Written by Garett Reid | NSCA, CSCS, CISSN, M.S.E.S.S
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Protein, protein, protein! Everyone gets their protein powder in 2024! We've been in this game for decades, and we can tell you that the protein powder market is an entirely different world than it was 25 years ago.
Back in the day, you had a choice between chocolate-flavored chalk or vanilla-flavored chalk, and the main variable was which one had the least taste as you held your nose and chugged a protein shake.
Now, the market is full of protein powders that taste delicious! However, not all protein powders are the same. This article will break down the highest-quality protein powders on the market.
What Makes A Good Protein Powder?
We use the word "protein" often, but protein powders can differ significantly in terms of their quality. In other words, they're not all the same. There's many types of protein powders on the market that all boast different quality ratings. But what determines the quality of protein powder?
Well, here are some variables you need to consider when looking at protein powders.
Protein Percentage
Assuming you're not buying a cheap protein powder or an unknown brand, this isn't going to be an issue. However, it's still something to consider.
Not all protein powders contain the same protein-to-calorie ratio. For example, let's say a protein powder has 25g of protein and 130 calories. One gram of protein has 4 calories, meaning 100 (25g X 4cal) of those calories come from protein, making it about 77% protein (100/130).
Generally, you want a protein powder that's at least 80% protein, with leaner protein powders being greater than 85% protein and some even reaching 90%. Basically, a protein powder with a higher percentage of protein leaves out the room for fillers or other macros you don't want. You're buying protein, and that's what it's giving you. Further, it gives you more options to add your own foods to a protein shake, such as oats or peanut butter.
Now, a lower percentage of protein isn't necessarily bad so long as the price represents this quantity. Further, it doesn't necessarily mean the protein is of bad quality. This depends on where the extra calories come from, so you must ensure they come from healthy sources and fit your caloric needs. If you're trying to save money, buying a protein powder with a lower protein content could be a good choice.
Protein Source
You also need to consider the protein source. Whey, egg, and pea proteins can all affect the actual quality of the protein. For example, buying a protein powder that contains only pea protein will result in you taking an incomplete protein!
The primary option for animal protein is whey protein. Whey is so common because it's generally the cheapest animal source, yet it has a very good amino acid profile and the highest amount of leucine; leucine is the primary amino acid responsible for triggering muscle protein synthesis.
In addition to whey, casein protein powder is also a milk protein but is a slow-digesting protein. This means it releases a steadier stream of amino acids but doesn't reach a peak as high as it should. Think of whey as a high mountain with a peak, while casein is a nice rolling hill. It also has a very nice amino acid profile, and its use is becoming more common. When it comes to casein vs whey both are great options depending on your needs.
While not as common, egg protein could be another option. Egg protein tends to be more expensive than whey as it's regarded as being "cleaner." Further, its amino acid profile has the perfect ratio. However, its leucine content is a tad smaller than whey's.
There are many choices in terms of plant protein. However, the best combination is thought to be pea protein and brown rice. Together, these two plant proteins can provide an amino acid profile comparable to that of whey. That said, when comparing plant protein vs whey protein the clear winner is whey.
Cost
Cost!!! Cost is a major factor, especially in the current economy, where everyone wants to save money. The good thing is that, generally, even the more expensive protein sources can be cheaper than whole foods. However, the cost can still vary greatly.
There are two ways to look at this: per serving and per gram of protein. If you really want to get to the nitty-gritty, you can look at the cost per gram of protein, as that tells you what you're paying for—protein!
On the higher end, you may pay around .07c per gram or $2.00 per serving. On the lower end, you may pay .04c per gram of protein or $1.20 per serving. At the end of the day, this isn't going to be a massive issue, but it is something to consider. You may see two protein powders with the same servings and the same cost. However, you notice one delivers 30g of protein per serving, and the other delivers 22g.
Quality Of Ingredients
This can be a point of contention, but the ingredients or source can make a difference for some people. For example, some people may want whey protein from grass-fed cows or farm-raised chickens, which will be more expensive.
