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Kyolic vs NOW Foods Garlic Extract (2026)
Disclosure: We earn commissions on purchases made through our links. This never influences our scores. Editorial policy
The Verdict
Kyolic takes it on our rubric, 90 to 85 on our 0-100 execution score, and holds our Top Pick badge; NOW holds our Best Value badge. Dosing and form ties at a full 25, because both deliver a form our profile endorses at a dose it recognizes. Kyolic wins purity verification 22 to 19 and transparency 23 to 20; NOW wins value 21 to 20, a narrower pillar margin than the per-day prices of $0.16 and $0.43 might suggest. In our view the form question outranks the price question here, because the reason to take garlic at all in our profile is the blood pressure data, and that data was generated on the Kyolic formulation rather than on garlic in general.
Our own notes put it plainly: if you want the allicin route at the lowest credible price, NOW is the pick, and if you want the form with the most cardiovascular trial data behind it, choose Kyolic. Both come with the same caution from our profile: stop garlic 7 to 14 days before surgery, and skip it if you take warfarin, clopidogrel, or other anticoagulants without your doctor's approval.
Aged Garlic Extract Cardiovascular Formula 100, 300 Capsules
Kyolic
Garlic 5,000 Enteric Coated Tablets, 90 Tablets
NOW Foods
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | Aged Garlic Extract Cardiovascular Formula 100, 300 Capsules Kyolic | Garlic 5,000 Enteric Coated Tablets, 90 Tablets NOW Foods |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Score | 90/100Winner | 85/100 |
| Dosing & Form | 25/25Winner | 25/25 |
| Purity | 22/25Winner | 19/25 |
| Value | 20/25 | 21/25Winner |
| Transparency | 23/25Winner | 20/25 |
| Cost/Day | $0.43 | $0.16Winner |
| Dose/Serving | 600mg | 500mg |
| Form | Aged Garlic Extract (Kyolic AGE), 300mg per capsule | Garlic Powder (5,000 mcg allicin yield), Enteric Coated |
| Third-Party Tested | ✓ Yes | No |
| Proprietary Blend | No | No |
Why This Comparison Matters
These are the two credible answers to the same question, and they are not the same ingredient. Our profile says to use either aged garlic extract or an enteric-coated allicin-yielding powder, because plain garlic powder capsules lose allicin to stomach acid. These two products are one of each.
Kyolic Formula 100 is the aged garlic extract our notes identify as the exact formulation used in the Ried 2016, 2018, and 2020 hypertension RCTs, at 300mg per capsule and 600mg per 2-capsule serving, made with a proprietary 20-month aging process. NOW Garlic 5,000 is enteric-coated garlic powder standardized to a 5,000mcg allicin yield, one tablet a day, with the yield and the coating stated on the label and Allium sativum bulb named as the source. Kyolic's S-allylcysteine content is a Wakunaga proprietary metric and is not stated in milligrams on the label. Neither product carries NSF or USP sport certification.
On cost, Kyolic is about $0.43 per day at the clinical 1200mg aged garlic extract dose, which takes 4 capsules, from $31.99 for 300. NOW is about $0.16 per day at one tablet from $14.69 for 90. Our profile's clinical range is 600 to 1500mg a day of aged garlic extract, or 600 to 900mg a day of standardized powder yielding roughly 3.6 to 5.4mg of allicin.
Detailed Score Breakdown
Aged Garlic Extract Cardiovascular Formula 100, 300 Capsules
Kyolic
Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract is the exact formulation used in the Ried 2016, 2018, and 2020 hypertension RCTs - the strongest cardiovascular evidence base of any garlic supplement
Wakunaga uses a proprietary 20-month aging process; product is third-party tested and produced in a GMP-certified facility, no NSF/USP sport certification
$0.43/day at the clinical 1200mg AGE dose (4 capsules, 2 servings) - solid value for the trial-grade formulation
Full disclosure of 600mg AGE per 2-capsule serving; S-allylcysteine standardization is a Wakunaga proprietary metric, not on-label as mg
Kyolic Formula 100 is the AGE product Karin Ried's research group used in the trials that produced the bulk of the modern blood pressure evidence
Garlic 5,000 Enteric Coated Tablets, 90 Tablets
NOW Foods
Standardized to 5,000 mcg allicin yield with proper enteric coating - the form most likely to deliver allicin past stomach acid
NOW operates an in-house testing lab with NPA A-rated GMP certification; no NSF or USP sport certification
$0.16/day at 1 tablet/day after a modest rise - still the cheapest credible enteric-coated allicin product on the market
Allicin yield clearly stated, enteric coating disclosed, garlic source identified as Allium sativum bulb
If you want the allicin route at the lowest credible price, this is the pick; if you want the form with the most cardiovascular trial data, choose Kyolic
How We Compared These Products
Every product in our database is scored on four equally-weighted pillars: dosing accuracy and form quality, purity verification (third-party testing), cost per clinically effective dose (not cost per pill), and label transparency. Each pillar is worth 25 points for a total of 100.
Cost per effective dose is calculated using the clinically studied dose from published research, not the manufacturer's suggested serving. If a product requires multiple servings to reach the dose used in clinical trials, that cost is reflected in the value score.
For a full explanation of our scoring methodology, see our methodology page. Prices were last checked on the dates listed for each product and may have changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between aged garlic extract and allicin?
They are different preparations with different evidence. Kyolic is aged garlic extract, made with a 20-month aging process, and our notes identify that specific formulation as the one used in the Ried 2016, 2018, and 2020 hypertension RCTs. NOW is enteric-coated garlic powder standardized to a 5,000mcg allicin yield, which our profile says is the form most likely to deliver allicin past stomach acid. Both score a full 25 on our dosing and form pillar.
Which garlic supplement is cheaper per day?
NOW, at about $0.16 per day for one tablet against Kyolic at about $0.43 for the 4 capsules that make up the clinical 1200mg aged garlic extract dose. The containers are $14.69 for 90 tablets and $31.99 for 300 capsules. Our value pillar splits that 21 to 20.
How many capsules a day does each one take?
Kyolic takes 4 capsules for the clinical 1200mg aged garlic extract dose, which our notes list as a con, and the 300-count bottle covers roughly 75 days at that rate. NOW takes a single tablet for its full labeled dose. That convenience is real, and it is separate from which form has more trial data behind it.
More Garlic Extract Comparisons
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FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.