Seven best protein powders for weight loss in 2024, picked by a certified trainer

As a personal trainer, I've helped a lot of people lose weight and build muscle. One of the first things I look at when taking on clients is their protein intake. This essential macronutrient helps us build muscle, but it also plays a role in our satiety too (how full we feel) so it can influence appetite management and weight loss.

An easy way to increase your intake is by using protein powders, like the ones listed below. If you’re specifically looking for the best protein powder for weight loss, I recommend something low in sugar and fat. This double whammy will mean fewer calories in your morning shake, which can help you hit the calorie deficit you need for weight loss.

I’ve spent the last ten years trying, and writing about, all the best-selling protein powders, looking closely at protein content, taste, texture, mixablity, value for money, and added nutrients. Here's a list of the best I've ever tried.

Maddy Biddulph

Maddy Biddulph is a certified level 3 personal trainer and nutrition advisor who has been testing protein powders for a decade. Based in the UK, she helps busy moms prioritize their health and fitness, build muscle, lose body fat, and get into the best shape of their lives.

The quick list

Need a quick overview? Below you can find the best protein powders for weight loss that we’ve tested, all of which contain a high amount of protein with low carbs, sugar and fat.

The best protein powders for weight loss

Best overall

Overview: Dymatize’s ISO100 is a high-quality protein powder containing pure hydrolyzed whey isolate. This type of protein has been filtered to remove most of the sugars and fats, and is partially broken down or ‘pre-digested’ by enzymes, making it easier to digest. See our piece on whey protein vs whey isolate, if you want to dive into the details on these different types of supplement.

At around a dollar per serving, this product is great value. Gluten-free, and mostly free of lactose and cholesterol, it has 16 flavors including classics like fudge brownie and chocolate peanut butter. Some versions have sucralose, artificial flavors and sweeteners, while others have Stevia and natural flavors, so check your label. Unfortunately, it's not suitable for vegans.

Taste test: I tested the Gourmet Chocolate flavor, which tastes indulgent and rich when mixed with milk (both regular and plant-based). This is also one of the very few protein powders that tastes great with water. It is such a fine powder that it mixes very well, and I didn’t find any lumps, even after a quick 30 seconds of shaking.

I added it to batter mix and it gave my pancakes a strong chocolate flavor, which my kids loved. I’ve often found that low-sugar and low-fat powders can taste a bit bland, but this product offers a big bang for your buck on both taste and quality.

Best premium

Overview: Transparent Labs’ Whey Protein Isolate has a clean profile and even cleaner taste, and it’s refreshingly rich considering it is sugar and fat-free. With 28g of high-quality isolated protein per scoop, it’s easily digestible and delicious.

One of the biggest advantages of buying this product is that its whey is sourced from grass-fed, hormone-free American cows. The powder is also free from gluten, preservatives, artificial sweeteners and food dyes. It has a good flavor range, from classics like Milk Chocolate, French Vanilla and Strawberry Milkshake to more interesting ones such as Mint Chocolate Chip and Cinnamon French Toast.

Taste test: I tested the Milk Chocolate flavor and it really hit the spot. Just the right balance of sweetness without being sickly, and it’s missing the synthetic chalky aftertaste cheaper protein powders often have.

It mixes well with both milk and water (my favorite was 50/50 of each) and behaves well when blended into pancake batter, muffins, and oatmeal. The main drawback is the price. It is one of the most expensive protein powders for weight loss that I’ve tested, the high-quality ingredients and taste justify this.

Best taste

Overview: MyProtein’s Clear Whey Isolate was winner of the best protein powder/shake in the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Awards 2022 and is one of the brand’s bestsellers for good reason. Using hydrolyzed whey protein isolate, it’s a light and refreshing juice-like drink rather than a milky shake. It comes in 10 flavors: apple, mojito, orange, orange mango, pineapple, raspberry, lemonade, tropical dragon fruit, watermelon, and strawberry kiwi. It has 20g of protein per 25g serving, which is lower than other entries in this guide, but it’s got the lowest calorie content, at 85kcal. It’s suitable for vegetarians but not vegans, or anyone dairy-free, as it contains milk. It also contains a sweetener (sucralose).

Taste test: I tried the strawberry kiwi flavor and it’s the best-tasting protein mix I’ve tested. It’s more of a refreshing juice drink than a milkshake, which I prefer, and has a fine consistency that mixes well with water. I found that it blended well with pancake mix and I imagine the tropical flavors would work brilliantly in high-protein ice lollies.

Once you’ve mixed it together, you need to wait for the natural foaming to settle. It says 15 seconds on the packaging, but I found it was more like a minute before the foam reduced, and even then it still had some bubbles. The only reason it’s not at the top of the list is because it has a slightly lower protein content per serving than other options, though it’s still a brilliant option if weight loss is your main goal.

Best for protein content

Overview: Innermost's Lean Protein has a high protein count (31g per 40g serving) and is packed with weight-loss supplements, including acetyl L-carnitine, inulin and Yerba mate. However, it has a higher calorie count than the other products in this list.

