Short answer: Krill oil and fish oil both give you omega-3. Fish oil packs more omega-3 into each pill and costs less. Krill oil comes with the krill’s own red antioxidant, called astaxanthin, and its omega-3 is in a different natural form. Which one works for you is something only you can judge, by how you feel.
We make krill oil, so we have a side. That’s why this page sticks to things you can check.
Krill oil vs fish oil at a glance
| Krill oil | Fish oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Comes from | Antarctic krill, tiny shrimp-like animals | Oily fish like anchovy, sardine and salmon |
| Omega-3 per pill | Less | More |
| Form of the omega-3 | Mostly bound to phospholipids | Mostly triglycerides or ethyl esters |
| Natural astaxanthin (red color) | Yes, from the krill itself | No, unless it is added |
| Pill size | Usually small | Often large |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
| Shellfish allergy | Do not take it | Check the label |
Is krill oil the same as fish oil?
No. Both carry the same two omega-3s, EPA and DHA, but they come from different animals and arrive in different natural forms. In krill oil, much of the omega-3 is attached to phospholipids, the same kind of fat your cell walls are made of. In fish oil it is mostly attached to triglycerides, the most common kind of fat in food.
Is krill oil better than fish oil?
We won’t tell you either one is “better.” Here is what can be measured: fish oil fits more omega-3 into each pill. A lab can count milligrams, and a blood test can show how much omega-3 shows up in your blood. Neither one can tell you how you feel. That part is yours to judge.
What we see with our own customers: most people who take Captains for more than three months keep taking it for years. They tell us they feel the difference. That is their experience, not a lab result, and we’d rather you try it and decide for yourself.
Krill oil vs fish oil: the fishy burps
Fishy burps are the top reason people quit omega-3 pills. A big cause is oil that has gone stale. Fresh oil smells like the ocean. Old oil smells sharp and fishy, and it tends to “repeat” on you. Many of our customers came to krill oil because fish oil kept repeating on them.
Want to check any oil? Cut a softgel open and smell it. For Captains, you can also look up the freshness test for your exact bottle. The lot number is printed in red on top of the cap. Check your lot here.
How much omega-3 is in krill oil vs fish oil?
Our latest lot of Captains (lot 80144-2, harvested April 18, 2026) has 309 mg of total omega-3 in a serving of two softgels, with 152 mg EPA and 96 mg DHA. It also has 401 mg of phospholipids and 1.56 mg of astaxanthin. Many fish oil softgels list several hundred milligrams of EPA and DHA in one pill. If counting milligrams is how you choose, fish oil will win that count, and we won’t argue with it.
Krill oil vs fish oil dosage
A Captains serving is two softgels a day, which is 1,000 mg of krill oil. One bottle has 60 softgels, so it lasts 30 days. There is no official daily amount for EPA and DHA. If your doctor gave you a number, follow your doctor.
Krill oil vs fish oil side effects
Both can cause an upset stomach, loose stools or a fishy taste. Do not take krill oil if you are allergic to shellfish. Omega-3s can have a mild effect on blood clotting at high doses, so if you take a blood thinner (like warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Plavix or daily aspirin) or have surgery coming up, check with your doctor first. The same goes if you are pregnant, nursing, or giving it to a child.
Why does krill oil cost more?
Krill live in the waters around Antarctica, which is a long, costly trip. Captains is pressed right on the boat, with no chemical solvents, and bottled in small batches. That costs more than making oil in a big factory. A bottle of Captains is $59.97, or $41.98 a month if you subscribe, which is about $1.40 a day. Whether that’s worth it is your call. Here is where the money goes.
How Captains is different
- Pressed on the boat, mechanically. No hexane, no solvents, nothing added.
- Small batches, so the oil doesn’t sit in drums.
- Every lot is tested, and we publish the results, including the freshness number. See every lot.
- Feel Better or It’s Free: if you’re not happy, send back what’s left, even an empty bottle, for your money back.
Try Captains Krill Oil, $59.97 a bottle, or subscribe and save, and pause or cancel any time in one click.
Questions people ask
Can I take krill oil and fish oil together?
Some people do: one for the milligram count, and Captains alongside it. If you take a blood thinner, check with your doctor first, since the omega-3 adds up.
Is krill oil from Costco the same?
We can only speak for our own oil. Ask any brand two questions: how was the oil extracted, and what was the peroxide value (the freshness number) for your lot? We publish both for Captains.
Can I take krill oil if I’m allergic to fish?
Krill are shellfish, not fish. If you have a shellfish allergy, don’t take krill oil. If you only have a fish allergy, ask your doctor before trying it.
How do I know if my oil is fresh?
Smell a softgel: fresh oil smells like the ocean, and old oil smells sharp and fishy. For Captains, look up your lot’s freshness test. Ours measured under 0.19 for the latest lot, and the limit is 5.0. Lower is fresher.