Softgel Sourcebook · Updated November 8, 2026 · Guide editorial desk
Best Private Label & Custom Softgel Manufacturers (2026)
Six softgel suppliers, compared on what their own public pages state: launch route, minimum order and its unit, shell materials, fill and testing support, packaging and the handoff from first run to reorder. Use it to build a sharper quote request, then verify every claim with the supplier.
Private label and custom softgel manufacturers compared
Order reflects editorial fit for the stated use, not a numeric score. "Not verified" means the reviewed page did not state it.
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| # | Manufacturer | Fit | Shells and release | Stated minimum and unit | Stated lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peakfinity Labs | Top pick for ecommerce softgel programs with US coordination | Gelatin and vegetarian wording; enteric coating listed | Finished catalog: 0 MOQ subject to SKU availability. Private label/custom softgels: 2,000 units/SKU stated; confirm pieces vs finished packs | 4–6 weeks after formula, label and pack approval; 21-day rush when accepted |
| 2 | SIRIO Europe | Plant-shell composition and built-in enteric development | Plantegrity: carrageenan + cornstarch, gellan gum + cornstarch, carrageenan chewable, EnteriClear gellan enteric shell | Not verified on reviewed page | Not verified |
| 3 | Robinson Pharma | Tapioca vegetarian options and customized presentation | Gelatin plus tapioca-based vegetarian softgels; chewable option | Not verified on reviewed page | Not verified |
| 4 | Catalent | Plant-based fill-feasibility and commercial scale-up | Vegicaps carrageenan-derived plant shell | Not verified; small-scale development is not proof of a low commercial MOQ | Not verified |
| 5 | Aenova | Plant softgels with enteric coating and multiple packing routes | VegaGels plant shell (polymer not stated on reviewed page); enteric coating possible | Not verified on reviewed page | Not verified |
| 6 | SMP Nutra | A public custom-softgel minimum for volume planning | Not verified from FAQ | Custom softgels: 300,000 pieces or 5,000 bottles (FAQ) | General FAQ: 8–10 weeks after label receipt for new customers; reorders 6–8 weeks |
Softgel supplier profiles
1. Peakfinity Labs
Top pick for ecommerce softgel programs with US coordination
Why it is our top pick: One owned operation covers oil and suspension development, shape and pack choice and US-side support, so a brand can move from eligible catalog orders into a qualified custom program without changing suppliers.
The rationale is continuity. A brand can test demand with an eligible catalog SKU, then brief an oil or suspension fill, pick an oval, oblong or round shape and a bottle or blister format with the same company, while US-side support handles coordination and fulfillment questions. Buyers still need to qualify the specific formula, certificates and test panel.
- Softgel page lists oil fills, suspensions, pastes and emulsions; oval, round, oblong and custom shapes; a published fill range of 0.2–1.4 mL; enteric coating; bottles, blisters and bulk; and testing for shell integrity, disintegration and stability.
- Company states a US team in Exton, PA, and an owned 350,000 sq ft cGMP, FDA-registered facility, operating since 1980 (45+ years). FDA registration is not FDA approval.
- Owner-stated output of 1.2M+ units per day across operations and about six lines per dosage format. That is not a softgel bottle count, dedicated format capacity or reserved production.
- Owner lists cGMP, FDA Registered, Halal, ISO 17025, NSF, ISO 9001, USDA Organic and Kosher. ISO 17025 concerns laboratory competence, not product certification. Scope, current certificates and SKU applicability need confirmation.
- Company-stated terms: Net 30 up to Net 60 for credit-approved buyers and 24/7 phone support. General rush of 2–3 weeks where accepted; custom formulation of 4–8 weeks is a development phase, not a delivered-product promise.
- Reclaime and Fleava are company-cited operating examples. We reviewed no independent volume, revenue or outcome evidence for them.
Launch route: Eligible ready-to-ship catalog, then private label or custom softgels.
Confirm before ordering: Ask whether the 2,000 figure counts softgels or finished packs, the exact shell polymer behind the vegetarian wording, which certificates cover your SKU, and the test panel for your fill. Catalog 0 MOQ does not apply to custom softgels.
Source reviewed November 8, 2026: Peakfinity Labs softgel manufacturing
2. SIRIO Europe
Plant-shell composition and built-in enteric development
Why it made the list: It names the polymers in four Plantegrity shell variants and offers a plant enteric shell without an added coating step, which lets buyers ask precise material and release questions.
