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Vitamin Subscriptions Compared: Ritual vs Persona Nutrition vs Care/of + More

Lacey Volk
ByLacey VolkJan 8, 2020 | 11 comments
Vitamin Subscriptions Compared: Ritual vs Persona Nutrition vs Care/of + More

Popular Vitamin Subscriptions, Compared

Rital vs Persona vs Care/of– Plus Gummies, Probiotics, and More

I started researching various vitamin subscriptions to answer a few questions for myself: how are all these brands different? What makes them stand out? Which ones are the most affordable and will supply me with everything I'm looking for in a supplement regimen?

We looked at the Ritual, Care/of, Persona, and VitaFive Gummies, plus comparisons to Rootine, Seed, PillPack, and Honest Company and Grove Collaborative's products. Here's the low-down on the pros and cons of each service (with a handy reference chart at the end, too).

Updated January 2020 with the latest pricing and details, plus some new brands.

I'm not a healthcare expert or a doctor or a nutritionist, so I can't speak to the health benefits of various vitamins and herbal remedies... but I can show you the difference in how these products are priced, what types of products they offer, and other things to note. Remember, you should always talk to your doctor before taking any kind of supplement.

1. Ritual

For women who want a high-quality, one-and-done multivitamin

Ritual Essential Daily Vitamins for Women

Price: $30 - $35 for a 30 day supply; free shipping. Sign up here!

  • Multivitamin, Ages 18+: $30/month
  • Multivitamin, Ages 50+: $35/month
  • Prenatal Vitamin: $35/month

Ritual is kind of the grown-up, Instagram-friendly version of the Flintstones vitamins that any children of the 80s remember. Their core product, the Multivitamin for Ages 18+, focuses on bioavailable versions of the 9 most essential nutrients for women’s health, editing out many of the nutrients in your typical multivitamin that most American women don’t need– The product includes Folate, Omega-3, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3, Iron, Vitamin K2, Boron, Vitamin E, and Magnesium.

The 9 vitamins and minerals in Ritual.

For post-menopausal women, Ritual's Essential for Women 50+ formula is similar to the above, but skips the Iron. For women who are trying to get pregnant or who are currently pregnant, the Prenatal includes recommended Choline, Iodine, and Biotin in addition to the 9 vitamins and minerals listed above.

Ritual is also certified vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free, GMO-free, and manufactured in the USA. The vitamins use "beadlet-in-oil" technology that allows them to keep nutrients in their original forms and closer to what’s found in food.

Ritual also has a 30-day guarantee, and offers easy online cancellation.

Do Ritual vitamins work? We found that they're ideal for people with sensitive stomachs, as they use a unique form of iron that is formulated to prevent that nausea that some people experience when taking a multivitamin– and our review found that claim to be true for our tester, Liz. Their latest formulation includes a peppermint tab in the bottle to overpower the typical "fishy" vitamin taste and smell and make their formulation more pleasant and palatable.

 

2. Care/of Personalized Daily Vitamin Packs

For those who want style, convenience, & personalization

Price: Each vitamin is priced individually; they range from $5/month for basic vitamins to $25/month for the prenatal. Most selections are around $8/month. Shipping is free on orders over $20.

COUPON: Use code MSA50 to save 25% off your first month!

Care/of packages your vitamins together in daily packs so you don't need to open a bunch of bottles every morning. What makes Care/of unique is that in addition to the usual multivitamins and individual supplements and minerals, they also offer some herbal & Ayurvedic supplements, probiotics, and some specialty products, too.

If you take their quiz, Care/of will make recommendations for you– but you can manually update your pack to add and remove anything you like from their product selection, making this one a bit easier to update your preferences over time. They also provide a lot of background information on each supplement, including citations for actual medical studies, and information about where they source their raw ingredients.

Even though the pills themselves aren't as pretty as Ritual's, Care/of's packaging is really cute. Having your vitamins out in plain sight is half the battle for most of us in remembering to take them, and Care/of's box definitely looks cooler than any of the others we've seen– perfect to leave out on the kitchen counter, where you're more likely to take them every day.

Ritual also has introduced some specialty formulations, like a vegetarian Omega-3 supplement and a Glow Trio designed to support skin, hair, and nail health. Trying a new workout plan and trying to get more protein into your diet? They also offer Plant-based Protein and a variety of products you can mix in with smoothies and other beverages for a boost.

Check out Anna's Care/of Vitamin Review and Care/of Protein and Boosts Review to learn more.

 

3. Persona

For nutritionist-guided advice to meet your specific needs, no matter who you are

Persona Vitamin Review

Price: Persona does not publish a price list, but we found their individual supplements to range from under $2/month for Vitamin D, to almost $70/month for a CBD Hemp Extract. Shipping is free on orders over $20.

While it's similar to Care/of on the surface, Persona Nutrition offers a much more individualized service for men and women of all ages. Their quiz is more complex and asks about any current medication and a wider range of health concerns, including your diet (paleo, vegan, and even ketogenic diets are supported), level of exercise, and sensitivity to 12 common allergens. You can even input answers based on 23andme DNA tests about your risks for certain conditions. Why? Persona takes into account exactly what you need. They look out for any possible interactions between your prescription medications when they make their suggestions, which is something other services don't offer. They make recommendations based on all of the details you provide to them, and they have nutritionists available free of charge via chat and phone to answer any questions you have.

