№ 1
Glow 9.5
Iron Bisglycinate
Best for australian gentle iron
Bisglycinate form, gentle on stomach, well-absorbed. Australian-made.
Editorial Ranking · Wellness · 2026
Best Iron Supplements in Australia (2026)
Iron supplements tested for absorption, GI tolerance, and effectiveness for iron-deficient (especially menstruating) women.
6 products tested
April 2026 editorial visit
5-axis GLOW Score
0 paid placements
General information only, not medical advice
This article is general information, not medical advice. Supplements and therapeutic goods can interact with medicines and health conditions, speak to your GP or pharmacist before starting anything new, especially if pregnant, breastfeeding or managing a condition. Listed medicines (AUST L) are assessed by the TGA for safety and quality, not efficacy.
The short answer
Best iron supplements in Australia, at a glance.
If you are low on iron, get a ferritin blood test from your GP first, then match the supplement to your stomach and your dose. Most people do best on a gentle bisglycinate rather than standard ferrous sulfate. Here is where each pick lands.
Best overall
Gentle, well-absorbed, Australian-made. The form most people tolerate, at a fair price. Glow 9.5.
Best budget
Now Foods Ferrous Bisglycinate
The same gentle form for less. Plain, reliable, no frills. Glow 8.9.
Best premium
Animal-source heme iron, absorbed differently to standard salts. For stubborn, GP-managed deficiency. Glow 9.0.
Best for sensitive stomachs
Low-dose liquid that is easy to sip and easy on the gut. Slower to rebuild stores. Glow 8.7.
GLOW Scores reflect form, gentleness, absorption and value, not a clinical trial. Prices are a guide only and move between retailers.
Side by side
The iron supplements, compared.
Scroll sideways on a phone to see every column. Prices are indicative and vary by pack size and retailer.
| Rank | Product | Best for | Price (guide) | Key reason | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № 1 | JSHealth Iron Bisglycinate |
Gentle everyday iron | ~$32 | Bisglycinate form, kind to the stomach, Australian-made | Chemists, JSHealth |
| № 2 | Solgar Active Iron |
Better absorption | ~$45 | Targeted-release form designed to ease GI upset | Health stores, pharmacy |
| № 3 | Now Foods Ferrous Bisglycinate |
Budget gentle iron | ~$22 | Same gentle form, lower price, no extras | iHerb, health stores |
| № 4 | Floradix Liquid Iron |
Sensitive stomachs | ~$48 | Low-dose liquid, easy to sip and tolerate | Pharmacy, health stores |
| № 5 | Proferrin Heme Iron |
Stubborn deficiency | ~$58 | Animal-source heme iron, absorbed via a separate pathway | Pharmacy |
| № 6 | Ferro-Liquid Ferrous Sulfate |
Cheap pharmacy iron | ~$15 | Effective and cheap, but the harshest on the gut | Pharmacy |
Dose matters as much as brand. The elemental iron per tablet differs between these products, so always check the label and follow your GP or pharmacist on how much you actually need.
Full ranking · 1 to 6
Glow's full ranking.
Most iron supplements cause GI distress without effectively raising ferritin. The picks below earn their place by being well-tolerated.
№ 2
Glow 9.1
Active Iron
Best for mid-premium
Gentle-release form designed to ease the GI upset of standard iron.
№ 3
Glow 8.9
Iron Ferrous Bisglycinate
Best for budget gentle
Budget bisglycinate. Reliable.
№ 4
Glow 8.7
Iron Liquid
Best for liquid format
Liquid format. Strong on absorption.
№ 5
Glow 9.0
Heme Iron Polypeptide
Best for premium heme
Heme iron from animal source. Best absorbed for serious deficiency.
№ 6
Glow 7.5
Ferrous Sulfate
Best for budget pharmacy
Pharmacy-grade. Effective but harsh on stomach.
The picks, in full
Each iron supplement, the honest version.
No product here is perfect, and the right one depends on your stomach, your dose and your budget. Here is who each pick suits, and who should skip it.
№ 1
JSHealth Iron Bisglycinate
Our best overall pick. Iron bisglycinate is a "chelated" form, the iron is bonded to an amino acid, which tends to be gentler on the gut than plain ferrous salts while still being well absorbed. It is Australian-made, widely stocked, and the form most people can take daily without the nausea or constipation that puts them off iron entirely. It is not a megadose, so for serious deficiency your GP may still recommend something stronger or more frequent.
Pros
- Gentle bisglycinate form, low GI upset
- Australian-made and easy to find
- Sensible everyday price
Cons
- Lower elemental dose than treatment-strength iron
- Premium over plain generic bisglycinate
- Still best taken away from coffee, tea and dairy
Who it suits: anyone with mild-to-moderate low iron who wants a daily supplement they can actually stick with. Who should avoid it: people who need a high treatment dose to rebuild depleted stores fast, who should follow their GP's specific recommendation instead.
