You might ask, how could one whey protein product be any better than another? To a large extent that is true and value for money should be a primary consideration when weighing up your options. That said, every year as the science gets better, so do the products. How your protein powder is made, what goes into it and the included additives all make a difference to how effective your protein supplement works to help build lean muscle and maintain it.
So we've broken down the following 6 top selling products on the market based on value and protein delivery to make it easier.
You may not want to wade through our in-depth review of the top 6 Whey Protein Powders, so here are our two 3 recommendations at a glance.
We have broken down the following products and given you a score based on how pure your protein product is. Keep in mind that protein content per serve is not always an indicator of the best product. You may want to consider some of the helpful product additives beyond the pure protein content that can aid in your fitness goals.
Best Selling Protein Powder & Great Value
Optimum Nutrition's Gold Standard Whey has been a best seller for years, but does it really deserve to take first place among its competitors?
This product is a blended product of whey isolate, whey concentrate and whey peptides. While some may lean towards a straight isolate product, there are additional benefits included in the less processed form of whey concentrate, which contains Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Phospholipids. Whey peptides are a more processed form of isolates which are pre-digested and allow you to absorb amino acids more rapidly. With the benefits of each form, this blended product provides the best that each has to offer.
Lecithin is also added which helps with mixing of the product. Aminogen is added to help with digestion. Lactase is added to help with Lactose digestion. Apart from these ingredients and some flavour, there is not much else added to this product.
Gold Standard is still excellent value and arguably still provides the best bang for your buck!
Per 30 grams
Per 30 grams of Protein
score info
24grams Protein Per Serve (30.4g scoop)
5.5grams of BCAA's
4grams of Glutamine & Glutamic Acid
The manufacturers recommended retail price is $57.99 for 5lbs. This works out to be about $0.97 per 30 grams of protein. Of course you can usually get it far cheaper if you purchase from Amazon.
This product represents excellent value for money and includes a well balanced blend for post workout use as well as meal replacement for those seeking to loose weight. Does it deserve to take place as best seller? If your not an elite athlete seeking a hydrolyzed whey based product (like Dymatize ISO 100), then we think Gold Standard is the best of the line-up!
We find the best prices on Amazon and have provided a link below:
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard (Amazon.com)Very Inexpensive
Added Digestive Enzymes
Contains Soy & Lecithin
We have broken down the following products and given you a score based on how pure your protein product is as well as the effective cost for the protein component on a product. Keep in mind that protein content per serve is not always an indicator of the best product. You may want to consider some of the helpful product additives beyond the pure protein content that can aid in your fitness goals.
Per 30 grams
Optimum Nutrition's Gold Standard Whey has been a best seller for years, but does it really deserve to take first place among its competitors?
This product is a blended product of whey isolate, whey concentrate and whey peptides. While some may lean towards a straight isolate product, there are additional benefits included in the less processed form of whey concentrate, which contains Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Phospholipids. Whey peptides are a more processed form of isolates which are pre-digested and allow you to absorb amino acids more rapidly. With the benefits of each form, this blended product provides the best that each has to offer.
Lecithin is also added which helps with mixing of the product. Aminogen is added to help with digestion. Lactase is added to help with Lactose digestion. Apart from these ingredients and some flavour, there is not much else added to this product.
Gold Standard is still excellent value and arguably still provides the best bang for your buck!
Per 30 grams of Protein
score info
The manufacturers recommended retail price is $57.99 for 5lbs. This works out to be about $0.97 per 30 grams of protein. Of course you can usually get it far cheaper if you purchase from Amazon.
This product represents excellent value for money and includes a well balanced blend for post workout use as well as meal replacement for those seeking to loose weight. Does it deserve to take place as best seller? If your not an elite athlete seeking a hydrolyzed whey based product (like Dymatize ISO 100), then we think Gold Standard is the best of the line-up!
We find the best prices on Amazon and have provided a link below:
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard (Amazon.com)Protein Powder & Multivitamin in one.
The ISOPURE brand is best known for its ZERO CARB product which is a popular choice for those following a ketogenic diet. The ZERO CAB lineup comes in a range of popular sizes and flavours. In addition, ISOPURE also produce a LOW CARB product in some flavours. The carbs come from a small amount of included sugar to enhance the flavour, though the sugar content is still much lower than most of its competitors.
Unusually, ISOPURE recommend a serving size of a whopping 65grams, or two scoops. This includes 50grams of protein. Due to the limitations on whey protein digestibility over a 3 hours period, we would suggest using just a single scoop rather than double. From what we understand of the research, anything over 30grams will not be utilised by your body.
