Protein powder is easily one of the most common supplements taken today. It comes in a wide variety of types and flavors, both vegan and non-vegan. People take it for many reasons, such as to help lose weight, increase muscle, and more. There are hundreds of different proteins available on the market, each with its benefits. Choosing which one is best for you can be difficult; some simply don’t stand up to the promises they make. We’ve created this list to help you pick the best protein powder for the job in 2022.

The Top Protein Powder Supplements in 2022

We considered many factors, each of which can be read about at the bottom of the list. For now, here are our choices on the best protein powders in 2022:

• BioTrust Low Carb
• CrazyBulk Tri-Protein
• XWerks GROW
• BiOptimizers Protein Breakthrough
• Transparent Labs Whey Protein
• Live Conscious Organic Protein
• Fitera FitFreeze
• Amy Myers MD Paleo Protein
• Vital Proteins Collagen Whey Protein
• Onnit Protein Grass-Fed
• Green Regimen Elite Protein
• Cellucor COR-Performance Powder
• Ladder Whey Protein
• Ladder Plant Protein
• NSP Nutrition Muscle Fuel
• NSP Nutrition Milk & Egg Protein
• Bauer BRF Whey Protein
• Orgain Protein Powder
• IdealFit IdealLean Protein
• Legion Whey Isolate Protein
• Beast Sports Beast Protein
• Huge Supplements Huge Whey
• ProMix Whey Isolate Protein Powder
• MTN OPS Magnum

BioTrust Low Carb

The low-carb protein powder was invented by Joel Marion and the research team at the company. Individuals on the Keto diet will probably like this most, but anyone who wants to limit their daily carb intake will benefit from using the powder.

Not only is the protein powder low carb, but it is also all-natural, with no fillers or artificial flavorings. The purpose of the protein powder is to help stop food cravings, so you don’t eat the wrong foods or too much of the good ones. Bodybuilders and weightlifters will appreciate the protein powder, as it helps put on muscle, burns fat, increases metabolism, and more.

BioTrust Low Carb protein powder contains 24g of four high-quality, pasture-raised, premium protein, essential amino, BCAAs, and more. One bag of BioTrust Protein Powder costs $34.

CrazyBulk Tri-Protein

Crazy Bulk is one of the most popular companies on the list. Ideal for anyone looking to get the most bang for their buck, Tri-Protein is a little more expensive than the rest. Each serving contains a massive 30 grams and can be mixed with any of your favorite beverages like Milk or Almond Milk.

Tri-Protein has six different proteins in it, guaranteeing your body will get the protein it needs. Protein types include whey, micellar, casein, milk, calcium caseinate, and hydrolysate. To further help your body boost its ability to absorb protein, it also contains DigeZyme, a digestive that will stop protein bloat. Each serving contains 21grams of protein, and a one-month supply costs $56.

XWerks GROW

Founded in New Zealand, the pure form protein is made from 100% grass-fed whey isolate to provide athletes and others with a tremendous affordable protein powder. It will improve your immune system, repair damaged muscles, and help digestion. The protein powder is packed full of powerful antioxidants and BCAAs.

There is no lactose in XWerks GROW; the same can be said about carbs and fats. One serving of the protein powder contains 25g of protein and 6g of BCAAs. The protein used in it is high-quality, derived from one source, unlike many cheaper alternatives.

XWerks GROW is a reasonably priced protein powder with 30 servings per bag. This is one of the most affordable, reasonably priced powders on the list, with one bag costing $49.

BiOptimizers Protein Breakthrough

The first plant-based protein powder on the list is BiOptimizers, created after 17 years of extensive research. Considered a meal replacement, it has a decent enough taste and texture. Protein in it is sourced from high-quality organic peas.

One thing we appreciate about BiOptimizer is the one-year money-back warranty. Like other protein powders, its primary function is to help build lean muscles. The protein powder also contains hemp and pumpkin seed as well. Each protein source is a complete protein source on its own and together provides you with the full spectrum range of BCAAs.

