Selecting a CBD Oil: Brands to Buy in 2021
Our best CBD oil brands at a glance:
- Best CBD Oils With THC: CBDistillery, Spruce, NuLeaf Naturals
- Best Full-Spectrum Oils: Cornbread Hemp, Charlotte's Web, Plus CBD
- Best CBD Oils With No THC: Medterra, cbdMD
- Best Organic CBD Oils: Joy Organics, R+R Medicinals
Despite the growing popularity of CBD, research regarding its effects is still in the early stages. Studies conducted within the last few years have found that CBD can help reduce stress, improve sleep, and lessen pain for some users. Many CBD products contain essential oils and other natural ingredients that provide additional wellness benefits.
CBD can be taken a variety of ways—including in capsule, gummy, and cream form—but it's most commonly sold in oil tinctures. The best CBD oils come with a graduated dropper to help you accurately measure your intake. Keep reading to learn more about the top CBD brands on the market.
CBD oil brands we chose:
- Best CBD for Anxiety: CBDistillery
- Best Potency: Spruce
- Best for Sleep: Charlotte's Web
- Best Full-Spectrum: Cornbread Hemp
- Best Value: R+R Medicinals
- Best Organic: Joy Organics
- Best CBD Isolate: Medterra
- Best for Pain: NuLeaf Naturals
- Best CBD Oil Spray: Plus CBD
- Best Broad-Spectrum: cbdMD
Editors considered a number of factors when compiling this list of the best CBD oil brands. These factors included:
- Type of CBD
- Hemp source
- Extraction method
- Independent lab testing and certifications
Complete reviews of our top picks:
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Best CBD for Anxiety: CBDistillery Full-Spectrum Oil
- Type of CBD: Full-spectrum
- Potency: 17+ milligrams of CBD per 1 milliliter dropper
- COA: Available online
- Price: $$
- Customer review: "I take it nightly and sometimes during stressful days. My sleep is much improved and it evens out emotions."
This CBD oil from CBDistillery comes in a wide variety of strengths, ranging from 17 milligrams to 167 milligrams of CBD per one milliliter serving. We like the 1,000 milligram option because it provides a mid-range strength of 33 milligrams per one milliliter dropper. Each formula contains all the minor compounds found in the cannabis plant to enhance the product's overall benefits in a process known as the "entourage effect."
Best Potency: Spruce CBD Oil Tincture
- Type of CBD: Full-spectrum
- Potency: 25 milligrams of CBD per 1 milliliter dropper
- COA: Available online
- Price: $$$$
- Customer review: "I've been taking CBD for years. The extra strength version of Spruce is the most effective formulation I've taken [...]. The taste isn't too bad, and the effects are noticeable. Highly recommended."
Spruce CBD oil is organic, vegan, and gluten-free. It uses organic hemp seed oil and is free of artificial sweeteners, flavors, and preservatives. Spruce offers higher concentrations of cannabinoids, terpenes, antioxidants, and flavonoids than some of its competitors, which reviewers say translates to more effective relief. The brand also has an extra-strength version that contains 80 milligrams of CBD per one milliliter serving.
Best for Sleep: Charlotte's Web CBD Oil
- Type of CBD: Full-spectrum
- Potency: 7+ milligrams of CBD per 1 milliliter dropper
- COA: Available online
- Price: $$$
- Customer review: "I've tried several CBD oils that offered no noticeable effect. Charlotte's Web starts to unwind my mind and body right from the get-go. Highly recommended!"
Charlotte's Web makes its CBD oil with Colorado-grown hemp. Concentrations range from 7 milligrams to 60 milligrams of CBD per 1 milliliter serving, and each tincture is US Hemp Authority certified. We like the Original Formula option because reviewers say its 25 milligrams of CBD per half milliliter dropper has a calming effect and can contribute to a better night's sleep.
Best Full-Spectrum: Cornbread Hemp Whole Flower Oil
- Type of CBD: Full-spectrum
- Potency: 25+ milligrams of CBD per 1 milliliter dropper
- COA: Available online
- Price: $$
- Customer review: "This CBD oil is helping me sleep a whole lot better than before. I can go to sleep and not wake up in the middle of the night. When I wake up in the morning I feel refreshed and ready to start a new day."
This full-spectrum CBD oil from Cornbread Hemp is USDA organic and offers a strong concentration of CBD due to its unique flower-only formula. The vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO hemp extract is derived solely from the hemp plant's flowers, giving it a cleaner taste. Available in 25 and 50 milligrams of CBD per 1 milliliter servings, the product helps many reviewers relax before bed.
Best Value: R+R Medicinals CBD Tincture
- Type of CBD: Full-spectrum
- Potency: 16.67+ milligrams of CBD per 1 milliliter dropper
- COA: Available online
- Price: $
- Customer review: "The best CBD I've tried and the price has everyone else beat. I've probably purchased 10 bottles and they have all been consistently great. Fast shipping too!"
