The Best Protein Powder For Men in 2025 to Help Build Strength and Muscle Mass

Top-level athletes have to be mindful of the supplements they put into their bodies to avoid taking any banned substances. The safest precaution is to take third-party-tested supplements. Our pick for the best protein powder for male athletes—Sports Research Whey Protein Isolate—not only gets third-party testing done by Informed Sport, but it also comes packed with 25 grams of protein per serving.

That’ll help with building muscle, but registered dietitian Perry Nix adds, “Whey protein is already naturally high in the branched-chain amino acid leucine, known for its role in activating muscle protein synthesis. Sports Research went a step further and added 1,000 milligrams of extra leucine to promote greater muscle-building potential.”

It earns a 4.5 out of 5 for its formulation. Although the protein isolate is high in protein and low in carbohydrates and fats, the powder does use artificial ingredients, which is why it’s shy of a perfect rating.

Taste-wise, it’s good, and take my word for it; I tried out their Dutch Chocolate flavor. It reminds me of instant cocoa—almost like I should’ve been drinking my shake by a campfire with some s’mores. It absolutely gets a 5 out of 5 for taste from me. An added bonus is that it blends nicely with fruit for smoothies, too.

Straight out of the shaker cup, though, the protein was a little clumpy, even after some additional shaking. It earns a 3.5 out of 5 for solubility, which isn’t the worst. The part that did mix had a great texture and consistency…it may just take you a bit longer to mix than other protein powders. And at just over $1 per serving, I think it’s worth another minute of mixing.

With zero grams of fat, a minimal number of carbs, and 28 grams of protein in most flavors, Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate is an easy choice for those looking to build muscle or lose weight. 

As you can tell by its name, this protein supplement uses whey protein isolate, a type of protein that has had a majority of the lactose removed. This not only results in a low-carb, low-fat protein powder, but could also be safe for those who normally can’t stomach dairy products, as pointed out in this February 2023 study¹.

I grabbed the limited-edition Peppermint Hot Chocolate flavor of Transparent Labs’ whey protein and enjoyed it even when the weather didn’t call for hot cocoa. All you really need is a fireplace and a Christmas tree to complete the scene with this protein powder. As a nutrition coach and a certified personal trainer, I shared my full thoughts on this protein powder in my Transparent Labs protein review.

Transparent Labs has built a reputation for being…well, transparent with its ingredients and nutrition labels. There are only five ingredients in each container and the dairy is sourced from cows that are grass-fed, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free. That’s why it gets a 5 out of 5 for ingredients and formulation.

It’s free of artificial ingredients, fillers, dyes, or preservatives, though it’s not a great source of vitamins and minerals. You’ll want to make sure you’re getting those from other food sources or a multivitamin. 

Some people might experience digestive problems due to the stevia, but I and other customer reviewers barely noticed it when tasting this protein powder.

Legion Athletics’ dedication to an all-natural protein powder begins by sourcing their dairy from small Irish farms, which, as this June 2013 study³ points out, is associated with better milk quality. 

Furthermore, it has a Labdoor Tested for Purity certification to show that it’s been tested for heavy metals and other harmful substances, is safe for athletes, and has been tested for THC (the psychoactive compound in marijuana—and yes, some supplements may contain very small amounts of it). 

Legion has a Truly Grass-fed certification, which shows that the cows have a mostly grass-fed diet that leads to higher antioxidant content⁴ in the dairy they create. They’re also free of antibiotics, hormones, or other harmful substances.  

We awarded Legion Whey+ a 5 out of 5 on its formulation and third-party testing for these reasons—we’re big fans of transparent supplement companies.

This tastes like a clean protein powder, and the Cinnamon Cereal flavor reminds me of my youth. It tastes like Cinnamon Toast Crunch—specifically when you get to the bottom of the bowl when the cereal flavor really seeps into the milk. Pure nostalgia.

The nutritional content varies by flavor, but you can’t go wrong with any of the 17 choices Legion offers—you get anywhere from 22 to 24 grams of protein, 2 to 4 grams of carbs, and up to 5 grams of fat.

That last one is on the higher end of what we like to see in protein powders, but we wouldn’t worry about it too much so long as the rest of your diet has moderate amounts of fat. 

Check out my Legion Whey protein review.

It’s pretty tough to find a protein that’s under $1 per serving. However, Nutricost has made it happen. Their 5-pound tubs on Amazon are available at a price that gets the price per serving down to about $0.78. Wow.

