Want to start using CBD, but not sure whether to buy oil or gummies?
There’s a lot to account for when picking a CBD product. No option is necessarily better than the other. CBD oil and gummies both interact with your endocannabinoid system and provide benefits.
However, there are other things to consider — ease of use, ingredients, and so on.
In this article, we’ll perform an in-depth comparison of CBD oil and gummies so you can pick the right product for your needs.
What is CBD Oil?
CBD oil (also sometimes called CBD tincture) is a CBD product consisting of hemp extract, carrier oil, and sometimes, added terpenes.
CBD oil typically comes in a 1 oz. (30 milliliters) bottle with a metered dropper for measuring your dose.
What are CBD Gummies?
CBD gummies are a type of CBD edible. They’re just like regular gummy candy, but infused with CBD.
Gummies typically come in jars or pouches containing 10, 20, or 50 pieces. Each piece will contain a set amount of CBD.
CBD Oil vs. Gummies: How They’re Made & Ingredients
Now that you know what CBD oil and CBD gummies are, let’s take a closer look at how they’re made and what they’re made of.
CBD Oil
CBD oil is made by combining pure hemp extract with a carrier oil. The purpose of carrier oil is twofold: to make the hemp extract into a consumable product (an oil), and to provide healthy fat to help your body absorb the CBD once you take it.
Common carrier oils are MCT (medium chain triglycerides), coconut oil, and hempseed oil.
Ingredients for CBD oil are usually minimal. If there are lots of ingredients, there may be cause for concern.
As an example, here is the ingredients list of our Soothe CBD Oil:
Hemp extract, natural terpene blend, medium chain triglycerides.
CBD Gummies
CBD gummies are made just as regular gummies are, but with hemp extract (CBD) added. The gummy is made from the standard gelatin, corn syrup, and pectin base.
Food acids, as well as natural and artificial flavors, are added for taste.
As gelatin is an animal product, many companies (including ours) carry vegan CBD gummies without gelatin.
As an example, here are the ingredients of our CBD Gummy Squares (50mg CBD per piece):
Corn syrup, sugar (from beets), water, CBD hemp extract, gelatin, citric acid, pectin (derived from fruit), vegetable oil (canola, coconut oil), carnauba leaf wax (to prevent sticking), natural and artificial flavors/coloring, granulated sugar on outside to prevent sticking.
Types of CBD & Why Full-Spectrum is the Best
Before you choose between gummies and oil, you’ll want to make sure you’re buying the right blend of CBD.
There are a few different types of CBD:
- Full-spectrum CBD — Contains CBD and small amounts of cannabinoids such as CBG, CBN, CBC, and THC. Additionally, will contain terpenes, which are naturally-occurring compounds in the hemp plant that render additional benefits.
- Broad-spectrum CBD — The exact same as full-spectrum CBD, but without the THC.
- CBD Isolate — Just CBD, with no other cannabinoids or terpenes.
For most uses, full-spectrum CBD is the most beneficial type of CBD. This is because cannabinoids render more benefits when taken in combination — a concept known as the entourage effect. At the same dosage, full-spectrum CBD is more effective than any other type of CBD.
The one exception to this is if you have to undergo regular drug testing. In this case, you won’t want THC in your system (even if it’s legal in hemp-derived products), so you’ll need to opt for a CBD product with no THC, such as broad-spectrum or isolate products.
Bioavailability & Efficacy of CBD Oil vs. Gummies
Bioavailability is the percentage of CBD you consume that your body actually uses. In other words, how strong a product is.
In terms of bioavailability, CBD oil is the better product. While CBD gummies are just 10-20% bioavailable, CBD oil is 20-30% bioavailable.
This may seem like a small difference on the surface, but think of it like this: CBD oil is roughly 1.5 times as strong as CBD gummies!
NOTE: If you want to increase the bioavailability of any CBD product, consume it along with fatty foods, such as avocados and peanut butter. This helps your body better absorb the CBD.
CBD Oil vs. Gummies: Effect Onset & Duration
When it comes to effect onset (the time it takes to begin feeling the effects after using a product), CBD oil is faster.
CBD oil is taken sublingually, or under the tongue. It travels directly to your bloodstream via the blood vessels in your mouth. As a result, it will begin working in just 10-15 minutes.
CBD gummies, however, are swallowed and have to pass through the digestive system. Because of this, they take 45 minutes to 1 hour to begin working.
In terms of the duration for which you’ll feel the effects, CBD oil and gummies are fairly consistent. Both products typically work for 4-6 hours, with a peak at around 3 hours after consumption.
CBD Oil vs. Gummies: Taste & User Experience
CBD gummies win on taste. They provide the familiar flavor of gummy candy, with a slight hint of hemp. CBD oil has an earthy, slightly bitter flavor — this can be a sticking point for some people.
CBD gummies are also much easier to use. Each piece contains the same amount of CBD, so you can take a gummy whenever needed without worrying about measuring your dose. You can also split the pieces into halves or fourths if you need a smaller dose.
CBD oil requires more precise measurement. While it allows you to calculate finite dosages, it does take time to properly measure your dose.
Additionally, you have to wait 1-2 minutes for CBD oil to absorb under your tongue. With gummies, you just pop one in your mouth and you’re done.
