Best Whey Protein Powders for People With Good Taste (2026)

When you hear that someone is looking for the best whey protein powder, you may immediately think of Hulk-like gym bros. But as someone who identifies as neither Hulk-like nor a gym bro (just a 20-something food writer who likes to move her body and lift heavy things on occasion), protein powder has been a near-daily part of my routine for quite some time.

Protein plays several important roles in the body, and “for individuals engaged in resistance training or seeking to build muscle mass, consuming adequate protein is essential for muscle growth and repair,” explains registered dietitian Mia Syn, MS, RDN. While the exact amount a person needs depends on their individual goals, many people—myself included—find it helpful to supplement with a scoop.

If you’ve browsed the protein aisle recently, you know there are a dizzying number of whey protein options, which vary quite a lot in taste and texture depending on what flavorings and sweeteners are added. So I set out to find the absolute best-tasting whey protein powder on the market—a mission driven, admittedly, by my desire never again to spend $40 on a giant tub only to find I can’t stomach the flavor.

The best whey protein powders

• The best whey protein powder overall: Thorne Whey Protein Isolate
• Best for travel and convenience: Factor Form Whey Protein Isolate
• The best stevia-free flavors: Opportuniteas Grass Fed Chocolate Whey Protein Isolate Powder
• The best unflavored whey concentrates: Naked Grass Fed Whey Protein Powder and Promix Unflavored Whey Protein Powder
• The best unflavored whey isolate: Isopure Unflavored Protein Powder
• The best for fun flavors: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard

After tasting upward of 40 (!) powders, I found great options for every type of protein user, from the no-nonsense person who wants a natural powder free from artificial flavors to the person who wants their shake to taste like glorified cereal milk. Scroll down to see all my picks.

How do the top whey protein powders compare?

Best whey protein powder overall: Thorne Whey Protein Isolate

What I liked: The whey protein isolate from supplement and at-home health test company Thorne won both the chocolate and vanilla flavor rounds of testing for a few reasons: Alkalized (a.k.a. Dutch-processed) cocoa in the former creates a rich dark chocolate taste, while the latter has a pleasant, subtle vanilla flavor that was a welcome change from some of the other vanilla powders I tasted, which tended to taste overwhelmingly of the kind of imitation vanilla you’d find in a boxed birthday cake mix. Both powders delivered a relatively creamy consistency even when mixed with plain water, and made for satisfyingly thick smoothies when blended with frozen fruit and almond milk.

While they’re some of the pricier options on this list, I thought the Thorne powders were worth the extra 10 or 15 cents per serving for the flavor alone. I appreciated that they’re both sweetened with a mix of cane sugar and stevia, as opposed to the potentially headache- or tummy-ache-inducing sweeteners Grasso warns of (though it’s worth noting that stevia can cause these effects for some people). They’re also third-party tested, and because they’re isolates, they’re a great choice for the lactose-sensitive.

What I’d leave: As noted, these are some of the more expensive powders on this list. Stevia haters may also want to steer clear here.

Best for travel and convenience: Factor Form Whey Protein Isolate

What I liked: You may be familiar with Factor from their premade meal delivery offerings, but the brand has recently launched a line of supplements under its sister brand, Factor Form, including whey protein isolate powders that pack an impressive 25 grams of protein per serving.

The brand currently offers both chocolate and vanilla flavors. The chocolate, in particular, has quickly become my favorite powder for everyday use (tied with the Thorne, of course). It has a lovely creaminess and rich chocolate flavor that’s reminiscent of chocolate pudding, even when mixed only with water. I’ve been loving stirring this into my morning oatmeal for an extra boost of protein, and I find it mixes well with no graininess. The vanilla flavor is relatively sweet but pretty neutral in flavor, which I appreciate. It makes a great addition to smoothies, but is also perfectly drinkable in simple shake form.

Factor Form’s protein powders are sold in single-serve packets, which are incredibly convenient to take on the go. And considering I’ve taken to adding the powders to my morning oatmeal or yogurt at my desk, I appreciate how mess-free they are—no messy scoops, no powder flying everywhere. (Note: Thorne also makes travel packs of their whey protein isolate.)

What I’d leave: I wish there were the option to purchase a full tub of these powders instead of the packets (I like it that much!). And at this time, Factor Form’s products do not appear to be third-party tested.

