg and 120mg, respectively) in any krill oil we tried, as well as an outstanding 2mg of astaxanthin. Their factory complies with GMP standards, and while it’s unclear how they tested these products, they provide a clear timeline on when and how you might expect to see results.
Winner: Kirkland Signature
The sticker price of a supplement is only the first thing we consider while determining which has the best cost. The supplement’s value (how much you pay per serving), the actual nutritional benefit, and the quality of that supplement all play a role in an item’s cost. Likewise, any other savings programs, rewards, subscription services, or deals a company offers factor into our rating.
Kirkland Signature, Costco’s home brand, continues in the company’s cost-saving footsteps. Their krill oil softgel containers hold 160 servings at a mere $24.99, providing more than five months’ worth of krill oil for the same price as one month of competitors’ formulas. And while each dose is half the size of those competitors at 500mg, you can take two a day and still get many more krill oil softgels for a much lower price.
Winners: GNC and Viva Naturals
Both krill-only and bolstered supplements can be extremely high-quality, and you may find that one option works better for your dietary needs. But no matter the end result, a krill oil supplement should be made with high-quality ingredients. In order to assess the quality of these ingredients, we looked at where the krill came from, how much nutritional value is in the supplements themselves, what other ingredients are in the supplements, and their nutritional values. Testing and safety efforts ensure the goodness packed into each capsule make its way to your home.
Many of our favorites fit the bill well if you want a pure krill oil supplement. But Viva Naturals’ krill oil is the only one with a seal of approval from the International Krill Oil Standards Program (IKOS). An IKOS seal of approval means that the supplement has been tested by this rigorous third party and judged to be of high quality, including meeting or exceeding both World Health Organization and Council for Responsible Nutrition standards. These accolades are well deserved, considering Viva Naturals’ krill-only oil contains some of the highest doses of every nutrient krill oil can provide while remaining in a healthy range to prevent unwanted side effects.
Sometimes, krill oil on its own isn’t enough. Say you need more omega-3s than the average person to help lower your triglycerides. A boosted krill oil supplement that includes fish oil may let you meet your needs, and we think GNC’s Triple Strength Fish Oil Plus Krill Oil is one of the best. One serving provides over 1,100mg of omega-3s in a potent 2,020mg dose. They get their krill oil from Superba, which has various environmental and safety-related accolades, including A-ratings from the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership and 100% traceability of krill harvesting locations.
Winner: Kori
When it comes to supplements made directly from animals, there should be complete transparency about their creation. Safety features, such as whether or not the factories have up-to-date GMP (good manufacturing processes) certification, are critical to know. Likewise, knowing where and how the krill were harvested gives us peace of mind for the environment and our health. To be our top pick in transparency, krill oil supplement manufacturers should not only have that information readily available for anyone who wants to see it, but it should be relatively easy to find.
You can find anything you want to know about Kori’s practices directly on their website. One of the first pages on that website is about their sustainability efforts. Not only are they certified sustainable with multiple outside partnerships, but they’ve earned an A-rating from the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership for fish oil, meaning they leave virtually no trace on the land and ecosystem they harvest their krill from. They use what is essentially an underwater vacuum to catch their krill and nothing else, explaining the technology clearly on the page. And if you scan the QR code on your box, Kori will show you exactly where the krill oil you’re taking came from and when. Plus, you can view the Certificate of Analysis for the latest batch directly from their homepage whenever you want.
Krill is a kind of tiny crustacean similar to shrimp. There are more than 80 kinds of krill worldwide, but all of them can be used to make krill oil. Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is the most common kind used to make krill oil since they are one of the most abundant species on the planet.
After the krill has been harvested, their oil is extracted using acetone and ethanol. The resulting oil is put into capsules and sold directly to you. A simple extraction process like this preserves all of the krill’s natural nutrition benefits, including:
We’ll discuss these compounds and what they can do for your body later in this guide.
The color of your krill oil supplements can vary from fire engine red to almost black. This isn’t an indicator that your oil has gone bad, nor that the factory has packed something else into your jar. Krill oil varies in color according to a few factors:
No matter the color, you’ll still experience all of the benefits of krill oil.
Oil from sea creatures — including fish and krill — provides a significant amount of fatty acids to your body. Fatty acids help cells function by creating phospholipids, which create and restore cell membranes, among dozens of other uses. One important phospholipid it creates is glycerin, which makes triglycerides; triglycerides store excess calories that your body doesn’t immediately need from food so that it can keep functioning even when you’re not eating.
