Top 5 Probiotic Supplements – Full Analysis, Reviews & Buying Guide (2023)

We are born with a microbiome similar to our mothers [*]. This microbiome is composed of bacteria, archaea, viruses and eukaryotic microbes. While we typically think of microbes as bad, there are beneficial bacteria vital in human health and body functions [*].  Beneficial bacteria are what is commonly referred to as probiotics, and they can be sourced from food or dietary supplements [*]. 

Beneficial or “good” bacteria are particularly abundant in the gastrointestinal tract, and they are necessary for proper digestion and immune response. Via these functions, good bacteria also directly or indirectly influence other functions in the human body [*]. 

The human gut microbiome is altered by various factors including genetics, age, diet, and antibiotic medications.  An unhealthy diet and antibiotic use can destroy beneficial bacteria and lead to an unhealthy gut microbiome [*]. 

Disorders  including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity and diabetes, allergy, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension have been linked to an unhealthy gut microbiome [*]. 

Consumption of probiotics (i.e. “good” bacteria) can help restore a healthy gut microbiome. Probiotics may contain a variety of beneficial bacteria, the most common are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium [**]. 

Foods such as yogurt, cultured buttermilk, cheese, miso, tempeh, sauerkraut, sourdough bread, and kefir are rich in probiotics. Probiotics are also in many dietary supplements that are marketed for digestive health [**].

The popularity of probiotics has led to hundreds of brands flooding the marketplace; however not all supplements are created equal! Unfortunately, more than 90% of probiotic supplements in the market simply DON’T WORK!

We understand the challenges in finding the right supplement for your health needs. That’s why we gathered years of research and made this guide to help you find the top-rated formulas that work for you.

Things To Be Cautious About

Has your brand been third-party tested? You should never buy supplements that don’t have Certificate of Analysis. The studies should be conducted in labs that are not affiliated with the manufacturer. These labs verify the product for safety and potency.

Does your probiotics supplement contain cheap synthetic fillers? Some brands add artificial fillers to cut cost to offer cheap products. Some of these cheap fillers we found were titanium dioxide and artificial coloring. You should never purchase cheap products when it comes to supplements.

No return policy or customer service – A reputable supplement company will offer 100% money-back guarantee policy and provide customer support through phone number and email. We noticed many formulas out there are just copies of the top-rated brands. They don’t offer an easy refund policy or don’t even have a phone number to prove they are real.

Top 5 Probiotics Supplements

The result: we reviewed over 100+ brands of Probiotics Supplements in the market and complied a list of top 5 formulas based on effectiveness, safety, pricing, return policy, and overall customer satisfaction.

1. Gives Wholesome Probiotics

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

2. PureNature Probio40

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

3. Thorne FloraMend Prime Probiotics

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

4. Solaray MicroBiome Probiotic

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

5. Now Probiotic-10

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

Ranking Factors

Shipping & Return Policy: we check the shipping and return policy of each recommended product to make sure these brands stand behind their products.

Customer Service: we contact the top rated brands through email, chat or phone to make sure they are responsive and can answer potential questions customers might have.

Essential Ingredients: we verify the ingredients in every top rated brands, their safety and dosage amount in comparison with the latest scientific studies.

Overall Effectiveness: we check with real customers through their reviews and testimonials to make sure the top brands are as effective as they claim to be. We recommend the top 5 formulas based on their average score.

We highly recommend our reader to do their own research, read real reviews and contact any brands directly to make sure they can provide the products and services based on their needs.

*This is a subjective assessment based on the strength of the available information and our independent research and customer feedback. Results may vary based on individual.

Disclosure of Material Connection: we only recommend products and services which we believe will add value to the users. However, you should assume the owner of this website and/or blog has an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection, to any suppliers of goods and services that may be discussed here and may be compensated for showing ads or recommending products or services or linking to the supplier’s website.

Sources and Citations

1. The gut microbiome in health and in… https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4290017/
2. Probiotics: What You Need To Know https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/probiotics-what-you-need-to-know
3. Factors affecting the composition of the gut microbiota, and its modulation https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6699480/
4. Probiotics – the versatile functional food ingredients https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4837740/