Key takeaways

  • You don’t need to take supplemental probiotics if you manage your health and have a balanced diet that includes natural probiotics. Which probiotic will be best for you will depend on your health goals and the probiotic strain you choose.
  • Some people supplement with capsule, powder, or beverage forms of probiotics to help with digestion, vaginal health, mood, fatigue, or chronic conditions that affect the gut.
  • To help you decide, we’ve tested 6 of the best options, with Culturelle being our best pick overall.

You may take probiotics to help reduce symptoms of certain medical conditions, bolster your immune health, improve depressive symptoms, and even promote weight management or mental wellness.

Not everyone needs to take a probiotic supplement, but if you and your healthcare team decide that you may benefit from one, there are many excellent products on the market.

This article features our picks of the 11 best probiotic supplements on the market. It also explains what probiotic supplements are, who may benefit from taking one, and how to choose the right product for your needs.

Pricing guide

  • $ = under $0.50 per serving
  • $$ = $0.50 to $1 per serving
  • $$$ = over $1 per serving

Disclaimer: The probiotics tested below were provided for free by supplement manufacturers. Our opinions are ours alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the brands.

Product
Good for
Price per serving
Dose
Need refrigeration?
Third-party tested?
Culturelle Digestive Daily
• general digestive health
• IBS symptoms
• diarrhea
$$
1 capsule
no
no
Ritual Synbiotic+
• general digestive health
• IBS symptoms
• subscription
$$$
1 capsule
no
for purity and potency
Mindbodygreen Advanced Probiotic+
• immune health
• digestive health
$$$
1 capsule
no
for purity and potency
Seed DS-01 Synbiotic
• bloating
• eco-friendly subscription
$$$
2 capsules
no
for allergens, pesticides, and herbicides
Jarrow Formulas Jarro-Dophilus EPS
general digestive health
$
2 capsules
no
for purity and potency
Hyperbiotics Pro Men
men
$$
1 tablet
no
no

We selected the best probiotics using the following criteria. Read more about our methodology for vetting dietary supplements.

  • Vetting: All the products have been vetted to ensure that they meet Healthline’s medical and business standards, adhere to FDA regulations on allowable health claims and labeling requirements, and are manufactured in facilities that adhere to CGMPs established by the FDA.
  • Credibility: The products we chose are made by medically credible companies that follow ethical, legal, and industry best standards and that provide objective measures of trust, including having supplements thoroughly tested for purity and potency, ideally by third-party organizations.
  • Ingredients: We looked for products that are made from high quality ingredients and free of artificial additives and fillers.
  • Personal needs: We included options to suit various needs and preferences, whether you need a specific probiotic strain or follow a gluten-free diet.
  • Reviews: We included options that were either tested and recommended by Healthline editors or that have overall positive reviews online.
  • Effective dose: Except for one product (which doesn’t use CFUs), all the supplements above contain at least 106 (1 million) CFUs per gram.

What are CFUs?

Probiotics are generally measured in colony-forming units (CFUs). These units represent the number of viable bacteria per dose.

Products labeled “1 x 109 CFU” contain 1 billion viable or live bacteria per dose. Most supplements contain 1 to 10 billion CFUsTrusted Source per dose, but some contain much larger amounts.

For beneficial effects, probiotics must be taken in quite large doses. Researchers suggest that probiotics must contain at least 106 (1 million) viable CFUs per gram to survive digestion and positively affect the body.

If you’re interested in taking a probiotic supplement, it’s important to determine whether it is necessary for your specific health needs.

If you’re instructed to take a probiotic, consider the following:

  • CFUs: The product quality matters. It’s important to look for probiotics that contain at least 106 (1 million) CFUs per gram, as research suggests that this is the minimum amount needed to exert positive effects in the body.
  • Probiotic strains: Probiotics are not one-size-fits-all remedies, and certain probiotic strains are much more effective for specific medical conditions and symptoms than others. Look for supplements with particular strains based on your needs.
  • Intended use: The effectiveness of probiotic supplements is not only strain-specific but also disease-specific, meaning the correct strain and dose must be appropriateTrusted Source for the condition or symptom you intend to treat.
  • Brand: Manufacturing processes, shelf life, and formulation type can significantly affectTrusted Source a probiotic supplement’s effectiveness. So, it’s essential to buy probiotics from established, physician-trusted brands.
  • Storage requirements: Some probiotics require refrigeration. Check the product label for proper storage instructions. In general, probiotics are sensitive to heat. Thus, if they don’t require refrigeration, you’ll want to store them in a cool, dry area.

