The 8 best vegan omega-3 supplements (UK)

Most people know just how important omega-3 is, but not many know where it actually comes from. There is a heavy reliance upon fish oils and capsules, probably because that is what is so readily available. It is what I took before I went vegan.

I believe that because of this reliance upon fish oil, many people think that this is the best source of omega-3. On top of this, you may even get those pesky non-vegans ‘fish’mongering, with their “you can’t get high-quality sources of omega-3 that absorb without eating salmon” rubbish.

Little do they know that fish get it from eating algae. Meaning they are a secondary source of this fatty acid. The fact that this isn’t widely known is definitely helping the fish oil industry to thrive!

So, it is no surprise that when you turn vegan, it is hard to find out where you can get good plant-based sources of this important fatty acid. And when I say important, I mean vital. We MUST get it in our diets as our bodies cannot produce it themselves.

In this article, I am going to show you that there are plenty of awesome vegan omega-3 supplements to choose from to suit your needs.

See also: my favourite vegan supplement brands

What is omega-3?

Omega-3 refers to a family of three fatty acids, ALA, DHA, and EPA. ALA is used for energy and is found in many plant-based sources including flaxseeds, walnuts and chia seeds. DHA and EPA, the most important omega-3 acids, are pretty vital in the maintenance of healthy brains. Whilst a small percentage of ALA can be converted into DHA and EPA, they are mostly sourced from animal-based foods, particularly fish oil.

What are vegan omega-3 supplements made from?

Vegan omega-3 supplements can be made from a variety of sources, including flaxseed oil, hemp oil and walnuts. But the most effective vegan omega-3 supplements which provide high levels of both DHA and EPA, are made from algae. The algae are grown in controlled environments and then harvested, ensuring it is a pure source of vegan omega-3.

Are vegan omega-3 supplements effective?

Vegan omega-3 supplements go straight to the source of omega-3, algae. They grow this and extract the fatty acids in controlled environments so that they can deliver highly potent pure sources of omega-3. So yes, vegan omega-3 supplements which use algae are very effective. They are also much purer than fish-based omega-3 supplements. This is because fish oils contain toxins and other nasties that they may have ingested from our polluted seas.

Here are the best vegan omega-3 supplements

Whilst I’d say we could all just start eating a lot more seaweed, it is difficult to know how much you’d be consuming and you may get a little sick of the taste. So, I would recommend checking out a vegan omega-3 supplement brand to ensure you get the required daily dose to keep your brain healthy!

DR.VEGAN

• Nutrition: 150mg EPA & 300mg DHA per serving
• Form: Softgel capsule
• Serving: 2 capsules a day
• Packaging: Compostable packaging with a reusable aluminium tin
• Price: From £18.69 for 1 month supply

DR.VEGAN are a fully vegan company and not only do they show this in their brand name, they also provide a lot of helpful content for plant-based diets on their website. Find out more in my DR.VEGAN review.

It is also the only good quality vegan omega-3 supplement that is free from carrageenan (a type of seaweed that is used as a gelatin alternative), which is getting a bit of a bad rep at the moment. But it is important to note that there is absolutely no legit scientific proof that carrageenan is unsafe to consume (read what this food scientist has to say).

They use high-strength and highly absorbable sources of omega-3 that are grown in controlled environments, so you can be sure they are full of what they say they are. Each serving is made up of 150mg EPA and 300mg DHA, which is above the recommended daily amount.

Whilst they do state that their packaging is compostable, it does still contain bioplastics which are definitely a lot better than traditional plastic, but they do need to be composted at controlled higher temperatures in order to truly decompose. So you won’t be able to do this in your garden.

Ethical Nutrition

• Nutrition: 140mg EPA & 420mg DHA per serving
• Form: Softgel capsule
• Serving: 2 capsules a day
• Packaging: Recyclable glass jar & aluminium lid
• Price: From £18.70 for 1 month supply

Ethical Nutrition is a family-run business with a fully vegan range of vitamins and supplements, including these high-strength vegan omega-3 soft gel supplements made using algae. Find out more in my Ethical Nutrition review.

They use natural high-quality sources of algae grown in controlled environments, so no nasty toxins will make their way into these! It is the highest purity DHA I’ve seen per serving, which is awesome. And they also assure me that it is highly absorbable as it is in triglyceride form. They have a really neutral taste, so nothing fishy here!

I have been taking these for a few months now and my hair is noticeably shinier, my skin is experiencing fewer eczema breakouts and my mind feels less foggy!

Ethical Nutrition is also really conscious about its packaging, which is completely plastic-free (and no bio-plastics either!). The omega-3 comes packaged inside a glass jar. You can easily reuse these to make homemade jams, store things, or simply recycle.

