The Best Protein Powders Of 2024, According To Personal Health Experts (2025)

Protein powders are an easy and effective way to boost your daily protein intake, which is crucial for muscle repair and growth. Whether you're working out or creating a more balanced diet, protein is key to fueling your muscles and aiding recovery. After consulting with trainers, dietitians and medical experts, we've identified the best protein powders on the market. Ritual’s 18+ Essential Protein stands out as the best overall, thanks to its vegan-friendly, high-quality ingredients. If your goal is to build muscle, Optimum Nutrition’s Serious Mass Protein is a solid choice. And Orgain Organic Vegan Protein Powder is a great option for anyone looking to lose weight.

  • Best Protein Powder Overall: Ritual 18+ Essential Protein

  • Best Protein Powder For Weight Loss: Orgain Organic Vegan Protein Powder

  • Best Tasting Protein Powder: Ghost Whey Protein

  • Best Protein Powder For Women: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey

  • Best Whey Protein Powder: Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate

  • Best Protein Powder For Muscle Gain: Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass

  • Best Meal Replacement Protein Powder: Vega Organic All-In-One Shake

  • Best Natural Protein Powder: Isopure Unflavored Protein Powder

Best Protein Powder Overall

Clean, Plant-Based Powder With Quality Ingredients

Ritual 18+ Essential Protein

Servings per container: 15 | Protein per serving: 20 grams | Flavor(s): Vanilla

Pros:

  • Contains beneficial, high-quality nutrients
  • Great taste
  • Vegan-friendly and soy-free

Cons:

  • Smaller number of servings
  • Hard to mix by hand

According to the United States Census Bureau, the current median age in America is 38.9 years old. That means millions of Americans are in the zone for Ritual’s 18+ protein powder, which was specifically formulated for adults aged 18 and up (thus the “18+”). A serving of Ritual’s vanilla-flavored protein powder delivers 20 grams of protein along with L-Methionine, an essential amino acid, and choline, a nutrient that helps with brain function. And what you won’t find in the mix are allergens, heavy metals, sugars or artificial sweeteners.

You also won’t find any chalky aftertaste that’s common among protein powders. This is a pricier option given that you only get 15 servings in each bag, but the quality makes it worth consideration if you’re looking to add a powder to your diet.

Best Protein Powder For Weight Loss

A Blend Of Nutrients To Satiate Hunger

Orgain Organic Vegan Protein Powder

Servings per container: 20 | Protein per serving: 21 grams | Flavor(s): Vanilla, fruity cereal, horchata, strawberries and cream, natural unsweetened and more

Pros:

  • Good flavor selection
  • Four grams of dietary fiber per serving
  • No added sugars

Cons:

  • 150 calories per serving
  • Sweetened with Stevia

Protein powder often gets labeled as a weight loss solution, but it’s really protein’s ability to keep you full, build lean muscle and boost your metabolism that makes the difference. That’s why we’re into Orgain Organic Vegan Protein Powder for weight loss. It’s made from plant-based proteins like pea, brown rice and chia, and comes in a bunch of flavors that blend easily into smoothies or other foods. You can even stir the unflavored option into soups and stews. While the 150 calories per serving might be a bit higher than we’d like to see, that also includes 4 grams of fiber per serving to help keep you satisfied longer.

Best Tasting Protein Powder

A Whey Blend With Unique Flavors

Ghost Whey Protein

Servings per container: 26 | Protein per serving: 26 grams | Flavor(s): Cereal milk, Cinnabon, Chips Ahoy!, Oreo, Nutter Butter and more

Pros:

  • Excellent flavor options
  • Macronutrient dense
  • Great meal replacement option

Cons:

  • Isn’t agreeable with IBS
  • On the pricey side

Protein powder doesn’t have to taste good to be effective, but if it does, there’s a better chance you’ll consume it regularly. And while taste is a subjective sense—what tastes good to me might taste awful to you—the flavors from Ghost are easy to enjoy. These include a few you’re probably familiar with, such as Oreo, Chips Ahoy! and Nutter Butter, as well as others that sound imaginative but are actually quite tasty, like peanut butter cereal milk and fruity cereal milk.

