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The Best Protein Powder | 2023

Last updated on June 1, 2023

We looked at the top 20 Protein Powders and dug through the reviews from 84 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Protein Powders.

Best Organic Protein

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Our Picks For The Top Protein Powders

Show Contents
Our Take
Experts Included
Pros
Cons
  Top Pick

Vital Proteins Gluten & Dairy Free Protein Powder

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Vital Proteins

Gluten & Dairy Free Protein Powder

Overall Take

Gluten- and Dairy-FreeNot only is this protein powder gluten- and dairy-free, but it's also made without the addition of sugar.

Experts Included
DWYM Health & Wellness Experts plus BestReviews, Very Well Health, Organic Authority, KetoVale, Eat This, Not That!, Feel More Gooder and 7 more. Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Pros
" A conscientious mix of ingredients that are Kosher and non-GMO provide more collagen and protein per serving than most brands. Hair and skin improvements will be noticed first."
Cons
"The only downside to Vital Proteins I can think of is that it’s a little bit more expensive compared to other collagen products."
  Runner Up

Optimum Muscle Enriching Whey Protein Powder

Optimum Nutrition

Optimum Muscle Enriching Whey Protein Powder

Overall Take

Handy OptionWith its ease of use and tasty flavors, this protein powder is a great pick for gym rats and newbies alike.

Experts Included
DWYM Health & Wellness Experts plus . Along with user reviews from Amazon.
  Strong Contender

Old School Labs Keto-Friendly GMP Certified Protein Powder

Old School Labs

Keto-Friendly GMP Certified Protein Powder

Overall Take

For the Exercise EnthusiastThis protein powder is available in eight different flavors, including chocolate, pumpkin spice and banana milkshake.

Experts Included
DWYM Health & Wellness Experts plus . Along with user reviews from Amazon.
  We Also Like

Garden of Life Healthy Gluten-Free Protein Powder

Garden of Life

Healthy Gluten-Free Protein Powder

Overall Take

A Month's SupplyYou won't find any dairy or soy in this organic protein powder.

Experts Included
DWYM Health & Wellness Experts plus . Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
27

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the protein powders available to purchase.
20

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

View All Product Rankings

84

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: BestReviews, Very Well Health, Organic Authority, KetoVale, Eat This, Not That!.

305,205

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 20 Protein Powders and also dug through the reviews from 84 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Protein Powders.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Overall

Vital Proteins Gluten & Dairy Free Protein Powder


Our Expert Score

9.7
13 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

9.1
8,446 user reviews

Our Take

Support your hair, skin and nails by adding this protein powder to your diet. The powder dissolves quickly in both cold and hot liquids, so you can mix it with everything from a fruit smoothie to a cup of coffee. It works with a variety of diets, including gluten-free, Paleo, dairy-free and Whole30.

What other experts liked

A conscientious mix of ingredients that are Kosher and non-GMO provide more collagen and protein per serving than most brands. Hair and skin improvements will be noticed first.
- BestReviews
With 20-grams of collagen per two-scoop serving, you'll get a good bang for your buck with this powder. It's sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows kept in alignment with the Global Animal Partnership 5-step animal welfare rating standard, so you can...
- Very Well Health
Vital Proteins is one of the few manufacturers to earn a NSF certification as a Good Manufacturing Practices facility. Their collagen peptides are sourced from the hide of Brazilian grass-fed, pasture raised cattle. Hides are a byproduct of the cattle...
- Organic Authority
Grass-fed, pasture-raised, gluten-free, fairy-free and non-GMO. It’s Kosher and Whole 30 ® approved as well as being keto-friendly. It is unflavored and versatile so basically you can use in any drink, dish and recipe that you wish without destroying its...
- KetoVale
Since I drank my peptides in the morning with my coffee (around 9:30), I found myself full until lunchtime. I tend to take a later lunch, around 2:30, so I typically have a snack sometime mid-morning to tide me over....
- Eat This, Not That!
Not only does my daily recovery feel great (I’ve even helped myself back from a herniated disk back injury), but my skin and hair feel healthier + stronger than they ever have.
- Feel More Gooder
Not only are collagen peptides packed with protein, but they're also flavorless. I can add it to pretty much anything and can't taste it. I'll sometimes add a scoop to a cup of hot herbal tea, and it doesn't interfere...
- Popsugar
Can be found in various sizes to choose from, so based on the 20g servings you can keep the size the suits you most. It is soluble in hot or cold liquids, so you can easily consume it with your...
- Top Ten Collections
This Unflavored Collagen Peptides REALLY is unflavored (really, no taste to it), and it’s super versatile. I add it to my coffee every morning, and to my homemade salad dressings to add more protein to my salads. Don’t worry though,...
- While Kitchen Sink
This specific kind of collagen is extremely easy to use and integrate into things you’re already eating and drinking. Because it’s unflavored, it doesn’t change the taste of anything you add it to. I plan on continuing using this. My...
- The Lipstick Narratives
Not only does it work, friends, it works wonders. And it’s not just me that swears by its magic, I promise. I’ve convinced the majority of my friends and family members to start taking it, and all are now proud...
- Domesticate Me
I noticed that my hair felt fuller and definitely grew in length faster than it had during the same previous time period. Yep. Stronger too. My nails were constantly breaking before I started taking collagen peptides and after my little...
- Sarah Fit
I’m all about keeping my skin youthful, and after 60 days+ of using the product I can see a difference. Before starting this, I was struggling with perioral dermatitis which left my face red and dry. Within just a few...
- Sorey Fitness

