Best Beta-Carotene Supplements 2026: Cost per Effective Dose
Top pick for Beta-Carotene: NOW Foods Natural Beta Carotene 25,000 IU — 15mg beta-carotene per 1 softgel, None stated, $0.12/day.
All Beta-Carotene Supplements Compared
⚠ This is the rare supplement with a well-documented population that should avoid it: two large trials, ATBC and CARET, found higher lung cancer incidence among smokers and asbestos-exposed workers taking high-dose beta-carotene. If you smoke or have smoked, take vitamin A activity from food or a mixed-carotenoid multivitamin instead. For everyone else, mixed carotenoid products more closely resemble dietary intake than isolated synthetic beta-carotene.
All 4 products sorted by cost per clinically-effective daily dose (lowest first). Dose, certification, and pricing verified against NIH DSLD and manufacturer data.
| Product | Brand | Dose / Serving | Cost / Day | Certification | Pick | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOW Foods Natural Beta Carotene 25,000 IU | NOW Foods | 15mg beta-carotene / 1 softgel | $0.12 | None stated | Buy | |
| Pure Encapsulations Beta Carotene (with Mixed Carotenoids) 25,000 IU | Pure Encapsulations | 15mg beta-carotene / 1 softgel capsule | $0.41 | Hypoallergenic, NSF-audited GMP | Buy | |
| Country Life Carotenoid Complex | Country Life | mg beta-carotene / 1 softgel | $0.46 | None stated | Buy | |
| Karuna Mixed Carotenoids | Karuna | 7.75mg beta-carotene / 1 vegetarian capsule | $1.22 | None stated | Buy |
In-Depth Beta-Carotene Guides
Go deeper on beta-carotene — by goal, by form, and what the evidence actually supports:
Our Picks
Lowest Cost: NOW Foods Natural Beta Carotene 25,000 IU
15mg beta-carotene per 1 softgel. None stated. $0.12/day. 180 servings per container at $21.90.
How We Rank Beta-Carotene Supplements
Every product is evaluated on three criteria:
- Cost per day. Not cost per pill or cost per bottle — what it actually costs per day at the product's labelled serving. Where a category's servings differ in strength we flag it above the table, because cost per day is only comparable when the doses are.
- Third-party certification. USP Verified, NSF Certified for Sport, and ConsumerLab Approved indicate independent testing for purity, potency, and contaminants.
- Bioavailable form. We prioritize products using the specific chemical form shown to be most effective in published research.
Rankings are not influenced by affiliate commissions. We earn the same commission regardless of which product you choose. Read our full methodology.
Personalize Your Beta-Carotene Choice
Not sure which beta-carotene supplement is right for you? Use our free tools:
- DNA Supplement Analyzer — upload 23andMe or AncestryDNA data to check for genetic variants affecting beta-carotene metabolism. Runs entirely in your browser.
- Lab Results Interpreter — enter your blood test values to get personalized dosing recommendations.
- Supplement Stack Builder — build a complete protocol based on your age, sex, medications, and goals.
- Supplement Audit — already taking beta-carotene? Check if you have the right form and dose.