A benefit of taking the meal-replacement powder is that it helps keep you feeling full. The full feeling helps stop you craving food for the better of the day. It is one of the healthiest protein powders on the list, with little carbs or fat to help you lose weight and pack on muscle. It’s not the cheapest powder; however, at $75, it’s perfect for people looking for healthy protein at a high price.

Transparent Labs Whey Protein

Another of the proteins on the list is made from premium grass-fed whey, derived from cows; there is almost 30g of protein per serving. Cows providing the whey are 100% hormone injection-free and well treated. There are no fillers in Transparent Labs Whey and zero artificial sweeteners.

Again, the primary purpose of the protein powder is to help you heal after a workout, providing your muscles with what they need. Each serving contains 120 calories in each scoop, minimal carbs, and the same can be said about sugars. It costs $59 for each bag of Transparents Labs Whey Protein.

Live Conscious Organic Protein

Live Conscious Organic Protein powder is a steal relative to the quality. It is priced relatively low compared to many other protein powders of its caliber. It is also the second vegan protein powder on the list, made with 100% USDA-certified organic ingredients. If that weren’t enough, there are only 80 calories in each serving.

According to reviews, another bonus of the protein powder is that it tastes delicious. Each serving has 15g of protein and is made with brown rice, pumpkin seed, and pea protein. It will help you burn fat and put on muscle while keeping you feeling full if you need to slim down by eating less.

At only $43 a bag, the USA manufactured powder contains other beneficial nutrients, minerals, pre, and probiotics. Lastly, there is a full one-year money-back guarantee.

Fitera FitFreeze

Fitera Freeze is one of the only protein powders on the list not advertised to build muscle but instead burn fat. According to FItera, the makers, it will obliterate fat cells before your body can absorb them, making it easy to shed some pounds when you need to.

Flavored with chocolate, a substance known to engage the pleasure parts of your brain, it also helps stop food cravings so you can lose weight. Even though it is designed to burn fat, it also contains a healthy dose of high-quality protein and fiber. Fiber helps aid in digestion as well as keeps you full.

We especially like the serving suggestions for Fitera, simply take the powder, mix it with water, then freeze it to enjoy it like a frozen desert. Order it online as a sample before buying a deal for $10 for three servings.

Amy Myers MD Paleo Protein

Created by the well-known Dr. Amy Myers, a well-respected person in the wellness supplement arenas, Paleo Protein is one of the only powders formulated by an actual doctor. There is gimmicky marketing in this, but it’s a genuine, medical-grade protein powder designed for optimal usage.

There is a large variety of flavors, including the standard ones like chocolate and vanilla. More unique flavors include salted caramel and birthday cake, among others. There is a large amount of collagen in the protein and amino acids, designed to help build muscle, connective tissue, bones, and skin.

Those on a paleo diet will appreciate the 21g of grass-fed whey in each scoop. It is one of the higher-priced powders at $70 per bag.

Vital Proteins Collagen Whey Protein

Containing an excellent 25 grams of protein per serving and a healthy dose of collagen – the mineral and nutrient-rich protein powder are one of our favorites on the list. Other ingredients include hyaluronic acid, placed in it for joint health. Vital Proteins is perfect for people looking for a high-quality product that will build muscle, keep you full, and provide you with extra benefits like keeping you full.

The company that manufactures it has an excellent reputation in the industry, with reviews almost always positive. It is formulated mainly for athletes and high-performing individuals who want a healthy option. With Vital Proteins Collagen Whey Protein, you’ll be able to lose weight, get stronger, and improve overall health for only $44 a tub.

Onnit Protein Grass-Fed

This protein powder is fantastic and a favorite. We especially like the lovely hint of cinnamon in the Mexican Chocolate flavor. Onnit doesn’t mess around when it comes to protein powder or anything else for that matter. And each serving shows that with the 20g of protein included in it. Let’s not forget about the sourcing of the ingredients; protein in Onnit comes from New Zealand. New Zealand is well-known for treating and feeding cows, and it’s easily seen in the protein quality here.

Post-workout recovery, weight loss, improved energy, and better digestion are just a few benefits when using the protein. There are no added sugars, nearly zero grams of carbs and fat, and plenty of BCAAS, which help your body absorb and assimilate protein. The only drawback for some is each bag of Onnit Protein costs $70.