What is very notable about this product is its excellent vitamin and mineral content. We like to think of it as a protein supplement and multivitamin in one! A single scoop (as we would recommend), contains approximately a quarter of your daily recommended intake of Vitamin A, B6, B12, C, E, K, Calcium, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Folic Acid, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus, Iodine, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, Chromium, Molybdenum, Chloride.
The whey protein content of this product is provided only as a pure isolate form, unlike some of the competition which use blends. This provides the best protein content level for price, though there are some additional benefits from blended products.
Per 30 grams
Per 30 grams of Protein
score info
50grams Protein Per Serve (65g double-scoop)
Added Vitamins & Minerals, Approx. 50% RDI per serve (double scoop)
The manufacturers recommended retail price is $60.99 for 4.5lbs. This works out to be about $1.17 per 30 grams of protein. Of course you can usually get it far cheaper if you purchase from Amazon.
This product represents excellent value for money if used at half the serving size suggestion. We don't see any additional benefit from such a large serving size, as your body can only really digest so much protein at a time. We do really like the additional benefit of added micronutrients. We think this product is fairly comparable in value to Optimum Nutrition's Gold Standard.
We find the best prices on Amazon and have provided a link below:
ISOPURE Zero Carb (Amazon.com) ISOPURE Low Carb (Amazon.com)Added Multivitamin
Very Inexpensive
Low Carb & Fat
Lactose Free
Contains Soy
No Digestive Enzymes
Per 30 grams
The ISOPURE brand is best known for its ZERO CARB product which is a popular choice for those following a ketogenic diet. The ZERO CAB lineup comes in a range of popular sizes and flavours. In addition, ISOPURE also produce a LOW CARB product in some flavours. The carbs come from a small amount of included sugar to enhance the flavour, though the sugar content is still much lower than most of its competitors.
Unusually, ISOPURE recommend a serving size of a whopping 65grams, or two scoops. This includes 50grams of protein. Due to the limitations on whey protein digestibility over a 3 hours period, we would suggest using just a single scoop rather than double. From what we understand of the research, anything over 30grams will not be utilised by your body.
What is very notable about this product is its excellent vitamin and mineral content. We like to think of it as a protein supplement and multivitamin in one! A single scoop (as we would recommend), contains approximately a quarter of your daily recommended intake of Vitamin A, B6, B12, C, E, K, Calcium, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Folic Acid, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus, Iodine, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, Chromium, Molybdenum, Chloride.
The whey protein content of this product is provided only as a pure isolate form, unlike some of the competition which use blends. This provides the best protein content level for price, though there are some additional benefits from blended products.
Per 30 grams of Protein
score info
The manufacturers recommended retail price is $60.99 for 4.5lbs. This works out to be about $1.17 per 30 grams of protein. Of course you can usually get it far cheaper if you purchase from Amazon.
This product represents excellent value for money if used at half the serving size suggestion. We don't see any additional benefit from such a large serving size, as your body can only really digest so much protein at a time. We do really like the additional benefit of added micronutrients. We think this product is fairly comparable in value to Optimum Nutrition's Gold Standard.
We find the best prices on Amazon and have provided a link below:
ISOPURE Zero Carb (Amazon.com) ISOPURE Low Carb (Amazon.com)A premium protein powder for serious athletes.
The ISO100 product is a blend of hydrolyzed whey and whey isolate. Hydrolized whey is an isolate that has been further processed with enzymes that pre-digest the product. This makes it easier to digest the protein more quickly. It also has the lowest level of fat and calories as compared with other whey protein forms.
ISO100 also has the bare minimum of additives with simple flavor, sucralose as a sweetener and soy lecithin for mixability.
Unlike other products we have reviewed, ISO100 is lactose free which is why there is no need for additional digestive enzymes and makes the product ideal for those that are lactose intolerant.
This is also one of the few protein powders we think taste pretty good even when mixed with water. There are not many we would recommend for this, but ISO 100 is one that tastes pretty good.
This product is pretty simple. Its a hydrolyzed whey and thats what you pay for. Its not the cheapest product, but its cost allows for a highly digestible whey protein that works more efficiently to provide your essential amino acids after a workout.
