Before you buy
Both products are single-source hydrolyzed bovine collagen. That is the headline most comparison shoppers miss. The marketing differs more than the powder does.
So the real decision is not "which collagen is better quality." It is which packaging, certification, and form fits your routine – and whether either is worth more than a no-name peptide that delivers the same 20 grams.
If you want a powder you can buy at almost any grocery store, with a separate version that carries a banned-substance certification, Vital Proteins is the safer default. If you would rather have the shortest possible ingredient list, or you want fish-derived collagen instead of cow, Further Food gives you both.
One honest caveat before we get into specifics. The skin and joint research on hydrolyzed collagen is promising but not settled, and the strongest results tend to show up when peptides are paired with vitamin C. We will come back to that, because it changes which tub makes sense for you.
What each one is, and what differs
Both brands start from the same raw material – grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine hide – and hydrolyze it into short peptides that dissolve in hot or cold liquid.
Where they split is on simplicity and form:
- Further Food Unflavored is one ingredient: hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides, sourced from pasture-raised cattle (the brand describes South American sourcing). Type 1 and Type 3, no additives.
- Vital Proteins sells two relevant powders. The classic retail tub – the version most stores and Amazon carry, and the one carded here – is still single-ingredient bovine collagen. The brand also sells a separate "Collagen Peptides Advanced" line that adds hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, plus an NSF Certified for Sport version of the single-ingredient collagen.
That split matters more than it sounds. For pure single-ingredient peptides, just choose the standard unflavored Collagen Peptides – or the NSF Sport tub if you are drug-tested; skip the Advanced line if you do not want the extras.
Further Food also offers something Vital Proteins does not push as hard: a wild-caught marine collagen from North Atlantic cod, with Type 1, 2, and 3 peptides. That marine line has done well in independent product roundups for taste and solubility.
Collagen per scoop and type breakdown
On the number that actually matters – grams of collagen per serving – these two are a near tie.
| Dimension | Further Food (bovine, unflavored) | Vital Proteins (bovine) |
|---|---|---|
| Collagen per serving | About 20 g per scoop | 20 g per two-scoop serving (18 g protein) |
| Collagen types | Type 1 and 3 | Type 1 and 3 |
| Source | Grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine hide | Grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine hide |
| Ingredient list (basic tub) | 1 ingredient (collagen only) | 1 in the standard unflavored Collagen Peptides tub (and the NSF Sport tub); 3 in the separate Advanced line (collagen + hyaluronic acid + vitamin C) |
| Marine option | Yes, wild-caught cod (Type 1, 2, 3) | Limited, not the headline product |
| Third-party testing | Brand-stated lab verification, cGMP, purity tested | NSF Certified for Sport on the dedicated SKU |
The practical read: at 20 grams either way, you are getting a clinically reasonable daily dose from both. The type profile is identical for the bovine versions, so do not let "Type 1 and 3" marketing decide it for you.
One quirk worth flagging. Vital Proteins counts its 20 grams as a two-scoop serving, so a tub empties faster than the scoop count suggests. Read the serving size, not just the scoop.
Cost per serving compared
This is where most people expect a clear winner, and there mostly is not one.
As of writing, Further Food lists around $25 for a 10 oz tub (14 servings) and about $50 for 21 oz (30 servings) on its own site. That works out to roughly $1.65 to $1.80 per 20 g serving. Check current price, since direct-brand pricing shifts with promotions.
Vital Proteins runs about $30 for the 9.33 oz tub and around $50 for the 20 oz (roughly 27 to 28 servings), which lands near $1.50 to $1.80 per serving depending on size and where you buy. Again, confirm current price.
So on cost per gram of collagen, they are within pennies of each other. Neither is a "value" pick in the larger market.
Here is the honest part: a plain, NSF-tested bovine peptide from a value brand often runs closer to $0.80 to $1.10 per 20 g serving. If your only goal is grams of collagen and a clean test report, you can pay meaningfully less than either of these names.
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If you are deciding purely on price, our roundup of the cheapest Vital Proteins alternatives on Amazon walks through several bovine peptides that match the dose for less.
Mixability, taste, and certifications
Both dissolve cleanly in hot coffee and reasonably well in cold water, which is the bar for unflavored bovine peptides. Neither has a strong taste when mixed properly; the "fishy" complaint people remember is usually about marine collagen, not these bovine powders.
If you go marine for the lower environmental footprint or because you do not eat beef, expect a slightly higher price and a faint scent. Further Food's cod-based marine line is the one that tends to score well on that front.
