The best probiotics for IBS in 2025, according to gut health experts
When you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it can feel like your gut has a mind of its own — surprise bloating after meals, sudden sprints to the bathroom and noisy stomach gurgles often become just another part of daily life. While there's no cure, probiotics for IBS may help manage these unwanted gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. "Some of the most common symptoms are recurrent abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and either diarrhea or constipation or a combination of the two," says Claire Merrifield, a London-based medical doctor, medical director of Selph and PhD in gut microbiome. "Symptoms can vary between people and can range from mild to debilitating."
When shopping for probiotics, it's helpful to know which of the three major subtypes you have: IBS with constipation (IBS-C), IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D) and mixed-type IBS (IBS-M), which includes episodes of both constipation and diarrhea. Probiotics are strain-specific, meaning that some are more helpful for certain symptoms than others. For this reason, it's important to choose a probiotic that's formulated to address your GI concerns.
Just keep in mind that what works wonders for your friend or coworker might not do the same for you, since every gut is different. "Many people find symptom relief with probiotics," adds Merrifield, "but it may take a few trials to find the right formulation for you." In people who have IBS as a result of dysbiosis, an imbalance of gut bacteria, probiotics may be particularly helpful. "Although there is a lot of great research about probiotics," she adds, "actually buying them and finding the right one for you is a bit of a minefield."
To help you make an informed decision, we spoke with three gut health experts about the best probiotics for IBS — and what really matters when choosing one. Keep reading for our picks of the best probiotics for IBS in 2025.
A note on supplements
The products included on this list are dietary supplements. Statements about these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dietary supplements are not appropriate for everyone and may interact with other supplements or medications, so talk to your health care provider before adding a dietary supplement to your routine.
Form: Capsule | Dose: 1 capsule up to 4 times per day | Strain(s): Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus helveticus | CFU count: 112.5 billion | Shelf-stable: No
VSL#3 is a medical-grade probiotic supplement formulated to help manage certain digestive conditions, including IBS. "It's been shown in clinical trials to reduce the severity and duration of abdominal pain," says Merrifield. VSL#3 is also recommended by Alyssa Simpson, a digestive health dietitian in Phoenix. "It's among the few probiotics with actual clinical evidence," she says.
One study found VSL#3 significantly improved gut barrier integrity and reduced abdominal pain in adults with IBS after four or eight weeks of regular use. Our tester was impressed overall, noting that the capsules were easy to swallow. The supplement also has thousands of mostly positive reviews on Amazon and the company's website, with many people saying it's the only probiotic that has actually helped relieve symptoms. One 5-star Amazon reviewer shares, "It's the first time I have given a review, but a gastroenterologist recommended this product, and after 40 years of IBS I am living pain-free. I recommend this to everyone."
VSL#3 contains a potent 112.5 billion CFU per serving and is third-party tested to ensure label accuracy. Keep in mind it's intended to be used under medical supervision and should be refrigerated to maintain the viability of its live bacterial strains. It also isn't cheap. Still, its clinical backing and thoughtful formulation justify the cost, especially if you haven't had success with cheaper alternatives.
Form: Capsule | Dose: 1 capsule taken up to 4 times per day | Strain(s): Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM24735/SD5212, Lactobacillus plantarum SD5209/DSM24730, Lactobacillus paracasei DSM24733/SD5218, Lactobacillus helveticus DSM24734/SD5210, Streptococcus thermophilus DSM24731/SD5207, Bifidobacterium lactis DSM24736/SD5219, Bifidobacterium breve DSM24732/SD5206, Bifidobacterium lactis DSM24737/SD5220 CFU count: 112.5 billion | Shelf-stable: No
If diarrhea is your main symptom, then you'll want to consider Visbiome GI Care. This (admittedly pricy) probiotic features a unique formulation known as the De Simone Formulation that has been clinically shown to help with diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain and gas in people with IBS and irritable bowel disease (IBD). It's also recommended by Simpson and David D. Clarke, MD, a board-certified specialist in internal medicine and gastroenterology, for people with IBS-D looking for an evidence-based option.
Each capsule contains a potent dose of 112.5 billion CFU. Under a doctor's supervision, you can take up to four capsules per day to assist with digestive symptoms. This product is also Clean Label Certified, meaning it's been tested for over 200 potentially harmful contaminants and compounds.