Per 30 grams
Per 30 grams of Protein
score info
25grams Protein Per Serve (32g scoop)
Rapidly Digestible Hydrolyzed Whey
The manufacturers recommended retail price is $139.89 for 5lbs. This works out to be about $2.22 per 30 grams of protein. This is actually excellent value for a hydrolyzed whey which is quickly absorbed. Of course you can usually get it far cheaper if you purchase from Amazon. Our last price check on Amazon gave us a price of just $66.94 for 5lbs.
Not everyone needs to spend the extra for this hydrolyzed whey product. However, if you are looking for a premium quality product that will digest quickly, Dymatize ISO100 is the prefect choice. A fantastic option for elite athletes! It may cost more, but if rapid delivery of amino acids to your muscles is important, then its worth the extra. This solid product offers one of the best hydrolyzed wheys.
We find the best prices on Amazon and have provided a link below:
Dymatize ISO100 (Amazon.com)Great Taste
Rapid Absorption
Reasonably Priced
Contains Soy
Per 30 grams
The ISO100 product is a blend of hydrolyzed whey and whey isolate. Hydrolized whey is an isolate that has been further processed with enzymes that pre-digest the product. This makes it easier to digest the protein more quickly. It also has the lowest level of fat and calories as compared with other whey protein forms.
ISO100 also has the bare minimum of additives with simple flavor, sucralose as a sweetener and soy lecithin for mixability.
Unlike other products we have reviewed, ISO100 is lactose free which is why there is no need for additional digestive enzymes and makes the product ideal for those that are lactose intolerant.
This is also one of the few protein powders we think taste pretty good even when mixed with water. There are not many we would recommend for this, but ISO100 is one that tastes pretty good.
This product is pretty simple. Its a hydrolyzed whey and thats what you pay for. Its not the cheapest product, but its cost allows for a highly digestible whey protein that works more efficiently to provide your essential amino acids after a workout.
Per 30 grams of Protein
score info
The manufacturers recommended retail price is $139.89 for 5lbs. This works out to be about $2.22 per 30 grams of protein. This is actually excellent value for a hydrolyzed whey which is quickly absorbed. Of course you can usually get it far cheaper if you purchase from Amazon. Our last price check on Amazon gave us a price of just $66.94 for 5lbs.
Not everyone needs to spend the extra for this hydrolyzed whey product. However, if you are looking for a premium quality product that will digest quickly, Dymatize ISO100 is the prefect choice. A fantastic option for elite athletes! It may cost more, but if rapid delivery of amino acids to your muscles is important, then its worth the extra. This solid product offers one of the best hydrolyzed wheys.
We find the best prices on Amazon and have provided a link below:
Dymatize ISO100 (Amazon.com)Great Taste with Digestive Enzymes.
BSN sells a variety of protein products and powders, but SYNTHA-6 is there best known supplement. However it does also tend to have a reputation for having quite a few artificial ingredients included.
SYNTHA-6 is not a strictly pure whey powder. It contains whey concentrate and isolate, but also includes calcium caseinate, casein, egg white protein and glutamine peptides.
The rest of the ingredients include synthetic compounds such as stabilisers, thickeners, colors, sweeteners as well as soy lecithin for mixability. SYNTHA-6 also includes additives with beneficial properties such as tricalcium phosphate which is a type of calcium. Bromelain, which is an added enzyme that has been shown to help decrease muscle inflammation. Papain is an enzyme added to improve digestion. Polydextrose is also added, and is a synthetic fiber.
If you have any allergies, it is worth noting that this product contains dairy, soy, wheat, egg and corn.
Of course it would be irresponsible to say that just because a product contains synthetic ingredients, that its bad for you. We don't see the harm in using science to further our health. However those seeking a more natural lineup of ingredients may want to take a pass this product.
What is very notable about this product, is its high fiber, iron, calcium, magnesium and enzyme content. We would also recommend this product as an option for those looking for a meal replacement supplement for weight loss.
Per 30 grams
Per 30 grams of Protein
score info
22grams Protein Per Serve (47g scoop)
Added Digestive Enzymes
Added Anti-inflammatory
The manufacturers recommended retail price is $49.99 for 5lbs. This works out to be about $1.41 per 30 grams of protein. Of course you can usually get it far cheaper if you purchase from Amazon.
This product offers a good blend of protein that is reasonably low in carbs, but has a number of artificial ingredients. It offers a reasonable value alternative to Optimum Nutritions Gold Standard product.
