The best protein powders, tried and tested

To decide on the best protein powder for you, it helps to ask: what are protein powders for? Protein is a nutrient needed all over the body to help build, repair and maintain tissue. It is made up of chains of amino acids, nine of which are termed “essential” since your body can’t make them itself.

For a healthy body, the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) is 0.75g of protein per kg of bodyweight per day. If you don’t typically eat many animal-based sources, protein powders can help you hit that target.

We tested 20 of the top protein powders on the market, including whey and vegan protein powders. You can read our full reviews below, as well as answers to frequently asked questions such as which is the healthiest, the best for weight loss and the best for building muscle. If you’re looking for something to take before exercise, read our guide to the best pre-workout supplements.

The best protein powders: At a glance

How to choose the best protein powder

Whey concentrate is the most common form and often the cheapest, according to Rachel Butcher, head of nutrition at Third Space. “It typically has low fat and cholesterol content but the protein levels can vary from 40 to 90 per cent depending on the brand,” she says. “If your goal is to build muscle, a whey concentrate with a higher protein content is probably the best to go for.”

Whey isolate is more refined and therefore more expensive. “Whey isolate is refined in a process that will remove the fat and the lactose from the compound,” says Butcher. “That makes it one of the leanest options, meaning it usually comprises of upwards of 90 per cent protein content.”

Whey hydrolysate is whey protein that’s been put through hydrolysis. “That is, the addition of water to allow for the protein to be broken down into its smaller building blocks,” Butcher explains. “This means it can be absorbed by the body much faster and at higher rates.” Needless to say, it’s on the costlier end of the scale.

Vegan protein powders are the fourth option. Pea, hemp, tofu and soy are popular sources of plant protein but there are plenty of other types like rice protein. “What’s key here isn’t just looking at the protein content, but the quality,” says Butcher. “You can tell that by looking at its essential amino acids – it’s ‘complete’ if it contains all nine. To achieve this, you’ll want a blend of at least two protein sources.”

How we test protein powders