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Nature Made vs Thorne Prenatal Multivitamin (2026)
Disclosure: We earn commissions on purchases made through our links. This never influences our scores. Editorial policy
The Verdict
Nature Made edges it on our rubric, 91 to 90 on our 0-100 execution score, and holds our Top Pick badge in the prenatal scorecard. The pillars trade cleanly: Thorne wins dosing and form 25 to 21, on methylfolate and iron bisglycinate, and Nature Made wins value 24 to 19, at roughly $0.20 a day against $1.23. The two tie at 23 on purity verification, since USP Verified and NSF are both credible seals, and at 23 on transparency, since both disclose every amount and form with no proprietary blends. In our view Nature Made is the more complete single product for most buyers, because it puts folate, iron, and DHA in one softgel at a price that is easy to sustain across a pregnancy, and Thorne is the better formulation on paper if bioavailable forms matter to you and you already take a separate DHA.
Neither solves choline. Which forms and amounts are right for you is a clinical question, particularly around iron, so take both labels to your obstetric clinician rather than picking on our score.
Prenatal Folic Acid + DHA, 90 Softgels
Nature Made
Basic Prenatal
Thorne
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | Prenatal Folic Acid + DHA, 90 Softgels Nature Made | Basic Prenatal Thorne |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Score | 91/100Winner | 90/100 |
| Dosing & Form | 21/25 | 25/25Winner |
| Purity | 23/25Winner | 23/25 |
| Value | 24/25Winner | 19/25 |
| Transparency | 23/25Winner | 23/25 |
| Cost/Day | $0.20Winner | $1.23 |
| Dose/Serving | 1330mcg DFE | 1700mcg DFE |
| Form | Softgel with Folic Acid + DHA | Capsules with L-5-MTHF + Iron Bisglycinate |
| Third-Party Tested | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Proprietary Blend | No | No |
Why This Comparison Matters
Prenatal choice is a conversation for you and your obstetric clinician, not a scorecard, so read this as a look at what each label actually contains rather than as advice about what you should take.
The two differ on nutrient forms and on what is missing. Nature Made covers the amounts commonly cited as a prenatal baseline in one daily softgel: 800 mcg of folic acid, 27mg of iron, and 200mg of DHA. It uses synthetic folic acid rather than methylfolate and contains no choline. Thorne uses the more bioavailable forms, 1mg of L-5-MTHF methylfolate and 45mg of iron bisglycinate, but contains no DHA and no choline at all, so it needs a separate omega-3 alongside it. Our profile notes that choline, commonly cited at 450mg, is missing from most prenatal formulas, and it is missing from both of these.
On verification, Nature Made is USP Verified, the strongest third-party seal in this category; Thorne is NSF certified. On cost, Nature Made is about $0.20 per day from 90 softgels at $18.25 and Thorne is about $1.23 per day from 30 servings at $37. We scored both on dosing and form, purity verification, value, and label transparency.
Detailed Score Breakdown
Prenatal Folic Acid + DHA, 90 Softgels
Nature Made
Meets all ACOG baseline guidelines for folic acid (800 mcg), iron (27 mg), and DHA (200 mg) in a single softgel
USP Verified - the gold standard for third-party testing of purity and potency
$0.20/day after a price drop - exceptional value for a USP-verified prenatal with both iron and DHA included
Full nutrient disclosure with amounts and forms clearly specified on label
The gold standard for budget and mid-range prenatals due to USP certification, complete nutrient profile, and single-pill convenience. Uses synthetic folic acid rather than methylfolate and lacks choline.
Basic Prenatal
Thorne
Highly bioavailable nutrient forms including methylfolate (1 mg L-5-MTHF) and iron bisglycinate (45 mg)
NSF Certified for Sport facility with extensive internal testing protocols
$1.23/day - premium pricing but justified by practitioner-grade quality and bioavailable forms
Full ingredient disclosure with specific forms and amounts, no proprietary blends
Uses the most bioavailable nutrient forms (methylfolate, iron bisglycinate) but lacks DHA and choline entirely - requires separate supplementation
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 does each prenatal leave out?
Nature Made contains no choline and uses synthetic folic acid rather than methylfolate. Thorne contains no DHA and no choline at all, so per our notes it requires separate omega-3 supplementation. Our profile flags choline, commonly cited at 450mg, as missing from most prenatal formulas, and both of these are examples.
Is folic acid or methylfolate the better form?
Thorne uses 1mg of L-5-MTHF, which our notes describe as a more bioavailable form, and that is why it earns a full 25 on our dosing and form pillar against Nature Made's 21. Nature Made uses 800 mcg of synthetic folic acid, the amount commonly cited as a prenatal baseline. Which form is appropriate for you is a question for your clinician, not something our rubric can decide.
Are both prenatals third-party certified?
Yes. Nature Made is USP Verified, which our notes call the gold standard for purity and potency testing; Thorne is NSF certified and made in an NSF Certified for Sport facility. Both score 23 on our purity verification pillar, so certification is not what separates them.
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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.