We find the best prices on Amazon and have provided a link below:
BSN SYNTHA-6 (Amazon.com)Inexpensive
Great Taste
Great Mixability
High Artificial Additives
Contains Soy & Wheat
Per 30 grams
BSN sells a variety of protein products and powders, but SYNTHA-6 is there best known supplement. However it does also tend to have a reputation for having quite a few artificial ingredients included.
SYNTHA-6 is not a strictly pure whey powder. It contains whey concentrate and isolate, but also includes calcium caseinate, casein, egg white protein and glutamine peptides.
The rest of the ingredients include synthetic compounds such as stabilisers, thickeners, colors, sweeteners as well as soy lecithin for mixability. SYNTHA-6 also includes additives with beneficial properties such as tricalcium phosphate which is a type of calcium. Bromelain, which is an added enzyme that has been shown to help decrease muscle inflammation. Papain is an enzyme added to improve digestion. Polydextrose is also added, and is a synthetic fiber.
If you have any allergies, it is worth noting that this product contains dairy, soy, wheat, egg and corn.
Of course it would be irresponsible to say that just because a product contains synthetic ingredients, that its bad for you. We don't see the harm in using science to further our health. However those seeking a more natural lineup of ingredients may want to take a pass this product.
What is very notable about this product, is its high fiber, iron, calcium, magnesium and enzyme content. We would also recommend this product as an option for those looking for a meal replacement supplement for weight loss.
Per 30 grams of Protein
score info
The manufacturers recommended retail price is $49.99 for 5lbs. This works out to be about $1.41 per 30 grams of protein. Of course you can usually get it far cheaper if you purchase from Amazon.
This product offers a good blend of protein that is reasonably low in carbs, but has a number of artificial ingredients. It offers a reasonable value alternative to Optimum Nutritions Gold Standard product.
We find the best prices on Amazon and have provided a link below:
BSN SYNTHA-6 (Amazon.com)Low calorie & Great Value.
The MusclePharm Combat product is popular among bodybuilders and is well known for sponsoring MMA athletes. You may already be familiar with the brand due to its popular protein bar product lineup.
Combat is extremely well priced and offers excellent value for money. Each scoop contains 25grams of protein, 3grams of carbs and only 1.5grams of fat.
MusclePharm Combat is a blend of Whey Isolate and Whey Concentrate. While we would normally like a blended product, especially as well priced as Combat, it does have a drawback. While most products which contain whey concentrate include digestive enzymes, this product doesn't. The reason why digestive enzymes are often added is to help with the digestion of the lactose content in whey concentrate. Without these enzymes, you may find some digestive difficulty with this product. Especially if you suffer any lactose intolerance, in which case you may want to give Combat a miss..
Otherwise, Combat is a solid product that is low in calories and is ideally suited as a post-workout protein boost.
Per 30 grams
Per 30 grams of Protein
score info
25grams Protein Per Serve (33g scoop)
The manufacturers recommended retail price is $44.99 for 4lbs. This works out to be about $1.12 per 30 grams of protein. Of course you can usually get it far cheaper if you purchase from Amazon.
This product is very low cost, but is missing some of the beneficial additives we would like to see in our protein powder. If you are looking for a solid but low cost option and are not lactose intolerant, this might be a good choice for you.
We find the best prices on Amazon and have provided a link below:
MusclePharm Combat (Amazon.com)Inexpensive
Low Carb & Fat
Soy & Lactose
No Digestive Enzymes
Per 30 grams
The MusclePharm Combat product is popular among bodybuilders and is well known for sponsoring MMA athletes. You may already be familiar with the brand due to its popular protein bar product lineup.
Combat is extremely well priced and offers excellent value for money. Each scoop contains 25grams of protein, 3grams of carbs and only 1.5grams of fat.
MusclePharm Combat is a blend of Whey Isolate and Whey Concentrate. While we would normally like a blended product, especially as well priced as Combat, it does have a drawback. While most products which contain whey concentrate include digestive enzymes, this product doesn't. The reason why digestive enzymes are often added is to help with the digestion of the lactose content in whey concentrate. Without these enzymes, you may find some digestive difficulty with this product. Especially if you suffer any lactose intolerance, in which case you may want to give Combat a miss..
Otherwise, Combat is a solid product that is low in calories and is ideally suited as a post-workout protein boost.
Per 30 grams of Protein
score info
The manufacturers recommended retail price is $44.99 for 4lbs. This works out to be about $1.12 per 30 grams of protein. Of course you can usually get it far cheaper if you purchase from Amazon.
This product is very low cost, but is missing some of the beneficial additives we would like to see in our protein powder. If you are looking for a solid but low cost option and are not lactose intolerant, this might be a good choice for you.
