Ditch the Fillers With the Best Clean Protein Powder, Picked By Nutrition Experts (2024)

Certified personal trainer and GGR performance editor Anthony O’Reilly said Legion Whey+’s Cinnamon Cereal flavor tastes like the bottom of a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. “It’s almost exactly like what the milk tastes like when you’ve let the cereal sit for a while and the flavor seeps into the milk,” says Anthony, who awarded the taste a 5 out of 5. “I’ve also used it to make a protein French toast recipe that you can find in my Legion Whey protein review.”

With more than 17 flavors available, you’re bound to find one that will satisfy your taste buds.

Legion takes every step possible to ensure they’re producing a clean protein powder that tastes good and is good for you.

It has a Truly Grass-Fed certification, which means the cows that produce the dairy are free to graze on grass as nature intended; has a third-party testing certification by Labdoor, guaranteeing that it’s free from harmful toxins and banned substances; and is free of artificial growth hormones and GMOs (genetically-modified organisms).

Let’s touch on the grass-fed certification for a second. While the term has become a bit of a buzzword in the fitness community there are studies that show grass-fed cows produce milk that’s higher in antioxidants than dairy from grain-fed cows, according to registered dietitian Laila Ouldibbat. 

Legion also uses whey protein isolate, a type of protein that’s had most of the lactose removed from it—making it a good option for people with dairy sensitivities.

The nutritional content varies by flavor, but you’re getting at least 20 grams of protein no matter which one you pick and a moderate amount of carbs and fat.

With a high protein ratio compared to weight, one of the highest protein-to-weight ratios in the industry, a serving of Transparent Labs whey protein isolate is 82% protein. Sourced from 100% grass-fed cows, this protein is free of hormones, pesticides, artificial sweeteners, dyes, gluten, or preservatives. 

This is one of the purest clean whey isolate protein powders available, and it’s from a reputable brand. Transparent Labs also pays homage to its name by showing the weight of each ingredient right on the label, which is very uncommon for similar protein powders.

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It is important to recognize that there hasn’t been any evidence that supports the claim that the amino acids in grass-fed whey are superior to those in regular whey, which is understandable since it hasn’t been proven that a cow’s diet affects the quality of its milk protein.

However, whey protein that is grass-fed is an attractive asset if you’re looking for a clean whey protein isolate and care about sustainable sourcing and animal welfare. This is because grass-fed means the dairy has not come from factory-farmed cows, does not contain hormones, and has a smaller carbon footprint. 

Finally, it comes in a nice variety of flavors while keeping the list of ingredients short throughout all the options, though it should be noted that the product contains Himalayan rock salt as a flavoring agent, which increases the sodium content slightly.

Anthony O’Reilly, GGR performance editor and expert product tester, is a big fan of this protein powder. “I haven’t experienced any stomach or digestive issues after drinking it as I sometimes do with other whey protein powders—several customer reviewers said the same thing. It mixes incredibly well with milk or water, and I can say that I feel full for quite a while after downing a protein shake.” 

Check out our full Transparent Labs Protein review for a more in-depth look.

We’ll be honest: One of the big reasons why we chose Ritual Essential Daily Shake as our favorite clean plant-based protein powder is that it tastes much better than other plant-based powders we’ve tried—and we’ve downed more than two dozen of the best vegan protein powders.

“Even just with water, this has a nice taste,” says GGR Head of Content and competitive weightlifter Kate Meier, who tried the Vanilla flavor. “It’s not super plant-y or hemp-y like some plant-based proteins are. Mixed in a smoothie, the taste is definitely detectable, but not overly strong.”

Kate awarded it a 5 out of 5 on taste and solubility, saying in our Ritual protein powder review, “This has a shockingly great consistency. It’s not thick, but it’s not watery like some proteins are.”

The formulation earns Ritual yet another 5 out of 5 with each scoop providing 20 grams of protein, minimal carbs and fat, and a short and no-nonsense ingredient list.

Ritual uses pea protein for its plant-based protein powder, which is a somewhat controversial choice. Yes, it contains all nine essential amino acids needed for muscle growth but it’s low in methionine and cysteine. This shouldn’t be too much of a problem so long as you’re eating other foods high in these amino acids, such as nuts, seeds, and grains.

Also, Ritual is a subscription-based company and you only get 15 servings per container.

Wellah Protein Your Way is a whey protein isolate with athletes like you in mind. It has an ingredient list only a few items long and contains Himalayan rock salt for added minerals and stevia as a natural alternative to sugar. 

Protein Your Way contains 20 grams of protein per serving and features low-carb fat content so you can focus on the protein you need to recover from your workouts. It’s a no-frills protein powder myself and the testers at GGR can stand behind. 

While its high-protein formulation earns a 4.5-out-of-5-star rating, we’d prefer to see that this protein supplement is third-party tested by one of the prominent organizations like NSF or Informed Sport. Because it’s not, Whellah earns a 2-star rating in the lab testing category. 

