Category · Updated 2026

Protein powders & shakes

Protein is the single most important macro to keep in your diet when you're losing weight — especially on a GLP-1, where reduced appetite makes it hard to hit 100+ grams a day from food alone. These are the whey, plant, and ready-to-drink options we actually use.

How we picked

  • ≥ 20 g protein per serving with a complete amino acid profile
  • Under 5 g added sugar (RTDs) or a clean unflavored option for powders
  • Third-party tested (Informed Sport, NSF, or Labdoor) when it matters
  • Mixes clean, tastes acceptable — the best protein is the one you'll actually drink
  1. #1 Editor's pick
    100% Grass-Fed Whey Isolate — Transparent Labs

    Transparent Labs

    100% Grass-Fed Whey Isolate

    28 g grass-fed whey isolate — zero artificial anything

    4.8

    $1.99 / serving

    • Highest protein-per-calorie ratio in the lineup
    • Grass-fed, hormone-free sourcing
    • No artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives
    • Premium price vs mass-market whey
    Current offer

    10% off with code

    Code WLPT10

  2. #2 Top rated
    Core Power Elite — Fairlife

    Fairlife

    Core Power Elite

    42 g protein in a bottle — the RTD to keep in your fridge

    4.7

    $3.79 / bottle

    • Highest-protein RTD on the market
    • Tastes like chocolate milk, not a supplement
    • Zero prep — perfect for GLP-1 injection-day mornings
    • 7 g sugar per bottle (lactose + a little added)
  3. #3 Top rated
    Whey+ Isolate — Legion

    Legion

    Whey+ Isolate

    22 g grass-fed whey isolate — naturally sweetened, Labdoor A-rated

    4.7

    $1.87 / serving

    • No artificial sweeteners, dyes, or fillers
    • Labdoor top-5 purity rating across every batch
    • Cinnamon Cereal and Salted Caramel are standout flavors
    • Stevia aftertaste isn't for everyone
  4. Gold Standard 100% Whey — Optimum Nutrition

    Optimum Nutrition

    Gold Standard 100% Whey

    The best-selling whey on Earth — 24 g protein, tested by generations

    4.6

    $0.99 / serving

    • Best price-per-gram of protein in the category
    • Mixes and tastes better than most premium brands
    • Informed Choice tested (banned-substance screening)
    • Contains artificial sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame potassium)
    Current offer

    Free shipping on $75+

  5. Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+ — Ritual

    Ritual

    Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+

    20 g organic pea protein — the plant option that actually mixes

    4.5

    $2.33 / serving

    • Cleanest label of any plant protein we've tested
    • Complete amino acid profile with added L-lysine + methionine
    • Vanilla flavor is genuinely good — no chalk
    • Only two flavors (vanilla, chocolate)
    Current offer

    25% off first month

  6. Organic Plant Based Protein — Orgain

    Orgain

    Organic Plant Based Protein

    21 g organic plant protein — the grocery-store plant pick

    4.4

    $1.25 / serving

    • USDA Organic at a grocery-store price
    • Complete blend covers pea protein's amino gaps
    • Available at Costco, Target, and most grocery chains
    • Slightly gritty vs premium plant proteins

Best for a specific use case