The 7 Best Vegan Vitamin D Supplements in 2026

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Vitamin D, just like Vitamin B12, is one of the most essential supplements one can purchase. Not only because there is little vitamin D present in vegan foods, but because there is evidence showing that 50% of the worldwide population appears to have insufficient vitamin D levels.

If you live in a country where the climate is not sunny, then the intake of a vitamin D supplement may be necessary to prevent a potential deficiency.

In this article, not only am I going to look at some of the best vegan vitamin D supplements in the market, but I’ll also look at their importance, as well as some factors to consider before acquiring a vegan vitamin D supplement.

7 Best Vegan Vitamin D Supplements

Future Kind Vegan Vitamin D

Future Kind is one of my favorite brands.

Because it’s 100% vegan, they’ve created products that are aligned with what the research says about vegans’ specific nutritional needs.

For this supplement, they’ve included vitamin D3 derived from lichen, a plant compound born from the symbiosis relationship between algae and fungi, which organically occurs in nature. 

I’ve taken one serving of 1000 IU per day for 1-2 years, but that didn’t work out for me, particularly because my vitamin D analysis resulted in me having inadequate vitamin D levels. Therefore, I basically took two servings of that same supplement (2000 IU) for several weeks, which fixed the issue.

Future Kind’s vitamin D supplement contains 2500 IU per serving, which means it’s more potent, so you also have a better chance of maintaining healthy vitamin D levels or increasing low vitamin D levels.

The capsules are made from vegetable cellulose, which is a type of insoluble fiber that is extracted from plants, namely tree bark, in a sustainable and eco-friendly fashion.

While this isn’t the cheapest supplement in the market, we also have to consider that lichen is not the cheapest source.

That said, Future Kind lets you save 15% along with free shipping if you subscribe to their auto-delivery service, so they deliver a bottle of vitamin D3 to your doorstep every 1 or 2 months.

Keep in mind that each bottle comes with 30 servings, so 30 days are usually how long it lasts.

Recommended Read: The Best Vegan Multivitamins

Ora Organic Vegan Vitamin D

Ora Organic is a highly transparent and reputable supplement brand that emphasizes the notion that clean, organic, and vegan products are the future.

Each serving of Ora Organic’s vitamin D contains 50 mcg (2000 IU); also a generous dose akin to Future Kind’s formula.

Studies suggest that taking more vitamin D than the minimum set may offer health benefits other than bone health, including improved mental health, particularly in people with depression.

Ora Organic’s tablets are made of organic tapioca maltodextrin, which is obtained by using a water-based enzyme process that leads to a more sustainable final product.

Besides containing vitamin D3 derived from lichen (one that is more effective at increasing vitamin D levels), Ora Organic’s vitamin D also contains organic tapioca starch, a starch extracted from cassava root that is naturally rich in dietary fiber and helps fuel the good bacteria in the gut.

However, this isn’t a particularly cheap supplement considering the benefits, but you can reduce the cost by either buying in bulk or subscribing to receive them on a regular schedule.

Buying in bulk lets you save up to 10%, but subscribing will allow you to save 20%.

MyVegan Vegan Vitamin D

This vitamin D supplement by MyVegan is actually one that I’ve ordered before, mostly because it’s an affordable option that is available for those located in Europe.

Despite its affordability, the quality of the supplement is top-notch, starting with the tiny and soft vegan gel capsules that are a breeze to swallow.

Each capsule contains 25 mcg (1000 IU) and you can choose between a bottle of 60 capsules or 180 capsules.

Even though ordering 60 capsules is more appealing because it’s cheaper, ordering 180 capsules will allow you to drive down the cost per serving, which means you would save more money in the medium & long term.

The supplement itself is certified by the Vegetarian Society (yes, it’s vegan), and although it doesn’t contain organic ingredients, it’s a pretty clean formula.

It doesn’t have any ingredients that would raise a red flag from an animal cruelty or environmental point of view.

Recommended Read: The Best Vegan Probiotics for Optimal Gut Health

Naturelo Vegan Vitamin D

Naturelo has formulated a vitamin D supplement made from wild-harvested lichen with enhanced bioavailability from the cholecalciferol active form of D3.

This supplement comes with 180 easy-to-swallow capsules, each one with 62.5 mcg (2500 IU) of vitamin D, which means you don’t have to take them every single day.

With that being said, the supplement is very affordable at $0.11 per serving, a cost that can be reduced if you subscribe to their scheduled delivery service.

Naturelo is a highly reputable brand that is certainly superior to many name brands, and if you check its other products on Amazon, you’ll notice that they have tons of positive customer feedback.

In other words, their products are high-quality as people keep coming back for more.

Sports Research Vegan Vitamin D3

Out of all the products in this list, Sports Research vitamin D3 is probably the most affordable vegan vitamin D3 supplement, and they’re a best-seller on Amazon.

The Vitamin D3 in their product is also sourced from sustainably harvested lichen, one of the most bioavailable forms of vitamin D you can consume.

Their veggie capsules are very small and easy to swallow.

