The 11 Best Whey Protein Powders for Muscle Gain, Tested by Us

This protein powder’s texture impressed s with its velvety and thick consistency when blended solely with water. If you prefer a powder with a more substantial body or are often looking for something you can shake up with water from a drinking fountain, this is a great option.

This whey protein isolate is simple and straightforward, formulated with natural flavors and plant-derived sweeteners to taste great. Our editors like the vanilla flavor for its milkshake flavor and easy-to-blend quality. Yes, it's sweetened, but less so than many comparable products, as the brand utilizes a blend of cane sugar and stevia for a lower sugar content (just one gram of added sugar per serving). We love that it avoids artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols, which can trigger stomach discomfort in some individuals.

The protein powder also contains 21 grams of protein sourced solely from whey isolate, making it an excellent choice for individuals with lactose sensitivity.Plus, it’s NSF certified. It’s worth mentioning the aftertaste, which may not be to everyone's liking. This product contains stevia, which can be a point of contention for some consumers.

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The unflavored Naked whey protein powder strips everything out but the whey itself—there are no additives or sweeteners. The powder doesn't have an aftertaste or a gritty texture, making it undetectable when blended into shakes and smoothies. The whey isolate in this powder hails from grass-fed, hormone-free cows and boasts certification by the third-party testing company Informed Choice. It contains 25 grams per scoop for 120 calories.

For those who want some flavor mixed into their smoothie or milk, this powder is also available in vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, and double chocolate varieties, which are sweetened with coconut sugar, a low-glycemic sweetener.

The consistency is smooth, although a smidge of sediment may hang out at the bottle's bottom. If you’re someone who prefers a protein powder that can be knocked back on-the-go after mixing with water alone, the unflavored option might not be for you.

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Derived from New Zealand grass-fed cows, Onnit Grass-Fed Whey Protein gives you the whole amino acid package, too. It also carries the heralded Informed Choice seal, which means that what's advertised on the label is exactly what's inside the jug.

We love that one serving is just a single scoop, meaning it mixes easier than some powders that require multiple scoops per serving. However, it contains 20 grams of protein per serving, which is slightly less than the 25 grams most comparable powders deliver. Besides the protein, this stuff comes armed with a bunch of probiotics, possibly giving your immune system and digestion a little boost in the short term.

There's also a digestive enzyme blend featuring protease and papain that may aid digestion. This is a reliable pick for grass-fed protein, but you can find more budget-friendly options out there. It's also sweetened with low glycemic index ingredients like monk fruit and stevia, which some may dislike the taste and aftertaste of.

From cereal to coffee, Dymatize boasts some of the widest flavor varieties we have seen: chocolate peanut butter cup, Dunkin’ glazed donut, Fruity Pebbles. And they’re all delicious."Dymatize ISO100 is literally the only protein I use, because its nutritional profile is great," says Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., MH Fitness Director.

The combination of whey protein isolate and hydrolyzed whey protein isolate delivering deliver 25 grams of protein.This product is noted for its low-fat and low-carb content, which makes it suitable for those aiming to maintain a lean diet. Additionally, it contains 5.5 grams of BCAAs and 4.4 grams of glutamine, promoting enhanced muscle growth and quicker recovery.

This protein powder also carries the Informed Choice certification, providing athletes with confidence in its quality. While hydrolyzed protein, as found in Dymatize ISO 100, is more easily digested by the body, there's limited evidence supporting claims of faster muscle and protein synthesis compared to intact proteins.

Despite how affordable it is, this formula is NSF Certified for Sport and offers a solid 25 grams of protein per serving. Offering a combination of concentrate and isolate, one scoop per shake can help stretch your dollar without compromising on quality.

We like that it comes from the tried and true Muscle Milk brand, but with its new and improved formula that’s lower in calories and fat than previous iterations. This powder is sweetened with sucralose, a sugar alcohol with a lower glycemic index than cane sugar.

It is sweetened with sucralose, a sugar alcohol which has been known to cause an upset stomach in a small portion of the population. So be aware if you know sugar alcohols don't sit well with you. The carb content is also higher than most other powders on this list, clocking in at 8g per serving. This could be good for some people, and not so good for others, depending on what your desired carb intake is.

