Best Whey Protein

Best Whey Protein

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Casey Thaler, NASM-CPT, FNS
Latest posts by Casey Thaler, NASM-CPT, FNS (see all)

Supplements have exploded in popularity over the last two decades. But protein powder in particularly, has seen a huge boom.

While that’s great for consumers, it’s also been bad in that there have been an absolute flood of low-quality products on the market, as a result. So we’ve done the legwork, and weeded out the good from the bad.

After testing numerous powders, and aggregating tens of thousands of online reviews, we can confidently recommend the best whey protein powder. Whether you are looking for grass-fed, affordable, non-GMO, or anything and everything in between. Here are our top picks.

Our Top Pick

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey

As the name implies, this pick from Optimum Nutrition has indeed been the ‘gold standard’ for years. And for good reason. It’s affordable, high-quality, and works well for most people. This is our top pick for best whey protein powder, and we also recommend the chocolate flavor (you can thank us later).

Other Great Picks

BSN SYNTHA-6 Whey

This protein powder from BSN has been around forever, and is another solid pick. With over 7,800 positive online reviews, it’s certainly very popular. We didn’t find the taste quite as good as our top pick, and also didn’t love that there were more ingredients. Nonetheless, it’s still a very good pick. Recommended.

Dymatize ISO 100 Whey

With over 3,800 positive customer reviews, this protein powder from Dymatize is another top choice. We didn’t like the flavor quite as much as our top pick, but we did like that it was 100% hydrolyzed isolate. Another solid pick.

Legion Whey+

With a whopping 2,000+ stellar online reviews, this whey protein powder is another great choice. For those looking for quality, it’s important to note that this protein is made from 100% grass-fed whey. Of course, that brings a higher price tag, but the extra quality is definitely worth it. Highly recommended.

Naked Whey

As the name implies, this is pure whey. And it’s grass-fed. Which means two things – the quality is impeccable, and the cost does not make this a budget pick. If high-quality protein powder is 100% what you are looking for, this is definitely the whey for you.

Optimum Nutrition Platinum Hydrowhey

With over 1,500 stellar online reviews, this luxury whey from ON is another great choice. Some people may not want to spend the extra money, but if you are looking for quality, this is another solid whey protein powder to get.

Levels 100% Grass Fed Whey

Another great pick in terms of quality, this 100% grass-fed whey also is made with no GMOs, no hormones, and no added sugar. For the purist and/or health nut – this is a dream come true. Definitely recommended.

MET-Rx Natural Whey

MET-Rx makes protein bars – they are found any and everywhere. However, their protein powder is slightly less known, and is another solid choice. While not grass-fed, or obsessed with quality like other brands, it’s a solid budget choice, and tastes pretty great (especially for a protein powder). Recommended.

Raw Grass Fed Whey

Okay, this is for the ultra-purists. It doesn’t taste as good as some of our picks, but if you want pure, great quality protein – this is our top recommendation. Mixing it with other healthy ingredients helps with the taste, by the way.

Cellucor Whey Protein

If you want an awesome-tasting, quick-digesting protein powder – this is the choice for you. The cookies n’ cream flavor is delicious, but of course this is not as quality as obsessed as the raw and grass-fed brands. Definitely still recommended, but be aware that you could be buying better quality stuff, as well.

What Is Whey Protein?

The most popular protein in the US, whey is technically a mix of proteins, separated from the liquid portion of milk. As such, it is a dairy-based protein.

Whey offers numerous benefits not found in other protein types, such as a high biological value – or how well your body can actually absorb the protein taken in. Whey also has a huge range of amino acids, also known as the building blocks of protein.

With this increased popularity, has also come many manufacturers jumping into the ring, and thousands of products. Unfortunately, since whey is technically classified as a supplement, there is no real meaningful oversight or regulation in terms of quality.

Luckily, whey is also one of most well-studied substances in the world, as it offers many other nutrients besides protein. Whey has been associated with increased strength, muscle gain, and even weight loss.

However – there are numerous versions of whey protein. Whey protein isolate, whey protein hydrolysate, and whey protein concentrate are three commonly sold iterations.

They all also come in at different price points – with various marketing claims backing each product. But what is the truth about whey protein?

And which is the best whey protein to buy? We cover all of that below, and we can confidently say that whey is a great option for anyone looking to get healthier – whether your goal is to build muscle, lose weight, or simply stay lean.

What Is Whey Concentrate?

Whey concentrate is processed differently than the other two types of whey (isolate and hydrolysate). It also differs in a few key nutritional aspects.

There is 3 times as much lactose in whey concentrate, when compared with whey isolate. Additionally, there is slightly more fat and carbs in whey concentrate than whey isolate – as well as less actual protein.

For these reasons, we recommend choosing whey isolate over whey concentrate, if your budget permits. Whey isolate actually costs more than whey concentrate, so if your budget is very tight, you will want to opt for whey concentrate instead.

Whey Protein Isolate

Whey isolate is a great choice, as it offers the most protein per serving, and also has lower levels of lactose than whey concentrate. Whey isolate is more expensive than whey concentrate, but the extra cost is worth it.

Whey isolate has less fat content than whey concentrate, as well as fewer carbs per serving. However, there are also no proven scientific benefits (yet) of whey isolate over whey concentrate – so either is a completely viable option for your protein requirements.