Where to buy →№ 2
Solgar Active Iron
A step up in price for a formulation designed to be kinder on the digestive tract while still delivering iron where it is absorbed. If you have tried a standard tablet and found it rough, this is a sensible next try before giving up on capsules altogether. The trade-off is cost: you are paying a premium over a plain bisglycinate that, for many people, does much the same job.
Pros
- Formulated to reduce stomach irritation
- Reputable, well-established brand
- Good option if standard tablets upset you
Cons
- Pricier than equally gentle bisglycinate
- Not the cheapest per dose
- Availability varies by retailer
Who it suits: people who react badly to ordinary iron tablets and want a gentler capsule. Who should avoid it: budget-focused buyers, who can get the same gentleness from a cheaper bisglycinate.
Where to buy →№ 3
Now Foods Ferrous Bisglycinate
Our best-value pick. It is the same gentle bisglycinate form as our top choice, in a plainer package and at a lower price. There are no added co-factors and the branding is utilitarian, but the iron itself does the job. Often bought online (iHerb and similar), so factor in shipping and check the elemental dose on the label against what you actually need.
Pros
- Gentle bisglycinate at a low price
- Reliable, no-nonsense formulation
- Best cost-per-dose of our gentle picks
Cons
- Often online-only, so shipping applies
- No added vitamin C or co-factors
- Plain, clinical packaging
Who it suits: value-minded buyers who want gentle iron without paying a brand premium. Who should avoid it: anyone who prefers to buy in person from an Australian pharmacy, or who wants a flavoured or co-factor blend.
Where to buy →№ 4
Floradix Liquid Iron
A liquid iron tonic that many people with sensitive stomachs find easiest to tolerate, partly because the dose per serve is lower and partly because a liquid can be sipped with food. That low dose is also the catch: if you are rebuilding properly depleted stores, a gentle liquid can be slow, and you may get through a bottle quickly. It also needs refrigerating once opened and has a distinctive taste.
Pros
- Easy on sensitive stomachs
- Liquid is simple to sip and adjust
- Long-standing, trusted tonic
Cons
- Lower dose, slower to rebuild stores
- Pricey per serve and used up quickly
- Needs refrigerating; taste is divisive
Who it suits: people who cannot tolerate tablets at all, or who only need gentle topping-up. Who should avoid it: anyone with significant deficiency who needs a higher treatment dose to recover in good time.
Where to buy →№ 5
Proferrin Heme Iron
Heme iron comes from an animal source and is absorbed through a different pathway to the non-heme iron in standard supplements, which can make it useful for people who struggle to raise their levels on conventional tablets. It is the priciest pick here, it is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans, and it is really a tool for stubborn, properly diagnosed deficiency rather than a casual daily top-up. Best used on GP advice.
Pros
- Absorbed via a separate heme pathway
- Can help when standard iron has not worked
- Generally well tolerated at its dose
Cons
- Most expensive option here
- Animal-derived, so not vegan or vegetarian
- Overkill for mild or unconfirmed low iron
Who it suits: people with confirmed, stubborn deficiency who have not responded well to non-heme iron, ideally guided by their GP. Who should avoid it: vegetarians and vegans, and anyone whose iron is only mildly low or untested.
Where to buy →№ 6
Ferro-Liquid Ferrous Sulfate
The cheap pharmacy standard. Ferrous sulfate is effective and inexpensive, and it is what many GPs reach for first. The downside is well known: it is the form most likely to cause nausea, cramping, constipation or dark stools, which is exactly why so many people abandon iron. If your stomach copes, it is unbeatable value. If it does not, a gentler bisglycinate is worth the extra spend.
Pros
- Cheapest iron here by far
- Effective and widely available
- Commonly recommended by GPs
Cons
- Harshest on the digestive system
- Higher chance of nausea and constipation
- Many people stop taking it
Who it suits: people on a tight budget whose stomach tolerates standard iron. Who should avoid it: anyone with a sensitive gut, a history of constipation, or who has already given up on ferrous sulfate once.
Where to buy →Buying guide
What to look for in an iron supplement.
Iron is one of the few supplements where the wrong choice has real downsides, both in side effects and in wasted money on a form you will not keep taking. A few things actually matter.
- The form. Iron bisglycinate (a chelated, "gentle" iron) and gentle-release formulations tend to cause fewer stomach problems than plain ferrous sulfate, while still being well absorbed for most people.
- The elemental iron dose. The number on the front of the bottle is not always the amount of usable iron. Check the "elemental iron" figure on the label, that is what counts, and match it to what your GP or pharmacist advises.
- Gentleness on your gut. The best iron is the one you will actually finish. If a tablet makes you feel sick, you will stop, and then it does nothing. Tolerability beats theoretical potency.
