Protein powders have become a mainstay in both professional athletes’ and casual gym-goers’ dietary regimes. These products provide a convenient and high-quality protein source. However, with apparently limitless alternatives, you may be unsure which is ideal for muscle growth.
There’s a protein powder to help you develop muscle, lose weight, or just be healthy, no matter what your goals are. Our team of fitness editors, athletes, and nutrition consultants selected the finest protein powders for each objective based on nutritional quality, taste, value, and customer feedback.
Best-Tasting Protein Powder
There’s a reason Pro JYM has received several accolades throughout the years, including Bodybuilding.com’s 2020 Protein of the Year. This top-rated protein was designed by Jim Stoppani, Ph.D., and features both outstanding flavour and science-based formulas. Because various proteins are produced at different rates in the body, your muscles are given development nourishment for a long time after you drink the shake. It’s the ideal protein mix for muscle development, strength, energy, and recovery.
Optimum Gold Standard Whey Protein
Gold Standard Whey from Optimum Nutrition is your ally in the fight against substandard protein, with 18 tastes to choose from and a decades-long track record of excellence. The tastes are realistic, according to reviewers, and they don’t all taste the same.
Gold Standard has won Bodybuilding.com’s protein and supplement of the year award 13 times and is well-known among athletes all over the world. It may be used to increase muscle mass, improve performance, and recuperate, as well as keep slim. Other competitors have subsequently entered the market, but Gold Standard Whey continues to be a good nutritious choice with a variety of alternatives.
Another fantastic feature of Optimum Nutrition is that it mixes so easily that you can simply stir it with a spoon. There’s no need for a shaker bottle (although it helps make a super smooth shake). So, even if all your shaker bottles are in the dishwasher, you have no excuse to skip your protein.
Dymatize Iso-100 Whey Protein
Dymatize ISO100 is an ultra-pure whey protein isolate that has been filtered and mixed with whey hydrolysate, resulting in a super-fast digesting and absorbing protein with unrivalled macros. It’s been stripped of almost all sugars, carbohydrates, fats, and lactose, leaving essentially nothing but muscle-building protein.
Customers also remark about how delicious this protein supplement tastes. It feels like a treat when you’re counting your calories, eating very clean, and avoiding junk food, but it’s one that gets you closer to your objectives.
Informed Choice has also confirmed that this protein is devoid of prohibited substances. ISO100 is available in a variety of flavours, including Cocoa Pebbles, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Orange Creamsicle, and more.
Evl Stacked Plant Protein
EVL Stacked Plant Protein is more than simply a fantastic source of protein, as its name suggests. It also includes 4 grammes of BCAAs, a 1 billion CFU probiotic blend, and a kale and spinach greens blend, in addition to a strong pea and rice protein combination. It’s gluten-free, sucralose-free, and created with non-GMO ingredients, and it’s certified vegan. This protein mix combines best-in-class ingredients to produce a fast-absorbing protein blend that supports muscle repair and development before and after exercises.
Just a heads up: If you’re used to whey protein shakes, you’ll need to add a little more water than usual—and maybe more than the label suggests—unless you don’t mind a little thicker shake.
Kaged Kasein Protein
Muscle Kaged Kasein is a popular protein for pre-bedtime snacking because it slowly digests and provides important amino acids to muscles over several hours, assisting in the maintenance of a long-term anabolic state and preventing muscle protein breakdown.
Kaged took this traditional protein to the next level by creating incredible milkshake-like tastes in both vanilla and chocolate. Even if you’re a shake drinker, try making Kaged Muscle creator Kris Gethin’s favourite night snack with this protein: thick, creamy casein pudding.
Signature Whey Protein
This would be our go-to whey even if it wasn’t our “house” brand, largely because it’s a wonderful blend of affordability and quality. While many products are solely whey protein concentrate, Signature 100 percent Whey offers a unique profile of 13 grammes of isolate and 6 grammes of hydrolysate and concentrate, respectively. That means you’ll get a lot of clean, low-carb protein with just enough whey concentrate to give it a creamy flavour and texture.
Simply said, it’s a delicious dish. Customers praise the exquisite tastes and lack of a fake aftertaste in reviews. The most popular tastes are mocha cappuccino and the seasonal favourite oatmeal cookie.
It’s a flexible whey mixture that can be blended quickly in a shaker bottle and used in a number of dishes, including waffles, cookies, and more. Because of the balanced protein combination, many reviewers find this product easier to stomach than some of its competitors.
