Protein powders are the worst.

They have the noobies believing that they can take a protein shake, and call it a day.

A couple of things are misunderstood when it comes to supplementation (especially pre workouts, see that buying guide as well) in general.

But this category is more popular than any other out there.

Lactose Tolerant 

So you can handle milk right?

Good, you're in the right section then.

Now you've got to choose whether you want low fat, low carb or just the top and best tasting protein powders in this section.

Best Low Carb Protein Powders

These protein powders contain 2g of carbs or less. If you're worried about carbs but can handle lactose, then check these out. 

If you see any protein isolates, then they are generally safe for those who are lactose intolerant.

ISO Whey by MuscleTech Platinum

MuscleTech's Iso Whey doesn't only have a tiny bit of carbs (2g) but it is also low fat. 

It's a great protein powder to have whether you're bulking, cutting or just looking to keep your calories at a minimal while increasing your protein intake.​

With absolutely no sugar, half a gram of fat and only 2g of carbs, you'll still enjoy the taste as the flavors are mostly great. 

If you like Reese's Pieces, you'll love Peanut Butter Chocolate twist.

Their Milk Chocolate flavor is also great but the other flavors are not bad. ​

Whey protein isn't always as clean and tasty as ISO-100. 

This whey isolate only has 1g carbs and absolutely zero fats but still steals the show by having a great taste. 

These flavors are all great: Gourmet Berry, Pina Colada and vanilla.

ISO-100 keeps the flavor strong by relying mostly on stevia. 

So far, this seems to be the best tasting whey isolate, so if you're after flavor, you'll get it with this protein powder. 

If you've seen our top 10 lists, you'd know Transparent Labs is all over them and for good reasons too. 

Their supplements are solid, full of clinical dosages and do not hide anything under prop blends.

​Since they've entered the supplement industry in 2016, they've been conquering the scene while keeping their formulas completely transparent. 

Their Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate isn't only free of sweeteners and artificial colors​, but it tastes great. 

They only use stevia for sweetening and with zero carbs and fats, we see absolutely no downsides to trying this protein powder.

Now as other people have mentioned, the scoops may contain more than 32g (their serving size), so use a scale to measure it out.

The price is even better after this 10% off coupon: FITFREK

Select Protein is almost always recommended as a protein powder as it's almost flawless in every way. 

The cookies and cream flavor is favored over any other and nothing beats Snickerdoodle as it's delicious as well.

After being mixed, it delivers a thick, creamy taste that keeps you full for hours as it uses casein for the main protein source. 

For a low fat protein powder, you'd expect it to be much more thinner but Select Protein is full, rich and thick and most importantly tastes great. ​

Transparent Labs doesn't only have a zero fat protein powder here, but it's also zero carb. 

Very few protein powders are able to manage zero carbs and zero fats, while delivering decent flavors.

But TL's Grass-Fed Whey Isolate is actually not bad even though they do not use any sweeteners or artificial coloring of any sorts​.

They only use stevia for flavoring and it might take a little while to get used to the flavor if you're used to all of the artificial flavorings that are stuffed in protein powders these days but is well worth it if you're looking to stay as healthy as possible. ​

Use this 10% off coupon: FITFREK

Best Tasting Protein Powders With Standard Flavors

These protein powders are the best tasting...

Super Premium Whey Protein by MHP

Along with the branding, they've produced a new line of protein powders, Super Premium Whey protein. 

And they are continuously coming out with new flavors.

Their standard flavors are flawless, both vanilla and chocolate, though Vanilla seems to get more praise and love. ​

Their mass builder, Up Your Mass​, is also a part of our top 10 mass builders list. 

You'd probably recongize this bottle from a mile away...

BSN's Syntha-6 is one of the best flavored protein powders. 

All their flavors, ranging from the chocolate based ones to the strawberry and banana flavors, are conquering the "taste market" for protein powders.

The only thing that they are not conquering is the quality as Labdoor didn't rank this high with their tests.

So if the taste is more important to you than quality, or you have a choice between this and unhealthy food, then maybe this would be the better choice. ​

It tastes so great because it has a lot of sugar.

So be careful if you're cutting and using this. 

Muscle Pharm has always been up there with flavoring for most of their products. 

Whether it's their pre workout Assault (though they've since downgraded their formula many times over), or their protein powder here...