Flavors aside, Ghost protein powder offers a decent calorie:protein ratio of 140 calories to 26 grams of protein per serving. It’s used more often as a meal replacement powder due in-part to its taste and macronutrient construction, but if you’re tired of vanilla or can’t stand the taste of traditional mixes, this one should be a lot easier to stomach.

Best Protein Powder For Women

A Classic Blend With Plenty Of Flavors To Choose From

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey

Servings per container: 29 | Protein per serving: 24 grams | Flavor(s): Banana, double rich chocolate, cookies & cream, cinnamon roll and more

Pros:

  • Blend mixes well with water or milk
  • Good value, especially in 5- and 10-pound packs

Cons:

  • Your experience really depends on the flavor you buy

Unless you’re looking for a protein powder that’s specifically formulated to address a concern or event in a woman’s life (such as pregnancy or menopause), then it’s worth noting that protein powder offers the same benefits between men and women. With that said, if you’re looking for a blend that’s high in quality protein with great reviews and lots of flavors to choose from, ON’s Gold Standard whey protein checks a lot of boxes.

With 24 grams of protein and 5.5 grams of BCAAs per serving, you’re getting the nutrients you need to recover and build muscle, no questions asked. From there, you have a lot of flavors to choose from, most of which taste good and blend well, though we recommend sticking to classic flavors that are chocolate- or vanilla-based for the best results. With over 205,000 reviews and an average 4.6/5-star rating, it’s safe to say this blend is a crowd-pleaser, which is why we feel confident recommending it to women in need of high-quality protein.

Best Whey Protein Powder

A Whey Powder With Only The Essential Ingredients

Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate

Servings per container: 30 | Protein per serving: 28 grams | Flavor(s): Vanilla peanut butter, dark chocolate, mocha latte, peanut butter

Pros:

  • Easy to digest
  • Contains every essential amino acid
  • Lots of protein per serving

Cons:

  • High in sodium
  • Expensive

As a blend that’s free from artificial sweeteners, food dyes, gums and preservatives, Transparent Labs’ Whey Protein Isolate delivers a hefty 28 grams of highly bioavailable protein per serving, which means you get plenty of protein without needing to consume a lot of powder. In that same serving of protein you’ll find only 3 grams of carbs and 0 grams of saturated or trans fats. Essentially, if you’re looking for a clean whey protein powder that’s easy on the body, this is the one to get.

Beyond this protein powder’s clean profile, it also blends and tastes surprisingly well in spite of its short list of ingredients. We personally love the vanilla peanut butter flavor when it’s mixed with almond or oat milk, though it’s not bad in water, either.

Best Protein Powder For Muscle Gain

A Calorie- and Protein-Dense Formula For Mass

Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass

Servings per container: 8 | Protein per serving: 50 grams | Flavor(s): Vanilla, banana, chocolate peanut butter, strawberry, chocolate

Pros:

  • Huge dose of protein per serving
  • Available in many flavors
  • Vegan-friendly and soy-free

Cons:

  • Only eight servings per container
  • Contains maltodextrin

If you want to build up those muscles, you have to tack on mass, and that means consuming more protein and calories. I’d say 50 grams of protein and 1,260 calories per each two-scoop serving fits the bill there, and that’s what you’ll get with Optimum Nutrition’s Serious Mass protein powder.

It was specifically designed to help people build muscle or for those struggling to put on more weight. The more than two dozen beneficial minerals and vitamins you’ll get along with the protein and calories are helpful, too.

This protein powder does contain quite a bit of maltodextrin, which is a highly processed carbohydrate that can cause inflammation in some people, so that’s one potential red flag, but if you plan to use the stuff as part of a muscle-building regimen that you’ll change up once you hit your goal, it may be less of an issue.