The best stevia-free flavors: Opportuniteas Grass Fed Chocolate Whey Protein Isolate Powder

What we liked: If you’re sensitive to alternative sweeteners like stevia and monk fruit, finding a flavored whey protein powder can feel like a Sisyphean task. Fortunately, this chocolate protein powder from Opportuniteas exists. It’s sweetened with just 8 g of organic cane sugar and has a nicely balanced flavor profile thanks to the addition of organic cocoa powder and a bit of Himalayan salt. When mixed with water, it tastes a lot like thinned-out chocolate milk. Carina Finn, former commerce editor, liked that “the cocoa flavor wasn’t overpowering, but it lent a pleasant chocolaty taste to mixed berry and banana peanut butter smoothies,”

What we’d leave: This probably goes without saying, but if you’re trying to cut down on sugar in your diet for one reason or another, you’ll be better served going with another option on this list.

The best unflavored whey concentrates: Naked Grass Fed Whey Protein Powder and Promix Unflavored Whey Protein Powder

What I liked: These unflavored protein powders were nearly identical in flavor when blended into a berry smoothie, which makes sense—they’re all essentially made up of one ingredient (though the Promix has some added sunflower lecithin to help it blend better). If you’re looking for an unflavored, straightforward option with no added junk, these are the powders for you.

These powders blended smoothly and would be great picks for anyone averse to the overt sweetness you’ll typically find in protein powders, or to the potential side effects of the sweeteners that are often used. Unflavored protein can also be preferable for its versatility: Use it in this Banana-Blueberry Smoothie with Tahini or add a scoop to your favorite savory oats.

What I’d leave: It’s worth noting that any whey protein will lend a bit of a dairy-forward aftertaste to whatever you blend it into, even if it’s technically “unflavored.”

The best unflavored whey protein isolate: Isopure Unflavored Protein Powder

Like the Promix, this powder from Isopure contains just two ingredients: whey protein and sunflower or soy lecithin. The only real difference is that the Isopure is, as the name suggests, a whey protein isolate, and thus may be a better pick for those who are sensitive to lactose. You can also buy the Isopure bundled with the brand’s collagen peptide powder.

The best for fun flavors: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard

What I liked: If you’re at all familiar with the world of whey protein, you probably recognize Optimum Nutrition’s cult favorite Gold Standard Whey in its signature plastic tubs. I tried a handful of flavors from the line and found them all to be pretty enjoyable. They were pleasant in flavor and middle-of-the-road in terms of sweetness, if a little watery. The French Vanilla Creme and Double Rich Chocolate fared well in their respective categories despite losing the top spot, but my real favorite was the limited-edition Fruity Cereal, which, yes, tastes exactly like the milk at the bottom of your bowl of Fruity Pebbles.

If that’s not your jam, this protein comes in nearly 20 flavors that run the gamut from Rocky Road to Banana Cream.

What I’d leave: Optimum Nutrition uses acesulfame potassium and sucralose to sweeten many of its flavors, which may lead to headaches for some (though I personally haven’t experienced this).

How I tested whey protein powders

To put it simply, I tasted a lot of whey protein powders. To start, I shook each one up with the recommended amount of water using a Blender Bottle before tasting each flavor category side by side as a simple protein shake. The frontrunners then moved on to the smoothie test, where I blended each up with a mixture of frozen fruit and almond milk, taking note of the consistency and overall flavor of each. In selecting my top picks I also took into account ingredients, favoring options with fewer additives and as little sweetener aftertaste as possible.

What should you look for in a whey protein powder?

To help answer this question, I spoke with registered dietitians Mia Syn, MS, RDN, and Taylor Grasso, MPPD, RD, host of the podcast Simply Balanced. Here’s what they recommend looking for:

Third-party testing: Both Grasso and Syn stress the importance of making sure your protein powder is third-party tested. Because dietary supplements like protein powders are regulated by the FDA only as food, not as drugs, third-party testing ensures that what’s listed on the label matches what’s actually in the product. Look for a badge or note indicating the product was tested by NSF, Informed Sport, Informed Choice, or GMP. This is particularly important for athletes who want to ensure there are no banned substances in their supplements, but it’s a good practice for all users.

Clean ingredient lists: Once you’ve confirmed a product is third-party tested, take a close look at the ingredient list. Syn recommends opting for powders “with little to no unnecessary additives, fillers, artificial ingredients, and added sugar.” Grasso also advises choosing shorter ingredient lists when possible.

