This whey-protein powder is my personal favorite and the one I use most frequently because of its subtle chocolate and vanilla flavors and how well it mixes into other foods such as oatmeal and shakes.
I’ve been using this whey protein from Now Sports for the past two years and found the unflavored variety the most versatile powder out of the dozens I’ve tested. When I’m in a hurry and don’t have time to make an elaborate shake with lots of ingredients, I like mixing the unflavored powder with just water and gulping it down.
Among the fitness experts and nutritionists we’ve spoken to, this whey-protein powder from Optimum Nutrition is the most popular (you may have seen the brand’s recognizable packaging at the supplements store).
This whey from Podium was the main protein supplement I used for weight training in 2022 for one reason: It’s the best protein powder I’ve tried for mixing into shakes and smoothies because of its consistency
If you’re a competitive athlete, it’s important to find a protein powder that’s NSF certified, which ensures that the product contains no banned substances. Registered dietitian Kaleigh Tjoelker, who works with athletes, many of whom play tennis, prefers this simple, NSF-certified whey-isolate mix from Klean.
This protein powder has a mix of fast- and slow-release proteins: It has whey isolate, which is an instant-release protein, whereas the egg-white protein takes longer to digest and will be released in the hours after, as you recover.
For a lactose-free powder, this Iconic protein powder is a great option. Barry’s chief instructor Kate Lemere says that this has been her go-to powder for years and likes it for its simple ingredients list. “When I was breastfeeding, my daughter had a milk intolerance, so I used it through a lot of different seasons of my life.”
While less effective for building muscle, collagen-based protein powders are an increasingly popular supplement due to their purported hair and skin benefits (though it’s still not definitive how effective they are for those things, either).
Momentous, the brand that makes the best-overall whey protein powder on this list, also makes my favorite plant-based protein powder. I like it because of its taste and mixability.
Similar to the Now Sports whey-protein powder above, I like this unflavored pea-protein version for its versatility. Like Alexander, fitness coach Ebonny Fowler also prefers an unflavored protein powder so she can better mix it with other ingredients.