Compare Top 11 Protein Powders
Product Protein Source Protein Per Serving Flavors Price per Serving Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Protein blend (whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, hydrolyzed whey protein) 24 grams 20 $1.55 Dymatize ISO100 Hydrolyzed whey protein 25 grams 14 $1.28-$2.25 Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate Grass-fed whey protein isolate 28 grams 16 $2 Orgain Organic Vegan Protein Powder Organic protein blend (organic pea protein, organic brown rice protein, organic mung bean protein, organic chia seed) 21 grams 11 $2 Isopure Zero Carb Whey protein isolate 25 grams 8 $2.13 Vital Proteins Vital Performance Protein Powder Milk protein isolate and bovine collagen peptides 25 grams (including 10 grams of collagen) 4 $1.43 Be Well by Kelly Chocolate Protein Powder Beef protein isolate 24 grams 4 $2 Ritual Protein Daily Shake 18+ Organic yellow field peas 20 grams 1 $3.27 Promix Grass-Fed Whey Isolate Grass-fed whey protein isolate 30 grams 4 $1.29-$2.21 Momentous Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate Powder Grass-fed whey protein isolate 20 grams 3 $2.19 Mikuna Vegan Protein Powder Chocho 20 grams 3 $2.99
More Protein Powders to Consider
Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane
Naked Casein: With only one ingredient—micellar casein sourced from hormone-free skim milk—it’s about as clean as it gets. No added sugar, no artificial sweeteners, and no unnecessary additives. It's cold-processed, to avoid any nastiness from chemicals or synthetic fillers, and it’s independently tested for both heavy metals and gluten. Each serving packs 26 grams of protein and 618 milligrams of calcium (about 48 percent of your daily value). But Naked Casein doesn’t contain lecithin, so it won’t dissolve as smoothly as other powders. The best way to mix is with a blender, but I couldn't stomach the taste of this one.
Seeq Clear Protein Powder: I was skeptical when I purchased Seeq Clear Protein, but I’m a sucker for anything watermelon-flavored. I was pleasantly surprised. It tastes like a creamier sports drink (I promise it’s better than that description sounds), and each serving has 22 grams of protein and 4.5 grams of BCAAs. There are zero grams of sugar. Like a lot of other clear protein powders, it’s often more expensive than its counterparts. But if lactose irritates your stomach or you want something more like juice and less like a milkshake, it’s worth trying—especially if you mix it with extra water, since it’s on the sweet side. Worth noting is that it takes forever to dissolve, so use a frother or allot extra shaking time. —Louryn Strampe
Ghost Whey Protein Powder: Ghost is the protein powder for people who want their post-workout snack to taste like dessert. With flavors like Oreo, Cinnabon, and Chips Ahoy!, it's arguably one of the best-tasting whey proteins on the market. Each scoop delivers 26 grams of protein (50 percent of the daily value) and blends well in shakes, oats, or even DIY protein ice cream. The trade-off here is a longer ingredient list that includes gums, high-fructose corn syrup, and titanium dioxide—a whitening pigment banned as a food additive in Europe.
Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane
Sakara Protein + Greens Super Powder: With 17 grams of plant-based protein per serving, Sakara's Protein + Greens is just three shy of the 20-gram benchmark we aim for. The blend of pea, hemp, and pumpkin proteins is bolstered by a “super greens” mix of spirulina, wheatgrass, barley grass, and chlorella. Is it dramatically transforming my gut health? Probably not. But on days when my vegetable and protein intake is low, a scoop of this in my smoothie (plus some Greek yogurt for an extra 18 grams of protein) makes me feel a little less like a goblin surviving on iced coffee and string cheese.
Wavelength Vanilla Protein Powder: In addition to 20 grams of pea protein per serving, Wavelength's plant-based powder boasts trendy adaptogens and nootropics like maca root, ashwagandha, and Chaga mushroom extract. The brand doesn't disclose how much of each is in the mix, so it's hard to say if they're doing much beyond adding to the price tag. The taste is deeply earthy, which makes it better suited for baking than chugging. Wavelength also makes Little Ripples, a protein powder formulated for kids. Reviews editor Adrienne So made a shake with it for her 8- and 10-year-olds, but it had a strange, chalky texture and a bit of a barnyard funk smell. They refused to drink it.
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