What other experts didn't like

Reviews suggest there may be difference amoung products, however customer service is responsive.
- BestReviews
The only downside to Vital Proteins I can think of is that it’s a little bit more expensive compared to other collagen products.
- KetoVale
Still had wrinkles on my forehead and the starting lines of crow's feet around my eyes. These are two trouble areas I'm always focused on, so I was hoping drinking collagen every day would help smooth these out.
- Eat This, Not That!
It would be insightful to learn more about how one successfully creates a beef-based collagen product and insure’s that it’s away from pesticides and herbicides. I couldn’t find this exact information on the Vital Proteins website.
- Feel More Gooder
Although it claims it can be mixed into hot and cold liquids, I find it blends easier in warm temps.
- Popsugar
Another thing to note is that if this collagen powder gets wet, it gets sticky. When I fist was familiarizing myself with the product, I got it on my hands and noticed that everything I touched was getting sticky. I...
- The Lipstick Narratives
The collagen tends to congeal in cold liquids. Beware, my iced coffee drinking friends!
- Domesticate Me

The Best Bang For Your Buck

Optimum Muscle Enriching Whey Protein Powder

User Summarized Score

9.4
93,121 user reviews

Our Take

During our testing, we found that this protein powder's double rich chocolate flavor tasted and smelled a lot like hot chocolate or chocolate milk — delicious. The package is user-friendly and makes it easy to get the perfect scoop. We also found that it mixed incredibly easily.

Overall Product Rankings

1. Vital Proteins Gluten & Dairy Free Protein Powder

Overall Score: 9.5
Reviews Included: 15

2. Optimum Muscle Enriching Whey Protein Powder

Overall Score: 9.4
Reviews Included: 1

4. Garden of Life Healthy Gluten-Free Protein Powder

Overall Score: 9.2
Reviews Included: 1

5. Nuzest Clean Lean Soy-Free Low Carb Protein Powder

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 1

6. PlantFusion Vegan Naturally Flavored Protein Powder

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 1

7. TGS Vegetarian Soy-Free Protein Powder

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 7

8. Vega Sport Keto-Friendly NSF Certified Protein Powder

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 9

9. Levels Sugar-Free Athletic Protein Powder

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 1

10. Body Fortress Strengthening Workout Protein Powder

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 1

11. MusclePharm University-Formulated Combat Protein Powder

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 1

12. Naked Premium Grass-Fed Whey Protein Powder

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 10

13. Dymatize ISO Full-Spectrum Protein Powder

Overall Score: 8.8
Reviews Included: 10

14. BSN Syntha-6 Adult Protein Powder

Overall Score: 8.6
Reviews Included: 10

15. Garden of Life Muscle-Repairing Raw Protein Powder

Overall Score: 8.5
Reviews Included: 8

16. Orgain USDA Organic Prebiotic Protein Powder

Overall Score: 8.5
Reviews Included: 11

17. IsoPure Vitamin & Mineral Blend Protein Powder

Overall Score: 8.5
Reviews Included: 11

18. Optimum Nutrition Hormone-Free Recovery Protein Powder

Overall Score: 8.5
Reviews Included: 9

19. XPI Advanced Myotein Protein Powder

Overall Score: 8.4
Reviews Included: 10

20. Cellucor Fast Digesting Whey Protein Powder

Overall Score: 8.4
Reviews Included: 10

Our Protein Powder Findings


Vital Proteins Gluten & Dairy Free Protein Powder

What We Liked: Support your hair, skin and nails by adding this protein powder to your diet. The powder dissolves quickly in both cold and hot liquids, so you can mix it with everything from a fruit smoothie to a cup of coffee. It works with a variety of diets, including gluten-free, Paleo, dairy-free and Whole30.


Optimum Muscle Enriching Whey Protein Powder

What We Liked: During our testing, we found that this protein powder’s double rich chocolate flavor tasted and smelled a lot like hot chocolate or chocolate milk — delicious. The package is user-friendly and makes it easy to get the perfect scoop. We also found that it mixed incredibly easily.


Old School Labs Keto-Friendly GMP Certified Protein Powder

What We Liked: Designed for use after a workout, this protein powder offers a full 24 grams of protein in every serving. The formula utilizes USDA beef, farm fresh eggs for essential amino acids and hormone-free milk to give exercise enthusiasts the protein boost they need after running, playing sports or lifting weights.


Garden of Life Healthy Gluten-Free Protein Powder

What We Liked: If your looking for a nutritious meal replacement shake that is also delicious, opt for this protein powder. Each serving offers 20 grams of protein, live probiotics and enzymes to aid digestion and countless vitamins and minerals. All you need to do to enjoy this shake is add a scoop of the powder to either water or almond milk.


