8 Cheapest Protein Powders (That Are Still High Quality)

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While it is generally true that you get what you pay for, some protein brands do an excellent job of marrying quality with a reasonable price point.  Below, I’ll share my top 8 picks (as well as some brands to avoid).

In A Hurry?  Here’s The Top Pick

The best budget protein powder is Bulk Supplements Whey Protein. They forego fancy advertising and packaging to deliver a high-quality product at a low cost. Their protein is available for 89 cents per serving, 33% cheaper than the average cost of whey protein. The only downside is that it comes unflavored. 

Check out our video review of the Cheapest Protein Powders.

Why Trust Our Recommendation? 

I’ve been a supplement store manager for the past 10 years, giving me insight into industry trends, products, and consumer behaviors.  I’m also a Certified Nutrition Coach and Personal Trainer and have personally tested and reviewed over 50 brands of protein powders in my career.  

Also on staff at FeastGood.com, we have Registered Dietitians, coaches with PhDs in Human Nutrition, and internationally-ranked athletes, all of whom can assess which protein powders are effective, safe, and worth your money.

At A Glance 

Best Overall

BulkSupplements Whey Concentrate

BulkSupplements Whey Concentrate

  • The lowest cost per serving at $0.89
  • Gluten-free with zero additives
  • Third-party tested
  • Only available in unflavored

Runner-Up

My Protein Impact Whey

MyProtein Impact Whey Concentrate

  • As low as $0.95 per serving
  • Available in 17 flavors, including natural flavors and unflavored
  • Third-party tested and Informed-Sport certified (safe for athletes)

Best Isolate

MyProtein Impact Whey Isolate Vanilla

MyProtein Impact Whey Isolate

  • A whey isolate available for as low as $1.17 per serving
  • Available in 8 flavors, as well as an unflavored option
  • Contains around 97% protein per scoop, incredibly high for a protein powder

Medical Disclaimer: The material presented in this article aims to offer informational insights. It should not be perceived as medical guidance. The views and writings are not designed for diagnosing, preventing, or treating health issues. Always consult with your physician prior to starting any new dietary or supplement routine.

What Is Considered A Cheap Protein? Our Criteria

inexpensive protein powders

I focused on selecting protein powders that fell below the average cost of whey protein, which after analyzing 30 different brands, is $1.36 per serving.  

I didn’t want to recommend cheap protein based only on price, though, because some cheap protein powders simply are too low quality. 

Therefore, I also considered four other criteria:  

  • Protein percent of calories: If a product is low budget but provides a low protein percentage, you may be wasting money on ingredients like carbs and fats. I picked products to optimize both budget and a high protein content. 
  • Effective ingredients: I evaluated products based on whether they have higher amounts of cheap fillers added, which lowers the cost of their product, or whether they include whole-food, high-quality ingredients.
  • Taste: You shouldn’t have to suffer through your protein powder just to save a few dollars. You are not saving money if you have to pay additional money to add extra ingredients to make your product palatable. 
  • Type of Product/Protein Source: I made sure to choose a variety of protein alternatives, including vegan protein, weight gainers, and meal replacements. This is done to help you shop on a budget regardless of your goals or dietary preferences. 

Top 8 Inexpensive Protein Powders

Best Overall: BulkSupplements.com

BulkSupplements.com Whey Concentrate

Overall rating: 4.6/5

Features

  • Protein Source: Whey Concentrate
  • Price Per Serving: $0.87-0.91
  • Protein Percent of Calories: 77%
  • Calories: 120
  • Protein: 23g
  • Carbs: 1g
  • Fat: 2.5g
  • Sugar: 1g

Athlete Endorsements From: Cristal Ortiz, Dee Jackson, Johnny Diez

Highlights

  • Least expensive protein on the market
  • Third-party tested
  • Gluten-free with no additional ingredients

Drawbacks

  • Ships in a Ziploc sealed bag as opposed to a plastic tub
  • Only available in unflavored 

Also available on Amazon

Our Thoughts:

If you are looking for high-quality, 3rd party tested protein powder for the lowest possible cost, then bulksupplements.com is the one. 

We gave this product a 5/5 rating for taste, but it could be given a 0/5, depending on your opinion. 