Taste test: I tested the 'Smooth Chocolate', which was really tasty. It had the right balance of subtle sugary flavour without being sickly or overwhelming. The texture was spot on—light and airy. It blended easily with no clumps and had a thick, smooth consistency. I tested it with both cow’s milk and water; I have to admit it tasted better with milk. I also mixed the powder into pancake batter and my kids loved it.

It does contain sweeteners, so should be avoided by people with sensitive stomachs. It comes in a resealable bag, but doesn’t have a measuring scoop, which was a shame.

Best vegan

Overview: This is a solid option for those following a vegan diet, with a respectable 20g of protein in a 25g serving. It has a remarkably low calorie count, at 89kcal, and comes in plenty of pleasing flavors. It's derived from four different plant-based sources: pea, soy, pumpkin, and brown rice. The company stops short of describing this as a complete protein (a protein source containing all nine essential amino acids, required by the human body) but they do say that this mix contains both fast and slow release proteins, which can support your general wellbeing.

Taste test: A lot of vegan shakes are grainy, but the Vegan Wondershake is an exception to this rule, delivering a smooth, creamy texture when mixed with either water or milk. It tastes great too; I tried the chocolate caramel biscuit flavor, which gave an enjoyable Biscoff-esque taste.

If you want something a bit plainer to mix into smoothies, there are nine other options, ranging from vanilla and double chocolate to chocolate peanut cookies and strawberries and cream. - Reviewed by Harry Bullmore

Best for juice fans

Overview: Naked Nutrition’s Clear Naked Whey isolate powder is high in protein (20g per 26g serving), low in carbs and has 0g of sugar and 0g of fat. Just as with all of the firm’s products, it doesn’t contain additives like artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors (it uses vegetable juice for color). The product is also lactose-, GMO-, gluten- and soy-free and has just six ingredients. It comes with extras (i.e. vitamin D, iron, calcium and potassium) and is 100 calories per serving—making it a good choice for anyone trying to lose weight, or reduce their sugar and fat intake.

Taste test: Clear Naked Whey is a bit different from your usual protein drink and rather than the milkshake flavor and consistency I’m used to, it’s more of a juice. You mix it with cold water—this stuff foams up a lot when you shake it—then the natural foaming dissolves after about a minute. It doesn’t need too much shaking as the powder is very fine. I tested the grape flavor, which has a nice mix of sweet and tart and is similar to a flavored water drink. I noticed a bit of a gelatin taste in the first few drinks, but it didn’t bother me. It’s refreshing, fairly high in good quality isolate protein (20g per 26g serving) and low carb. And if you don’t like the sound of grape, it also comes in lemonade and fruit punch flavors.

Best flavor variety

Overview: Optimum Nutrition is popular brand, and the company's flagship product is the Gold Standard 100% Whey. It's a versatile and price friendly option, which comes in a wide variety of flavours. It contains soy, so isn’t suitable for anyone with related allergies.

Taste test: I tested the Double Rich Chocolate flavour with 120ml cold water, as recommended on the packet directions. When mixed with water the product has a strange aftertaste and runs a little thin, but I didn’t find this happened when I tried it with milk instead.

In its milkshake form, the drink has a dark chocolate flavour, which is a little bland but not too sweet. It also had a slightly chalky feel and left some residue in my glass after drinking.

I didn’t love it as a drink (although I'm aware it's a favorite with other Fit&Well team members) but found it worked well in my oatmeal and pancakes. I found that the artificial taste of the sweeteners, flavors and thickeners was overpowering.

• Read our full Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein review

More tried-and-tested powders

The above protein powders are the best that we’ve tested, offering great taste and consistency with minimal fat and sugar. However, we’ve also tried out the below options. They didn’t quite make it into the top of our list, but here’s how they fared in our testing.

Overview: The Pure Protein whey protein powder (creamy vanilla) is packed with 10g collagen, 6g fiber and 14 vitamins and minerals including B12, A, C, D E, as well as zinc and iron. It has 25g of protein per 41g scoop, and is relatively cheap at $44.99 for a two-week supply (20 oz.). It does have a pretty long ingredients list and it’s high in carbs (9g per serving), so this isn’t ideal for anyone on a low-carb diet. But it’s inexpensive at $44.99.

Taste test: I had high hopes for this whey protein, which is packed with collagen, fiber and extra vitamins and minerals. It sounds good on paper, but unfortunately it tastes too sugary. I tried it as a plain shake, in overnight oats, as well as in a healthy carrot cake. I also mixed it with frozen fruit for a high protein smoothie. In each case it was too sweet for my liking, even though the sugar content is under 1g.

Overview: Momentous 100% Plant Protein (chocolate flavor) comes in minimalist packaging. It has 20g of protein per scoop as well as added iron and potassium. It has a fairly clean ingredients list, although it is a little high in carbs and calories (10g and 140kcal per serving).

Taste test: This protein powder mixes really well and quickly, and comes out smooth with no gritty texture or chalky aftertaste. The chocolate flavor isn’t too overpowering or sweet; in fact it’s almost a bit bitter, so if you have a sweet tooth this product might not be to your taste.