Feel

• Nutrition: 150mg EPA & 300mg DHA per serving
• Form: Capsule
• Serving: 2 capsules a day
• Packaging: Compostable packaging
• Price: From £14.95 for 1 month supply

Feel is a fully vegan supplement company specialising in vitamins and shakes, as well as these vegan omega-3 capsules. Their EPA and DHA levels are similar to other brands. But the thing that sets them apart is their capsule choice.

They come inside a capsule that is really easy to open, just in case you prefer to mix the supplement in with your food or drinks. Unlike the soft gel capsules used by other brands, this standard pill capsule also makes their supplement carrageenan-free. Plus it is quite slimline so it is easier to swallow.

They are quite affordable if you subscribe on a monthly basis. I have tried their subscription service myself and found it really easy to pause and cancel when needed. Their one-off purchase is also very affordable in comparison to other brands.

Get 20% off your order with code: PARTNER20

Nothing Fishy

• Nutrition: 400mg DHA per serving
• Form: Softgel capsule
• Serving: 2 capsules a day
• Packaging: Compostable packaging with a reusable glass jar
• Price: From £16 for 1 month supply

Nothing Fishy is a plant-based nutrition company specialising in algae-based supplements. Currently, this includes a vegan omega-3 supplement and a vitamin D3 supplement. Find out more in my Nothing Fishy review.

Their plant-based algae omega-3 supplement only contains DHA, so if you need EPA then this won’t be for you. Each soft gel capsule contains 200mg of DHA and it is recommended you take two a day, but if you consume plenty of other vegan omega-3 food sources then you could take just one.

You can buy a glass jar with your first purchase or you can buy the supplements in a refill pouch, which is cheaper.

Discount – get 10% off your first purchase with code: HELLO10

Ritual

• Nutrition: 330mg DHA per serving
• Form: Capsule
• Serving: 2 capsules a day
• Packaging: Recycled plastic bottles that can be recycled
• Price: £33 for 1 month supply

Ritual is a subscription-based supplement company that is 100% plant-based with a focus on using only traceable high-quality ingredients. Included in their offering is a vegan multivitamin that includes a daily dose of algal oil. Find out more in my Ritual review.

They have been really clever in getting the algal oil inside the capsule. Since it is a liquid and the other vitamins come in a dry powdered format this is normally impossible to pull off. But they’ve created a patented beadlet technology that allows the powdered vitamins to sit amongst the oil. Pretty cool, right?

Considering that many people take both a multivitamin and an omega-3 supplement it is pretty nifty getting both in one, and what with the ingredients being of high quality the price is really reasonable! You can definitely spend more buying both of these items separately.

Vegums

• Nutrition: 80mg DHA per serving
• Form: Gummy
• Serving: 1 gummy a day
• Packaging: Compostable packaging
• Price: From £15.16 for 1 month supply

Vegums is a fully vegan-certified company specialising in vegan vitamins in gummy form. These vegan omega-3 gummies are orange-flavoured and low in sugar, but still sweet enough to enjoy. They also contain some Vitamin E for an extra immunity boost.

I find them really enjoyable to eat and the fact that they are in gummy form means that I never forget to take them. Making them perfect for kids, and adults too!

They do however have the lowest potency of omega-3. But they do this because many of us will get enough converted ALA from the food we eat.

Vivo Life

• Nutrition: 300mg EPA & 600mg DHA per serving
• Form: Liquid
• Serving: 2ml a day
• Packaging: Recyclable glass jar with plastic lid
• Price: £30.99 for 1 month supply

If you’d prefer to ditch the capsules altogether, along with the health risks of carrageenan (an ingredient used in most omega-3 capsule supplements), then you’ll be really interested in this liquid vegan omega-3 supplement from Vivo Life.

Simply take 2ml of the liquid every day to get a high dose of both EPA and DHA. I like to put mine straight under my tongue and then swig a glass of orange juice (which has some mushroom supplements mixed in).

The best bit about liquid supplements like these is the flexibility they offer. If you want a slightly higher dose, then no problem, simply squeeze out a little extra.

The only downside is the flavour. Algae oils taste like well, algae. So they have a somewhat ‘fishy’ taste, but I do find this particular liquid vegan omega-3 really palatable. They have mixed it in with a lemon flavouring which really complements it.

MYVEGAN

• Nutrition: 125mg EPA & 250mg DHA per serving
• Form: Softgel capsule
• Serving: 1 capsule a day
• Packaging: Recyclable plastic packaging
• Price: From £20.99 for 3 month supply

If you are looking for an affordable vegan omega-3 supplement then you’ll really like these by MYVEGAN, the huge vegan supplement company known for affordable vegan protein powders and snacks.

They are one of the only options that I have mentioned here that comes packaged inside plastic, but this is probably what makes these much more affordable than the rest. I do like that you can buy a 6-month supply that comes inside one plastic tub, which is amazing.

You only need to take one capsule a day which is great, but they are a bit larger than the rest. So they aren’t great for anyone who struggles to swallow pills. But there is no fishy aftertaste with these.