Nuzest Clean Lean Soy-Free Low Carb Protein Powder

What We Liked: If you’re looking to increase the protein in your diet, grab this plant-based protein powder. It’s formulated with pea protein and contains only clean ingredients that you can feel good about putting in your body. You’ll also love the creamy vanilla flavor, which can be easily be mixed with fresh fruit for added nutrients.


Cellucor Fast Digesting Whey Protein Powder

What We Liked:


XPI Advanced Myotein Protein Powder

What We Liked:

Our Protein Powder Buying Guide

Protein is a key part of any healthy eating plan. It helps you gain muscle and lose fat as well as provide essential nutrients every body needs. Unfortunately, getting enough lean protein throughout the day can be difficult. Oftentimes you’re on the run and there simply isn’t time for grilling up some chicken or fish. A busy schedule isn’t an excuse for skimping on nutrition, though. Protein powders are a convenient solution to keep you satisfied and on track with your goals.

Simplemost Media

There are whole aisles devoted to protein powders, including whey, casein, soy and pea to name a few. But not all protein powders are created equal. The nutritional quality, as well as the source of the protein and additional ingredients, varies widely between different manufacturers.

Whey has long been considered the gold standard of protein powders. It comes from cow’s milk and is the watery liquid extracted during cheesemaking. Its claim to fame is that it contains all of the amino acids (or building blocks of protein) that you need for muscle repair after workouts. Similarly,  casein protein is also derived from cow’s milk. However, it takes longer to absorb and digest. It provides excellent overnight fuel for muscles.

Simplemost Media

There are also several plant-based and vegan protein sources. While many do not contain the full array of amino acids your muscles need, soy is a complete protein. Soy protein isolate tends to be a better option than concentrate because it contains higher levels of protein.

Rice, pea and hemp proteins are good options for anyone with a soy allergy. Unlike soy, these do not contain the full array of amino acids your muscles need on their own. That means manufacturers mix and match a few different plant-based proteins to form a complete protein and include all the amino acids. Additionally, plant-based proteins tend to have an earthy flavor to them.

In addition to unique protein sources, each brand offers a wide variety of flavor options, from minimally unflavored to outrageous combinations like birthday cake or peppermint mocha.

Simplemost Media

Then, there is texture and price to compare and factor into your protein powder decisions. You should also be prepared for sticker shock when you first venture into the protein powder aisle. The prices for single tubs of protein powder may seem exorbitant, but it’s helpful to look at the high number of servings each one contains. In fact, one tub can last for months and supplement or replace many meals.

With so many options on the market, picking the right protein powder for you can be difficult and overwhelming. The best way to decipher which protein powder is right for you is to look at your goals and how you want to incorporate the supplement into your diet. Certain types of protein are better for muscle gain while others excel at curbing appetite. Once you know what your goals are, then you can stroll confidently into the protein aisle.

In recent years, there has been an overall shift toward cleaner protein. Now, manufacturers are paying more attention to and promoting what’s not in their product as much as what is in the recipe. For example, some powders have just one ingredient. When it comes to supplements, less is more. The added ingredients can counteract the good work of the protein. In fact, adding sugar and processed ingredients can skew otherwise healthy foods into the junk food category quickly.

DWYM Fun Fact

Long ago, ancient civilizations realized the importance of protein, generally in the form of meat, for athletes and strength. However, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that bodybuilders buoyed the first protein supplements. As bodybuilding became more popular in the 1970s and 1980s, so too did the protein powder and supplement market.

 

The Protein Powder Tips and Advice

  • Do your own research and read the ingredient labels and nutrition facts to see exactly what is and isn’t in each product.
  • Whey protein is the most common protein source in protein powders, and it comes from cow’s milk. Anyone with a dairy allergy or sensitivity will want to steer clear of whey.
  • Protein powder should contain all the essential amino acids muscles need to repair and grow. That makes it a “complete protein.” Manufacturers generally include this information prominently on the label.
  • There are many plant-based protein options, including pea, rice, hemp and soy. These are great options for vegetarians, vegans and anyone with allergies.
  • Don’t just focus on the protein source. Additives and other ingredients make a big difference in taste, nutrition quality and texture.
  • Some protein powders mix evenly when stirred, but most work better in a shaker bottle or a blender.
  • Protein powders containing casein, whey isolate or soy are better for weight loss and curbing appetite than other sources. They are satiating and low in calories, as long as the formula includes no added sugars.

This review has been updated by DWYM staff.


About The Author

Jennifer Nied 

Jennifer Nied is a professional writer based in New York City. She studied journalism at Northwestern University. Jennifer has more than 10 years of experience writing, researching and editing stories for national publications about health and wellness topics. Health and wellness is also a lifelong passion, and Jennifer loves learning about the latest trends as well as putting them into practice in her own life. She is a marathoner and fitness fanatic who’s tested out a wide variety of workouts around the country.