What Is Whey Protein?
Milk contains two main types of protein: whey and casein. Whey protein is a mixture of proteins found in the watery portion of milk and is considered a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids.
The body can’t produce these amino acids, which is why a well-rounded diet, or supplement, is so important for muscle gain.
Whey protein generally contains low levels of fat and carbohydrates (lactose) which helps to minimise gut distress. Research has also shown it can play a pivotal role in weight loss.
What To Consider
Finding the right whey protein powder for you is dependent on a range of factors, including budget, ingredients, macronutrients, mixability and flavour. But with so many on the market, it’s easy to feel lost down the sports nutrition aisle. Heres a few things worth knowing before you hit the shelves.
Types of Whey
There are three main types of whey protein: concentrate, isolate and hydrolysate. The best whey protein powders will often consist of a blend of all three. The one you opt for will depend on how well your stomach digests dairy, whether you want a delayed or quick-absorbing protein, and whether you require extra calories and fat content from your shake.
Whey Protein Concentrate
Whey protein concentrate is the least processed and therefore the cheapest form of whey. It has 80% protein content, with the remainder made up of fats and lactose. This means it contains less protein by weight than whey isolate and whey hydrolysate, but it also retains more nutrients than these more heavily processed versions as a result. The extra fat content also means whey concentrate releases its proteins more slowly, as it takes longer for the stomach to digest, which can help to prolong satiation.
Whey Protein Isolate
Whey isolate goes through an additional filtration process that makes its easier to for your body to digest and absorb. Most of the fat and carbohydrate content gets removed during this extra processing stage, giving whey isolate a higher protein percentage by weight than whey concentrate (90-95%). Because of this, it’s also generally more suitable for people with an intolerance to lactose.
Whey Protein Hydrolysate
‘Hydro whey’ to some, whey protein hydrolysate is a pre-digested form of whey protein that has been put through the process of hydrolysis, which makes it easier and therefore quicker for the body to absorb. This form of whey therefore appeals to those wanting to maximise muscle growth as the amino acids are available for the body to use for muscle repair more quickly post-workout.
Certification
If you’re a drug-tested athlete, or a fitness enthusiast wanting to ensure the supplements they take have been independently batch-tested for banned substances, look for products that adorn an Informed Choice or Informed Sport label.
Both of these certifications indicate when a sports supplement has been tested for prohibited substances and manufactured to high-quality standards. The key difference between the two is the frequency of testing. Informed Sport tests every batch before a product is sold, whereas Informed Choice regularly tests products on a monthly blind testing schedule.
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How We Test
As part of our 2024 Sports Nutrition Awards and 2025 Sports Nutrition Awards, we recruited a panel of sports and diet nutritionists – including Rob Hobson, Tai Ibitoye, Lee Amico and Dr Sinead Roberts – to help us judge a variety of whey protein powders from popular brands. They got to work assessing each product based on the quality of its ingredients, nutritional make-up and formulation. Judging was extremely stringent and only the ones that impressed our experts achieved a pass mark and were put forward for further testing.
Back at Men’s Health HQ, our panel of editors and in-house nutritionists rated each of the contenders on flavour, texture, aroma and ease of use. To keep things fair, packaging was blinded, and everything was prepared according to packet instructions. The feedback and ratings were then analysed, and final scores were awarded. You’ll find our winning protein powders below alongside their Sports Nutrition Award logos.
Best Overall
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein
Made up of a blend of whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate and hydrolysed whey protein isolate, On’s Gold Standard Whey Protein offers a more cost-effective alternative to buying pure whey protein isolate powder, without compromising on quality. It offers 24g of protein per serving to fuel muscle growth, plus 5.5g of naturally occurring BCAAs to reduce fatigue post-workout. Low in fat, sugar and carbs, it’s ideal if you’re watching your macros.
Chocolate is a stacked flavour category, but our Optimum Nutrition winner stands out from the crowd for its ‘heavenly’ natural cocoa flavour and ‘impeccable’ creamy consistency. It scored highly for mixability and, unlike many of the choc powders we’ve tried, it wasn’t overly sweet and there was no chalky aftertaste.
If you’re looking for a dairy-free alternative, we named ON’s Clear Protein 100% Plant Protein Isolate ‘best clear vegan protein’ in our 2025 awards. It blends easily and packs 20g of protein and 3.6g of BCAAs per scoop.
Per Serving
| Protein | 24g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 116 |
| Protein Blend | Concentrate, isolate, hydrolysate |
| Informed Certified? | Yes – Informed Sport |
| Other Flavours | 13, including unflavoured |
Best Diet Whey Protein
PhD Nutrition Diet Whey
This whey and soya-based blend offers a good mix of protein and fat-burning ingredients. Each serving provides 17g of protein, 91 calories and 1.4g of fat. It also contains L-carnitine – a chemical that helps the body turn fat into energy – and green tea extract, an antioxidant that can aid weight loss. There’s 7mg of caffeine per serving too, which will help kickstart those morning workouts. (Maybe avoid it post-workout later in the day if you struggle to get to sleep.)
Our panel enjoyed the pronounced vanilla and chocolate flavour and the thick, creamy texture. With bold, resealable and recyclable packaging, this one impressed from the outside in.
Per Serving
| Protein | 20g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 123 |
| Protein Blend | Whey concentrate, Soya protein isolate |
| Informed Certified? | No |
| Other Flavours | Vanilla Cream, Banana, Caramelised Biscuit, Strawberry, Peaches and Yoghurt, Salted Caramel |
Best New Whey Protein Powder
Marchon Whey Protein
From former Men’s Health cover star Ollie Marchon, this brand new entry contains 24g of protein per serving, with minimal carbs and fats. The protein blend includes whey concentrate, isolate and hydrolysate, and it has a solid amino acid profile, containing 2.4g of leucine, 1.3g of isoleucine and 1.2g of valine per scoop – all crucial for supporting protein synthesis and muscle growth.
It mixed well with both water and milk (we’re especially keen on the Salted Caramel flavour) and well deserves its place in our 2025 Sports Nutrition Awards line-up. Flavour-wise, you can pick this powder up in all the typical varieties: Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, and a surprise hit, Sweet and Salty Peanut Butter.
For a protein boost when you’re away from home, you can pick up individual 30g sachets to save on carry-on space. If you’re vegan, Marchon also makes a plant-based version. Like the Marchon Whey, the Marchon 100% Plant Protein also has a solid amino acid profile, featuring a plant-based protein blend containing pea protein isolate, brown rice protein isolate, and faba bean protein concentrate.
Per Serving
| Protein | 24g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 118 |
| Protein Blend | Concentrate, isolate, hydrolysate |
| Informed Certified? | No |
| Other Flavours | Salted caramel, Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry |
Best Clear Whey Protein
Myprotein Clear Whey Protein Powder
High in protein (20g per serving), low in calories (under 90 kcal) and with minimal sugar, Myprotein’s Clear Whey has the perfect nutrition profile for growing muscle and for when you are cutting to achieve a leaner physique.
This easy-drinker is perfectly palatable at any time of day. We like the Peach Tea flavour but there are more than 15 fruity flavours to choose from. Our panel tested the cranberry and raspberry flavour, which they described as ‘refreshing’ and ‘fruity’, but you can also choose from options such as strawberry kiwi, pineapple and orange – making a change from the usual quadruple-chocolate-peanut-butter-twist variations that line the shake shelves. For the truly sweet-averse (we know you’re out there), the Bitter Lemon flavour is a game-changer.
Per Serving
| Protein | 20g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 85 |
| Protein Blend | Hydrolysed whey protein isolate |
| Informed Certified? | Yes – Informed Choice |
| Other Flavours | 20 |
Best Added Benefits
Protein Works Whey Protein 360 Extreme
Not your bog-standard shake, one scoop of this quality whey and soy blend is loaded with 25g of the good stuff, a slew of vitamins including D3, B12 and calcium, plus L-glutamine to aid recovery and digestive enzymes to improve nutrient absorption and reduce the chance of bloating.
Health-boosting ingredients aside, the moreish flavours went down a treat with our panel, who couldn’t get enough of the crunchy biscuit pieces and thick, milkshake-like texture.
Per Serving
| Protein | 26g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 132 |
| Protein Blend | Concentrate, Isolate |
| Informed Certified? | No |
| Other Flavours | 12 |
Best Value Protein Powder
Myprotein Impact Whey
It’s hard to find fault with this classic whey powder from Myprotein. It mixes well, comes in a wide range of flavour choices and contains 5g of BCAAs to aid recovery too.
On the taste front, we’ve yet to try them all, but can vouch for chocolate brownie, banana, vanilla and the particularly delicious milk tea. The more dessert-esque flavours (we’re looking at you, cinnamon danish), were a little sweet for us, but you can’t go wrong with the classic flavours.
The powder is easy to add to porridge or baking (if you haven’t tried protein flapjacks yet, get to know) and has yet to clump in any of our shakers. Plus it’s often on offer, making it excellent value for money.
Per Serving
| Protein | 22g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 114 |
| Protein Blend | Concentrate |
| Informed Certified? | Yes – Informed Choice |
| Other Flavours | 18, including unflavoured |
Best Allergen-free Whey Protein
Innermost The Strong Protein
While most blends contain around 20g of protein per serving, Innermost has gone that extra mile and packed a very generous 34g into each recommended 40g serving, while also adding 3g of creatine of creatine monohydrate.
This is made up of a mix of whey-based and slow-release casein proteins, which both help to boost muscle growth and repair. As an extra bonus, Innermost has also sprinkled in some creatine to help increase lean muscle mass production and reduce recovery time.
This powder is also vegetarian, halal, soy and gluten-free, free from most major allergens and suitable for kosher diets. Our panel found it slightly on the watery side, but overall, a nice tasting option for supporting muscle growth.
Per Serving
| Protein | 34g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 147 |
| Protein Blend | Whey and casein |
| Informed Certified? | No |
| Other Flavours | Smooth Chocolate, Summer Strawberry |
Best for Supporting Weight Loss
Innermost The Lean Protein
From The Strong to The Lean. This one also aims to support muscle growth and recovery but is designed to help you lean down at the same time, alongside a balanced diet and solid workout routine. Each serving contains a healthy 31g of protein, as well as inulin – a prebiotic fibre linked to lower levels of fat – and acetyl L-carnitine, an amino acid necessary for transporting fat to the body’s power-generating cells.
Like The Strong, its consistency was on the thinner side – our experts recommended mixing it with a milk of your choice for a better drinking experience, but noted you’ll need to account for the additional calories if weight loss is your goal.
Per Serving
| Protein | 31g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 148 |
| Protein Blend | Not specified |
| Informed Certified? | No |
| Other Flavours | Smooth Chocolate, Summer Strawberry |
Best for Gym Novices
Maxi Nutrition MaxWhey Protein Powder
A fantastic no-frills whey powder from Maximuscle. The inclusion of BCAAs helps build muscle more efficiently than leucine on its own, while the packaging has clear and simple guidelines making this powder perfect for first-timers. The chocolate taste is sweet without being cloying, but benefits from mixing with milk instead of the suggested water.
A solid protein count, and a great taste makes this product a solid first-time buy without restricting itself to gym newbies. A quality powder ideal for general use.
Per Serving
| Protein | 22.5g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 112 |
| Protein Blend | Concentrate, isolate |
| Informed Certified? | Previously certified – not found |
| Other Flavours | Strawberry, Vanilla, Banoffee |
Best Choice of Flavours
Bulk Pure Whey Protein
Looking for a low sugar shake? At less than 1.5g per serving, alongside a whopping 80% whey protein, this Bulk option is a no-brainer for those chasing gains minus the sweet tooth.
It also comes in one of the widest flavour ranges we’ve ever seen, including iced latte — game changer. It mixes excellently with water too, ideal if you don’t fancy a milkshake-esque drink mid-set, and contains all your essential amino acids, plus an impressive 5g BCAAs.
Fancy flavours aside, this is genuinely one of the best vanilla shakes out there — not too sweet, no chalky taste — and we reckon there’s something to be said for mastering the basics.
Per Serving
| Protein | 23g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | <120 |
| Protein Blend | Concentrate |
| Informed Certified? | No |
| Other Flavours | 15 |
Best All-Rounder
Hermosa Grass-Fed Whey Protein Powder
Created by the team behind the Barry’s UK fitness studios, this protein powder is made using milk sourced from grass-fed cows in the Lake District and is flavoured with the natural stevia sweetener, plus cocoa or vanilla, according to your taste (our testers loved the former). Each 125-calorie serving provides about 2og of protein, but what really commends this blend is its creamy consistency and easy mixability, with none of the sandy residue that some other shakes leave behind.
Just in case Hermosa’s boss packaging alone doesn’t convince you to take it home, the Cadbury Dairy Milk-esque chocolate flavour certainly will. Our former champ is brimming with essential amino acids to help improve performance. First-timers will also appreciate the included scoop and easy-to-follow instructions.
Per Serving
| Protein | 21g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 125 |
| Protein Blend | Concentrate |
| Informed Certified? | No |
| Other Flavours | Vanilla |
How Much Protein Do I Need?
Your age, goals and weight are just a few factors that will determine how much protein you need to build muscle. Not sure how much is enough? Our complete guide to protein will help.
It’s worth noting here, however, that the majority of your protein intake, and macronutrients in general, should come from your diet. Supplements are there to do just that: supplement. Real foods contain more nutrients, fibre and minerals and are far easier to digest.
When To Drink A Protein Shake
The theory used to be that your muscles’ ability to absorb nutrients is at its strongest in the hour immediately after your gym session. But, according to our expert, there’s no magic window, and consuming protein at any point after a workout will be helpful.
‘There was some research in the early 2000s that showed muscle protein synthesis – the mechanism by which you build mass – was stimulated by consuming whey protein within an hour of finishing a workout,’ explains sports dietitian Rick Miller. ‘But the benefits scientists found were so small that they would barely be noticeable over a 10-year period.
‘Following a tough session, the rate of protein synthesis will remain raised for 24 hours,’ he adds. ‘During that time, your body will be sensitised to protein and will automatically build muscle.’
Why Trust Us?
At Men’s Health, we’re dedicated to discovering and recommending the best sports supplements and products for men via hands-on testing and in-depth research. Aside from constantly updating and adding to our ever-growing nutrition section, Men’s Health also dedicates an annual Sports Nutrition Awards package where we break down the best products for men — ranging everywhere from protein powder to energy drinks.
Priyankaa is our sleep and wellness expert, specialising in expert-tested reviews and roundups on the latest health and fitness products. From walking boots to running machines, Priyankaa has written about hundreds of products and is passionate about providing in-depth, unbiased reviews. Plus, as an avid runner and gymgoer, she knows exactly what to look for when finding the right gymwear, fitness tracker or earphones.
Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges. She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more. Outside of work, Priyankaa can usually be found trying out a new gym class, seeking out London’s best eats or watching a Spanish TV show in a bid to keep up her language skills.
Luke Chamberlain is the ecommerce editor for Men’s Health UK where he compiles expert-led buying guides and in-depth product reviews across gym wear, fitness tech, supplements, and grooming. Responsible for testing everything from the latest gym headphones to the best manscaping tools, Luke also enlists the help of leading health and wellness experts to help readers make informed choices when shopping online – whether it’s to debunk the latest viral hair growth trend or to get the lowdown on a new type of recovery tech. He also covers major sales events for Men’s Health, such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day, scouting and verifying hundreds of discounts in order to recommend only the most genuine deals on offer. A magazine journalism graduate from the University of Sheffield in 2018, Luke has also worked as assistant editor for Outdoor Swimmer magazine and as an ecommerce writer for The Recommended. When he’s not testing the latest health and fitness products, he’s busy plotting routes for his next trail run or gravel ride out of London. Follow Luke on Instagram at @lukeochamb
The editors of Men’s Health are your personal conduit to the top experts in the world on all things important to men: health, fitness, style, sex, and more.
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