Green Regimen Elite Protein

Again, we have a plant-based protein powder that is ideally organic, rich in taste and nice texture. Green Regimen has truly perfected the art of vegan protein. The USDA-certified organic protein uses stevia as a sweetener and contains 25g of protein per serving, higher than most other plant protein powders.

Like others, Elite Protein also has a high amount of fiber to keep you full and is considered a meal replacement. Other benefits include prebiotics, probiotics, full-spectrum BCAAs, and plenty of healthy superfoods. Enzymes help with the digestion of protein, carbs, and fat. That’s important to support the high-quality pea, pumpkin seed, and hemp protein you’ll get in each scoop. It’s an expensive protein powder at $35 for 14 servings, but hey, you get what you pay for.

Cellucor COR-Performance Powder

One of the more well-known brands on the list, Cellucor, has been bringing people supplements in the weight-lifting industry for a long time. That’s probably why they are among the best-valued protein powders on the list, with 70 servings in each tub.

It’s a straightforward protein powder, with 24g in each serving. Also containing other standard ingredients like BCAAS, it’s a fast-acting protein perfect for post-workout applications. The only drawback to Cellucor is it is mass-produced with proprietary blended ingredients and artificial flavors. Still, at $54 for 70 servings, it’s an excellent value-based protein for anyone looking to pack on muscle.

Ladder Whey Protein

We love this protein for a significant reason; it was designed and manufactured by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lebron James. It’s a standard protein powder with probiotics BCAAs and comes in two flavors, chocolate, and vanilla. Still, it is backed by Arnie, and he is easily one of the most muscular men to have ever lived. Each serving contains 26g of protein and comes with a one-month money-back guarantee.

One of the most attractive aspects of Ladder Whey Protein is the NSF certification for Sports. What does this mean? The substance is free from all banned substances, so it’s perfect for any type of professional athlete. As you may have guessed, one bottle of Ladder costs $70.

Ladder Plant Protein

Like the above, Ladder follows the basic premise of being designed for Athletes and is NSF Certified. It also contains the daily required BCAAS and probiotics with 21g of protein per serving. It is the only plant protein on the list backed by Arnie and Labron, making it one of the more attractive ones for people who compete. A little less expensive than regular Ladder, one tub costs $60.

NSP Nutrition Muscle Fuel

NSP Nutrition Muscle Fuel is a reasonably priced, very high-quality protein powder that comes in both the flavors of vanilla and chocolate. There is almost no fat or carbs in the protein powder, formulated to help put on muscle without extra weight. The filtered whey protein isolate is a high-quality protein source, perfect for maximum absorption.

NSP protein is ideal for measuring macronutrients, with precisely 25g of protein in each serving. It’s also one of the most widely used proteins on the list and includes digestive enzymes that help with protein breakdown. Not only all that, but it is also one of the more affordable proteins at $41 a tub.

NSP Nutrition Milk & Egg Protein

The protein used by NSP Nutrition is derived from milk and eggs. 92% of the protein powder formula consists of the two ingredients – with a basic premise of helping you pack on muscle without putting on fat. NSP Nutrition Milk & Egg Protein will also help you with heightened energy levels, less fatigue, and because there isn’t a bunch of sugar, zero crash. The reason for this is it helps maintain a healthy blood sugar level.

Eggs and milk were long used in traditional body-building as an everyday source of protein. And at $50 a jar, it’s considered a reasonably priced protein that will help you get stronger and stay healthier.

Bauer BRF Whey Protein

Battle Ready Fuel is a powerful whey protein supplement from one of the most trusted brands in the world. The ultra-potent, easily absorbed powder comprises 90% whey protein isolate. It’s easy to digest, gives you all the BCAAs you need per day, and helps keep you full. They have none of the cheap fillers seen in many overrated protein powders.

Launched in 2020, Bauer BRF Whey Protein is one of the more widely used proteins in the UK. Overseas where it is more common than in the USA, thousands of people have attested to it working better than any other protein powder they’ve used. BRF can also be used as meal placement which at $60 per tub isn’t a bad deal.