This is because Bulksupplements.com whey protein is only available in unflavored – this is one of the ways that the company saves on manufacturing costs, which saves you money. 

Bulk Supplements Whey Concentrate offers around 77% protein per scoop but contains only one ingredient: whey concentrate. 

This is an excellent option for anyone with sensitivities or allergies to ingredients like gluten or artificial sweeteners. 

Bulk Supplements Whey is a versatile protein powder that mixes easily into smoothies and recipes but won’t be ideal for a fast grab-and-go option because it has no flavor.

Note: flavorless does not mean without taste. This protein won’t taste good when just mixed with water.  So mix it with oatmeal, yogurt, cereal, or blend it into a fruit smoothie.

BulkSupplements Whey Concentrate

Another way that Bulksupplements cuts down on manufacturing costs is by shipping their protein powder in bags instead of plastic tubs. 

This is convenient for traveling because the bag can be pressed flat, taking up very little space. 

The downside is that the Ziploc seal may not close completely, and the bag is at increased risk of being punctured.

Check out my complete review of Bulk Supplements Whey Protein (Note: this link details the whey isolate version, not the cheaper-priced whey concentrate).

Best Whey: MyProtein Impact Whey Concentrate

Overall rating: 3.8/5

Features

  • Protein Source: Whey Concentrate
  • Price Per Serving: $0.95 -$1.12
  • Protein Percent of Calories: 76
  • Calories: 100
  • Protein: 18-19g
  • Carbs: 3g
  • Fat: 1g
  • Sugar: 1g

Athlete Endorsements From: Zay Flowers, Razi Khan, Rob Kearney

Highlights

  • The lowest cost per serving among flavored protein powders
  • Third-party tested and Informed-Sport certified, making it safe for use by drug-tested athletes
  • Great taste and a wide variety of flavors
  • MyProtein frequently runs sales and promotions, further bringing down the cost per serving

Drawbacks

  • The flavor may be too sweet for some consumers
  • Has lower total protein content (19g) than others on the market (which are usually closer to 25g)

Also available on MyProtein.com

Our Thoughts:

MyProtein Impact Whey Concentrate is a very close second to Bulksupplements.com whey concentrate. 

Both products use the same type of whey and offer a similar protein percentage per scoop. 

While Impact Whey is slightly more expensive than bulk supplements ($0.95 per serving vs $0.86 per serving), MyProtein has the advantage of coming in a wide variety of flavors. 

Impact Whey comes in traditional protein powder flavors like chocolate and vanilla but also comes in unique flavors like mocha, cinnamon cereal, birthday cake, and white chocolate peppermint. 

If there’s one complaint about MyProtein Impact Whey, the flavor is too sweet or rich for some consumers. 

Where Bulksupplements had zero added ingredients, Impact Whey uses artificial sweeteners in almost all its flavors. 

As such, Impact Whey may be more reactive to individuals with sensitive stomachs than Bulksupplements whey. 

If you are looking for a convenient, grab-and-go, any-time-of-day protein powder, this is a great option. 

Best Whey Isolate: MyProtein Impact Whey Isolate

MyProtein Impact Whey Isolate

Overall rating: 4.0/5

Features

  • Protein Source: Whey Protein Isolate
  • Price Per Serving: $1.32-$1.62
  • Protein Percent of Calories: 98%
  • Calories: 90
  • Protein: 22g
  • Carbs: 1g
  • Fat: 0g
  • Sugar: 0g
  • Athlete Endorsements From: Zay Flowers, Razi Khan, Rob Kearney 

Highlights

  • Strong flavor and mixes easily
  • Third-party tested and Informed-Sport Certified
  • Very high protein percentage per scoop

Drawbacks

  • Taste may be too sweet for some consumers
  • Ships in a bag instead of a plastic tub, increasing the risk of the seal opening or punctures, resulting in the product spilling 

Also available on MyProtein.com

Our Thoughts:

Check out our video review of MyProtein Impact Whey.

MyProtein Impact Whey Isolate is the lower sugar, faster-digesting counterpart to the MyProtein Impact Whey Concentrate I discussed above.

It is more expensive than the whey concentrates on this list, but as far as whey isolates are concerned, MyProtein Impact Isolate offers excellent value. 