There are four major kinds of fatty acids:
We’ll focus on omega-3, a polyunsaturated fat, in this guide.
There are multiple kinds of omega fatty acids. Most are either monounsaturated fats (like omega-9 fatty acids) or polyunsaturated fats. Omega-3 is a polyunsaturated fat that our body doesn’t naturally produce, so it’s essential to get enough through our diets to keep our bodies functioning. Specifically, omega-3 helps to support a healthy body by reducing the risk of:
Omega-3s also help keep our arteries functioning properly, preventing blockages that can cause cardiovascular problems. And its potential anti-inflammatory properties mean it might be able to help ease the symptoms of other diseases and disorders. Arthritis — both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis — is a significant area of focus, as well as heart problems like coronary heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and even depression.
Algae is a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids. So are the sea creatures that eat it. We reap these nutritional benefits when we take fish, krill, or mussel oil. However, you can also get omega-3s from vegetarian sources like flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts. Different kinds of omega-3s can vary between these two sources. There are four common omega-3s we’ll discuss below.
EPA is one of fish and krill oil's most prevalent omega-3 fatty acids. It’s most common in cold-water fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, herring, and tuna. Most studies look at EPA and DHA together, but when separated, EPA appears to be the factor that controls triglyceride levels, coagulation, and heart attack risk.
DHA is the second half of the omega-3 powerhouse found in krill oil. When separated from EPA, DHA appears to reduce blood pressure, calm high heart rates, and lower inflammation. Current research is beginning to explore DHA's impact on brain development, neurodevelopmental disorders, and mental health. It also may help fetuses and newborns develop, as high levels of DHA can reduce the rate of preterm birth by up to 50%.
DPA is similar to EPA and DHA but is found in fish in smaller amounts. It's not yet considered an essential nutrient, though public perception is changing as researchers uncover information about it. In 2016, researchers discovered that DPA might work as a storage vessel to house and transport EPA and DHA. Like DHA, it's also thought to help fetuses develop healthy brains and bones.
ALA is the most common omega-3 fatty acid in plants. Some recent studies have looked into its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, suggesting it can help with anything from migraines to metabolic syndrome to central nervous system diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It can be converted to EPA in human bodies but doesn’t turn into DHA very easily. (This is part of why, if you can, taking krill or fish oil is best for your health.)
These two sea creatures offer similar health benefits in their oil supplements. While it’s much harder to go out and catch some fresh krill for dinner, they offer slightly more nutritional value than fish oil.
Krill oil is more consistent between brands of supplements since there are more than 80 kinds of krill, most often caught from one source: Antarctic krill. You won’t have to worry about mercury levels between types of krill either. Human bodies are thought to absorb krill oil more efficiently than fish oil, meaning you can take in more EPA and DHA from each supplement you take, meaning you can take less and get the same effect.
Krill also offers a few other health benefits through nutrients you can’t find in fish oil.
Astaxanthin is an antioxidant that gives krill their red color (and flamingos their pink color). Very little research has been done on its health benefits at this time, but it’s thought to have some anti-inflammatory properties with the potential to help cardiovascular disease.
Another kind of lipid, phospholipids, are made of a hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tails. The membranes that hold together every single cell in our bodies are made from phospholipids. Much like omega-3, there are several kinds. In krill oil, phospholipids mainly occur in the form of phosphatidylcholine, which carries choline through the body. Up to 70% of the fatty acids in krill oil are bound to phospholipids, which might be why it’s easier for human bodies to absorb the nutrients in krill oil.
Choline is another essential nutrient necessary for our metabolic pathways to function. It’s used to make acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that controls movement and circadian rhythms, and runs the parasympathetic nervous system. It’s also crucial for moving fats through the body, working hand-in-hand with omega-3 fatty acids. Not having enough choline can lead to liver damage.
These benefits don’t mean that fish oil has nothing to offer. It’s often less expensive and easier to find in stores. And if you’re allergic to crustaceans, it’s an equally healthy alternative. But krill oil has unique benefits that offer even more easy nutrition.
Krill oil isn’t the only alternative to fish oil. Green-lipped mussel oil is an excellent choice if you want to get your omega-3s from another hearty sea creature. Studies have shown that while green-lipped mussel oil isn’t quite as good at offering EPA and DHA, it significantly improves osteoarthritis pain and inflammation.
