Product Comparison
Compare the three melatonin formats head-to-head — the physiologic-dose tablet, the studied mid-dose capsule, and the titration liquid. In melatonin's comparison, the honest principle is: the dose should match the signal, and the timing should match the shift — everything else is shelf arms race.
At a glance
Natrol Melatonin 1 mg
NOW Melatonin 3 mg
Nature Made Melatonin Liquid (1 mg per dropper)
Multi-dimensional comparison
Multi-dimensional Comparison
| Metric | 🏆Natrol Melatonin 1 mg Natrol | NOW Melatonin 3 mg NOW Foods | Nature Made Melatonin Liquid (1 mg per dropper) Nature Made |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery Form | Tablet | Capsule | Liquid Drops |
| Strength | 1 mg | 3 mg | 1 mg per 1 mL dropper |
| Servings / Container | 180 | 180 | 90 |
| Retail Price | $8.99 | $6.99 | $12.99 |
| Cost / Serving | $0.05 | $0.04BEST 💰 | $0.14 |
| Overall Score | 86/100 | 84/100 | 82/100 |
| 3rd-Party Testing | USP | None | USP |
| Vegan Friendly | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Did you know?
The physiologic range
The MIT program's finding: the dose that matches the body's natural rise performs as well as higher doses, with less morning grogginess. The starting point, and for most users, the destination.
The timing rule
Melatonin taken 1–2 hours before target bedtime delivers the signal the clock can read. Taken at bedtime, it's late; taken in the morning, it shifts the wrong direction. The label rarely teaches this — the page does.
The overdose default
The 'max strength' products deliver 10–30× the physiologic signal — more grogginess, more vivid dreams, no more sleep. The dose paradox's commercial refutation, sold per bottle.
The sleep-apnea line
Melatonin's sedation can worsen airway collapse — anyone with sleep apnea (or loud snoring with witnessed pauses) needs physician approval before any dose. The caution our acid-reflux and sleep-apnea pages carry, taught at the source.
The jet-lag protocol
The most established use: melatonin at the destination's local bedtime, starting arrival evening, for several nights — the Cochrane-backed timing that makes the molecule decisively effective for the one use that matches its mechanism.
The behavioral source
Dim evenings and bright mornings produce the same signal the pill delivers — the light environment the pineal reads, the intervention the evidence supports before any bottle. The supplement is the backup, not the default.