Collagen vs Gelatin: What’s the Difference & Which One Is Better for You
November 17, 2025Collagen and gelatin are closely related proteins — but they’re not the same. While both support skin, joint, and gut health, their uses and how your body processes them can differ significantly. In this post, we’ll explain the key differences between collagen vs gelatin, explore the science-backed benefits, and help you decide which one is best for your needs.
While collagen peptides dissolve easily into liquids at any temperature, gelatin’s longer molecular structure requires heat for it to dissolve, and when it cools, it “gelatinizes” into a form most commonly associated with the product Jell-O.
In this article, you will learn:
What is Collagen?
There is a lot of confusion around collagen peptides and gelatin because they are actually two different forms of the same thing. Both collagen peptides and gelatin begin their journey as an important organic protein that is simply called collagen.
Collagen is a tough, elastic, and versatile structural protein. It is found in nearly all tissues but is especially concentrated in the skin, joints, and connective tissues like ligaments and tendons.
Good collagen production is essential to health, and without proper collagen protein function, we would literally fall apart and die!
Collagen Fact: The seafarer’s disease scurvy is actually a disorder of collagen production brought on by a vitamin C deficiency!
Our cells assemble collagen proteins from the smaller amino acids proline, glycine, arginine, and hydroxyproline.
We get some of these amino acids from regular dietary protein sources, but others, specifically hydroxyproline, are found almost exclusively in collagen itself.
In other words, to make enough collagen, you have to eat some as well!
What is Gelatin?
Although it would actually be a good source of collagen, most people don’t snack on raw animal hides or hooves.
Unlike other animals, we like to cook, so we tend to bake, boil, and roast our food, and when we cook meat, we begin the process that converts collagen into gelatin.
During long, slow heating, collagen proteins gradually start to unwind, and much in the same way that a beaten egg can never go back into an egg, the collagen proteins change shape in a process called denaturing.
Collagen protein that is irreversibly denatured becomes liquid gelatin, and when this gelatin cools, it becomes wiggly and jiggly.
In other words, when collagen is heated and then cooled, it turns into Jell-O.
Gelatin gives home-made soups and stews their luscious mouth-feel, and is widely used in recipes that require its special qualities.
In addition to its culinary utility, gelatin is a good source of the amino acids your body needs to make collagen protein, so regularly consuming gelatin confers all the benefits attributed to collagen supplementation, such as improved gut health, stronger hair and nails, and improved skin elasticity.
We could stop right here, but some of the things that make gelatin so useful also hold it back.
Collagen vs Gelatin: Which is Better?
If you ever made Jell-O growing up, you know that you have to boil a pot of water before pouring in the little packet of powder.
This is because gelatin needs hot water to dissolve completely.
If you try to add it to cold or even lukewarm water, gelatin will clump, and even if you get it to dissolve, it will form a gelatinous blob as soon as it cools down.
Enter Collagen Peptides.
Collagen peptides are small fractions of collagen protein that have been broken down even more completely than collagen.
This allows them to dissolve easily and completely in a wide variety of foods and beverages, including smoothies, shakes, coffee, and even baked goods.
Like gelatin, collagen peptides contain all the important amino acids needed for proper collagen function and health, and their regular use can help promote more youthful, elastic skin, stronger hair and nails, improved gut health, and decreased joint pain.
Go Beyond with Natural Force
Some unscrupulous, bargain brands of collagen peptides source their ingredients from factory-farmed, industrially produced animals.
They rightfully tout the benefits of collagen supplementation on their bottles, but they don’t say anything about where their collagen comes from.
We, on the other hand, are proud of our sourcing and stand behind our products from the field to your body.
Our Organic Grass-fed Collagen Peptides come from pasture-raised cows who spend their entire lives grazing on lush green grass, and our Marine Collagen Peptides are sustainably produced from wild-caught cod.
In addition to impeccable ingredients, we use special processing methods to make our Organic Grass-fed Collagen Peptides and Marine Collagen Peptides supremely usable and versatile as well.
They are both completely unflavored and mix better and more completely than other brands.
Related Articles
What Is Collagen? Types, Benefits & How to Support ItHow to Use Gelatin in Everyday Cooking
Mercury in Marine Collagen Peptides: What You Should Know & How We Test
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gelatin just collagen? Kind of — gelatin is derived from collagen that’s been heated and partially broken down, but their amino acid profiles are very similar.
Which is better: collagen or gelatin? It depends on your goal: take collagen for easy supplementation, or use gelatin if you want to make gels, jellies, or thicker foods.
Can both support skin and joint health? Yes. Research suggests both may help improve skin elasticity and joint function.
Are there any risks to taking collagen or gelatin? Generally, both are safe. But quality matters — choose clean, tested sources. As with any supplement, talk to your doctor if you have medical conditions.
How much should I take daily? Typical supplement doses vary (often around 10‑20 g for collagen peptides), but follow the label directions or consult a dietitian.
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Editor's Note: This post was originally posted in January 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.