Combat Powder is very delicious, it's thick and full of flavor.

Their Banana Cream is exotic and creative but their Cookies and Cream flavor is also out of this world. ​

The formula being used here is quite good as it uses a blend of whey protein concentrate, whey isolate, and the fastest absorbing form, hydroslate. 

Most would agree that having a blend of protein sources is the way to go as that way, you'll ensure you're constantly feeding your muscles the fuel they need to recover and rebuild.​

We'll be the first to admit...

Natural protein powders have never tasted great. 

And it's super difficult to make them enjoyable at all. 

But Transparent Labs has done it with their first natural protein powder as it's one of the best tasting stevia-based powders out there. 

They only offer chocolate and vanilla so far, but if you'd like to avoid artificial flavoring, you'll enjoy this on a regular basis. ​

On the plus side, this is one of the "cleanest" whey protein isolate powders you can get.

The biggest downside is the cost.

Though, you'd have to consider if fair treatment to cows and natural ingredients are worth it to you. 

And since you read this far, use this coupon for a decent discount: fitfrek

The CEO of this company is known for one thing, hard work and determination. 

Marc Lobliner did not slow down when it came to finding the best cookies and cream flavor as he was trying to do it without using trans fats. 

Cookies and cream isn't the best flavor that they have though, it's the vanilla.

It's perfectly consistent and it never fails to impress.

It can be used as "sludge" as well if you wanted to get a little creative.

MTS has hit it twice with standard AND creative flavors. 

Marc Lobliner has created awesome flavors and the choices are unreal.

The creative flavors range from Red Velvet, Cinnagram to Pumpkin Pie and Key Lime Pie.

They are all great but Red Velvet seems to hit the spot with it's strong and consistent flavoring.

Lactose Intolerant 

Can't handle milk? This section is for you then...

Best Low Carb / Low Fat Whey Isolates

ISO Whey by MuscleTech Platinum

MuscleTech is a big company and they've been around for years now. 

Which is probably why they can make their protein powders so cost effective.

ISO-Whey is one of the most cost effective isolates out there and it's been one of the most recommended as well.

It mixes easily and has a bit of thickness to it although it still contains half a gram of fat and just 2 grams of carbs. ​

We usually see MuscleTech as a company that likes to hype things up but they truly hit the ball out of the park with this protein powder as there's really no negative feedback on it. ​

If you like Reese's Pieces, you'll love Peanut Butter Chocolate twist.

Peanut butter chocolate twist and milk chocolate are both great flavors to try out. 

ISO-100 is not only a low carb protein powder but is also very low in fat (half a gram per serving).

Dymatize's protein is affordable, so if you're on a budget but still need a whey protein isolate that is trusted and owned by a solid company, then ISO-100 is for you. ​

While Dymatize is not known for their other products, their protein powders are out of this world with flavoring and nutritional value. 

ISO-100 uses hydrolyzed whey protein isolate for the fastest absorbing and lists whey protein isolate as the 2nd source. ​

It is mainly sweetened with natural flavors so it isn't as reliant on artificial flavoring as other supplements would be. ​

Most people seem to enjoy these flavors: Gourmet Berry, Pina Colada and vanilla.

ISO-100 keeps the flavor strong by relying mostly on stevia. 

With absolutely zero carbs and fats, you've got one awesome protein powder here.

Transparent Labs has created a all-natural protein powder that uses stevia for flavoring and from grass-fed protein. 

For every 32 gram serving, you get 28 grams of protein, which is more protein per serving than most protein powders. 

The flavoring is alright and sweet as people who stick to natural flavors will appreciate. 

Use this 10% off coupon: FITFREK

Best Tasting Whey Isolate Protein Powders 

You don't care about the carbs, fats, nor macros. You just want the best overall whey isolates that not only tastes great but deliver high quality protein. 

These kinds of protein powders are usually more expensive as they need much more manufacturing than regular whey concentrate and other forms of protein. ​

7. ISO-100 by Dymatize

As you've probably noticed by now, ISO-100 is all over this page as it's way ahead in terms of flavoring, macros and ingredients. 

Every 30g scoop holds 25g protein, 1g carb, and half a gram of fats. 

You'd think this would taste pretty awful for something that barely has fats or carbs but it's actually delicious. 