Best Egg Protein Powder
Each serving of Gaspari Proven Egg has the same amount of protein as six big egg whites and 8 grammes of BCAAs. There are no artificial flavours, colours, sucralose, or artificial sweeteners in this recipe. It’s also dairy- and lactose-free, KETO, paleo, and non-GMO certified.
Egg protein is a complete protein with a high quality, making it ideal for protein drinks. It’s also wonderful for cooking because it’s instantized.
Best Protein For Weight Loss
Isopure protein is as light and clean as it gets, and it has a loyal following among athletes who want to drop weight and burn fat while keeping their hard-earned muscle. It’s available in a variety of flavours and sizes, including a 7.5-pound bucket, and is keto-friendly thanks to the absence of carbohydrates, sugars, and lactose. So, if you’re having trouble with macro math, this protein will surely help.
Yes, one serving contains a huge 50 grammes of protein, but keep in mind that protein isn’t the place to start if you’re trying to lose weight. In reality, Doug Kalman, Ph.D., RD, writes in his Bodybuilding.com Foundations of Fitness Nutrition course, “As long as calories—i.e., total portions—are under control and you’re receiving adequate protein, popular diets all function with roughly the same amount of predictability.” So don’t be afraid of the big reveal!
Best Mass-Gainer Protein Powder
When you read the label—700 calories per serving, 46 grammes of protein, and 90 grammes of carbs?!—your eyes could pop out of your head.
However, because True Mass is a weight-gain protein powder, those figures are ideal. Many athletes, especially those who train hard or participate in sports, require a significant increase in calories, carbohydrates, and protein to achieve noticeable muscular growth.
True Mass is a tried-and-true gainer that delivers on its promises and tastes like all protein should. Scoop, drink, and expand your horizons.
Best Protein For Muscle Growth
Nitro-Tech is a classic protein from a well-known company that has long been at the forefront of supplement technology. These men know how to expand their horizons.
Each scoop contains 30 grammes of protein, including 6.5 grammes of BCAAs, the amino acids important for muscle protein synthesis. Each meal also contains 3 grammes of creatine monohydrate. If you’re already drinking a couple of shakes a day during a rigorous training cycle, you can cross creatine off your to-do list as well.
Customers particularly like Nitro-creamy Tech’s tastes and the good value for money. Furthermore, it is available in a large 10-pound value quantity, so you can purchase once and be set for a long time.
Best Collagen Protein
Obvi Super Collagen Protein is a wonderful source of protein that also aids in the support of joints and the maintenance of healthy hair, skin, and nails. Obvi’s Super Collagen Protein is the most advanced collagen on the market, it mixes nicely, and it comes in cereal-inspired tastes that go great with almond milk or whatever you’re drinking. It’s low-carb, dairy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and American-made.
Because collagen proteins offer less total protein per serving, supplementing with whey or plant-based protein on occasion may be beneficial, especially if you’re a hard-training woman or trying to gain muscle or strength. To obtain the best of both worlds, use this trick: To increase the flexibility of your other proteins, add a scoop of cereal-flavored collagen protein—especially if their taste might be improved!
Legion Whey Plus
Legion Whey Plus is a whey isolate made from milk from small Irish dairy farms.
Whey isolate has over 90% protein by weight and has a low lactose content, whereas whey concentrate comprises 25–89% protein and has a higher lactose content.
All of the components in Legion Whey Plus are listed on the label, and there are no fillers. It’s also cGMP-certified and third-party tested by Labdoor, guaranteeing that it’s free of prohibited chemicals and impurities. This product is available in 11 different flavours, as well as an unflavored version.
Ascent Native Fuel Micellar Casein
According to the company, ascent Native Fuel Micellar Casein is a high-quality protein powder made with all-natural components.
Casein makes up around 80% of the protein in milk, whereas whey makes up about 20%. Because casein digests more slowly than whey owing to its protein structure, many individuals take it before bed to ensure that they get enough protein throughout the night.
Notably, Ascent uses its own facilities to convert grade A milk into protein powder, whereas other producers use preprocessed protein. Furthermore, Informed Sport has independently evaluated this product to verify that it is suitable for both athletes and casual gym-goers.
Chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, and vanilla bean are the three tastes available.
