Tone It Up Protein Review (2024): A Plant Based Protein Blend Worth the Cost?

For our Tone It Up Protein review, we asked Erin Chancer, GGR senior editor, and NASM-CNC, ISSA-CPT, to try this plant protein powder and share her experience. Tone It Up, which also carries collagen creamer and immunity-boosting gummies, offers vanilla and chocolate plant-based protein among its few products.

RELATED: Collagen Protein Vs Whey Protein

That said, high-quality, dairy-free protein isn’t typically cheap, and Tone It Up protein is no different. As a team, we investigated whether the protein supplement was worth the cost. Read on to see our verdict. 

Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.

Dairy-Free, GMO-Free, and Bias-Free

GGR’s fitness professionals, registered dietitians, and personal trainers personally trial every nutritional supplement we review for you, so you can rest assured you’ll receive an unbiased and raw opinion of each supplement we share. 

We rate products using a 1 to 5 scale based on our custom GGR supplement testing methodology. This methodology examines criteria like:

• Quality of the formulation
• Taste/solubility
• Side effects
• Third-party testing
• Price/value
• Customer reviews/service

Tone It Up Protein

Tone It Up Plant-Based Protein

GGR Score: 2.75

Check Price

Product Highlights

• Pea and chia protein blend
• 15 g of protein per serving
• No artificial ingredients
• Available in chocolate and vanilla

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Customers like the taste
• Good solubility
• No artificial ingredients

Cons

• Expensive
• Protein content not as high as competitors
• Not third-party tested
• Only 2 flavors available

Bottom Line

Tone It Up plant-based protein uses a blend of pea and chia protein to provide 15 grams of protein per serving, lower than the average on the market. Customers like the taste and solubility, but only chocolate and vanilla flavors are available.

A Quick Look at Tone It Up Protein

Tone It Up was founded in 2009 by personal trainers Katrina Scott and Karena Dawn, who met at their gym and made plans to build a positive female-centric fitness community. 

Tone It Up, affectionately known as “TIU,” is a wellness company that sells plant-based supplements and gummies that are dairy-free, gluten-free and non-GMO. According to TIU, their nutrition line “is made for women, by women”—though anyone can enjoy this vegan protein powder—and the website proudly proclaimed their protein powder is the top-selling at Target nationwide. 

RELATED: Best Workout App For Women

Before You Buy

• Only 14 servings per tub, so plan your supplement schedule accordingly
• For flavor reasons, not recommended if trying plant protein for the first time
• Over $2 per serving

Is Tone It Up Protein Worth It?

With no artificial ingredients, both the chocolate protein powder and vanilla plant protein from Tone It Up are non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher, and free of animal products. So, it checks many boxes for specific dietary preferences. However, considering the high price, our experts don’t think it’s a practical source of protein for most active individuals.

Tone It Up Protein Specs

Experience Using Tone It Up Protein

Erin Chancer, GGR senior editor, and NASM-CNC, ISSA-CPT, tested this plant-based protein powder and had a lukewarm reaction. 

RELATED: How To Make Protein Coffee That Actually Tastes Good

“It’s below average when compared to other protein powders in terms of servings and dosage,” Erin says. “Only 15 grams of protein and 14 servings per tub. I’m also not a fan of the flavor compared to other brands of vegan protein powder I’ve had.”

Price Per Serving

We gave a score of 1 out of 5 for the price. At $29.99 per tub and 14 servings per container, Tone It Up protein comes to about $2.14 per serving. This isn’t the best value, considering you only get 15 grams of protein per serving.

Those with high protein needs will need to take multiple scoops, meaning the small tub size offers the double burden of needing to resupply more often than one may be used to, as well as the cost adding up. 

Formulation

We rated Tone It Up a 2.5 out of 5 for formulation as we can’t get past that one serving contains only 15 grams of protein and, like most plant-based protein powder, contains 9 grams of carbs. For those who closely monitor their macros, the carb content may pose a problem.

So, why is 15 grams of protein a problem? Well, the best protein bars and powders contain at least 20 to 25 grams of protein due to multiple studies that show 20 grams is needed to optimally “switch on” anabolic metabolism in the body¹. 

Let’s look at some other notable ingredients in Tone It Up protein powder:

Protein Blend (Pea Protein, Chia Protein, Oatmilk)

Tone It Up plant protein contains three types of protein powder. Oats are a relatively poor source of protein, so their appearance in this protein blend is a little puzzling.

