Solaray vs NOW Magnesium Glycinate: Capsules, Tablets and Comparable Cost

Solaray and NOW magnesium glycinate should not be compared as if their full servings supplied the same amount. The reviewed Solaray formula provides 350 mg across four capsules; NOW provides 200 mg across two tablets. Solaray adds BioPerine, while NOW’s reviewed tablet formula uses a different set of tablet and coating ingredients. [1] [2]

The practical choice is therefore about format, amount per unit, and ingredients—not a universal brand winner. This comparison uses the Solaray 120-VegCap formula and NOW’s glycinate tablets, not Solaray’s Extra Strength products or NOW’s separate BioPerine capsules.

The exact products side by side

Compare the reviewed products

Reviewed product labels and published ratings
Criterion	Solaray High Absorption Magnesium Glycinate 120 VegCaps	NOW Magnesium Glycinate
Format	Capsules	Tablets
Reviewed variant	Magnesium Glycinate 350 mg · 120 VegCaps	Magnesium Glycinate · 180 tablets · UPC 733739012890
Label serving	4 capsules	2 tablets
Servings per reviewed pack	30	90
Ingredients per label serving	Elemental magnesium 350 mg; BioPerine black-pepper extract 5 mg	Elemental magnesium 200 mg (100 mg per tablet)
Other ingredients	Vegetable cellulose capsule, magnesium stearate, cellulose, silica	Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, Stearic Acid (vegetable source), Silicon Dioxide and Vegetarian Coating [hypromellose (cellulose), stearic acid (vegetable source), sunflower lecithin, triethyl citrate, sunflower oil]
Storage	Store in a cool, dry place	—
Quality & testing	—	Label: Albion magnesium bisglycinate; GMP manufacturing claim
Supplement Explained Score	17/25	20/25
Customer ratings	4.9/5 · 295 ratingsSolaray · 2026-10-07	5/5 · 2 ratingsHerbsPro · 2026-10-07
Matched retailer price	—	$19.98 USDHerbsPro · 2026-10-07
Cost per label serving	—	$0.22 USD
Sources	Manufacturer	Manufacturer · Retailer label
Review & retailer offer	Read review →Check price at HerbsPro	Read review →Check price at HerbsPro

~ means approximate; — means no published value in this record. Customer ratings are the named publisher’s snapshot and may include multiple sizes or earlier formulas. The Supplement Explained Score is our source-reviewed editorial assessment out of 25, separate from customer stars. Compare the five criteria and the same intended use; the total is not a clinical ranking. Prices are dated USD offer snapshots; cost uses the reviewed pack and label serving.

NOW also offers 180 tablets, which provide 90 full servings and 18,000 mg declared magnesium. Those larger-bottle numbers must not be assigned to the 90-tablet bottle. [1] [2]

Solaray, 120 capsules

Solaray High Absorption Magnesium Glycinate 120 VegCaps

The 120-capsule bottle compared above: 30 full four-capsule servings.

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NOW, different pack size

NOW Magnesium Glycinate Tablets: Serving Size, Ingredients and Value

Larger bottle: 180 tablets and 90 full servings. The table above compares the 90-tablet bottle; this retailer option is a different pack size.

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Fewer tablets does not mean an equivalent serving

Two NOW tablets and four Solaray capsules are the respective full label servings, but they contain 200 mg and 350 mg magnesium. Comparing those unit counts without the nutrient amounts would imply an equivalence that is not present. [1] [2]

The per-unit arithmetic can help a shopper understand the labels, but it is not a personal dose plan. It also does not authorize dividing a capsule, crushing a tablet, or converting a prescribed amount without appropriate advice.

A bottle of 120 capsules is not automatically more magnesium than every 90-tablet bottle, nor is the larger number necessarily more useful. The total declared quantity and the amount appropriate to the individual are separate questions.

