Winner: on two NSF testing lists.
Thorne Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin)
$0.40 a day, capsule.
Pick Jarrow if you are vegan or want it cheaper.
Jarrow Methyl B-12 1000 mcg
$0.13 a day, lemon chewable.
Why we pick Thorne
Both hold the same B12. With Thorne you pay for an outside lab check: of the 6 B12 pills we score, 3 are on a testing list, and Thorne is one of them. NSF checks that each bottle holds what its label says, with no harmful contaminants, and tests every batch for drugs banned in sport.
That matters most if you get drug tested for a sport, or if you want proof of what you swallow. On our 10-point score, Thorne gets 8.0 and Jarrow 6.0.
Jarrow vs Thorne, side by side
| Thorne | Jarrow | |
|---|---|---|
| Dose | 1,000 mcg | 1,000 mcg |
| Form | Methylcobalamin | Methylcobalamin |
| Take it | Swallow 1 capsule, up to 3 a day | Chew 1 lemon tablet a day |
| Testing | NSF Certified for Sport, NSF/ANSI 173 | None |
| Vegan | Not labeled vegan | Labeled vegan |
| Cost a day | $0.40 | $0.13 |
Who should pick Jarrow instead
Pick Jarrow Methyl B-12 if you are vegan, if you would rather chew a lemon tablet than swallow a capsule, or if price matters most. It holds the same dose of the same form of B12.
Frequently asked questions
Does a chewable absorb better than a capsule?
No study we found compares the two. Under-the-tongue B12 worked no better than a swallowed pill (Sharabi 2003). You absorb only a small share of either one at this dose, so take the one you will remember every day. More in the B12 dosage guide.
Is methylcobalamin better than cyanocobalamin?
Not as far as studies show. Your cells turn both into the same working forms (Obeid 2015). If you don’t need methylcobalamin, our top B12 overall is a cyanocobalamin, NatureWise Vitamin B12 1000 mcg, at $0.12 a day. More in methylcobalamin vs cyanocobalamin.
Can I take 3 Thorne capsules a day?
The label allows it. No upper limit has been set for B12 (NIH). Most people need only one, since 1,000 mcg is far more than the 2.4 mcg a day adults need. Safety details are in is 1,000 mcg of B12 too much?
Related guides
- Best vitamin B12 supplements: our full ranking
- B12 1,000 mcg: every 1,000 mcg pill compared
- B12 for vegans: how much to take and which pills are vegan
- Vitamin B12 prices: what each B12 costs a day
Sources
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B12 fact sheet for health professionals (updated July 2, 2025; read October 15, 2026).
- Obeid R, et al. Cobalamin coenzyme forms are not likely to be superior to cyano- and hydroxyl-cobalamin in prevention or treatment of cobalamin deficiency. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2015. PubMed 25820384
- Sharabi A, et al. Replacement therapy for vitamin B12 deficiency: comparison between the sublingual and oral route. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2003. PubMed 14616423
- NSF Certified for Sport, Thorne Vitamin B12, listing 1811504; NSF/ANSI 173 listings; USP Verified, Informed Choice and Informed Sport lists, searched October 15, 2026.
- Labels and list prices: jarrow.com and thorne.com, checked October 15, 2026.