On certifications, the difference is real and worth weighing:
- Vital Proteins offers an NSF Certified for Sport version. That program screens for banned substances and verifies label accuracy, which matters if you are a tested athlete. You can confirm a product's status on the official NSF Certified for Sport product listing.
- Further Food states its powder is independently lab-verified for purity and made in cGMP facilities, but it does not carry an NSF Sport certification that we could verify. That is a brand claim, not an independent sport-tested mark.
For most non-athletes, brand-stated purity testing plus cGMP manufacturing is acceptable. If you get drug-tested, choose the Vital Proteins NSF Sport tub specifically and verify the lot.
Does collagen even work, and how to dose it
Worth a reality check before you commit to either tub. Hydrolyzed collagen is absorbed as small peptides and can reach the skin, and several randomized trials report improvements in skin elasticity and hydration.
But the evidence is mixed rather than conclusive, as the broader literature summarized in this systematic review of oral collagen for skin makes clear. Study quality varies, and many trials are industry-funded.
One consistent thread: results tend to be stronger when collagen is paired with vitamin C, which your body needs to build collagen. A frequently cited randomized trial of collagen peptides plus vitamins found elasticity gains with that combination.
That tilts a small edge to Vital Proteins' separate Advanced line, which adds vitamin C and hyaluronic acid – though the standard tub linked above does not include them. With Further Food's single-ingredient powder, just take it alongside a vitamin C source – citrus, berries, or a cheap supplement – and you have closed the gap for almost nothing.
For background on choosing between fish-derived and cattle-derived peptides, see our guide to the best marine collagen powder for skin, which covers when paying the marine premium is and is not worth it.
How they stack up against other big names
These two are not the only default collagens worth knowing. Sports Research is the other heavyweight people cross-shop, and it often undercuts both on price while keeping the same single-ingredient bovine formula.
If you are weighing the broader field, our Vital Proteins vs Sports Research comparison breaks down where the cheaper option matches and where it does not. And if you are open to multi-type or ancient-style blends, the Sports Research vs Ancient Nutrition matchup covers that fork.
The short version: Further Food and Vital Proteins are both fine, neither is the cheapest, and a couple of competitors deliver the same 20 grams for less.
FAQ
Is Further Food or Vital Proteins better for skin? Neither has a clear advantage for skin, because both are 20 g of Type 1 and 3 bovine peptides. Vital Proteins' separate Advanced line adds vitamin C, which the evidence links to better collagen synthesis, but you can add vitamin C to either standard tub yourself for pennies.
Which is cheaper per serving? They are nearly identical, roughly $1.50 to $1.80 per 20 g serving as of writing. Vital Proteins is sometimes a touch cheaper in larger tubs, but a value-brand bovine peptide undercuts both. Check current prices before buying.
Is Further Food collagen third-party tested? Further Food states its collagen is independently lab-verified for purity and made in cGMP facilities. That is a brand-reported claim rather than an NSF Certified for Sport mark, so tested athletes should choose the Vital Proteins NSF Sport version instead.
Does Vital Proteins have hyaluronic acid? Yes – Vital Proteins sells a separate "Collagen Peptides Advanced" line that adds hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. The standard unflavored Collagen Peptides tub is still single-ingredient collagen, so if you want pure peptides just pick that (or the NSF Sport version if you are drug-tested).
Is the marine collagen worth paying more for? Only if you avoid beef or want a lower footprint. Marine and bovine peptides show comparable results in skin trials when dosed equally, and marine usually costs more per gram. Further Food’s wild-caught cod marine line is the better-reviewed option if you go that route.
How much collagen should I take per day? Most skin and joint studies use roughly 10 to 20 g daily, so one serving of either product is a reasonable dose. Consistency over weeks matters more than the exact gram count, and pairing it with vitamin C may help.
The verdict
Stripped of marketing, these are the same kind of powder: clean, grass-fed bovine peptides at about 20 grams a serving, priced within pennies of each other.
Choose Vital Proteins if you value easy availability, want an NSF Certified for Sport option, or like that the Advanced tub builds in vitamin C and hyaluronic acid. Choose Further Food if you want the shortest ingredient list possible, or you specifically want a well-reviewed marine collagen.
And the honest call: if your only goal is grams of collagen per dollar, skip both at full price. A plain NSF-tested bovine peptide does the same job for less. Your next step is simple – decide whether certification, simplicity, or marine matters to you, then buy the one tub that fits and take it daily with a little vitamin C.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before starting a new supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or managing a health condition.
Reviewed by the UsefulVitamins Editorial Team.
