The 12 Best Protein Powders in 2024, According to Experts

If you’re leveling up your strength training or looking for filling snack ideas, you’re probably also wondering how to find the very best protein powders for your goals (and, yes, your tastes). It’s fair if the first thing that comes to mind is a chalky, barely drinkable shake. But there are actually lots of great options out there, including plant- and animal-based protein blends, powders with additional ingredients like fruits and veggies, and more flavors than you’d find on Starbucks’s Secret Menu. We spoke to registered dietitians with sports nutrition expertise to get the inside scoop (pun intended) on different types of protein powder—and how to choose the right one for you and your wellness goals.

1. Best Whey: Klean Athlete Klean Isolate
2. Best Vegan: Garden of Life Sport Organic Vegan Protein Powder
3. Best Budget: Orgain Organic Vegan Protein Powder
4. Best Flavor Options: Ascent 100% Whey Protein
5. Best Texture, Whey: Thorne Whey Protein Isolate
6. Best Texture, Vegan: Sun Sunwarrior Protein Classic Plus
7. Best for Muscle Gain: Naked Nutrition Goat Whey Protein Powder
8. Best for Smoothies: Ora Organic So Lean & So Clean Superfood Protein

In addition to our experts’ input and recommendations, here are some key features we took into consideration when making our picks.

• Protein source: Whether the powder you choose is made with an animal-based protein source (like whey) or one made from plants is a personal preference. But either way, it should have a complete protein profile, meaning it contains all nine of the essential amino acids your body needs to function.
• Third-party certification: Third-party certifications, like Informed Choice for Sport Certified and National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) Certified for Sport, ensure that a protein powder contains all the ingredients and offers all the benefits it claims to.
• Sweeteners: This is also up to your personal preference, but some artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes can cause digestive issues, so we’ve highlighted where they’re used.
• Texture: No one wants a gritty, sandy smoothie. We sought out feedback from online reviewers to ensure we select powders that blend well.
• Packaging: An enormous tub of protein powder will always take up a ton of room, but a resealable pouch can compress as you go through the product—a perk if you’re short on storage space.

The following protein powders were recommended to SELF by sports nutrition experts and tested by staffers. Find the one that suits you best and grab a shaker bottle, and let’s get shopping.

• Clean, high-quality ingredients
• Convenient packaging
• Powder mixes well
• NSF Certified for Sport

• Pricier
• Contains sugar substitutes

Both Angie Asche, MS, RD, CSSD, owner of Eleat Sports Nutrition and author of Fuel Your Body: How to Cook and Eat for Peak Performance, and Kelly Jones, MS, RD, CSSD, a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics and owner of Kelly Jones Nutrition and Student Athlete Nutrition, point to the third-party-certified brand Klean Athlete as a high-quality brand. Its Klean Isolate powder keeps things relatively simple—the ingredients list is short, and the flavor options are classic.

For an additional performance boost, this gluten-free powder also contains a little sodium, “which is important for rehydration and recovery after training,” Jones explains. And, from a totally practical standpoint, we like that this powder comes in a resealable bag, so it’s easy to pack up if you’re traveling or refueling at the gym.

• NSF Certified for Sport
• Informed Choice for Sport certified
• Complete protein profile
• Helpful added ingredients

• Limited flavor options
• Contains sugar substitutes

Garden of Life is another brand that comes highly recommended by multiple experts due to its reputable testing practices and third-party certifications, and it makes some of the best vegan protein powders you can try. The brand’s Sport variety has a high protein content per serving (with peas and beans as its sources) and includes a number of ingredients that may aid nutrition and fitness goals, like probiotics to support gut health and a blend of antioxidant-rich fruits like tart cherries and blueberries (which can help with muscle recovery). Reviewers report that it blends particularly well into smoothies with frozen fruit.

• Complete protein profile
• Lots of flavor options
• Reviewers report it has a smooth consistency

• Contains sugar substitutes
• Intense flavor

Jones likes Orgain’s organic plant-based powder for its lower price, availability (you can stock up at retailers like Target, Costco, and Amazon), and its blend of protein sources. It contains peas, brown rice, and chia seeds, which provide a complete amino acid profile.