Whether vegan or vegetarian, you can also get your omega-3 supplementation from the same source as fish, krill, and mussels — algae. Fish, krill, and mussels don’t make excess omega-3s but gain it by consuming algae (or creatures that eat algae), which is extremely rich in omega-3s. Algal oil is one of the best sources of vegan omega-3s. Some companies also make plain omega-3 supplements, which are almost always derived from algae or fish.
You can also eat more flaxseed and walnuts for extra omega-3s if you aren’t interested in a supplement but need more in your diet. However, walnuts, flaxseed, and other non-algae plant-based sources of omega-3 break down into ALA, not EPA or DHA, so you’ll see different benefits.
As an essential nutrient, there are dozens of things that omega-3 can provide to your body. Contemporary Western diets have replaced many natural sources of omega-3 with omega-6, which is similar but considerably harder for our bodies to use. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend eating two servings (eight ounces) of fish every week. Anyone who doesn’t can get extra omega-3 support by taking a krill oil supplement.
Omega-3s lower your triglyceride levels and raise your “good” cholesterol (LDL) levels. A study published in 2022 found that krill oil is a particularly effective source of heart-healthy omega-3s, safely regulating triglyceride levels in patients with severely high triglycerides. Anyone with high cholesterol — especially high triglycerides — may benefit from adding a krill oil supplement to their daily routine.
Pregnant people need extra omega-3 in their diets to help support their growing fetus’s brain and retinal development. Krill oil provides a nice boost without worrying about potential mercury exposure (though fish oil is also tested to guarantee no traces of mercury).
There isn’t as much research on krill oil’s specific health benefits yet. However, a significant body of research on fish oil’s benefits is very close to what you might find in krill oil. Krill oil’s phospholipid content can carry significantly more EPA and DHA, which is where a majority of fish oil’s health perks come from. So it’s possible krill oil can do all this and more. Some other health aspects that krill oil might improve include:
There’s very little information about recommended doses of krill oil and its beneficial compounds. Since the FDA doesn’t regulate krill oil in the same way they regulate food or prescription medications, it’s up to clinical researchers and krill oil manufacturers to determine and set appropriate doses and guidelines. There are also differences between suggested daily doses (a wide range determined by safety and efficacy findings in clinical research) and recommended daily doses (formed by consensus and more specific to dietary needs).
We’ve pulled together information on how much you should be getting of each of krill oil’s major nutrients in the chart below. This chart does not include DPA and phospholipids as there is no scientific consensus on how much should be consumed daily.
The current scientific consensus is that krill oil is a slightly safer alternative to fish oil. Fish oil is already a particularly safe supplement since it’s made exclusively from something that is and should be regularly consumed as part of a balanced diet. It also has generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status in the United States.
Krill oil has almost no side effects. However, like fish oil, there is the chance that krill oil can slow the rate of blood clotting. Marine sources of omega-3 are more likely than other kinds of omega-3 to have anticoagulant effects, and while studies show mixed results, reach out to your doctor if you have a bleeding disorder or take anticoagulants and want to try krill oil. Likely, your doctor will also suggest avoiding krill oil in the few weeks before and after surgery.
Don’t take krill oil if you’re allergic to fish or shellfish. Some krill oil brands use marine gelatin in their capsules, so be sure to read the ingredients to double-check. Children over the age of four can take krill oil in small doses, which may help their brain continue to develop normally. Reach out to your pediatrician if you’re interested, as there aren’t formal rules and recommendations around omega-3 dosing for children.
If you’re pregnant or lactating, check in with your doctor before beginning a krill oil supplement. It may be a better alternative to fish oil to help you get your necessary daily dose of omega-3s. A 2018 study found that lactating parents taking krill oil passed on more EPA and DHA to nursing babies, helping their long-term brain development.
Best overall and most sustainable
Kori is a supplement brand that exclusively sells krill oil. Their dedication is obvious from the start: everything you could possibly want to know about their krill oil — or krill oil in general — is available in easy-to-read charts, graphs, and pages across their website. For example, you can find out where the krill in your daily supplement came from using a QR code or the lot number. You can also read about the company’s sustainability certifications.
Sustainability is something that Kori goes above and beyond to emphasize in their Krill Oil. They simply explain how their eco-harvesting methods work (a small underwater vacuum fitted with a baleen-like mesh filter to only catch krill, inspired by whales’ method of catching krill) and walk customers through every step they take to preserve Antarctic krill populations and surrounding ecosystems. Even their packaging is 100% recyclable, including the bottle cap. Considering they also partner with three conservation organizations, have an A-rating with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, and rely on a third party to watch their krill harvesting, it’s safe to say that Kori truly believes in their mission and takes steps to make it happen.
