California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules vs Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules
California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules (#1, best overall) vs Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules (#2, best premium): in our Gentle Iron Supplements scoring the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules totals 8.9/10…
We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. Prices and availability shown are accurate as of Aug 5, 2026 and are subject to change; the merchant's price at purchase applies.
California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules
$8.02Check price at iHerbRead full review
TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules | Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.02 | $16 |
| Iron Form | Ferrous bisglycinate chelate | Ferrochel ferrous bisglycinate chelate |
| Elemental Iron | 36 mg | 25 mg |
| Vitamin C | None | None |
| Serving Size | 1 capsule | 1 capsule |
| Servings Per Container | 90 | 60 |
| Other Active Ingredients | None | None |
| Other Ingredients | Rice flour, hypromellose capsule, rice hulls, rice bran extract | Hypromellose capsule, microcrystalline cellulose, leucine, silicon dioxide |
| Testing / Certification | Product-specific iTested certificate linked by iHerb | NSF Certified for Sport |
How they differ in real use
Built from our gentle iron supplements scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules and the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules made our Top 5 Gentle Iron Supplements, at #1 (best overall) and #2 (best premium). It narrowly takes first because it combines a product-specific iTested certificate with the best active-ingredient value and a fully disclosed bisglycinate dose. Its 10,000+ recent sales also support buyer trust, but certification, form and value drive the rank. This has the strongest certification evidence and a research-aligned 25 mg dose, but its much higher cost per mg keeps it just behind the iTested California Gold product. Its 10,000+ recent sales reinforce the selection without overriding the weighted criteria.
We score gentle iron supplements on Third-Party Testing (30%), Form & Bioavailability (25%), Dose vs Research (20%), Label Transparency (15%) and Value (10%). On that basis the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules totals 8.9 out of 10 and the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules 8.8. The widest gap is Value, where the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules scores 10 against 4 for the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules — cost per unit of active ingredient. Third-Party Testing also separates them: 10 for the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules versus 9 for the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules. The Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules claws back ground on Dose vs Research.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Iron Form — Ferrous bisglycinate chelate on the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules versus Ferrochel ferrous bisglycinate chelate on the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules; Elemental Iron — 36 mg on the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules versus 25 mg on the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules; Servings Per Container — 90 on the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules versus 60 on the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules; Other Ingredients — Rice flour, hypromellose capsule, rice hulls, rice bran extract on the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules versus Hypromellose capsule, microcrystalline cellulose, leucine, silicon dioxide on the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules; Testing / Certification — Product-specific iTested certificate linked by iHerb on the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules versus NSF Certified for Sport on the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules. They match on Vitamin C, Serving Size and Other Active Ingredients.
Pricing as of August 5, 2026: $8.02 for the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules and $16 for the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules, a $7.98 difference in the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules's favor. Owners praise the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules for 36 mg elemental iron as ferrous bisglycinate chelate per capsule and the iHerb page links a product-specific iTested certificate; the most common complaint is no vitamin C appears on the Supplement Facts panel. Owners praise the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules for NSF Certified for Sport listing is product-specific and 25 mg elemental iron matches the bisglycinate dose used in the cited randomized pregnancy trial; the most common complaint is no vitamin C appears on the Supplement Facts panel.
California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules
- 36 mg elemental iron as ferrous bisglycinate chelate per capsule
- The iHerb page links a product-specific iTested certificate
- $8.02 for 90 servings, about $0.0025 per mg of elemental iron
- No vitamin C appears on the Supplement Facts panel
- The 36 mg serving is higher than the 25 mg bisglycinate dose used in the cited pregnancy trial
Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules
- NSF Certified for Sport listing is product-specific
- 25 mg elemental iron matches the bisglycinate dose used in the cited randomized pregnancy trial
- Single-active formula with four disclosed capsule excipients
- No vitamin C appears on the Supplement Facts panel
- $0.27 per serving is roughly three times the cost of the two value leaders
Which should you buy?
The California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules is the better fit for buyers prioritizing the lowest cost per mg of elemental iron and buyers wanting a public product-specific test document — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Value. The Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules is the better fit for competitive athletes who require a recognized sport certification and buyers prioritizing certification over bottle price, and the stronger choice if Third-Party Testing and Dose vs Research matter more to you than the overall score. Since the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules is both the higher scorer and $7.98 cheaper, the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules only makes sense for competitive athletes who require a recognized sport certification. The California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules is a poor fit for buyers specifically wanting vitamin C in the same capsule; the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules is a poor fit for budget-first shoppers.
Choose the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules if
- Buyers prioritizing the lowest cost per mg of elemental iron
- Buyers wanting a public product-specific test document
Skip it if
- Buyers specifically wanting vitamin C in the same capsule
- Anyone whose clinician recommends a lower elemental-iron dose
Choose the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules if
- Competitive athletes who require a recognized sport certification
- Buyers prioritizing certification over bottle price
Skip it if
- Budget-first shoppers
- Buyers wanting vitamin C in the same capsule
Common questions
Is the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules better than the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules?
In our Gentle Iron Supplements ranking the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules scores higher overall, 8.9 to 8.8, with the biggest advantage in Value. The Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules is stronger on Third-Party Testing and Dose vs Research, so it is the better pick if those matter most to you.
How much more does the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules cost than the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules?
$7.98 more as of August 5, 2026: $16 for the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules against $8.02 for the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure.
What is the main difference between the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules and the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules?
The headline spec difference is Iron Form: Ferrous bisglycinate chelate on the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules versus Ferrochel ferrous bisglycinate chelate on the Thorne, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg, 60 Capsules. In use, the gap that matters most is Value (10 vs 4 in our scoring): cost per unit of active ingredient.