Top 12 Best Protein Powders For Muscle Gain That Really Work

We're about to reveal the 12 best protein powders for muscle gain, so you can avoid wasting money and get right to the gains.

Top 12 Best Protein Powders For Muscle Gains

We have spent months testing dozens and dozens of protein powders we could get our hands on to see how we liked them. Naturally, our favorites found their way onto our list.

Throughout the testing phase, we considered the effectiveness, formula, taste, price, value, safety, and much more to ensure we recommend only the best.

Are you ready to get those gains with the best protein powders for muscle gain? Let's kick the list off with our all-time favorite.

#1 Huge Supplements Whey

SHOP HUGE WHEY PROTEIN

Serving size: 1 scoop (30.8g)

Servings per container: 30

We said it was our all-time favorite, and we meant it. It doesn't get better than Huge Whey!

Every scoop packs up to 25g of protein, thanks to the manufacturer's use of the highest-quality concentrate. For everything it has to offer, it definitely the best protein powder for muscle gain out there.

But it isn't just effective; it's also ridiculously tasty! A protein powder you can genuinely enjoy? What more could you possibly ask for?

Our number one pick comes in six seriously delicious flavors:

• Cookie and Cream

• Fruity Cereal

Hundreds of users back up its quality and muscle-building effectiveness. So, use it with complete confidence that it isn't just us who rave about it.

For an insanely effective muscle-gaining protein powder that won't break the bank while exceeding standards, Huge Whey is your perfect match. You'll easily hit your macros every single day. By clicking here, you’ll be taken to the official product page on the Huge Supplements website.

#2 Huge Supplements Vegan Protein

SHOP HUGE VEGAN PROTEIN

Serving size: 1 scoop (30g)

Servings per container: 25

We know some of you are looking for a plant-based, vegan protein powder that still allows you to get the gains you're striving for. So, don't worry; we've got your back.

Huge Vegan Protein is the best option for those of you who follow a plant-based diet. It slams a whopping 20g of protein per scoop, which is something you certainly don't see every day.

The genius formulators at Huge Supplements took protein from four different sources — rice, fava bean, mung bean, and pea — to ensure it offers you a complete protein profile with all the amino acids your body craves.

That's right; it's unarguably the best vegan protein powder for muscle gain on the market. It'll help you build quality muscle without risking your plant-based diet.

Oh, and you can pick from five super tasty flavors:

• Birthday Cake

• Cinnamon Crunch

If you don't want your gains to come from animal-based products, Huge Vegan Protein is your new best friend.

#3 Gold Standard Whey Protein

SHOP GOLD STANDARD WHEY

Serving size: 1 scoop (30.4g)

Servings per container: 74

Gold Standard Whey Protein is created by Optimum Nutrition, a brand that has been involved in the nutrition industry since 1986.

It's a self-proclaimed post-workout nutritional supplement that will help you unlock your full potential and gain muscle — and we'd have to agree with the statement.

If you like to focus on high-intensity endurance or strength training, you'll no doubt love ON's whey protein, as it contains both isolates, concentrates, and peptides.

Gold Standard Whey Protein comes in an incredible range of flavors, including:

• Banana Cream

• Chocolate Peanut Butter

• Extreme Milk Chocolate

In all honesty, it was the range of flavors that attracted us initially. And we were pleasantly surprised to find that the majority of them tasted as good as they sounded.

Plus, they work well with either water or milk (although, we prefer milk).

#4 Klean Isolate

SHOP KLEAN ISOLATE

Serving size: 1 scoop (22.3g)

Servings per container: 20

The brand name is pretty on point — the formula of this isolate is one of the cleanest going. It's created without gluten, wheat, artificial flavorings, sweeteners, or colorings. Not to mention it's GMO-free (as all Klean Athlete products are).

The protein powder is crafted with the ethos that the most important training facility we have is the planet. Therefore, the brand takes sustainability and environmental responsibility very seriously.

