Thorne vs NOW Foods vs Life Extension comes down to this: Thorne is the premium pick with the strongest third-party sport certification, NOW Foods is the budget pick with a huge range of simple single ingredients, and Life Extension sits in between with higher-dose formulas. All three are US brands we stock in Australia, and all three describe serious quality testing, but they price and formulate very differently. Below we compare their testing claims, then put similar products side by side on cost per serve so you can see where the extra money goes.
Thorne vs NOW Foods vs Life Extension at a glance
| Thorne | NOW Foods | Life Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Testing (as stated by the brand) | 4 rounds of testing for every supplement, from raw materials to stability | In-house labs with ISO 17025 accreditation, more than 31,000 quality tests a month | Certificate of Analysis available for every product, independent labs test raw materials and final products |
| Certifications (as stated by the brand) | NSF certified facility, more than 20 NSF Certified for Sport products, A rating from Australia's TGA | GMP-certified facilities, A-rated by the Natural Products Association | Independently audited by NSF International |
| Price level | Premium | Budget | Middle |
| Style of formula | Simple, often moderate doses | Huge range of single nutrients at standard doses | Often higher doses and newer ingredients |
| Best for | Tested athletes and people who want the most third-party checks | Value and everyday basics | People who want specific, higher-strength formulas |
These testing and certification details come from each brand's own published information: Thorne's certifications page, Life Extension's safety page and a Nutraceuticals World report on NOW's manufacturing. We have not tested the products ourselves.
Testing and certification: what the claims mean
All supplements sold by reputable brands should be made under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), which covers how a facility is run, cleaned and documented. The differences are in what each brand adds on top.
Thorne
Thorne says every product goes through four rounds of testing: raw materials, during manufacture, finished product and stability over time. Its biggest point of difference is NSF Certified for Sport. Thorne says it makes more than 20 products with this certification, which means batches are screened for substances banned in sport. Not every Thorne product is certified, so if you are a tested athlete, check the specific product and batch on the NSF website before you buy.
NOW Foods
NOW runs its own testing labs, which hold ISO 17025 accreditation, and reports more than 31,000 quality tests a month on incoming raw materials and finished products. Its US facilities are GMP-certified and A-rated by the Natural Products Association. Most NOW products are not certified for sport, so the testing is in-house rather than independent batch screening.
Life Extension
Life Extension says it can provide a Certificate of Analysis for every supplement, using reports from independent labs that test both raw materials and final products, and that it is independently audited by NSF International. Like NOW, most of its range is not certified for sport.
Price per serve: like-for-like products
Brand reputation only matters if the product suits you, so here are similar products from the three brands with the dose and cost per serve worked out from each label. Prices are live and correct at the time of writing.
| Product | Dose per serve | Price | Cost per serve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thorne Magnesium CitraMate, 90 capsules | 135 mg magnesium (citrate and malate), 1 capsule | $79.95 | $0.89 ($0.66 per 100 mg) |
| NOW Magnesium Glycinate, 180 tablets | 200 mg magnesium (bisglycinate), 2 tablets | $69.95 | $0.78 ($0.39 per 100 mg) |
| Life Extension Magnesium Caps 500 mg, 100 capsules | 500 mg magnesium (oxide, citrate and succinate), 1 capsule | $34.95 | $0.35 ($0.07 per 100 mg) |
| NOW Vitamin C-1000, 100 tablets | 1,000 mg vitamin C, 1 tablet | $29.95 | $0.30 |
| Life Extension Vitamin C with Bio-Quercetin Phytosome, 60 tablets | 1,000 mg vitamin C plus 15 mg quercetin phytosome, 1 tablet | $39.95 | $0.67 |
| Thorne Selenium 200 mcg, 60 capsules | 200 mcg selenium, 1 capsule | $59.95 | $1.00 |
| NOW Selenium 200 mcg, 180 capsules | 200 mcg selenium, 1 capsule | $40.00 | $0.22 |
The pattern is clear. For the same nutrient at the same dose, NOW usually costs the least per serve, often by a wide margin. With selenium, for example, the NOW bottle costs about $0.22 a capsule against about $1.00 for Thorne at the time of writing. You are paying Thorne for its testing programme and brand, not for more selenium.