RELATED: A Registered Dietitian Breaks Down Pea Protein Benefits

Pea protein is one of the better plant protein options due to its leucine content, an amino acid responsible for turning on muscle building². Compared to whey, pea protein powder has a fairly similar leucine content³. 

However, it is important to note that pea protein isn’t high in all essential amino acids (it lacks methionine⁴), and studies have shown optimal muscle mass gains are made when one consumes all nine EAAs consistently⁵. 

Last, chia seeds do contain all essential amino acids⁶, but chia proteins are much more poorly absorbed in the gut compared to whey and pea proteins. 

Inulin

Inulin is a type of dietary fiber found naturally in dried onions, chicory root, and Jerusalem artichokes. They’re special because they operate as a prebiotic fiber⁷ that provides your body with all of the health benefits of dietary fiber, while feeding the good bacteria in your gut. 

Flavoring/Sweeteners

Finally, this plant-based protein contains natural flavors, coconut creamer (likely for a creamier protein shake consistency), and two types of sweeteners: monk fruit and cane sugar. So, there are 2 grams of added sugar per serving. 

RELATED: Best Sugar-Free Protein Powder

Taste and Solubility 

We rated Tone It Up a 3 out of 5 for taste. Erin says, “You only have chocolate or vanilla flavor options, so I went with the former. Now, I don’t regularly snack on Play-Doh or anything, but that’s kinda what it tasted like.” She also compares it with other plant-based proteins like Orgain. “I didn’t have very high expectations as it’s a vegan protein, but I’ve tried other dairy-free protein supplements that were definitely better.”

RELATED: Orgain Protein Powder Review

There’s good news, though, as we gave a 4.5 out of 5 for solubility. “It dissolves fast,” Erin states. 

Side Effects

For side effects, we gave a rating of 4 out of 5. Though it wasn’t the best protein powder for Erin in terms of taste, she didn’t have any negative side effects like excess gas, which some users report when taking a plant-based protein powder. 

RELATED: Does Protein Powder Really Give You Protein Farts?

Third-Party Testing 

Tone It Up protein supplements are not third-party tested and the labeling isn’t very transparent, which gives them a rating of 1 out of 5.

Tone It Up Protein vs Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein

Transparent Labs Vegan Protein

Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein Powder

GGR Score: 4.27

Check Price

Product Highlights

• A rice and pea protein powder 
• Rated with 4.3 stars on their website
• Comes in 2 flavors 
• 24 g of protein per serving
• Organic product with minimal ingredients

Pros & Cons

Pros

• No artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives
• Organic and vegan
• Only 5-7 ingredients
• Reviewers love the taste
• 24 g of protein per serving
• Subscribe and save
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• Only 2 flavors
• Stevia can cause GI issues for some
• Expensive

Bottom Line

This organic rice and pea protein powder is a good choice for people who want a clean plant-based protein option with minimal ingredients.

Another plant-based protein we’ve tried is Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein and we wanted to see how it measured up to TIU. Tone It Up has a serving size with fewer calories and a smaller scoop compared to Transparent Labs. Both also only come in chocolate and vanilla flavors. However, Transparent Labs is nearly $0.50 cheaper per serving and has 24 grams of protein, closer to what most are looking for, especially for a post-workout shake. 

It also has a rice and pea protein blend—which presents an amino acid profile similar to whey—and is naturally sweetened with stevia and no added sugars, unlike TIU. Finally, Transparent Labs is third-party tested.

Customer Experience 

“Despite a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, they ask you to return it unused, which won’t work for most people,” says our tester Erin. “You also have to cover the cost of return shipping and don’t have a phone number to call if you need help. You can, however, email contact@toneitup.com for assistance or to request a return.” That said, Erin had no issues with ordering or receiving her chocolate protein powder. 

Ordering Tone It Up Protein

If you want to save 10%, you can enroll in their Subscribe and Save program, which is probably the move considering you only get a two-week supply per tub. However, unlike other brands, you don’t get free shipping when you enroll, as free three- to five-day shipping is also included for one-time purchases.