It’s whey protein in its most natural form, without the typical processing most competitors put their whey products through. Couple that with the fact that they don’t use any artificial ingredients, and you have one of the most natural whey products on the market. Plus, you're getting a solid 25 grams of protein per serving.

The flavor options are pretty generous, with nine different choices available, including an unflavored. When it comes to packaging, you can go for the 2- or 4-pound bags or grab single-serving packets.The chocolate peanut butter is our favorite, which is unexpectedly creamy even when mixed with water.What's cool about this powder is that although it's sweetened with stevia, it doesn't leave you with a strong aftertaste like most similar powders do.

It carries the Informed Sport certification. Keep in mind this powder is made in a facility that handles tree nuts and peanuts. So if you've got allergies or need your products to be soy, tree nut, and peanut-free, this might not be for you. It’s also a bit higher in carbs than some other powders on this list (likely due to the blend that contains whey concentrate)—its 5g of carbs per serving isn’t necessarily a huge deterrent, but it’s definitely worth mentioning for those watching their macros closely.

This supplement delivers 25 grams of pure whey protein isolate in each serving.It comes in an unflavored option, which is one of our go-to choices for whipping up quick smoothies or elevating the protein content in baked goods. It's also a game-changer when you're in a hurry or want to sneak some protein into your morning oatmeal bowl without disturbing the flavor.

If you're all about flavors, don't worry; there's vanilla and chocolate, both sweetened up with stevia. While the flavors are a hit for quick milk or water-only shakes on the go, the stevia flavor can be a deterrent for some. When it comes to ingredients in the unflavored version, NOW Sports keeps it simple—just whey protein isolate with a full amino acid profile and a hint of sunflower lecithin emulsifier, sans other additives.

On the nutrition front, it's allergy-friendly, waving goodbye to common offenders like corn, egg, and soy. It's also kosher- and halal-friendly, a rarity among protein powders. You're looking at a 1.2-pound tub with 19 servings. Ideally, we'd love more servings per container, but the quality and versatility make the more frequent restocks worth it.

This brand takes the guesswork out of shopping by creating a customized protein blend based on your body composition, fitness goals, dietary restrictions, and flavor preferences. After taking their quiz, you’ll get a blend recommendation (most often whey isolate–but could include concentrate or casein) formulated just for you.

The 28-serving bag of powder comes unflavored, but you get to choose the “flavor sticks” to add to your powder. That means one day you could have Madagascar vanilla and the next you could have caffè mocha without having to buy two separate full tubs of powder. My personal favorite was strawberry cream, which I found mixed smoothly in both water and milk (despite the added powder from the flavor stick).

The powders are free from artificial flavors, sweeteners, or fillers, and the subscription comes with one-on-one access to a registered dietitian for added support (if you so choose). It’s important to note that Gainful does sell a generic whey protein if you’re not interested in the customization but are interested in the brand. Potential DrawbacksYou can’t just grab this customizable whey off a shelf—it’s subscription only.

It also does require that quiz, which is a bit of extra legwork outside of clicking purchase. But if the customization doesn’t call to you, Gainful has generic options you can purchase off shelves or Amazon. It’s also worth noting the flavor sticks contain stevia (an aftertaste that may be off-putting for some) and guar gum, a filler that helps with consistency.

Each scoop delivers 22 grams of protein with only 120 calories, zero grams of added sugar, and no artificial ingredients. It’s sweetened with stevia and uses natural flavoring to keep things clean—and yes, it actually tastes good.

The protein comes from 100% whey isolate sourced from grass-fed cows raised on small dairy farms in Ireland. That means it’s not only more sustainable, but also free from antibiotics and hormones. It mixes quickly in water or milk, though we found that using a blender bottle works better than stirring by spoon (some foam tends to form otherwise).

The Dutch chocolate flavor was our favorite in testing. Bonus: It’s one of the few low-calorie options that still gives you a decent 5.6g of BCAAs and 2.6g of leucine per serving—enough to support muscle protein synthesis. The low calorie count means fewer carbs and fats, which is great for low-cal diets but may leave you wanting more post-workout if you typically rely on your shake to fully refuel. It’s also worth noting that this product is sweetened with stevia, which can have an aftertaste (though we didn’t experience as much of that with this product as some other stevia-sweetened products on this list).