Berberine HCl is the hydrochloride salt of berberine, a bright yellow plant compound found in goldenseal, barberry, and Oregon grape. It is most often used to support healthy blood sugar, cholesterol, and metabolic markers, and it is the form used in nearly every published clinical trial on berberine. Because berberine is poorly absorbed, studies typically use 500 mg taken three times a day with meals — 1,500 mg/day total. The dose is split because berberine has a short half-life of about five hours, so spreading it across the day keeps blood levels steadier.
This page compares berberine HCl products by cost per month at a reference dose of 1,500 mg/day. Rankings are based on the amount of berberine HCl listed on the Supplement Facts label divided into the product's price. One product per brand in each table; lowest cost per month wins.
Prices as of May 2, 2026. Prices update daily; this page updates monthly. For current prices and full interactive filters, see the Berberine HCl compare page.
| Rank | Brand | Product | Form | Cost per month | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BulkSupplements | BulkSupplements.com Berberine HCl Powder - Berberine Supple… | Powder | $8.14 | $180.97 |
| Rank | Brand | Product | Form | Cost per month | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DEAL SUPPLEMENT | DEAL SUPPLEMENT Berberine Max Supplement with Turmeric, 5,0… | Capsules | $2.02 | $26.95 |
| 2 | FANCYENERGY | Berberine HCl Supplement with Ceylon Cinnamon & Citrus Berg… | Capsules | $4.68 | $9.99 |
| 3 | Nutravita | Nutravita Berberine Gummies with Ceylon Cinnamon 1500mg Hig… | Gummies | $5.94 | $8.91 |
| 4 | DRFOSTER | DRFOSTER Berberine HCL 1500mg, Berberine Supplement with Ce… | Capsules | $8.00 | $15.99 |
| 5 | CHANUBITO | Berberine Supplement 1500mg - Premium Berberine HCl 97% Pur… | Capsules | $9.65 | $18.73 |
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Match the form to the clinical dose. The evidence for blood sugar and lipids comes from studies using 500 mg of berberine HCl three times a day with meals — 1,500 mg/day total. Most capsules are sized at 500 mg or 1,000 mg, which makes hitting that target straightforward. Lower-strength products (200–250 mg) can still work, but they multiply the pill count and often the cost per month.
HCl and phytosome are not interchangeable. Berberine HCl is the standard, water-soluble salt used in the bulk of clinical trials, and these rankings reflect that form. Berberine phytosome is a different product — the same active berberine bound to phospholipids for higher absorption, dosed lower at around 550 mg twice a day. The two are not equivalent on a milligram-for-milligram basis. If you are considering the phospholipid form instead, see Berberine Phytosome.
Watch combo products that dilute cost per mg. Berberine HCl is frequently bundled with chromium, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, cinnamon, or milk thistle in glucose-support stacks. These bundles can look cheap per bottle but cost more per mg of berberine because much of the capsule is filler ingredients. TrueServing's rankings already isolate the berberine HCl mg listed on the Supplement Facts panel, so combo products are compared on the same basis as standalone ones.
Goldenseal and barberry extracts are not the same thing. Some "berberine" products derive the compound from goldenseal root or barberry bark rather than purified berberine HCl, and standardization varies widely. Labels may list the extract weight rather than verified berberine content. If a Supplement Facts panel lists only "goldenseal extract" without a berberine mg or percentage, the actual dose is unknown — these products are not directly comparable to standardized berberine HCl.
Powder is cheaper per gram but harder to live with. Berberine HCl powder is intensely bitter, stains hands and counters yellow, and does not dissolve cleanly in water. A few brands sell bulk powder at a lower cost per gram than capsules, but most people abandon it after a few doses. If you go that route, empty capsules and a kitchen scale tend to be more sustainable than mixing the powder into liquid.
Evidence for berberine HCl is moderate. Multiple meta-analyses show meaningful reductions in fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, and triglycerides at 1,000–1,500 mg/day over 8–12 weeks, with effect sizes that approach some first-line medications in head-to-head trials. Evidence in PCOS (insulin resistance, ovulation, lipid markers) is also moderate. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal — constipation, diarrhea, nausea, or cramping — and they often ease with food and split dosing. Berberine inhibits the CYP3A4, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9 enzymes, so it can raise blood levels of many prescription drugs, including statins, certain blood pressure medications, and immunosuppressants. It can also add to the blood-sugar-lowering effect of metformin or insulin. Berberine should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before adding it if you take any prescription medication.