Cosamin DS and Move Free are both joint supplements built around glucosamine and chondroitin, but they differ in daily use and in the add-on versions Move Free offers. Cosamin DS’s label lists 1,500 mg of glucosamine and 1,200 mg of chondroitin in each three-capsule serving. Move Free’s closest match, Move Free Advanced Glucosamine + Chondroitin, is taken as two tablets a day. This page compares them on the points you are likely to check before you buy.
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How do Cosamin DS and Move Free compare side by side?
This table uses what each brand’s product page showed on October 28, 2026. Where a figure is missing from the product page, the table tells you where to find it.
| Question | Cosamin DS | Move Free Advanced Glucosamine + Chondroitin |
|---|---|---|
| Sold by | Nutramax Laboratories Consumer Care, Inc., per the product page | Schiff, per the Move Free product page |
| Form | Capsules or caplets | Coated tablets |
| Directions on the label | 3 capsules daily until desired comfort is reached; may reduce over time | 2 pills per day |
| Bottle count | 108 capsules, 36 servings | 80 coated tablets |
| Days per bottle, worked out from the listed counts | 36 days at 3 capsules a day | 40 days at 2 tablets a day |
What is Cosamin DS, and who makes it?
Cosamin DS’s product page says it is \”Clinically proven to help promote joint comfort.\” It also says the ingredients \”work together to block enzymes that break down cartilage.\” The page credits the formula to a pharmacist, Dr. Bob Henderson, and says it was created over 30 years ago.
A footnote on the page says that, based on U.S. studies published in peer-reviewed journals, the Cosamin brand is the most researched glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate brand. Nutramax Laboratories Consumer Care, Inc. sells the product. The page lists a toll-free number, 888-886-6442, and a mailing address under its contact section. You can call that number with questions before you order.
What is Move Free, and who makes it?
Move Free is sold by Schiff. Its product page describes a range of joint health supplements \”designed to support mobility, flexibility, and comfort.\” The lineup on that page includes:
- Move Free Advanced Glucosamine + Chondroitin, 2 pills a day
- Move Free Advanced MSM with Glucosamine
- Move Free Advanced MSM + Vitamin D3 with Glucosamine
- Move Free Advanced Glucosamine + FruiteX-B
- Move Free Advanced Glucosamine + TamaFlex, 3 tablets a day
- Move Free Ultra 3X Triple Action, with collagen, boron and UC-II, 1 tiny pill a day
The page describes each ingredient in its own words. It calls UC-II Ultra an undenatured type II collagen that \”works with your immune system to support healthy cartilage and joints.\” It says FruiteX-B \”supports joint comfort in as little as 2 weeks.\” It describes TamaFlex as \”a blend of Turmeric and Tamarind.\” It says glucosamine \”is essential for the formation of cartilage.\” For product questions, the page lists 1 (800) 526-6251, Monday to Friday, and ConsumerEngagement@reckitt.com.
What is in each one, and how much is in a serving?
The Cosamin DS label lists three capsules per serving with 1,500 mg of glucosamine HCl (FCHG49) and 1,200 mg of sodium chondroitin sulfate (TRH122). The same panel lists 10 calories, 2 g of total carbohydrates, 110 mg of sodium, and vitamin C and manganese. Its other ingredients are gelatin, magnesium stearate and capsule colorants.
Read the Supplement Facts panel on the bottle you choose and compare it to the Cosamin DS figures above.
Move Free’s packaging images also disagree on one version. The MSM + Vitamin D3 with Glucosamine pack shows 2 pills per day on one image and 3 pills per day on another. Check the directions on the bottle you buy.
What does the research say about glucosamine and chondroitin?
Both products rely on glucosamine and chondroitin, so the research on those two matters most. Healthy Aging Atlas, a health guide, rates the evidence for glucosamine for joint pain as \”Moderate\” and says the evidence context is \”form- and severity-dependent.\” The guide cites a 2025 systematic review in Nutrients, \”The Safety and Efficacy of Glucosamine and/or Chondroitin in Humans,\” and a 2006 New England Journal of Medicine trial on glucosamine, chondroitin and the two together for painful knee osteoarthritis.
A supplement review on MuscleChemistry notes that animal studies of glucosamine with chondroitin look more promising than glucosamine alone. It adds that human studies would be needed to judge effectiveness. Two outside guides put the usual glucosamine amount at about 1,500 mg a day, and Healthy Aging Atlas says 1,200 mg a day is typical for chondroitin. For the full human evidence on glucosamine, see glucosamine benefits human evidence (our research library).
What is MSM in Move Free?