Best Meal Replacement Protein Powder

A Powder Packed With Vitamins, Minerals And Fiber

Vega Organic All-In-One Shake

Servings per container: 18 | Protein per serving: 20 grams | Flavor(s): Vanilla, chocolate, chocolate mint, berry, coconut almond, mocha, unsweetened

Pros:

  • Contains multiple vitamins and minerals
  • Available in multiple flavors
  • Organic ingredients

Cons:

  • Too sweet for many palates
  • Chalky texture if not blended well

On those days where you just can't find time to make a proper breakfast in the morning or pause for long enough to have lunch, blending a serving or two of Vega Organic All-In-One Shake powder with some fruit and water or almond milk will give you just about all the energy and nutrients needed to power through the next part of your day.

Along with 20 grams of protein, each serving of this flavorful stuff delivers 50% of your daily value of 12 different vitamins and minerals, but it’s also packed with fiber for your gut, and it's a good source of amino acids and antioxidants.

Many consider Vega’s powders to be too sweet, and that sweetness comes primarily from Stevia, which some people try to avoid, but if you’re not among those groups, you’ll have a great new meal supplement on hand.

Best Natural Protein Powder

A Two-Ingredient Powder That's Simple And Effective

Isopure Unflavored Protein Powder

Servings per container: 16 | Protein per serving: 25 grams | Flavor(s): Unflavored

Pros:

  • Only essential ingredients
  • Lack of flavor makes it easy to combine with liquids and foods

Cons:

  • Pricey
  • Manufacturer doesn’t state where the soy lecithin comes from

Protein powders and supplement at large are often made with a variety of hard-to-pronounce ingredients, but if that complexity turns you off to protein, consider Isopure’s unflavored blend that has just two ingredients: whey protein isolate and soy lecithin. The fine powder is easy to mix in a glass of water or milk, but it also combines with foods and baked goods as well, so you’ll never have a hard time finding unique ways to consume it.

With that said, we wish Isopure would clearly state where the soy lecithin comes from—it’s likely produced overseas, and that makes it harder to track down the original manufacturer. But with nearly 35,000 reviews and an average 4.4/5-star rating, it’s still a popular, simple protein powder for muscle growth and repair.

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

The Forbes Vetted health and wellness team has researched and published a plethora of content on products designed to improve your quality of life, including pre-workout blends, massage guns and complete home gyms.

  • This story and its iterations are overseen by gear editor Cam Vigliotta, who has a background in kinesiology and utilizes his health and wellness expertise when evaluating protein powder recommendations.
  • Forbes Vetted contributor Steven John, who authored this piece, is also incredibly active as a father and outdoorsman, and his regular diets consists of ample protein intake to build and restore muscle for adventures near and far from home.
  • We also enlisted the help of several nutrition experts to further evaluate these protein powder blends. These include Dr. Laura Purdy, MD, MBA; Professor Jed Macosko of Wake Forest University; Avery Zenker, a personal trainer and registered dietician; Michelle Routhenstein of Entirely Nourished; and Dr. Danielle Kelvas, MD.
  • To stay up-to-date on the best protein powders, we regularly update this article for accuracy. It was last refreshed in September 2024 by Vigliotta. We added Orgain Organic Vegan Protein Powder as a weight loss pick in our latest round of edits.

How We Chose The Best Protein Powders

To find the best protein powders for each category, we sussed out best-selling blends, compared ingredients and asked the experts—as well as our team of experienced and active staffers—for recommendations and insights on what to look for.

  • We relied upon nutrition experts, health professionals and other real consumers of protein powder to help flesh out this list.
  • We considered factors like ingredients, servings and flavor options. We looked for vegan and sugar-free options where available, then balanced all of this against each blend’s overall price.
  • We pored over customer reviews and star ratings to ensure that the majority of buyers were happy with their purchases.
  • Our final list includes a variety of powders to meet the needs, diets and budgets of different people.

What To Consider When Shopping For Protein Powder

If you’re looking to add protein powder to your diet, be sure to look over your options with a careful eye. Tiny and technical details can make it hard to differentiate one protein powder from the next, but understanding the variables at play can shed a lot of light on an otherwise complex supplement.