It’s whey concentrate, so it’s not as pure as whey isolate—it’ll have a bit more fat typically—but this whey protein still has a whopping 25 grams of protein per serving. Perry Nix, MS, RD, adds, “Whey protein concentrate is a complete protein that contains all nine essential amino acids, including branched-chain amino acids, which are crucial for muscle growth.” Whey concentrate will help build your muscles just like whey isolate.

Kate Meier, GGR senior director of content and certified personal trainer, tried the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor. She gave the protein a 5 out of 5 for taste and solubility. Not a fan of peanut butter, she notes that the peanut flavor wasn’t overpowering. She also adds, “The protein mixes extremely well, even in a shaker cup.”

This budget-friendly protein comes in five flavors, including Unflavored. The unflavored protein receives the highest marks in formulation—a 5 out of 5. Although each flavor still has 25 grams of protein, all other flavors have artificial ingredients, earning them a 4 out of 5. If you’re avoiding artificial flavors and sweeteners, you might want to go with the unflavored whey protein concentrate.

A study in the Journal of Nutritional Science⁹ found that casein protein powder was digested much slower than whey protein powder, meaning it kept people fuller for longer. You’ll sometimes see casein in meal replacement powders for this very reason. Legion’s Casein+ protein powder was our favorite casein protein powder because it comes from grass-fed cows and has been tested for harmful and banned substances. 

Grass-fed dairy has more antioxidants than grain-fed dairy, but another reason to seek out these types of products is they have a better omega-3/omega-6 ratio. Both types of omega fatty acids are what are known as “good” fats, but you want more omega-3s in your diet than omega-6s. 

This February 2018 study¹⁰ found grass-fed dairy had a more optimal omega-3/omega-6 ratio than milk from grain-fed cows. Omega-3s have been linked with improved heart and joint health¹⁸, and may even help reduce the frequency of certain types of headaches. 

The Banana Cream Pie flavor tastes more like an underripe banana than a dessert, but it still tastes really good. Since trying it out, I’ve used it as my nighttime protein powder for quite some time now and I wake up still feeling full.

If you’ve never had casein protein powders before, just know they’re generally much thicker and take more time to blend than their whey counterparts. Mixing the Legion Casein+ was still easy, so I give it a 5 out of 5 for solubility (though I still recommend a shaker ball).

Check out our full Legion Casein+ review for more.

Ritual Essential Protein 18+ comes in at 115 calories per serving, which is at the lower end of the more than 75 protein powders we’ve tested. Plus, it has 20 grams of protein that, according to this May 2008 study,² can help you feel more full than carbs or fats. If you’re full, you’re less likely to eat more calories. As a result, you’ll have an easier time achieving a caloric deficit—when you burn more calories than you consume—which is crucial for weight loss.

Yes, it’s pea protein, and most of the time that can’t be considered a “complete” protein source because it’s low in the amino acid methionine. However, Ritual adds an extra helping of this amino acid to create a high-quality protein for weight loss.

The protein powder only comes in one flavor, vanilla, but weightlifting coach and GGR senior director of content Kate Meier says it’s a 4 out of 5 on taste and makes an excellent accompaniment to her morning smoothie. “It’s not super plant-y or hemp-y like some plant-based proteins are,” she says. “The taste is definitely detectable, but not overly strong.”

Read our Ritual Protein Powder Review for more information.

There’s no need to worry about the presence of antibiotics or steroids in the milk used to create Onnit Grass-Fed Whey Protein. Onnit sources its grass-fed dairy from New Zealand, which has some of the strictest dairy laws in the world⁷ that prevent cows from being exposed to antibiotics, pesticides, or hormones. 

Onnit Grass-Fed Whey Protein also bears the Informed-Sport certification, meaning it’s safe for athletes who want to ensure their supplements are free of any banned substances. The Informed-Sport certification process checks for more than 250 banned substances.

Former GGR senior fitness writer Amanda Capritto is a competitive triathlete who’s super-strict about her supplementation, and Onnit Grass-Fed Whey Protein is a win in her book. “The Mexican Chocolate actually tastes different from other chocolate protein powders, which I honestly wasn’t expecting,” Amanda says. “It’s rich when mixed with whole or oat milk.”

The use of whey protein isolate means it’s more easily digested than whey concentrate and may be safe for those with dairy sensitivities. Onnit takes it a step further by adding a digestive enzyme blend that, among other things, contains protease and papain. Both have been linked with improved gut health¹⁰. In fact, Amanda scored it a 5 out of 5 when it comes to digestion. “I felt nothing,” she says.

