Our team tested and chose the best CBD oils based on potency, effects, flavor, and price. Cornbread’s full-spectrum oil was a tester favorite, while oils from Medterra, Joy Organics, and more were great for flavor and potency.

Alongside CBD gummies, CBD oils and tinctures are some of the most common forms of CBD you’ll find as you shop. When taken sublingually (let to sit under the tongue), CBD oils may also be more effective.

“If sublinguals are applied and absorbed correctly, then the bioavailability can be greater,” explained Dominique Fontaine, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, HWNC-BC, integrative nurse specialist.

She explains that this is because the oral mucosa absorbs the CBD, and it avoids traveling through the stomach and liver. Your gastrointestinal system will break down capsules and gummies before they hit your bloodstream, and depending on your unique digestive system, this can decrease bioavailability from a range of roughly 20% to 30% to 6% to 30%.

So, CBD oils show more promise if you’re not having luck with gummies. But not all brands are reliable.

Our medical standards team has evaluated more than 450 CBD oils and tinctures, making sure lab testing results are current, heavy metals and pesticides are not detected, and THC does not exceed allowable limits. Our team also fact-checks health claims against the most current research.

Now for the fun part: Once the brands pass this initial vetting, we try the CBD oils to provide feedback on taste, experience, and effects. To date, we’ve tested almost 30 CBD oils.

Here are the best CBD oils our team recommends after vetting and testing.

Product
CBD type
Potency
(per 30-mL bottle)
Flavors
available
Cornbread Hemp
full-spectrum
375 mg to 1,500 mg
unflavored
Medterra
isolate
500 mg to 6,000 mg
unflavored
CBDistillery
full-spectrum
1,000 mg
Natural
Aspen Green
full-spectrum
1,000 mg to 3,000 mg
Original, Citrus, Mint
Joy Organics
full-spectrum
450 mg to 2,250 mg
Tropical, Fresh Lime, Tranquil Mint, Orange Bliss, Unflavored, Summer Lemon
cbdMD
broad-spectrum
300 mg to 7,500 mg
Natural, Berry, Orange
Lazarus Naturals
full-spectrum
1,500 mg
Classic, Chocolate Mint, Strawberry Lemonade

We selected these CBD oils based on criteria we think are good indicators of safety, quality, and transparency.

Why Trust Healthline
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How we evaluate CBD oils and tinctures

Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We fact-check health claims, evaluate ingredients, and look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline.

To choose the products on this page, we considered all the CBD oils that passed our vetting process. Then, we personally tested some of them to narrow down our list even further. Read more about how we test CBD products.

There are a number of potential benefits associated with CBD oil. Research has shown that CBD may:

Shake the bottle before use to ensure proper consistency. For maximum absorption, hold it under your tongue for 30 seconds to a few minutes before swallowing.

To determine how many drops to take, follow the recommended dosage provided by the manufacturer or your healthcare professional.

Start with a small dose. Over time, you can increase the dose and frequency until you achieve your desired results. But be sure to talk with a healthcare professional before making changes to the recommended dosage.

Appropriate serving sizes for CBD vary greatly depending on individual factors, such as:

  • intended use
  • body weight
  • metabolism
  • body chemistry

Doses should be taken at least 4 to 6 hours apart. You can take CBD at any time of day. If you’re using it to improve sleep, take it before bed.

The immediate effects of CBD usually take effect within 30 to 90 minutes, but long-term results may take several weeks to achieve.

You can also mix CBD oil into drinks and food, but this may affect absorption.

Store CBD oils and tinctures in a dry, cool place away from direct heat and sunlight. Make sure the cap is closed tightly after each use. It’s not necessary to refrigerate the product, but it may help prolong its shelf life.

Avoid touching your mouth with the dropper to prevent bacterial contamination and preserve the quality of the oil.

CBD oil is not the same as hempseed oil, which is sometimes labeled as hemp oil.

CBD oil is made from the flower, bud, stems, and leaves of the cannabis plant. Hempseed oil is made from hemp seeds and doesn’t contain any CBD.

Hempseed oil can be used topically for skin health and taken orally as a supplement or food additive.

CBD oil may be taken orally, or it can be added to balms and moisturizers and applied topically.

No, you don’t need to take CBD oil with food. But if you don’t like the taste, you may find that ingesting CBD oil by mixing it with a beverage gives it a better taste.

Most people are unlikely to experience issues when taking CBD, but minor side effects can occur, such as:

  • diarrhea
  • fatigue
  • weight and appetite changes

Evidence suggests that CBD is pretty safe to use, though it may cause mild side effects in some people.

If you’re taking any prescription medications, it’s a good idea to talk with a healthcare professional before mixing CBD with your current medications.

Because CBD isn’t rigorously regulated, it’s important to buy only from reputable sources. This helps make sure that you’re consuming the safest version of the product available.

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a CBD oil is how strong you want it to be.

If you’re newer to CBD, you may want to err on the side of caution and opt for a lower potency product before working up to stronger ones.

Also think about the CBD type. Isolate and broad-spectrum CBD can help you avoid THC exposure, but full-spectrum CBD may have more noticeable effects.

Always choose a CBD oil that goes through third-party testing with easy to access results. This ensures you’re getting a safe, quality product.

Your individual needs will determine which type of CBD is most effective.

If you’re looking for stronger effects, you may prefer full-spectrum CBD over an isolate or broad-spectrum product. Oils and gummies may have calming and relaxing effects across your whole body, while topical products will provide more targeted relief from pain.

CBD oil is generally well tolerated and safe to use, though negative reactions, such as fatigue and digestive issues, are possible.

Talk with your healthcare professional before taking CBD if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, have any medical conditions, or take any over-the-counter or prescription medications or supplements.

CBD is legal in many parts of the United States, but most manufacturers require you to be at least age 18 years old to purchase their product. It may not be legal in all countries.

Check your local laws before buying CBD. When buying online, confirm with the manufacturer that it’ll ship to your area, but also check local laws.

Since CBD products can contain trace amounts of THC, it’s still possible for them to show up on a drug test. Avoid taking CBD products if this is a concern.

Healthline has sole editorial control over this article. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. The information in this article is intended to be general in nature. It’s not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from a healthcare professional. Healthline encourages you to make any treatment decisions with your healthcare professional.

Is CBD legal? The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC legal at the federal level. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3% THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them illegal at the federal level. Some states have legalized CBD, so be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the FDA has not approved nonprescription CBD products, and some products may be inaccurately labeled.