I’m a nutritionist and these are the best protein powders I’ve tested

If you’re looking to nail your post-workout recovery, check out our list of the best protein powders you can buy in 2024.

If you take your fitness seriously, you’ll probably know that consuming protein in that 20-minute window after working out will help kickstart the recovery process. That protein can be from a number of sources and in a number of forms. But one of the quickest and easiest ways is to make a shake using one of the best protein powders.

If you’re new to taking protein powder, the sheer number of brands and options can be overwhelming. So I’ve done the hard work you: testing a wide selection of the latest options on the market right now.

The products that made this list ranked highly for texture, solubility, effectiveness and taste. I also took into account bioavailability (how easily the ingredients are absorbed into the body), cost per serving and the variety of sizes and flavors available, as well as any recyclable packaging, which can all inform your buying decisions. 

What is the best protein powder?

Hermosa Whey Protein Powder is the best protein powder I have tried. It’s a premium protein powder that’s made from non-GMO, ethically sourced ingredients, with a focus on sustainability. It’s made from an impressive 85% protein concentrate from grass-fed cows, with each serving containing 21g of protein. 

Other protein powder recommendations

Protein powder with the highest protein per serving	Innermost The Strong Protein has the highest protein per serving of all the powders I tested, with an enormous 34g. It mixes well and tastes good, although is fairly expensive.
Protein powder with the lowest calories	Protein Works Whey Protein 80 contains just 99 calories per 25g serving. It’s got a silky smooth texture and there are 14 flavors to choose from.
Best vegan protein powder	Vivo Perform is the standout vegan protein powder I’ve tested. It contains an impressive 25g protein, plus 6g plant-based BCAAs and a sprinkling of pink Himalayan salt for good measure.

1. Hermosa Whey Protein Powder

Hermosa stands out for its perfect taste balance and ethically sourced ingredients. A 30g serving mixed with water contains just 125 calories, up to 3g of fats, and up to 4.5g of carbs. I really liked its smooth texture, bit it is expensive at just over $2 per serving, albeit with a 15% discount via subscription. Hermosa is exclusively sold online with next-day delivery. Overall, it’s a top-notch, albeit pricey, choice.

Protein per serving	21g
Cost per serving	$2.21
Sizes	10 x 30g / 420g / 1kg
Flavors	Chocolate / vanilla

• Read more: Hermosa Whey Protein full review

2. Vivo Life Perform Plant Protein

Plant-based protein powders of old suffered from grainy texture and strange taste, but products like Vivo Life’s Perform have changed the game. Despite unappetizing ingredient names like ‘bio-fermented yellow pea protein’, the end result is delicious, offering 25g of protein, 6g of plant-based BCAA and a hint of pink Himalayan salt. Flavors like salted maca caramel and banana & cinnamon are not only tasty, but also low in calories, with each scoop containing less than 140kcals. Vivo Life leads the pack in creating genuinely enjoyable plant-based protein options that rival whey-based alternatives in both taste and nutritional content.

Protein per serving	25g
Cost per serving	$2.50
Sizes	7 servings / 14 servings / 26 servings
Flavors	6 available

3. Healthspan Elite Ultimate Whey Protein Blend

I’ve long been a fan of Healthspan, and its Ultimate Whey Protein Blend delivers on taste and texture, ensuring a smooth drink whether mixed with milk or water. Enhanced with Actizan enzyme, it mitigates digestive issues often associated with whey protein consumption. While free from added sugars, I could detect a faint bitter note from stevia, but it’s generally tolerable. Plus, being soy-free and Informed Sports approved, it’s a solid choice for athletes. Conveniently packaged in recyclable pouches, it’s an eco-friendly option. Though limited to online purchase, bulk buying saves £6 on two packs for British customers, but Healthspan doesn’t currently ship products to the USA. Size options could be expanded, but the blend’s rich flavors and athlete-friendly formula make it one of my top picks.