There’s another ingredient that we don’t see often in protein powders: lactobacillus acidophilus. This probiotic strain found in yogurt can help treat a number of digestive disorders, including chronic diarrhea, according to a November 2020 study,⁸. We’re not sure what, if any, benefit it has when added to protein powder, but it could help some people who often have trouble digesting dairy products. 

Read our Onnit grass-fed whey isolate review for more of our thoughts on this product.

Men generally have more lean muscle mass than women, as stated in this 2017 review⁵, which means they need more protein to maintain it. Huel Black has 40 grams of protein per serving, which far surpasses even the highest amounts on this list. 

Perry Nix, RD, says of the formulation, “Forty grams of protein per serving is plenty to stimulate muscle protein synthesis, a process that supports muscle recovery and growth. Additionally, including 27 vitamins and minerals is impressive and provides countless benefits, including enhancing muscle function, supporting energy metabolism, bolstering immune health, and promoting bone health.” For this reason, Huel earns a 5 out of 5 for its formulation.

Our product tester, GGR social media manager Brittany Combs, tested the Cookies and Cream flavor and thought it was delicious, giving it another 5-out-of-5 score. She says, “It was sweet, but not overly sweet. The best was adding it to my coffee in the morning. I wouldn’t mix a full serving in with my coffee, but it was just enough to make my espresso more tasty.” Other than Cookies and Cream, there are eight other flavors to choose from, including an unflavored version.

Brittany rates the solubility a 4.5 out of 5. Although the powder mixed well, she could feel a little grittiness when mixed just with water. “It mixes better in a blender and some ice,” Brittany adds.

At about $3.12 per serving, this is a more expensive meal replacement powder, so it may not be ideal for everyone’s budget. Also, if you’re worried about third-party testing, know that Huel holds independent testing of each ingredient used, although they don’t reveal who does the third-party testing. That said, Huel appears to be very transparent, detailing each ingredient on their website and citing sources as to the benefits of the ingredients.

While we’d always recommend a balanced and complete meal over a meal replacement shake, we also get that life is busy, too. If you’re on the move a lot and need a quick shake packed with nutrients and protein to keep those #gains coming, we recommend Huel Black Edition.

You can learn more in our full Huel review.

Boasting more than 5 grams of branched-chain amino acids in each serving, Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard gets our pick for the best protein powder for men with BCAAs. Along with a healthy dose of BCAAs, Optimum Nutrition has 24 grams of protein per serving. Plus, it’s relatively inexpensive, costing close to $1 per scoop, especially if you buy it in larger containers.

RELATED: Does protein powder expire?

For those wondering, “Why on Earth would I buy a 73-serving bag of chocolate flavor protein powder,” there are two answers. Besides the lower per-serving cost, protein powder can last up to a year when stored in the right conditions (at room temperature in a cool, dry place).

In other words, you don’t have to worry about it going bad like you do with meat or eggs. That’s a win-win in our book and one of the many reasons Optimum Nutrition gets a 5 out of 5 on price.

Nicole Davis, GGR head of content and certified personal trainer, has tried multiple Optimum Nutrition flavors but said the Delicious Strawberry is one of her favorites.

“I wouldn’t have normally picked this flavor but my husband said this was his favorite protein back in the day and it didn’t disappoint. Even my kids liked it.” We can’t think of a better endorsement than that.   

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard uses artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and fillers among their other ingredients, so if you want natural ingredients, you may want to avoid it. They’re present in very small quantities, so it shouldn’t be much to worry about for most people. 

Check out our Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard review for our full thoughts about this protein powder.

If you live a plant-based lifestyle, are interested in becoming vegan, or just want to find a high-quality and great-tasting vegan protein powder, there’s nothing better than Vega Sport Premium Protein. 

Vegan protein powder has a slight disadvantage as most plant-based protein sources, with the exception of soy, are deficient in some amino acids (the building blocks of protein molecules).

But since soy is a common allergen, KOS uses what are known as complementary proteins. These are various protein sources that, when combined, create a complete protein to give you all the essential amino acids necessary for building and maintaining muscle mass. This particular vegan protein powder for men uses pea protein, flax seed protein, quinoa protein, pumpkin seed protein, and chia seed protein.