Which Product is More Convenient for On-the-Go Use?
Because CBD gummies don’t require dosage measurement, aren’t messy, and can be taken quickly and easily, they’re more convenient (and discreet) if you need CBD while on the go.
CBD Oil vs. Gummies: Dosing Considerations
However, the way you measure your CBD dosage will be different for each product:
CBD Oil Dosage
If you’re taking CBD oil, the amount of CBD per one dropper of oil (1 milliliter, or 1/30 of the bottle) will vary depending on the total amount of CBD oil in the bottle:
100mg bottle = 3.3mg CBD per 1 ml.
250mg bottle = 8.3mg CBD per 1 ml.
500mg bottle = 16.7mg CBD per 1 ml.
1000mg bottle = 33.3mg CBD per 1 ml.
1500mg bottle = 50mg CBD per 1 ml.
3000mg bottle = 100mg CBD per 1 ml.
5000mg bottle = 166.6mg CBD per 1 ml.
CBD Gummy Dosage
When it comes to gummies, the amount of CBD per piece will usually be consistent and will be written on the packaging. You can also cut your gummies into halves or fourths if you need a smaller dose.
Haven’t figured out your CBD dosage yet? Check our CBD dosage guide and easy dosing chart!
Which Product is More Cost-Effective?
Generally, CBD gummies are more expensive than CBD oil.
On average:
- Oils typically cost $0.05 – $0.20 per mg of CBD
- Gummies typically cost $0.10 – $0.50 per mg of CBD
To figure out the cost per milligram of a product, divide the cost of the product in cents by the mg of CBD it contains.
Many variables can affect the cost, so be sure to evaluate a product on multiple dimensions. For example, some of our CBD oils actually cost a little bit more than our gummies because we add extra terpenes.
CBD Oil vs. Gummies for Anxiety
CBD oil is the stronger product, so in theory, it’s better for anxiety. But as you’ve seen, there are things to consider besides strength.
If you deal with social anxiety or otherwise need to use CBD on the go, CBD gummies may be more convenient. They’re quick, portable, and aren’t messy.
CBD Oil vs. Gummies for Pain
For pain, we recommend CBD oil because it is stronger than CBD in edible form.** Often, you’ll need larger dosages of CBD for pain, so choosing CBD oil will save you money in the long run.
CBD Oil vs. Gummies for Sleep
Using CBD for sleep requires a lot of experimentation — both in terms of dosage size and when you take your dosage.
Because of this, we recommend CBD oil for sleep, as you can slowly adjust your dosage each night until you land on the perfect amount.
Where to Buy CBD Oil & CBD Gummies
CBD oil and CBD gummies can be found at your local CBD store, or online. We do not recommend buying CBD products from gas stations or smoke shops: these products are often fake, weak, or dangerous.
When shopping for CBD oil or gummies, you want products that are:
- 3rd-party lab tested to verify efficacy and safety
- DEA compliant to verify legality
- Proven to work
Obviously, we’re a bit biased, but our products at Natural Ways CBD meet all three of these requirements. Everything we sell is made with 3rd-party lab tested, made with American-grown hemp, but most importantly, actually works.
Since our founding in 2019, we’ve helped thousands of people achieve a better quality of life with our CBD, THC, and other products. Our customers use CBD for stress, anxiety, pain, sleep, and so much more — so we’re confident we can help you, too.
And we’re not just an online business — we have six brick-and-mortar stores in the Houston, Texas area. Our product formulations and selections are based on real-time, in-person feedback from hundreds of people. This ensures that everything on our in-store AND online shelves is the best quality it can be.
Click here to shop online, or, use the button below.
You won’t find weak, ineffective, or dangerous products here. Only high-strength, American-made CBD products that have been 3rd-party lab tested. You deserve better.
How to Choose Between CBD Oil and CBD Gummies
If you’re looking for a quick, easy product with fixed-dose servings, CBD gummies may be the best option. If you’re looking for a more potent option with precise dosing, you might consider choosing CBD oil.
Both products have pros and cons. Whether you choose oil or gummies ultimately depends on what you’re looking for in a CBD product.
You might also find that neither CBD oil nor CBD gummies do it for you, and you need to explore more options. In that case, check out our comparisons of CBD water-soluble vs. CBD oil and CBD capsules vs. CBD oil.
CBD Oil vs. Gummies: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions customers frequently ask us when trying to decide which CBD product to use.
Is it better to take CBD oil or gummies?
CBD oil is stronger than gummies, with roughly 1.5 times the bioavailability. However, both products have upsides and downsides, and neither is necessarily better.
Are gummies more potent than CBD oil?
No, CBD gummies are not more potent than CBD oil. CBD oil is roughly 1.5 times as bioavailable as CBD gummies.
What is the downside of CBD gummies?
Although CBD gummies are easy to dose and taste great, they aren’t as strong as CBD oil. CBD oil is about 1.5 times as bioavailable as CBD gummies.
What’s the difference between CBD edibles and oil?
While CBD edibles offer consistent dosing by piece, CBD oil requires you to measure your dose each time. CBD oil is roughly 20-30% bioavailable, whereas CBD gummies are just 10-20% bioavailable.