Also, keep in mind that because probiotics are quite vulnerable to factors such as temperature change and storage time, many may no longer be viable by the time you purchase them.

For this reason, the NIHTrusted Source recommends that customers choose products that list the CFUs at the end of a product’s shelf life. This indicates that a product contains a therapeutic number of CFUs after a person purchases a product.

Probiotic supplements have been linked to some health benefits. But while research on probiotics has increased significantly over the past 20 years, researchers are still learning about them and their health effects.

Probiotics may:

Contrary to popular belief, probiotic supplements are not necessary or appropriate for most people.

Not only can they be expensive, but they may also lead to side effectsTrusted Source such as bloating—which some of our testers experienced—and bacterial overgrowth.

Plus, probiotic supplements could lead to excessive immune stimulation and infection among people with weakened immune systems.

Probiotics can also change how a drug works and how effective it is. Research shows that they can increase or decrease a drug’s effect on the body. Although more research needs to be done, you should always discuss whether taking probiotics is safe alongside any medication you take.

Before you try a probiotic

Avoid taking probiotics before consulting a healthcare professional. They can help you decide whether a probiotic supplement is appropriate and provide brand and dosage recommendations.

While some people, including those with IBS and certain types of IBD, may benefit from specific strains of probiotics, most people who follow a nutritious diet and healthy lifestyle do not need to take probiotic supplements.

What’s more, some researchers are concernedTrusted Source that the widespread use of probiotics may lead to antibiotic resistance and warn that many studies investigating the safety and effectiveness of probiotics are of low quality.

For these reasons, avoid taking probiotics before consulting a healthcare professional. They can help you decide whether a probiotic supplement is appropriate and give brand and dosage recommendations.

None of these stand out to you?

You might want to read these articles to see if we have a pick that suits your needs:

If you’re experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, diarrhea, and constipation; have received a diagnosis of IBD or IBS; or are concerned about your vaginal health, you may benefit from a probiotic.

However, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional first because your symptoms could be related to a condition that requires a specific treatment or medication.

Additionally, taking a probiotic can do more harm than good in some individuals, so it’s important to discuss options with a trusted expert before trying anything new.

Because probiotics are strain-, disease-, and symptom-specific, no single probiotic is more effective overall than others. An effective probiotic supplement contains one or more probiotic strains that have been clinically shown to help with the symptoms you’re experiencing.

Still, some brands are considered to offer higher quality probiotic supplements, including Culturelle, Seed, and Jarrow Formulas.

Because research on the safety and effectiveness of probiotics in people without existing health conditions is still inconclusive, it’s best to talk with a healthcare professional before starting a daily probiotic.

According to the National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health, few studies have looked at the safety of probiotics on a granular level, so there’s not significant solid information on the frequency and severity of side effects. Still, downsides can include:

  • infections, some severe or fatal in people with severe illnesses or compromised immune systems, such as seriously ill hospital patients and premature infants
  • production of harmful substances by the probiotic microorganisms
  • transfer of antibiotic-resistant genes from probiotic microorganisms to other microorganisms in the digestive tract
  • some products contain microorganisms other than those listed on the label, according to some reports, which could pose serious health risks

Cardiologists don’t typically warn against probiotics as a general health supplement, but they aren’t a substitute for medication that helps you treat or manage a cardiovascular health condition. Research suggests that probiotics may be beneficial for heart health and the prevention of certain cardiovascular conditions, although more investigation is needed.

Doctors may warn against probiotics for people with weakened immune systems because they can increase the risk of infection.

Probiotic supplements may be helpful for people with certain conditions, such as IBS, constipation, and UTIs.

However, probiotics aren’t necessary for everyone, and the effectiveness of probiotic supplements depends on the strain, dosage, and condition being treated.

Finally, there are many other ways to care for your gut microbiome and overall health that don’t involve dietary supplements, such as following a nutrient-dense diet, managing your stress levels, and maintaining a moderate weight.