Orgain Protein Powder

With several different styles of protein powder to choose from, Orgain is one of the favorite companies on the list. We especially like their organic whey proteins and organic vegan proteins. Besides offering customers protein powders, they also have superfood powders, green drinks, and meal replacement kits.

Other products include collagen peptides, grass-fed whey, probiotics, and prebiotics – with multiple flavors for each, like Peanut Butter and Coffee. Orgain also happens to be one of the best-priced protein powders on the list at $32 per bottle.

IdealFit IdealLean Protein

IdealLean is the first protein on the list designed specifically for women. It is made especially for women who want to lose weight; rather than just putting on muscle, it will help keep you full for the better part of the day. There is roughly 20g of protein per serving, making it an ideal choice for most women’s needs.

Along with using high-quality protein, IdealLean also has a minimal number of fillers, focused on providing a simple formula with quality protein. While it is primarily to help women lose weight and keep full, it is also an excellent choice for active or competitive female athletes. At only $30 a box, it’s a perfect choice for anyone on a budget.

Legion Whey Isolate Protein

We love this protein powder because it’s sourced in Ireland. Coming from small, sustainable farms – the cows are 100% organic grass-fed beef and well taken care of. Each serving provides the user with 22g of protein, almost no carbs, and plenty of BCAAS to help with ultimate protein synthesis.

Legion Whey is a trendy brand for a reason and uses one of the healthiest proteins available on the market. The milk quality made Legion stand out from the rest of the crowd, using only SDAS certified farms. If you’re the type of person, who likes quality and cares about how the cows are treated, where the milk comes from, etc. Then Legion Whey Isolate is your best bet, especially at $50 per tub.

Beast Sports Beast Protein

Beast Sports Beast Protein is a bulk protein available in massive 4lb tubs. As the name implies, the protein is developed to make people a beast or those who already are. This is an excellent protein supplement for people looking to bulk up in a significant way.

The protein powder works great for any time, day, or night. It’s great for post-workout and pre-workout. It’s also great for when you wake up or right before bed. The reason is that the formula contains multiple types of protein designed to work fast and slow.

Whether you want to bulk up, pack on lean muscle, stop food cravings, or stabilize blood-sugar levels, Beast is likely a good bet for you. Not only that, but it also helps with the reduction of hunger, to speed up the metabolism, and increase overall strength. At $60 for 52 servings, Beast Sports Beast Protein is one of your best bets.

Huge Supplements Huge Whey

One of the best budget protein powders on the market, Huge Whey packs everything you need into each serving to make you big and strong. Only 120 calories are in each 23g of the protein-containing scoop, not to mention 5g of BCAAs. Flavors include cookies and cream chocolate peanut butter, and each tub has enough protein for roughly one month, depending on how much you eat per day.

There is only 2g of fat in each serving of Huge Whey, making it a good choice for people trying to stay thin or lean out. The high-quality protein powder contains multiple protein types for long-lasting and quick-hitting effects, plus other ingredients known to help with protein synthesis. One tub of the protein powder costs only $40, perfect for anyone on a budget.

ProMix Whey Isolate Protein Powder

Micro-filtered, the ProMix Whey Isolate Protein Powder is perfect for helping increase muscle mass after a workout. Improved recovery times are not the only benefit; they also contain essential amino acids. The most potent protein powders, each scoop has 30g of protein, a whopping 6.6g of BCAAs, and 14.2g of essential amino acids. Not only does it have more protein per serving than other protein powders, but it also has a better protein as well.

Here is another powder souring protein from cows in Ireland. The powder is moderately priced, and tubs come in sizes ranging from 2lb to 5lb. Not only that, but the protein powder only costs $45 for the smaller tub.

MTN OPS Magnum

Last on the list is the MTN OPS Magnum, a mid-price range protein powder – available in a multitude of flavors depending on your taste preference, like Birthday Cake, Mountain Mocha, and Berries and Cream. Each scoop of MTN OPS contains a healthy 23g of protein, and 1.5 grams of glutamine, something not often seen on protein powders in the list. Glutamine is one of the best amino acids for building muscle and one of the least common at the same time.

