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NOW Foods vs Doctor's Best Digestive Enzymes (2026)
Disclosure: We earn commissions on purchases made through our links. This never influences our scores. Editorial policy
The Verdict
NOW Foods takes it on our rubric, 84 to 80 on our 0-100 execution score, and holds our Top Pick badge in the digestive enzyme scorecard. The gap is entirely our value pillar, 23 against 19; the two tie on dosing and form at 25, on purity verification at 13, and on transparency at 23. NOW is also the only one of the pair carrying a third-party certification, UL, which our notes call out specifically. Doctor's Best holds our Best Value badge and keeps it because it is still the cheapest vegan broad-spectrum blend we can route a purchase to, but the 2026 rise to roughly $0.31 a capsule narrowed that lead considerably.
In our view the real decision here is dietary rather than scored: if animal-derived pancreatin and ox bile are fine with you, NOW puts more in the capsule for about half the cost, and if they are not, Doctor's Best is the pick and the DE111 probiotic strain is a genuine extra. Worth noting that our evidence grade for both is a C, since clinical evidence for over-the-counter enzymes in general use remains limited.
Super Enzymes
NOW Foods
Digestive Enzymes
Doctor's Best
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | Super Enzymes NOW Foods | Digestive Enzymes Doctor's Best |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Score | 84/100Winner | 80/100 |
| Dosing & Form | 25/25Winner | 25/25 |
| Purity | 13/25Winner | 13/25 |
| Value | 23/25Winner | 19/25 |
| Transparency | 23/25Winner | 23/25 |
| Cost/Day | $0.17Winner | $0.31 |
| Dose/Serving | 1capsule | 1capsule |
| Form | Animal-derived pancreatin + Betaine HCl + Ox Bile | Fungal-derived vegan enzyme blend |
| Third-Party Tested | ✓ Yes | No |
| Proprietary Blend | No | No |
Why This Comparison Matters
The choice here is animal-derived against vegan, and it changes what is actually in the capsule. NOW Foods Super Enzymes is pancreatin plus Betaine HCl plus ox bile, which per our notes makes it one of the most comprehensive single-capsule enzyme products available; it is also not suitable for vegetarians or vegans. Doctor's Best uses a fungal-derived vegan blend and adds the Bacillus subtilis DE111 probiotic strain.
Both disclose activity units for every enzyme, which is the thing to look for in this category, and neither uses a proprietary blend. Our profile measures digestive enzyme dose in activity units per meal rather than milligrams, and both products publish theirs. On verification, NOW Foods carries UL Certification, a legitimate third-party dietary supplement program; Doctor's Best has GMP manufacturing but no independent product-level testing we could verify.
On cost, NOW is about $0.17 per capsule from 90 capsules at $14.99. Doctor's Best is about $0.31 from 90 capsules at $27.99, after a 2026 price rise our notes flag as nearly doubling it. We scored both on dosing and form, purity verification, value, and label transparency.
Detailed Score Breakdown
Super Enzymes
NOW Foods
Combines pancreatin, Betaine HCl, and ox bile for comprehensive digestive support, though OTC evidence remains limited
UL Certified (formerly Underwriters Laboratories dietary supplement verification), a legitimate third-party program
$0.17/day after a small 2026 rise - still the best value broad-spectrum enzyme on the market by a wide margin
Full ingredient disclosure with activity units for enzymes, clear labeling of Betaine HCl and ox bile amounts
Contains Betaine HCl and ox bile in addition to pancreatin, making it one of the most comprehensive single-capsule enzyme products. Not suitable for vegetarians or vegans due to animal-derived ingredients.
Digestive Enzymes
Doctor's Best
Vegan broad-spectrum blend with reasonable enzyme activity, though clinical evidence for general use is limited
GMP certified facility but no independent third-party product-level testing verified
$0.31/day after the price nearly doubled in 2026 - still the cheapest vegan broad-spectrum blend we can route a purchase to, though no longer the runaway value it was
Full activity unit disclosure for all enzymes, no proprietary blends, clearly labeled as vegan
Includes Bacillus subtilis DE111 probiotic strain alongside the enzyme blend. Fully vegan - still the value pick among broad-spectrum blends we can link to, though its 2026 price rise to $0.31/day narrowed the gap.
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
Is either digestive enzyme product vegan?
Doctor's Best is: it uses a fungal-derived blend and is clearly labeled vegan. NOW Foods Super Enzymes contains pancreatin and ox bile, both animal-derived, and per our notes is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans. That is the first question to settle, because it decides the comparison before any score does.
What does UL Certification mean on a supplement?
Per our notes it is a legitimate third-party dietary supplement verification program, formerly Underwriters Laboratories. NOW Foods Super Enzymes carries it. Doctor's Best has GMP manufacturing but no independent product-level testing we could verify. Both still score 13 on our purity verification pillar.
Which digestive enzyme is cheaper per capsule?
NOW Foods, at about $0.17 against Doctor's Best at about $0.31. Both bottles hold 90 capsules, at $14.99 and $27.99 respectively. Our notes flag the Doctor's Best price as having nearly doubled in 2026, which is why the value pillar splits 23 to 19.
More Digestive Enzymes 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.