Kendamil Classic vs ByHeart Formula (2026): Which Formula Is Better?

🏭 Brand Backgrounds and Philosophy

Kendamil is made by Kendal Nutricare in England's Lake District. It has been producing infant formula since 1962 and is the only formula brand to hold a Royal Warrant from the British Royal Family. Kendamil's core philosophy is "whole milk first" — keeping the natural fat in the milk rather than stripping it out and replacing it with vegetable oils.

ByHeart was founded in 2020 by a team that includes former executives from Enfamil. It's the first new infant formula manufacturer to register with the FDA in over 15 years. ByHeart's approach centers on two innovations: a patented fat blend that mimics the sn-2 palmitate structure of breast milk, and a minimal-heat processing method that keeps whey proteins in their native (non-denatured) form for better absorption.

🧪 Ingredient Comparison

These two formulas share more in common than most formula matchups. Both use whole milk, both use organic lactose as the primary carbohydrate, and both avoid corn syrup solids and maltodextrin. The differences are in the details:

• Milk base: Kendamil uses whole cow's milk from British grass-fed cows. ByHeart uses whole cow's milk from US organic farms. Both retain the natural milk fat
• Fat blend: Kendamil's fat comes primarily from whole milk fat (providing natural MFGM), supplemented with coconut and rapeseed oils — no palm oil. ByHeart adds a patented fat blend on top of whole milk fat, specifically engineered to replicate the sn-2 palmitate position found in breast milk fat
• Protein processing: Kendamil uses standard gentle pasteurization. ByHeart uses a proprietary low-heat process to keep whey proteins intact and undenatured, which they claim improves protein digestion and absorption
• Carbohydrates: Both use organic lactose as the sole carbohydrate — no maltodextrin, no corn syrup solids, no glucose syrup
• DHA: Both source DHA from algal oil (plant-based, no fish oil). Neither uses hexane extraction
• Prebiotics/HMOs: Kendamil includes GOS and HMOs (2'-FL human milk oligosaccharides). ByHeart includes organic lactose as a natural prebiotic but does not add HMOs or GOS

💰 Price and Availability

• Kendamil Classic: ~$35 for 28 oz (800 g). Available at Target, Amazon, Walmart. ~$0.18 per oz of prepared formula
• ByHeart: ~$36 for 24 oz (680 g). Available at byheart.com, Target, Amazon. ~$0.21 per oz of prepared formula
• Monthly cost: Kendamil runs approximately $150–180/month. ByHeart runs approximately $175–210/month for an exclusively formula-fed infant
• Subscription savings: ByHeart offers a subscribe-and-save option on their website with free shipping. Kendamil offers multi-can discounts through some retailers

Both are premium-priced compared to mainstream US formulas like Similac or Enfamil (~$28–32 for comparable sizes), but the gap is smaller than you'd expect — especially for Kendamil's larger can size.

🍼 Digestibility and Parent Feedback

Because both formulas use whole milk fat and lactose-only carbohydrates, parents generally report good tolerance with each. Key differences parents notice:

• Stools: Both tend to produce softer, more yellow stools compared to conventional formulas — more similar to breastfed baby stools. ByHeart's sn-2 palmitate fat structure is specifically designed to reduce calcium-soap formation in the gut, which can make stools even softer
• Mixing: ByHeart dissolves very smoothly with minimal clumping. Kendamil also mixes well but may produce slightly more foam due to its whole milk fat content — let it settle for a minute after shaking
• Smell and taste: Both have a mild, creamy taste and smell that parents describe as "milky" rather than the fishy or metallic notes found in some formulas. ByHeart's minimal-heat processing gives it a particularly fresh taste
• Transition: Parents switching from breast milk often report smoother transitions with both of these formulas compared to mainstream brands, likely due to the whole milk fat and lactose-only carb profiles

🏆 Head-to-Head: Where Each Formula Wins

Choose Kendamil Classic if:

• You want HMOs (2'-FL) and GOS prebiotics — ByHeart doesn't include these
• You prefer a palm-oil-free formula
• You want more formula per dollar (28 oz can vs 24 oz at nearly the same price)
• You trust EU manufacturing standards, which ban more additives than US regulations
• You want a brand with 60+ years of formula manufacturing history

Choose ByHeart if:

• You value the patented sn-2 palmitate fat blend — specifically engineered to mimic breast milk fat structure
• You want minimal-heat protein processing to preserve native whey protein structure
• You prefer a US-manufactured formula with full FDA oversight of the production facility
• Your baby is sensitive to conventional formulas and you want a clinically studied gentle option
• You like the convenience of a direct-to-consumer subscription model

⚖️ Final Verdict

Kendamil Classic and ByHeart are two of the best infant formulas available in the US market, and you genuinely can't go wrong with either. They share the same whole-milk philosophy and avoid the shortcuts (corn syrup, maltodextrin, excessive vegetable oils) that define most mainstream formulas. Kendamil edges ahead on value (bigger can, lower price) and added prebiotics/HMOs. ByHeart edges ahead on protein processing innovation and its breast-milk-mimicking fat blend. If your baby does well on one, they'll likely do well on the other — the differences are real but modest in practical terms.