Boots
Boots Pregnancy Essential Vitamins
7.2/10 overallAround £8 for a month's supply
Boots' own-brand once-daily pregnancy multivitamin, a budget-friendly alternative to the branded options in this category.
The verdict
Boots' own-label once-daily pregnancy vitamin covers the NHS's core folic acid and vitamin D recommendations at the lowest price in the category. Best for anyone eating a varied diet who mainly wants to meet the essential guidance without overpaying. It has lower iron than Elevit and no DHA, so it won't suit anyone wanting those extras in one tablet.
Boots' own-label pregnancy vitamin covers the same essential nutrients — folic acid and vitamin D specifically — as the branded Pregnacare and Seven Seas options, at a noticeably lower price point. It won't match Elevit's iron content or Pregnacare Max's included DHA, but for anyone whose main priority is simply meeting the NHS's core folic acid and vitamin D recommendations without overpaying, it does the essential job.
The honest trade-off against the branded options already in this category: Boots' formula is a genuinely more basic nutrient profile, without the extras (higher iron, DHA, additional minerals) that Elevit and Pregnacare Max include. If cost is the deciding factor and you're otherwise eating a varied diet, this is a perfectly reasonable choice — if you have known iron deficiency or want DHA covered in the same tablet, one of the other two products in this category is the better fit.
Is the Boots Pregnancy Essential Vitamins worth it?
- Lowest price in the category by a clear margin
- Covers the NHS's core folic acid and vitamin D recommendations
- Widely available in Boots stores nationwide
What are the downsides of the Boots Pregnancy Essential Vitamins?
- Lower iron content than Elevit
- No DHA included
- More basic overall nutrient profile than branded alternatives
Specs
- Iron
- 14mg
- Dosage
- One tablet daily
- Vitamin D
- 10mcg
- Folic acid
- 400mcg
- DHA/Omega-3
- Not included
- Suitable from
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
How we scored it
Nutrient Completeness
Coverage of folic acid, vitamin D, iron and DHA at recommended pregnancy doses.
Covers core NHS-recommended nutrients but lacks the extras branded competitors include.
Tolerability
How easy the supplement is on a first-trimester stomach.
Standard single-tablet format, no notable tolerability complaints.
Value for Money
Cost per month relative to what you get.
Clearly the cheapest option in the category for essential nutrient coverage.
Weighted by importance for this category — see our editorial policy for how we test.
How this review was done
We haven't used the Boots Pregnancy Essential Vitamins ourselves yet. This review is built from Boots's published specifications and product information, and scored the same way as everything else on the site. We'll update it, and the badge above, once we've tested it hands-on.
How it compares
|  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Around £8 for a month's supply | Around £17 for a month's supply | About £42 | Around £37 for 30 capsules (imported) |
| Overall score | 7.2/10 | 7.5/10 | 5.4/10 | 7.1/10 |
| Iron | 14mg | 17mg | Included (food-grown form) | 60mg |
| Dosage | One tablet daily | One tablet + one capsule daily | — | One tablet daily |
| Vitamin D | 10mcg | 10mcg | 10mcg (400 IU) | 10mcg |
Frequently asked questions
Does Boots Pregnancy Essential Vitamins cover what the NHS recommends?+
Yes — it covers the NHS's core folic acid and vitamin D recommendations at a noticeably lower price than branded options like Pregnacare or Seven Seas. It does the essential job if your main priority is meeting that guidance without overpaying.
How does it compare to Elevit or Pregnacare Max?+
It's a genuinely more basic nutrient profile — lower iron than Elevit and no included DHA, unlike Pregnacare Max. If you have known iron deficiency or want DHA covered in the same tablet, one of those two is the better fit.
Does it include omega-3?+
No — DHA/Omega-3 is not included in this formula, so you'd need a separate supplement if omega-3 support is a priority for you. It also has 14mg of iron and 10mcg of vitamin D, taken as one tablet daily, suitable during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Is it good value?+
Yes — it's clearly the cheapest option in the category for essential nutrient coverage, and it's widely available in Boots stores nationwide, making it easy to keep taking consistently throughout pregnancy and while breastfeeding without overpaying for extras you may not need.
Guides that mention this
How to Choose a Pregnancy Multivitamin (Not Just Which Brand)
Most pregnancy multivitamin marketing focuses on the brand. The nutrients that actually matter are a much shorter, more specific list. Here's what to check.
Your First Midwife Appointment and First Scan: What Happens, and When
The 'booking appointment' is the real start of NHS antenatal care, and it happens earlier than most people expect. Here's the actual timeline.
Reviewed by
Sepehr
Software engineer, soon-to-be dad, uncle to four — the tech-obsessed half of the two of us testing this stuff. Currently building this site with my wife, ahead of our own baby arriving.