Liquid Collagen vs. Powder Collagen: Which Is More Effective? 

• Help minimize the appearance of fine lines* [1]
• Support skin elasticity*
• Support muscle health*

POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF COLLAGEN:

• Provide essential amino acids and protein*
• Support hair thickness and appearance*
• Support joint health and an active lifestyle*
• Support skin health*

To put it simply, liquid collagen is collagen that is consumed as a ready-made drink. It’s available in many types of liquids - from shots to sports drinks to collagen coffee drinks. Although liquid collagen has been appearing in supermarket and collagen supplement aisles recently, there’s actually a type of liquid collagen you may already be familiar with and not even know it! 

Collagen vs. Bone Broth

Bone broth is a natural source of liquid collagen that has been consumed for centuries. Bone broth is made from boiling animal bones and connective tissue. It’s often used in soups, sauces, or consumed on its own for health reasons. 

Consuming bone broth is one way of drinking collagen, however there is a difference between bone broth and collagen supplements. The key difference is that collagen is hydrolyzed. This means that the collagen is already ‘broken down’ so that it is more easily absorbed by the body. The end result is what’s referred to as collagen peptides. Because bone broth is a raw form of collagen, it may not be as easily digestible as collagen peptides. As healthy as it may be, bone broth can also be time-consuming to make and expensive to buy. 

What To Look For

What To Avoid

Important Criteria

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Types I and III Collagen

Sourced from Bovine

Dissolves/Mixes Well*

Neutral Flavor*

Over 5g Protein 

Calcium

Multi Collagen by BeautyLux

Collagen Peptides

by Vital Proteins

Original Collagen Peptides by NativePath

Super Collagen Peptides by Neocell

What does collagen do? It’s thought to have a number of wellness benefits: 

Liquid collagen is one of the latest arrivals on the collagen scene. But what is liquid collagen? And does it measure up to the tried-and-true form of collagen: collagen powder? 

Liquid Collagen

Collagen powder is a collagen supplement that can be mixed into a liquid of your choice. It can be added to coffee, tea, juice, water, or even your favorite smoothie. Collagen powder is made with collagen peptides, or the hydrolyzed form of collagen discussed above. It is essentially a “pure” source of collagen and used as a supplement for a variety of reasons. Some use it for fitness purposes and might take it for their joints. Others use it for cosmetic purposes and use collagen for better skin and hair.*

Now that we’ve covered liquid collagen, your next question might be what is collagen powder and how does collagen powder work?

Collagen Powder

Liquid Collagen vs. Powder Collagen:

Key Differences

Some of the main differences between liquid and powder collagen are: potency, source of collagen, additional ingredients, price, and sustainability.  

Conclusion: Which is the better option - liquid collagen or collagen powder? 

At the end of the day, the choice between liquid collagen or collagen powder comes down to personal choice and preferences. However, now that you've learned more about the main differences between collagen powder and liquid collagen it may be easier to make that choice. Let’s run through the main factors to consider:

When it comes to ingredients, collagen powder typically goes the simple route. Rather than a long list of additional ingredients and added sugars, an unflavored collagen powder will typically ONLY contain collagen. If they contain additional ingredients, these are usually vitamins or minerals.

The great thing about a neutral collagen powder is that you are in charge of the way it tastes and can choose what kind of liquid you mix it with. This also means that you have more control over its sugar and calorie content. This means you can be sure that you’re not consuming anything extra that you don’t want to! 

PRICE

Although they may be easier to grab on the go, liquid collagen is usually pricier than collagen powder - at least when you look at the amount of collagen per serving. High-quality collagen powder tends to be the more affordable choice of the two when considering digestibility, adaptability, and quantity of collagen. . 

SUSTAINABILITY 

Generally speaking, collagen powder produces less packaging waste. This is because liquid collagen is usually purchased as a single-use product such as a collagen sparkling water or collagen coffee drink. Collagen powder is usually found in tubs or gusset bags with a scoop inside which means you get several portions when you buy just one product.