High-quality, third-party tested, Informed-Sport whey isolate proteins can cost up to $2.00 per serving. MyProtein Impact Isolate costs between $1.32 and $1.62 per serving. 

One key difference you’re getting with the MyProtein whey isolate is that it has between 89 and 97% protein per scoop (depending on the flavor), which is much higher than the 77% the whey concentrate offers. 

So, even though you are paying more per serving, you are getting more protein in your product overall, leveling the playing field. 

Like MyProtein Impact Whey, the Isolate has a strong, rich flavor that may be too sweet for some users. 

This is the ideal protein for someone looking for post-workout recovery or someone who is looking for a low-calorie protein shake because they’re trying to lose weight.  

MyProtein ships this protein in a bag instead of a plastic tub, similar to Bulksupplements.

Check out my complete review of MyProtein Impact Whey Isolate.  

Best Vegan: Jacked Factory Authentic Vegan

Jacked Factory Authentic Vegan

Overall rating: 3.7/5

Features

  • Protein Source: Vegan (Organic Pea Protein Isolate, Sunflower Seed Protein, Organic Pumpkin Seed Protein, Watermelon Seed Protein, Mung Bean Protein)
  • Price Per Serving: $1.16
  • Protein Percent of Calories: 73%
  • Calories: 120
  • Protein: 22g
  • Carbs: 4g
  • Fat: 2g
  • Sugar: 1g
  • Athlete Endorsements From: Taylor Baker-Tucker, Chloe Blakeburn, Manny Ezenwa  

Highlights

  • Vegan protein blend offering 22g of protein
  • No artificial flavors or colors
  • Easy to mix and easy to digest

Drawbacks

  • Will have a slightly more chalky texture when compared to whey protein
  • Jacked Factory does not indicate that they are independently third-party tested

Also available on JackedFactory.com

Our Thoughts:

I was genuinely surprised to find a reasonably priced vegan protein powder from a brand I recognize and am familiar with. This is because most vegan protein powders are twice the cost.

Some key things to look for when choosing a vegan protein powder are to assess the total grams of protein per scoop.  Many vegan proteins offer significantly lower grams of protein than their whey counterparts. 

You also want to make sure that they use several different plant sources.  Read my article on Whey vs Plant Protein to learn more.

Jacked Factory Authentic Vegan

Authentic Vegan by Jacked Factory offers 22g of protein (similar to BulkSupplements and more than MyProtein) and has 30 servings available for around $34.99 ($1.16 per serving). 

Jacked Factory uses a blend of pea, sunflower seed, pumpkin seed, watermelon seed, and mung bean proteins. This blend of plant proteins ensures that you get all of your essential amino acids, qualifying this product as a “complete protein”. 

Aside from the protein, this product’s other ingredients include natural flavors, salt, and stevia extract. 

The end result is a product that is soy-free, non-GMO, and has no gluten-containing ingredients. Jacked Factory Authentic Vegan has 110 calories per serving, and with 22g of protein, clocks in at 80% protein per scoop. This is high by whey protein standards and VERY HIGH by vegan protein standards.

Best Supermarket Find: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Features

  • Protein Source: Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Hydrolyzed Whey
  • Price Per Serving: $1.05-$1.55
  • Protein Percent of Calories 74%
  • Calories: 120-130 
  • Protein: 24g
  • Carbs: 2-3g
  • Fat: 1-23g
  • Sugar: 1-2g
  • Athlete Endorsements From: Taylor Fritz, Cameron Brink, Cody Allen

Highlights

  • Being a top-selling brand that ships globally, this product is available in most brick-and-mortar stores and supermarkets
  • Comes in a wide variety of sizes and flavors
  • The blend of whey concentrate and whey isolate provides a product that is more cost-effective
  • Functions as a good “any time of day” protein

Drawbacks

  • Does not mix as well as a pure isolate
  • There’s a big variance in protein percentage based on flavor
  • May be more reactive in individuals with allergies or sensitivities (due to the use of artificial flavors, sweeteners, and food dyes).

Also available on OptimumNutrition.com, GNC.com, TheVitamineShoppe.com, Bodybuilding.com

Our Thoughts:

Check out our video review of Gold Standard Whey Protein.

If you prefer to shop at a brick-and-mortar store as opposed to online, then there’s a good chance that you will be able to find Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey. 

