Disclosure: We earn commissions on purchases made through our links. This never influences our scores. Editorial policy
NOW Foods vs Jarrow Formulas Chondroitin (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, 80 to 77 on our 0-100 execution score, and holds our Best Value badge in the chondroitin scorecard. The pillars split cleanly. Jarrow wins dosing and form 25 to 22, because a full clinical dose of both actives in one product is genuinely better formulation than a single-ingredient capsule. NOW wins value 19 to 13, because $0.36 a day against $0.63 is a real gap once you are taking it daily. They tie at 19 on purity verification and 20 on transparency.
Jarrow holds our Top Pick badge in that scorecard, and its glucosamine sulfate form is the reason. In our view, buy NOW if you want chondroitin specifically and want to control what else you swallow, and buy Jarrow if you want the combination at trial-matched forms and can live with four capsules a day plus the premium. Neither is third-party certified, so brand track record is doing the quality work in both cases.
NOW Foods Chondroitin Sulfate 600mg
NOW Foods
Jarrow Formulas Glucosamine + Chondroitin
Jarrow Formulas
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | NOW Foods Chondroitin Sulfate 600mg NOW Foods | Jarrow Formulas Glucosamine + Chondroitin Jarrow Formulas |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Score | 80/100Winner | 77/100 |
| Dosing & Form | 22/25 | 25/25Winner |
| Purity | 19/25Winner | 19/25 |
| Value | 19/25Winner | 13/25 |
| Transparency | 20/25Winner | 20/25 |
| Cost/Day | $0.36Winner | $0.63 |
| Dose/Serving | 600mg | 1200mg |
| Form | chondroitin sulfate A (bovine cartilage), capsule | chondroitin sulfate (bovine/marine) + glucosamine sulfate, capsule |
| Third-Party Tested | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Proprietary Blend | No | No |
Why This Comparison Matters
One of these is chondroitin on its own and the other is chondroitin bundled with glucosamine, so the first question is whether you want the second ingredient at all. NOW Foods gives you 600mg of chondroitin sulfate A from bovine cartilage per capsule; two capsules reach 1,200mg, the top of the 800 to 1,200mg range most RCTs used. Jarrow reaches the same 1,200mg of chondroitin and adds 1,500mg of glucosamine sulfate plus manganese, but it takes a four-capsule serving to get there.
The glucosamine form is the interesting part. Jarrow uses glucosamine sulfate rather than glucosamine HCl, which per our notes matches the European trial protocols, and it is one of the few combination products that does. Both disclose full ingredient amounts and sources, neither uses a proprietary blend, and neither carries USP, NSF, or ConsumerLab certification.
On cost, NOW runs about $0.36 a day at the full 1,200mg from a 120-capsule bottle at $22. Jarrow runs about $0.63 a day from 60 servings at $37.65, after a 2026 price rise our notes flag. We scored both on dosing and form, purity verification, value, and label transparency.
Detailed Score Breakdown
NOW Foods Chondroitin Sulfate 600mg
NOW Foods
600mg chondroitin sulfate per capsule; 2 capsules daily provides 1,200mg, matching the upper clinical dose range
NOW Foods facilities are NPA GMP audited. No USP or NSF certification on this specific product. Brand has a long track record of passing independent testing.
$0.36/day at 1,200mg after a price rise - still one of the better buyable standalone chondroitin values (Doctor's Best is similarly priced but its listing is currently unavailable)
Full ingredient list. Source identified as bovine cartilage. Form clearly stated. No proprietary blends.
NOW Foods is one of the more trustworthy supplement brands for label accuracy. Strong value for a standalone chondroitin product.
Jarrow Formulas Glucosamine + Chondroitin
Jarrow Formulas
Combination product with 1,200mg chondroitin sulfate and 1,500mg glucosamine sulfate per 4-capsule serving - uses the sulfate form of glucosamine, matching European trial protocols
GMP certified. Jarrow has a solid reputation for quality but this product does not carry USP, NSF, or ConsumerLab certification.
About $0.63/day after a 2026 price rise - a real premium now, on top of the 4-capsule pill burden.
Full disclosure of both active ingredient amounts and forms. Source identified (bovine and marine). Manganese added as a cofactor. No proprietary blends.
One of the few combo products using glucosamine sulfate instead of HCl, though a 2026 price rise means you now pay a real premium for that. Four-capsule serving size is annoying but means adequate doses of both ingredients.
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
How many capsules a day does each product take?
NOW Foods is 600mg per capsule, so two capsules reach 1,200mg, the top of the 800 to 1,200mg clinical range our data uses. Jarrow's serving is four capsules, which delivers 1,200mg of chondroitin plus 1,500mg of glucosamine sulfate. Our notes list the four-capsule burden as a con on the Jarrow product.
Does glucosamine sulfate matter more than glucosamine HCl?
Per our notes, Jarrow uses glucosamine sulfate, which matches the European trial protocols, and it is one of the few combination products that does. That is why Jarrow earns a full 25 on our dosing and form pillar against NOW's 22. The NOW product contains no glucosamine at all, so the question only applies if you want the combination.
Which chondroitin is cheaper per day?
NOW Foods, at about $0.36 per day at the full 1,200mg against Jarrow at about $0.63. The bottles are $22 for 120 NOW capsules and $37.65 for 60 Jarrow servings. Our notes attribute the Jarrow figure to a 2026 price rise that turned it into a genuine premium option.
More Chondroitin Sulfate Comparisons
We earn commissions on purchases made through our links. This never influences our scores or recommendations. See our editorial policy.
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.