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What is collagen and why is it so popular? We’ve got the answers! Plus, check out our picks for the best collagen powders for your joints in 2024.

Top Collagen For Joints in 2024

Latest update:

  • Support muscle health*
  • Support hair thickness and density
  • Support skin health*
  • Help minimize the appearance of fine lines*[3]
  • Support skin elasticity*

Potential Benefits of Collagen Supplements

  • Support joint health, flexibility, and mobility*
  • Help maintain cartilage and connective tissue*
  • Support an active lifestyle by promoting joint comfort*
  • Provide essential amino acids for joint tissue repair*

The older you get, the more collagen you need

Here’s the unfortunate biological reality: the older you get, the less collagen your body produces. It starts to decline between ages 18-29. By 40, we may lose about 1% per year. This may lead to weaker joints, reduced mobility, less flexibility, as well as weaker and more brittle hair and nails, a loss of skin elasticity, and more visible fine lines and wrinkles.[1, 2]

What To Look For In A Collagen Supplement

Primal Collagen delivers hydrolyzed bovine collagen types I and III, produced with GelcoPEP® technology for maximum dissolvability and absorption support.* These specific collagen types are crucial for maintaining healthy joints, ligaments, and tendons.

This formula dissolves quickly and easily, with a neutral flavor. It's convenient to stir into any liquid, from your morning coffee to post-workout smoothies, supporting your joints throughout the day. For active lifestyles, you can even shake it in a shaker bottle on the go. Each scoop provides 10 g of ultra-premium hydrolyzed collagen, 20 mg of calcium (essential for bone health), and a wide range of amino acids that contribute to joint tissue repair and maintenance.

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
  • Essential amino acids
  • Unflavored, easy-to-dissolve powder
  • GelcoPEP® technology for mixability
  • The brand offers a hassle-free subscription service 

1. Primal Collagen

by Primal Harvest[1]

PROS

CONS

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

BOTTOM LINE

2. Multi Collagen

by BeautyLux[1]

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. 

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. Multi Collagen Protein

by Ancient Nutrition

PROS

  • Hydrolyzed bovine collagen 
  • Neutral flavor
  • With probiotics & vitamin C

CONS

  • Price
  • No 90-day money back guarantee

BOTTOM LINE

Ancient Nutrition's Multi Collagen Protein is a pretty solid choice for a collagen supplement. It contains 10g of hydrolyzed collagen per scoop. Their collagen is sourced from grass-fed and pasture-raised bovine collagen and also contains probiotics and vitamin C.

It has a relatively neutral flavor making it easy to drink when added to other beverages. Although it dissolves fairly easily into cold drinks, it does seem to take longer to dissolve than some other collagen powders. Some consumers also reported that it did not dissolve as easily into warm drinks. 

This is generally a great choice, but you may want to note that it's a little pricier than some of the other products featured on this list.

5. Super Youth Collagen

by SkinnyFit

PROS

  • Hydrolyzed bovine collagen
  • 14 g protein
  • With vitamin C

CONS

  • 2 scoop serving size
  • Price
  • Contains fish and egg

BOTTOM LINE

Super Youth Collagen by SkinnyFit includes 15.6 g of hydrolyzed collagen per serving, sourced from bovine, fish, chicken, and eggshell membrane. It also includes vitamin C, apple cider vinegar, and hyaluronic acid and is sweetened with stevia leaf and monk fruit extracts. Each container consists of 28 servings of unflavored collagen powder.  

Although the formula includes a range of collagen sources, the addition of fish collagen and eggshell membrane means this product may not be suitable for all consumers. Some may find the two-scoop serving size inconvenient in comparison to other products that have a one-scoop serving. The addition of stevia and monk fruit gives the product a little sweetness which means some may find that it is not totally neutral. Finally, you may want to consider the price of the product. At $99.95 for a one-time purchase (about 28 servings), this powder is less wallet-friendly than some other options.

Our Choice 2024

Primal Collagen

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

Learn More

Based on 3739 Reviews of Primal Harvest

Latest update: 

What is collagen?

Did you know? A high-quality collagen powder can make a great addition to your morning coffee or tea? 

Premium collagen powders have no flavor and dissolve easily into any drink - hot or cold. This makes it easy to add to your daily wellness routine!

What To Try To Avoid In A Collagen Supplement

3. Collagen Peptides

Collagen Peptides – The Convenient Way to Support Your Collagen Intake

Some people may find that getting enough collagen from food alone is hard to do, especially when it comes to supporting joint health. That's why collagen supplementation for joint support has risen in popularity lately.

Simply put, collagen is a protein that forms the connective tissue throughout our bodies, and is vital for joint health. It is found in skin, nails, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. Collagen is primarily made up of amino acids and makes up about 70-80% of the dry weight of your skin.[1]

Why is it important? As the most abundant protein in the body, collagen plays a crucial role in maintaining joint health and mobility, supporting the structure and function of cartilage, which cushions our joints. It also supports healthy-looking hair and skin, bone health, the building of muscle mass and an active lifestyle.[1, 2,] 

Top Collagen for Joints in 2024

What To Look For

What To Avoid

Important Criteria

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Types I and III Collagen

Hydrolyzed Bovine

Dissolves/Mixes Well*

Neutral Flavor*

Over 5g Protein 

Calcium

No Sweeteners

No More Than 45 mg Sodium

Primal Collagen

by Primal Harvest

Multi Collagen by BeautyLux

Collagen Peptides

by Vital Proteins

Multi Collagen by Ancient Nutrition

Super Youth Collagen

by Skinnyfit

A+

GRADE

A

GRADE

B+

GRADE

B

GRADE

C+

GRADE

90-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Third Party Tested

Subscription Service

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

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

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

[1] León-López, Arely et al. “Hydrolyzed Collagen-Sources and Applications.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 24,22 4031. 7 Nov. 2019, doi:10.3390/molecules24224031

[2] Oikarinen, A. “Aging of the skin connective tissue: how to measure the biochemical and mechanical properties of aging dermis.” Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine vol. 10,2 (1994): 47-52.

[3] Ricard-Blum, Sylvie. “The collagen family.” Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology vol. 3,1 a004978. 1 Jan. 2011, doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a004978

[4] 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.

  • PURITY & QUALITY: Choose only grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine or sustainably-sourced seafood collagen.*
  • HYDROLYZED COLLAGEN PEPTIDES: Hydrolyzed collagen peptides mean the amino acids have been broken down for easier digestion and absorption support.*
  • A COMBINATION OF COLLAGEN (E.G. TYPES I & III): A popular combination for targeting hair, skin, joint, and nail health.*
  • FLAVOR AND MIXABILITY: Some off-the-shelf collagen supplements may taste bad and do not mix well. Try to find a collagen powder you'll be glad to consume every morning!*
  • COLLAGEN THAT HASN'T BEEN HYDROLYZED: Collagen that is hydrolyzed has already been ‘broken’ down for better absorption and digestibility. Hydrolyzed collagen is also labeled as collagen peptides so be sure to look out for either term on the package.*
  • UNWANTED INGREDIENTS: You want to ensure you’re getting 100% pure, premium, hydrolyzed collagen sources with no unnecessary synthetic fillers or other additional ingredients you may be trying to avoid.
  • COLLAGEN LACKING TESTING: Always check that a product has been ‘third-party lab-tested’ to be certain that the product has been independently tested for potentially harmful ingredients to ensure safety.