This protein powder is also a good source of iron, which is a major plus in Jones’s book, especially for menstruating athletes who are at greater risk of developing an iron deficiency. For those concerned about texture, our tester notes that it makes a great smoothie. If she has one caveat, it’s how pronounced its “vanilla-ish” flavor can be: “The flavor is a little strong, so I try to balance it with other ingredients,” she says. And if you need inspo for your blend-ins, we have some ideas.

• Easy to add to other flavors and ingredients
• Informed Choice for Sport certified

• Doesn’t have a complete protein profile
• Unflavored variety isn’t great for drinking straight

Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD, founder of Greenletes and author of Planted Performance, likes Now Sports because it completes third-party testing on all its products. (Asche and Jones also recommend this brand for the same reasons.) This pea protein powder has literally one ingredient, and the fact that it’s unflavored makes it especially versatile—it’d make a great addition to your next high-protein baking project. If you actually want to taste your protein, Now’s Plant Protein Complex comes in delicious flavors like chocolate mocha.

• Convenient packaging
• Reviewers report it’s tasty
• Easy to mix
• Informed Choice for Sport Certified

• Contains sugar substitutes

Another preferred brand of Asche’s, Ascent, makes both whey and plant-based protein powders, so you should be able to find one that fits your preferences. The former features a unique combination of regular whey protein and native whey protein, which is less processed and may contain more of the milk’s protein.

These protein blends are overwhelmingly well-reviewed on the flavor front—reviewers call them “delicious,” “outstanding,” and “not too sweet.” They also come in a convenient bag that you can zip up and store without losing a ton of pantry space.

• Complete protein profile
• Formulated for recovery
• Simple ingredient list

• Limited flavor options
• Contains sugar alcohols
• Reviewers report a slightly chalky texture

Orgain’s sport powders contain more protein (30 grams) than the brand’s standard options (which clock in at 21 grams), making them an especially good option for anyone working to build muscle, Jones says. Plus, she adds, their ingredient lists are relatively simple, which is a rare—and welcome!—find in extra-high-protein supplements marketed for muscle growth. One thing the Sport Plant-Based Powder has in common with Orgain’s regular vegan powder is a decent amount of iron. It also contains recovery-boosting tart cherry and gut-soothing ginger.

• NSF Certified for Sport
• Complete protein profile

• Contains sugar substitutes

Asche recommends Vega Sport’s plant-based protein powders to the athletes she works with because they’re NSF Certified. We think just about anyone should consider giving them a try, given their range of tasty flavors (hello, peanut butter), great texture, and nutritional perks. One of our testers, who prefers the brand’s vanilla flavor, can gladly speak to those first two benefits: “[Its] flavor is subtle with a touch of sweetness and thankfully lacks the nasty chalkiness and aftertaste that accompanies some powders. I use it in my breakfast smoothie every day—it’s my favorite meal of the day!”

From a nutritional standpoint, this vegan powder doesn’t just have a high protein content. It also contains a nice amount of calcium (15% of the recommended daily allowance, or RDA), iron (35% of the RDA), and ingredients that can help you recover from your workout, like tart cherry.

• NSF Certified for Sport
• Blends smoothly
• Convenient packaging

• Limited flavor options
• Pricey
• Contains sugar substitutes that can skew sweet

Available in both animal-based and vegan versions, Thorne’s protein powder is another one of Asche’s favorites—especially since it’s NSF Certified. Its whey blend checks essential boxes, like a straightforward ingredient list and quick-dissolving texture (according to reviewers). And the brand thoroughly tests its products for efficacy in clinical trials and collaborates with the Mayo Clinic on nutritional research.

One tester is an especially big fan of the chocolate flavor—she says it’s on the sweeter side (another great reason to experiment with various blend-ins), but not to the point that she minds it. Finally, a nice bonus is the brand’s cool, minimalist look and packaging—it’s yet another expert-approved powder in a space-saving bag.

