Style
Best CBD Brands: Our Top Picks and Reviews
The best CBD brands in 2025
The best CBD brands have a positive reputation; all their products undergo third-party testing. They also offer a wide range of products and are very clear about dosage and ingredients.
We tested more than 15 brands that passed our rigorous vetting standards and narrowed the list down to seven of the best options.
Below, we have highlighted a product from each brand.
Medical News Today has tested some of the products from the brands featured below. Reviewers may have received some products from the manufacturers for free, which does not influence their review. All opinions are the reviewers’ own.
How we chose the best CBD brands and products
We selected these CBD products and brands according to criteria we think are reliable indicators of safety, quality, and transparency.
As a part of our vetting process, we consider:
the product’s composition, ingredients, and overall quality
any third-party certifications
the company’s reputation and business practices
any lab test results
marketing claims
How to choose CBD products
When looking for a CBD product, a person might consider:
Hemp source: Some companies source hemp responsibly. People may wish to consider the environmental effects of a company’s harvesting and manufacturing process. Plus, not all CBD brands use United States-grown hemp — instead, they import it from other countries.
Speed: Some products may work more quickly than others. How quickly a person would like to feel the effects of their CBD product may influence the type of product they choose.
THC content: People who wish to avoid THC can choose isolate or broad-spectrum products over full-spectrum products.
Legality: CBD and THC regulations vary by state, so ensure a product is legal before purchasing it.
Dosage: People should only buy products with clear dosage instructions. They need to avoid CBD products that do not state how much CBD a serving contains.
Unsupported health claims: Some CBD brands make health claims regarding their products. Currently, the -Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source has only approved one CBD product for medical use. A person should not buy products that claim to cure serious diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, or mental health conditions. Anyone with concerns about their health needs to speak with a doctor.
How to use CBD
Scientific data on the safest and most effective ways to use CBD is limited. However, early studiesTrusted Source suggest CBD may help relieve symptoms of conditions such as anxiety as well as psychosis in people with schizophrenia.
Still, more research is necessary before health experts can draw firm conclusions.
Ingestible products, such as CBD oils, capsules, and gummies, may work better for relaxation and easing stress than topicals. Topicals are typically more suitable for treating minor aches and pains and soothing the skin.
People interested in using CBD need to start slowly, using small doses and slowly working up until they find the dose that works for their needs. Buyers should always discuss CBD with a doctor before they try it.
Overview of CBD
CBD is one of the many cannabinoids presentTrusted Source in the Cannabis sativa (C. sativa) plant. ResearchTrusted Source states that CBD is nonintoxicating.
However, some CBD products also contain another cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the compound that produces the feeling of being “high.”
CBD in products
CBD is available in many forms, includingTrusted Source:
cigarettes for smoking or vaping
rectal or vaginal suppositories
tinctures or sprays to apply under the tongue
nasal sprays
creams, lotions, and oils
edibles, such as capsules and gummies
The FDA does not oversee CBD products in the same way as drugs or dietary supplements. As a result, companies may sometimes mislabel or misrepresent their products. Therefore, people need to ensure they do their research and find a quality product that is right for them.
Learn more about how to shop for CBD products.
CBD extract types
Extracts of CBD fall into one of the following categoriesTrusted Source:
Full-spectrum: This comes from the C. sativa plant. It contains essential oils and other compounds, including less than 0.3% THC.
Broad-spectrum: This is similar to full-spectrum but has had the THC removed.
Isolate: This is the purest form of CBD. It contains no other cannabis compounds.
CBD rules and regulations
Legalities concerning CBD are complex. While C. sativa plants containing less than 0.3% THC are no longerTrusted Source a controlled substance under federal law, some states may still prohibit its use.
However, some CBD products do not come from the hemp plant and may contain higher THC levels. These remain illegal in many areas of the United States.
Safety and efficacy
The National Center for Health Research (NCHR) lists the following reported side effects of CBD:
tiredness
drowsiness
dry mouth
reduced appetite
diarrhea
Moreover, some animal studies suggest CBD may harm the liverTrusted Source and central nervous system, which consists of the brain and spinal cord. The NCHR also states the dosage of CBD on product labels is sometimes inaccurate, which could add to the potential harm.
The FDATrusted Source cautions that there is a need for further research into several CBD safety concerns, such as the effects of its long-term use or the dosages that may trigger risks.
Efficacy
Epidiolex, a prescription medication containing CBD, has approval to treat rare forms of epilepsy. The FDATrusted Source approved it to treat certain seizures. However, research has not yet proven CBD’s value for other conditions.
A 2020 reviewTrusted Source examined clinical trials to determine the effectiveness of CBD. It found low quality evidence to support its use for anxiety and moderate evidence for its use for psychosis in people with schizophrenia.
The authors of the review also reported that researchers should conduct more extensive clinical trials to confirm the effectiveness of CBD for:
ulcerative colitis
cholesterol abnormalities
Crohn’s disease