Their titular Krill Oil, made from Antarctic krill, comes in three different sizes. All of Kori’s Antarctic krill oil supplements have the same recommended dose: 1,200mg daily. However, one 1,200mg standard softgel is quite large, measuring about the same height and most of the width of a quarter. If you know that’s going to be difficult for you to take every day, Kori makes two other sizes of softgels for the same price at the same doses.
Every bottle contains 30 servings, or a month’s supply.
There are no additional ingredients in Kori’s Krill Oil, including flavorings or additives. Several of our other favorite krill oil supplements include small amounts of flavoring to offset the chances of any fishy taste peeking through, so you are slightly more likely to pick up on the taste of the ocean if you’re sensitive to it.
No matter what size pill you order, every bottle of Kori’s Krill Oil Softgels costs $19.99. You can join their subscription program for 10% off, dropping the price to $17.99. Kori fulfills their subscriptions through the third-party program Recharge, and you can set deliveries to occur as frequently (or infrequently) as you want. Cancel, skip, or delay with no hassle or penalties.
Kori Krill Oil can be found on their website, as well as in several major retailers in-person and online.
If you make your purchase through their website, free shipping unlocks with any two items. Only interested in trying one bottle? There’s a $4.99 flat shipping fee. For the time being, Kori’s krill oil only ships to the United States.
Most potent
If you want to get your omega-3s down quickly and painlessly, 1MD Nutrition offers a highly potent krill oil supplement called KrillMD. KrillMD offers 1,600mg of krill oil in every two-capsule serving. Of these, 320mg are omega-3s (including 174mg of EPA and 120mg of DHA). This is one of the highest ratios of EPA to DHA, providing an excellent balance between the two fatty acids. The softgels themselves are relatively long, and taking two daily to get the full 1,600mg can be burdensome. But, considering that most other supplements max out around 1,200mg of krill oil split between two capsules, these extra milligrams make a big difference.
While they make a few claims that they sustainably harvest their krill, there aren’t a lot of direct or clear details explaining how. Likewise, while they’re made in the U.S. in a GMP-certified factory, it isn’t clear whether or not these supplements have been tested in-house or by an independent third party.
1MD Nutrition does offer more thorough information about what the nutrients in krill oil can do for your body than their competitors. They place a moving timeline on the KrillMD webpage, delineating what kinds of symptom relief you might experience at two weeks, one month, two months, and three months of taking KrillMD consistently. Each point on this timeline is backed by clinical research and sets very reasonable expectations. You won’t find that your arthritis is cured in three days (because supplements aren’t cures or medications for health conditions), and 1MD Nutrition makes no promises it can’t keep.
1MD Nutrition offers several different bulk options with varying discounts. You can get bottles in sets of one, three, or six, and as a one-time purchase or recurring subscription. The chart below can help you understand all of the different iterations and perks.
If you try 1MD Nutrition’s KrillMD and decide that it isn’t right for you, return it within 90 days of purchase for a full refund. You can send back an opened, partially full, or even an empty bottle and still get all of your money back, no questions asked.
Best for athletes
Known for their athletic and nootropic supplements, like Alpha BRAIN (created in part by former Fear Factor host Joe Rogan), Onnit takes a step out of flashy concepts with their krill oil supplement. It’s one of the brand’s more modest supplements, but with it comes a degree of accuracy, sustainability, and transparency that surprised our testers in the best way.
Onnit’s Krill Oil comes in one hearty dose, providing 1,000mg of krill oil and 240mg of omega-3 fatty acids (including 130mg EPA and 60mg DHA). While this isn’t the most EPA and DHA we’ve seen on our list, it also has 450mg of phospholipids. Considering Onnit’s swing toward sports professionals, this choice makes sense.
Phospholipids — especially phosphatidylcholine — are critical for maintaining energy throughout long, intense workouts. This high quantity makes this supplement perfect for athletes trying to keep their heart, joints, and energy levels healthy, even in high-intensity settings. And, while it isn’t the highest phospholipid value on our list, its low price and high-quality ingredients make it a match for anyone who needs to cycle it through a sports season or take it year-round.
The krill oil softgels do include ethyl vanillin (artificial vanilla extract) to minimize any potential fishy taste. Our testers found that it did mask the taste relatively well, leaving no aquatic remnants behind in their mouths or later in burps. It’s unclear if this krill oil has been tested, as an unnamed third party has supplied it. However, said third party has been certified by Friend of the Sea thanks to their commitment to sustainability, so it’s likely that the supplement has also been tested for clarity.