While some gym-goers are nervous about all-natural formulas, you can rest easy knowing this one mixes smoothly with water or milk and tastes amazing.

That said, as far as flavor options go, Klean Isolate is somewhat lacking. You can only choose from three — Vanilla, Chocolate, and Unflavored. Not the most outstanding selection, but still a selection nonetheless.

It's on the pricier side of things, too, so we wouldn't recommend it to those on a super-tight budget. However, we think the sticker value is justified when you consider the clean formula, mixability, and taste.

#5 Nitro Tech Whey

SHOP NITRO TECH PROTEIN

Serving size: 1 scoop (45g)

Servings per container: 40

Nitro Tech Whey Protein is crafted by MuscleTech, a leading manufacturer of sports supplements. They create everything from mass gainers to pre-workouts to the whey protein we're looking at today.

As one of their advanced formulas, Nitro Tech Whey claims to deliver astounding mass and strength results, alongside speeding up workout recovery and even enhancing performance. That's quite the list for a humble protein powder!

Perhaps the most standout aspect of it is the high content of glutamine and creatine. Each scoop (one serving) provides 5.3g of glutamine and 3g of creatine monohydrate. This isn't often seen in the protein powder world and can help you pack on muscle mass without fat.

That said, it's worth keeping in mind that it does contain some artificial flavors and sweeteners, which would go against many people's clean diets.

You can pick from the following five (fairly standard) flavors:

• Chocolate

• Vanilla

They’re all very delicious, so try them out for yourself!

#6 Ghost Whey

SHOP GHOST WHEY

Serving size: 1 rounded scoop (39g)

Servings per container: 26

Ghost Whey protein has seriously broken the mold when it comes to packaging. It's certainly going to pop off your shelves with bright colors and graffiti-esque branding.

But they aren't all bark and no bite! The brand has dreams of becoming the first "lifestyle sports nutrition brand," sponsoring athletes, DJs, and entrepreneurs alike.

Each scoop contains around 15g of protein, 4g of carbs, 2g of sugars, and 130 calories. On top of the macros, you can expect 10% of your daily calcium intake and 6% of your iron.

The ingredients list is pretty short, repping the clean formula Ghost always wanted. We appreciate that they disclose the exact amount of each type of whey too.

Like their packaging, Ghost Whey powder comes in creative flavors, such as:

• Cereal Milk

• Oreo

As you can see, there a lot of unique flavors to choose from. Pick your favorite and give it a shot.

#7 GNC Pro Performance Whey

SHOP GNC WHEY

Serving size: 1 scoop (34g)

Servings per container: 25

GNC Pro Performance Whey has a pretty solid combination of micro and macronutrients. However, we wouldn't say it goes above and beyond to provide them. Instead, it's a pretty run-of-the-mill formula, landing itself on par with its competitors.

The ingredients list isn't particularly shocking. Although, we were somewhat surprised to find more acesulfame potassium in it than sucralose. The former tends to be the last ingredient on protein powder lists.

The price point is one of the lowest you'll come across. But, we can put that down to the addition of artificial sweeteners that some people are wary about.

GNC Pro Performance Whey comes in eight delicious flavors:

• Peanut Butter

• Cookies and Cream

And when it comes to mixability, you can expect it to dissolve quickly in both milk and water. However, you'll want to stick to water for the smoothest result.

#8 Muscle Feast Isolate

SHOP MUSCLE FEAST ISOLATE

Serving size: 1 scoop (24g)

Servings per container: 94

Muscle Feast is an Ohio-based brand that sells a range of different proteins, such as hydrolyzed whey and an oat blend. Their isolate is particularly promising and great for muscle gains, regardless of the type of diet you're on.

Each scoop contains 99 calories, 24g of protein, 1.2g of carbs, and 0.5g of fat. By weight, it's almost 90% protein, but that's to be expected from an isolate powder.