Look past the price: dose and form matter
The lowest cost per milligram is not always the best buy. The Life Extension magnesium capsule gives 500 mg in one capsule, which is above the 350 mg a day upper limit for magnesium from supplements set in Australia's Nutrient Reference Values. Its label also warns that high doses may have a laxative effect. For most people, a lower dose like Thorne's 135 mg or NOW's 200 mg is easier to fit under that limit, and you can talk to your GP if you think you need more.
Selenium is similar. The recommended intake is 70 mcg a day for men and 60 mcg for women, with an upper limit of 400 mcg a day from all sources, according to the Nutrient Reference Values. A 200 mcg capsule is well above what most people need, so it is worth checking your diet and asking a health professional before taking one every day.
Form matters too. Thorne uses magnesium citrate and malate, NOW uses magnesium bisglycinate and Life Extension mixes oxide, citrate and succinate. Our best magnesium supplement in Australia guide explains the common forms and who each one suits.
Which brand should you choose?
- Choose Thorne if you compete in tested sport and want NSF Certified for Sport options, or if you want the most third-party checks and do not mind paying more. See the full Thorne range and our guide to Thorne supplements in Australia.
- Choose NOW Foods if you want everyday basics like magnesium, vitamin C or zinc at a low cost per serve, with in-house testing and a huge range. Browse the NOW Foods range.
- Choose Life Extension if you want a specific higher-strength or more unusual formula and are happy to check doses against the upper limits. Browse the Life Extension range.
Our verdict
For most people buying everyday vitamins and minerals in Australia, NOW Foods is the best value, and its testing claims are solid for the price. Thorne is worth the premium if you are a tested athlete or want independent sport certification. Life Extension is a good middle option for specific formulas, as long as you read the dose. Whichever brand you choose, start with what your diet is missing. Our best multivitamin in Australia guide is a good place to begin.
Shop the products in this guide
NOW Magnesium Glycinate 180 tablets$69.95
Thorne Magnesium CitraMate 90 capsules$79.95
NOW Vitamin C-1000 100 tablets$29.95
Life Extension Vitamin C with Bio-Quercetin 60 tablets$39.95
Browse all Thorne, NOW Foods and Life Extension products.
FAQs
Is Thorne better than NOW Foods?
Not necessarily. Thorne describes more third-party checks and has over 20 NSF Certified for Sport products, which matters if you are a tested athlete. NOW runs its own accredited labs and is usually much cheaper per serve for the same nutrient and dose. For everyday basics, NOW is the better value. For sport certification, Thorne is the stronger pick.
Is Thorne NSF Certified for Sport?
Some Thorne products are. Thorne says it makes more than 20 NSF Certified for Sport products, but not every product in its range is certified. If you compete in tested sport, look for the NSF Certified for Sport mark on the label and check the product and batch on NSF's website before you buy.
Is Life Extension a good brand?
Life Extension says it can provide a Certificate of Analysis for every product, uses independent labs to test raw materials and finished products, and is audited by NSF International. Its formulas are often higher in dose than other brands, so check each label against the Nutrient Reference Values upper limits, especially for minerals like magnesium.
Why is Thorne more expensive?
You are mainly paying for Thorne's testing programme, sport certification and brand. In our like-for-like comparison, a Thorne selenium capsule cost several times more than a NOW capsule with the same 200 mcg dose at the time of writing. If you do not need sport certification, a budget brand with good testing can give you the same nutrient for less.
Where can I buy Thorne, NOW and Life Extension in Australia?
Supps247 stocks all three brands online with Australia-wide delivery, free shipping on orders of $99.99 or more and Afterpay available at checkout. You can also use click and collect at stores that offer it or visit a Supps247 store. Range varies by store, so check stock online first.
Sources: Thorne: Certifications; Life Extension: Safeguarding your health; Nutraceuticals World: NOW manufacturing and testing (2025); Nutrient Reference Values: Magnesium; Nutrient Reference Values: Selenium; product labels and brand nutrition panels, checked October 2026.
Order online with Australia-wide delivery, free on orders of $99.99 or more, with Afterpay available at checkout. You can also use click and collect at a store that offers it, or visit a Supps247 store in Melbourne, regional Victoria or Brisbane to compare products in person. Members can use our member price match on full-priced items.
Prices and stock were checked on 29 October 2026 and can change at any time. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or take regular medication, check with your doctor first.
