Osteo Bi-Flex and Move Free are readily available over-the-counter joint supplements, meaning you can read this, drive to your local pharmacy, and have it in your hands. But which one is better for joint pain relief?
Osteo Bi-Flex is one of the more effective joint supplements on the market. Move Free has been the least helpful of the dozen I have tried, so Osteo Bi-Flex is the clear winner.
Glucosamine, vitamin D, and boswellia are well-known substances that combat joint pain, and Osteo Bi-Flex has them in proper doses, making it an effective supplement.
With that said, they do not cover all possible reasons for joint pain, and some people need something more comprehensive, which is why I always recommend FlexAgain to people suffering from more serious or persistent issues.
| Feature | Winner |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Osteo Bi-Flex |
| Dosage | Osteo Bi-Flex |
| Joint Relief Effectiveness | Osteo Bi-Flex |
| Third-Party Testing | Draw |
| Clinical Research | Draw |
| Side Effects | Draw |
| User Reviews | Osteo Bi-Flex |
| Price | Draw |
Quick Verdict
Based on my testing and formulation breakdown, neither Osteo Bi-Flex nor Move Free is as effective as FlexAgain. FlexAgain is a more potent joint supplement with an effective formulation for joint pain relief and support.
What Is Move Free?
Schiff Vitamins, a well-known supplement brand, manufactures Move Free Ultra Triple Action.
The company has a long-standing reputation for producing high-quality supplements. Reckitt Benckiser purchased Schiff Vitamins in 2012. They also manufacture other well-known household supplements, like the nootropic Neuriva.
The supplement is aimed at older adults who want to prevent and possibly reverse the natural wear and tear on their joints and cartilage. The collagen in the product is one of the most essential substances for joint health and elasticity.
If you want to know more about how my 30-day trial went, you can read my Move Free review.
What Is Osteo Bi-Flex?
Osteo Bi-Flex is arguably the most popular joint health supplement. The company has played an important role in the joint health supplement market for nearly two decades.
There are different versions of Osteo Bi-Flex, all of which promise to provide the body with powerful nutrients that alleviate joint pain and discomfort while increasing mobility.
Like many other supplements in this category, Osteo Bi-Flex is primarily aimed at older adults—people who want to continue doing what they enjoy, be active, and avoid letting joint pain, stiffness, and discomfort interfere with their lives.
I tested it for 30 days and presented my results in my Osteo Bi-Flex review.
Move Free vs. Osteo Bi-Flex Main Differences
Benefits
Both supplements aim to alleviate joint discomfort and maintain or restore optimal joint function.
Supplements such as Move Free and Osteo Bi-Flex use natural ingredients such as plants, herbs, amino acids, and other substances to reduce joint discomfort with minimal adverse effects.
Prescription medicine always has side effects, while dietary supplements supply nutrients to the body, enhancing and facilitating the body’s natural healing processes without risk.
Move Free supplies the body with collagen type 2, a protein found in healthy cartilage. This protein works with the immune system to maintain flexibility and mobility by ensuring joints function without friction.
Osteo Bi-Flex harnesses the power of glucosamine, which the body uses to make other chemicals that build tendons, cartilage, and the fluid surrounding joints. Glucosamine is commonly used to treat joint pain, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Ingredients
Osteo Bi-Flex has a transparent ingredient list with each dosage disclosed, while Move Free has one proprietary blend and a couple of individual components inside.
Let’s start with Osteo Bi-Flex since it has the better formulation.
Osteo Bi-Flex is available in several variations with slightly different formulations. However, each one contains 1500 mg of Glucosamine HCL, which is always the key ingredient.
The most potent version of the product is Triple Strength + Vitamin D, which is why I used it for my Osteo Bi-Flex test.
Glucosamine is one of the best-known substances for relieving joint pain. It encourages healthy joints and comfortable movement.
The recommended dosage for glucosamine sulfate is 1500 mg, which is matched in Osteo-Bi Flex with glucosamine HCL[1].
HCL is stronger than sulfate so it requires less to be effective. As a result, the extremely high dose of Osteo Bi-Flex is certain to deliver positive effects for many users.
Another common combination in joint health supplements is chondroitin and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). Chondroitin is thought to improve cartilage health, while MSM is well-known for its anti-inflammatory effects [2].
However, the dose of 275 mg is likely too low to deliver meaningful benefits.
Boswellia is a natural anti-inflammatory agent that relieves joint pain and stiffness and is included in a proper dose in Osteo Bi-Flex [3].
Osteo Bi-Flex triple strength also includes 2000 UIs of vitamin D, which is an excellent complement to the mix. Most people have low vitamin D levels, and deficiency can cause joint pain.
The center of Move Free’s Ultra Triplle action formulation is the proprietary cartilage blend, which contains collagen type 2. Supplementation with collagen is known to improve joint stiffness, mobility, and cartilage healing [4].
However, the studies proving this were done with daily doses of 5-15 grams, while Move Free contains only 40 mg or 11 times less than recommended.
Furthermore, the evidence of the effectiveness of oral collagen intake is conflicting [5].
Hyaluronic Acid is another highly popular substance that benefits the joints by improving joint lubrication.
But again, the dosage of 3.3 mg is way too low to provide any meaningful effect [6].
The last ingredient in Move Free is boron, which can help balance hormone levels and contribute to certain joint conditions [7].
Effectiveness
Given its high glucosamine concentration, Osteo Bi-Flex is unquestionably the more effective product.