• The unflavored version only has one ingredient (whey)
• Blends well into smoothies

• Our testers didn’t like the taste of the unflavored version

If you’re looking to boost your gains with the help of a powder that packs a big punch with a small ingredient list, let us introduce you to Naked Nutrition Goat’s Whey Protein Powder. The unflavored version is the only option on this list that’s made from a single ingredient: just whey protein, and 23 grams of it in each serving. The goat milk-based whey contains all nine essential amino acids and is free of harmful chemicals and other harsh additives.

If you go for the chocolate or vanilla flavors, you’ll find two additional components on the list: coconut sugar for sweetening, plus organic cacao or natural vanilla flavoring. Heads up: Our testers recommend mixing this powder with milk instead of water for a better taste.

• Complete protein profile
• Reviewers report it blends smoothly
• Reviewers love the taste of the vanilla flavor

• Limited flavor options

Sunwarrior’s Protein Classic Plus isn’t “Certified for Sport” by the NSF, but Asche still likes it for people who are recreationally active. According to reviewers, it mixes really easily into protein shakes and smoothies, with little to no grit or chalkiness, and tastes great—especially the vanilla version.

The brand’s Classic Plus line comes in a few different flavors and uses a combination of quinoa, brown rice, peas, amaranth, and chia seeds for its protein content, which amounts to a complete profile.

• Comes in multiple flavors, including an unflavored option
• Vegan, keto-, and paleo-friendly

• Can be gritty

Ora Organic’s So Lean & So Clean Superfood protein powder is packed with protein—21 to 23 grams total, depending on the flavor). The powder comes in a flavorless option that’s easy to sneak into your smoothies for an extra boost. Ora’s pea and rice powder is chock-full of gut-healthy ingredients like chia seeds and acaí. It also includes digestive enzymes like amylase, which helps break down carbs, and lactase, for those who are dairy intolerant.

This vegan mix comes in multiple flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and vanilla chai, plus an unflavored version. While we recommend the unflavored version for smoothies, one SELF tester (who admits she generally isn’t a fan of flavorless protein powders) didn’t love the taste of it by itself. “It would be better mixed in a fruit smoothie with other things to hide the taste, but I don't recommend it with just milk or water,” she says.

• Complete protein profile
• Third-party tested

• Limited flavor options
• Testers say it can be clumpy after mixing

Protein powders don’t get any more straightforward than a one-ingredient, unflavored product—like Nutricost’s Organic Whey Protein powder, which is USDA-certified organic (so no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives to see here). It’s made with a blend of whey protein and sunflower lecithin, a stabilizer—that’s it.

Just note that our testers did notice an “earthy” aftertaste in the unflavored edition—when added to water and milk—so we suggest stirring it into a smoothie or using it for baking. “It did mix well, which I liked,” one tester said. But if you’re looking for more flavor, you can opt for Nutricost’s chocolate or vanilla flavor, each of which have few additives on their ingredients list.

Protein is one of the three vital macronutrients (along with fats and carbohydrates) that we need in large amounts. It helps support our immune system, build muscle, and repair it, Jones says. So, while you certainly need to consume enough of it, who needs protein powder, specifically?

“In a perfect world, we would obtain all of the nutrients we need each day, including protein, from whole foods alone,” Jones says. But you might not always have time to shop for and prepare high-protein snacks and meals, especially if you’re vegetarian or vegan. That’s where a protein powder can come into play—it’s a convenient way to get more of this crucial macronutrient in your daily diet.

If you’re not sure how much protein you actually need, the current recommended dietary allowance (or RDA) is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight (or 0.36 grams per pound). Keep in mind, that’s the average minimum to prevent deficiency—if you're an active person, you may want to shoot for closer to 1.4 to 2 grams per kilogram (or 0.64 to 0.91 grams per pound), Jones says.

Ample protein is particularly important if you exercise a lot because it helps build strength, power, endurance, and muscle mass, Jones says. If you don’t get enough protein every day, your body will have a harder time increasing and maintaining the size of your muscles. Protein also plays an important role in workout recovery, as it helps repair the micro tears in your muscles that occur after intense workouts.