Another point that may concern some are fillers or additives. This can include things like:
- Corn syrup
- Vegetable oils
- Coloring
- Artificial flavoring
This may or may not be a major concern for different people, but it's something to consider when determining if it fits your needs.
Use Of Antibiotics, GMOs, Steroids, and Food Sourcing
Over the past few years, there has been a massive surge in awareness of the use of things like steroids and GMO products in their food. In addition, the quality of an animal's living conditions and animal abuse have become an increasingly important topic.
As such, consumers want to see their products used with natural ingredients and animals raised under ethical conditions with proper nutrition. In fact, this has become one of the deciding factors that makes a "quality" protein, as it's almost created another tier of protein powders.
Flavoring
One thing to consider when buying a quality protein is that unflavored versions contain fewer ingredients. This can lessen the cost and the chances of having unnatural sweeteners or additives. Let's be honest: Your Cookies "n Cream or Vanilla Birthday Cake flavors aren't natural.
Now, some clean protein powders have flavoring and will use natural flavorings like real coconut and real cacao. However, this can increase the price and calories as natural foods cost more and contain more calories.
Therefore, you can get unflavored protein powder and then use your own flavoring at home. For example, adding mixed berries or some peanut butter can be absolutely delicious, and you'll know where the flavors come from.
The 8 Highest Quality Protein Powders Available
We're now going to go over some of the highest-quality protein powders on the market. Again, these protein powders stand out because they exclude things like GMO foods and steroids and source protein from quality, ethical sources.
1. Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate
- Protein per serving: 28g
- Calories per serving: 130
- Cost: $2.00/serving
Transparent Labs whey protein isolate is one of the cleanest protein powders on the market.
Each serving delivers 28g of grass-fed whey protein isolate paired with a blend of digestive enzymes to help with digestion and assure amino acid absorption. This delivers around 130 calories per serving with the following breakdown:
- Carbs: 1-3g
- Fat: 2.5g
- Protein: 28g
This makeup has a protein content of around 86%, one of the highest amounts per serving. What people really like about Transparent Labs is that it's free of colors, artificial sweeteners, and colors, so they opt to use stevia and Himalayan salt.
The main downside is its price, which is about $2.00 per serving, making it one of the most expensive protein powders on the market.
To show its high quality, it has numerous certifications that prove you're getting what you pay for. This includes;
- 3rd Party Testing
- No Artificial Sweeteners
- No Fillers
- No Artificial Coloring
- Grass-Fed Cows
- No GMO
It's easy to see why Transparent Labs delivers one of the highest-quality protein powders on the market.
Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate is one of the cleanest proteins on the market. It’s perfect for post-workout recovery and hitting daily protein goals...
2. Legion Whey+
- Protein per serving: 22g
- Calories per serving: 100
- Cost: $1.40/serving
Legion delivers a very clean whey protein labeled Whey+. Similar to other protein powders on this list, it follows the recent trend of using grass-fed cows to obtain whey protein and limiting any type of artificial ingredients.
As such, one of its highlights is eliminating various additives, fillers, and unnatural ingredients. This includes:
- No GMO
- No Gluten
- No Sugar
- No Lactose
- No Hormone
- No Antibiotics
- Animal Welfare Approved
As you can see from its list of certifications, Legion Whey prides itself on delivering clean protein derived from the healthiest animals. Its protein content per serving is lower than many others, as each serving delivers just 22g of protein at 100 calories. However, this still puts it at 88% protein, placing it in the upper tier.
Price-wise, you can expect to pay about $1.40 per serving, so it is in the cheaper range for this type of protein powder.
Many reviews claim it has delicious flavors and the best solubility ratings.
Whey+ is a naturally sweetened and flavored whey protein isolate with 22 grams of protein per serving and little or no carbohydrate or fat...
3. Naked Egg White (Unflavored)
- Protein per serving: 25g
- Calories per serving: 110
- Cost: $1.50/serving
Naked Egg White is easily one of the purest protein powders on the market. It contains just two ingredients: egg whites and sunflower lecithin. This product delivers a whopping 25g of egg white protein at just 110 calories, giving it a content of 90%! You can't get much purer than that, apart from just eating raw egg whites!
