Finding affordable, high-quality CBD capsules isn’t easy. Many cheap CBD capsules are of low quality and contain less CBD and other cannabinoids than advertised. Besides, it’s often difficult to tell the difference between reputable and subpar CBD brands.
To find the best, most affordable options, I looked at and tested over 40 products and compared their effects, third-party test reports, hemp source, potency customer reviews, price, and more.
Table of Contents
5 Best Cheap CBD Capsules
Check out my top picks for the best affordable CBD capsules and softgels below, broken down into helpful categories.
| Category | Product | Review | Price | $ per mg CBD |
| Best Overall | Lazarus Naturals Full Spectrum Softgels | Full review | $18-200 | $0.02-0.04 |
| Best THC-Free | R&R Broad Spectrum Capsules | Full review | $55 | $0.05 |
| Best Full-Spectrum | Upstate Elevator Full Spectrum Capsules | Full review | $44.99-99.99 | $0.03-0.08 |
| Strongest | Lazarus Naturals High-Potency Capsules | Full review | $110-220 | $0.01-0.02 |
| Best for Sleep | CBDfx Night Capsules | Full review | $64.99 | $0.04 |
CBD Terminology
- Hemp: cannabis variety with high CBD and low THC levels (no more than 0.3%).
- Terpenes: aromatic plant compounds with various beneficial properties (1).
- Minor cannabinoids: CBN, CBG, CBC, and other beneficial cannabinoids found in smaller amounts in hemp. They may work in synergy with CBD.
- Full-spectrum: whole-plant hemp extract containing multiple cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. This form of CBD is about four times more potent than pure CBD (2).
- Broad-spectrum: whole-plant hemp extract similar to full-spectrum CBD, but with THC removed (may contain trace amounts).
- CBD isolate: pure CBD without any other hemp compounds.
Lazarus Naturals Full Spectrum CBD Softgels (Best Overall)
| CBD Potency | 50 mg |
| Capsule Count | 10-200 |
| Total CBD | 500-10,000 mg |
| Cost per mg CBD | $0.02-0.04 |
| Type | Full-spectrum |
| Third-Party Tests | View report |
Pros:
- Exceptionally low price
- Full-spectrum CBD
- High-quality organic Oregon hemp source
Cons:
- None
The full-spectrum capsules from Lazarus Naturals cost only 2-4 cents per mg of CBD, depending on your chosen size. It’s hard to find full-spectrum CBD capsules of high quality at such a low price.
On top of that, Lazarus Naturals has an assistance program, and you can qualify for free shipping on orders over $50.
The softgels contain 50 mg of full-spectrum CBD sourced from organic hemp grown on the Lazarus Naturals farm in Central Oregon. They’re comprehensively tested at a third-party lab for potency and contaminants. Lazarus Naturals is a popular employee-owned company with some of the lowest prices in the CBD industry.
My experience: I took 2 softgels after eating and felt them kick in after an hour. I felt a subtle relaxed and uplifting feeling lasting for 4+ hours.
R&R Broad Spectrum CBD Capsules (Best THC-Free)
| CBD Potency | 30 mg |
| Capsule Count | 34 |
| Total CBD | 1020 mg |
| Cost per mg CBD | $0.05 |
| Type | Broad-spectrum |
| Third-Party Test | View report |
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Pros:
- U.S. Hemp Authority certified
- USDA-certified organic Colorado hemp source
Cons:
- Only one potency and bottle size
Broad-spectrum CBD capsules are ideal if you need to avoid THC. R&R’s softgels are affordable and rich in minor hemp cannabinoids and terpenes that synergize with CBD.
They’re sourced from USDA-certified organic hemp cultivated in Colorado and tested at a third-party lab to ensure they’re safe and potent. R&R is an employee and veteran-owned brand that’s certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority — a sign of strict quality standards.
My experience: I took two capsules during the day. The effects kicked in about an hour later, with noticeable relaxation and an improved mood that lasted for several hours.
Upstate Elevator Supply Co. Full Spectrum Capsules (Best Full-Spectrum)
| CBD Potency | 30-100 mg |
| Capsule Count | 30 |
| Total CBD | 900-3000 mg |
| Cost per mg CBD | $0.03-0.08 |
| Type | Full-spectrum |
| Third-Party Tests | View report |
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Pros:
- Multiple strengths
- USDA-organic certified
- High-quality Vermont hemp source
Cons:
- Only one container size
If you’re looking for the most effective & affordable full-spectrum CBD capsules, you won’t be disappointed by Upstate Elevator Supply Co.