Watch out for artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols: Grasso particularly looks out for artificial sweeteners like acesulfame potassium or sucralose, which “are not inherently bad for us, but can cause headaches in some individuals.” Sugar alcohols—denoted by an “-ol” and including ingredients like erythritol, sorbitol, and maltitol—are another consideration. “We don’t digest those sugar alcohols, and so they actually enter our gut in the full molecular form, which can cause digestive upset, constipation, bloating, diarrhea, gas, all sorts of really fun GI things,” Grasso says. Not everyone will experience these symptoms, but it’s worth being aware of if you’ve ever found yourself worse for wear 30 minutes after downing your morning shake.

Other whey protein powders I tried and liked

These protein powders from Momentous have a lot going for them: They’re whey protein isolates, which means they’ll be easier on your stomach if you’re lactose sensitive; they’re NSF-certified for sport; and they contain ProHydrolase, which the brand claims is “a clinically researched enzyme that enhances protein breakdown and amino acid uptake.”

The chocolate and vanilla flavors were pretty middle-of-the-road in our taste test, but the brand also makes an unflavored option that’s similar to the Isopure unflavored isolate but with those helpful enzymes. The unflavored Momentous is senior commerce editor Olivia Tarantino‘s go-to in her post-workout smoothies; however, she notes that it can get super frothy if you blend it for more than five seconds and recommends adding it at the end of the blend cycle.

Promix’s flavored whey protein powders mixed up fairly well and have some of the simplest ingredient lists. For example, the vanilla and chocolate flavors contain just four ingredients: grass-fed whey concentrate, maple or coconut sugar, sunflower lecithin, and either whole bean vanilla extract or raw organic cacao—no natural flavors, no artificial flavors or sweeteners, and no monk fruit or stevia. Without those additives, though, Promix powders are very subtle on the flavor front and are barely sweet (with only 5 grams of real sugar), which is why they didn’t make our top picks; however, if you’re using these powders in smoothies, you may appreciate their milder taste profiles.

Myprotein Impact Whey Protein Cinnamon Cereal

If your sugar cereal preferences skew more toward Cinnamon Toast Crunch you’ll love this flavor from Myprotein. It tasted great mixed with water for an easy-to-down shake, but I also had success blending it into a smoothie with a banana and some almond milk. It’s dessert-like for sure, and on the sweeter side of the spectrum compared. It’s also worth noting that, like Optimum Nutrition, it’s sweetened with acesulfame potassium and sucralose. Myprotein makes a wide range of other flavors of its whey protein concentrate, several of which I also tasted. The Chocolate Smooth was a win, the Vanilla Ice Cream was a hard pass. If you struggle with lactose, the brand also makes many of its flavors in a whey isolate version.

I was pleasantly surprised by this whey isolate from Groove. While I’m typically averse to anything sweetened with monk fruit, I found that the addition of alkalized cocoa powder and cinnamon distracted from the sweeteners’ aftertaste, and that the powder mixed into a pleasant, not-too-thick, not-too-thin consistency when shaken with water. Groove adds what they call the “Groove Compound” into each of its products, and its proteins are no exception. The “compound” consists of Vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin C, Alpha GPC (to aid with focus, according to the brand’s website), and Himalayan salt (to “increase nutrient absorption and lower blood pressure”).

Let me preface by saying that these powders from PEScience are not going to be for everyone. They’re a bit grittier than the rest of the proteins on this list, are very viscous when mixed with water, and are some of the sweetest options I tried. That said, if the thought of drinking melted ice cream appeals to you, you will like these. The Cake Pop will appeal to anyone who’s ever enjoyed a Milk Bar birthday cake truffle, and I was struck by the deeply, well, peanutty flavor of the Peanut Butter—a flavor I felt was lacking in the peanut butter option I tried from a different brand.

I enjoyed both Orgain flavors I tried and found that they struck a nice balance in terms of sweetness. Both the chocolate and vanilla smelled and tasted faintly of coconut to me, which I personally didn’t mind (though that may turn some people off).

Ballerina Farm’s protein blend is made up of whey, collagen peptides, hemp protein, and bovine colostrum. I tried the Maple Cinnamon flavor and found it pleasant, though very sweet, thanks to a combination of stevia and monk fruit. It reminded me of horchata, and while it might be too overpowering for a smoothie, I’d imagine it would be good stirred into overnight oats.

Whey protein powders we don’t recommend

FAQs

Hungry for more?

• If you’re looking for plant-based protein powders, head right this way for our list of the best vegan protein powders.
• Read all about our favorite high-protein snacks.
• Prefer your protein in bar form? We’ve got recs for that too.