I’m a big fan of dark chocolate, the darker the better, so I found it very pleasant. I blended it into my oatmeal and pancake batter, and it was very tasty. At $49.95 for 1.66 lb (754g) it’s also good value, and a good choice for anyone looking for an affordable vegan protein.

Overview: The Nutrilite Organics Plant Protein protein powder (chocolate flavor) is made from pea brown rice and chia and is one of the most natural products we’ve tasted. It’s free from artificial flavors, sweeteners, dairy, gluten and soy, and made from organically grown produce (it’s certified USDA Organic). It is also enriched with vitamin D, calcium, selenium, magnesium and zinc.

Taste test: I’m a big fan of the Nutrilite Organics Plant Protein powder because it’s very natural and tastes good, too. It’s easy to mix, doesn’t come out clumpy and has a creamy texture. I mixed it with both water and milk, and both tasted good with a strong flavor of dark chocolate, which I liked, as it wasn’t too sweet—in fact it has 0g of sugar. Some people might prefer a sweeter flavor. The only reason it isn't higher up this list? It has a slightly higher calorie content than most of the products I've tested.

Overview: For a weight loss product, the MyProtein Impact Diet Whey is surprisingly high in calories, which is why it didn’t make it into our official list at the top of this page. It is very high in protein (38g per 60g serving) but that could be because it’s recommended to have a double scoop.

It comes with added L-glutamine, CLA (a fatty acid), green tea and choline (a B vitamin), which are supposed to be weight loss aids, but more research is needed to prove that. If you are trying to lose weight, these extra ingredients aren’t going to make much difference—you need to be in a calorie deficit for safe and sustainable fat loss.

Taste test: I tested the chocolate brownie flavor of the Impact Diet Whey, and it mixes really easily with no clumps. It’s not overly sugary tasting, which is my preference, but it’s chocolatey enough to satisfy a sweet tooth. I tested the powder with milk and water. I prefer the milky creamy combo but it also tastes fine with water. I added it to my pancake batter and it has a deep chocolate flavor. It’s also good in oatmeal and breakfast muffins. This is a great tasting powder with a decent amount of protein, but if you’re after a low calorie powder there are better brands available.

How we test

I test these products by trying them with water, milk and mixing them into food, too (like protein pancakes and hearty oatmeal). I evaluate them for their texture as well as their aftertaste—a common problem with protein powders is that they're overly sweet, but I only recommend ones that I don't personally find overwhelming.

I also carefully select the products I choose to test by looking for low-fat, low-sugar and low-calorie content.

How to choose the best protein powder for weight loss

Dietitian Kacie Varvrek says third-party testing is one of the most important things to look out for in a protein powder. “Supplements are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so labels can be inaccurate, or supplements can contain ingredients not found on the label."

"Third-party certification is obtained when an independent organization evaluates the supplement and vouches for its quality. You will see a certification stamp on the product if a supplement is third-party tested.”

Vavrek advises looking for a powder that is low in added sugars and artificial flavors. Some of the most popular protein shakes and powders have high levels of sugar or sweeteners mixed in, so it’s worth comparing ingredient labels before you purchase.

You'll generally find that whey protein or whey isolate fit this bill. According to Vavrek, whey protein “contains essential amino acids and is the highest in leucine; an amino acid thought to trigger muscle building.”

In addition, some trials, such as this randomized controlled trial from 2015, have found that adding whey protein to a regular diet could reduce appetite by increasing satiety. But you also need to find the right level of protein for your needs.

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of protein is 0.36g per pound of body weight, so the average 200lb man needs around 72g of protein daily. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans say that men between the ages of 19 and 59 are already eating too much protein.

On the other hand, if you're training to build muscle, the International Society of Sports Nutrition advises eating up to 1.36g of protein per pound of body weight, to optimize muscle growth. Once you've found the right level, consider the amount of fiber, too.

Fiber added to your protein powder can help you stay full for longer, maximizing your weight loss. If you can’t find an affordable protein powder with added fiber, you can add your own by including a spoonful of flax seeds.

But we wary of so-called ‘weight-loss’ ingredients added to protein powder, says Vavrek. “Additives, such as acetyl l-carnitine, don’t have any proven weight loss benefits. No supplements or additives will increase metabolism or burn fat.”

Finally, Vavrek’s advice is to pick a protein powder with a taste that you actually like. There’s no point gulping something noxious back every morning in a bid to lose weight, as you’re more likely to seek out sweet or high-fat foods to make yourself feel better. A protein powder should always be an aid to weight loss, not a solution.

Kacie Vavrek

Kacie is a licensed and registered dietitian and a board-certified sports specialist in dietetics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Exercise Science.

FAQs

Kylie Bensley

Kylie Bensley is a highly regarded clinical dietitian with a wealth of expertise in nutrition. With an unwavering dedication to patient care, Bensley has spent over a decade working in renowned medical facilities in Boston and Cambridge, MA. Throughout her extensive career, she has provided invaluable guidance to patients recovering from surgery, establishing herself as a leading and trusted authority in the field.