Cod liver oil is a source of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA that people commonly use for cardiovascular health, joint support, and general daily omega-3 intake. Unlike standard Fish Oil, cod liver oil also brings naturally occurring or added vitamins A and D into the picture, which is part of its appeal and part of what makes labels harder to compare.
For price comparison, the front-of-bottle oil amount is only the starting point. Many products advertise 1000 mg of cod liver oil per softgel or teaspoon, but the EPA+DHA amount inside that serving can be far lower. The rankings below use 1000 mg/day of EPA+DHA so liquids, softgels, gummies, and capsules can be compared on the same monthly-cost basis.
Prices as of June 8, 2026. Prices update daily; this page updates monthly. For current prices and full interactive filters, see the Omega-3: Cod Liver Oil compare page.
| Rank | Brand | Product | Form | Cost per month | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | Nordic Naturals, Cod Liver Oil Arctic Lemon 1000mg, 90 Soft… | Softgels | $0.45 | $0.27 |
| 2 | Swanson | Swanson Cod Liver Oil - Wellness Supplement Promoting Bone,… | Softgels | $6.61 | $13.89 |
| 3 | Carlyle | Carlyle Cod Liver Oil Liquid | 16 fl oz | Pack of 3 Bottl… | Liquid | $7.93 | $54.99 |
| 4 | SOULSATION | SOULSATION Icelandic Cod Liver Oil Liquid, Lemon (16oz - Pa… | Liquid | $8.88 | $44.99 |
| 5 | Nature's Answer | Nature's Answer Cod Liver Oil Liquid Supplement, 16-Fluid O… | Liquid | $10.29 | $26.99 |
| 6 | Tropical Oasis | Tropical Oasis - Icelandic Cod Liver Oil | Maximum Strengt… | Liquid | $10.53 | $33.49 |
| 7 | Vitamatic | Vitamatic Icelandic Cod Liver Oil Capsules 1250mg 120 Softg… | Softgels | $12.14 | $16.99 |
| 8 | Sanniti | Sanniti 100% Natural Cod Liver Oil, 1081 mg Total Omega-3 F… | — | $14.90 | $19.99 |
| 9 | CHILDLIFE ESSENTIALS | ChildLife Essentials Cod Liver Fish Oil for Kids - Kids Arc… | Liquid | $15.28 | $22.99 |
| 10 | De La Cruz | De La Cruz Cod Liver Oil Liquid Pure Wild Caught Icelandic… | Liquid | $15.89 | $9.99 |
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Check EPA+DHA, not just cod liver oil milligrams. This is the main label-reading job in cod liver oil. A front label may highlight 1000 mg of cod liver oil, but the line that matters for value comparison is the EPA+DHA amount in the Supplement Facts panel. Some products clearly list EPA and DHA separately, while others make you work backward from total omega-3s or from the oil weight itself. If the label does not make the EPA+DHA amount easy to find, it is harder to judge whether the price is justified.
Do not confuse total omega-3s with EPA+DHA. Several cod liver oil labels list a higher "total omega-3" number than the combined EPA+DHA amount. That does not automatically make the product bad, but it does mean the bigger number is not the cleanest comparison point if your goal is the most studied omega-3s. Use EPA+DHA for side-by-side value checks, then treat the rest of the omega-3 profile as extra context rather than the headline.
Pay attention to serving size before judging convenience. Cod liver oil comes in liquids, one-softgel servings, two-softgel servings, and higher-count softgel servings. A liquid may deliver a large chunk of EPA+DHA in one teaspoon, while a softgel product may need several capsules per day to reach the same target. The monthly rankings normalize the cost, but your daily routine still changes depending on whether you prefer swallowing multiple pills or measuring liquid oil.
Liquids and softgels solve different problems. Liquids often deliver more EPA+DHA per serving and can look stronger on a per-teaspoon basis, which helps if you want fewer capsules or more flexible dosing. Softgels are easier to travel with and usually have less measuring friction. If you already know you dislike liquid oil, a slightly higher monthly cost for a simpler softgel routine may be worth it. If you mainly care about omega-3 value, liquids can be worth a closer look.
Treat vitamins A and D as part of the label, not a free bonus. Cod liver oil often includes vitamin A and vitamin D naturally, and some products also add more. That can be useful if you specifically want those nutrients, but it also means two products with similar EPA+DHA value may differ a lot in their vitamin profile. Check whether the label gives clear vitamin amounts and decide whether that fits the rest of your supplement routine, especially if you already take separate vitamin A or D products.
Testing and processing claims matter after the dose math is clear. This category regularly uses claims such as molecularly distilled, purity guaranteed, IFOS certified, non-GMO tested, or triglyceride form. Those details can help separate two otherwise similar options, especially because marine oils raise the usual freshness and contaminant questions. They should come after the basic check that the EPA+DHA amount, serving size, and monthly cost make sense.
Be skeptical of extreme price jumps. Cod liver oil has a very wide spread between budget and premium products, and the most expensive option is not automatically delivering the most EPA+DHA. Sometimes the higher price is tied to premium positioning, specialty forms, or weak concentration rather than a clearly better omega-3 value. If a bottle looks dramatically more expensive than the rest of the field, double-check how much EPA+DHA you are really buying and how many servings it takes to get there.
Cod liver oil has strong evidence behind it as an omega-3 supplement because the main active compounds are still EPA and DHA, which have a long research history for cardiovascular health and other common fish-oil use cases. A typical supplemental range is about 1000-2000 mg/day of EPA+DHA. What makes cod liver oil different from standard fish oil is the added vitamin A and vitamin D context, not a completely different evidence base.
Most people tolerate cod liver oil reasonably well, but it can still cause fishy aftertaste, reflux, or mild digestive upset. Because cod liver oil also contributes vitamin A and vitamin D, it is worth watching total intake if you already use separate vitamin products. Anyone using blood thinners, planning surgery, or managing a condition where higher-dose omega-3 use matters should check with a clinician before using it regularly.