R+R Medicinals offers a USDA organic full-spectrum CBD tincture made with Colorado-grown hemp. The oil has a natural mint flavor and works best when taken with food. It's available in multiple strengths, but the 1,000 milligram option is the most popular and delivers 33.33 milligrams of CBD per one milliliter serving. The formula also contains over four milligrams of secondary cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and antioxidants to create a more potent and balanced blend at a fantastic price.
Best Organic: Joy Organics CBD Oil Tincture
- Type of CBD: Full-spectrum
- Potency: 15+ milligrams of CBD per 1 milliliter dropper
- COA: Available online
- Price: $$$
- Customer review: "I love the Full-Spectrum Lime CBD Tincture with the small amount of THC. It is just enough to help relax me and provides more restful sleep. The taste is really nice too."
Joy Organics full-spectrum CBD oil is USDA organic and comes in delicious flavors, including fresh lime, tranquil mint, orange bliss, summer lemon, and tropical sunrise. The formula is available in four concentrations: 15, 30, 45, and 75 milligrams of CBD per 1 milliliter servings, catering to both beginners and more experienced CBD users. The brand also offers free carbon-neutral shipping on all orders.
Best CBD Isolate: Medterra CBD Oil
- Type of CBD: CBD isolate
- Potency: 16+ milligrams of CBD per 1 milliliter dropper
- COA: Available online
- Price: $$
- Customer review: "This CBD oil is the best I've ever tried. I take it every morning and it is actually affordable."
Medterra's Isolate CBD oil provides the benefits of CBD without THC. The formula contains pure 99% CBD made using a CO2 extraction method. The non-GMO and pesticide-free hemp is grown, extracted, and tested in the US. It's also certified by the US Hemp Authority for following the best industry practices and transparent labeling. Customers report that this oil helps some of them manage anxiety and soreness at an affordable price.
Best for Pain: NuLeaf Naturals Hemp Extract
- Type of CBD: Full-spectrum
- Potency: 30 milligrams of CBD per 1 milliliter dropper
- COA: Available online
- Price: $$$
- Customer review: "NuLeaf has worked very well for me. It takes away most of my pain. It's very powerful. If you take too much it can make you quite groggy, but I am very satisfied with the overall experience."
At 30 milligrams of CBD per 1 milliliter serving, NuLeaf Naturals's full-spectrum hemp extract creates a potent CBD product that has helped some users manage their pain. The whole-plant formula offers an enhanced effect thanks to its complete profile of cannabinoids and terpenes, which is maintained using CO2 extraction. We like that NuLeaf Naturals CBD is so potent, but it's important to take the correct dose to avoid drowsiness or grogginess.
Best CBD Oil Spray: Plus CBD Original Formula Spray
- Type of CBD: Full-spectrum
- Potency: 5 milligrams of CBD per serving (8 pumps)
- COA: Available online
- Price: $$$$
- Customer review: "I absolutely love the pump spray bottle! I wish all CBD oils would come like this instead of a dropper since it makes so much less of a mess and so much easier to use when you are on the go."
If you prefer a spray over drops, Plus CBD's pump is the way to go. Both sizes contain 5 milligrams of CBD per serving and come in peppermint and unflavored options. The hemp oil extract is full-spectrum and has plant-based fatty acids and cannabinoids that can provide additional wellness benefits. Plus CBD is a great option if you're new to CBD and looking for a mild strength to try first.
Best Broad-Spectrum: cbdMD CBD Oil Tincture
- Type of CBD: Broad-spectrum
- Potency: 10+ milligrams of CBD per 1 milliliter dropper
- COA: Available online
- Price: $$
- Customer review: "I love the cbdMD oil tincture because it works well and tastes better than any of the other CBD tinctures I've tried. Other oils can be bitter and hard to swallow, but the cbdMD tincture tastes like coconut oil."
Unlike CBD isolate formulas, this broad-spectrum oil from cbdMD contains minor cannabinoids like CBG and CBN. Available in natural, berry, orange, and mint flavors, the tincture comes in concentrations starting at 10 milligrams of CBD per one milliliter serving and capping at 250 milligrams of CBD per 1 milliliter serving. Reviewers say it helps improve sleep and can help quell anxiety. We also like that it's available in so many different concentrations.
How we determined the best CBD oil brands
Here are the factors we used to compare and review the top CBD companies.
Type of CBD
There are three types of CBD: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate. Full-spectrum oils have all the natural compounds found in the cannabis plant, including trace amounts of THC. Because of this combination, full-spectrum formulas tend to have stronger potencies. Broad-spectrum and CBD isolate products are both THC-free, but unlike broad-spectrum, CBD isolate doesn't contain any secondary cannabinoids.
Hemp source
Hemp source is important to note since American-grown hemp has stricter safety and purity standards throughout the planting, harvesting, and manufacturing processes than overseas hemp. Organic and natural farming practices also ensure the hemp is free of pesticides.
Extraction method
The extraction method a company uses impacts the final product. CO2 extraction is preferred because it produces a very potent and pure CBD blend and is also more environmentally friendly.