On the side of the tub, you'll find the weight of each individual amino acid per serving. While beginners may not pay close attention to that fact, bodybuilders will appreciate it.

The formula is pretty clean. You won't find soy, artificial sweeteners, or digestive enzymes. That may be good for you but not for those who find digesting protein tricky!

Muscle Feast Isolate comes in six flavors:

• Chocolate

• Unflavored

#9 Body Fortress Whey Protein

SHOP BODY FORTRESS WHEY

Serving size: 1 scoop (45g)

Servings per container: 18

If you're on a tight budget, Body Fortress Whey Protein is the one for you. It'll undoubtedly help you bulk up, thanks to the 30g of protein and 200 calories per serving. It's a great way to ingest those calories without adding in all the fat and sugar often found in mass gainers.

The formula is workable, and you get a lot of bang for your buck with this one. The macronutrient content is good enough and the ingredients list is reliably short.

That said, the flavors aren't as mind-blowing as some of the others on our list, but you still get to pick from these five:

• Vanilla

• Cookies and Cream

#10 Dymatize ISO100 Whey

SHOP DYMATIZE ISO100

Serving size: 1 scoop (30g)

Servings per container: 71

Dymatize ISO 100 Whey is a hydrolyzed product, meaning it has the lowest fat and calorie content of whey. Plus, it's been processed through enzymes that allow your body to digest it much faster than standard isolate powders.

One scoop offers 120 calories, 25g of protein, 2g of carbs, and 0.5g of fat. Unlike others on this list, it's a little bit salty, containing 7% of your recommended daily sodium intake per serving.

You have ten flavor options with this protein powder for muscle gain:

• Banana

• Cookies and Cream

Regardless of the flavor you choose, you can count on it mixing very well.

#11 Kaged Muscle Isolate

SHOP KAGED ISOLATE

Serving size: 1 scoop (30.8g)

Servings per container: 45

Every scoop of Kaged Muscle Isolate powder provides 25g of protein, 110 calories, 0.5g of fat, and 2g of carbs, ensuring it fits into most dietary plans. And for the price, we'd say that's a pretty good deal!

You won't struggle to digest this protein, thanks to the high-quality ingredients used.

Kaged Muscle Isolate comes in these five flavors:

• Cinnamon French Toast

• Vanilla

The ingredient profile is similar across all flavors. However, the sugar content changes slightly, so that's something to keep an eye on.

#12 Insane Whey

SHOP INSANE WHEY

Serving size: 1 scoop

Servings per container: 60

Insane Whey by Insane Labz contains 25g of protein per serving and provides a solid amino acid profile. Alongside that, you'll receive 130 calories and 2g of fat per scoop.

The mixability is fantastic, and the powder is WADA-approved, making it perfect for professional or college athletes. It an excellent product to finish off our list of best protein powders for muscle gain.

You get five flavors to pick from with Insane Labz's Insane Whey for lean muscle building:

• Chocolate

• Vanilla

Best Protein Powder for Muscle Gain Ranking Criteria

There aren't any randomly selected products for us! We've put each of the products above through the wringer.

To land a spot on our top 12 best protein powders for muscle gain, they had to rank highly in each of the six factors below:

Protein Type

As we're sure you know, there are countless different types of proteins — whey, casein, egg, pea, hemp, mixed plant, and brown rice. And some are more effective for muscle gain than others.

You'll notice that whey protein is the most common type found on this list, as it's widely considered the best for packing on muscle mass.

However, each protein type comes in these three main forms, which also dictate effectiveness:

• Protein concentrates — These powders are produced by taking the protein from whole foods using acid or enzymes and heat. Normally, you'll get between 60% and 80% protein, with the remaining 20% to 40% comprising carbs and fat.

• Protein isolates — These powders go through an additional filtering phase, removing more carbs and fats to provide as much protein as possible. Typically, isolate protein powders contain between 90% and 95% protein.

