OBJECTIVES: Two meta-analyses associated with a public health model demonstrated that probiotics (live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amount confer a health benefit on the host) have an important public health impact: they reduce upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) episodes with less antibiotics and sick leave prescriptions, in France. This analysis reports the budget impact for the National Health System (NHS) and the Nation. METHODS: The public health impact model (1/1,000 virtual age-gender standardized population generated with a Markov model: 1-day cycles, 2011-2012 winter period, URTI incidence from a General Practitioner [GP] network) was used. Economic perspectives were society, NHS and family. The analysis was limited to patients having visited a GP. Resource utilization came from the GP network. Unit costs were applied: Ameli.fr for drugs, Classification Commune des Actes Médicaux for GP visits, gross domestic product (GDP)/capita or allowances for sick leaves. Outcomes included direct medical and indirect costs. Results were reported according to each meta-analysis, Cochrane and York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC). RESULTS: The economic impact of probiotics was about €95 million saved from the Society perspective according to YHEC (Family: -€21.7 million; NHS: -€15.4 million) and €229.1 million according to Cochrane (Family: -€130.4 million; NHS: -€34.6 million). Absenteeism was the main driver for the society perspective representing 98% (YHEC) or 78% (Cochrane) of the savings. For the NHS, the main driver was sick leave (94%, YHEC-based) or GP visit (67%, Cochrane-based): avoiding URTI episodes (Cochrane) generates more visit savings than reducing disease duration (YHEC). More savings were observed in children, active smokers and people with more human contacts compared to the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Probiotics savings are substantial, whether they reduce URTI episodes frequency or duration. Noteworthy, 2011-12 winter URTI incidence rate was low and this analysis focused on the 1% URTI accessing the NHS.