Persona Nutrition also puts together single-serve packets for you, but they take it one step further: if your supplement routine is more complex, they give you separate packets for AM, PM, and bedtime. This is great for people who take a bigger variety of vitamins, including some that need to be taken with food and others that are suggested before bed to aid with sleep issues.

For some supplements (but not all), they may also be more affordable as well– this will depend a lot on your specific needs, since so many different combinations are available. After taking the quiz, I admittedly had a bit of sticker shock as I was recommended a somewhat overwhelming combination of 8 supplements! After doing the math though, if I decided to purchase all of them, I'd be paying just $2.45/day.

Similar to Care/of, after you get your recommendations, you can edit your packet and add/remove supplements as you wish– and Persona will make sure that you're not going over your daily limits or taking something that could interfere with your medication. We counted 65 total vitamins and herbal supplements available through their service, ranging from basics like Vitamin B-12 to probiotics to things like adaptogenic mushrooms and CBD.

Check out Marne's Persona Review to learn more.

 

4. VitaFive

For those who prefer their daily dose with a side of fun

Image via VitaFive.com

Price: Most VitaFive vitamins are $12.99 for a four-week supply, with the exception of the Probiotic which is $17.99. Sign up here!

VitaFive is the only daily vitamin pack that focuses on gummy vitamins! Whether you're a kid at heart or simply loathe taking regular supplements, these daily packs make it easier and maybe just a bit more fun. They also recently added the ability to buy vitamins in pouches instead of daily packets, making it easier to reduce your plastic consumption if that is something you're looking for.

Their product selection is more limited than Care/of and Persona, but VitaFive still covers the basic needs for most of people: they currently offer a multivitamin, vitamin D3, vitamin C, biotin, melatonin, Omega-3, a probiotic, and elderberry.

Check out our VitaFive Reviews to learn more.

 

Other Options to Consider

Here are a few other supplement options to consider if you're revamping your wellness routine:

Rootine

Rootine ($60/month) has a unique approach to personalization: Their recommendations are based on a lifestyle quiz, blood test (from your doctor), plus a DNA test (purchase from Rootine for $50, or sync your 23andMe or Ancestry DNA data). Rather than delivering a packet of pills to swallow every day, Rootine's daily packets contain microbeads, so they can exactly tailor your dosage and formula to your needs. They can be swallowed with water or mixed into smoothies and food. Interested readers should note that Rootine requires a minimum 3 month commitment.

Seed Probiotics

Seed Probiotics ($49.99/month) is an interesting brand if you're looking for a well-researched probiotic for gut health. Our Seed review walks you through all the details, including their 30-day guarantee and the incredibly eco-friendly packaging (compostable, recyclable and dissolves-in-water!).

PillPack

PillPack by Amazon Pharmacy (prices vary) also came up in my search as a brand that focuses on prescription medication refills through the mail. You can also add vitamins– so all of your medication and supplements can be packaged together. I like the added convenience factor if you also take a daily medication, but I think it's best if you work with your doctor first because the selections were a little more technical: sometimes there were many versions of a supplement available as well as different strengths to select from, so it was more difficult than the customizable vitamin subscriptions without specific doctor's orders. Pricing appeared to start around the $5/month mark for basic supplements like Vitamin D3 and Iron.

Grove Collaborative

If you already subscribe to home and personal care products via Grove Collaborative, they have a wide variety of wellness products that you can easily add on to your existing recurring orders. If you're not familiar with Grove, they are a Certified B Corp and source environmentally-friendly products, and purchase a carbon offset for all orders. The supplement product selection includes a few different multivitamins as well as herbal supplements, prenatals, probiotics, and some individual vitamins like D3 and B12. Prices on supplements range from about $7 to $120.

Honest Company

A previous version of this list included Honest Company's Health + Wellness bundle as a good option if you're looking for a subscription for the whole family. While Honest Company still offers a handful of vitamins starting at $19.95/month, they no longer offer them via a bundled subscription (though you can subscribe to individual products). They also no longer offer men's and children's varieties, and instead appear to be focusing on prenatal and postnatal health only with their supplement products. If you're already subscribing to Honest Diapers, they may be worth checking out, but they're no longer a good option for the whole family as we previously wrote.

Which vitamin subscription is the best?