Its full-spectrum CBD capsules contain high levels of beneficial minor cannabinoids. You can choose from 30 mg, 50 mg, and 75 mg strengths. There’s also a unique raw formula with 100 mg CBD and its parent molecule cannabidiolic acid (CBDa). Better yet, these capsules are certified organic by the USDA.
Depending on the strength and type you choose, they cost only 3 to 5 cents per mg of CBD. You also get free shipping on orders over $49. Upstate Elevator Supply Co. is a CBD company that developed its own hemp cultivars specifically for Vermont.
My experience: I tried out the 100 mg raw formula, which were some of the strongest CBD capsules I’ve tested. One capsule had potent relaxing effects and felt more uplifting than standard CBD capsules.
Lazarus Naturals High-Potency CBD Capsules (Strongest)
| CBD Potency | 100-200 mg |
| Capsule Count | 40-100 |
| Total CBD | 4000-20,000 mg |
| Cost per mg CBD | $0.01-0.02 |
| Type | Full-spectrum |
| Third-Party Tests | View report |
Pros:
- Very potent
- Exceptionally low price
- Full-spectrum CBD
- High-quality organic Oregon hemp source
Cons:
- None
For those who need the most potent CBD capsules, I again recommend Lazarus Naturals. Its high-potency full-spectrum capsules have an exceptionally high strength of 100-200 mg CBD per capsule. These are the strongest CBD capsules I’ve come across.
You can get them in bottles of 40 or 100. Depending on the strength and size you choose, these capsules cost only 1-2 cents per mg of CBD, a ridiculously low price for such a potent, high-quality product.
CBDfx Night Capsules (Best for Sleep)
| CBD/CBN Potency | 30 mg |
| Capsule Count | 60 |
| Total CBD/CBN | 1800 mg |
| Cost per mg CBD | $0.04 |
| Type | Broad-spectrum |
| Third-Party Tests | View report |
Pros:
- Added sleep-supporting ingredients
- Comprehensive third-party testing
- Organic Kentucky hemp source
Cons:
- Not full-spectrum
If you’re looking for cheap CBD capsules to help with sleep, I recommend CBDfx. Its Night capsules provide 15 mg of broad-spectrum CBD with 15 mg of cannabinol (CBN), a minor cannabinoid touted for its sleep benefits.
They also contain terpenes and other natural ingredients that may help with sleep, including valerian root (3), GABA (4), and magnesium (5). You get 60 capsules per bottle at a below-average price of $0.04 per mg of cannabinoids.
CBDfx is a popular brand out of California whose products are made from organic Kentucky hemp. It also provides comprehensive third-party test results.
My experience: I took six capsules before bed and slept better that night, waking up less and feeling rested the next morning. They had a noticeable herbal smell. But I also got diarrhea from the magnesium, so I don’t recommend taking that many capsules at a time.
How to Save Money On CBD Capsules
You can save big on CBD capsules and other CBD products with a little research. For starters, you need to determine their value by dividing the product price by the total amount of CBD.
For example, $30 capsules with 500 mg CBD cost 30/500 = $0.06 per milligram (mg) of CBD. You can use this calculation to compare the value of different CBD capsules. This also helps you see if your price is considered cheap, average, or expensive.
The average price for CBD capsules is about $0.09 per mg of CBD. Since $0.06 per mg is significantly lower than that, it’s considered a cheap price.
Aside from that, you can also save money on CBD capsules by using coupon codes, free shipping deals, subscriptions, and discounts for larger or multiple containers.
How To Choose CBD Capsules
The capsules I reviewed above offer top-notch quality at a low price. You may be able to find cheaper capsules from other brands but I doubt they’ll have the same stellar reputation as the brands I looked at.
The CBD industry is not strongly regulated, so it’s worth paying slightly more to make sure that you’re getting a high-quality product that’s safe and contains as much CBD and other cannabinoids as advertised.
I used the following criteria to find high-quality CBD capsules are an affordable price:
- Effects (comparing the effectiveness of different products and choosing the best ones)
- Third-party test results (to verify the CBD content and lack of contaminants)
- Type of CBD (to get the best effects)
- Potency (to get the best effects)
- Hemp source (to get a high-quality product)
- Company reputation (to verify the company can be trusted)
- Price (to get a good deal)
- Formula (for specific benefits)
Keep reading for a full explanation of how to use these criteria to find the best CBD capsules.
