The Bestselling Protein Powder on Amazon Is Also Our Budget-Friendly Pick

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THERE’S NEVER BEEN a better time to focus on your protein intake, with an arsenal of products ready to help you meet your macros. When tossing back chicken breast or sirloin isn’t an option, protein powder is a valuable tool, especially when it comes to building lean muscle and promoting recovery. Unfortunately, most protein powders aren’t cheap.

It’s fair to be wary of budget options, especially if you use protein powder regularly. But there’s an inexpensive protein powder that’s an Amazon bestseller that’s worth considering. It’s called Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey, and we keep coming back to it. While it’s not the cheapest protein powder you can find, the brand does a solid job balancing out nutritional needs and quality at a price tag most people can afford.

No protein powder is perfect, including this one. But with nearly 81,000 five-star reviews to back it up, plus an Informed Choice certification, you have to wonder if there’s something to Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard. Two Men’s Health editors put this powder to the test over several months, and have largely positive things to say about it. Keep these in mind before adding this protein powder to your cart.

It’s a Great Bargain

The low price is what brings most people to the table for Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey. While price per serving varies depending on the size you buy, you’re looking at $1.06 to $1.54 per serving, with more savings the larger the container you purchase.

By comparison, our best overall protein powder, Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate, is $2 per serving. Should price be the main reason you choose a protein powder? Definitely not. But if you’re able to get what you’re looking for in an inexpensive powder, why wouldn’t you go with it?

“The value is something to give props to,” says MH Fitness and Reviews Editor Charles Thorp, NASM. The brand is able to keep the cost down because this isn’t a pure whey protein isolate, Thorp explains. Instead, it’s a blend of whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, and hydrolyzed whey protein. Still, that delivers 24g of protein and 5.5g of BCAAs per serving.

The Texture Won’t Turn You Off

Texture matters with protein powder, and some can lean toward a sandy or gritty feel. That usually means it won’t blend as well in your shake or smoothie, which can make it tough to keep using a product. But Optimum Nutrition has a light texture that blends easily.

“It’s fluffy, not sandy, like some protein powders,” says MH Deputy Editor Paul Kita. “That tells me it’s going to blend well and won’t sit heavy in my gut.” Thorp also praises Optimum Nutrition’s texture. “The powder itself is lighter than the majority of other protein powders, which is nice because it opens up your options for mixers,” he says. (Powders with a gritty or sandy texture don’t usually mix well with water or thinner liquids.)

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It’s Not Overly Sweet

Optimum Nutrition has an impressive lineup of 24 flavors, ranging from basic options like chocolate and vanilla to things like banana cream. There are 10 different chocolate flavor combinations alone, giving you plenty to choose from.

“I’m a huge fan of the chocolate flavor,” Kita says. “It’s not too sweet—a major protein powder deal-breaker for me.” Kita finds it blends equally well in berry, banana, or black cherry smoothies. Thorp says the milk chocolate taste is “light” and agrees it works well with a range of smoothies and mixers. “The taste isn’t overpowering at all, which is nice as it allows you to build your taste from the other real foods you like,” he says.

It’s Third-Party Certified

It doesn’t hurt to remind everyone that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t really regulate supplements, including protein powder. As a result, what the label says doesn’t always reflect what’s inside the container. That makes third-party testing crucial. It verifies that you’re actually getting what you think when you use a protein powder.

Optimum Nutrition is Informed-Choice Certified, which means it’s regularly tested for unsafe and banned substances by LGC, an independent sports anti-doping lab. As a result, you can feel pretty solid reaching for this on a regular basis.

How We Tested Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey

Thorp has been using Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey for years, including testing it more extensively over the past few months for this story. He regularly tried the powder blended into smoothies with peanut butter, banana, chia seeds, and coconut milk. He also had it occasionally mixed into whole milk.

Kita also tested the protein powder for months, blending it into smoothies with frozen fruit, chia seeds, and almond milk. During testing, MH editors took careful notes on elements like taste, texture, mixability, and value.

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Watch Out for

There is a trade-off to this powder’s fluffy texture: It’s not thick enough to mix with water. “For thicker protein powders, I like the ability to sometimes just mix water,” Thorp says. “That isn’t really an option with this one, which is one small detractor.” (It did just fine in thicker consistency liquids like milk or smoothies, though.)

There’s no outright harm when you have it in moderation, but it’s worth noting that Optimum Nutrition relies on artificial sweeteners in its protein powder.

For most people, the blend of whey proteins isn’t an issue. But if you have a sensitive stomach, it may be better to use a less dairy-heavy whey isolate instead.

Alternatives Protein Powders

If you like the idea of using whey protein and are OK with spending a little more, the Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate is a MH favorite thanks to its clean ingredients, high protein content per serving, and wide range of flavor options.

For athletes, we dig Thorne Whey Protein Isolate. It’s NSF-certified for professional athletes and blends well in water, milk, and smoothies.

The Verdict

There’s an overwhelming number of protein powders to choose from out there. But if you want an inexpensive workhorse protein powder that’ll help you meet your macros and actually contains what the label states, the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey is worth your time.

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Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate

Thorne Whey Protein Isolate

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