Price
To compare the prices of different CBD tinctures, we divided cost by the total amount of CBD in each bottle to find the cost per milligram of CBD. The brands were then labeled using the following ranges:
$ = Under $0.06 per milligram of CBD
$$ = Between $0.07 and $0.10 per milligram of CBD
$$$ = Between $0.10 and $0.12 per milligram of CBD
$$$$ = Over $0.12 per milligram of CBD
Lab testing and certifications
Before being sold to consumers, quality CBD products undergo third-party lab testing with the results easily accessible online and on the packaging. We also looked for brands that earned at least one of the following certifications:
- National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certification
- ISO 9001 certification
- Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification
- U.S. Hemp Authority certification
How does CBD work in the body?
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates a number of other systems in the body by controlling the release of various compounds. The body's natural cannabinoids assist with this regulation by binding to CB1 receptors, as does CBD and other plant-based cannabinoids. That's why CBD is used by some people to help manage mood, sleep, and pain. CBD works indirectly in the ECS by inhibiting the inactivation of anandamide, which is a neurotransmitter. This leads to activity on the CB1 receptors and the release of serotonin, also known as the "feel-good" hormone. As a result, CBD is sometimes used to reduce anxiety.
What can CBD help me with?
Various research shows that CBD may be able to help manage stress, sleep issues, and certain types of pain.
CBD for sleep and anxiety
A 2019 retrospective case study looked at the effects of CBD on sleep and anxiety symptoms. Results showed that nearly 80% of participants who took 25 milligrams of CBD oil daily for one month in capsule form saw reduced anxiety scores and improved sleep.
Another 2019 study found that CBD oil may help treat symptoms of social anxiety disorder. Symptoms were measured using the Fear of Negative Evaluation Questionnaire and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. Participants who took 300 milligrams of CBD oil daily for four weeks saw significantly decreased social anxiety scores on both scales compared to those who took a placebo.In addition, a literature review analyzing the results of eight studies that researched the effects of CBD on anxiety determined that doses between 6 milligrams and 400 milligrams of CBD per day showed promise as an effective alternative treatment for anxiety.
CBD for pain
Research shows that the CB2 receptor, found mostly in the tissues and cells of the nervous system, aids in slowing down the body's chronic inflammatory processes. This anti-inflammatory property can help manage pain.A 2018 study tested the benefits of CBD for people who have multiple sclerosis (MS) and found that it reduced fatigue, spasticity, and pain in some patients. A review of previous research on the efficacy of cannabis-based medicines also determined that CBD might be effective for chronic pain treatment, especially neuropathic pain, which includes MS. But before you start taking CBD oils for pain, consult your doctor to make sure it's the best path for you.
How do you take CBD?
CBD is available in a variety of forms. You can take CBD oil as drops under the tongue or in the form of capsules. If you don't like the taste of CBD tinctures, CBD gummies might be a better choice for you. CBD topicals, like creams, can also be applied directly to pain points.
Not all CBD products take effect at the same rate. CBD gummies and capsules must work their way through the digestive system, which could take one to two hours. On the other hand, CBD oils or sprays that you place under your tongue and topicals smeared on the skin may take just 15 to 45 minutes to start working. Ask your physician for advice on which CBD product to try for your specific needs.
How is CBD dose determined?
CBD doses, or strengths, are measured in milligrams of CBD per serving. For oils, this is typically expressed as milligrams of CBD per 1 milliliter dropper. If you prefer CBD gummies, look at the packaging to see how much CBD is in one gummy or one serving of gummies.
Appropriate doses of CBD differ from person to person. How much you should take depends on a number of different factors, including your height, weight, and whether or not you've used CBD before. Talk to your doctor to determine the amount of CBD you should start with, and pay close attention to the recommended serving size on each product.
Are there any side effects to CBD?
Some people may experience mild side effects from CBD, which typically result from taking too much CBD at one time. They include:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhea
- Reduced appetite
CBD can also negatively interact with certain prescription medications, which may result in liver damage if taken at high doses. Talk to your doctor before incorporating CBD into your daily routine.
With the exception of the seizure medication Epidiolex, CBD products are not currently evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Consult your primary care physician before adding CBD oil to your routine to determine whether it's a safe choice for you.
Can CBD oil be personalized?
Every person will respond a bit differently to CBD oil, so no one product is going to be right for everyone. You may have to try different products, different CBD spectrums, and different forms of CBD to find a formula that works for you.
Takeaway
Look for brands that include independent third-party lab testing. Choose products that use natural or organic ingredients and US-sourced hemp. Check to see what type of CBD the tincture includes to know if it includes THC. Lastly, select an appropriate concentration or strength based on your experience with CBD and your needs.
Staci Gulbin, MS, MEd, RD, is a registered dietitian, freelance writer, health editor, and founder of LighttrackNutrition.com. She has been a registered dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration since 2010 and has over a decade of experience in the nutrition and dietetics industry.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice; it is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before consuming or using any of the products mentioned on this site.
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