PlantFusion Complete Plant-Based Protein Powder
It might be difficult to satisfy your daily protein requirements as a vegan. Including a plant-based protein supplement in your diet is one way to obtain enough.
Although vegan protein powders were once regarded as flavourless, their taste has considerably improved in recent years. The quality and taste of PlantFusion Complete Plant-Based Protein Powder are both excellent. To produce a complete protein, it combines vegan proteins including pea, quinoa, and algae with branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs).
BCAAs are made up of the important amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine, which are the only ones that can be broken down by your muscles.
PlantFusion Complete Plant-Based Protein Powder also contains digestive enzymes and is free of key allergies such as dairy, soy, and gluten. It comes in four different tastes.
Garden Of Life Sport Grass-Fed Organic Whey Protein
In Ireland, truly Grass Fed, an animal welfare-friendly and 95 percent grass-fed dairy farm, is where Garden of Life gets its whey protein for this product.
Certain important elements, such as omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), have been found to be greater in grass-fed dairy than in conventional dairy.
Grass-Fed Garden of Life Sport Whey is organically certified, GMO-free, and has two third-party verifications from NSF International and Informed Choice to verify that it is devoid of prohibited chemicals.
It also contains 2 billion probiotic colony-forming units (CFUs) to support gut and immunological health. There are no artificial flavours in the classic chocolate and vanilla tastes.
Nutricost Whey Protein Concentrate
NutriCost Whey Protein Concentrate is a low-cost protein powder that delivers whey protein’s muscle-building advantages. Whey protein concentrate, natural flavourings, sodium chloride (salt), sucralose, and acesulfame potassium are among the few ingredients.
Furthermore, this product is manufactured in a cGMP-certified facility and third-party evaluated by Analytical Research Laboratories to guarantee athlete safety. It’s available in plain, vanilla, chocolate, and chocolate peanut butter flavours.
Ghost Whey Protein
Ghost collaborates with renowned companies like Chips Ahoy and Nutter Butter to add cookie bits in some of their protein powders to create distinctive tastes. There are a total of eight varieties available from the firm.
Ghost provides the amino acids your body requires by combining whey isolate with whey concentrate. This product also includes a combination of digestive enzymes to help with digestion.
Ghost Whey Protein is made in a cGMP-certified facility and is third-party evaluated for ingredient safety by NSF International.
Isopure Low Carb Carb Whey Isolate
Some people restrict their carb consumption to meet their macronutrient and exercise objectives. Low Carb Isopure Whey Isolate has the same high-quality whey protein isolate as other protein powders, but without the carbohydrates.
It’s also made in a cGMP-certified facility and is lactose and gluten-free. It’s also available in a variety of flavours.
Now Sports Egg White Protein
While whey protein powder is still the most popular, there are other high-quality options, like egg white protein powder.
For those who avoid dairy products, NOW Sports Egg White Protein is a great alternative. Informed Choice and Informed Sport have independently tested it, assuring high-quality ingredients that are free of prohibited chemicals.
However, the limited taste selection – chocolate, vanilla, and unflavored — may leave something to be desired.
Naked Whey
Some individuals prefer flavoured protein powders, while others prefer unflavored protein powders that may be mixed into foods and beverages without adding flavour.
With only one ingredient – whey protein concentrate — Naked Whey meets the bill perfectly. Rumiano Cheese, a California-based firm, provides this protein powder from cows that have been pastured for more than 300 days a year and over 19 hours per day.
Core Nutritionals Grow
You must consume more calories than you expend on a regular basis to acquire weight. Supplements known as mass gainers provide extra calories on top of a regular protein intake for people who struggle to consume enough calories.
Grow by Core Nutritionals is a powdered mass gainer made up of real food components including sweet potato, oats, avocado oil, medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, and whey protein concentrate.
It’s a great source of protein and calories that you can have before or after a workout or as a snack throughout the day.
Conclusion
Some athletes and gym-goers find it difficult to satisfy their protein demands only via healthy meals. Protein powders are a high-quality source of protein that may be used before and after exercises or in between meals to help you grow muscle.
Focus on quality, flavour, pricing, and production standards while searching for protein powder. Consider one of the items on the list above for the finest alternatives.
Core Nutritionals Grow is a trusted product among fitness experts since it is made in a cGMP-certified facility and is devoid of maltodextrin and other fillers. It also comes in two flavours: Chocolate Bliss and Peanut Butter Pie, and contains digestive enzymes.