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The Best Whey Protein Powders According To Expert Dietitians
Written By Supplement Institute Review Team
Long gone are the days when protein powders were only found in the pantries of athletes and professional weight-lifters. As of 2018, the market for whey protein powders stands at a colossal $7.4 billion. The reason for this crazy demand is simple; whey powders help supplement the essential macronutrient of protein in your body. With adequate amounts of protein, your body can retain muscle when losing weight or build it when bulking up. Want to know more? Well, join us as we give you a complete 101 to the finest whey protein powders in 2025 and teach you all about them.
The two words that flank the word ‘protein’ in this product tell us what these supplements are all about. ‘Whey’ is a pure protein liquid, a by-product of cheese-making that is dried up and then crushed into ‘powder’ form. This powder is then mixed with other nutrients like fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins. Whey protein powders are also often mixed with artificial sweeteners to help create a tasty smoothie or shake when stirred into a liquid beverage of your choice.
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The Top Whey Protein Powders for 2025
Nutricost Whey Protein Powder
Best Overall
The Nutricost Whey Protein Powder is the perfect solution to get the most out of your workout routine. This 5-pound bottle is packed with undenatured whey protein concentrate, so you can make sure you’re getting the right amount of protein to help your muscles recover and grow. Each delicious scoop of vanilla-flavored powder provides you with 24 grams of protein, so you can fuel your active lifestyle. Plus, it’s also non-GMO, gluten-free, and made in a GMP-compliant, FDA-registered facility, so you can be confident that it’s a quality product.
Mixing up a post-workout shake has never been tastier or easier than with this protein powder. It has a smooth texture and great flavor that combines perfectly with other ingredients for a custom shake. Plus, it mixes quickly and easily in any type of liquid without leaving any clumps behind. So no matter if you’re blending up a power shake or adding a scoop to your morning smoothie, you won’t be disappointed in the outcome of this best overall powder.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey
Best Flavor
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein Powder is available in six flavors and three size options, this protein blend contains 24 grams of protein isolate, peptide, and concentrate.
While this protein part helps build muscle, the 5.5 grams of BCAAs help with recovery and boost overall endurance. Free of any artificial hormones for growth and gluten, the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey is also keto-friendly. Its instantized formulation also makes it super easy to mix and prevents lumps in your drink.
Opportuniteas Whey Protein
Best Keto-Friendly Option
Next, we have this super whey protein powder from Opportuniteas. One of the best things about this product is the fact that it’s sourced from grass-fed cows, which helps to improve the purity and overall quality of every scoop.
Ideal for mixing into shakes, smoothies or other recipes, this whey protein powder is keto-friendly and suitable for people who follow a paleo diet, too. It’s completely free of GMOs and other unwanted ingredients, like gluten, and there are three great flavors to choose from, as well as an unflavored option.
Levels Whey Protein Powder
Best Hormones-Free
Levels Whey Protein Powder is a great pick for those looking for a high-quality protein supplement that fits into their daily lifestyle. It contains 24g of protein per scoop and offers an impressive 5.4g of BCAAs to provide your body with the essential amino acids. This option is made with grass-fed, hormone-free dairy and has no added sugars, artificial flavors, or sweeteners.
Additionally, the whey protein powder is amazingly delicious. It has a rich flavor and is lightly sweetened with monk fruit extract, giving you a naturally sweet taste without added sugar. Moreover, it mixes easily due to the non-GMO sunflower lecithin it’s blended with.
Nutricost Protein Complex Powder
Great for Bone Health
This 1 lb protein powder bottle is packed with nutrients that promote bone health, build bone muscle and improve recovery, helping women get in shape. The Nutricost protein powder is chocolate-flavored, so you can easily gulp it down without worrying about the bad taste. It is manufactured in a GMP-compliant facility, so you know you’re getting the highest quality.
Specifically formulated for women, this protein powder provides nourishment by giving you a regular dose of vitamin D, iron, calcium, biotin, folate and collagen. The protein powder is free of soy and gluten, making it vegetarian-friendly.