Originating out of Utah, every tub of MTN OPS comes with a one-month refund policy. We especially appreciate the glutamine aspect; it gives the extra bump making it stand out from the rest. And considering it’s only $45 a tub, it’s one of the most affordable protein powders you can find.

How We Chose the Best Protein Powders

With all the protein powders available on the market, it’s essential to research before you start using one. Especially if you want to get maximum results, we considered many criteria before deciding which protein powder would be allowed on the list.

Dosage

At least 15g per serving of protein minimum should be in a powder for it to be worthwhile. A better number would be 25g; the highest we’ve seen is 30g. Depending on the needs of the individual, depends on what’s optimal. In any case, we didn’t allow protein powders on the list that were too low.

Scoop and Serving Size

Just because a protein powder has a big scoop doesn’t mean it’s good. Many companies use cheap fillers to make people think they’re getting more bang for their buck. We looked at the scoop size vs. the amount of protein in it to determine if it was a viable protein or not.

Protein Source

We did our best to stay away from proteins that were low-quality. We also stayed away from protein powders from poor sources, like farms where cows were not treated well or injected with significant hormones.

Protein Types

Different protein types were also taken into consideration. We know everyone has various reasons for taking protein, so we included the type in each protein powder. The higher quality proteins were emphasized over the lower quality proteins.

Targeted Goals

People have different goals; there’s no denying it, so we considered that. We made sure protein powders would work as advertised before placing them on the list. If a protein powder promote weight loss, it had to work for weight loss.

Macronutrient Values

Taking into consideration the macronutrient count was also vital, especially since their low-calorie ones, meal replacements, and more. A protein powder’s macronutrient count had to be following what it was advertised to work as.

Added Ingredients

We especially liked protein powders that had added beneficial ingredients. And we removed protein powders that had a bunch of added non-useful ingredients or fillers. Protein powders that contained many artificial ingredients and sweeteners were also removed from the list.

Taste and Mixability

To make our list, protein powders that had good taste were promoted. Protein powders also had to be able to mix easily. Basically, the better it integrated and tasted, the better place it got on the list.

Price Vs. Value

Prices didn’t matter if the value of the protein powder was comparable to the price. Even if a powder costs $100, it was okay if its value was more than its cash to buy it.

Ingredient Sources and Quality

Protein powders often use artificial ingredients, particularly when it comes to sweeteners. While that’s okay for cheaper, on a budget protein, it’s not for higher-priced ones. We removed protein powders that contained low-quality ingredients and retained a high cost.

Refund Policy

We avoided placing products on the list without at least a 30-day money-back guarantee. The way we looked at it, if a company didn’t have a refund policy, it probably had something to hide.

Manufacturer Reputation, Transparency, and Track

Lastly, companies on the list have a good reputation. This included the BBB, FDA, and customer satisfaction reviews. Honesty and transparency were also important, which consisted of the ingredients, dosages, and sources.

After all the above criteria were met or exceeded, the list was deduced. The following section is the FAQ and includes the most asked questions we receive.

Who Should Use Protein Powder?

There are any number of reasons a person would take protein powder. Most commonly, it is used in a medical setting or by athletes, such as bodybuilders. Other people who may take it are deficiencies of some type, medical issues, or looking to lose weight. It is also often taken by people who have a muscular breakdown issue, those looking to bust a plateau or people who have digestive problems. Others include people with diabetes looking to stabilize their blood and vegans trying to meet their nutritional requirements.

What Types of Protein Powder Are there?