Finding the right vitamin subscription for you will depend on exactly what you're looking for. Here's a quick outline to help you compare all of the services we've outlined above (you can scroll to the right to see all the brands):

Ritual Care/of Persona VitaFive Seed PillPack Honest Co Rootine Grove Collaborative
Description 1 daily multivitamin Personalized daily packs Personalized daily packs Customizable daily gummy packs Probiotics Rx meds plus vitamins in daily packs Pre- and Post-natal DNA personalized daily packs Variety of bottled supplements
Intended For Women, with 18+ and 50+ formulas available Women/Men Women/Men Women/Men Women/Men Women/Men Women Women/Men Women/Men
Price/Month $30 - $35 $5+ per supplement $2+ per supplement $12.99+ per supplement $49.99 $5+ per supplement $19.95+ $60 per month, plus tests Varies
Shipping Free Free over $20 Free over $20 Free Free Free Free over $50 Free $2.99, or Free with VIP Membership
Recomendations via Quiz No Yes Yes No No No No Quiz, DNA Test, & Bloodwork No
Packaging Bottle Single Daily Packs AM and PM Packs Packs or Pouches Sustainable Bottles Packs or Bottles Bottles Single Daily Packs Bottles
Offers Multivitamins Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Customized Blend Only Yes
Offers Individual Vitamins No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes
Offers Probiotics No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes
Offers Herbal Supplements No Yes Yes Elderberry No Some No No Yes
Offers Prenatal Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Customized Blend Only Yes
Offers Postnatal No No No No No No Yes No No
Diet & Allergies Vegan, Non-GMO, Gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, dairy-free Has some vegan, non-gmo, and gluten-free options Customized recommendations for vegan, vegetarian, keto, and paleo diets plus 12 common allergens Most vitamins are vegan, all are gluten-, soy-, nut-, and dairy-free. Vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free PillPack does not display this information. Non-GMO, Gluten-free, and Soy-free Vegetarian Check individual products for details

There's really something for everyone available on the market today, and many of these options are more affordable than I suspected at first, too.

Personally: I find that daily packs make it easier for me to stick to a routine (especially since I can leave a few in my work bag for the mornings when I'm in a rush and forget to take my vitamins at home). I'm waiting for my next doctor's appointment to revisit which supplements my body currently needs, but I find Persona appealing based on price point and total available options alone. (It may be worth noting that Persona isn't always the cheaper option, although it worked out that way for the Vitamin D and Iron supplements my doctor previously recommended to me.)

Having nutritionists available to answer my questions is a plus, too, because I do sometimes find myself curious about things like CBD and turmeric. I'd feel much better talking to a professional about those types of supplements first, since I can't make a doctor's appointment anytime I have a random question about something I've seen trending on social media.

Which vitamin subscription would you choose? Tell us in the comments!

Lacey Volk
Lacey Volk
Lacey's introduction to the world of subscription boxes was Julep Maven, but she quickly moved on once she discovered there were subscriptions for cooking, coffee, and art supplies. Current favorites include Crate Chef and Ecocentric Mom, and she's looking forward to trying more.

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11 comments

Donna

I’m looking for a comparison between Ritual and HaloBeauty by Tati Westbrook.

Any idea where I can find this?

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Lee

I’m really suprised to hear all these great reviews for Ritual – I tried it for 3 months and didn’t notice anything (except bad breath until they added the insert). I switched to another brand that offers fish oil and probiotic and definetly see and feel the results!

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Ruby C Koa

I saw the ad for Ritual and was interested but now have my doubts too. Do you mind telling me which ones you use now?
Thanks

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Calli

I don’t get the enthusiasm for this. The vitamin and supplement industry is very loosely regulated in the U.S. That includes supplements like these in subscription boxes.

https://www.consumerreports.org/vitamins-supplements/supplements-can-make-you-sick/

Quoting from the article: “Dietary supplements are subject to far less stringent regulations than over-the-counter and prescription medication. The FDA classifies them differently from drugs. So the companies that make and sell them aren’t required to prove that they’re safe for their intended use before selling them, or that they work as advertised, or even that their packages contain what the labels say they do.”

You have no idea if any of these contain any of the ingredients they claim, or if they are contaminated or what. “Trust us” seems to be the standard for this industry. Be careful.

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Lisa

I’ve been using Ritual for 3months too and love the simplicity of 2pills/day, I almost never forget to take my vitamins this way! And def been feeling more energetic =)

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Caitlyn

Thank you SO MUCH for putting this together! I’ve been wanting to try a vitamin subscription but didn’t know where to start. It’s so nice having all of the information in one place!

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Ll

Has anybody tried Harvey?

I understand you send them a kit and they determine not only what vitamins you are deficient in, but what versions of the different types of vitamins you can or cannot absorb based on your genes.

I believe its $99 for them to run tests on the kit, then $150 consult with a holistic physician for 60 min. It’s much less than going to a function medicine physician locally, and a lot more time with one. It doesn’t include the vitamins, but at least you would know what exactly your body needs.

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Sara

I’m into my 4th month of Ritual and I have never felt better. I feel more awake and energized, my skin looks good, and I sleep better. I don’t know if it’s the vitamins, because I started weight watchers around the same time, but I’ve lost about 15#. I haven’t had the bad food cravings that always derailed my weight loss in the past. I think the vitamins have helped to that degree. I’m 43 and a vegetarian.

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Pamela

Ive been using Rital for a few months and love it too. Its the first time I’ve ever found something that gets rid of my afternoon slump.

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Ash

I’ve tried Care/of twice, and they charged my card without any advanced notice. They wound up refunding me, but I find their subscription to be very difficult to pause / cancel. I had no items selected that I wanted shipped, but they wound up charging me and shipping me something anyway that I didn’t want.

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Wendy

I have been using Ritual for a few months and I love it.

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