What is the best protein powder for athletes? Highest in protein, lowest in sugar and contains high quality ingredients? We compared over 50 different protein powder brands, including all the ones I get asked about the most instagram Q&A last month. We’ve listed our top picks below, but the full comparison chart can be found here.
Each protein powder was reviewed using the criteria below to determine if we would recommend the product. We briefly outline what we look for in each category below. This review was not sponsorship in any way. i was not was paid by these brands or compensated for this review.
Protein Content/Macronutrient Analysis
We recommend that athletes choose a protein powder that contains at least 20 grams of protein per serving. While some products do not provide the amino acid profile, we recommend looking for a product with at least 2 grams of leucine per serving to stimulate muscle protein synthesis. We also recommend products that contain minimal added sugar.
Source of protein
For whey protein, we recommend products that use exclusively whey isolates or a combination of isolates and concentrates. This is because whey concentrate can contain anywhere from 30-89% protein with the rest coming mainly from fat or lactose, whereas whey isolate is >90% protein.
Whey protein powders are known as the gold standard due to their fast absorption and digestibility, amino acid profile and high leucine content. For plant-based protein powders, we recommend products that contain a blend of protein sources such as pea, soy or brown rice to provide an adequate amino acid profile. Plant-based protein powders often have enzymes added to help increase the rate of absorption and digestion. Here’s a more in-depth one review of protein and amino acid content of different isolated proteins of plant origin. We do not advise drug tested athletes to consume cannabis containing products to avoid any possibility of testing positive for trace amounts of THC.
Other Ingredients
We recommend that athletes look for products with minimal ingredients that come from whole food sources. We do not recommend that athletes consume protein powders around training that contain artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols or carrageenan. These ingredients could lead to gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort such as gas, bloating, diarrhea and upset stomach.
Tried third party for athletes
There is no regulation when it comes to supplements, so you should always be careful when using them. Athletes should only use products that pass third-party certification, such as NSF for Sports, Informed Sport, or the Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG). These certifications are required for athletes to ensure they are not taking illegal supplements. These certifications ensure that what is written on the packaging is what is actually in the product. Even if you don’t play collegiate or professional sports, I highly recommend looking for a protein with this certification. Why? Because this means that the product is constantly subjected to strict checks to make sure that it is legal. If you’re an athlete and don’t see your protein powder listed here, check this out list of certified products here or check with a sports nutritionist to make sure you are using a safe product. Non-athletes who have been drug tested (which we refer to in our chart and below as “active individuals”) can look for third-party certifications such as Informed Choice, USP, or NSF.
Our top recommended protein powders
For drug-tested athletes:
All of these powders are NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport for third party testing, making them a safe choice for collegiate or professional athletes who have been drug tested for banned substances.
Ascent Protein Powder*
BioSteel*
BiPro (whey protein)
Garden of Life Sport*
Klean Athlete (whey protein)
Staircase*
Momentous*
NOW Sports*
Promix (vegetable)
Ritual 18+ (plant based)
Thorne (whey protein)
Vega Sport (vegetable)
*they have both plant-based and whey options
For active people:
These powders, along with all of the powders listed above, are products that we would recommend to people who are not drug tested/do not require third party testing specifically for athletes.
Be Well By Kelly (beef protein)
Ingredients Only
Naked Diet*
Ora Organics (plant based)
Organifi (vegetable)
OWYN (vegetable)
Puori (whey)
Promix*
Simply Teras (whey)
TB12*
SunWarrior (herbal)
Truvani (herbal)
*They have both plant-based and whey options
For more information on why we recommend these products, please see our full comparison chart here. For individual nutrition guidance, apply for our waiting list here.