To ensure viability, Visbiome GI Care should be kept in the fridge, which may be a downside for frequent travelers. It's also classified as a medical food and isn't cheap. However, many online reviewers feel the quality is worth the price. One reviewer says: "This probiotic has literally changed my life. I could hardly eat anything that wouldn’t cause IBS symptoms before I started taking this product. I’ve only been taking this for a few months, and I am now nearly symptom-free and can even eat dairy, which was always off-limits for me."
Form: Capsule | Dose: 1 capsule up to 3 times per day | Strain(s): Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, Bacillus coagulans 6086 | CFU count: 1 billion CFU | Shelf-stable: Yes
For a budget-friendly alternative, Digestive Advantage Daily Probiotics + Intensive Bowel Support is a solid choice. At just $0.31 per serving, it's a good option if you have a limited budget or simply want to try a more affordable option before splurging on VSL#3 or Visbiome. It's also shelf-stable, making it handy for traveling.
Digestive Advantage Daily Probiotics + Intensive Bowel Support contains two strains of B. coagulans — a species recommended by Clarke due to scientific evidence supporting its role in relieving IBS symptoms. In addition to 1 billion CFU of probiotics, the supplement includes digestive enzymes, which may help reduce gas, bloating and abdominal pain, though research is limited.
While it isn't third-party tested for purity and potency, Digestive Advantage is a well-known and reputable brand. The product also has more than 1,000, 5-star reviews on Amazon, with several people calling it a "game changer." According to one satisfied customer: "I keep these in my purse and don’t go anywhere without them. As long as I take one with food, I’m good. No running to the bathroom an hour later in pain. I’ve tried so many different probiotics and didn’t have much hope for these, so I was pleasantly surprised. I feel like I have my life back!"
If you have IBS, shopping for probiotics can be overwhelming. Here are the key things to look for to ensure you're choosing a product that's high-quality and more likely to be effective:
The types of probiotic strains in your supplement matter greatly, especially if you're looking for a probiotic that can help manage IBS symptoms. According to Merrifield, a probiotic strain's name may include up to three important pieces of information:
Genus: the first part of a species' scientific name, representing a broad group of related bacteria (for example, Bacillus)
Species: the second part of the name, identifying a specific type within the genus (for example, coagulans)
Strain: a unique identifier for the exact bacterial strain, usually a combination of numbers and/or letters (for example, Bacillus coagulans MTCC-5856)
Knowing the specific strain is the most helpful for choosing a probiotic for IBS, says Merrifield. This is because different strains — even within the same species — can have different effects. But many supplements, even highly reputable ones like VSL#3, don't provide specific strain information.
So, which species or strains should you look for? Research on probiotics for IBS is ongoing. That said, strains from the genuses Bacillus, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus appear to be the most helpful. While there may be other effective strains and species, here are five that are most commonly recommended for people with IBS:
Bacillus coagulans: Several strains of B. coagulans may be helpful for IBS. According to Clarke, research suggests that B. coagulans may be one of the most effective species for improving overall symptom relief, abdominal pain and bloating in people with IBS.
Bifidobacterium infantis: Simpson explains that this species may help with bloating and pain related to IBS.
Lactobacillus acidophilus: This species may also be helpful for IBS. "It's associated with fewer adverse events and improved quality of life," says Clarke.
Lactobacillus plantarum 299v: According to Simpson, this strain may be helpful for improving motility, or the movement of material through the digestive tract. This could help alleviate constipation. One study found that it helped with several IBS symptoms and was associated with quality of life improvements.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG: This strain may be particularly helpful for IBS-D, says Simpson. It may help improve gut barrier integrity.
Keep in mind, there's no guarantee that a probiotic or these specific strains will help alleviate your symptoms. "Effectiveness really depends on your symptoms," says Simpson, "IBS-C, IBS-D and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) all respond differently, so personalization matters." SIBO is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by an excess of bacteria living in the small intestine, rather than the large intestine where they typically reside. It's been closely linked to IBS symptoms.
Clarke also notes, "Multi-strain probiotics generally show better results than single-strain supplements in improving global symptoms." When in doubt, reach for a multi-strain probiotic formula for IBS, or consult a gastroenterologist or digestive health dietitian.
The dose of a probiotic is expressed as colony forming units (CFU). It's an estimate of how many viable microbes are in a single serving of a probiotic supplement. Keep in mind that CFU doesn't always reflect how many live bacteria are actually in a supplement by the time you take it. Bacteria can die off over time — especially if the product isn't stored correctly or is exposed to direct sunlight or large temperature swings.