- Four Plantegrity variants: carrageenan with cornstarch, gellan gum with cornstarch, a carrageenan chewable, and EnteriClear, a gellan gum plant enteric shell made without an added coating step.
- The page offers a ready-to-launch concept catalog and tailored formulations.
Launch route: Ready-to-launch concept catalog or tailored formulation.
Confirm before ordering: Get MOQ, lead time and the manufacturing site in writing. A plant shell does not make every fill vegan or compatible. Ask for release and stability data and label acceptability in your target market. A no-refrigeration statement is not a blanket shipping stability guarantee.
Source reviewed November 8, 2026: SIRIO Europe official page
3. Robinson Pharma
Tapioca vegetarian options and customized presentation
Why it made the list: Its softgel page pairs a tapioca vegetarian dosage form with custom shapes, colors and laser or ink imprinting, across standard and chewable softgels.
- Page describes softgel R&D, a tapioca vegetarian dosage form, custom shapes and colors, laser and ink imprint, and a chewable option.
- Published capacity figures conflict between sources, so this guide omits capacity and size claims.
Launch route: Custom softgel development with in-house R&D.
Confirm before ordering: Ask for the full shell polymer list behind the tapioca base and written fill compatibility. Request current certificate scope for your product; do not rely on an older PDF as current.
Source reviewed November 8, 2026: Robinson Pharma official page
4. Catalent
Plant-based fill-feasibility and commercial scale-up
Why it made the list: A defined carrageenan-derived shell plus preformulation, feasibility, early stability and self-emulsifying system work suits complex lipid formulation briefs.
- Vegicaps uses a carrageenan-derived shell; the page cites oils, omega-3, multivitamin and mineral applications.
- Lists early small-scale encapsulation and stability, preformulation and feasibility work, self-emulsifying systems and a global development-to-commercial network.
Launch route: Preformulation, feasibility and small-scale encapsulation, then commercial supply.
Confirm before ordering: Confirm the program type and site that would take a supplement project, plus MOQ and timeline. A plant shell does not make fish oil vegan, and supplement work carries no pharmaceutical or OTC approval.
Source reviewed November 8, 2026: Catalent official page
5. Aenova
Plant softgels with enteric coating and multiple packing routes
Why it made the list: The VegaGels page states enteric coating, film coating, printing and bottle, blister or bulk packing, which helps a buyer define release and pack requirements in one brief.
- VegaGels plant softgels in varied sizes, shapes and colors; enteric coating possible.
- Fills cited include edible oils, omega-3-6-9, vitamins and minerals, and herbal or nutraceutical ingredients. Services include film coating, printing and packaging into bottles, blisters or bulk.
Launch route: VegaGels plant softgel development with coating and packing services.
Confirm before ordering: Ask for the shell polymer, the producing site and market fit. Expect product-specific stability work; a fill that runs in gelatin may need reformulation in a plant shell.
Source reviewed November 8, 2026: Aenova official page
6. SMP Nutra
A public custom-softgel minimum for volume planning
Why it made the list: Its FAQ states a custom softgel minimum in both pieces and bottles, which lets buyers compare quotes in real production units.
- FAQ lists custom softgels at 300,000 pieces or 5,000 bottles. At 60 count those are arithmetically equal; at other counts they diverge.
- Generic timeline: 8–10 weeks after label receipt for new customers and 6–8 weeks for reorders. The FAQ also mentions label, packaging and fulfillment help.
Launch route: Custom softgels with label, packaging and fulfillment help.
Confirm before ordering: Ask which minimum applies at your bottle count, who encapsulates and where, the CoA release panel, and the softgel-specific timeline. Shell type, oxidation panel and enteric capability need a quote.
Source reviewed November 8, 2026: SMP Nutra official page
Shell and fill compatibility
Note 1. Gelatin is three materials, not one. Bovine, porcine and fish gelatin differ in source traceability, religious acceptance and allergen labeling. Ask for the source species, country of origin, gel strength (bloom) and plasticizer, usually glycerin or sorbitol, because each changes shell feel and behavior.
Note 2. "Vegan shell" is not a single material. Suppliers use carrageenan, modified starch, gellan gum or blends, and each one seals, dries and ages differently. Get the composition spec in writing. The fill and every excipient also need a vegan review: fish oil inside a plant shell is not vegan.
Note 3. The fill talks to the shell. Water, pH and polar ingredients can migrate into the shell and soften it, or pull plasticizer out and leave it brittle. Gelatin can cross-link with aldehydes in some flavors and botanicals, which slows dissolution over time. Ask for leak and seam checks and for stability data on both gelatin and plant versions if you are choosing between them.
