Nutricost Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin) 1000 mcg - 240 Capsules Review
#3 of 9 · Best Budget✓ Label verified · Supplement Facts read Sep 7, 2026Real retailer photo, cut out. Label unedited.
Buy it. The cheapest methyl B12 here, with an honest testing caveat. Lowest cost per serving in the set (~$0.07), the active methyl form, a sensible 1,000 mcg dose, and a genuine ~8-month supply.
~$16~$0.07
Why It Scores 8.9 — And The Label Line Behind Each Number
Form & Bioavailability
20% of scoreSingle-ingredient methylcobalamin, the active coenzyme form, in a vegetarian capsule. Bioavailability is on par with the other methyl picks — you don't drop down to cyanocobalamin to hit this price.
- Form
- Methylcobalamin (active)
- Delivery
- Vegetarian, single-ingredient capsule
Dose vs Clinical Range
20% of score1,000 mcg per capsule lands in the established oral repletion range — enough to correct a deficiency without a wasteful megadose.
- Dose
- 1,000 mcg per capsule
Third-Party Testing & Purity
25% of scoreMade in a GMP + ISO facility and described as third-party tested, but that testing is brand-reported rather than an independent USP or NSF seal. For a low-risk nutrient that's an acceptable trust level, but it's a clear step below the verified picks.
- Testing
- GMP + ISO facility; third-party tested (brand-reported)
Value Per Serving
15% of scoreAt roughly $0.07/serving across a 240-count bottle, this is the lowest cost per serving in the entire set — a genuine ~8-month supply.
- Count
- 240 capsules / 240 servings (~8 months)
- Cost per serving
- ~$0.07
GI Tolerance & Format Suitability
20% of scoreA single-ingredient vegetarian capsule with nothing extra to irritate a sensitive gut. Easy to swallow, no flavoring or sugar alcohols.
Label verified. Every figure read from the Supplement Facts photo, Sep 7, 2026.
Marketing Claims Vs. Reality
Lowest cost per serving in the category
At roughly $0.07/serving across a 240-count bottle, it's the cheapest per serving among the nine picks reviewed.
Third-party tested
Testing is brand-reported (GMP + ISO facility) rather than an independent USP or NSF seal, so you're trusting the manufacturer's compliance rather than a verified third-party audit.
Active methylcobalamin form
Labeled as single-ingredient methylcobalamin at 1,000 mcg per capsule — the active coenzyme form.
Methyl outperforms cyanocobalamin
Only for the minority with impaired methylation; otherwise the two forms correct deficiency equivalently (Paul & Brady 2017).
What Our Test Actually Found
Cheapest, without dropping the form
Budget B12 usually means cyanocobalamin. Nutricost keeps the active methyl form at the lowest cost per serving here — the reason it earns Best Budget.
An honest testing trade-off
'Third-party tested' is brand-reported, not a USP or NSF seal. For a low-risk oral nutrient made under GMP, that's a reasonable trade for the price — just know what you're trusting.
Eight months in one bottle
240 capsules is a genuine long-haul supply, which is a big part of why the per-serving cost lands so low.
Nothing extra to react to
Single ingredient, vegetarian capsule, no flavoring or sugar alcohols — an easy fit for sensitive stomachs.
Full analysis: all pros & cons (6), buy if / skip if
- Lowest cost-per-serving in the set (~$0.07)
- Active methyl form without dropping down to cyano
- 240-count is a genuine ~8-month supply
- Vegetarian, single-ingredient capsule
- 'Third-party tested' is brand-reported, not an independent USP or NSF seal
- Same 'methyl doesn't beat cyano' caveat applies for anyone who isn't deficient
- You want the lowest possible cost per serving
- You specifically want the active methyl form on a budget
- You want a long-lasting, single-ingredient vegetarian capsule
- You need an independent USP or NSF seal
- You'd rather pay a little more for a fully verified brand
Lowest cost per serving in the set (~$0.07), the active methyl form, a sensible 1,000 mcg dose, and a genuine ~8-month supply. You're trusting GMP compliance instead of a third-party seal — an acceptable trade for a low-risk oral nutrient if you're budget-minded.
If you've decided you want methylcobalamin and you want it cheap, nothing in this field beats Nutricost. It's the active methyl form in a vegetarian, single-ingredient capsule, dosed at the sensible 1,000 mcg, and its 240-count bottle works out to roughly seven cents a serving — an honest eight-month supply for pocket change. The one honest trade-off: its testing is brand-reported rather than an independent USP or NSF seal.
The budget methyl champion
If you've decided you want methylcobalamin and you want it cheap, nothing here beats Nutricost's cost per serving. The trade-off is honest: its testing is brand-reported rather than an independent USP or NSF seal, so you're trusting GMP compliance instead of a third-party audit. For a low-risk oral nutrient like B12, that's an acceptable trade for many budget-minded buyers.
If This Doesn’t Fit — Try These
02Nature Made B12 1,000 mcg
This is the pick the evidence actually supports as 'best value.' USP Verified is the strongest independent seal here, the 1,000 mcg dose is textbook, and cyanocobalamin — the form 'methyl' marketers love to disparage — is the most-studied, most-stable form and is well-absorbed by nearly everyone.
01Thorne Vitamin B12
If you want a no-drama, trust-first B12, this is it.
04Pure Encapsulations Methylcobalamin
You're buying allergen-purity, not more B12.
Quick Answers
Is brand-reported testing a dealbreaker?
Not for most people. B12 is a low-risk oral nutrient, and Nutricost manufactures in a GMP + ISO facility. If you want an independent seal, choose Nature Made instead.
How long does one bottle last?
At one capsule a day, the 240-count is roughly an eight-month supply, which is why the per-serving cost is so low.
Is it vegan?
It's a single-ingredient vegetarian capsule — check the current label if strict vegan sourcing matters to you.
Should I pay more for a verified brand?
If an independent USP seal gives you peace of mind, the small step up to Nature Made or Thorne is reasonable. Otherwise this does the same job for less.
Sources & Further Reading
3 peer-reviewed sources, each linked to PubMed
- [1] Paul C, Brady DM. Comparative Bioavailability and Utilization of Particular Forms of B12 Supplements. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2017;16(1):42-49. PMID 28223907 — Comparative Bioavailability and Utilization of Particular Forms of B12 Supplements With Potential to Mitigate B12-related Genetic Polymorphisms. Methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin both replete B12 effectively; methyl offers a meaningful edge only for a subset with impaired methylation.
- [2] Stabler SP. Vitamin B12 Deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(2):149-160. PMID 23301732 — Vitamin B12 Deficiency. Oral cobalamin around 1,000 mcg/day reliably corrects deficiency in most patients.
- [3] Wang H, et al. Oral vitamin B12 versus intramuscular vitamin B12 for vitamin B12 deficiency. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;3:CD004655. PMID 29543316 — Oral vitamin B12 versus intramuscular vitamin B12 for vitamin B12 deficiency. Oral B12 at repletion doses can be as effective as injection for normalizing B12 status.
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