ISO-100 is popular for these flavors: Gourmet Berry, Vanilla and Pina Colada. 

While it is mostly naturally sweetened, Dymatize's protein is mainly made out of hydrolyzed whey isolate and whey protein isolate so you know you are getting the fastest absorbable protein source available. 

The flavoring is a bit sweet but you'll enjoy it if you're dieting or simply enjoy sweet flavors. 

MuscleTech has mastered all of their flavors, but their strawberry shortcake, peanut butter and chocolate twist are really awesome flavors that stand out. 

You can mix it with anything and it'll still taste as great.

With a whey isolate that taste this good but still kept at 2 grams of carbs and less than a gram of fat, you'd have to jump on without any second thoughts...

Marc Lobliner is one of the masters of flavoring. 

You might love or hate the guy, but you have to hand it to him because when it comes to his supplements, they taste incredible. 

His vanilla flavoring for his whey has been perfect so it's been passed down to his whey isolate. At the moment, there's only 2 flavors, chocolate and vanilla but there will be more for sure...

This is one that'll satisfy your taste buds for whey isolate as nothing comes close to Marc's vanilla flavor here. ​

Now if you are severely lactose intolerant then I would avoid this one as it uses micellar casein but as the last ingredient, so there should be only be a tiny bit of it. 

It uses 4 forms of protein ranging from whey protein isolate, milk protein isolate to egg isolate and the last being micellar casein.

Chocolate sin is the best flavor, in our opinion as it's very thick and unlike other protein flavors, it's not thin and inconsistent.

And since it only has a gram of carb, we're really impressed with this one.  ​

This protein hits the spot right from the title and to the moment you take your first sip. 

Zero Carb Isopure is a no B.S. type of powder that uses absolutely no carbs and only whey protein isolate so you can digest it easily.

Although it's easily digestible, it might give you a bit of gas. ​

You can read our full analysis on it here. ​

Use this coupon for 5% off: fitfrek5​

If you want something that has more protein per serving than anything else but want to stay healthy with natural sweeteners and absolutely zero carbs / fats, then you've got it with TL's Grass-Fed Whey Isolate. 

Using only stevia for flavoring, Transparent Labs manages to maintain a great flavor and texture for their protein powder.

Most people would imagine anything this natural would be out of the question but it is well worth it as it contains more protein per serving than most protein powders. ​

Use this 10% off coupon: FITFREK

This here is the Starbucks of protein powders. 

This protein powder is more than just a whey isolate.

It has a 4 stage release isolate and it's super thick so it's consistency is great.

It also has organic flaxseed to increase the fiber content and contains digestive enzymes to help with digestion. ​

Best Weight Gainers (All-In-One Protein Powders)

Weight gainers or mass gainers are not easy to pick from.

You've got different kinds, brands, flavors and worst of all, most of them are packed with fillers and ingredients that'll help you gain more fat than muscle (you don't want that, do you?).

If you want a quality weight gainer, expect to pay the right price for it.

But if you want something that is unusually cheap, expect the sugar content to be super high and the chosen protein types would most likely be the worst. ​

Top Mass Gainers For Muscle Gains

You might be asking...

Why on Earth would we include weight gainers in a protein buying guide?

Being a site made for scrawny guys, we know all too well that most people will come to this guide with the goal of gaining muscle mass.

And that can't be done without bulking (whether it'd be clean or dirty bulking).

Though you can see our dedicated top 10 mass gainers list here, we will still post a few for you to consider.​

And while you could make your own home made weight gainer with a protein powder or other protein sources, people are still going to be buying these gainers for the sake of convenience. 

So here in this protein guide, we've placed a mass gainer if you're considering to get one to help you gain muscle.

We've also made sure we've chosen ones with high quality ingredients and sources as you don't want to just get anything with a load of calories and random crap...​

3. Real Gains by Universal Nutrition

Universal Nutrition has always been true to their supplements.

Real Gains is no different.

At first look it's got 52 grams of protein, 87 grams of carbs, 5 grams of fiber and a whole bunch of healthy fats.

​Every scoop is packed with 510 calories of clean, high quality ingredients ranging from ultra filtered whey concentrate, micellar casein, whey protein isolate, maltodextrin and a whole bunch of healthy fats (like MCT, flaxseed oil and more). 