Each significant bit of scientific information on Onnit’s page links to the scientific study they reference, providing important clinical references. They explain why krill is such an environmentally-friendly source of omega-3s and why it’s critical for heart, joint, and brain health.
Onnit’s Krill Oil comes in one 60-count bottle. A one-time purchase costs $29.95, but you can join their Subscribe & Save program for a 15% discount (for a new price of $25.46). With a subscription, you can choose to have your Krill Oil delivered every:
Onnit will deliver up to five bottles of Krill Oil at your specified interval. There are no free shipping benefits unique to their subscription, so no matter what or how you order, expect to pay for shipping (or put together a basket worth $150 or more to unlock free shipping to the contiguous United States). Shipping prices vary depending on your location and method of choice, but our testers found they varied between $7 and $11. Plus, if you’re a first responder, medical professional, or part of the military, you can take an extra 15% off everything.
If you need to return your Krill Oil, you can reach out to Onnit’s team for a full refund within 90 days of purchase. Their Keep-It money-back guarantee allows you to keep the bottle, meaning there’s no messing with returns or shipping prices. The one drawback of this is that you must try the supplement for at least two weeks (or wait two weeks after it’s been delivered) before you can initiate a refund.
Best budget pick
If you’re looking for the most bulk product at the lowest possible price, turning to Costco’s in-house brand, Kirkland Signature, is almost always the best plan. This holds true for their krill oil supplements.
One serving of this krill oil is one softgel containing:
This isn’t a lot. If you already eat some omega-3-containing foods, this may be enough to help you fill the nutritional gap. But if you’re looking for a total dietary replacement, 120mg of omega-3s isn’t enough, considering the suggested daily dose is anywhere between 250mg and 500mg (and most research leans toward 500mg). To come close to these numbers, you’ll need to take two or three softgels a day. That cuts into some of Kirkland’s cost-effective bulk strategy, but you’ll still get more product for less than most of the competition. (Taking three softgels a day, for example, drops the quantity to about 53 days’ worth at $0.47 per serving. This is a lower value than every other krill oil on our list except for Sports Research.)
Another curious ingredient choice is their inclusion of vanillin ethanol (artificial vanilla extract). It’s easy to miss at the end of the additional ingredients list and likely serves to keep any potential fishy smell or taste at bay. Still, since krill oil is already relatively unscented, some may find it a little over-the-top. Our testers found the slight vanilla flavor unsettling as it clashes with the very slight fishy taste.
Kirkland Signature uses unique and sustainable methods to catch the krill they turn into their oil. Friends of the Sea backs them, and their krill oil supplement has been USP Verified. This means that it’s made of what they say it is, releases easily into the body, and is manufactured according to cGMP standards.
One bottle of Kirkland Signature Krill Oil costs $24.99. Shipping on this item is always free, and it’ll arrive at your door within 5-7 days of placing an order. There aren’t any subscription options, so you’re limited to manual purchases. However, if you have a Costco membership, you can also pick this krill oil up in any of Costco’s warehouses.
Best krill-fish oil blend
Sometimes, you need something a bit stronger than plain krill oil. Several brands offer combined fish and krill oil supplements to give a leg up on omega-3s for those who need more than 1g a day. GNC’s Triple Strength Fish Oil Plus Krill Oil is one of the best combinations, but krill oil takes a bit of a backseat.
While GNC’s Triple Strength Fish Oil Plus Krill Oil has a grand amount of omega-3s at 2,020mg per serving, less than 1,000mg of those are from krill oil. Its omega-3 content is extremely high at 1,119mg (700mg EPA and 250mg DHA). However, that low dose of DHA means that it’s likely not as effective — the equivalent of about 60mg DHA in a 500mg supplement. For those reasons, despite what it looks like at first glance, GNC’s krill oil is not our most potent pick.
The pills are appropriately large given their dose. And while GNC purifies their formula for heavy metals and other not-so-healthy inclusions, the ingredients list still contains artificial coloring and titanium dioxide. They have an enteric coating that takes much longer to break down, meaning it becomes a slow-release formula to minimize any fishy aftertaste.
