NOW Foods Ultra Omega-3 500 EPA / 250 DHA vs Nature Made Fish Oil 1200mg Softgels 200 Count

Pros

• ✓Enteric coating reliably eliminates fishy burps and aftertaste — the most frequently cited advantage across dozens of reviews
• ✓High potency 500/250 mg EPA/DHA per single softgel reduces the number of capsules needed compared to standard fish oil products
• ✓Molecularly distilled for heavy metal removal; GMP, Non-GMO Project Verified, GOED Omega-3 member, Kosher and Halal certified
• ✓Multiple reviewers report real-world outcomes: reduced joint stiffness, improved focus, skin and hair improvements, and improved blood lipid panels

Cons

• ✗Ethyl ester form rather than the superior triglyceride form — absorption may be meaningfully lower without dietary fat at time of dosing
• ✗Softgels are on the larger side; some users flag swallowing difficulty despite their soft, gel texture
• ✗A minority of reviewers note residual digestive fishy odour (from stomach, not burping) and recommend taking with a fat-containing meal or refrigerating the bottle
• ✗Some iHerb reviews are clearly off-topic or low-information (emoji-only, unrelated product descriptions), slightly reducing the usable review signal

Best For

Pros

• ✓USP Verified — independently tested for purity, potency, and absence of contaminants including mercury
• ✓Minimal fishy aftertaste reported by most reviewers, making daily compliance easy
• ✓Excellent value: 200 softgels at a competitive price point, often cited as better than supermarket alternatives
• ✓Trusted, established brand with a long track record and widely available

Cons

• ✗Each 1200mg softgel contains only ~360mg of actual Omega-3 (EPA+DHA) — requires 2–3 softgels daily for therapeutic dosing recommended by most guidelines
• ✗Softgels are relatively large, which some users flag as difficult to swallow
• ✗Fish oil sourcing and sustainability not prominently disclosed — no MSC certification
• ✗Higher price than some comparable fish oil options when comparing cost-per-mg of EPA+DHA

Best For