Old School Vintage Whey Protein Powder
Best Tasting
If you’re looking to get buffers with quick muscle growth through natural supplementation, this Old School Vintage Whey Protein Powder is exactly what you’re looking for. Having been in the industry for over four decades, the brand has built a reputation for having premium ingredients in its supplements. They’re also known for their high-quality protein sources. In this case, the isolate powder consists of milk protein, egg protein, and beef protein, which are all top-tier sources of protein to preserve, build, and shape up your lean muscle mass!
The next time you feel like you haven’t been able to eat enough protein in your day, just a few scoops of this supplement can balance the equation. You’ll prevent muscle loss, build more of it faster, and get in your dream shape quicker! If you don’t see results, don’t worry, the brand even offers a 100% money-back guarantee to keep you covered, so where’s the risk in trying it out?
Pure Protein Whey Powder
Most Reliable
A single serving of this delicious protein powder will give you 25 grams of ultra-filtered concentrated and micro-filtered isolate blended to perfection. It is available in two classic flavors vanilla and chocolate. A perfect, straightforward whey protein powder.
Each serving is low in calories coming in at 160 calories per serving. This composition is also free of any soy protein and gluten. You can get the Pure Protein Whey Powder in two buying options of 1.75-pound and 3.5-pound jars.
Isopure Whey Isolate Protein Powder
Also Consider
The Isopure Whey Isolate Protein Powder does things a bit differently when it comes to packaging. It ditches the traditional jar packaging for its 1-pound pack and instead goes for a convenient pouch. The 3-pound buying option comes in a jar though.
Regardless of the size option you go for, this whey protein powder will get you 25 grams of pure and unflavored protein isolate that is free of GMOs, lactose, glucose, and any artificial sweeteners whatsoever. The plain packaging is symbolic of its tasteless flavor. The absence of flavor means that you can dabble a few grains of this protein powder in your favorite dishes to add a dash of health to your daily meals.
Garden of Life Whey Protein
Best Immune Support
A unique selling point of the Garden of Life Whey Protein Powder is that it is certified by the NSF. NSF is a third-party organization that ensures that a product doesn’t contain any of the 270 substances that have been banned by various sports organizations.
A protein powerhouse comes in at 24 grams of protein isolate, 6 grams of BCAA, and 4 grams of Glutamine. Such a rich composition ensures that your strength is always up. The exact sizing of this whey blend will vary depending on the flavor option you go for.
Finding Your Next Whey Protein Powder: A Buyer’s Guide
Whey protein powders will help you build and retain muscle. Flexing a nice muscular body is the fun part. However, with so many brands manufacturing these powders, it can get a bit daunting to buy one for yourself. So, to help you navigate this market, here is a comprehensive buyer’s guide section:
Health Benefits of Whey Protein Powder
We all know that whey protein powders help in conveniently building and retaining muscle along with boosting post-workout recovery. So, here are some lesser-known benefits of these milk products that are sure to get you all excited:
Weight Loss
Whey protein is a food, meaning it has calories and nutrients. You may think then that consuming protein will not help you lose weight. Andreas Abelsson, a certified nutrition coach and personal trainer, shared how luckily, the opposite is true. “One of the key factors to weight loss is managing your hunger and appetite. Protein is more satiating than carbohydrates and fats, and whey protein is particularly beneficial.”
Additionally, Abelsson shared that consuming protein reduces the risk of muscle loss when you lose fat. He went on to say, “If you combine a weight-loss diet with strength training, you can even lose fat and build muscle at the same time.” All this means, enough whey protein will protect your muscles and help make you feel full.
Improved Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
When it comes to improved blood pressure and cardiovascular health, there is abundant research that confirms the positive role of whey protein powder consumption. Beverages supplemented with this powder are also known to reduce the likelihood of stroke and other heart diseases. Furthermore, this study also confirms that whey protein supplements are great at regulating your cholesterol levels. Pretty neat, if you ask us.
