The range of collagen powders is huge, and almost every list crowns a different winner. Instead of yet another ranking, here are the criteria you can use to compare collagen supplements yourself and find the collagen powder that suits you.
Which collagen is best?
There is no single best collagen for everyone. A good powder is transparently labelled, free from unnecessary additives and suits your needs. These seven points will help you choose.
1. Source and collagen types
Collagen always comes from animals. The source determines which collagen types it contains:
| Source | Collagen types | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Cattle | Type I and III | neutral taste, the two most common types in the body |
| Fish | mainly type I | mind fish allergies, sometimes a slight taste |
| Chicken | mainly type II | mostly in joint products |
A good product clearly states the source and collagen types on the label. More on the differences in the article Bovine collagen.
2. Origin and how the animals were raised
Collagen is obtained from hides and bones. How the animals were kept and fed is therefore not a side issue. Check whether the manufacturer states the country of origin, the farming method and the feed, for example grass-fed cattle from pasture or organic farming. If this information is missing, you do not know what you are buying.
3. Ingredient list
Ideally it contains just one word: collagen or collagen hydrolysate. You do not need flavourings, sweeteners, sugar alcohols, thickeners or fillers. They are also the most common cause of complaints, as we explain in the article Collagen side effects.
4. Hydrolysed and easy to dissolve
For daily use, collagen hydrolysate works best. It dissolves in cold and hot drinks and does not gel. Gelatine, on the other hand, only dissolves in warm water and sets as it cools. How hydrolysis works is explained in the article What is hydrolysed collagen?.
5. Protein content per serving
It is worth looking at the nutrition table. Pure collagen powder consists almost entirely of protein. If the protein content is clearly lower, the product contains other ingredients. Also compare serving sizes: some products count 5 grams per serving, others 10 grams.
6. Taste and use
An unflavoured powder is versatile: in your morning coffee, a smoothie, yoghurt or water. Flavoured powders are tied to certain drinks and usually contain extra ingredients.
7. Price per serving
Compare the price per serving instead of the pack price. Divide the price by the number of servings at the same serving size. With capsules it is especially worth doing the maths: a capsule usually contains well under one gram, so you need many of them for a 10 g serving.
Be wary of big promises
Treat claims such as “rejuvenates your skin” or “repairs your joints” with caution. No health claims are authorised for collagen in the EU. What research has actually investigated is covered in the article What is collagen good for?.
Our collagen powder measured against the criteria
| Criterion | Our collagen powder |
|---|---|
| Source and types | cattle, type I and III collagen |
| How the animals are raised | grass-fed cattle from organic pasture farms |
| Ingredients | collagen only, no flavourings, sweeteners or fillers |
| Solubility | hydrolysed, dissolves cold and hot |
| Protein | 94 g per 100 g |
| Taste | neutral |
| Pack | 300 g, 30 servings of 10 g |
Go to our collagen powder.
Conclusion
You can recognise the best collagen powder by clear labelling: a known source and collagen types, traceable origin of the animals, a short ingredient list and a high protein content. Compare the price per serving and be sceptical of big promises, and you will make a good choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is collagen powder better than capsules?
For typical servings of 5 to 10 grams, powder is more practical because a capsule usually contains less than one gram. Capsules are better suited to small amounts.
Is bovine or marine collagen better?
Neither source is better across the board. Bovine collagen provides type I and III and is neutral in taste. Marine collagen provides mainly type I and is an alternative for people who do not eat beef.
Is there vegan collagen?
No. Collagen only occurs in animals. Vegan products contain building blocks such as amino acids or vitamins, but no collagen.