It comes with 5000 IU per serving, which is a pretty high dose, but it also means you don’t have to take it every day, which is significantly more convenient than vitamin D supplements with relatively smaller doses. 

This supplement is also free from major allergens like soy, peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat. You won’t find any GMOs either.

Mykind Organic Vegan Vitamin D

A more reputable brand than Garden of Life is hard to find; their products are certified organic by the USA, free from GMOs, and they oftentimes contain a blend of whole foods to amp up nutritional content.

This particular supplement contains vitamin D3 derived from lichen, but it also contains a blend of omega-rich oils, including organic pumpkin seed oil and organic cranberry seed oil.

The combination of these two oils provides users with omega-3, 6, 7, and 9, which seems to account for vegan diet needs, especially for those that cannot meet the ALA requirements.

One serving provides users with 25 mcg (1000 IU) of vitamin D3, and each bottle of this supplement contains approximately 125 sprays.

Garden of Life’s supplements are not the most affordable, but you can significantly reduce their price by subscribing to their recurring delivery service.

Mary Ruth’s Organic Vegan Vitamin D

Mary Ruth’s vegan vitamin D3 supplement is an excellent alternative for those that aren’t fond of swallowing pills or tablets but would like to munch on something sweet.

Their supplement also contains vitamin D3 derived from lichen and is formulated using organic ingredients, organic cane sugar, and organic tapioca syrup to confer the product with its sweetness.

One bottle of Mary Ruth’s vitamin D3 comes with 60 servings, which should suffice for two months of daily intake.

Mary Ruth’s vitamin D is naturally flavored with fruits, including orange, strawberry, and lemon; but it’s not excessively sweet. In fact, each gummy contains 1g of sugar.

You can save 10% by applying to their subscription, where you can choose the frequency at which the product is delivered (every 30, 45, 60, or 90 days).

Recommended Read: The Best Vegan Gummy Bears

What is Vitamin D?

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in a few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement.

It is also produced naturally when ultraviolet UV) rays strike our skin, triggering the production of vitamin D.

Vitamin D is important for several reasons.

It promotes calcium absorption in the gut and maintains adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations which enable normal bone mineralization and prevent hypocalcemic tetany (a condition that leads to the involuntary contraction of muscles, causing you to have spasms and painful cramps).

Without adequate levels of vitamin D, your bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen. In other words, vitamin D is important to reduce the risk of bone fracture, as well as health conditions like osteoporosis.

Vitamin D is also important for other bodily functions, such as:

• Reducing inflammation
• Modulation of cell growth
• Regulating immune function
• and regulating glucose metabolism.

If you want to be healthy, having adequate Vitamin D levels is absolutely crucial.

Recommended Read: Best Vegan Calcium Supplements

Vitamin D2

Vitamin D can be divided into two forms.

One of those forms is D2 (or ergocalciferol), which is mostly present in plants/fungus like mushrooms, fortified foods, and dietary supplements.

Since D2 is the cheapest one to produce, it is typically the one you will find in fortified foods.

However, according to the evidence, vitamin D2 may not be as effective as vitamin D3 in increasing vitamin D levels, especially when taken in high doses.

When taken in low doses on a recurrent basis vitamin D2 appears to be equally effective.

Despite being cheaper, it is becoming increasingly rare to find D2 supplements, probably due to marketing campaigns suggesting that D3 is superior.

Vitamin D3

Vitamin D3 is generally found in animal foods, but it’s also the type of vitamin D our organism creates when it is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays.

If you spend time outdoors you probably won’t require a vitamin D supplement, but that is also dependent on the climate in your country.

For example, an estimation suggests that Indians only need to spend half an hour of midday twice a week to obtain an adequate amount of vitamin D.

However, this duration of exposure does not apply to countries farther away from the equator. In these countries, you may have to spend more time exposed to sunlight to obtain adequate levels of vitamin D.

With that being said, the reality is that many people get little sun exposure. They either work indoors or live in a country where there’s limited sunlight during the winter.

If this is you, then it might be a good idea to consider taking a vitamin D supplement to meet the recommended levels.

Does vegan vitamin D3 exist?

Vegan vitamin D3 exists and one of the most popular sources of D3 is lichen.

Lichen is a unique species that consists of a symbiotic relationship between a “fungus partner” and an “algae partner”.

It’s found on mountainsides, rocks, and trees in wide abundance.

It’s a natural source of vitamin D3 with no negative effects on the environment.

Do vegans get enough Vitamin D?

An Epic Oxford study found that vegans had the lowest amount of vitamin D levels of any diet group, but for all groups, the vitamin D levels were lower, on average, when measured during winter and spring compared to summer and autumn.

And although vegans had lower vitamin D levels than meat-eaters, their vitamin D levels would still be considered in the healthy range of 50 to 125 nmol/l according to the Institute of Medicine.

Vitamin D deficiency is something that affects 50% of the world’s population, where you will certainly find a mixed pool of dietary groups.