The best part about this is that it not only tastes great and made out of high quality ingredients, ​but it's quite affordable which makes it easily one of the best mass gainers out there today. 

All the flavors are pretty good but if you're picky, go for either banana, chocolate mint, chocolate ice cream or cookies and cream. ​

Real Gains's formula is the perfect recipe for you hardgainers out there. So take it if you're on a budget or just looking for something that is effective.​

Extreme Mass starts their protein blend with whey protein isolate, which is perfect for post workout recovery.

The next protein type is micellar casein, a super slow digesting protein made especially useful for hardgainers with hyperactive metabolisms.

Now the price isn't friendly here, but with most mass gainers, they are not.

Since it is a mass gainer, it can be used a meal replacement since it has got the healthy fats, proteins and carbs in here. ​

You get 16 servings for $45.60 (with this coupon: fitfrek5 ) which is about $2.85 per serving. 

You've probably seen all kinds of mass gainers and you've been recommended a couple but trust us when we say you won't find anything that will outdo this...

This mass gainer by Transparent Labs has everything you could ask for and more. 

It's packed with proteins carbs and fats.

Every 197 gram serving has 53 grams of whey protein concentrate​ (100% grass fed), 109 grams of carbs (organic tapioca oat and sweet potato), coconut milk powder and MCT, creatine, and absolutely zero sweeteners, coloring, additives. 

​It packs quite a punch as every scoop has 750 calories of clean ingredients.

This is also free from all the GMO's and is as close as you can get to "natural" whole foods.

After all, your body is made to digest foods from mother nature as we have been for thousands of years now. 

This Mass Gainer is for you if you need to gain weight, struggling as a hardgainer, or just need a meal replacement (and especially if you're looking for something that is 100% natural).

Use this 10% off coupon: FITFREK

Special Dietary Needs

Whether it's religion, or a way of lifestyle, this section will help you pick the right protein powder for your specific dietary needs.

Here we'll list halal, vegetarian and kosher safe supplements. ​

Best Protein Powders for Vegetarians 

It's hard finding decent protein powders that are not only vegan friendly, but tasty and high quality. 

So here you'll find the best overall vegan protein powders for taste, ingredients and quality. ​

Organic Vegan Plant Protein by NutraBio

It uses protein from hemp, pea and rice so you know you are getting a range of amino acids and protein from different sources. ​

It is also organic and lactose free. ​

They sell this in chocolate and vanilla. Some say this is the best tasting vegan powder. So try it out and see for yourself... ​

Being pure and super easy on the stomach, Warrior Vegan protein is the good stuff that'll leave you satisfied and feeling good. 

Sunwarrior has created a vegan protein powder that you can actually look forward to having. 

It uses an organic blend of pea and hemp to make up it's 16 gram protein profile. 

Every scoop has 4g carbs (3g being made out of fiber).

It also uses whole ground coconut and goji berries for further benefits and energy. 

If you're switching from regular whey protein, then this may be the best option for you as this is as close as you can get while remaining vegan. 

Super digestible and natural, Veggie Elite is easy on the stomach and uses both pea and brown rice to make a complete protein powder. 

This isn't the tastiest option if you're used to processed flavors and artificial ingredients, but you can make it taste better by mixing it fruits and other ingredients.

Halal Protein Powders

Being a Muslim doesn't end with praying 5 times a day and going to mosque on Fridays. 

It's a full time religion that starts with the mouth, and ends with the heart so it really matters if your protein powder is Muslim-friendly or not.

99% of supplements out there are not certified halal, so it really takes a bit of investigation and asking around to find out what's haram and what's not. 

And most supplements can't even be made halal. 

There are very few companies that are certified halal, Mushashi being one of them, but it is very rare to see such companies.

If you're ever in doubt, go for protein powders which are safe for vegetarians, and / or use natural ingredients without any sources of animal-based ingredients. 

In case you don't know the definition of halal, here's the definition from the South African Halaal Authority​...

So far here are the halal protein powders we've found...

​And if you know any that we haven't listed here, please feel free to suggest it in the comments below....

3. ProStar Whey Protein by Ultimate Nutrition 

Ultimate Nutriton has built itself a solid reputation over the past few years...

And there's no doubt that their halal-certified protein is going to be something you'll enjoy.

With only one gram of fat and two of carbs, you're getting a solid 25 gram protein serving per scoop.