MSM, short for methylsulfonylmethane, is a chemical found in animals, people and many plants. It can also be made in a lab. A Chinese-language health article says MSM is commonly used to ease inflammation. As a bone-joint supplement, it says, MSM is used for pain, inflammation and swelling, especially in knee arthritis.
Joint Health Magazine describes a 2006 pilot study of 50 men and women with knee osteoarthritis. In that study, 6,000 mg of MSM a day improved symptoms of pain and physical function without major side effects. Move Free sells MSM in its MSM with Glucosamine and MSM + Vitamin D3 with Glucosamine versions. The Move Free Advanced Glucosamine + Chondroitin version does not include MSM in its name.
Is there a downside to taking glucosamine and chondroitin?
Independent sources flag these points for glucosamine and chondroitin:
- Shellfish. A Chinese-language health article says most glucosamine on the market is extracted from shrimp and crab shells. MuscleChemistry says glucosamine is shellfish-derived, so it is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians. It adds that people with shellfish allergies should avoid it, and that shellfish-free options exist. Read more in glucosamine and shellfish allergy.
- Blood sugar. Healthy Aging Atlas says glucosamine may raise blood sugar slightly in people with diabetes.
- Blood thinners. The same guide says to check for interactions if you take blood thinners, and names warfarin and apixaban.
- Chondroitin reactions. The Chinese-language article calls chondroitin generally safe. It says rare reactions can include headache, irritability, rash and diarrhea.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Healthy Aging Atlas says to skip glucosamine pending more safety data.
Who should ask a clinician before starting either one?
Ask a clinician or pharmacist first if you fall into any of these groups:
- You have a shellfish allergy.
- You have diabetes or take diabetes medicine.
- You take a blood thinner such as warfarin or apixaban.
- You have kidney disease, heart disease, a blood disorder or high blood pressure, according to the Chinese-language article.
- You have asthma or prostate cancer. The same article advises asking your doctor before taking chondroitin.
- You are pregnant, breastfeeding or caring for a child. The article advises caution with glucosamine in these groups.
What does each one cost per day?
Prices and bundles change, so check today’s price at checkout for each product before you order.
You can work out the cost per day yourself. Divide the bottle price by the days per bottle. Based on the product pages captured October 28, 2026, a 108-capsule Cosamin DS bottle lasts 36 days at 3 capsules a day. An 80-tablet Move Free Advanced Glucosamine + Chondroitin bottle lasts 40 days at 2 tablets a day. Compare bottles with the same number of days, not just the same price.
What are the refund, guarantee and shipping terms?
Before you pay, read the returns section at checkout. If you cannot find the terms there, call the number on the product page and ask.
What do buyers say in reviews?
Ratings and review counts are on the retailer listing where you buy. Those figures belong to that listing, so read the most recent reviews there before you decide.
Can you trust either seller, and how do you check?
Cosamin DS’s page says its ingredients are \”Rigorously tested for stability\” by outside testing facilities and its own quality control team. Move Free’s page calls its ingredients \”clinically tested.\” Both product pages carry the same disclaimer: \”These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.\”
Check the seal when your bottle arrives. The Cosamin DS label says not to use the product if the seal under the cap is broken or missing. The same label says to keep it in a cool, dry place.
Which one suits your situation?
Choose Cosamin DS if you want a glucosamine and chondroitin formula at 1,500 mg and 1,200 mg per three-capsule serving, and can take three capsules a day.
Choose Move Free Advanced Glucosamine + Chondroitin if you prefer two tablets a day, or if you may want add-ons later. Move Free offers versions with MSM, vitamin D3, FruiteX-B and TamaFlex. The Move Free Ultra version, which includes collagen and boron, takes one tiny pill a day. For the collagen research, see collagen doses used in studies (our research library).
If you are weighing a third option, see Bioflex vs Move Free for a separate comparison.
What decides it for you?
- Compare the Supplement Facts on each bottle’s label, including Cosamin DS’s 1,500 mg and 1,200 mg.
- How many capsules or tablets a day can you take comfortably: three, two or one?
- Do you want glucosamine and chondroitin alone, or add-ons such as MSM, vitamin D3 or collagen?
- What is the glucosamine made from? This matters for shellfish allergy and for vegan or vegetarian diets.
- What does each bottle cost per day at today’s price?
- What are the refund terms at checkout?
Before you order
- Check today’s price and any bundle at checkout for each product, then work out the cost per day.
- Read the Supplement Facts on the Move Free bottle you pick, and compare its milligram amounts with Cosamin DS’s 1,500 mg and 1,200 mg.
- Ask each company what its glucosamine is made from.
- Confirm the refund window at checkout or with the toll-free number on the product page.
- Check the seal when your bottle arrives, and store Cosamin DS in a cool, dry place.
By BackToHealthTroy.com Editorial Team
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.