A bottle boasting 1000mg of fish oil per capsule may hold only 300mg of the actual omega-3, so you swallow three capsules to get one real dose. The honest number is not the price per bottle or per capsule, it is the cost per gram of EPA+DHA, and by that measure a cheap low-concentration bottle can cost more than a "pricier" concentrated one. Here is every option, ranked by real value.
Prices reviewed 31 July 2026 . Cost per gram of EPA+DHA from typical current retail and the supplement facts. Not medical advice.
We costed 14 omega-3 supplements by the only measure that matters, the cost per gram of EPA+DHA. Concentrated fish oils like Sports Research are cheapest at $0.35; standard bottles run higher once you count the low concentration; premium triglyceride oils like Nordic Naturals reach $0.95, and krill hits $1.60. The milligrams of "fish oil" on the front are noise, EPA+DHA per dollar is the signal.
Method: bottle price ÷ total grams of EPA+DHA (servings × the EPA plus DHA mg on the supplement facts ÷ 1000), the true value measure rather than price per capsule or bottle. A cheap low-concentration bottle can cost more per gram than a pricier concentrated one. Cost per year assumes 1g of EPA+DHA a day. Prices are indicative USD. Cite this: "usefulHQ Fish Oil Cost Study 2026", usefulhq.com/fish-oil-cost/.
Around 1g of EPA+DHA a day is a common target. The bottle price is a distraction, this is what a real daily dose costs.
| Omega-3 supplement | Type | Per g EPA+DHA | Cost / year | Total over term | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Research Triple StrengthBest value Wild pollock triple-strength; high EPA+DHA per capsule makes it the best value per gram. |
Concentrated | $0.35 | $128 | $383 | Cheapest per gram | Check price |
| Viva Naturals Triple Strength About 1,880mg EPA+DHA a serving; concentrated, so few capsules and a low cost per gram. |
Concentrated | $0.40 | $146 | $438 | High concentration | Check price |
| NOW Foods Ultra Omega-3 Concentrated fish oil from a trusted brand at a low cost per gram. |
Concentrated | $0.42 | $153 | $460 | Reputable value | Check price |
| Nature Made Fish Oil (USP) USP-verified and reliable, but standard concentration means a few capsules per dose. |
Standard | $0.55 | $201 | $602 | Certified budget | Check price |
| Amazon Basic Care Fish Oil Low price per bottle, but standard concentration, so check the EPA+DHA line. |
Standard | $0.60 | $219 | $657 | Cheapest bottle on Amazon | Check price |
| Spring Valley (store brand) A cheap store-brand; often low-concentration, so the per-gram cost creeps up. |
Standard | $0.65 | $237 | $712 | Store-brand value | Check price |
| Nature's Bounty Fish Oil Cheap per bottle, but ~30% concentration means three-plus capsules a dose, raising the real cost. |
Standard | $0.75 | $274 | $821 | Cheap bottle, low concentration | Check price |
| Wiley's Finest Triple Strength Concentrated triglyceride form at a friendlier premium price. |
Premium | $0.80 | $292 | $876 | Value premium | Check price |
| Cod liver oil Traditional cod liver oil, moderate omega-3 plus vitamins A and D. |
Krill / algae | $0.85 | $310 | $931 | Plus vitamins A and D | Check price |
| Carlson Elite Omega-3 High-potency and IFOS-tested, in gels or liquid; a premium per gram. |
Premium | $0.90 | $329 | $986 | High-potency, tested | Check price |
| Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega Triglyceride form absorbs better; premium price per gram and top purity. |
Premium | $0.95 | $347 | $1,040 | Best absorption | Check price |
| Thorne Super EPA NSF Certified for Sport; the peace-of-mind premium for tested athletes. |
Premium | $1.05 | $383 | $1,150 | Pharma-grade | Check price |
| Algae omega-3 (vegan) Plant-based EPA and DHA for vegans; dearer per gram than fish oil. |
Krill / algae | $1.40 | $511 | $1,533 | Vegan option | Check price |
| Krill oil Krill holds far less EPA+DHA per capsule, so it costs the most per gram of omega-3. |
Krill / algae | $1.60 | $584 | $1,752 | Trendy, priciest | Check price |
Concentrated triple-strength oils like Sports Research, Viva Naturals and NOW, at about 35 to 45 cents per gram of EPA+DHA. Cheap standard bottles are often only 30% omega-3, so the real cost per gram is higher. Krill and algae cost the most.
Ignore price per bottle and the "fish oil" milligrams on the front. Divide the bottle price by total EPA+DHA (servings times the EPA plus DHA mg on the facts). A cheap low-concentration bottle can cost more per gram of omega-3 than a dearer concentrated one.
Sometimes. Premium brands use the triglyceride form, which absorbs a bit better, and carry stronger purity certifications. Worth it if you want the best, but a concentrated third-party-tested value brand gives the same EPA and DHA for a fraction of the cost per gram.
Yes. A 1000mg fish-oil capsule may hold only ~300mg of EPA+DHA. So a big cheap 300-count bottle can be worse value than a 90-count concentrated one with more omega-3 per capsule. Always read the EPA+DHA line, not the headline.