TEA OR COFFEE

Liquid collagen can also be found in caffeinated beverages. 

VITAMINS AND MINERALS

Some liquid collagen drinks are enriched with vitamins or minerals.

SWEETENERS OR SUGAR

Sweeteners like stevia or just plain old sugar are often added to collagen liquids. 

FRUIT JUICES OR EXTRACTS

These are added to create different flavors.

ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS

Liquid collagen drinks usually contain additional ingredients, including:

Type X

Found in the bones and joints. 

Type V

Found in the eyes. 

Type III

Found in skin, ligaments, muscles, and blood vessels. 

Type II

Found in cartilage and the gut. 

Type I

Found in hair, skin, nails, bones, tendons, and ligaments. 

SOURCE OF COLLAGEN

Liquid collagen tends to be made using marine collagen (which mostly consists of collagen types I and II). However, this differs brand to brand and it is also possible to find liquid collagen sourced from other types of collagen. 

Most collagen powder is sourced from bovine collagen. The best collagen powder is made with grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine collagen which is considered a good source of types I and III collagen.*

Not sure what the different types of collagen are?? There are generally 5 main types of collagen:

POTENCY

Collagen peptide powders typically contain more collagen than their liquid counterparts. High quality collagen powder usually has at least 10 g of collagen per serving. This means you would have to knock back several liquid collagen drinks to get the same amount of collagen you’d get from one serving of collagen powder.

Powder Collagen  vs. Liquid Collagen

Our Choice

by Primal Harvest [1]

• 10 G Hydrolyzed Bovine Collagen
• 9 G Protein Plus 20 MG Calcium
• Essential Amino Acids
• GelcoPEP® Technology for Mixability
• Free Shipping on Orders over $75

Based on 3739 Reviews of Primal Harvest 

Primal Collagen by Primal Harvest delivers hydrolyzed bovine collagen types I and III that have been produced with GelcoPEP® technology for maximum dissolvability and absorption support.*

This formula dissolves quickly and easily and is neutral in flavor, making it convenient to stir into any liquid of your choice, from your morning coffee to smoothies and juice. You can even shake it in a shaker for when you're on the go. Each scoop provides you with 10 g of ultra-premium hydrolyzed collagen, 20 mg of calcium, and a wide range of amino acids.

Primal Collagen is third-party lab tested and made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients. The brand also offers a convenient Subscribe & Save program which means you can order Primal Collagen through their convenient and hassle-free subscription service. By signing up for a subscription you get 20% off all products plus free shipping.

All in all, this collagen supplement delivers great value and quality at a reasonable price point. To top it off, Primal Harvest offers a 90-day money-back guarantee for all of its products.

• Made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients 
• Premium quality hydrolyzed bovine collagen from grass-fed cows
• Nine essential amino acids
• 9 g of protein plus 20 mg calcium
• Unflavored, easy-to-dissolve powder
• GelcoPEP® technology for mixability
• The brand offers a hassle-free subscription service 

PROS

CONS

• Only available online
• Due to popularity, sometimes runs out of stock

BOTTOM LINE

A+

GRADE

3. Original Collagen Peptides

by NativePath

PROS

• Grass-fed bovine collagen 
• Single-ingredient formula 
• Dissolves clump-free

CONS

• Premium price point 
• No calcium content

BOTTOM LINE

Original Collagen Peptides by NativePath is formulated with 10g of grass-fed bovine collagen per serving. While it offers a clean, single-ingredient formula similar to our top picks, the higher price per serving may make it a less attractive choice for those looking to adhere to a budget. The powder dissolves well in beverages and contains minimal sodium, which is a plus. However, the lack of calcium is notable since calcium works synergistically with collagen to support bone health and density. Without this crucial mineral, users may need to supplement separately for optimal results. 

B

GRADE

by Vital Proteins

PROS

• Certified grass-fed bovine collagen
• Gluten and dairy-free
• Made in the USA

CONS

• 110 mg sodium
• No 90-day money-back guarantee

BOTTOM LINE

Collagen Peptides by Vital Proteins is formulated with 20g of grass-fed and pasture-raised collagen. 

