Search for fish oil vs krill oil and you’ll see the same trade-off everywhere: krill oil usually costs more, and its label lists extras like phospholipids and astaxanthin. Before you pay the difference, look at the number that matters: how much EPA and DHA you get per dollar.
The “mg” on the front of a bottle is usually the weight of the oil, not the EPA and DHA inside it (we break that down in 1,000 mg Fish Oil: What You’re Actually Getting (and What the Label Doesn’t Say)). Here’s the label math for one fish oil and two krill oils on Amazon.com.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links, which cost you nothing extra. Products are compared using the information on their labels and, where available, published test reports.
The short version: On these three listings, fish oil costs $0.35 per 1,000 mg of EPA + DHA. The two krill oils cost $2.72 and $9.36 for the same amount. If you buy on EPA + DHA per dollar, fish oil wins by a wide margin. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Fish oil vs. krill oil: the label math
Every comparison on this site uses one formula: cost per 1,000 mg of EPA + DHA = price ÷ (total EPA + DHA in the bottle, in thousands of mg).
| Viva Naturals Triple Strength (fish oil) | Sports Research Antarctic Omega-3 Krill Oil | Captains Krill Oil* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serving size | 2 softgels | 1 softgel | 2 softgels |
| Oil per serving | 2,500 mg | 500 mg | 1,000 mg |
| EPA | 1,500 mg | 68 mg | 152 mg |
| DHA | 570 mg | 30 mg | 97 mg |
| EPA + DHA per serving | 2,070 mg | 98 mg | 249 mg |
| EPA + DHA per softgel | 1,035 mg | 98 mg | 124.5 mg |
| EPA + DHA as a share of the oil | 83% | 20% | 25% |
| Softgels in the bottle | 90 | 120 | 60 |
| Price (USD) | $32.95 | $31.95 | $69.95 |
| Cost per 1,000 mg of EPA + DHA | $0.35 | $2.72 | $9.36 |
Prices checked October 2026 on Amazon.com, in US dollars. *Captains doesn’t list EPA or DHA on its label. Its figures come from the seller’s Lot #234531 test results shown in the Amazon listing, per 1,000 mg of krill oil, which is the label’s serving size.
The front of a krill bottle isn’t EPA + DHA. The Sports Research krill bottle reads “500MG KRILL OIL | 120MG OMEGA-3.” The Supplement Facts panel shows 500 mg of krill oil, 120 mg of total omega-3, and only 98 mg of EPA + DHA (68 mg EPA and 30 mg DHA).
The arithmetic, step by step:
- Viva Naturals. 2,070 mg per serving × 45 servings (90 softgels) = 93,150 mg, or 93.15 thousand mg. $32.95 ÷ 93.15 = $0.35.
- Sports Research krill oil. 68 + 30 = 98 mg per softgel × 120 softgels = 11,760 mg, or 11.76 thousand mg. $31.95 ÷ 11.76 = $2.72.
- Captains. 152 + 97 = 249 mg per serving × 30 servings (60 softgels) = 7,470 mg, or 7.47 thousand mg. $69.95 ÷ 7.47 = $9.36.
For how to read the rest of a label, see How to Choose an Omega-3 Supplement Without Getting Lost in the Label. For why the EPA + DHA share differs from oil to oil, see From Ocean to Capsule: EPA, DHA, and What Fish Oil Labels Are Really Telling You.
The three products
Viva Naturals Triple Strength (fish oil). Two softgels give 1,500 mg EPA and 570 mg DHA, which is 2,070 mg EPA + DHA, about 83% of the 2,500 mg of fish oil on the label. It’s the cheapest option here per 1,000 mg. We put it up against another popular fish oil in Sports Research vs. Viva Naturals: Which High-Potency Omega-3 Wins?
Check the Viva Naturals price on Amazon
Sports Research Antarctic Omega-3 Krill Oil. One softgel gives 68 mg EPA and 30 mg DHA, which is 98 mg EPA + DHA. The label also lists 200 mg of phospholipids and 50 mcg of astaxanthin per softgel. It’s the cheapest krill oil in this comparison, at $2.72 per 1,000 mg of EPA + DHA.
Check the Sports Research krill oil price on Amazon
Captains Krill Oil. The Supplement Facts panel lists “Krill Oil 1,000 mg” per 2 softgels, plus a general line about omega-3, -6 and -9 fatty acids, phospholipids and astaxanthin. It doesn’t list EPA or DHA in mg. The Amazon listing does show a seller test for Lot #234531, per 1,000 mg of krill oil: EPA 152 mg and DHA 97 mg. One lot test isn’t a label, so treat the $9.36 as an estimate.
Check the Captains Krill Oil price on Amazon
What it takes to reach 1,000 mg of EPA + DHA
We use 1,000 mg as a yardstick so the products line up. It isn’t a dose recommendation.
| Product | Softgels for 1,000 mg of EPA + DHA | Cost for that amount |
|---|---|---|
| Viva Naturals Triple Strength | About 1 (1,000 ÷ 1,035 = 0.97) | $0.35 |
| Sports Research Antarctic Omega-3 Krill Oil | About 10 (1,000 ÷ 98 = 10.2) | $2.72 |
| Captains Krill Oil | About 8 (1,000 ÷ 124.5 = 8.0) | $9.36 |
What this comparison doesn’t cover
Krill oil labels point to phospholipids and astaxanthin, and Sports Research lists both. This post doesn’t judge those claims. It compares one thing: how much EPA + DHA you get per dollar. Both krill labels also state that the product contains crustacean shellfish (krill), so check the allergen line before you buy.
The verdict
On EPA + DHA per dollar, fish oil wins. Viva Naturals costs $0.35 per 1,000 mg. The cheapest krill oil here costs $2.72, about 7.7 times more. Captains costs $9.36, more than 26 times more, and it doesn’t list EPA or DHA on its label. If you choose krill oil for other reasons, you now know what those reasons cost. If you take blood thinners, ask your doctor before you start any omega-3 supplement.
Quick answers
Is krill oil better than fish oil?
On EPA + DHA per dollar, not in these three listings: $0.35 for the fish oil against $2.72 and $9.36 for the krill oils. Krill labels also list phospholipids and astaxanthin, and this post doesn’t judge whether those matter for you.
How much EPA and DHA is in a krill oil softgel?
The Sports Research label lists 98 mg per softgel (68 mg EPA and 30 mg DHA). Captains doesn’t list it; the seller’s Lot #234531 test works out to 124.5 mg per softgel.
Can I take krill oil with a shellfish allergy?
Both krill labels list crustacean shellfish (krill) as an allergen. If you have a shellfish allergy, ask your doctor before you buy.
Is there an option that is neither fish nor krill?
Yes, algae oil. We compare two in Vegan Omega-3 Supplements: How to Choose an Algae Oil (EPA, DHA and Label Traps).