Customer Reviews

On the Tone It Up website, the vanilla protein has a 4.8 star rating based on 217 reviews with some stating it’s “my favorite protein powder,” and that it tastes better than the likes of Orgain Organic Vanilla Plant Protein. 

On Amazon, TIU protein has a 4.3 star rating out of 5 based on 254 global ratings. Some reviews say it tastes great in an almond milk protein shake. However, many reviews report it has a chalky texture. 

Final Verdict of Our Tone It Up Protein Review

A 110-calorie serving size is pretty sweet for those trying to keep their calories low. The fiber content can even help with further appetite control. However, the form and amount of protein this product contains makes it a suboptimal choice for those trying to gain muscle or significantly increase their protein intake with multiple scoops of protein per day. 

RELATED: Best Protein Shakes For Weight Loss

So, Tone It Up is worth a try if you want a plant-based protein shake that’s more for casual drinking rather than muscle-building chugging.  

• Mix with 8 fl oz of water or almond milk if your goal is to keep your calories low
• Approach with caution if potential contaminants are a worry, as non-third party tested supplements may contain heavy metals

Full Rating

Tone It Up Protein

Tone It Up is a plant-based protein that can be used to increase protein intake or aid in post-workout muscle recovery. 

Product Brand: Tone It Up

Product Currency: $

Product Price: 20.90

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
2.75

Tone It Up Protein: FAQs

RELATED: Best Muscle Recovery Supplements

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

References

1. Moore DR, Areta J, Coffey VG, et al. Daytime pattern of post-exercise protein intake affects whole-body protein turnover in resistance-trained males. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2012;9(1):91. Published 2012 Oct 16. doi:10.1186/1743-7075-9-91
2. Fujita S, Dreyer HC, Drummond MJ, et al. Nutrient signalling in the regulation of human muscle protein synthesis. J Physiol. 2007;582(Pt 2):813-823. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2007.134593
3. Babault N, Païzis C, Deley G, et al. Pea proteins oral supplementation promotes muscle thickness gains during resistance training: a double-blind, randomized, Placebo-controlled clinical trial vs. Whey protein. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12(1):3. Published 2015 Jan 21. doi:10.1186/s12970-014-0064-5
4. Gorissen SHM, Crombag JJR, Senden JMG, et al. Protein content and amino acid composition of commercially available plant-based protein isolates. Amino Acids. 2018;50(12):1685-1695. doi:10.1007/s00726-018-2640-5
5. Church DD, Hirsch KR, Park S, et al. Essential Amino Acids and Protein Synthesis: Insights into Maximizing the Muscle and Whole-Body Response to Feeding. Nutrients. 2020;12(12):3717. Published 2020 Dec 2. doi:10.3390/nu12123717
6. Sandoval-Oliveros MR, Paredes-López O. Isolation and characterization of proteins from chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.). J Agric Food Chem. 2013;61(1):193-201. doi:10.1021/jf3034978  
7. Hughes RL, Alvarado DA, Swanson KS, Holscher HD. The Prebiotic Potential of Inulin-Type Fructans: A Systematic Review. Adv Nutr. 2022;13(2):492-529. doi:10.1093/advances/nmab119

Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD

Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD is a sports dietitian and the head of performance nutrition for the NBA G League Ignite. In addition to working with pro athletes, Destini has ghostwritten four weight loss and wellness cookbooks. She also authors online content covering fitness and nutrition topics.

Further reading

Fitbit Website Shutdown: What Does the Future Hold For Fitness Trackers?

by Stephen Sheehan, CPT, CNC

The Fitbit website shutdown is the latest move by Google that shows a shift in a new direction. What’s next for the well-known fitness tracker brand? Read more

C4 Pre-Workout Review (2024): Why Is It America’s Top-Selling Pre-Workout?

by Anthony O'Reilly CPT, CNC

Our C4 pre-workout review examines why this has been one of the most popular supplements for more than a decade. Read more

LifeSpan TR1200i Treadmill Review (2024): High Inclines at a Reasonable Price

by Kate Meier NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1

Learn about this reasonably priced folding treadmill with our LifeSpan TR1200i Treadmill review. Read more

Rogue Velocidor Review (2024): The New Adjustable Dip Attachment of Your Dreams

by Lauren Strong, CPT

If you’re searching for the ultimate dip bar attachment, the wait might be over. Find out all the details and specs in this Rogue Velocidor Review. Read more