It also lists whey isolate as the first ingredient (which is a great sign) and has only one other ingredient (soy lecthin).

The whey source is cows here so it's not safe for most vegetarians. 

Everyone knows Optimum Nutrition... 

It's the brand that has been around for the longest time and has been voted as the number one protein many times over.

It lists whey isolate as the first ingredient and have lower carb / fat content than most protein powders. 

While it isn't halal-certified, it is a Muslim-safe protein powder but you do not want to get any flavor....

These flavors are halal and safe:

Lucky for you though, double chocolate is one of the best selling flavors out there. 

Stay away from the rest of the flavors though as they are not halal and made with the help of alcohol. 

NutraBio has been around for a long time now and they've been creating transparent labels long before proprietary blends even existed.

And with their products, they make sure they display their quality and certifications proudly.

It's no different with their whey protein isolate which is not only halal but kosher as well.

Looking at the label, there's really nothing to be confused about. It's plain and simple and literally has 8 ingredients including whey protein isolate. 

Every serving has 25 grams of protein, 5 grams of BCAA's and only 110 calories.

It doesn't matter if you're bulking or cutting, this is perfect for either occasions. ​

The pricing seems alright for a high quality protein powder. For 5lbs (78 servings) you can get it for a little less than a dollar per serving. ​

They also have all kinds of flavors from orange cream, strawberry to cinnamon bun and dutch chocolate. ​

Best Protein Powders For Severely Sensitive Stomachs

Before you proceed, if you have a medical condition, you need to consult your physician before using any supplement.

Whether you cannot handle any dairy at all or just have a disorder that prevents you from properly digesting whey isolates, then you're best bet is hydrolyzed whey protein. 

Hydrolyzed whey is much easier to digest than whey isolate as it's already broken down and therefore absorbs much more efficiently. ​

This type of whey generally doesn't taste good at all but these products have done a good job on making it enjoyable.

But try to get a small bottle if you're just trying any of these for the first time so you know that you can stomach these. ​

Hydrolosate Powder by NOW Sports

NOW Sports has made itself a name for being one of the most reliable and trustworthy supplement companies out there. 

​Their products are usually budget-friendly and easy on the wallets. They just don't waste their money on advertising and hyping up their products. 

It's naturally sweetened with stevia and sea salt. For every 42 gram serving, there's 25g of protein so their ratio isn't as good as it should be. 

But if you're looking for something all natural without artificial sweeteners and coloring, then this is the hydrolysate for you. ​

Optimum Nutrition is a popular name in the protein category of supplements. 

By only using one protein source, this powder is able to maintain a super low amount of fat (1g) and 2g of carbs. 

With such a high quality protein powder, comes a price however.

Since it is using hydrolyzed whey, the fastest digesting protein powder out there, HydroWhey is more expensive than most but you do get what you pay for.

If you're just lactose intolerant and can handle whey isolate, then you will save a bit by going with ISO-100, which uses a similar profile of protein but it uses hydrolyzed whey as the second source of protein. ​

Most people agree that vanill​a is not their best flavor so get anything else besides vanilla. 

Believe it or not, this is better tasting than most protein powders (including Syntha-6 by BSN.)

This isn't one you should be taking if you're shredded away fat, but if you're in for a protein treat, than you'll love Ultra Peptide.

While it's a bit high in fat (9g) and calories (184), it's a great choice for those who are on a budget as it's priced on the lower range compared to the other protein powders.​

Every scoop has 18 grams of protein, 184 calories, 9 grams of fat (1g saturated) and 8 grams of carbs (4g sugar, 1g fiber). 

And again it's probably best if you leave this protein powder as a special treat or if it fits your macros.​

While the powder works great as a regular protein shake, it can also be used for cooking.

Because of the thickness and flavoring, it's incredibly satisfying ​and enjoyable.

Every serving features 22 grams of protein, 110 calories, 5 grams of carbs (4g fiber, 1g sugar). 

They also have a no-flavor option which is the cleanest and ideal for cooking purposes. ​

With Jym being the face of his own brand, it's no wonder this made the list. All of his supplements are popular but not just because of his name.

Pro Jym, like most of his supplements (check out this pre workout in our buying guide), it's well formulated for maximum benefits.