This is one of the most popular proteins globally and is Informed Choice certified, meaning it undergoes third-party testing to help ensure its quality. 

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey uses a blend of whey isolate and whey concentrate, making it a versatile protein that is suitable both any time-of-day and post-workout. 

Gold Standard Whey is available in 18 different flavors online and in various sizes (1.5lb, 2lb, 5lb, 10lb). Still, you can find chocolate and vanilla in smaller sizes in supermarkets like Target or Walmart. 

Depending on where you shop, you can usually find Gold Standard Whey for anywhere from $1.05 to $1.55 per serving. 

For example, Gold Standard Whey is available at Target for $27.99 for 22 servings, making it around $1.27 per serving. 

Gold Standard Whey offers between 73% and 87% protein per scoop (depending on the flavor). This variability is because each flavor offers 24g of protein, but the scoops range from 110 to 130 calories. 

Regardless, a third-party tested protein powder available for less than $1.30 per serving and offers more than 70% protein per scoop is still a good value.

From my experience and customer feedback, the taste and mixability of Gold Standard Whey is not as good as MyProtein. 

This product is likely not suitable for individuals with lactose sensitivities.

Check out my complete review of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey

Best for Athletes: GNC AMP Wheybolic

GNC AMP Wheybolic

Overall rating: 4.0/5

Features

  • Protein Source: Whey Protein Isolate, Hydrolyzed Whey Protein 
  • Price Per Serving: $1.39
  • Protein Percent of Calories: 80%
  • Calories: 100
  • Protein: 20g
  • Carbs: 3g
  • Fat: 1g
  • Sugar: 1g
  • Athlete Endorsements From: Chris Van Etten, Chanel Delisser, Joe Andrews, Kenta Seki

Highlights

  • Suitable for individuals with gluten and lactose sensitivities
  • Third party tested and certified free of banned substances
  • Contains lots of additional ingredients to support muscle protein synthesis

Drawbacks

  • More expensive than the other budget protein powders on this list
  • May have limited availability for sizes and flavors online, unless purchased through GNC

Also available on GNC.com

Our Thoughts:

At first glance, GNC AMP Wheybolic doesn’t appear to be a good value. It retails online for $69.99 and advertises 25 servings. 

However, those 25 servings are if you take two scoops providing 40g of protein. If you cut that in half and take it as 20g of protein and 90 calories (similar to the above proteins), the cost per serving goes from $2.79 to $1.39. 

This is still a bit more expensive than the other proteins mentioned above, but some key advantages to Wheybolic make it an appealing, cost-effective option for athletes. 

First of all, the protein powder is certified gluten-free and certified banned substance-free, making it suitable for people with gluten allergies and drug-tested athletes. 

Secondly, it contains a few key added ingredients to support muscle recovery and muscle building. Each scoop contains 3.1g of leucine, 250mg of Velositol, and also contains the enzymes lactase and bromelain.  

Leucine can support muscle protein synthesis and reduce the muscle protein breakdown rate. 

Velositol is a patented blend of chromium and amylopectin that, when used with protein, accelerates muscle protein synthesis and supports muscle growth and recovery. 

Including lactase and bromelain helps break down the lactose and protein, making this product easily digestible even for people with dairy sensitivities. 

If you want to prioritize muscle recovery, GNC AMP Wheybolic is a great post-workout option that provides protein and some key additional ingredients still at a reasonable price. 

Best Gainer: Rival Nutrition Clean Gainer

Rival Nutrition Clean Gainer

Overall rating: 4.0/5 

Features

  • Protein Source: Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate, Milk Protein Isolate, Micellar Casein
  • Price Per Serving: $1.90 ($0.34 per 100 Cals. Industry Average = $0.37 per 100 cals)
  • Protein Percent of Calories: 21%
  • Calories: 560
  • Protein: 30g
  • Carbs: 99g
  • Fat: 5g
  • Sugar: 9g
  • Athlete Endorsements From: Scott Daly, Rachael Bober, Jeremy Sayers

Highlights

  • Balanced formula that uses high-quality ingredients and is low in sugar
  • Informed Choice certified and third-party tested
  • Tastes great and mixes easily

Drawbacks

  • Uses artificial flavors and sweeteners which may be a turnoff for some consumers
  • Does not contain added ingredients to support recovery and muscle protein synthesis like creatine, leucine, or other amino acids

Also available on RivalNutrition.com, VitamineShoppe.com, MuscleAndStrength.com

Our Thoughts:

There is so much variability between weight-gaining products that this section was more challenging to break down. 

