15 Best Dietitian-Approved Probiotic Supplements

Life Extension conducts regular testing of all products to ensure what’s on the label is in the product, providing an official certificate of analysis to prove its quality, potency, and purity.

It’s worth noting that the proprietary blend means we don’t know the CFUs of each strain within the 15 billion CFUs. The Life Extension brand has been around for more than 40 years and was voted the No. 1 catalog and internet supplement brand in a survey conducted by ConsumerLab.com in 2022. ConsumerLab.com is the leading independent consumer testing organization that vets products for safety, quality, and effectiveness.

If you’re looking for the maximum potency possible, Visbiome GI Care High Potency Probiotic tops our list. Each capsule contains 112.5 billion CFUs. It contains eight research-supported probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species that can help reduce gas and diarrhea, support immunity, and more. It is also low FODMAP certified, which means it doesn’t contain common ingredients that can trigger irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. (FODMAP is an acronym for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. These are carbs that aren’t absorbed by the gut properly). VisBiome is also Clean Label Project certified, a certification ensuring a product meets the highest purity and safety standards.

“Because of its high potency, Visbiome probiotics are categorized as a medical food with more stringent requirements for research. Current clinical trials are exploring how Visbiome can be therapeutic for multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, mental health, autism, and more,” says Amy Goldsmith RDN, LDN, owner of Kindred Nutrition & Kinetics in Frederick, Maryland.

Culturelle Probiotics Women’s 4-in-1 Protection contains five research-backed strains to support women’s vaginal, urinary, digestive, and immune health. “Not only does Culturelle’s 4-in-1 probiotic help promote a healthy gut microbiome, it can also help support vaginal and urinary health,” says Megan Huff, RD, owner of Nutrition by Megan in Atlanta.

Culturelle probiotics have been used in multiple clinical studies, and the company’s processes are audited regularly by NSF International.

NOW Probiotic-10 25 Billion is our top pick for the most budget-friendly probiotic because it contains 10 research-backed strains and can be found for less than $10 for a month’s supply. “This budget-friendly probiotic is less than $25 a bottle, making it easy on the wallet. It’s made with a blend of 10 strains of bacteria provided in impressive quantities. And each supplement delivers a potency of 25 billion CFUs through the best-by date,” says Lauren Manaker, RDN, LD, owner of Nutrition Now Counseling in Charleston, South Carolina.

The NOW Foods brand is also highly dedicated to charity and reducing malnutrition. They are one of only two founding members of Vitamin Angels, a nonprofit organization that donates essential vitamins to malnourished children worldwide.

SFI Health (formerly Klaire Labs) uses third-party testing to ensure safety and potency. We value the transparency with its product research, linking to several studies under the FAQs section on the website. Not all brands do this, and it adds to its trustworthiness and proof of effectiveness. This probiotic also uses a proprietary technology called InTactic that is designed to protect the bacteria in the product from stomach acid.

Metagenics has been a well-known brand for more than 40 years that conducts regular in-house product testing. On the brand website, you can enter the lot number of your product (found on the label) and get a detailed testing report. In addition, Metagenic products are also USP verified and NSF certified. These probiotics are vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free for sensitive people. Note: The proprietary blend means we don’t know the CFUs of each strain.

Douglas Laboratories has also existed for more than 65 years. It conducts regular in-house testing, and its products are CGMP certified to ensure good manufacturing processes. Note: The proprietary blend means we don’t know the CFUs of each strain.

If weight management is your goal, Physician’s Choice Thin 30 Probiotic is one of the best probiotics for weight loss. This probiotic contains 15 billion CFUs and three core components to support weight loss: a probiotic blend, a prebiotic blend, and a weight management blend. The probiotic blend contains six Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains with the potential to support weight loss alongside a healthy diet and exercise regimen.

“It’s important for me as a pediatric dietitian to recommend brands of supplements that are effective and safe for kids. Culturelle meets these criteria with its specific strain of probiotics that provide functional benefits and its regular product testing to ensure quality,” says Kristen Smaldone, RD, CDN, in private practice in Darien and Newtown, Connecticut. Culturelle probiotics have also been used in multiple clinical studies, and the company’s processes are audited regularly by NSF International. “Like any supplement, you want to make sure you speak with a medical provider to ensure its intended use is beneficial and also to know if it should be included in your child’s diet,” adds Smaldone.

Because polyphenols are not fermented like prebiotic fibers, they may be less likely to cause gas or bloating in those with sensitive stomachs. Seed DS-01 is third-party tested, and the company conducts extensive testing of its own for allergens, pesticides, heavy metals, and more to ensure the highest safety and quality standards. Note: The proprietary blend means we don’t know the CFUs of each strain. All Seed products are subscription-based, and you can choose deliveries every month, every three months, or every six months. If you order more in advance and choose the three- or six-month options, you can save 10 to 15 percent on your orders.

AG1 is also committed to the testing and safety of its ingredients, as evidenced by its National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for Sport Certification. This certification is provided by one of the most reputable third-party testing agencies for ingredient purity, lack of heavy metals, and pesticides. This certification also means explicitly the product is tested for substances banned in athletic competitions. Note: Proprietary blends mean we don’t know the CFUs of each strain.

Microbiome Labs MegaSpore Probiotics has been a favorite of integrative gut health experts for years, but as gut health continues to rise in popularity, it's become more mainstream. MegaSpore differs from other probiotic supplements because its formula consists of spore-based bacteria instead of traditional probiotics.

Spores are the dormant form of bacteria that can survive harsh environments and stomach acid, allowing them to reach the intestines intact, where they can germinate and colonize to provide benefits. MegaSpore contains five types of Bacillus spores that have been studied to support immune and gut health.

“I recommend MegaSporeBiotic for digestive health, particularly for individuals with dysbiosis or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),” says Simpson. “It has been specifically studied and shown promising results in improving these patients' quality of life and overall well-being.”

Some research also suggests spore-based probiotics may support a healthy skin barrier and improve signs of acne.” If you’re interested in spore-based probiotics, it’s best to take them under the guidance of a healthcare provider and start a low dose to work up based on professional recommendations.

Signing up for a prescription-based supplement service like Ritual can help you be more consistent with taking your probiotics. With a subscription you’ll get your probiotics delivered to your door every month, so you don’t run out. Ritual’s ordering process is simple and straightforward on its website. You can sign up for a monthly subscription of probiotics plus other supplements in a bundle that fits your health goals. Ritual as a brand values transparency, and the synbiotic is “Made Traceable,” which means the company outwardly shares where the ingredients come from on a Traceable Ingredients page.

Ritual is third-party tested and also employs a scientific advisory board composed of medical doctors, registered dietitians, and scientists who perform ongoing research to further ensure the optimal safety, quality, and effectiveness of its products.