For this reason, choosing a probiotic with a high CFU count is key. Research suggests looking for products with at least 1 billion CFU per serving. To ensure optimal potency, aim to use the entire container before the expiration date, and store it according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Most probiotics are available in powders or capsules. Capsules are generally more convenient, but some people may prefer powders if they have trouble swallowing pills. Probiotic gummies and chewables are also fairly common and can be a good alternative to capsules and powders.
IBS-specific formulations tend to be more expensive than many other probiotics, though there are some budget-friendly options. For instance, our best budget pick — Digestive Advantage Daly Probiotic + Intensive Bowel Support — costs about $0.31 per serving. Whereas medical-grade probiotics, like VSL#3 or Visbiome GI Care, cost $1 or more per capsule. Look for a product that fits your budget without sacrificing on quality.
Unlike medications, dietary supplements aren't approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before they hit the shelves. While the FDA sets guidelines for safe manufacturing processes, it doesn't require supplements to be tested for safety, effectiveness or quality. For this reason, it's important to choose products from reputable brands — ideally ones that employ third-party testing by trusted organizations, like NSF International, Informed choice, or United States Pharmacopeia (USP). These groups help ensure supplements:
Are free of undisclosed ingredients
Are free of contaminants and excessive heavy metals
Contain the ingredients listed on the label in the correct amounts
Some supplements may also feature third-party specialty certifications, which may be helpful for certain lifestyle needs or dietary preferences. These include USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Gluten-Free, Certified Vegan, NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport Certified and more.
To choose the best probiotics for IBS, we first spoke with three experts: a registered dietitian, a gastroenterologist and a medical doctor with a PhD in the gut microbiome. They provided specific brand recommendations as well as information about the best strains to look for and how to identify high quality supplements.
Using their expert insights, I narrowed down the options to six products — all from brands they specifically recommended. After assembling the short list of finalists, I used my expertise as a dietitian to evaluate each supplement based on ingredients, research-backed effectiveness for IBS, third-party testing, price and customer reviews. The "winners" were chosen for their strong scientific support and high quality standards — with at least one budget-friendly option to ensure accessibility.
Three probiotic supplements ultimately fell short when determining the best probiotics for IBS. However, they may still be helpful, depending on your symptoms and health goals. Here are the other products we considered:
Life Extension FLORASSIST Probiotic GI with Phage Technology: This probiotic from Life Extension is designed to support optimal gut health. While it might be a good option for general digestive health, there are better, more targeted probiotics for IBS symptom management.
BioGaia Gastrus: BioGaia Gastrus is formulated with 200 million CFU of L. Reuteri strains and may be helpful for relieving occasional GI symptoms, like bloating and gas. Still, we chose probiotics that were more specifically designed for IBS to include in our rankings.
Thorne Bacillus Coagulans: This single-strain probiotic contains B. coagulans — one of Clark's top strain recommendations for IBS management. However, he also points out that research generally finds multi-strain blends to be most helpful for symptom relief. For that reason, we decided to highlight just one B. coagulans supplement. Digestive Advantage Daily Probiotics + Intensive Bowel Support ultimately won out because of its lower price. However, this option from Thorne is still an excellent choice, especially if you prefer a product without digestive enzymes.
Didn't find quite what you're looking for? You can peruse 13 additional probiotics we tested in our roundup of the best probiotics of 2025.
The type of IBS you have is based on your predominant symptom. There are three main types: IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D), IBS with constipation (IBS-C) and mixed IBS (IBS-M). A doctor can help you determine your type if you're not sure.
IBS doesn't usually go away on its own. It's a chronic condition, and in order to completely resolve symptoms, you may need to work with a doctor to determine and address the root cause. However, you may have long periods of time between flare-ups, especially if you know your IBS triggers and strictly avoid them.
The best way to treat and manage IBS is through a combination of medical care and lifestyle changes to alleviate symptoms and determine and address the root cause of your IBS. Treatment options include medication, therapy, diet changes, exercise, probiotic supplements and more.
Claire Merrifield, MBBS, MRCGP, PhD, a London-based medical doctor, medical director of Selph and PhD in gut microbiome
Alyssa Simpson, RDN, CGN, CLT, a digestive health dietitian
David D. Clarke, MD, a board-certified specialist in internal medicine and gastroenterology
Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.
