Pregnacare Comparison: Original, Plus, Max or Liquid?
Pregnancy & nutrition / Buying guide
Four pregnancy supplements, different daily routines. Here's what you get, who each option may suit, and what to choose if swallowing tablets is difficult.
Our Pregnacare comparison starts with how you'll actually take it. Original is a one-tablet option; Plus adds a fish-oil DHA capsule; Max adds calcium and a second tablet. Liquid offers a measured daily dose if you'd rather avoid pills. The right choice depends on your diet, the supplements you've been advised to take and the routine you can manage.1238
Pregnacare is the UK's most trusted pregnancy supplement brand, according to Vitabiotics. Its published research reports that 39% of 500 mums and mums-to-be questioned in an April 2025 OnePoll survey trusted Pregnacare the most.411
Our recommendations at a glance
Our editorial pick within this shortlist if you want one tablet a day and do not need an included omega-3 capsule or a calcium supplement. It has the lowest checked single-pack daily cost here and provides 400µg folic acid plus 10µg vitamin D.1
Read the Original assessmentA practical option if you specifically want a fish-oil DHA capsule alongside your multinutrient tablet. Plus and Max both provide 300mg DHA per daily capsule; Max is not a higher-DHA upgrade.23
Read the Plus assessmentStruggling with tablets? Pregnacare Liquid is our format-based choice here: 10ml a day instead of pills. It doesn't include DHA, and we haven't tested its taste or whether it's easier to tolerate.8
Considering Max? Its clear extra is 500mg calcium per daily serving, but it involves three pills and a different folate formulation. Read the Max assessment before treating it as the automatic “best” option.
How we compared these supplements
We compared these four Vitabiotics products using their published labels, directions, pack sizes and listed prices. NHS and NICE guidance provide the UK health context; UKTIS helps explain folic acid and methylfolate, and the British Nutrition Foundation helps explain omega-3 and vitamin A.
These are reader-fit recommendations, not clinical rankings. We have not tested swallowing comfort, taste, nausea, absorption, batch purity or pregnancy outcomes, and we have not conducted a systematic review of customer feedback. Reviews and sales popularity cannot establish that a supplement is medically better.
- Label clarityWe compare amounts per recommended daily serving, not per individual pill or headline ingredient count.
- Practical useTablets versus liquid, daily pill count, storage, dietary suitability and allergy warnings can matter more than a premium name.
- UK relevanceWe distinguish manufacturer claims from NHS, NICE and specialist medicines guidance.
- Value for moneyWe use listed single-pack prices and divide by days supplied, without assuming everyone needs the extras.
Prices and labels retrieved on 12 November 2026. This is a focused comparison of Original, Plus, Max and Liquid, not a review of every pregnancy supplement or every product in the Pregnacare range.
Pregnacare comparison at a glance
All amounts below are per full recommended daily serving. Prices are manufacturer-listed single-pack prices before subscription or multi-buy offers, excluding any delivery charges; daily costs are rounded. Prices, packaging and formulations may change.
| Product | Daily serving and key nutrients | Pack and checked cost | Our editorial fit |
|---|---|---|---|
Pregnacare OriginalMultinutrient tabletView at Vitabiotics
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£6.55 / 30 tablets 30 days’ supply Approximately 22p per day.1 |
The simplest tablet routine and lowest checked daily cost in this four-product comparison. Vegetarian, but contains soya; see the nut/peanut warning below. |
Pregnacare PlusMultinutrients + fish oilView at Vitabiotics
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£14.95 / 56 pills 28 tablets + 28 capsules 28 days’ supply Approximately 53p per day.2 |
For someone who wants the included DHA capsule without Max’s added calcium or third pill. Contains fish and soya; not vegetarian. |
Pregnacare MaxCalcium + multinutrients + fish oilView at Vitabiotics
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£20.25 / 84 pills 56 tablets + 28 capsules 28 days’ supply Approximately 72p per day.3 |
Consider only if the extra calcium fits your needs and you accept three pills daily. Check the mixed-folate formulation with a pharmacist or maternity team. Contains fish and soya; not vegetarian. |
Pregnacare LiquidOrange-flavoured multinutrient liquidView at Vitabiotics
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£8.25 / 200ml 20 days' supply Approximately 41p per day.8 |
For someone who struggles with tablets or prefers a liquid. Vegetarian; contains sugar and maltitol. Needs refrigeration after opening and use within 6 weeks. |
*Max’s nutrition table labels the entry “Folic Acid 400µg”, provided by 200µg L-methylfolate and 200µg pteroylmonoglutamic acid (folic acid). We show that breakdown rather than presenting it as the same 400µg folic-acid formulation as Original, Plus and Liquid. NHS guidance specifically recommends folic acid; UKTIS does not recommend routine methylfolate in preference to folic acid.3578
The four products in detail
Pregnacare Original
Original combines 19 vitamins and minerals in one daily tablet, including 400µg folic acid, 10µg vitamin D, 17mg iron and 150µg iodine. It does not include a separate omega-3 capsule or a labelled nutritional dose of calcium.1
Who benefits most? Someone who wants a one-tablet multinutrient routine and has not been advised to add a specific supplement that this pack does not provide. Its main difference is simplicity, not a claim that it covers every person’s needs.