Indeed, vegans don’t have as many foods available that are naturally rich in vitamin D, but you can still find some fortified foods, and of course, vegan vitamin D supplements.

How much Vitamin D do vegans need?

The recommended vitamin D intake is bound to be the same for vegans and meat-eaters alike.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the values for vitamin D vary by age and sex, which is why they have laid out a table with the following recommended dietary allowances (RDA):

Age	Male	Female	Pregnancy	Lactation
0-12 months*	10 mcg (400 IU)	10 mcg (400 IU)
1–13 years	15 mcg (600 IU)	15 mcg (600 IU)
14–18 years	15 mcg (600 IU)	15 mcg (600 IU)	15 mcg (600 IU)	15 mcg (600 IU)
19–50 years	15 mcg (600 IU)	15 mcg (600 IU)	15 mcg (600 IU)	15 mcg (600 IU)
51–70 years	15 mcg (600 IU)	15 mcg (600 IU)
>70 years	20 mcg (800 IU)	20 mcg (800 IU)

Something to keep in mind is that these values may vary from country to country, and different guidelines may also be employed differently for other nutrients.

Also, the table above refers to daily intake.

What vegan foods contain Vitamin D?

Many vitamin D foods are derived from animals, but with the impending growth of veganism, we are bound to see more vitamin D-fortified foods popping up.

In fact, here are some of the best vegan sources of vitamin D:

• Mushrooms – These are the only edible natural plant source that contains vitamin D2, but they must be exposed to UV light so that they may produce vitamin D.
• Fortified plant milk – One cup of fortified soy milk contains about 2.9 mcg (116 IU) of vitamin D. However, this may vary depending on the brand you purchase, and the same can be said for the amount of calcium.
• Fortified cereals – Many breakfast cereals and brands of oatmeal are fortified with vitamin D, which will definitely vary between brands.
• Fortified orange juice – Not all orange juice is fortified with vitamin D, but those that contain vitamin D typically have about 2.4 mcg (96 IU) of vitamin D per serving.

Incorporating these types of foods into your diet is highly important, but if you live in a country where sun exposure is difficult to get, you can benefit from a supplement.

What to consider when shopping for Vitamin D

There are certainly a few things that you must consider before purchasing a bottle of vitamin D, including brand reputation, type of vitamin D, number of servings, vitamin D per serving, and price.

Let’s look at these different factors to determine which supplement you should be actually purchasing.

Brand reputation

Naturally, the reputation of the brand selling the supplement must be positive. For this to happen, there are a few things that we should look for, regardless of the product:

• There must be proof of positive reviews (which is the equivalent to happy customers).
• The positive reviews must be legitimate, which sometimes isn’t the case.
• The brand must be transparent about the ingredients used, which means it must be third-party tested by a laboratory or company with no affiliation.

Another thing to take into consideration is whether or not the brand has been around for a while.

Brands like Future Kind and Ora Organic have garnered their reputation through the years by winning the hearts of customers that love vegan, ethical, clean, and sustainable supplements. It’s an example of a great brand reputation.

Type of vitamin D

We’ve learned in this article that two types of vitamin D exist: D2 and D3.

While they’re both absorbed equally into the bloodstream, they are metabolized differently by the liver, and vitamin D3 is thought to be a more effective way to increase vitamin D levels.

Despite the controversy, vitamin D2 also seems to increase vitamin D levels in people with vitamin D deficiency. (Vitamin D Part 1-Basics – Vegan Health)

The supremacy of vitamin D3 seems to happen when high doses of the vitamin are taken. When supplementing at low doses, for example in a daily dose, vitamin D2 seems to be just as effective. (book: O Vegetariano by Sandra Gomes Silva)

The price of D3 supplements is generally higher than that of D2.

Vitamin D per serving

The quantity of vitamin D per serving is very important.

On one hand, a supplement must contain at least the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) per serving or a serving that is higher than the daily value.

Personally, I purchase supplements that do not need to be taken daily but 2-3 times per week.

One serving of Ora Organic’s vitamin D contains 50 mcg (2000 IU), which means you might not have to take it every day since it contains 3x more than the recommended daily amount.

Number of servings and price

The number of servings and price often go hand in hand – a supplement with more servings is generally more expensive, but that isn’t always the case.

If you want to buy an affordable supplement, look at the price per serving.

Naturelo’s vitamin D costs $0.11 per serving, while Ora Organic’s vitamin D costs $0.57 per serving, which makes the latter significantly more expensive.

Bottom line

Out of all the vegan vitamin D3 products we have listed, the formula by Future Kind is our favorite.

Not only does it provide users with 2500 IU) of vitamin D3 per serving, which is way more than the daily recommended amount, but we also absolutely love the fact that they take into account other aspects of our health and thus opt for minimal ingredients while also avoiding major allergens.

Did I also mention they’re a 100% vegan brand that supports animal sanctuaries? This is also one of the reasons why Future Kind is among our favorite brands to support.

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Editor’s note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The content of our articles is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always best to speak with your doctor or a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, or exercise routine, or trying a new supplement.