As for taste, our GGR tester says the Vanilla flavor has a very light and subtle taste. Our testers reported a distinct whey protein taste and smell, but overall says it was enjoyable. 

“The minimal ingredients essentially makes a Wellah protein drink not overwhelming with flavor,” says expert GGR tester. “It mixes well in a shaker cup, too.”

Both taste and solubility earn 4 out of stars, but our testers note the texture is quite thin. If you’re looking for a creamy milk protein shake, this won’t be your best option. 

If you’re looking to gain lean muscle, you’ll want a protein powder with no filler to avoid unwanted fat while putting on mass. Ora Organic Superfood Plant Protein fits this description perfectly and is our top choice for the best organic protein powder.

This plant-based protein powder has 21 grams of protein per serving, derived from a blend of pea protein, rice protein, and sprouted quinoa. In addition to these protein sources, each serving contains a blend of superfoods, greens, and digestive enzymes.

Despite having so many different ingredients and flavors, the taste is still quite enjoyable, earning a 4 out of 5 from GGR performance editor Anthony O’Reilly, CPT, CNC.

Anthony said, “It tasted like the type of chai you’d get at some type of hipster cafe, which is to say it didn’t taste like authentic chai but more like ‘chai-flavored.’ I like my chai to have a little more spice, but this was still nice. Vanilla and cinnamon were the dominant flavors.”

Ora Organic Superfood Plant Protein is a very clean protein that’s certified USDA organic, gluten-free, vegan, and kosher, with no artificial sweeteners. It’s also third-party tested for purity and safety against both U.S. and European health and safety standards.

At $1.99 per serving, this isn’t the cheapest protein on the market. However, with a great blend of ingredients, third-party testing, and natural ingredients, we still think this is a great choice for anyone looking for an organic, clean protein source.

Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Collagen has two types of collagen—types I and III—both of which have been linked to healthier skin, reduced muscle aches, and decreased joint pain. Each scoop provides 11 grams of collagen and 10 grams of protein, though it should be noted that collagen is not a complete protein source since it’s low in the essential amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan is used by the body for energy regulation.

Certified sports nutrition coach and GGR senior staff writer Amanda Capritto says this collagen supplement tastes good when mixed with just about anything other than water—unless you like the taste of watered-down chocolate milk. The flavor is a 5 out of 5 when mixed with almond milk or greens powder.

The mixability earns another 5 out of 5, though Amanda says in our Transparent Labs Collagen Hydrolysate review that it’s “a little scary” at how well this mixes into just about any liquid.

“The stuff is virtually unnoticeable when mixed with another powder, like protein powder,” she says.

Transparent Labs collagen follows the company’s mission of providing high-quality supplements with minimal ingredients and maximum transparency. Other than collagen, the only other ingredients are natural flavors, stevia, and cocoa powder. Heck, they even tell you the weight of all their ingredients right on the bottle.

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Huel Black Edition is our pick for the best clean protein powder for weight loss as long as you accept this one caveat: It’s a true meal replacement, meaning that it can actually replace a meal and provide enough nutrients within its 400-calorie serving to satiate anyone on their weight journey. It’s ideally used as a meal replacement and not as a supplementary protein, which will aid your weight loss journey best.

Brittany Combs, GGR’s social media manager, tried out Huel Black Edition and enjoyed the flavor she tried—Cookies and Cream—rating it a 5 out of 5. “It tasted nice: sweet, but not too sweet. I enjoyed having it in my coffee the most, as it’d sweeten up my coffee, and added protein and nutrients to my morning routine.”

It mixes pretty well, as Brittany rates the solubility a 4.5 out of 5. “There are occasionally chunks, but a couple more shakes in my shaker cup mixes it all up.” She does notice that the finished mixture still has a little bit of graininess to it.

There are tons of nutrients and protein in Huel Black Edition, with 40 grams of protein per serving and a total of 27 vitamins and minerals. It earns a 5 out of 5 for its formulation. Price-wise, it’s on the expensive side, with each serving costing about $3.12. Still, with its clean formulation and great dose of macro and micronutrients, we think Huel Black Edition is a solid choice.

Learn more in our Huel Review.

Our pick for the best clean vegan protein powder makes a customizable protein powder based on your wants and needs. I’ve never heard of anyone selling customized protein powder before, which makes Gainful a very interesting brand. According to Gainful, by asking the same types of critical questions that dietitians use when designing individual nutrition plans, they blend nutrition science with individual nutrition considerations. 

RELATED: Orgain Protein Powder Review

They do this by gathering information from you before you purchase their protein and tailor your protein needs based on your weight, activity type, duration, and intensity level. This is done with the justification that they want their protein powder to fit your unique fitness and wellness goals. You’ll also be assured there are no extra and unnecessary ingredients that don’t necessarily fit what you’re trying to get from your supplement. 

We chose Gainful here for its plant-based organic brown rice and pea protein powder, but they also have protein sources from whey and casein. No matter what formulation you end up with when your assessment is complete, you can be assured that each protein blend contains all nine amino acids and at least 19-27 grams of protein.