Ultimately, we’re discussing budget, so my criteria for choosing a high-quality weight gainer was the one that provided the lowest cost per 100 calories while using high-quality ingredients. 

Rival Nutrition Clean Gainer uses a blend of carbohydrates, including maltodextrin, organic quinoa, organic blueberry powder, organic rice bran, and oat fiber.

They use a protein blend of whey concentrate, whey isolate, milk isolate, and casein, providing the full range of fast to slow-digesting proteins. 

They use MCTs, flaxseed powder, avocado powder, and sunflower oil powder for their fat blend. 

Their flavoring combines natural and artificial flavors, sea salt, sucralose, and stevia. 

The product does contain milk and soy but has no gluten-containing ingredients and is Informed Choice Certified, making it safe for use by elite athletes. 

It offers 560 calories per 2-scoop serving, with:

  • 5g fat
  • 99g carbohydrates (4g fiber)
  • 9g sugar (4g added sugar)
  • 30g protein

Clean Gainer mixes up quite thick, but you don’t need a high-powered blender to mix this product. I could shake it in a standard cup for about 20-30 seconds and have it dissolve almost entirely. 

It tastes excellent even just mixed with water and is available in Chocolate, Vanilla, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Campfire S’Mores, Cookies and Cream, and Cinnamon Toast Cereal. 

From my experience with my clients and customers, Cinnamon Toast Cereal is a huge hit! 

Online, the 10lb Rival Nutrition Clean Gainer bag is listed at $56.99. This product provides 30 servings at 560 calories. 

Cost per 560 calories = $1.90. Cost per 100 calories = $0.34. 

When I did this comparison for other popular weight gainers, I found the cost per serving to range from $0.32 to $0.41 per 100 calories, with Clean Gainer having the best combination of high-quality ingredients and lower cost per serving.

This product is excellent for anyone who needs a snack to power them through the afternoon (you can just mix one scoop with water for a 280-calorie snack), or for individuals who struggle to maintain or put on weight. 

Having 2 to 4 scoops daily can provide 560-1120 calories to support your weight gain and body composition goals.

Rival Nutrition Clean Gainer

Best Meal Replacement: RedCon1 MRE

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Features

  • Protein Source: Beef Protein Isolate, Pea Protein, Brown Rice Protein, Chicken Protein, Egg Albumin, Salmon Protein
  • Price Per Serving: $3.19 ($1.43 per 260 calories, industry average around $2.19 per 260 cals)
  • Protein Percent of Calories: 37%
  • Calories: 510
  • Protein: 47
  • Carbs: 75
  • Fat: 2
  • Sugar: 5g (4g added sugar) 
  • Athlete Endorsements From: Kai Greene, Dana Linn Bailey, Josh Bailey 

Highlights

  • Uses a high-quality whole food blend including rolled oats, animal and plant-based proteins, russet and sweet potatoes, yams, blueberries, and goji berries
  • Contains a high percentage of protein for a meal replacement (~35% of total calories)
  • Comes in a variety of unique flavors that mix well

Drawbacks

  • Contains a high amount of potential allergens: milk, egg, fish (salmon), tree nuts (coconut), wheat, and soy
  • Uses high fructose corn syrup in its formula

Also available on: Redcon1.com, VItamineShoppe.com, GNC.com

Our Thoughts:

Meal replacement products have similar struggles to weight gainers in that there are so many ingredient blends and calorie content varieties that it can be difficult to compare them head to head. 

I drew up two different lists, one that had high-quality ingredients and a formula that I trusted. The second list was ranked from highest to lowest cost per serving. 

One product that ranked highly on both lists and meets the balance of quality and budget-friendly is RedCon1 MRE. 

RedCon1 MRE is an animal-based formula that uses a blend of Beef, Pea, Brown Rice, Chicken, Egg, and Salmon protein. Essentially, they use everything except dairy-based protein. 