Pro Jym's protein blend consists of whey protein isolate, micellar casein, milk protein isolate and egg albumen.

It's a perfect protein powder for those who are trying to build muscle, though it's not so great for those who are trying to keep things "clean" for the long term. (creamers and thickening agents like corn syrup etc)​.

Overall Pro Jym is made with a balance of different protein forms so you benefit from both fast (whey) and slow releasing protein (casein). ​You can't go wrong with a well balanced protein like this one.

Muscle Elements is known for their no B.S. type of approach when it comes to supplements.

Truth is no different. And the name says it all.

It's promising to not be another supplement that amino spikes and stuffs artificial ingredients (flavoring, coloring, etc).

It's one of the few supplement companies that has lab results proving it's content and protein count.

PES never fails to deliver.

We mean never!

Select Protein is not only fantastic tasting, but it's really got no fillers and it's super low on carbs / fats.

It's also certified to be amino-spiking free, as they've done their own lab tests (which shows 3% more protein than the claimed amount on the label)

The flavor choices are insane and creative as they've got anything from "blondie" to "snickerdoodle".​

In every serving, there's 110 calories, 24 grams of protein, 1.5g of fat (no saturated), 1 gram of carbs, which makes it a better label than most of what's listed here.​

If you don't like fillers in your protein powder, and you want high quality protein sources, then you'll love PES Select Protein. ​​

​Grass-Fed Whey seems to have the advantage of using protein from "small farms", which feels a little more friendly.​

It's argued that all protein powders are healthy but really, this is using all natural sweeteners and flavoring which makes it more favorable. ​

If you prefer going organic, consuming supplements that are "all natural" and the protein is derived from cows that are well taken care of, then you'll loved Naked Whey for it's clean protein.​

Since the fear of amino spiking, Mark Lobliner made it clear that he would wipe out the competition with "clean" protein. 

And he did.

With a huge fan base, the owner of MTS nutrition (Mark) is getting closer to this to be the top protein choice for the community.

MTS Whey protein is not only one of the tasty powders, but its got awesome nutritional value...

Each scoop gets you 150 calories, 25 grams protein, 4 grams of fat, 5 grams of carbs and 2 grams sugar (1 gram fiber).

If that doesn't impress you, the price is quite fair compared to other 5 pounders. This costs around 50 bucks, while other 5 pounders are closer to the $70 range.​

With Universal Nutrition, you know you're getting what you pay for. 

Animal Whey is a recent addition to the Universal line up, and it looks great as it lists isolate as a first in the list.

All the flavors are pretty awesome, but really that's not why it's listed here.

Every scoop provides 25 grams of protein, 125 calories, 1 to 1.5 grams of fat and 3-4 carbs (2-3g of fiber)​. 

Though the blend is basic looking, it's still remains at the top of best protein powders.

The blend features 2 types of protein, whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate. ​

Every gram of this protein is 100% pure whey isolate, and it's made straight from grass fed cows. 

You'd be surprised at the things that cows can eat other than grass but this is promised to be hormone-free.

​This is one of the few protein powders that use stevia for flavoring, doesn't contain any artificial flavors, coloring, gluten, and preservatives.

If there was ever an "organic" supplement store, this would be one of the first supplements to be stocked, because it's very organic. ​

Like yourself, I'm not surprised.

You've undoubtedly seen this as the number one recommended protein and rightfully so. 

Optimum Nutrition has made it's mark in being the number 1 protein powder in the whey category. 

The reason for that is because it contains super high quality protein sources (whey isolate, and lists it first in the protein)

And being one of the most popular whey protein powders, there's almost always deals on this supplement. Whether it be clearences, BOGO's or whatever else you can imagine. 

​It's also one of few protein powders that is lower in carbs and fats. 

Every scoop has 24 grams of protein, 120 calories, 1 gram of fat (.5g of saturated fat) 3 grams of carbs (1g of sugar).

And of course, like any other protein powder, it has naturally occuring BCAA's (5.5g) and it also has 4 grams of glutamine ​to help with recovery and muscle growth.

So if you've got your multivitamins and creatine, then all you need is a protein powder like this one.​

Final Words

Protein powders are not the solution to gains. 

Supplements are just that, supplements.

Whether you're looking to use these in shakes or ​you're looking for convenience, real food will always be the best option for full optimum health and results.