- Strengths: one pill daily, clearly stated folic acid and vitamin D amounts, and the lowest checked single-pack daily cost here. The manufacturer labels it suitable for vegetarians.
- Limitations: no included DHA capsule or nutritional calcium dose; it is not a treatment for anaemia or a replacement for prescribed high-dose folic acid. It contains soya and is specifically labelled unsuitable for people with nut/peanut allergies because of the manufacturing site.1
Our verdict: our starting recommendation within this shortlist when a basic multinutrient pack is what you want. Do not pay for more pills simply because another pack sounds more comprehensive.
View at VitabioticsPregnacare Plus
Plus pairs a multinutrient tablet with a fish-oil capsule supplying 300mg DHA and 60mg EPA. Its tablet provides the same listed amounts of folic acid, vitamin D, iron and iodine shown for Original in our comparison.2
Who benefits most? Someone who has decided, with appropriate advice, that they want a DHA supplement and prefers a combined pack. The reason to choose it is the included omega-3 capsule, not evidence from this comparison that it improves outcomes over Original.
- Strengths: a clearly measured DHA dose and the same 300mg DHA as Max, with one fewer pill each day. It avoids paying for Max’s added calcium if that is not something you need.
- Limitations: two pills a day and a higher checked daily cost than Original. It contains fish, soya and bovine-source gelatine, is not vegetarian, and carries a nut/peanut-allergy warning. There is no listed nutritional calcium dose.2
Our verdict: the clearer fit here for an included DHA capsule without stepping up to Max. It is not an appropriate fish-free or vegan omega-3 option.
View at VitabioticsPregnacare Max
Max adds 500mg calcium per two-tablet serving and includes an omega-3 capsule with 300mg DHA and 60mg EPA. It also contains additional ingredients, including inositol, L-arginine and N-acetyl cysteine. Their presence alone does not establish an extra clinical benefit for you.3
Who benefits most? Someone whose maternity team or dietitian has helped identify a reason to consider added calcium and who is comfortable with three pills daily. A particular dietary gap is a better reason to consider Max than the word “maximum”.
- Strengths: a stated 500mg calcium dose in the pack, alongside DHA, iron, iodine and vitamin D. This makes it materially different from Original and Plus rather than just a larger box.
- Limitations: the highest checked daily cost and pill count here, with the same DHA dose as Plus. It contains fish, soya and bovine-source gelatine, is not vegetarian, and is made at a site that may handle nuts.3
A folate detail worth checking: Max’s labelled 400µg total is split between 200µg L-methylfolate and 200µg folic acid. NHS advice specifies 400µg folic acid, and UKTIS says routine methylfolate in preference to folic acid cannot currently be recommended. This guide therefore does not assume the mixed formulation is an equivalent substitute for the standard folic-acid advice. Ask a pharmacist or your maternity team to confirm your regimen, especially before conception and in the first 12 weeks; do not add extra multivitamins yourself.357
Our verdict: a conditional choice for specific needs, not our automatic recommendation for everyone. Check both the calcium rationale and the folate formulation before paying more.
View at VitabioticsPregnacare Liquid
Liquid is an orange-flavoured multinutrient supplement, not a liquid fish oil. Its 10ml daily serving supplies 400µg folic acid, 10µg vitamin D, 17mg iron and 150µg iodine. It doesn't include DHA or a listed nutritional dose of calcium.8
If tablets make you gag or you simply prefer a liquid, this is the option we'd look at first within this shortlist. It changes how you take your supplement without adding a daily pill. We haven't tasted it or tested whether it helps with pregnancy nausea.
