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Multivitamins are not a perfect substitute for eating a healthy, balanced diet. However, they can help support a woman’s overall health. They fill gaps in the diet and help women consume specific nutrient levels that they may find hard to meet through diet alone. Nutrition needs vary for women at different life stages, including at childbearing age and post-menopause. Fortunately, there are many vitamin options for the many life stages that a woman goes through.

This comprehensive review will help women understand why they might need a multivitamin, how to choose the best multivitamin for different life stages, which types are available and what to look for in a vitamin and mineral supplement.

Our Picks for the Best Multivitamin for Women:

Key info:

• Cost per serving: $1
• Key nutrients: Folate, omega-3 DHA, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, iron, vitamin K, magnesium, Vitamin E, boron
• Type: Capsules
• Dose: Two capsules
• Certifications: USP Verified, gluten-free, major allergen free, vegan

Ritual is a subscription-based supplement brand. The Ritual Essentials for Women 18+ multivitamin provides many important nutrients for young women, including Vitamin D, iron and folate. However, this Ritual multivitamin contains only nine nutrients versus multivitamins that contain a longer list of vitamins and minerals, meaning that this supplement would be best for women who already eat a fairly balanced diet.

The Omega-3 DHA in the multivitamin is vegan, while many supplements contain fish-based omega-3s. Some people may enjoy the peppermint tab added to the bottle, which is intended to cover the smell of the vitamin and may make opening the bottle of vitamins more pleasant.

Pros:

• Ritual conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on this multivitamin, which is not common for dietary supplement brands
• Third-party tested

Cons:

• Doesn’t contain any calcium and has fewer vitamins and minerals overall than many women’s multivitamins
• More costly than most multivitamin brands

Buy Ritual Essentials for Women 18+

Key info:

• Cost per serving: $0.52 – $0.73 per serving, depending on the size of the order
• Key nutrients: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, folate, iron, zinc, iodine, B vitamins and food and herb blend
• Type: Tablet
• Dose: One tablet
• Certifications: Non-GMO, gluten-free, vegetarian, soy- and dairy-free

This multivitamin is formulated for the needs of women ages 40 and up. Twenty-five percent of the DV for iron and Vitamin D and B vitamins are included. The company claims that this multivitamin can be taken with a beverage and does not have to be taken with food.

Some women will appreciate the fruit, vegetable and herb extracts that are included in the supplement, which are intended to provide nutrients straight from whole foods. However, the health benefits of fruits, vegetables and herbs usually come from eating the whole food form and not extracts.

Pros:

• Has a variety of micronutrients, including iron
• Vegetarian

Cons:

• Lacks calcium
• Not third-party tested

Buy Megafood Over 40 Women’s One Daily

Key info:

• Cost per serving: $1.53
• Key nutrients: Calcium, magnesium, zinc, lutein, B vitamins (including folate) and Vitamins A, C, D and E
• Type: Capsules
• Dose: Six capsules daily
• Certifications: Dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free

This Thorne multivitamin provides 22 different vitamins and minerals. The label suggests taking three to six capsules per day, but the supplement facts show information for six capsules per day.

This supplement contains several important ingredients for women over 50, including lutein for eye health and Vitamin D and calcium for good bone health. Supplemental iron is not recommended for women after menopause, and this supplement contains no iron.

Of note, the Thorne multivitamin contains high doses of many vitamins and minerals in the suggested serving size of six capsules (944% daily value of Vitamin C and 3,333% daily value of thiamine, for example). This is probably not necessary for most women.

Pros:

• Contains no supplemental iron
• Contains lutein
• Gluten-free

Cons:

• Six capsules are suggested per day, which may be a burdensome amount to take daily

Buy Thorne Women’s Multivitamin 50

Key info:

• Cost per serving: $1.02
• Key nutrients: Omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, folate, Vitamin C, choline, lutein and zeaxanthin
• Type: Gummy
• Dose: Four gummies per day
• Certifications: Non-GMO, gluten-free, free of top eight allergens, Clean Label Project certified

The SmartyPants Masters Formula contains specific ingredients that may be helpful for women as they age, such as lutein for eye health, CoQ10 and omega-3 fatty acids.

This supplement is made using no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners. In addition, it’s non-GMO, gluten-free and free of the top eight most common allergens.