Concentrates tend to be the most cost-effective and popular option for muscle gain. However, some people are willing to spend the extra bucks on isolates for low-carb diets and purer protein.

Protein Content

The amount of protein per serving is a key metric. While that might go without saying, we paid close attention to the labels of all our recommendations to ensure we only supplied you with the highest per-scoop protein content.

As you may have just learned, isolates tend to have the most protein in their powders. Although, they are more expensive. So, the majority of our list is filled with the highest-quality concentrates, allowing you to get fantastic gains at a fraction of the price.

For instance, our top pick, Huge Whey, provides a massive 25g of protein per scoop (30g) serving without being overly expensive. The brains behind the powder worked tirelessly to ensure a perfect blend of concentrate and isolate to keep costs down but protein content high.

Taste and Flavors

Granted, taste doesn't play a part in how well the protein powder helps you build muscle. However, it's certainly a key metric in consistency — if you don't like the taste, you're less likely to use it every day, which will impact your gains.

Since everybody has different flavor preferences, we wanted to ensure our recommendations came with a ton of options. While there are a few exceptions, the majority of the 12 best protein powders for muscle gain have at least four delicious flavors to choose from. The crazier the flavor, the better, in our opinion!

Product Reviews

Naturally, we want to love the product. If we didn't, it wouldn't have made it onto our list! However, we don't want to be the only ones who love it. Otherwise, it might be a fluke.

Therefore, we looked at a range of reviews from various trusted sources to establish what the wider fitness community has to say about each one.

You can rest easy knowing that every single protein powder on our list is tried and tested by not just us but by gym-goers and other bodybuilders who loved it enough to write a review or leave a rating.

Pricing and Value

There's a cost of living crisis as we type. And while you get what you pay for in many instances, that isn't always the case for protein powders.

Sometimes, manufacturers bump up the price due to the various additives and other unnecessary bulk added to the powder. So, we ensured that only those which offer true value found a spot on our top 12 list. Each one offers incredible value for money.

On top of that, you can often find them on sale, allowing you to save even more money while getting the gains you deserve.

Safety

We take safety very seriously here. After all, we want those all-natural, healthy muscle gains for wellness, aesthetics, and strength.

So, you can rest easy knowing each of the 12 protein powders for muscle gain we have recommended is safe, free from nasty additives, and has a pure, clean formula.

But what do we mean by a "clean" formula?

Put simply, clean protein powders have the least amount of ingredients possible and don't use fillers or foreign additives.

Note: The flavor you choose can impact the formula and whether it's deemed "clean." Certain flavors utilize additives to provide the desired taste.

How to Use Protein Powder for Muscle Gain

Using protein powder for muscle gain is amazingly easy — all you have to do is make a shake.

Depending on the amount of protein you want to ingest, put two to three scoops (or 50g to 75g) of protein powder into a shaker, add milk or water, shake vigorously, and enjoy! That's all there is to it.

Of course, you can get a little creative with your shakes if you feel like it. Add flax seed, berries, or anything else your heart desires into a blender and create your own healthy, muscle-gaining concoction.

You can drink one per day or split your scoops in half and enjoy two shakes a day. It's up to you and your training regime.

If you workout consistently, it also a good idea to stack your protein powder with one of the best pre workouts for men.

Conclusion: Best Protein Powders for Muscle Gain

Protein powders can help you along your muscle-gaining journey. As long as you stick to the products we've tried and tested, you are bound to notice just how effective protein powders are!

But if you're looking for the best protein powder for muscle gain, you can't go wrong with Huge Supplements Whey Protein. At a jaw-droppingly low price point and a huge amount of protein per serving, you simply couldn't ask for more.

And if you only eat plant-based? Huge Vegan Protein should be your go-to. It takes the protein from four sources (mung beans, fava beans, peas, and rice), putting it way ahead of any other plant-based protein on the market.

Disclaimer: The above is a sponsored post, the views expressed are those of the sponsor/author and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial.