#RyanDouglas Of #TheAthleticBuild: The 15 Best Whey Protein Isolate Powders For 2023

The 15 Best Whey Protein Isolate Powders for 2023

Hey there, fellow fitness enthusiast! So, you’re on a quest to find the best whey protein isolate powder out there? Well, you’re in the right place! Our mission today is all about getting up close and personal with these power-packed powders. Whether you’re looking to ramp up your gains, speed up recovery, or just…

The Athletic Build LogoRyan Douglas

"December 11, 2023 Ryan Douglas Protein, Supplements 

(Last Updated On: December 11, 2023)

Hey there, fellow fitness enthusiast!

So, you’re on a quest to find the best whey protein isolate powder out there? Well, you’re in the right place! Our mission today is all about getting up close and personal with these power-packed powders.

Whether you’re looking to ramp up your gains, speed up recovery, or just want a protein boost, we’re here to help you navigate the landscape of whey protein isolates. We’ve put these powders under the microscope and are ready to give you the lowdown on the crème de la crème in the market.

Ready to level-up your fitness journey with the perfect protein partner? Buckle up, my friend—it’s time to embark on a whey-ly interesting adventure to find your perfect protein match. Let’s get this protein party started!

The 15 Best Whey Protein Isolate Powders

These are the 15 best whey protein isolate powders on the market today.

#1 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate by Transparent Labs

There’s whey protein isolate and then there’s 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate by Transparent Labs.

Let me lay it down right here- Transparent Labs’ whey isolate product wins the race, hands down. There’s a lot to love, from the transparent label to the perfect mix of ingredients and their respective dosages.

We start with the most important part- the protein content. 100% Grass-Fed Whey Isolate boasts an industry-leading protein-to-weight ratio of 88 percent, which equates to a whopping 28g of protein on every scoop (32g).

Now to the grass-fed part. Whey protein sourced from other countries may (and usually) contain impurities and compounds that aren’t supposed to be there. For this reason, serious athletes and bodybuilders choose whey protein products sourced in the US. Transparent Labs understands this and has made their whey isolate come from grass-fed American cows to ensure quality. It’s one of the cleanest proteins we’ve had, and that’s saying a lot!

Nutrition facts state 28g of pure protein is added per serving, and only 1% total fat (at .5g) and 1g of carbs, which is excellent in our books. You also get trace amounts of magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and potassium which helps supplement daily dietary goals.

Speaking of which, the "clean" part doesn’t just apply to the protein content. The cows that provide the ingredients are free of hormones and are grass-fed to provide maximum purity. There are no preservatives, artificial coloring or sweeteners, and it’s non-GMO and gluten-free as well.

You can choose one, two or three tubs and flavors such as Cinnamon Pastry, Strawberry, Mocha, Salted Caramel, French Vanilla, Milk Chocolate and Chocolate Peanut Butter.

I have tried and tested the French Vanilla, Peanut Butter Vanilla, Peanut Butter Chocolate and Cereal Splash. The French Vanilla is the best, in my opinion. The Vanilla Peanut Butter and Chocolate Peanut Butter are also pretty good. The Cereal Splash wasn’t all that great, but it has been discontinued.

All of the flavors mixed up great in my experience as well so you have nothing to worry about there.

Overall this protein delivers 28 grams of protein, has only 1 gram of carbs and .5 grams of fat and it tastes better than any other protein powder we tried. It may cost a few bucks more, but it’s worth it.

In my experience, this one always mixes up really well, nice and creamy. It also tastes great, which I have mentioned. No chalkiness or grit either which you can get with some of the other ones.

Pricing is very reasonable for a whey isolate of this caliber and to make it even better, you can take 10% off of your order at checkout when you use the coupon code TL10. On top of that, you can save an additional 10% when you get a subscription which also gets you free shipping.

9.7out of 10

Ingredients9.9Mixability9.9Taste9.5Price9.0Transparency10Value9.8Variety of Flavors9.6

Pros

• Coupon code TL10 saves 10% at checkout
• Sourced from grass-fed cows in the USA
• 28 grams of protein per serving
• Comes in 9 different flavors (we like the chocolate peanut butter)
• Mixes extremely well
• Not too thick
• No artificial flavoring

Cons

• Only available on the manufacturer’s website
• Above average in price

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#2 Whey Protein Isolate by Kaged Muscle

Whey Protein Isolate by Kaged Muscle is a no-nonsense whey isolate product for building lean muscle. It’s naturally flavored and doesn’t contain acesulfame potassium, protein concentrates, artificial colors, soy lecithin, and amino spiking.

Kaged Muscle says its products are processed using micro and ultrafiltration technology to take out unwanted components such as lactose, cholesterol, and fat.

Each serving has 11.7g of essential amino acids, 5.5g BCAAs, and 25g of whey protein. Unique flavors such as Natural Cinnamon Roll, Natural Coffee Latte, and ‘Smores are offered.

This is another one of my favorites, and I advise you to get the smores flavor if you want something unique. It tastes surprisingly well and mixes up really nicely too, in my experience.

Overall this one is another really solid choice, it delivers 25 grams of protein and the taste is pretty solid, although not quite as good as our top choice. 

It is still a very solid protein powder that you will really like.

9.7out of 10

Ingredients9.7Mixability9.9Taste9.7Price9.5Transparency10Value9.7Variety of Flavors9.3

Pros

• No artificial flavoring
• Ultra-filtered for purity
• Uses 5.5 grams of Branched Chain Amino Acids

Cons

• No savings when buying in bulk

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#3 GROW by XWERKS 

Grow by XWERKS is another really nice whey isolate protein powder that definitely deserves consideration.

This protein powder is sourced from grass-fed cows that are naturally raised and graze in the countryside in New Zealand, a country that is very strict on dairy quality.

That means no hormones, antibiotics, or even pesticides 

XWERKS uses a microfiltration system that delivers an almost totally pure protein. GROW delivers 25 grams of protein per serving, along with 6 grams of muscle-building BCAAs.

This protein powder comes in four different flavors, and none of them use artificial flavoring. I would go with vanilla or chocolate, in my experience, they are usually the safest bets.

Pricewise, GROW is above average, but the do have free shipping and a money-back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied (you will be satisfied).

9.6out of 10

Ingredients9.7Mixabilty9.5Taste9.6Price9.4Transparency9.9Value9.5

Pros

• Sourced from grass-fed cows in New Zealand
• Subscription saves 5%
• Free Shipping
• No artificial flavoring

Cons

• Above Average in price

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#4 Whey Protein Isolate by Swolverine

With 26 grams of ultra-pure, cold pressed protein per serving, Swolverine’s Whey Isolate is the perfect building block for any athlete’s diet.

The whey has been sourced from happy cows without rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone) or other artificial ingredients so it can help maximize muscle growth while post-workout recovery gets accelerated with added digestive enzymes.

Athletes will find that one scoop provides them all they need in terms of strengthening and increasing lean mass–including increased immunity!

If you are looking for one that tastes great, this one could be for you. We recommend the Honey Cinnamon Peanut Butter, I tested this flavor out, and it was pretty good. It also mixed up decently well and wasn’t gritty.

9.5out of 10

Ingredients9.6Mixability9.6Taste9.7Price9.2Transparency9.8Value9.5Variety of Flavors9.4

Pros

• Sourced from grass-fed cows in the USA
• Includes digestive enzymes
• Superior taste
• Subscribe and save 15%

Cons

• Above average in Price

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#5 ISO100 by Dymatize

The "ISO100" in the label means the whey isolate is 100% hydrolyzed and made to be absorbed quickly when you take it. That and the usual suspects of amino acids serve to boost muscle building to greater heights.

It’s gluten-free and banned substance tested, which means pro bodybuilders and athletes can take them without any problems. Each serving gives 25g of protein, 5.5g BCAAs and less than a gram of sugar, fat and lactose.

ISO100 comes in many sizes ranging from 20 servings to a huge 6 lbs. What impressed us most was the available flavors- Gourmet Chocolate, Gourmet Vanilla and lots of interesting options such as Fruity Pebbles, Orange Dreamsicle and Birthday Cake.

In my experience, the protein itself was very good, but the tub was only half full. They tried to make me think I was getting a low price but instead, all I got was a half-empty tub with fewer servings. That is a major pet peeve of mine. 

We tried out the vanilla flavor and really liked the taste, it mixed well and wasn’t gritty or chalky. It’s one of the better protein powders we have tried. 

9.5out of 10

Ingredients9.5Mixability9.6Taste9.5Price9.2Transparency9.7Value9.3Variety of Flavors9.8

Pros

• Gluten-Free
• Uses 5.5 grams of BCAAs
• Has some unique flavors
• Super fast-digesting

Cons

• Sold in larger tubs to make it appear cheap
• Many flavors out of stock

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Related: Best Pre-Workout Supplements for Muscle Building

#6 Pro Whey Protein Isolate by Xtend

Pro Whey Isolate has a shiny white and gold package that stands out, but can it do the job of providing pure protein?

Dubbed "official recovery brand of champions," the whey protein powder offers 150 calories, 7g of BCAAs and 25g of isolate compound, which should be more than enough to facilitate a faster recovery period. Soon, you’ll be back training and getting better than ever.

Information on the official website is detailed, and there are reviews saying how Pro Whey Protein has helped them with their fitness goals. There’s also a section of nutrition facts, recommendations for use and a warning for people who shouldn’t take it.

When we tested out the flavor of this one it was pretty average, not terrible but not delicious either. It mixed up pretty well but was slightly chalky.

9.2out of 10

Ingredients9.3Mixability9.6Taste9.5Price9.3Transparency9.6Value9.2Variety of Flavors8.0

Pros

• Uses 7 grams of BCAAs
• No artificial flavors
• Less than 150 calories per serving

Cons

• No savings when buying in bulk

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Related: The 15 Best Protein Bars on the Market Today

#7 100% Whey Protein Isolate by Evlution Nutrition

We’ve always applauded EVL for having an easy to use website, and their presentation of this protein powdere gets the same high marks. On the right side you can pick a flavor, then quantity and check out quickly with the "buy it now" and "add to cart" options.

100% Isolate Protein is sourced from pure ingredients and offers the best fuel during post-workout. Evlution claims to use the best-in-class components to deliver what matters most- muscle building and recovery.

The product is GMP certified and free of gluten, fillers and sugars. It’s made in the US and won’t spike amino levels once taken.

When I tested this product out the taste and mixability were about average. Still, a decent product if you can find it on sale.

9.2out of 10

Ingredients9.4Muxability9.6Taste9.3Price8.4Transparency9.6Value9.2Variety of Flavors8.8

Pros

• 6 grams of BCAAs
• 12 grams of essential amino acids
• No fillers

Cons

• Most expensive on the list
• Boring flavors
• Often sold out

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#8 Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate by Musclefeast

Muscle Feast’s Grass Fed Hormone Free Whey Protein comes in 2 or 5 lb package and has flavors such as Pumpkin Spice, Mocha, Cappuccino, Vanilla, Chocolate and Unflavored.

The supplement boasts a whopping 21.5g of pure whey protein (depending on the flavor) for every serving. It also has some of the highest concentrations we’ve seen at 90%. The protein comes from grass-fed cows that are free from artificial hormones such as rBST and rBGH and processed via ultrafiltration and microfiltration.

It’s certified OU-D Kosher and helps meet daily requirements for those who are building muscle.

9.3out of 10

Ingredients9.5Mixability9.4Taste9.3Transparency9.6Value9.3Variety of Flavors8.9

Pros

• 7 different flavors
• Cold microfiltered
• No additives or artificial flavoring

Cons

• Less protein per serving

Check Price[...]"

(For the rest of Ryan Douglas' article on The 15 Best Whey Protein Isolate Powders for 2023 click on The Athletic Build link above)

Ryan Douglas

Ryan is a former college wrestler and lifelong fitness fanatic. He has run half marathons, done mud runs, placed in body transformation contests, coached wrestling, and now coaches girls’ soccer. Not to mention he has also tried literally hundreds of supplements over the years and has a vast and thorough supplement knowledge. He has written for Muscle & Strength, Testosterone Junkie, The Sport Review and other publications. He is also the editor-in-chief of this website and has over 25 years of experience in the fitness industry. Feel free to connect with him on his LinkedIn page below.

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