You can order GNC’s Triple Strength Fish Oil Plus Krill Oil as a one-time purchase for $29.99 or as part of their subscription program. Joining the subscription saves you 10% (bringing the price down to $26.99) and guarantees you’ll get free shipping. You can choose to have your subscription delivered at a variety of intervals:
If you don’t join the subscription, shipping is free on orders over $49. If you don’t want to pay the $9.99 shipping fee, you can also order this supplement to pick up in your local GNC store. And if you don’t like their combination of fish and krill oil, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee for a full refund as long as you include all the paperwork (including receipts) from your initial order. If you aren’t 100% sure that you’ll like the supplement, we recommend keeping the box intact — without removing any of the papers — so that you can just put the bottle back in its original box to return stress-free.
Curious about GNC’s other supplement options? Check out our full review.
Viva Naturals Antarctic Krill Oil is a sustainably-harvested option that provides 1,250mg of krill oil per two-capsule serving. It doesn’t offer a huge amount of the most beneficial nutrient — omega-3s — at 330mg total per serving (165mg of EPA and 90mg of DHA), but it’s higher than some other brands. The supplement may be better known for its 1.6mg of astaxanthin, almost 1,000 times more than the 200mcg average dose in competitor’s formulas. If you’re hoping to lean in to the antioxidant properties of krill oil, Viva Naturals may be your best bet.
Their formulas don’t include any excess ingredients, and their capsules are made from fish gelatin, so those who don’t eat beef or cow products can still safely take this supplement.
IKOS (International Krill Oil Standards) is the krill equivalent of the International Fish Oil Standards and is equally acclaimed in the world of krill oil. Viva Naturals boasts the only krill oil supplement that is certified by IKOS. It’s also tested by some third-party independent testers, meaning that you’re guaranteed to receive high-quality supplements no matter when you order. Viva Naturals is also one of the most transparent companies about this testing procedure on our list, stating it outright several times (though you can’t access any Certificates of Analysis for the product).
Each bottle of Viva Naturals Krill Oil contains 30 servings, or one month, of krill oil. You can order one, four, or six bottles at a time. There are no bulk bundle deals, but joining Viva Naturals’ subscription program will save you 10% no matter how many containers you order.
Free shipping kicks in when your order costs more than $79, so any of Viva Naturals’ four- or six-bottle bundles will ship for free. If you just want one bottle, shipping costs vary depending on how fast you want your package. Standard shipping (5-7 days) for one container of Krill Oil costs $5.95 no matter where in the United States you are.
Should you try your Krill Oil and not like it, you can get a full refund within 90 days of purchase. However, there are a few caveats. Viva Naturals will only give a refund on orders less than $100 and for first-time product purchases. So, if you try your Krill Oil and it agrees with you the first month, but you develop digestive problems down the road, you won’t be able to get a refund at that point.
Sports Research offers one of the only krill oil supplements on our list with more than one pill dose. However, those numbers get a little messy relatively fast. You can order:
Doing some quick math reveals that there is still the same total amount of krill oil per bottle in either size. While Sports Research suggests that one serving is one capsule for both, the smaller (500mg) softgel only offers 120mg of omega-3s. Since that’s not enough to meet daily necessary requirements, it’s just as easy to take two smaller softgels and get the same amount of nutrients as you would with one larger (1,000mg) softgel.
You’ll find 120-240mg of omega-3 fatty acids within these capsules, including 68-136mg of EPA and 30-60mg of DHA. Like several other krill oil supplements, these numbers aren’t as strong as they could be, particularly for DHA. It’s a great supplement if you want to bulk up a diet that already has some omega-3s in it.
The krill oil has its own fancy name — Superba2 — revealing its origins. This krill comes from Superba Krill, a third-party krill oil supplement supplier. They run the most sustainable fishery according to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, and all of their products are MSC and Friends of the Sea-certified sustainable. If you go through Superba's website, all krill oil batches are fully traceable back to the original harvest location.
There’s a slight price difference between the 500mg and 1,000mg softgel options from Sports Research. Combining that with their 15% subscription discount and figuring out your best deal can get complicated.
Shipping costs a flat rate of $7.50 unless you opt for expedited shipping, which varies depending on what you’ve ordered and where it’s being delivered. You can unlock free shipping with any order that costs more than $75 total. It’s also important to note that Sports Research’s shipping platform doesn’t recognize special characters, so be sure not to include emojis or characters outside of the English alphabet and numerals. Sports Research will cancel your order if you include these.
If you try their Krill Oil and don’t like it, you can get a refund by shipping the bottle back to Sports Research within 90 days of purchase. You won’t get a full refund, as they take out the cost of return shipping ($7.50) and only accept refunds from customers living in the United States.
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Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this guide was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.