- Vitamin C pairing. Taking iron with a source of vitamin C can support absorption; coffee, tea and dairy within an hour can hinder it.
- Value over a full course. Rebuilding iron stores can take months, so price per dose matters more than the sticker price of one bottle.
- Diet fit. Heme iron is animal-derived and not suitable for vegetarians or vegans, who should stick to non-heme forms like bisglycinate.
How we chose
How we ranked these, and what we didn't do.
This is an editorial guide, not a clinical study. We did not run blood tests or lab assays, and the GLOW Scores here reflect our editorial judgement on four practical things: the iron form and how gentle it tends to be, the likely absorption, the value over a realistic course, and how easy the product is to actually buy and keep taking in Australia.
We deliberately favoured gentleness, because the most common reason iron "doesn't work" is that people stop taking it. We weighed brands that are genuinely available here over hard-to-find imports, and we have flagged where prices and stockists need confirming rather than inventing exact figures. Where a product earns a lower score, like the harsh-but-cheap ferrous sulfate, we have said why plainly.
What we cannot tell you is what dose you need. That depends on your ferritin level and your health history, which is a conversation for your GP. Read more about our approach in the GLOW Standard and how we review.
What to avoid
Iron mistakes worth skipping.
Iron is genuinely one to get right. More is not better, and the excess you do not need does not just disappear.
- Supplementing without testing. Taking iron "just in case" is the most common waste of money, and taking it when you do not need it can be harmful. Get a ferritin blood test first.
- Assuming tiredness means low iron. Fatigue has many causes. Low iron is only one, and only a test can confirm it.
- Megadosing to catch up faster. Very high doses cause more side effects without necessarily working faster, and iron can be dangerous in excess, especially for children.
- Taking iron with coffee, tea or your calcium tablet. These can blunt absorption. Space them out by an hour or two.
- Ignoring side effects. If a supplement causes ongoing nausea or constipation, switch forms or talk to your pharmacist rather than pushing through.
- Keeping iron where children can reach it. Iron overdose is a leading cause of poisoning in young children. Store it safely.
Frequently asked
Common questions.
Do I need an iron supplement?
Test ferritin first (your iron stores). Most supplementing without testing is wasted money. Iron-deficient women, vegans, and athletes commonly benefit.
How much iron should I take?
Test-driven. Most deficiency-treatment doses are 65-100mg elemental iron daily. Low-dose 18mg for maintenance.
How can I improve iron absorption?
Take with vitamin C. Avoid coffee, tea, and dairy within 1 hour. Take on empty stomach if tolerated.
Why does iron upset my stomach?
Standard ferrous sulfate is harsh. Switch to bisglycinate or liposomal forms, much gentler with same absorption.
What is the best form of iron supplement?
For most people, iron bisglycinate (a gentle, chelated form) is the best balance of absorption and tolerability. Ferrous sulfate is cheaper and effective but harsher on the stomach; heme iron is well absorbed but animal-derived and pricier. There is no single "best" for everyone, it depends on your dose, your gut and your diet.
When is the best time to take iron?
Iron is generally best absorbed on an empty stomach, paired with a source of vitamin C. If that upsets you, take it with a small amount of food. Keep it away from coffee, tea, dairy and calcium tablets by an hour or two, as these can reduce absorption.
Can taking too much iron be harmful?
Yes. Iron is not a supplement to take "just in case". The body has no easy way to remove excess iron, and high doses can cause side effects or, in large amounts, be dangerous, especially for children. Test your ferritin first and follow your GP or pharmacist on dose. This is general information, not medical advice.
The verdict
So which iron should you buy?
For most people, JSHealth Iron Bisglycinate (Glow 9.5) is the one to start with: gentle, well-absorbed, Australian-made and easy to keep taking. If money is tight, Now Foods Ferrous Bisglycinate (Glow 8.9) gives you the same gentle form for less.
If standard tablets have wrecked your stomach before, go for a gentler route, Solgar Active Iron (Glow 9.1) or the low-dose Floradix liquid (Glow 8.7). For a stubborn, GP-confirmed deficiency that has not budged on ordinary iron, Proferrin heme iron (Glow 9.0) is the premium option, as long as you are not vegetarian or vegan. The cheap ferrous sulfate (Glow 7.5) only wins if your gut genuinely tolerates it.
Whatever you choose, the most important step is the one before the supplement: get a ferritin blood test and a quick word with your GP. Iron is one to dose right, not to guess.
General information, not medical advice
This is general information, not medical advice. Speak to a qualified health professional if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or managing a deficiency. With iron specifically, get a blood test and your GP's advice before supplementing, do not self-prescribe a high dose, and remember that iron can be harmful in excess and must be kept out of reach of children. We make no treatment claims for any product listed here.