Note 4. Fill specifics by type:
- Fish oil. State EPA and DHA in mg per softgel, the form (TG, rTG or ethyl ester), species identity and the contaminant panel for the source oil.
- Vitamin D. The active is tiny relative to the carrier oil, so ask how it is diluted and how content uniformity is assayed across the batch.
- CoQ10. Ask whether it is dissolved or suspended. Suspensions need particle size, viscosity and sedimentation control. Do not claim an absorption advantage without product-specific evidence.
Note 5. Size follows physics. Fill volume is fill mass divided by density, and the supplier's oval, oblong or round die chart decides which nominal size holds it. The finished softgel also carries shell mass, so it weighs more than the fill. If the dose will not fit a comfortable size, split the serving.
Note 6. Enteric release comes as an applied coating or as a shell built to resist acid. Either way, ask for acid-stage conditions, delay and release criteria and stability confirmation. Release testing does not support claims about comfort or disease.
Oxidation control and QA testing
Oil softgels fail slowly. Start with the oil vendor's CoA, then test the finished fill and the packed product over time for peroxide value, p-anisidine and TOTOX. Flavors and pigments can interfere with some methods, so ask whether the method suits your matrix. Limits and shelf life depend on the product and the market; get them from the supplier's specification and stability data, not a generic number.
Control oxygen, headspace, light and temperature through the run. Choose the pack (bottle, blister or bulk) for its oxygen and moisture barrier and its seals. Desiccants need care: overdrying makes shells brittle, so select them with stability data rather than by default.
A typical release panel covers identity, assay of the declared actives (such as EPA and DHA, vitamin D or CoQ10), microbiology, heavy metals, an oil contaminant panel where relevant, fill weight uniformity, seam and leak checks, shell moisture, disintegration or dissolution and enteric performance when claimed. A release panel shows the batch met spec on release day. Real-time stability shows it holds to the date on the label.
Costs move with fill purity, shell material, custom dies, minimum batch size, drying time, coating, pack format and testing. Ask every supplier to quote the MOQ in both pieces and finished packs at your count, and to list what the price includes.
Softgel quote brief
Enter your planned shell, fill and order size. With the defaults (1,000 mg physical fill, 0.92 g/mL, 60 per bottle, 2,000 bottles) the tool shows 120,000 softgels, 120 kg of theoretical fill and about 1.087 mL of fill per softgel. Copy or print the brief and send it with your questions. It does not accept or reject any MOQ.
Private label and custom softgel FAQ
How do private label and custom softgel MOQs differ?
Private label (often called white label) usually means an existing formula with your label, while custom manufacturing means a new fill, shell or shape. Catalog stock can carry a zero or low minimum when the SKU is available. Custom softgels need a production run, so minimums are higher and may be quoted in pieces or in finished bottles. Ask which unit applies.
Should I choose a gelatin or plant-based softgel shell?
Gelatin comes from bovine, porcine or fish sources and has a long processing record. Plant shells use supplier-specific blends such as carrageenan, starch or gellan gum. Choose by label needs, religious and allergen scope and validated stability with your fill, not by a general rule.
Does a 1,000 mg fish oil softgel contain 1,000 mg of EPA and DHA?
No. 1,000 mg is the oil fill mass. EPA and DHA content depends on the oil concentrate and its form, such as triglyceride, re-esterified triglyceride or ethyl ester. Specify EPA and DHA per softgel and ask how it is assayed.
How are oval and oblong softgels sized?
Softgel sizes come from each manufacturer's die chart, not hard capsule numbers like 000. Fill volume equals fill mass divided by density, and the die's nominal volume must hold that fill plus room the process needs. Large doses may need two softgels per serving.
What enteric softgel options exist?
Two routes appear in this guide: a coating applied to a finished softgel, or a shell built to resist acid without a coating step. Ask for acid-stage criteria, delay and release results and stability data for your exact product.
What drives softgel lead time and oxidation testing?
The clock runs from approvals through raw materials, prototypes, encapsulation, drying, coating, QA release and transit. For oils, plan peroxide value, p-anisidine and TOTOX on the incoming oil and the finished product, plus real-time stability in the final pack.
Methodology
On November 8, 2026 the Guide editorial desk reviewed each manufacturer's public pages and compared launch route, the stated minimum and its unit, formulation, filling and testing support, packaging and scale-up handoffs. We did not visit factories, test products or audit certificate registries. Company statements are not independent verification. Numerical order reflects editorial fit for each stated use, not a score. Read about the guide.