Solgar vs Thorne Iron Bisglycinate 25 mg (2026)
Buy Thorne. Both give 25 mg of iron as bisglycinate in one capsule. Thorne is on NSF/ANSI 173 and NSF Certified for Sport; Solgar is on no public testing list. Solgar costs less ($0.11 a capsule against $0.27) and is labeled vegan.
By Erin Rose Updated October 6, 2026 How we score
| Thorne Iron Bisglycinate 25 mg | Solgar Gentle Iron 25 mg | |
|---|---|---|
| Iron | 25 mg in 1 capsule | 25 mg in 1 capsule |
| Form | iron bisglycinate (Ferrochel) | iron bisglycinate |
| Testing list | NSF Certified for Sport + NSF/ANSI 173 | Not found on the public NSF, USP or Informed lists (searched September 22, 2026 to October 5, 2026) |
| A capsule | $0.27 | $0.11 |
| Bottle | 60-capsule bottle, $16.00 (Thorne’s store) | 90-capsule bottle, $9.65 (iHerb; Solgar shows no price) |
| Other ingredients | leucine, microcrystalline cellulose, silicon dioxide; hypromellose capsule | microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable cellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate |
| Vegan | Not stated | Labeled suitable for vegans |
| Our score | 6.5/10 | 4.5/10 |
Is the iron the same?
On the label, yes: 25 mg of iron bisglycinate in one capsule, one a day. Thorne’s label in NIH’s database names the ingredient as Ferrochel, a branded bisglycinate; Solgar’s says iron bisglycinate chelate. Neither adds vitamin C. Bisglycinate is the gentler form of iron: in trials of pregnant women it caused 64% fewer stomach side effects than other iron (Fischer 2023).
Is either one third-party tested?
Thorne is. NSF/ANSI 173 lists Thorne Iron Bisglycinate (1 capsule a serving), which checks the capsule holds what the label says, and NSF Certified for Sport lists it too, which adds screening for drugs banned in sport. Solgar is not on any public list we search: NSF/ANSI 173, NSF Certified for Sport, USP Verified, Informed Choice or Informed Sport. Its label carries gluten-free, kosher, halal and non-GMO seals, which are not tests of what is in the capsule. Which iron is on a testing list.
How big is the price gap?
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Thorne Iron Bisglycinate 25 mg | $0.27 |
| Solgar Gentle Iron 25 mg | $0.11 |
How did the two score?
Every iron supplement we score gets these five marks; the cost mark compares each chelated iron with the cheapest one we score.
| Mark | Thorne | Solgar |
|---|---|---|
| Dose deliveredup to 3 | 1.5 25 mg per serving (we count 40 mg or more) | 1.5 25 mg per serving (we count 40 mg or more) |
| Cost per doseup to 2 | 0 $0.64 per 60 mg (3.6x the cheapest) | 1 $0.26 per 60 mg (1.4x the cheapest) |
| Third-party testingup to 3 | 3 NSF Certified for Sport | 0 No testing claim |
| Label transparencyup to 1 | 1 Amount stated, no blend | 1 Amount stated, no blend |
| Recall recordup to 1 | 1 No recall in 24 months | 1 No recall in 24 months |
| Our score | 6.5/10 | 4.5/10 |
Thorne ranks 2nd and Solgar 7th of the 14 chelated iron products we score. Thorne wins on testing; Solgar wins on cost. Neither earns the full dose mark: 25 mg is under the 40 mg we count as a treatment dose. Scores rebuilt October 6, 2026.
Who should buy which?
- Most people: Thorne, for the testing list. The best iron bisglycinate.
- You are drug-tested in sport: Thorne; it is on NSF Certified for Sport.
- You want the lowest price and do not need a testing list: Solgar, $0.11 a capsule. Buy Solgar on Amazon
- You are vegan: Solgar is labeled suitable for vegans; Thorne does not say. Momentous Iron+, on NSF, is labeled vegan.
- A test showed low iron: 25 mg is a small dose for that. Ask how much you need; our dosage guide has the numbers.
Sources
- NSF/ANSI 173 listing for Thorne (info.nsf.org) and NSF Certified for Sport listing 1205059 (nsfsport.com), read October 5, 2026.
- Labels: thorne.com and NIH DSLD 321969 (Thorne); NIH DSLD 65473 (Solgar). Prices: thorne.com; iHerb for Solgar.
- Fischer JAJ, et al. Nutr Rev. 2023. PubMed 36728680