Protein per serving	24g
Cost per serving	£1.65
Sizes	750g
Flavors	Strawberry / chocolate / vanilla

• Read more: Healthspan Elite Ultimate Whey Protein full review

4. Innermost The Strong Protein

Innermost’s The Strong Protein is tailored for lean muscle building and fat loss, featuring acetyl L-carnitine for fat metabolism. With 148 calories per serving (mixed with water), it’s ideal for the calorie-conscious, although options with fewer calories do exist. Sweetened with sucralose, it boasts a rich flavor and low sugar content. Natural additives such as pomegranate and yerba mate support its lean concept – although I do think the fat loss claims are slightly exaggerated. The shake is available in recyclable packaging, is soy-free and has a smooth texture thanks to the inclusion of guar bean gum. At $44.95 for 520g it doesn’t come cheap, though.

Protein per serving	34g
Cost per serving	$2.95
Sizes	520g
Flavors	Chocolate / vanilla / strawberry

• Read more: Innermost The Strong Protein full review

5. Podium Whey Protein

At last, a high quality protein powder that’s available in shops and online. Podium is a new brand that you can find on the high street in Holland and Barrett health food shops. While it’s pretty pricey at £50 per 780g tub, there are discounts to be found online. Available in three flavors, Podium packs a decent protein punch with 25g per 33.6g scoop. Fats, sugars and salt are minimal and it’s Informed Sport approved, making it suitable for elite competition. Fortunately the three flavors aren’t as sweet as they sound, and it mixes to form a pleasantly smooth shake.

Protein per serving	25g
Cost per serving	£2.00
Size	780g
Flavors	Chocolate ripple / cookie dough / vanilla buttercream

6. foodspring Whey Protein

With 112 calories per serving, mixing foodspring Whey Protein with water will suit anyone’s lean muscle goals. It is low in sugar and fat, using sucralose and stevia to add sweetness, and I enjoyed its smooth texture with either milk or water. The 750g tub provides 25 servings, costs just over £1 each, and I appreciated the recyclable packaging. It doesn’t have a scoop, but I found three tablespoons with 300ml water sufficed. Available in five appealing flavors, it’s currently only sold in the UK and Europe, not the US.

Protein per serving	24g
Cost per serving	£1.20
Sizes	750g
Flavors	Chocolate / vanilla / strawberry / cookies and cream / coconut crisp

• Read more: foodspring Whey Protein full review

7. Protein Works Whey Protein 80

Each serving of Protein Works’ Whey Protein 80 provides 20g protein and 99 calories (mixed with water). It’s sweetened with sucralose, so it’s low in fat and sugar. I found the texture super smooth, although the chocolate silk version might be a tad too silky for some. It’s got just 2.1g of carbs per serving, perfect for anyone watching their intake, and the ingredient list is refreshingly short. The packaging isn’t fully recyclable yet, but Protein Works says it’s working on that. With 14 flavors to choose from, including millionaire’s shortbread and strawberry with white chocolate, there’s something for everyone.

Protein per serving	20g
Cost per serving	$2.03
Sizes	500g / 1kg / 2kg / 4kg
Flavors	14 available

• Read more: Protein Works Whey Protein 80 full review

8. Kinetica Whey Protein

Kinetica Whey Protein keeps it light on fat and sugar, using sucralose for sweetness. Taste-wise, some might find it a tad sweet and artificial, but that’s just personal preference. At 117 calories per serving mixed with water, it’s one of the leanest options out there. Plus, it’s made from whey protein sourced from grass-fed cows, and it won’t break the bank. Although I found it a bit on the thin side, it gets the job done. And for competing athletes, it’s Informed Sport approved. I’d suggest opting for smaller tubs first to find a flavor you like, then bulk buying for a significant saving. Overall, this is a solid option if you’re based in the UK or Europe. However Kinetica doesn’t currently ship to the US.