- Strengths: no tablets to swallow, a supplied 5ml measuring spoon, and a vegetarian, gelatine-free formula. The folic acid, vitamin D, iron and iodine amounts above match those listed for Original.81
- Limitations: a bottle lasts 20 days, not a month, and its daily cost is higher than Original's. It contains raw cane sugar and maltitol syrup; the label warns that excessive consumption may have laxative effects. Its manufacturing site may handle nuts.8
Measure two 5ml spoonfuls each day and take with or just after a main meal, on a full stomach. Once opened, keep it in the fridge, out of children's reach, and use within 6 weeks. Don't take it alongside another pregnancy multivitamin.8
Our verdict: a useful alternative format if pills are the obstacle. Choose it for that practical reason; it isn't a DHA-containing alternative to Plus or Max.
View at VitabioticsCod liver oil and omega-3: what's the difference?
Avoid cod liver oil during pregnancy. It contains vitamin A as retinol, and too much retinol can harm your baby's development. The NHS advises against cod liver oil and supplements containing vitamin A when you're pregnant.510
Cod liver oil contains omega-3 fats too. The problem is that fish store vitamin A in their livers, so a liver-oil supplement can also supply a high amount of retinol. A pregnancy-formulated DHA supplement can provide omega-3 without retinol, but “omega-3” on the front of a bottle doesn't guarantee that it's suitable.9102
- Check the DHA amount. DHA and EPA are types of omega-3 fat. The British Nutrition Foundation explains that DHA is important for your baby's brain and eye development; check the named nutrients rather than just the total weight of “fish oil”.9
- Look for a product suitable for pregnancy and check that it doesn't contain retinol or cod liver oil. Don't assume every fish-oil or omega-3 product is vitamin-A-free.59
- What about Plus and Max? Vitabiotics states that their fish oils are certified free from vitamin A. Each daily capsule provides 300mg DHA and 60mg EPA, so Max doesn't give you more DHA than Plus.23
You may also notice beta-carotene on the Pregnacare labels. That's different from added retinol: Vitabiotics uses it in the multinutrient formulas instead of preformed vitamin A.18
Choose for your needs, not the biggest pack
A tablet, liquid or included DHA?
Compare Original's one tablet with Liquid's measured 10ml dose if you want a multinutrient formula without included DHA. If you want DHA in the same pack, Plus adds a daily capsule. Ask your midwife or a registered dietitian if you're unsure whether you need it.
If you want calcium as well, ask whether Max's 500mg fits your diet and any existing supplements. A longer ingredient list isn't a substitute for that conversation.
Speak to your midwife or GP before switching
Follow their advice on the right product and dose for you. Take the product with your main meal and on a full stomach, following its current label. Don't combine Original, Plus, Max and Liquid or stack them with another pregnancy multivitamin; each replaces other Pregnacare multivitamins.1238
Get advice first if you take medicines, especially blood thinners, or have a thyroid condition, epilepsy, haemochromatosis or food allergies. Keep iron-containing supplements out of children's reach, and follow the oil and vitamin A checks above.138
Pregnacare buying questions
Is Pregnacare Max better than Plus?
Not automatically. Both provide 300mg DHA per daily capsule. Max adds 500mg calcium, uses a mixed folate formulation and requires two tablets plus a capsule daily; Plus requires one tablet and one capsule. Max also costs more per day at the checked prices. Choose according to your needs, not the premium name.23
Do I need extra folic acid with Pregnacare?
Original, Plus and Liquid each list 400µg folic acid per daily serving. Max uses a different, mixed formulation; see the note below the comparison table. Ask a pharmacist or your maternity team to confirm your regimen, especially if you've been prescribed 5mg folic acid. Don't replace a prescription with a standard pack or decide how to combine products without advice.123578
Are these Pregnacare products vegetarian or vegan?
Original and Liquid are labelled suitable for vegetarians; that isn't a vegan claim. Plus and Max contain fish oil and bovine-source gelatine and aren't vegetarian or vegan options. Original, Plus and Max list soya. Original and Plus specifically warn against use with a nut/peanut allergy; Max and Liquid say their manufacturing sites may handle nuts. Check the pack and speak to a pharmacist if you have a food allergy.1238
What if pregnancy sickness makes the tablets difficult to take?
Liquid is worth considering if swallowing tablets is the problem, but we haven't tested whether it's easier to tolerate or helps with nausea. Vitabiotics says to take all four products with a main meal and on a full stomach. If you can't keep supplements, food or fluids down, speak to your midwife, GP or pharmacist about your symptoms and a suitable alternative; don't increase doses or combine products.1238
Is Pregnacare Liquid the same as taking Original?