Like Primal Collagen by Primal Harvest, the Vital Proteins formula is easy to use. Although this unflavored formula is a solid choice for a collagen powder, some people may want to note that it contains 110 mg of sodium. This is especially something to consider for those watching their sodium intake. It also makes the product less versatile as the sodium content may impact the flavor.

4. Collagen Peptides

B+

GRADE

5. Super Collagen Peptides

by Neocell

PROS

• Hydrolyzed bovine collagen 
• No artificial flavors 
• 8g protein per serving

CONS

• No calcium content
• 60-day money-back guarantee

BOTTOM LINE

Super Collagen Peptides by Neocell is formulated with 10g of hydrolyzed collagen per serving. The unflavored powder dissolves reasonably well in most liquids. However, like other lower-ranked competitors on this list, it lacks added calcium content that may help support optimal collagen synthesis and bone health. Those considering this option should also note that while there is a money-back guarantee, it only extends to 60 days, falling short of the 90-day guarantee offered by some higher-ranked options. 

C

GRADE

2. Multi Collagen

PROS

• 5 collagen types
• Collagen from 4 food sources
• Hydrolyzed collagen for better absorption
• Dissolves well
• No unpleasant aftertaste
• Fairly priced and made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients

CONS

• Only sold online
• Sometimes runs out of stock

BOTTOM LINE

BeautyLux Beauty Multi Collagen is an unflavored multi-collagen peptide powder, formulated from bovine, marine, chicken, and eggshell membrane collagen. This premium powder features collagen types I, II, III, V, and X which are sustainably sourced from cage-free chickens, grass-fed cows, and kosher, North Atlantic fish.*

Each once-a-day serving contains 7.8 g of hydrolyzed collagen which can easily be added to any liquid of your choice. As an added perk, the formula also contains 7 g of protein.*

This unflavored collagen powder mixes well and leaves no aftertaste. It's made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients and is third-party lab tested. 

A

GRADE

No Sweeteners

No More Than 45 mg Sodium

90-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Third Party Tested

Subscription Service

Note: We try to update product information as often as we can. Please visit product websites for more information.

*Based on the individual experience of the Smarter Choices team and on a number of user reviews of the product.

Top Collagen Powder Supplements of 2025

Potency & Bioavailability

Source of collagen 

Additional ingredients 

Price

Sustainability

• Usually delivers more collagen per serving and is made with hydrolyzed collagen, or collagen peptides.

• Typically made with types I and III collagen from bovine collagen (but be sure to buy grass-fed and pasture-raised).

• No extra ingredients (except the addition of vitamins or minerals).

• Lower price.

• Tend to be the more eco-friendly choice because you can have several portions in just one tub or gusset bag.

• Typically has less collagen per serving (hard to find liquid collagen with a minimum of 10 g collagen per serving) - you may need to consume more in a day to match what a powder can deliver.

• Many liquid collagen drinks are made with marine collagen or undisclosed sources of collagen. It tends to be harder to find sustainably-sourced collagen in liquid form.

• May contain a number of extra ingredients like sweeteners or added sugars.

• Grab-and-go liquid collagen drinks tend to be pricier.

• Liquid collagen drinks are usually found in single-use packaging.

Main differences: Powder Collagen vs. Liquid Collagen

Note: Individual results may vary. The benefits stated are based on personal experiences and subjective feedback and may vary from person to person.

[1] Borumand, Maryam, and Sara Sibilla. “Daily consumption of the collagen supplement Pure Gold Collagen® reduces visible signs of aging.” Clinical interventions in aging vol. 9 1747-58. 13 Oct. 2014, doi:10.2147/CIA.S65939

To see a list of our other references, please click here. 

CITATIONS

DISCLAIMER: This scientific research is for informational purposes only. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Primal Harvest provides this information as a service but does not endorse it. This information should not be read to recommend or endorse any specific products.