In addition, it contains:
- No Gluten
- No Soy
- No Flavors
- No Dairy
- No Additives
- No GMO
The eggs are derived from US farms and processed within a day to ensure freshness and purity. As it is derived from egg whites, you know it has an awesome amino acid profile to ensure it delivers muscle-building properties.
Now, there's a stigma around "clean foods" that says they're always more expensive. Well, while Naked Egg White isn't the cheapest, it's actually not the most expensive at about $1.50 per serving, with a 44-serving tub costing around $65.
With only two ingredients, there's not much else to say about this protein. However, there are two things to consider. It is unflavored, so you should probably use it in some sort of smoothie or at least chocolate milk, as water and unflavored protein powder aren't the tastiest.
Naked Egg contains egg white protein powder that comes from Non-GMO chicken eggs. Fresh eggs are processed into a powder in under one day to retain a complete amino acid...
4. Naked Whey (Unflavored)
- Protein per Serving: 25g
- Calories per serving: 120
- Cost: $1.20/serving
Similar to Naked Egg White, there's Naked Whey protein powder for those who prefer the amino acid profile. We'll tell you right off the bat that this review primarily concerns their unflavored option; we'll discuss the flavored options below.
Naked sources its whey protein from free-roaming grass-fed cows. Supposedly, cows from the farms they use get more "roaming time" if that's important to you. Further, they state that, as a whole, these farms have minimal GMO influence. Basically, they're pushing for their protein powder to be the cleanest and highest quality.
Naked Whey protein has the same clean profile as their egg white product, holding the following certifications:
- No Gluten
- No Soy
- No Flavors
- No Dairy
- No Additives
- No GMO
Their unflavored version is made from just one ingredient: whey protein concentrate. This gives evidence that it is one of the cleanest on the market. Again, you may think this is extremely expensive when it's just moderately expensive compared to your mainstream protein powders. A 77-serving tub will cost around $90, resulting in $1.17 servings. In fact, this is one of, if not the cheapest, of the highest-tier protein powders.
With that said, when you look at their flavored options, you see that they use much more than the advertised "3 ingredients" and" have some of the lower protein content numbers on the market. For example, one serving of chocolate delivers 25g of protein and 160 calories, making it only 62% protein. This could still be a viable option as their chocolate-flavored version still uses natural ingredients for flavoring organic cacao and organic coconut. These could be a good option so long as you're away from the calories.
Naked Whey is sourced from small non-GMO dairy farms. Our cows are grass-fed, free roaming, and raised without hormones like rBGH or rBST. Each serving includes...
5. Naked Protein (Unflavored)
- Protein per serving: 25g
- Calories per serving: 110
- Cost: $1.50/serving
And yet another option from Naked. This option delivers a mixture of egg, whey, and casein to give you the best of both worlds: fast and slow-acting and the perfect amino acid profile of eggs.
As you can imagine, it has the same certifications as the other options we discussed. This includes:
- No Gluten
- No Soy
- No Flavors
- No Additives
- No GMO
In addition, the protein comes from the same sources, so you know you're getting some of the cleanest out there! Its cost and calorie information are similar as well, with one serving providing 25g at 110 calories, giving you 90% protein. Further, it's around that $1.50 price point, making it an affordable protein source on this tier level of protein powders.
ONLY FOUR INGREDIENTS: 100% Grass-Fed Pure Whey, Micellar Casein from US & Canadian farms, Egg Whites protein from US farm eggs and Sunflower Lecithin to aid mixing...
6. Sports Research Whey Protein
- Protein per serving: 25g
- Calories per serving: 150
- Cost: $1.30/serving
Sports Research provides a whey protein that offers a high-quality option at a cheaper price than many other options on this page. You can expect to spend around $1.30 per serving for this high-quality whey protein powder to save a bit of money while making great muscle gain.