• Whey Protein: Most common, best known, fast-acting, excellent for muscle growth and recovery, and made from milk by-products
• Whey Protein Concentrate: Most familiar form of whey protein, low levels of fat, low carbs, comes from dairy.
• Whey Protein Isolate: Whey only, zero lactose, no fat, no carbs, created in a filler filtration system.
• Whey Protein Hydrolysate: A type of protein that has already been digested. Also, milk is rapidly absorbed for fast recovery.
• Casein Protein: Slower absorption rate, excellent for taking before you go to bed. Slowly ads protein to your body for maximum effect.
• Egg Protein: Old school protein from the 1970s, derived from egg whites. Contains complete amino acid requirements for maximum muscle growth
• Pea Protein: Vegan protein, cheap, high in fiber, made from split peas, promotes fullness.
• Hemp Protein: Plant-based, rich with healthy fats, omega-3s, easy to digest, complete amino acid profile.
• Brown Rice Protein: Brown rice protein, plant-based, popular source, essential amino acids.
• Soy Protein: Plant-based, least popular, decreases testosterone.
• Mixed Plant Protein: Most common, plant protein, multiple sources, multiple types needed to complete amino acid profile
• Collagen Protein Powder: Collagen is the most common protein in the human body. Excellent for the skin, hair, and bones.

What Are the Benefits of Taking Protein Powder?

Of all the different types of health supplements, protein powder is excellent for athletes, bodybuilders, and anyone who needs to promote lean muscle mass. It helps with endurance stamina, increases metabolism, fights fatigue, and helps lose weight. Other uses could be to fight inflammation, such as with pea protein.

For anyone attempting to lose weight, protein helps curb appetite. There have also been studies indicating that protein has fighting anti-cancer properties as well, as well as helps reduce high cholesterol levels. Blood Pressure and Heart Disease could also benefit from using protein. Studies have shown that using protein daily helps to reduce the risk of a heart attack. These are just some of the benefits associated with protein.

Are There Side Effects from Using Protein Powder?

For most people, protein powder has little to no side effects. People who are lactose intolerant may have complications from taking protein or show signs of acne.

Some side effects include:

• Digestive issues and stomach pains
• Cramping
• Lack of appetite
• Nausea or dizziness
• Fatigue and low energy

Protein Powder Supplementation FAQs

Q: What is Protein?

A: Protein makes up body composition along with fat and carbs. It is a macronutrient required for life.

Q: What Does Protein Do?

A: Fights hunger, builds muscle, burns fat, rebuilds cells.

Q: How Much Protein Should I Take?

A: 0.7g to 0.8g of protein per body pound per day.

Q: Which Type of Protein is Best?

A: Animal proteins are generally considered best by doctors. High-quality powders are also deemed suitable as well.

Q: What is Protein Powder Made Of?

A: Whey, dairy, soy, pea, hemp, and animal.

Q: What is Casein Protein?

A: A type of protein found in cow’s milk. Similar to amino acids, ideal for building muscles.

Q: How Do I Take Protein Powder?

A: As a powder, liquid, or through direct animal meat.

Q: What’s Complete or Incomplete Protein?

A: Incomplete proteins do not contain all of the needed amino acids. Complete proteins do have them all.

Q: When is it Best to Eat Protein?

A: Eat protein at any time of day. It can be taken before a workout, after a workout, or before bed.

Q: Is Too Much Protein Bad for You?

A: Not typically, although they can cause digestive issues.

Q: How Much Protein Can I Absorb at Once?

A: Typically, 25 to 30 grams at once.

Q: What Are the Ways to Get Protein?

A: Animal, nuts, protein powders, dairy, whey, plant-based.

Q: Does Protein Help Build Muscle?

A: Yes, protein is required for muscle growth.

Q: Is Protein Bad for the Kidneys?

A: Studies indicate that too much protein could be bad for the kidneys over a long period.

The Top Protein Powder Supplements in 2022 Conclusion

Protein is the building block of muscle and is required for life. It is easily one of the most commonly used for building muscles. It’s not only for athletes and bodybuilders; it’s a great source of protein for anyone and recommended by doctors for anyone looking to lose weight, maintain weight, or gain other health benefits. Once again, after gauging all the protein powders we could online, we determined the above protein powder supplements to be the best.

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Disclaimer:

Please understand that any advice or guidelines revealed here are not even remotely a substitute for sound medical advice from a licensed healthcare provider. Make sure to consult with a professional physician before making any purchasing decision if you use medications or have concerns following the review details shared above. Individual results may vary as the statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.