Best Protein Powders Ranked by Price and Taste [Complete List]

Nutrition

The fitness industry, or I guess supplement industry, is full of companies claiming to be the best.

Best taste, best texture, best quality..but, how do you know?

How do you know what is the best and what is just a company trying to tell you it’s the best?

Well – I decided to rate a bunch of them.

By taste, price, quality etc.

This is my personal opinion, there is no professional anything here. Just me – sharing my honest opinion.

*I am not getting paid to create this list. Several blogs/websites are paid to make those blogs with lists of best/worst etc.*

Let’s dive into the most popular question I am asked – which protein powder is the best, what do you recommend?

Best Protein Powders

I have ranked the best protein powders (in my opinion) 1-10.

1 being the best option, and 10 being the worst.

Now, number 10 is not a bad option, it is just the lowest on my list.

You will also see that ever y single protein powder is not on here. That is because I have no tried every protein powder which means I cannot rank it.

This is my personal opinion, as well as clients I have had.

Now, the protein…

#1: Orgain Organic Protein

Type: Vegan/Plant Protein

Price: $25

Flavor: Chocolate or Vanilla

Protein content: 20g

This mixes great in smoothies, and obviously is a solid price point. You can purchase at Target, Amazon etc which also makes it easier to get access to as well.

#2: Legion (Plant+)

Type: Vegan/Plant (they also have Whey, I just haven’t tried it)

Price: $45

Flavor: Chocolate

Protein content: 25g

This is quality protein, but you clearly pay for it. Good just mixed with water or milk, and has 3 different flavors. Legion is a research backed company, which means they create only the best products.

#3: PEScience Select

Type: Vegan and Whey

Price: $35

Flavor: Snickerdoodle (whey) and Chocolate Bliss (Vegan) (although they have a bunch of options)

Protein content: 20g

I used this brand for years at the beginning of my journey. Delicious mixed up in oatmeal and in shakes.

#4: Twenty2 Protein

Type: Vegan

Price: $54

Flavor: They have a few

Protein content: 20g

Haven’t tried this, but it is a reputable brand. Great ingredients, sourced well, and has a lot of probiotics, digestive enzymes and more.

#5: Sprouts 

Type: Vegan

Price: $32

Flavor: Chocolate (vanilla isn’t bad either)

Protein content: 20g

This one is tasty at a decent price point, but the downfall is only being able to get it at Sprouts.

#6: 1st Phorm (Level1, Vegan Powder Pro)

Type: Level 1 is Whey, Vegan Powder Pro is Vegan

Price: Level1 ($55), Vegan ($50)

Flavor: Iced Oatmeal Cookie (Vegan), Level1 has so many flavors to pick from!

Protein content: 20g

A very popular company in the fitness industry. Not my favorite, but as a lot of flavor options.

#7: Garden of Life 

Type: Vegan

Price: $48

Flavor: Chocolate

Protein content: 22g

This one is good, you can find it at most health food stores and tastes pretty good!

#8: Nuzest

Type: Vegan

Price: $45

Flavor: Vanilla

Protein content: 20g

This one doesn’t taste great, honestly. But it cooks well, and is very clean ingredients.

#9: Isopure

Type: Whey

Price: $20

Flavor: Chocolate

Protein content: 20g

Cheap option, one I used early in my career. Tastes decent mixed in a smoothie or just with milk. You can easily grab this one on amazon.

#10: Premier Protein (pre-made shakes)

Type: Whey

Price: $12

Flavor: Any of them

Protein content: 30g

These are so high in protein, a great way to get in simple grams. I have seen people mix these with cold brew as well, great option to up the flavor.

BONUS: Easy Protein Shake Recipes

I follow the same rules for shakes as I do for meals.

Have a protein, carb, fat and green in your smoothie helps keep you fuller, longer.

Most smoothies or shakes you buy at places are full of 12 kinds of fruit, which makes them tasty, but high in calories and digest quickly.

We want to keep our blood sugar stable, so that means having all components in our shake.

Here are a few great recipes you can make, but also it is very easy to trial and error to make your own.

Peanut Butter Banana

Ingredients:

• 1 frozen banana

• 1/2 cup almond milk

• 1 tbsp peanut butter (or almond butter)

• 1 scoop vanilla protein

• 1 hand ful spinach

The frozen banana makes it so you don’t have to add ice, more flavor and no watering it down!

Strawberry Chia Seed Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 2 cups frozen strawberries

• 2 tbsp chia seeds

• 1/2 cup almond milk

• 1 scoop vanilla protein

• 1 cup spinach

A great one for the summer, and the chia seeds are a great source for omega-3s!

PB&J Protein Shake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup frozen mixed berries

• 1 tbsp peanut butter

• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder

• 2 tbsp rolled oats

• 1 cup milk

A fun take on a childhood favorite!

Cafe Mocha Protein Shake

Ingredients:

• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder

• 6oz brewed coffee

• 6oz almond milk

• 1 cup ice

This one is easily made with a hand mixer, and you can then pour it over ice, or you can blend it all together.

Tropical Protein Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 scoop vanilla protein

• 1 cup frozen mango

• 1 cup frozen pineapple

• 1/2 cup coconut milk

• 1 tbsp flax seeds

• 1 handful greens

This one is perfect for hot summer days, especially after a workout when you don’t want to eat a full meal.

There you have it, my rankings of protein powder and some delicious shake recipes.

I am not usually one to have shakes, I prefer to chew my food, but sometimes it is all I can stomach.

Now, if you could do me a favor and share this blog post, I would appreciate it.

Haley Rowe May 5, 2021