Certified sports nutrition coach and competitive triathlete Amanda Capritto isn’t the biggest fan of vegan protein powders but gave KOS Chocolate a 3 out of 5 on flavor. It had a rich chocolate taste that wasn’t earthy like other non-dairy protein shakes.

KOS also has a blend of digestive enzymes that may help with digestion, according to this January 2019 meta-analaysis¹¹.

However, Amanda notes in her KOS Vegan Protein review that a full serving is two scoops, which is a lot of powder.

Need a more portable plant-based protein supplement? Check out our No Cow protein bar review.

Momentous Grass-Fed Whey is another protein powder that utilizes the more easily digestible and mostly lactose-free form of whey protein known as whey protein isolate¹. It also contains other ingredients that may help people who sometimes experience stomach problems when drinking protein powder. 

There are 200 milligrams of proteases (digestive enzymes). An October 2022 study⁶ found these enzymes could support improved gut health and reduce digestive issues when taken as a supplement—but Momentous already included it for you, so there’s no need to drive to the nutrition store. All that means Momentous earns a 5-out-of-5 rating for ingredients and formulation.

“It tastes very much like cocoa; it tastes a lot like hot chocolate (only we mixed it with ice cold water),” says GGR senior director of content and competitive weightlifter Kate Meier, who rated it a 4 out of 5 on taste. “I would buy this and I’d drink this again based on taste. Goes down really smoothly, really easily.”

This protein powder is also one of the finest and easiest to mix of the more than 50 protein powders we’ve tested. Certified personal trainer Anthony O’Reilly is able to thoroughly incorporate it into his morning iced coffee with his straw—so a shaker bottle will obliterate all clumps and provide a smooth protein drink. We gave it a 5 out of 5 for solubility.

The $2.47 per-serving cost is on the more expensive side, but it might be worth it to avoid paying the price with your digestive tract. Our Momentous Essential grass-fed whey protein review has more information.

Sometimes you just want to add protein to your morning smoothie without changing the flavor. For that, we recommend Naked Nutrition Naked Whey. Unlike some unflavored protein powders that often contain other ingredients and additives, Naked Whey is exactly that—whey, and nothing else. 

After testing out Naked Whey, I can say with confidence that this is truly an unflavored protein powder. I should know since I’ve tried hundreds of protein powders during my time as a certified nutrition coach and personal trainer. I wouldn’t recommend drinking it straight as it has a powdery texture, but it goes great with smoothies.

Since it’s unflavored, you can be sure this protein powder is gluten-free, non-GMO, and soy-free. It also has the Informed Choice Trusted By Sport certification that shows it’s safe for athletes to consume without fear of accidentally ingesting any banned substances. That gives it a perfect 5-out-of-5 score when it comes to third-party testing and certifications.

Naked Whey uses whey protein concentrate. Unlike whey protein isolate, whey concentrate still has much of the lactose (i.e., carbs and sugar) and fat naturally found in whey. That’s not the worst thing in the world, especially since carbs and fats are necessary for different bodily functions. Still, it’s something to keep in mind if you’re counting your macronutrient intake. 

We also love when protein powder manufacturers clearly state their amino acid profile, as is the case with Naked Whey. Another advantage is that Naked Nutrition uses grass-fed cows—which a February 2021 review⁴ found contained a higher number of phytonutrients than grain-fed cows. The same review stated that phytonutrients were linked with a reduced disease risk and may support heart health⁴.

Flavored protein powders can sometimes introduce carbs and sugar into the equation, but Jacked Factory Authentic Whey has a maximum of 2 carbs per serving and zero grams of added sugar. That’s not to mention that it only costs $1.50 per scoop to help keep your wallet and muscles as big as you want them. 

It uses stevia and sucralose, and honestly, you can taste it in some of their flavors. But again, it’s nothing to worry about so long as you’re not consuming too much of these sweeteners throughout your diet. 

When it comes to the flavor department, I give this a 4 out of 5. I had Fruity Cereal Splash, and while it reminded me of a Froot Loops bowl, there was a slight artificial aftertaste. It wasn’t anything too bad but it’s noticeable. (On the bright side, I felt no rumblings after drinking it.)

Things like xanthan gum are used as a thickening agent and have little to no nutritional value, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much. 

Jacked Factory uses a protein blend of whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate, the latter of which is generally more easily digestible⁴. People who are lactose intolerant should consult with their physician before consuming this protein powder, but I and other customer reviewers experienced no digestive problems when drinking it. 

Read more about this protein supplement in our Jacked Factory Authentic Whey review.