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You don't need supplements, but good ones can help you achieve your fitness and health goals. This is where protein powder, one of the most popular supplements for muscle building, weight loss, and improved athletic performance, comes in.

Protein powder not only helps you ingest more protein, making it easier to gain muscle, but it could also make the weight loss process more effortless because you can consume more protein in fewer calories. If it isn't already, protein powder should be one of your go-to supplements this year.

To help you make the best choice, we've outlined the 15 best protein powders for muscle gains in the market. Of course, it's not as simple as choosing from one of these 15. Knowing this fact, we've also explained other nuances and factors that should go into choosing the best protein powder for your fitness goals. Continue reading to find out!

What's the Best Protein Powder to Gain Muscle?

The best protein powder for muscle gain would depend on your taste, dietary preferences, and how your body responds to food. For example, people with dairy allergies or peanut allergies should not consume protein powder that contains any of these substances.

Additionally, if you like the taste of your protein powder, you're more likely to be consistent with your dietary supplementation. So, when choosing the best protein powder, you should also factor in your taste, as this would foster consistency. Below, we've laid out the best market options grouped according to dietary preferences and taste.

Which Protein is Best For Muscle Gain For Beginners?

Because of newbie gains, you're likely to gain a lot of muscle as a beginner. However, research has shown that protein supplementation can help you gain even more muscle if you're just starting out.

One study divided beginners into two groups, giving one group protein supplements and giving the other group a placebo substance. The study found that the beginners who got the supplements were bigger and stronger at the end of 21 weeks.

So, as a beginner, you should definitely take protein powder. Using the supplement after your workout is advisable because it instigates muscle protein synthesis, the process through which our muscles are repaired after a workout. Whey protein concentrate and isolate are particularly beneficial in this case because they absorb quickly and begin muscle protein synthesis faster.

Additionally, whey protein is animal-based, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids. The human body cannot produce these amino acids and must obtain them through nutrition. That's why beginners should opt for protein powders with a complete amino acid profile.

What Protein Do Most Bodybuilders Use?

Most bodybuilders use protein that fits their dietary needs and taste preferences. For one, bodybuilders are trying to gain a lot of muscle while gaining minimal fat. So, one important consideration for them is that their protein powder is not calorie-dense. They want as much protein as they can get but within fewer calories to avoid fat gain.

Additionally, bodybuilders are looking for protein that is made in the most ethical, natural way possible. Many bodybuilders are trying to promote their gut and overall health while using supplements, so they avoid proteins with too many artificial ingredients, such as additives and sweeteners.

Lastly, bodybuilders understand that they have to like their protein's taste if they'll stay consistent with supplementation. So, they opt for flavors and brands that they like. Also, some bodybuilders eat a plant-based diet, so they use plant-based protein powders. All these factors would inform a bodybuilder's protein powder choice.

15 Best Protein Powders For Muscle Gain

Best Whey Protein Powder - Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey

This product tops the list for the best protein powder because it blends a fairly low-calorie serving with a high protein amount and great taste. With Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey (affiliate link), you get 24 grams of protein per 120-calorie scoop, and it tastes like hot chocolate.

Also gluten-free, this product has stood the test of time as a reliable whey protein supplement, having been an international bestseller for years. It is no wonder that fitness enthusiasts still prefer it to many brands.

Best Whey Isolate Protein Powder - Dymatize ISO100

Because Dymatize ISO100 (affiliate link) is hydrolyzed, it digests fast, fostering workout recovery and muscle growth. This product also contains branched-chain amino acids, which aid with muscle soreness. Per scoop of Dymatize ISO100, you get 25 grams of protein and 120 calories.

Best Vanilla Protein Powder - Isopure Zero Carb

We've included Isopure Zero Carb (affiliate link) to this list not just because of its great vanilla taste but also because of its low-carb feature, which makes this product perfect for weight loss. Each scoop promises 25 grams of protein at only 100 calories. So, you get all that protein and the creamy vanilla taste but without the extra calories. Great deal, no?

Best Casein Protein Powder - Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Casein Protein

Casein is the opposite of whey when it comes to digestion and absorption. It digests really slowly, making it apt for pre-bed consumption to foster recovery and other body processes during sleep.

Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Casein Protein (affiliate link) boasts not only of being made from naturally grown cows but also of being completely natural — no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Each scoop offers 28 grams of protein at 120 calories, which is great for casein protein.

Best Organic Protein Powder - Sunwarrior Warrior Blend

Sunwarrior Warrior Blend (affiliate link) mixes a vegan diet with optimal muscle growth. The plant-based protein powder sources protein from various plants to create a rich amino acid profile, including branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs).

The product comes in different flavors, which provide different amounts of protein per scoop. For example, the vanilla offers 17 grams, while the chocolate flavor offers 16. The unflavored type, on the other hand, has 19 grams. Regardless of flavor, Sunwarrior only contains 90 calories per scoop, making it ideal for people who are trying to lose weight.

Best Egg-White Protein - Now Sports Egg-White Protein

This unflavored protein powder makes our list for its natural ingredients and versatility. Like many egg white protein powders, it has a rich egg flavor (which may not appeal to you if you don't like eggs). However, this feature also makes it great for cooking and baking with protein powder.

Now Sports Egg White Protein (affiliate link) has 16 grams of protein per scoop. While this amount may seem low, each scoop only has 80 calories, so it's not out of place.

Best Gluten-Free Protein Powder - Thorne Whey Protein Isolate

Thorne Whey Protein (affiliate link) has all the benefits of whey protein isolate — the type of whey protein that has been further treated to remove excess fat and other non-protein ingredients. This makes for faster digestion and absorption, instigating muscle protein synthesis and a faster recovery.

Even better, with all these properties, this product is still gluten-free, making it our best pick for this category. Thorne Whey Protein isolate contains 21 grams and 100 calories per scoop, and it is available in vanilla or chocolate.

Best Vegan Protein Powder - PlantFusion Complete Protein

This protein powder is for vegans who want to pack on as much muscle as possible. Made from five different plants, it also contains BCAAs and glutamine to enhance recovery and strength during training.

PlantFusion Complete Protein (affiliate link) comes in various flavors, including red velvet, chocolate, vanilla, and cookies & cream. Each scoop promises 21 grams of protein and 120 calories, so you know it's stacked.

Best Grass-Fed Protein Powder - Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Protein

Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Protein (affiliate link) takes a route that most protein powder options don't — one scoop has 28 grams of protein and up to 150 calories. If you're looking to increase muscle and strength quickly and with natural ingredients, this may be just what you need.

Best Protein Powder for Fat Loss - MyProtein Impact Whey Protein

Promising 19 grams of protein and only 100 calories per scoop, Impact Whey Protein (affiliate link) presents a great opportunity for muscle gain and minimal fat gain. The product also comes in a bag, which might be easier to carry around than a tub or jar.

Best Rice Protein Powder - Naked Nutrition Naked Rice

Rice protein powder is one of the best options for vegetarians and vegans, and Naked Nutrition Naked Rice (affiliate link) presents a great option for muscle gain. It provides 25 grams of protein and 120 calories per scoop, which is impressive for rice protein. The product also boasts of being soy, gluten, GMO, flavors, sweeteners, and colors free.

Best Hemp Protein Powder - Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein Powder

Hemp is a great choice for people avoiding animal products, as it contains the nine essential amino acids, providing complete protein nutrition. Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein Powder (affiliate link) offers 100 percent hemp goodness with 15 grams of protein and 90 calories per scoop. It is also gluten-free and aligns perfectly with a keto diet.

Best Collagen Protein Powder - Momentous Collagen Peptides Powder with Protein

When comparing protein powder to collagen powder, it is evident that the former suits muscle growth goals better. However, if you are looking to benefit from the skin and joint health collagen provides and still get some protein supplementation for muscle growth, it hardly gets better than Momentous Collagen Peptides Powder (affiliate link).

With 15 grams of protein, 11.6 grams of collagen peptides, and 60 calories per serving, this product is an all-rounder, giving you the best of both worlds in one single pack.

Best Pea Protein Powder - Naked Nutrition Naked Pea

Naked Nutrition Naked Pea (affiliate link) offers a whopping 27 grams of protein in only 120 calories, even more protein than the company's Naked Rice above. Like with Naked Rice, Naked Nutrition asserts that Naked Pea is made with only one ingredient — yellow pea protein. According to these claims, it's free of any additional additives, and as you can already tell, it's great for fat loss.

Best Protein Powder for Smoothies - Gainful

Gainful makes unflavored protein powder and offers different flavor boosts. On the company's site, you can customize your order based on your taste and dietary preferences, as well as order multiple flavors and flavor boosts.

Gainful makes our list because of its focus on customization. This makes it easy to blend with fruits and other ingredients to turn your protein shake into your favorite drink. Depending on the mix, Gainful protein powders could have anywhere from 19 to 26 grams of protein per scoop.

Final Thoughts

Protein powder is a great way to ingest more protein and foster muscle growth. However, it cannot replace a natural, healthy diet and intense exercise. The biggest factors that affect muscle growth are resistance training intensity, sleep, and nutrition. If you get these basics right, protein powder is sure to augment your efforts and prime you for optimal gains.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the No. 1 protein powder?

There are many popular brands at the fore of the protein powder market today including Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate and Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey. If you're looking for a great protein powder brand, you can't go wrong with either of these.

If you prefer plant-based protein, PlantFusion Complete Protein and Naked Nutrition Naked Rice are great options.

What protein powder is good for bulk?

Any protein powder that has a substantial amount of protein per serving would be great for a bulk. DymatizeISO100 and Naked Nutrition Naked Pea are promising options.

What to drink to build muscle?

Protein shakes are effective supplements for building muscle. Mixing creatine in water and drinking protein-rich liquids like milk and yogurt will also help you gain muscle mass!

Does protein powder actually help build muscle?

Protein is an indispensable nutrient both for general health and muscle building. While you can build muscle by just eating protein-rich foods, protein powder helps you to up your protein intake, increasing your chances of muscle gain. So, protein powder does help build muscle.

This article has been reviewed by our editorial board and has been approved for publication in accordance with our editorial policy.

Main image credit: Tima Miroshnichenko / Pexels

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Apr 9 15 Protein Powders For the Best Muscle Gains