If you do the math and realize you aren’t getting enough protein, adding a dietary supplement like a powder to your routine could help. You may also want to consult your doctor or a registered dietitian to get a clearer idea of your individual protein needs.

When you start shopping for protein powders, you’ll first need to choose between animal-based powders or plant-based varieties. One isn’t necessarily better than the other, but there are a few key differences to consider.

For the most part, what you skip comes down to your own preferences—this writer, for example, avoids most birthday-cake-flavored protein powders because they often have an artificial flavor to me (regardless of what’s on their ingredient list). But there are a few things that experts suggest checking the label for before making a purchase.

Sugar alcohols and other sweetener substitutes, like stevia and monk fruit, are relatively common in protein powders because they don’t add many calories or cause blood sugar spikes like regular sugar can. These ingredients (as well as thickeners, like carrageenan) can potentially upset your stomach, causing side effects like gas, bloating, or diarrhea, Asche says. Not everyone will find these ingredients hard to digest, but it’s something to keep in mind. Plus, powders that contain real added sugar instead of artificial sweeteners (like sucralose) can be helpful in that they provide your body with a boost of protein and carbohydrates. And that combo of protein and carbs can be especially beneficial for post-workout recovery, sports dietitian Renee McGregor, RD, tells SELF.

For some peace of mind about the quality of your protein powder, look for ones that are NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Choice for Sport Certified, Jones says. These third-party tests confirm that a powder’s label accurately reflects its ingredients, and that it doesn’t contain contaminants like heavy metals, or dangerous or banned substances.

The simplest way to use protein powder is to mix it with your liquid of choice and drink it—but you can get a bit more creative too. Jones recommends blending it into smoothies, adding it to overnight oats, or even making your own protein bars. Asche adds pancakes and waffles to that list, and notes it can also boost already high-protein foods like yogurt. (We don’t see why you couldn’t add it to your favorite sweet treats like milkshakes or your morning coffee either.)

They sure are. Studies show that protein powders can help with muscle gain, workout recovery, and are a source of nutritional minerals. Just be sure to use them as directed, because research also points to a link between excessive protein overconsumption and kidney issues.

But powders are a great resource for those that aren’t getting enough protein in their daily lives. Kelly LeVeque, CCN, author of The Body Love series, tells SELF that “if you live a busy lifestyle, you don't enjoy time in the kitchen, and you can't find a source of protein that is easy for you, [protein powders] can be amazing alternatives.’

Studies show that consuming 20 to 30 grams of protein in the form of protein powder per day is enough to reap the benefits (but this can vary a little based on your health and activity level). Most protein powders come in serving sizes around that range, so one scoop should be enough. Still, it’s always a good idea to get your health care provider’s input before changing your supplement intake.

While it’s generally safe to take protein powder every day, Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN tells SELF that “you have to really look at that ingredient label and read the nutrition facts,” so you’re aware of any ingredients like sugar or artificial sweeteners that you may want to limit in your diet.

LeVeque adds that some medical conditions might make excess protein consumption harmful. “Those with end-stage kidney disease and some other rare diseases may need to avoid excess protein for disease management and should chat with their doctors about the best high-quality protein sources for their needs,” she explains.

Feller adds that protein powder is best for adults: “I don't recommend regular protein powder use for kids, who have much lower protein needs and don't need to introduce alternative sweeteners early on,” she says.

Whether you’re mixing protein powder into a smoothie, water, or milk, pick the method you’ll stick with. “You can bake with it,” Feller adds, saying she sometimes incorporates it into recipes in place of flour.

If you’re not sure when’s the best time to drink a protein shake, it’s actually pretty subjective. Jones says it’s most beneficial when you don’t have bandwidth to whip up a whole food source of protein, whether that’s for breakfast or after your workout. Asche echoes this recommendation, saying you don’t have to overthink it: “It matters more about how much total protein you consume throughout your day as a whole, versus the timing.”

Related:

• 14 Best Protein Bars in 2024, According to Dietitians and Editors
• 12 Snack Subscription Boxes That’ll Keep Your Pantry Well-Stocked
• 18 Best Meal Delivery Services of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

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