Protein Source

You may have noticed when reading this list that different protein powders are derived from various sources such as whey, casein, soy, pea, hemp or rice protein. Each source has its unique amino acid profile and digestibility, so choose one that aligns with your dietary preferences and any potential allergies or intolerances.

Protein Content

Check the protein content per serving to ensure you’re getting the amount you need. While most protein powders offer around 20 to 25 grams of protein per serving, some provide more, and others, less. Make sure the protein content meets your daily protein requirements and fitness goals.

Ingredients

Reading an ingredient list without being tricked isn’t easy, especially when it comes to supplements like protein powder. For that reason, we recommend brushing up on the worst ingredients hidden in cheap protein powders before examining an ingredient list for additives, fillers, artificial flavors, sweeteners or preservatives. Opt for protein powders with minimal ingredients and avoid those with potentially harmful additives.

Flavor And Taste

Protein powders doesn’t have to taste good, but if it does, you might have an easier time incorporating it into your diet. Consider your flavor preferences and choose a protein powder that you enjoy consuming. Popular flavors include chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and unflavored powders that can be easily added to smoothies or recipes.

Texture And Mixability

If you’re someone who has a love/hate relationship with food textures, evaluate the texture of the protein powder once it’s mixed with liquid. Some powders may be gritty or clumpy, while others dissolve smoothly. Look for a powder that mixes well and creates a smooth consistency.

Bioavailability

Bioavailability refers to how efficiently your body absorbs and utilizes the protein. Whey protein, for example, has high bioavailability compared to other plant-based proteins.

Certifications

Be sure to look for certifications such as NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Choice or USDA Organic, which ensure the quality, purity and safety of the protein powder.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Is Protein Powder Good For?

“Protein Powders work as a supplement if you are not consuming the daily recommended amount of protein or are an individual who requires more protein daily,” says Dr. Laura Purdy. “Adding protein powders to your diet can also aid in weight loss, boost your metabolism, help you maintain strong bones or help you build muscle and increase muscle strength. Protein powder can be a convenient way to increase your protein intake which is important for your overall health. And protein powders may aid in increasing your body’s muscle mass, enhancing athletic performance when taken before you work out, or post-workout to support muscle repair or even to help aid in weight loss.”

How Much Protein Powder Do You Need?

We touched on this earlier, but it’s a question that flummoxes many folks, so let’s cover it again. Professor Jed Macosko, a biophysical chemist by training who has been a professor of biophysics at Wake Forest University for 20 years, explains it like this: “You [need to] consume 0.80-1 gram of protein per kilogam of body weight per day.”

Who Best Benefits From Protein Powder?

Registered dietician and personal trainer Avery Zenker says: “Protein powder can be helpful for individuals who want to increase their total protein without increasing total calories, fat or carbohydrates. It can help meet macronutrient goals with more precision. This isn't limited to fitness goals, there are many other reasons protein is important, including bone and hormonal health.

“Protein powder can help increase total protein intake, which can support muscle building and maintenance. This may be helpful for those looking to build muscle, lose fat or maintain muscle mass. They can also be helpful for people with dietary restrictions, including individuals who are vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, egg-free and gluten-free. And it’s great for those struggling to eat enough: Certain medical conditions and poor appetite are just two of many reasons why someone may struggle to eat enough protein.”

Is There Anything To Avoid In Protein Powders?

“Many protein powders have added sugars, artificial sweeteners and some have been found to have harmful chemicals,” says Michelle Routhenstein, a preventive cardiology dietitian and registered dietitian nutritionist. “It is important to read the ingredient list on the food label and ensure the product is third-party tested.”

And primary care physician Dr. Danielle Kelvas, MD adds: “Casein powder is high in lactose and may cause bloating and gas, and additives like dextrins and maltodextrin are often processed with GMO corn, which can be an insidious source of gut inflammation. Also, artificial sweeteners like sucralose, aspartame and saccharin can cause headaches and gastric distress.”

The Best Protein Powders Of 2024, According To Personal Health Experts (2025)
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