You can also be assured, and this is my favorite part, that your formulation has registered dietitians involved who will even give you suggestions on your eating habits. Why is it so clean? Gainful promises that any given protein formula they make will contain seven ingredients or less with some protein blends containing as little as two. 

RELATED: Gainful Protein Powder Review

Be ready for this quality to cost a pretty penny. GGR senior editor and certified nutrition coach Erin Chancer tried Gainful Vegan Protein and her formulation with 24 grams per serving ended up costing $3.21 per serving. Yikes.

Erin thought the taste was just OK. “The unflavored protein is pretty standard for plant-based protein. I tried the Caffe Mocha flavor boost, and while it was a pleasant taste, I didn’t find it very ‘coffee-flavored.’” She rates the taste a 3.5 out of 5. It mixes well too, earning a 4 out of 5 for solubility, but Erin also mentions that the mix was sticky and thick and ended up getting the shake everywhere.

There’s no way we could make a list of clean protein powders without including Naked Casein which has only one ingredient: Micellar casein. That’s it! No flavors, no emulsifiers, no sweeteners, nada. What you do get at a surprisingly low price, however, is 26 grams of high-quality protein.

Casein protein is also a sneaky device that can assist in muscle recovery. Since it is a slow-digesting protein, studies have shown that when casein is taken before bed, it provides a steady dose of amino acids to the muscles through the night to prevent muscle soreness and catabolism¹. This slow digestion can also help with hunger control, which can make casein useful on a weight loss journey. 

Now, the key difference between whey and casein (aside from the speed of digestion) is their composition. Whey is made when milk has been heated, the curds are skimmed off and the liquids that are left are dried and powdered. With casein, the protein is derived from those curds. 

That said, the lactose content is higher in casein, so many people with milk sensitivities may not tolerate it in the tummy as well as they would whey. However, this varies from person to person, but basically, if you tend to eat dairy-free products, tread lightly with casein protein. At the very least, with Naked, you don’t have to worry about superfluous ingredients messing with your digestion. 

Amanda Capritto, GGR staff writer and expert product tester, likes to mix it with chocolate syrup. In our Naked Nutrition Casein review, she also says, “It makes for a FANTASTIC chocolate mug cake!”

Momentous’ grass-fed whey is cold-pressed, which is a way of processing that prevents the protein from denaturing and preserves more amino acids and nutrients from the milk product. According to Momentous, this allows the protein to be digested more efficiently. The formulation earned a perfect 5 out of 5 from our product tester, which is why it’s our pick for the best clean whey protein powder.

Momentous also includes a compound called Prohydrolase in its protein powder. Prohydrolase is a blend of digestive enzymes called proteases, which break down protein molecules during digestion. 

This means that Prohydrolase, when taken along with whey protein, can increase the levels of BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) in the blood faster and allow the muscle to uptake these amino acids quicker. It can also support smoother digestion of your protein supplement. 

These findings seem to be supported by a study conducted in 2020, which gave ProHydrolase to a group of males who engaged regularly in strength training. It was concluded that ProHydrolase did, indeed, increase the blood levels of amino acids more quickly compared to the placebo that didn’t include digestive enzymes². 

Studies conducted on the efficacy of ProHydrolase recommend the clinically effective dose of 10 milligrams of ProHydrolase for every 1 gram of protein, so you can’t say this protein powder isn’t evidence-based! Finally, Momentous’ protein powder is third-party tested by two different labs: NSF for Sport and Informed Choice. 

Caine Wilkes, an Olympic weightlifter who competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, says in his Momentous Essential Grass-Fed Whey Protein review that the Vanilla flavor is a 4 out of 5 and reminds him of melted vanilla ice cream.

The unflavored version of Nutricost’s whey protein isolate costs around $1.20 per serving and is often discounted to $1.00 per serving or less. Since high-quality protein powder can cost $2.00 per serving or more, we consider this a steal and give it a 4.5 out of 5 for value.

Containing nothing but whey protein isolate and sunflower lecithin, the formula is about as simple as you can get. It contains 30 grams of protein per serving, which is much higher than your typical protein powder. This is likely because there aren’t other ingredients to lower the overall protein content.

We haven’t tested the unflavored version, but GGR senior editor Amanda Dvorak has the Strawberry flavor and speaks highly of it. “It doesn’t have a weird aftertaste, and I don’t feel bloated after I drink it like I do if I have a whey concentrate instead,” she says. She rates it a 5 out of 5 for both taste and side effects.

Amanda gives this protein powder a slightly lower score of 4 out of 5 stars for solubility. “I’ve noticed a few small clumps left behind when I use a regular shaker bottle. Sometimes the clumps are there even when I use an electric shaker bottle. They’re not totally off-putting, but they are noticeable,” she says.

While Nutricost Whey Protein Isolate is available in several flavored varieties, those versions contain sucralose and, in some cases, artificial flavorings. If you prefer a flavored protein powder that is still free from anything artificial, we recommend Wellah Protein Your Whey or Legion Whey+ instead.