Look for Third-Party Tested Brands
Third-party tests are done by an independent lab not associated with the CBD company. These tests verify that a CBD product is safe and accurate by checking:
- Potency: the levels of CBD and other cannabinoids
- Purity: measuring for pesticides, heavy metals, and other potential contaminants
Reputable CBD companies pay for these tests and post the results online so that customers can confirm they’re getting what they paid for.
You should only buy from third-party tested brands. It’s even better to look at the test results to ensure they match up with the product label (I do this for all products I review).
Consider the Type of CBD
As I mentioned earlier in the article, you’ll come across three types of CBD: isolate, full-spectrum, and broad-spectrum.
Research suggests that whole-plant extracts, like full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD, are up to four times more effective than CBD isolate (2).
That’s why I recommend using full-spectrum CBD products whenever possible. However, if you need to avoid THC, you can use broad-spectrum or isolate products.
Choose a Potency
Also known as strength, potency is the amount of CBD per capsule. Roughly speaking, CBD capsules can be divided into three potency levels:
- Low: 5-20 mg
- Medium: 20-50 mg
- High: 50+ mg
Ideally, you want to match your CBD dosage to capsules with the right potency.
However, capsules are weaker than CBD oil because CBD has low oral bioavailability (6). That’s why I usually recommend high-potency capsules for everyone except CBD beginners.
Check the Hemp Source
Since CBD is extracted from hemp, you want to be sure that hemp is of high quality and grown in the proper conditions. Look for brands that clearly explain where and how their hemp is cultivated.
Most hemp used for CBD production is grown in Colorado, Oregon, and Kentucky, although other states such as Vermont and New York are also good. European countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands are also solid sources because they have a long history of hemp cultivation.
The best-case scenario is companies that directly grow and extract their hemp since that gives them more control over quality. USDA organic certification is another good indicator of hemp quality.
Company Reputation
Transparency and trustworthiness are good indicators of a high-quality CBD company. Look for brands with positive customer reviews and readily available third-party lab test results. I also recommend checking the website for information about the manufacturing process, the people behind the brand, and other helpful details.
Price
The average price for CBD capsules is about 9-10 cents per mg of CBD. Since you’re looking for cheap capsules, you should look for products that cost less than that per mg. The products I recommend are well below this price, especially if you buy the higher strength options.
Formula
If you’re taking CBD for specific goals, you may want to consider using capsules with added ingredients. For example, some brands sell CBD capsules for sleep with added CBN and calming herbs like valerian and chamomile.
CBD Capsules Dosage
No single CBD dosage will work for everyone. It depends on many factors, like how much you weigh and your genetics. If you’re new to CBD, follow the “start low and go slow” recommended by medical experts (7). Start with the weakest capsule dose and see how it affects you for the next two hours.
If you don’t notice any effects, gradually increase the dosage over time, taking more capsules or trying a product with higher potency.
References
- Russo, Ethan B. “Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid‐terpenoid entourage effects.” British journal of pharmacology 163.7 (2011): 1344-1364.
- Pamplona, Fabricio A., Lorenzo Rolim da Silva, and Ana Carolina Coan. “Potential clinical benefits of CBD-rich cannabis extracts over purified CBD in treatment-resistant epilepsy: observational data meta-analysis.” Frontiers in neurology 9 (2018): 759.
- Bent, Stephen, et al. “Valerian for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” The American journal of medicine 119.12 (2006): 1005-1012.
- Byun, Jung-Ick, et al. “Safety and efficacy of gamma-aminobutyric acid from fermented rice germ in patients with insomnia symptoms: a randomized, double-blind trial.” Journal of Clinical Neurology 14.3 (2018): 291-295.
- Abbasi, Behnood, et al. “The effect of magnesium supplementation on primary insomnia in elderly: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.” Journal of research in medical sciences: the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences 17.12 (2012): 1161.
- Millar, Sophie A., et al. “A systematic review on the pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol in humans.” Frontiers in pharmacology 9 (2018): 1365.
- Lucas, Catherine J., Peter Galettis, and Jennifer Schneider. “The pharmacokinetics and the pharmacodynamics of cannabinoids.” British journal of clinical pharmacology 84.11 (2018): 2477-2482.
Gleb is a freelance writer from Vancouver, Canada specializing in CBD and cannabis. He’s read thousands of studies on CBD and other supplements, helping him translate complex science into plain language. Gleb has tried and reviewed dozens of CBD brands and products, written third-party testing reports, and knows the CBD industry inside and out. When not writing, he likes to kickbox, travel, and tell everyone how awesome intermittent fasting is.