Pros:

• Gummy form may be more palatable for women who dislike taking pills or capsules
• Each batch is third-party lab tested

Cons:

• Contains no calcium, so calcium would have to be supplemented separately
• Four gummies is a serving

Buy SmartyPants Masters Formula Women 50+

Key info:

• Cost per serving: $1.17
• Key nutrients: Iron, zinc, B vitamins (including folate) and Vitamins A, C, E, D and K
• Type: Tablets
• Dose: Two tablets
• Certifications: Vegetarian, NSF-certified, non-GMO

The New Chapter Advanced Women’s Multi uses fermented ingredients. Some studies suggest that fermented ingredients may provide some health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It contains a wide range of vitamins and minerals, and the label states that this multivitamin can be taken at any time of day, including on an empty stomach.

In addition to containing many vitamins and minerals to support women’s health, this multivitamin contains several herbs that may be helpful for digestion, including ginger, turmeric, peppermint and aloe. This product also contains probiotics in the form of lactic acid bacteria, though the dose of the probiotic is unclear.

Pros:

• Offers a full money-back guarantee if customers aren’t satisfied with the product
• NSF-certified

Cons:

• Contains only a small amount of calcium (52 milligrams, 4% daily value)
• Uses some marketing language such as “superfoods” that aren’t well defined

Buy New Chapter Advanced Women’s Multi

Key info:

• Cost per serving: About $0.06 per serving
• Key nutrients: Calcium, iron, zinc, B vitamins (including folate) and Vitamins A, C, D, E and K
• Type: Tablet
• Dose: One tablet
• Certifications: Gluten-free, non-GMO, no artificial colors, sweeteners or flavors

This multivitamin is made by the company 21st Century, and is comparable to the well-known brand One-A-Day’s multivitamin for women. It contains more than 20 vitamins and minerals in one tablet at a price that should work for most budgets.

This supplement is gluten-free, non-GMO and doesn’t include artificial colors or flavors. It does contain a few filler ingredients, such as gum acacia and gelatin.

Pros:

• Very budget friendly
• 100% of the daily value for important nutrients such as folate, Vitamin D and iron

Cons:

• Not suitable for vegans
• Does not appear to be third-party certified

Buy 21st Century One Daily Vitamins

Key info:

• Cost per serving: $0.27 – $0.31 depending on the quantity ordered
• Key nutrients: Zinc, B vitamins (including folic acid) and Vitamins A, C, D and E
• Type: Gummy
• Dose: Two gummies
• Certifications: Gluten-free, no artificial colors or flavors, NSF certified

Olly’s Perfect Women’s Multi is a berry-flavored gummy that can be taken without food or water at any time of day. Many users on the product website say they enjoy the flavor of these gummies, which could help with adherence to taking this vitamin regularly.

These Olly gummies contain two grams of added sugar per serving in the forms of glucose syrup and beet sugar, which some health-conscious users might not like. However, all colors, flavors and sweeteners are derived from fruits, vegetables and herbs.

Pros:

• NSF certified
• Palatable form for people who dislike taking pills, capsules or tablets

Cons:

• Contains no calcium or iron, so those nutrients would have to be supplemented separately if lacking in your diet

Buy Olly The Perfect Women’s Multi

Key info:

• Cost per serving: $0.11
• Key nutrients: Iron, zinc, biotin, B vitamins (including folate) and Vitamins A, C, D and E
• Type: Tablet
• Dose: One tablet
• Certifications: No artificial sweeteners or flavors and free of gluten, dairy, soy, fish, egg, fish and shellfish 

The One a Day Women’s Complete Multivitamin is a good choice for a woman looking for an inexpensive basic multivitamin. This vitamin is gluten-, dairy- and soy-free, and contains no artificial sweeteners or flavors.

Though inexpensive, this multivitamin provides many important micronutrients for women and contains over 20 vitamins and minerals. The serving size is one per day.

Pros:

• Widely available at retail locations and made by a well-known brand
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Not suitable for vegans

Buy One a Day Women’s Complete Multivitamin

Key info:

• Cost per serving: $0.25
• Key nutrients: Iron, calcium, B vitamins (including folate) and Vitamins A, C, D and E
• Type: Tablets
• Dose: Two tablets
• Certifications: Non-GMO, vegetarian, gluten-free, free of top eight allergens

This multivitamin is a subscription-based supplement. The company aims to provide less than the recommended values of many nutrients since the supplement is intended to complement a healthy diet, not replace it. However, this supplement does contain 100% or greater of the daily value for folate, Vitamin D and Vitamin B12, which are all important nutrients for women.