It offers a different format with the same listed daily amounts of folic acid, vitamin D, iron and iodine, but it isn't an identical formula. Liquid is orange-flavoured, contains sugar and maltitol, and needs refrigeration after opening. A 200ml bottle lasts 20 days at 10ml daily, compared with 30 days for the 30-tablet Original pack. Neither includes DHA.18
Can I take cod liver oil instead of the omega-3 capsule?
No. The NHS advises avoiding cod liver oil during pregnancy because it contains vitamin A as retinol, which can harm your baby's development in excess. Plus and Max use fish oils that Vitabiotics states are certified free from vitamin A, each providing 300mg DHA and 60mg EPA daily. If you're choosing a separate omega-3 supplement, check that it's suitable for pregnancy and doesn't contain retinol; the omega-3 name alone isn't enough.5239
The bottom line
Our starting pick is Original for a simpler, lower-cost tablet routine. Choose Liquid if avoiding tablets matters more to you. Plus is the more focused option if you want an included fish-oil DHA capsule; consider Max when its added calcium and other differences suit your needs.
You do not need to buy the most expensive pack to show that you are taking pregnancy seriously. Follow current UK advice, check the folic-acid formulation and your existing supplements, and let your maternity team help with anything individual.
Sources and further reading
Product facts, directions, allergy warnings and prices were retrieved from Vitabiotics on 12 November 2026. Listed prices reflect the pack sizes compared above, not subscription or multi-buy offers. These manufacturer sources describe the products; they do not independently prove comparative clinical benefits. UK health advice is drawn from NHS, NICE and UKTIS.
- Vitabiotics: Pregnacare Original. Daily serving, nutrient table, 30-tablet variant and £6.55 listed price, ingredients, vegetarian status and cautions.https://www.vitabiotics.com/products/pregnacare-original-tablets
- Vitabiotics: Pregnacare Plus. Daily serving, nutrients, 28-day pack and £14.95 listed price, fish oil, gelatine and allergy warnings.https://www.vitabiotics.com/products/pregnacare-plus-omega-3-tablets-and-capsules
- Vitabiotics: Pregnacare Max. Calcium and mixed-folate formulation, daily serving, 28-day pack and £20.25 listed price, ingredients and cautions.https://www.vitabiotics.com/products/pregnacare-max-tablets-and-capsules
- Vitabiotics: Published research on pregnancy supplement brand trust. Manufacturer-published summary of an April 2025 OnePoll survey of 500 mums and mums-to-be; 39% trusted Pregnacare the most. The full survey methodology and respondent geography aren't provided on this page.https://www.vitabiotics.com/blogs/talkmum/independent-research-on-which-pregnancy-supplement-brands-mums-trust-the-most
- NHS: Pregnancy vitamins and supplements. Folic acid and vitamin D doses and timing, prescribed higher-dose folic acid, and retinol/cod-liver-oil warnings.https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/pregnancy-vitamins-and-supplements/
- NICE NG247: Maternal and child nutrition recommendations. Current UK recommendations for folic acid, vitamin D and higher-risk circumstances.https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng247/chapter/Recommendations
- UK Teratology Information Service: Use of methylfolate in pregnancy. Evidence limitations and the recommendation not to prefer routine methylfolate to folic acid.https://uktis.org/monographs/use-of-methylfolate-in-pregnancy/
- Vitabiotics: Pregnacare Liquid. 10ml daily serving, nutrient table, £8.25 / 200ml bottle and 20-day supply, vegetarian status, sugar/maltitol ingredients, nut-site warning, refrigeration and six-week use-after-opening instructions.https://www.vitabiotics.com/products/pregnacare-liquid
- British Nutrition Foundation: Nutrition during pregnancy. DHA's role in brain and eye development, and advice to choose pregnancy-suitable supplements and avoid vitamin A/retinol and cod liver oil.https://www.nutrition.org.uk/nutrition-for/pregnancy/nutrition-during-pregnancy/
- NHS: Fish and shellfish. Fish store vitamin A in their livers; fish liver oil supplements should be avoided during pregnancy or when trying for a baby unless a GP advises otherwise.https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-types/fish-and-shellfish-nutrition/
- Vitabiotics: Current Pregnacare brand-trust wording. Manufacturer's “UK's No.1 and most trusted pregnancy supplement brand” wording and referral to its published recommendation research.https://www.vitabiotics.com/products/pregnacare-max-live-cultures-tablets
Product image credits: Vitabiotics, from the four compared product pages. Packaging artwork and trademarks belong to their respective rights holders; small images identify the products discussed. Pack designs may vary.
