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NOW Foods vs Solgar Vitamin A (2026)
Disclosure: We earn commissions on purchases made through our links. This never influences our scores. Editorial policy
The Verdict
NOW Foods edges it on our rubric, 87 to 86 on our 0-100 execution score, on our value pillar alone (23 against 22); the two tie at 25 on dosing and form, 19 on purity verification, and 20 on transparency. That single point should not decide anything here, and Solgar holds our Top Pick badge in the vitamin A scorecard for a reason our score does not capture. Vitamin A is fat-soluble and accumulates, and NOW's 3,000 mcg is the tolerable upper intake limit for adults rather than a target: our own notes on that product say it is for deficiency correction under medical supervision and not for daily long-term use without a documented need.
Solgar's 1,500 mcg is the only buyable dose in our lineup that stays comfortably under that ceiling. In our view Solgar is the better default by a wide margin for anyone supplementing vitamin A without a diagnosed deficiency, and the honest answer for most adults is that no standalone vitamin A is needed at all. Talk to your clinician before taking either at these amounts.
NOW Foods Vitamin A 3,000 mcg (10,000 IU)
NOW Foods
Solgar Dry Vitamin A 1,500 mcg (5,000 IU)
Solgar
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | NOW Foods Vitamin A 3,000 mcg (10,000 IU) NOW Foods | Solgar Dry Vitamin A 1,500 mcg (5,000 IU) Solgar |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Score | 87/100Winner | 86/100 |
| Dosing & Form | 25/25Winner | 25/25 |
| Purity | 19/25Winner | 19/25 |
| Value | 23/25Winner | 22/25 |
| Transparency | 20/25Winner | 20/25 |
| Cost/Day | $0.07 | $0.06Winner |
| Dose/Serving | 3000mcg RAE | 1500mcg RAE |
| Form | retinyl palmitate from fish liver oil, softgel | retinyl palmitate dry tablet |
| Third-Party Tested | ✓ Yes | No |
| Proprietary Blend | No | No |
Why This Comparison Matters
This comparison is about dose, and for vitamin A that is unusually consequential. Our profile puts the adult RDA at 700 to 900 mcg RAE per day and the tolerable upper intake limit for preformed vitamin A at 3,000 mcg RAE. NOW Foods sells exactly 3,000 mcg RAE per softgel, which sits at that upper limit. Solgar sells 1,500 mcg RAE per dry tablet, above the RDA but comfortably under the limit and the lowest preformed dose in our vitamin A lineup.
Both use retinyl palmitate. NOW identifies its source as fish liver oil and delivers it in a softgel; Solgar uses a dry tablet and does not specify sourcing on the label. Neither product carries USP or NSF certification. NOW is made in an NPA GMP audited facility; Solgar is GMP certified.
On cost, Solgar is about $0.06 per day from 100 tablets at $6.49 and NOW is about $0.07 per day from 100 softgels at $7.49. We scored both on dosing and form, purity verification, value, and label transparency.
Detailed Score Breakdown
NOW Foods Vitamin A 3,000 mcg (10,000 IU)
NOW Foods
3,000 mcg RAE is the tolerable upper intake limit for adults. No evidence that doses this high benefit non-deficient individuals, and chronic use at this level risks toxicity.
NPA GMP audited facility. No USP or NSF certification on this product. NOW Foods has passed some ConsumerLab testing historically.
$0.07/day - cheap, but value is irrelevant if the dose creates risk rather than benefit
Clear label disclosure. Form specified as retinyl palmitate from fish liver oil. No proprietary blends. Source identified.
Dosed at the tolerable upper limit. For deficiency correction under medical supervision only. Do not take this daily long-term without a documented need and physician oversight.
Solgar Dry Vitamin A 1,500 mcg (5,000 IU)
Solgar
1,500 mcg RAE (5,000 IU) - above the RDA but the lowest preformed dose in this lineup and well under the 3,000 mcg upper limit. For the rare person who genuinely needs to supplement, the most sensible dose available here.
GMP certified facility. Solgar has been in the supplement industry since 1947. No USP or NSF certification on this specific product - the main knock against it.
$0.06/day - reasonable pricing, and the moderate dose means you are not paying for vitamin A you should not be taking.
Good disclosure. Retinyl palmitate form specified. 'Dry' tablet form noted. No proprietary blends. Source not specified.
Our pick if you genuinely need to supplement: at 1,500 mcg (5,000 IU) it is the lowest preformed dose in this lineup and the only buyable option that stays comfortably under the upper limit, from a reputable brand at a fair price. The tradeoff is no USP or NSF certification. If third-party verification matters more to you than dose, the buyable tested pick is Pure Encapsulations (Eurofins-tested, though at the 10,000 IU upper limit and pricier); Nature Made is USP Verified at a lower 8,000 IU but is sold at Target and pharmacies, not Amazon.
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
Which vitamin A dose is more appropriate for daily use?
Neither is a general-purpose daily vitamin. Our data puts the tolerable upper intake limit for preformed vitamin A at 3,000 mcg RAE for adults, which is exactly the NOW dose, and our notes on that product describe it as for deficiency correction under medical supervision. Solgar's 1,500 mcg is the lowest preformed dose in our lineup and stays under that ceiling, which is why it holds our Top Pick badge. Discuss either with your clinician first.
Is either vitamin A product USP or NSF certified?
Neither, which is why both score 19 on our purity verification pillar. NOW Foods is NPA GMP audited; Solgar is GMP certified. Per our notes the USP Verified option in this category is Nature Made, but it is sold at Target and pharmacies rather than through the retailer we link to.
What is the difference between the softgel and the dry tablet?
Both are retinyl palmitate. NOW's softgel names fish liver oil as the source; Solgar's dry tablet does not specify sourcing, but per our notes the dry form suits people who avoid softgels, including for dietary reasons. Both earn a full 25 on our dosing and form pillar and 20 on transparency.
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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.