BioPerine versus tablet ingredients

Solaray’s reviewed panel includes 5 mg BioPerine black-pepper fruit extract across four capsules, plus its capsule and excipients. NOW’s tablet record lists ingredients including hydroxypropyl cellulose, stearic acid, silicon dioxide, and a vegetarian coating. [1] [2]

A shopper specifically avoiding black-pepper extract has a concrete reason to examine the NOW tablet formula or another product without it. A shopper who prefers capsules rather than tablets may view the formats differently. Neither distinction automatically establishes better absorption or tolerance.

We did not establish a direct clinical trial proving that the added BioPerine produces a specific magnesium advantage for this finished Solaray product over these NOW tablets. A longer or shorter inactive-ingredient list also is not a validated overall quality score.

Tablet and capsule comfort needs real evidence

We have not measured these units or conducted swallowing tests. Four capsules versus two tablets may sound decisive, but their size, shape, and the user’s actual needs matter. Neither product is called “small” or “easy to swallow” on the basis of an unverified photograph in this comparison.

Opening capsules and crushing tablets are separate formulation questions. Manufacturer permission for another brand’s two-piece capsule does not answer either question for these exact products. When intact units are the problem, a purpose-made powder is a separate format to investigate—not a reason to improvise product alterations.

A fair cost comparison needs current, matched prices

On September 27, 2026, Solaray lists 120 capsules at $18.39: about $0.61 per full serving or $0.175 per 100 mg magnesium. NOW lists promotional prices of $13.49 for 90 tablets ($0.30 per full serving; $0.150 per 100 mg) and $23.99 for 180 tablets ($0.27 per full serving; $0.133 per 100 mg). NOW therefore costs less per equal magnesium quantity at these manufacturer prices, but sale prices, seller prices, tax, and shipping can change the comparison. These are manufacturer prices, not the linked HerbsPro price. [3] [2]

The reproducible calculations are:

Exact bottle	Cost per full serving	Cost per 100 mg magnesium
Solaray 120 capsules	Bottle price ÷ 30	Bottle price ÷ 105
NOW 90 tablets	Bottle price ÷ 45	Bottle price ÷ 90
NOW 180 tablets	Bottle price ÷ 90	Bottle price ÷ 180

The divisors in the last column represent the number of 100 mg quantities in the bottle. They normalize quantity purchased, not clinical effectiveness. Use the same seller conditions and date, with tax, shipping, subscriptions, and coupons identified separately.

This makes a future comparison straightforward without confusing two unequal full servings. It also prevents the cheapest displayed price on a multi-variant page from being assigned to the wrong bottle.

What the testing statements can establish

Brand-level manufacturing controls and ingredient trade names should not be turned into exact-product sport certification or a batch report. Solaray’s quality policy describes its processes; NOW’s product page describes its formula and manufacturing information. Those should be read for their stated scope. [4] [2]

We have not independently assayed either product or verified a sport-certification listing for these two specific products. That is a limit on this comparison, not evidence that the products are untested or inferior.

Safety applies to both forms

The US adult upper limit for magnesium from supplements and medications is 350 mg daily, excluding naturally occurring food magnesium. A full Solaray serving reaches that amount. Two full NOW servings would provide 400 mg. Neither observation determines what an individual should take. [5] [1] [2]

Other supplements, magnesium-containing medicines, kidney function, and drug interactions also matter. Glycinate terminology does not guarantee the absence of diarrhea, and changing the brand while increasing the total amount is not automatically a solution to symptoms. [5]

Choose based on the difference you actually need

Solaray is a capsule option with a four-capsule serving and BioPerine. NOW is a tablet option with a two-tablet serving and a different magnesium amount. A preference about black-pepper extract, tablet versus capsule, or unit amount can therefore guide the comparison without declaring a universal winner.

For more detail on the individual products, read the Solaray capsule review and the NOW tablet review. The next useful step is a matched current price and an appropriate intake plan—not a generic claim that one brand is always better.