What Are the Different Types of Whey Proteins?
Primarily, there are two types of whey protein powders. They are:
- Whey protein concentrate
- Whey protein isolate
There are other types of protein powders too, such as the whey protein hydrolysate. However, the type of protein that primarily makes up the powder is usually either isolated, concentrated, or a mix of both. So, let’s take a look at them and assess their differences:
Whey Protein Concentrate
Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) derives its name from the fact that the actual protein inside it is concentrated with other nutrients like fats and carbohydrates. The exact concentration will determine the level of protein in it. This percentage can range from 25% to a massive 89% protein.
Whey Protein Isolate
If 89% protein doesn’t cut it for you and you want more, you should consider looking at Whey Protein Isolates (WPI). Quicker to digest and boasting more than 90% protein content, these bad boys are the purest forms of protein where further processing has removed most of the carbs, lactose, and fat content. WPI is almost always more expensive than WPC due to the richness of its contents.
How Much Do Whey Protein Powders Usually Cost?
If you asked us, any price tag is justified for protein powders, considering the level of convenience and versatility that they bring to the table for athletes and fitness freaks alike. These price tags generally range from $0.5-$8 per serving.
Each serving of a whey protein powder is usually 30 grams but the exact size may vary from one manufacturer to another. Talking about manufacturers, the brand name of the whey blend will affect its price. Other factors that would impact the dollar signs are the type of protein and the richness of other ingredients in the mix.
Things to Look Out for in Whey Protein Powders
Now that you know all about the price range of whey protein powders, here are two things that are worth looking out for when you’re in the market for one:
Composition
From protein type and concentration to the extent and richness of additional ingredients, the composition of your whey protein powder will determine how beneficial it is for you. Always remember that the ingredients list on the back of food products are arranged in descending order. So, you’d want your proteins to be listed all the way at the start. While you’re looking at this list, you should also make sure that it doesn’t contain anything that you’re allergic to.
Flavor & Application
The two things that can make or break your new protein powder are its taste and ease of use. This ease is in the form of how easily it mixes into a beverage. We can all agree that lumpy protein shakes are less than appetizing, right?
As far as flavor goes, the choice is yours. You can go for a protein blend that comes in dozens of flavors. You can then look through what other customers have to say about each flavor. While tastes are subjective, sometimes some things are just objectively bland and dull.
You can also go for unflavored whey protein powders. Ones like the Isopure Whey Isolate Protein Powder are super versatile and can be sprinkled onto your favorite foods. You can then spike up the protein goodness of that dish without ruining its taste. Yay!
People Also Asked
What is whey protein powder used for?
In simple words, whey protein powders supplement your protein needs in the most convenient way possible. Instead of gobbling down lean meats and milk, you can simply blend the powder into your preferred beverage and enjoy the healthy goodness. This is particularly great for people who are lactose intolerant. Whey protein powders are also great for maintaining your cholesterol levels, fostering your heart health, and losing weight while helping you retain your muscles. Whey protein powder is also a convenient meal replacement option.
Is whey protein powder safe to consume?
They are perfectly safe when used as part of a well-balanced diet. Nevertheless, experts recommend taking it in modest amounts to prevent nausea and fatigue.
How to choose a whey protein powder?
First and foremost, you must decide on a type of whey protein depending on its concentration levels. This can either be whey protein isolate or concentrate. You should then seek out protein blends that incorporate the type you want along with other rich ingredients. We also recommend looking out for powders that are easy to mix and pleasant on the taste buds. When in doubt, consult a doctor or licensed dietician.
Can I take whey protein powder if I don't work out?
Whey protein is a good source of protein in your diet, even if you don't work out. Protein is needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle, so if your body is low on protein, whey protein powder might be a great option. However, you should not over-consume protein because it can lead to health risks. Talk to your doctor about your recommended protein intake.
What can I put whey protein powder in?
Soft foods and liquids are great for blending whey protein powder! Apple sauce, blended fruit smoothies, and juices are great for adding in you protein powder.
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