The triple-strength form is the most potent due to the high vitamin D and Boswelia concentrations, but all versions contain 1500 mg of glucosamine HCl, which is usually sufficient to give significant pain relief, especially if the cause of pain is a type of arthritis.
Move Free is the least effective joint pain supplement I have tried, and this should be enough to explain how potent it is.
Clinical Research
Move Free and Osteo Bi-Flex are primarily composed of well-studied substances, and I’ve provided some of the most important studies in the ingredients section. However, neither supplement has undergone full formula studies, but this is the same for all joint health supplements.
The studies also provide information on effective dosages, allowing us to estimate a product’s effectiveness even before using it, especially when there are no proprietary blends to hide the dosages.
Side Effects
Dietary supplements are generally considered safe, but there is always a chance for side effects in some people.
Move Free contains collagen derived from poultry, which can trigger allergic reactions in individuals with allergies to certain animal products.
Both Move Free and Osteo Bi-Flex may also cause stomach issues like nauseas or diarrhea, but these issues are usually mild and subside rather quickly.
User Reviews
Osteo Bi-Flex is a hugely popular product on Amazon in all of its versions. It is generally recognized for its effectiveness and worth.
However, I’d like to address one prevalent concern: the size of the tablets. Many customers have mentioned that the pills are difficult to swallow, so bear this in mind, as the recommended daily amount is two tablets.
There is also a version called One a Day, which has a daily dose of one tablet, but it’s less potent than the Triple Strength I am using for this review.
Looking at consumer ratings on several websites reveals a mixed story. Amazon buyers rated it 4 out of 5 stars which is not bad at all.
However, most 4— and 5-star reviews acknowledge the single, easy-to-swallow pill. I understand the convenience of this, especially compared to the huge Osteo Bi-Flex tablet, but I assume Move Free is so small because of the negligible doses of each component.
One- and two-star reviews describe comparable experiences to mine, with zero change in joint pain. Furthermore, some customers have reported skin rashes and bloating.
Price
Osteo Bi-Flex is sold in multiple versions and different bottle sizes, and it’s impossible to list all of them in a single comparison table. Make sure to check what options provide the best value and look for frequent sales. The price listed here is for the Triple Strength version with vitamin D I’ve personally tested.
Move Free also comes in a few different versions, and I’ve chosen the Ultra Triple action to review.
| Joint Supplement | 1 Bottle |
|---|---|
| Move Free Ultra Triple Action | $29.99 / 64 servings ($0.46/serving) |
| Osteo Bi-Flex Triple Strength with Vit D | $30.16 / 60 servings ($0.50/serving) |
My Experience With Move Free And Osteo Bi-Flex
I had completely different experiences with the two supplements. Osteo Bi-Flex helped me with my nagging knee pain, and I could almost literally feel how my inflammation subsided. This generally matched my expectations because I’ve used glucosamine in the past, and it works well for me.
By the end of the one-month test, I was satisfied with the effect and the low price I had to pay to get it.
I can’t say the same for Move Free except for the price. This has to be one of the worst joint health supplements I have tried. Several products haven’t had the desired effect, but I could sense how my pain increased with Move Free.
This is likely a nocebo effect as I realize the supplement can’t worsen my condition, but I am 100% sure it did not help me one bit.
Should You Choose Move Free Or Osteo Bi-Flex?
I strongly recommend Osteo Bi-Flex over Move Free. The high glucosamine dose, paired with vitamin D, makes it an effective joint health supplement that can help with various conditions and relieve pain caused by arthritis or vitamin D deficiency.
Furthermore, Osteo Bi-Flex is very affordable at $0.50 per dose.
Move Free has the same attractive price but none of the benefits. The product had no effect on me, and judging by its simple formulation and super low doses, I have suspicions about the people who claim it was helpful.
This settles the comparison between Osteo Bi-Flex and Move Free, but there are many more proven joint pain and health ingredients not found in Osteo Bi-Flex. If the product is not good enough for you, you can try FlexAgain, which has the most powerful formula currently available.
FlexAgain
FlexAgain
A powerful, clinically dosed joint supplement to alleviate joint pain and improve joint health.
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References
- Fox, B. A., & Stephens, M. M. (2007). Glucosamine hydrochloride is used to treat osteoarthritis symptoms. Clinical interventions in aging, 2(4), 599-604.
- Butawan, M., Benjamin, R. L., & Bloomer, R. J. (2017). Methylsulfonylmethane: applications and safety of a novel dietary supplement. Nutrients, 9(3), 290.
- Yu, G., Xiang, W., Zhang, T., Zeng, L., Yang, K., & Li, J. (2020). Effectiveness of Boswellia and Boswellia extract for osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 20, 1-16.
- Lugo, J. P., Saiyed, Z. M., Lau, F. C., Molina, J. P. L., Pakdaman, M. N., Shamie, A. N., & Udani, J. K. (2013). Undenatured type II collagen (UC-II®) for joint support: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy volunteers. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 10(1), 48.
- Woo, T., Lau, L., Cheng, N., Chan, P., Tan, K., & Gardner, A. (2017). Efficacy of oral collagen in joint pain-osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. J Arthritis, 6(233), 2.
- Migliore, A., & Procopio, S. (2015). Effectiveness and utility of hyaluronic acid in osteoarthritis. Clinical Cases in Mineral and Bone Metabolism, 12(1), 31.
- Travers, R. L., Rennie, G. C., & Newnham, R. E. (1990). Boron and arthritis: the results of a double-blind pilot study. Journal of Nutritional Medicine, 1(2), 127-132.
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