What Is Whey Protein Hydrolysate?

Essentially a combination of isolate and concentrate, whey protein hydrolysate is “pre-digested”, making it easier for your body to absorb. While whey isolate is 90% or higher, in terms of purity, hydrolysates will be less pure.

Whey concentrate is up to 80% pure protein, for comparison. Whey hydrolysate is unique in that some of the amino acids have already been exposed to acids, enzymes, or heat – breaking them down.

This gives the advantage of potentially quicker absorption. Scientific research shows that whey hydrolysate is also easier for people with digestive issues (or milk sensitivities) to consume – as well as being better for high-level athletes.

You can more quickly absorb whey hydrolysate after a workout, leading to better recovery (and potentially better muscle gains). However, whey protein hydrolysate is also the priciest of all the whey protein options on the market – so only choose this version if your budget has the room for it.

Does It Matter When I Drink My Whey Protein Shake?

There has been a lot of debate about when exactly the best time is to drink a protein shake. However, there is a large body of evidence that shows that immediately after a workout likely is the best time for protein.

Without getting too technical, this is because you stop rapid muscle breakdown, which happens due to your workout. New research shows that anytime within two hours after your workout, is the optimal time for drinking a protein shake.

However, if you have any type of health or wellness goal, any time of day is perfect for a protein shake. Since most Americans vastly under-consume protein, any additional intake should be encouraged, not discouraged.

Whey Concentrate vs. Whey Isolate

Whey concentrate is close to pure whey – it is up to 80% protein. However, whey isolate takes it up another notch – being 90% pure (or even higher).

As you might guess, the taste of whey isolate is a little rough, which is why many manufacturers add sugar-free sweeteners. Whey concentrate has more carbs and fat than whey isolate, so even without additional processing, it tastes a little bit better than isolate.

Grass-Fed Whey vs. Regular Whey

Grass-fed whey is even higher-quality protein, as it comes exclusively from grass-fed cows. This means that the fat profile of the protein will be far cleaner and better, offering benefits like CLA (conjugated linoleic acid).

While there is no doubt that grass-fed whey is better than regular whey protein, it is also more expensive. For most people, it can be prohibitively expensive – costing much more per ounce.

So we recommend that most people opt for grass-fed whey – but only if they can find room for it in their budget. Regular whey protein will be more than fine, if you would prefer to save some money.

Whey Protein vs. Casein Protein

Another popular protein you may see on the market, is casein. Another dairy-derived protein, casein is slower digesting, and contains many beneficial bioactive compounds.

Casein has very low levels of lactose – and many supplements have none at all. Therefore, casein protein is a better alternative for those who are lactose intolerant.

Whey protein still contains lactose, which may not make it an optimal choice for those who are sensitive. Of the many options available, whey protein isolate will have the least amount of lactose.

Another difference between whey and casein protein, is how fast each protein is absorbed and digested. Casein is a very slow digestion protein, whereas whey is very fast to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Many fitness and nutrition experts recommend consuming whey protein right after a workout, and casein right before bed. This is said to optimize your muscle-building ability, and will keep you in an anabolic state for a large part of the day (even while you sleep, if you consume casein right before bed).

I’m Vegetarian – Can I Drink Whey?

This one is pretty simple to answer – it depends. If you are a lacto-vegetarian, whey protein will be perfectly acceptable for your lifestyle.

However, if you are a stricter vegetarian, and will not consume any source of dairy, whey protein is not a good choice. Some other types of protein powders are specifically made for vegetarians and vegans, so those would be better options.

Whey Protein Sweeteners

Whey protein tastes pretty abhorrent on its own. That’s why manufacturers add artificial sweeteners to their products.

These can range from aspartame to stevia, but almost every option will not be actual sugar. None of the artificial sweeteners used in whey protein supplements have been shown to have any scientifically-proven downsides, so whey supplements are generally safe to consume.

Whey Protein – Taste

Taste is a key component of whey protein powders, and we don’t recommend getting a completely unflavored product. While they are technically more pure, they will taste quite bad.

Look for lightly sweetened products, with little or no sugar. Vanilla mixes the best with many different flavor varieties, but chocolate tends to taste best on its own – so consider how you’ll be drinking your protein shake, before deciding on a flavor.

Whey Protein – Price

There are a variety of whey proteins available, and the most expensive will be hydrolysate and grass-fed options. These types of protein are also the highest-quality, as well as the fastest absorbing.

Whey concentrate is the cheapest whey protein available, as it is the least pure. Right in the middle will be whey protein isolate, which is 90% pure (or higher).

For most people, whey isolate is a great choice. If you want to spend more, you can get even higher quality protein, by choosing grass-fed and/or whey hydrolysate.

How Do I Choose The Best Whey Protein For Me?

Choosing the best whey protein for you comes down to determining what factors are most important. Do you want a protein that is the absolute highest-quality?

Or would you prefer to save the most money possible? Do you insist on grass-fed whey – or are you okay with the cheapest whey protein concentrate?

One benefit of the thousands of different proteins being made nowadays, is the ability to choose exactly the right one for you. What might be my choice of best whey protein – could look vastly different from yours.

The Best Whey Protein

There you have it – our picks for the best whey protein powders. The world of supplements is certainly not limited to just these – make sure to take a look at some our other picks, in the health and fitness categories.

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