Care/Of Women’s Multivitamin with Iron provides a third of the iron that a woman between the ages of 19-50 needs per day (six milligrams of 18 milligrams recommended dietary allowances). The form of iron is ferrous bisglycinate chelate, which may have fewer gastrointestinal side effects than some forms of iron. However, the company still recommends that users take this supplement with a meal such as breakfast or lunch.

Pros:

• Meets 100% of the daily value for folic acid and Vitamin D
• Third-party testing on all finished Care/Of products

Cons:

• Contains some filler ingredients such as acacia, guar gum and rice hulls

Buy Care/Of Women’s Multivitamin with Iron

Key info:

• Cost per serving: $0.48
• Key nutrients: Iron, zinc, organic food blend, B vitamins (including folate) and Vitamins A, C, D, E and K 
• Type: Tablet
• Dose: One tablet
• Certifications: Vegan, USDA organic, non-GMO

Garden of Life mykind Organics multivitamin is made from whole food ingredients and contains 18 vitamins and minerals. The Garden of Life website states that its products are third-party tested.

This product contains an organic food blend, but there is limited evidence that food extracts provide the same nutritional value as the whole food form.

Pros:

• Certified USDA organic
• Vegan and non-GMO

Cons:

• Contains only 14% of the daily value for iron, so some women may need to take an additional supplement
• Does not contain calcium

Buy Garden of Life mykind Organics

Key info:

• Cost per serving: $1.19
• Key nutrients: Iron, zinc, choline, B vitamins (including folate) and Vitamins A, C and D
• Type: Capsules
• Dose: Three capsules
• Certifications: Contains no milk, gluten, eggs, fish, shellfish or peanuts

This multivitamin contains more than 20 vitamins and minerals, including 27 milligrams of iron, which fully meets the 27 milligram recommended dietary allowance for pregnant women. The form of iron is ferrous bisglycinate chelate, which may have fewer gastrointestinal side effects than some iron sources commonly used in dietary supplements.

The label suggests taking this multivitamin before, during and after pregnancy, including during nursing. For best tolerance, it should be taken with food.

Pros:

• Contains more than 20 vitamins and minerals, including 100 percent of the recommended dietary allowance for iron for pregnant women
• Made in a good manufacturing process certified facility, which means the supplement meets stringent requirements for manufacturing, labeling, holding and packaging

Cons:

• Provides more than 100 percent of the daily value for several vitamins, which is unnecessary for most women, but likely not harmful

Buy Klaire Labs Prenatal + Nursing Formula

What is a multivitamin?

A multivitamin is a dietary supplement meant to be added to your regular diet to make it more balanced and complete. Many products can be called multivitamins, which adds to the difficulty of choosing the right one for you.

Multivitamins usually contain both types of micronutrients: vitamins and minerals. According to a position paper on micronutrient supplements from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), a formal legal definition of multivitamins doesn’t exist.

There isn’t a standard amount of vitamins and minerals in a multivitamin. The micronutrient position paper mentioned above notes that multivitamins usually contain a variety of micronutrients but often don’t have enough important minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium to meet 100 percent of a person’s daily needs.

Why should women take multivitamins?

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans reinforce that nutritional needs should be met primarily through food. A balanced diet includes whole grains, legumes, protein, fruits, vegetables and dairy or fortified dairy substitutes. However, situations exist where dietary supplements may be useful.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) gives the following examples of why a person might consider taking multivitamins:

• To increase nutrient intakes: If you struggle to consume a balanced diet or lack certain food groups, such as iron, Vitamin D and calcium-containing foods, a multivitamin can help fill in the gaps in your diet. Supplementing with a multivitamin can help you meet the recommended amounts of nutrients that you may miss from your diet alone.

• To promote health and prevent disease: Most studies have shown that multivitamins do not affect health problems and diseases. However, supplementing with a multivitamin can prevent deficiencies if you have an inadequate diet on a regular basis.

• To help prevent deficiencies in strict vegans or vegetarians: Vegetarian diets, especially strict vegan diets, can lack Vitamin B12, zinc, calcium, iron and Vitamin D.