We find the best prices on Amazon and have provided a link below:
MusclePharm Combat (Amazon.com)Muscle recovery additives included.
As a 50gram scoop per serve, this protein powder contains 30grams of protein, a huge 8grams of carbs and 5 grams of fat. All together, thats about 210 calories each serve. Its also got a whopping 125mg of cholesterol which is 42% of your recommended daily intake.
Super Advanced.....well we are not so sure! This product contains more protein concentrate than isolate, which is why its so high in carbs and fats which we would rather avoid. Aside from this, there are only minor additives for mixability, flavor and sweetening. No digestive enzymes, vitamins or minerals added. So we tend to think of the labelling on this product as more marketing hype.
Is it all bad? No! They have added what they call their "Super Recovery Blend" which is simply a combination of creatine (as creatine monohydrate), taurine and glutamine. All these should aid in recovery, though its worth mentioning that it only contains about 1.5grams of creatine which is tiny compared with a normal creatine dose of at least 5grams. Will this recovery blend help, yes.....but not much.
Super Advanced is really more or a basic budget level protein powder that is just being marketed with a lot of hype. We did not even think the taste was that great when compared with other products. It is very good value when it comes to protein content for the money, but we would suggest looking at in compared with some of the other products listed here which we think are better options.
Per 30 grams
Per 30 grams of Protein
score info
30grams Protein Per Serve (50g scoop)
Super Recovery Blend of Creatine, Taurine and Glutamine.
The manufacturers recommended retail price is $34.99 for 5lbs. This works out to be about $1.29 per 30 grams of protein. Of course you can usually get it far cheaper if you purchase from Amazon. Our last price check on Amazon gave us a price of just $33.88 for 5lbs.
This is a decent product, is good value for its protein content but could offer a lot more and we don't think it deserves the "Super Advanced" label. However this product does provide a unique additional blend of creatine, taurine and glutamine which should assist in recovery. If you're looking for a cheap option, this is up there with some of the better value options.
We find the best prices on Amazon and have provided a link below:
BODY FORTRESS Super Advanced (Amazon.com)Added Creatine & Taurine
Not a Great Taste
Poor Mixability
High Carb & Fat
High in Cholesterol
Per 30 grams
As a 50gram scoop per serve, this protein powder contains 30grams of protein, a huge 8grams of carbs and 5 grams of fat. All together, thats about 210 calories each serve. Its also got a whopping 125mg of cholesterol which is 42% of your recommended daily intake.
Super Advanced.....well we are not so sure! This product contains more protein concentrate than isolate, which is why it's so high in carbs and fats which we would rather avoid. Aside from this, there are only minor additives for mixability, flavor and sweetening. No digestive enzymes, vitamins or minerals added. So we tend to think of the labelling on this product as more marketing hype.
Is it all bad? No! They have added what they call their "Super Recovery Blend" which is simply a combination of creatine (as creatine monohydrate), taurine and glutamine. All these should aid in recovery, though its worth mentioning that it only contains about 1.5grams of creatine which is tiny compared with a normal creatine dose of at least 5grams. Will this recovery blend help, yes.....but not much.
Super Advanced is really more or a basic budget level protein powder that is just being marketed with a lot of hype. We did not even think the taste was that great when compared with other products. It is very good value when it comes to protein content for the money, but we would suggest looking at in compared with some of the other products listed here which we think are better options.
Per 30 grams of Protein
score info
The manufacturers recommended retail price is $34.99 for 5lbs. This works out to be about $1.29 per 30 grams of protein. Of course you can usually get it far cheaper if you purchase from Amazon. Our last price check on Amazon gave us a price of just $33.88 for 5lbs.
This is a decent product, is good value for its protein content but could offer a lot more and we don't think it deserves the "Super Advanced" label. However this product does provide a unique additional blend of creatine, taurine and glutamine which should assist in recovery. If you're looking for a cheap option, this is up there with some of the better value options.
We find the best prices on Amazon and have provided a link below:
BODY FORTRESS Super Advanced (Amazon.com)Choosing a protein powder from the many options available can be confusing. We have provided detailed information to help you make a selection based on your needs. By providing the actual cost for protein content, this helps narrow down the best value options, but there is often more to a protein powder than total content. The type of protein as well as the included additives can help with how efficiently your body processes this protein.
The cheapest product is often not the best value and understanding your product and how it may meet your goals is the best way to narrow down the right product for you.