Protein per serving	22g
Cost per serving	£1.18
Sizes	300g / 1kg / 2.27kg / 4kg
Flavors	Vanilla / chocolate / chocolate mint / banana / strawberry

• Read more: Kinetica Whey Protein full review

9. Bio-Synergy Lean & Green

Bio-Synergy’s Lean & Green packs a decent punch with 22g protein per 30g serving, boasting no added sugar and only 2.3g fat. Made from top-tier natural ingredients such as pea protein isolate and brown rice protein, it’s a soy- and hemp-free formula. Enhanced with L-glutamine, it ensures a comprehensive array of amino acids for optimal muscle support. This unique blend offers a clean and effective protein source, perfect for those seeking to fuel their fitness goals without compromising on quality or taste.

Protein per serving	22g
Cost per serving	$1.48
Sizes	908g
Flavors	Chocolate & mint / peanut / butterscotch

How we tested the best protein powders

Men’s Fitness tasked Rob Hobson, a registered nutritionist (AFN) and sports nutritionist (SENr), with trying out each of these protein powders. To ensure a level playing field, Rob only tried the chocolate flavor of each powder. His overall ratings are based on taste, nutritional effectiveness, variety of flavors, texture and solubility. Rob also took into account factors such as the cost per serving and whether or not the packaging is recyclable.

What are the different types of protein powder?

“Whey protein is a massive category in the sports nutrition market,” explains nutrition and performance coach Matt Lovell. “An excellent source of protein as a by-product of cheese manufacture, whey has literally been around since the Greek times. An urban myth is that farmers noticed pigs fed whey gained more lean mass. Whether or not that’s true, whey protein offers a very high quality, high bioavailability source of protein with higher levels of glutamine and leucine – amino acids important for the muscle building process.

“Whey can come in a few forms, from whey protein concentrate, isolate and hydrosylate. Some companies will add soy protein to a whey protein blend. Many use a proprietary blend with a mix of concentrate, isolate and potentially hydrosylate. The more refined the source usually means the faster the release of the protein. Casein is often used as a ‘slow release’ protein and can be added to other protein blends.

“Usually, it’s good to use a faster release source close to training and combine sources for prolonged amino acid delivery. That can also be done by mixing shakes with food sources of protein. Shakes offer an excellent method to meet daily protein demands, especially with increase training load and the corresponding tissue damage which goes along with that.

“Within the whey protein category, we also now have clear whey, which mixes into a clearer, less milky type of drink but tends to foam. There’s also diet whey, which is whey protein plus various fat-burning ingredients like green tea extract, carnitine, CLA and caffeine sources. These can offer a lower calorie snack and various benefits for appetite suppression when fasting or dieting. 

“Isolates are good in and around training, higher casein and blends for snacks or later at night. Diet whey can be used before training for a sense of fullness and to assist with semi-fasted training sessions.

Vegan protein powder options

“There’s also been a big rise in vegan protein offerings in the last few years. Some will choose these as part of a vegan lifestyle or for digestion, intolerance or allergy reasons for them avoiding milk proteins from whey or casein. Whey protein is higher in key anabolic aminos like leucine and glutamine, and tends to be better for muscle building. Although both do a good job of providing addition protein in the diet to meet protein demands across a day or week. Vegan protein amino acid profile will differ slightly depending on the blend used. Pea protein isolate is higher in glutamine and BCAAs, like whey. Other companies use rice or hemp proteins, pumpkin seed protein and so on.

“Some companies will enhance the protein blend with BCAAs, to provide additional leucine and make the powder potentially more effective for muscle building. Others include an enzyme blend, which is a really good idea to assist protein digestion and absorption. Others will add vitamins and minerals or different types of functional ingredients like mushrooms or berry extracts. 

“Sweetener use across the range can be from natural sources such as stevia. Companies are still using sucralose and stevia combinations, while others use sucralose and acesulfame K.”

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