Like many of the other protein powders on this list, Sports Research whey protein has several certificates, such as;
- GMO-Free
- Gluten-Free
- 3rd Party Tested
Concerning its protein content, it is on the lower end as it delivers 25g per serving with 150 calories. This puts it at 67% protein content. Therefore, it's definitely not the leanest protein powder on the market.
Now, it doesn't say anything about sourcing the protein from grass-fed cows, so this may be an issue for some people. However, it does add 1 gram of leucine to every serving, which is actually pretty nice. Leucine is the amino acid that's primarily responsible for muscle protein synthesis, so having a little extra never hurts.
Each scoop of Sports Research U.S. sourced Whey Protein Powder contains 25g of protein and 6.9g of BCAAs for a standout way to build and maintain lean muscle...
7. Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein
- Protein per serving: 24g
- Calories per serving: 140
- Cost: $1.70/serving
Transparent Labs brings its vision of clean proteins to this vegan option. It provides 24 grams of organic pea isolate protein and pea protein concentrate per serving to power the vegan athlete.
For one, 24g per serving is more protein than many other plant-based protein powders. Further, a pea and rice mixture is the optimal mixture of plant proteins as they complement their amino acid profile perfectly. If there is a vegan option that competes with animal protein in every way, it's this combination.
At 140 calories, the organic protein powder contains about 70% protein. Again, this is low compared to animal protein, but it is in the higher range for plant proteins.
Just like its animal protein counterpart, Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein has similar claims concerning its high quality. This includes:
- 3rd party testing
- Gluten-Free
- GMO-Free
- No Artificial Sweeteners
- No Artificial Coloring
When looking at the ingredients, this option has about 4 ingredients in addition to the protein, including:
- Stevia
- Himalayan Salt
- Natural flavors
- Cacao Powder (Chocolate flavor)
When it comes to high-quality protein powders, this option from Transparent Labs definitely sits on top.
Transparent Labs Organic Vegan protein powder is formulated with organic pea protein isolate and rice protein to help make sure that’s not the case. By providing 24 grams of complete plant-based protein...
8. Nutricost Grass-Fed Whey Protein
- Protein per serving: 25g
- Calories per serving: 10
- Cost: $1.00/serving
Nutricost offers some of the most affordable protein powders on the market, and it just released a higher-quality one made with milk from grass-fed cows. However, it's still cheaper than the other quality protein powders on the market, at around $1.00 per serving.
Each serving delivers 25 grams of high-quality whey protein concentrate and 130 calories. Now, it does contain sunflower lecithin, which is an emulsifier, but some people have issues with it. We don't believe it's an issue as it just helps to declump the protein powder, but it is there.
Regardless, it too boasts a ton of nice certs to prove its high quality, such as;
- Non-GMO
- Gluten-Free
- 3rd Party Tested
- Hormone Free
Nutricost is a quality, economical brand that provides your wallet with the highest quality protein powders at the most economical, friendly prices.
5LBS of grass-fed whey protein concentrate per bottle , undenatured, rBGH Free, Non-GMO & gluten free...
How Much Protein Do You Need?
Above, we reviewed some of the best protein powders you can buy. We now just want to go over how much protein per day to build muscle you should consume. We'll quickly lay out some quick bullet points for you to follow;
- Aim to eat 1.6-2.g grams per kilogram of body weight¹
- Eat more protein if you are losing weight or running a body recomp
- Spread your protein intake throughout the day every 3-4 hours
- Each intake should be at least 20 grams
- The only time you should purposefully eat more is after a workout (try to hit 40 grams of protein)
Summary Of The Highest Quality Proteins On The Market
We've listed 8 of the highest-quality protein powders on the market. In reality, all of them will fit your needs, depending on what they are. All of them stand out when highlighting various attributes, so labeling "The Best" is really hard to do. Your best option is to explore the various high-quality proteins and see what's best for you. Add that to your nutrition to get the most out of your training!
Check out our full collection of protein resources!
References
- Jäger, Ralf. “International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Protein and Exercise.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, vol. 14, no. 1, 20 June 2017, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28642676/, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-017-0177-8.
Garett Reid
Author