The above reasons apply to men and women, but multivitamins can also specifically help women by:

• Providing adequate nutrients for pregnancy and nursing: Pregnancy and lactation are times when women have an increased need for multiple nutrients, including folic acid, iron, iodine and vitamin D.

• Preventing birth defects: 400 micrograms per day of folic acid is recommended for pregnant women. This amount can be consumed through fortified foods and supplements. Supplementing with folic acid lowers the risk of spine and brain birth defects.

What forms do women’s multivitamins come in?

Most people think of multivitamins as pills or capsules, but vitamins now come in various forms. Women’s multivitamins can come in forms such as:

• Pills
• Capsules
• Tablets
• Powders
• Gummies

What women should look for in multivitamins

Check with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian if you’re unsure how much of certain types of nutrients you might need, especially if you have a health concern or chronic condition. After you check with a health care provider, consider these factors when choosing a multivitamin:

Third-party testing

This type of testing is done independently by an outside company. It’s a good idea to pick a product tested by a third party.

According to the NIH, independent testing indicates that a product was “properly manufactured, contains the ingredients listed on the label and does not contain harmful levels of contaminants,” but still does not “guarantee that a product is safe or effective.”

The NIH lists these organizations that offer quality testing:

• ConsumerLab.com
• NSF Supplement and Vitamin Certification
• U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) Dietary Supplement Verification Program

Age and life stage

Nutrient needs vary in the following groups, and some supplements are better for different stages of life. Supplements exist that are intended for each of these life stages:

• Childbearing age
• Menopause
• Post-menopause

Nutrient types and amounts

According to the United States Office on Women’s Health, the following nutrients are most important for women in the corresponding groups:

• Folic acid, or folate: Women who are of childbearing age or currently pregnant
• Vitamin B12: Pregnant women, vegetarians, women ages 50 and older
• Vitamin D: Women of all ages
• Calcium: All adult women with increased needs post-menopause
• Iron: Menstruating and pregnant women

Dietary Restrictions

Multivitamins are available for most dietary restrictions, and often state on the product label and website if they are suitable for the following diet considerations:

• Gluten-free
• Vegetarian or Vegan
• Non-GMO
• Organic
• Dairy-free
• Allergy-friendly, such as soy, peanut, tree nut and egg free
• Artificial flavor and color free

Cost

Prices of supplements can vary widely, from basic drugstore options to the most premium subscription-based supplements. For most people, a basic multivitamin should meet their needs. Diet supplements are available at many price points, but higher prices don’t always mean more health benefits.

How and when to take multivitamins

Multivitamins can be taken at any time of the day, though some people experience nausea if they take them on an empty stomach. Nausea is most common with supplements that contain iron. It’s recommended to take most multivitamins with food, typically at the same time of day, so you don’t forget to take them daily.

FAQs

Is it better to take a multivitamin or individual vitamins?

It depends. If your diet only lacks one or two nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, it may make sense to take individual vitamins. Conversely, if you worry that your overall diet quality is poor, taking a multivitamin with a wider range of nutrients would make more sense.

In addition, it may be safer to take one multivitamin versus multiple individual vitamins unless you’re specifically directed to take multiple supplements by a healthcare provider. If you take multiple supplements that contain the same nutrients, you may exceed the safe daily amount, which could be dangerous.

How do you know if vitamins are working?

You may not be able to feel a difference in your body, but that doesn’t mean the supplement isn’t working. If you had a low vitamin or mineral level identified by your healthcare provider, you could tell if your vitamin is working to increase the levels of the vitamin or mineral in your body with a blood test. That typically requires a written order from a physician or other provider and a visit to a lab for a blood draw.

Should women take multivitamins every day?

Depending on the quality of a woman’s diet, she may not need a multivitamin daily. For most people, however, a multivitamin is a harmless way to ensure that you meet most of your vitamin and mineral needs. Since it may be difficult to remember to take the supplement if it’s not part of your normal routine, you may have the most success if you plan to take it every day around the same time.

Final Thoughts

Though a multivitamin may not be necessary for all women, it may be helpful to take a multivitamin if you’re not sure you’re meeting all of your nutritional needs. To choose a multivitamin, consider your age and life stage, overall diet quality, diet restrictions, the form of multivitamin that would work best for you and your budget. Check with a physician or other healthcare provider if you’re unsure if you should take a multivitamin.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.