A big draw for this is that it made a product suitable for people with dairy sensitivities who didn’t want to choose from only vegan products. 

One big drawback: As recently as a year or two ago, RedCon began adding milk creamer to their products for texture, which means they are no longer dairy-free and suitable for people with full milk allergies. It may still be suitable for people with lighter sensitivities. 

Most flavors do not contain gluten, but it is worth double-checking the ingredients. For instance, the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie flavor has wheat in the cookie pieces. Dutch Apple Pie, on the other hand, has no gluten-containing ingredients. 

To be a full meal replacement, MRE suggests using 4 scoops to get 530 calories. If you do so, you will get a breakdown of:

  • 4g fat (0g saturated, 0g trans)
  • 75g carbohydrates (8g fiber)
  • 5g sugar (0g added sugar)
  • 47g protein. 

If you do all 4 scoops, MRE is available for $79.99 for 25 servings or $3.19 per serving. 

To make it a level playing field across all meal replacements I assessed, I calculated the cost per ~250 calories to more accurately compare products. MRE comes in at $1.43 per 260 calories.

When I did this same comparison across other popular meal replacements, the cost ranged from $1.89 to $2.50 per ~250 calories (with one brand costing as much as $2.40 per 140 calories). 

MRE was the clear front runner for cost, and its use of whole food ingredients makes it a good, budget-friendly option compared to other meal replacements. 

On Amazon, MRE is available in Fudge Brownie, Vanilla Milkshake, Peanut Butter, Banana Nut Bread, and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip.

If you shop directly through the RedCon1 website, it’s available in Peanut Butter Cookie, Blueberry Cobbler, Dutch Apple Pie, and Strawberry Shortcake. 

The RedCon1 website also has a subscribe and save feature where you can save 30% on your order if you ship monthly. 

Cheap Protein Powders We DO NOT Recommend

There are many more than 8 budget-friendly protein supplements on the market. Here are some that we tested personally that didn’t make the cut. 

  • Rule 1 Whey: This protein met the criteria for a cheap protein powder, but only when buying the 5lb or 10lb sizes. This requires a more significant upfront investment ($88-160). 
  • BodyTech Whey Isolate: This protein comes at a great value (around $1.19 per serving), but the negative taste was hard to overcome and was enough to make me think twice before buying this product again. 
  • PEScience Select: We loved this product, but like Rule1 Whey, you would have to invest in the bigger-sized tub to achieve a lower-than-average cost per serving. 
  • Six Star Whey: This protein has one of the lowest protein percentages out of any protein powders we tested at 58% protein per scoop. This means that 42% of the calories found within the product come from carbs and fats. 
  • Muscletech Grass-fed Whey: Muscletech Whey offers only 57% protein per scoop, the lowest of any protein powders we tested. The low cost per serving does not negate the fact that nearly half of the calories within the product do not come from protein. 

Is It Cheaper To Buy Protein Powder or Pre-Made Protein Shakes?

Overall, it is much cheaper to buy protein powder than pre-made shakes. Most protein powders range from $1.00 to $2.00 per 25g serving, while premade shakes hover closer to $3.00-$4.00 per serving. 

The cheapest route is to buy an unflavored protein powder from a company like bulksupplements.com. 

For flavor, you can purchase ingredients like cocoa powder, vanilla extract, or coconut milk and still pay less per serving than you would for most commercially available protein shakes. 

Is Protein Powder Worth It?

While grocery prices vary wildly, a bulk box (2kg) of chicken breasts costs around $29.00. If one serving (3 oz) of chicken = around 85g, that box yields approximately 23 servings. 

Those 3 oz servings of chicken each offer approximately 25g of protein, costing around $1.26 per serving. 

When we calculate it this way, the cost of protein powder can cost less per serving than a serving of chicken. 

For many people, the grab-and-go convenience of protein powder makes it a more appealing option, even if the cost of some products is slightly higher than chicken. 

If we consider a different protein source, eggs offer around 6g of protein and can be purchased for ~$2.40 per dozen. The cost per egg is around 20 cents, and it would take 4 eggs to get the same amount of protein found in a scoop of protein powder, so you are looking at about 80 cents per serving. 

That being said, that same large egg has around 5g of fat, so for 24g of protein, you are also getting 20g of fat (totaling 180 calories) compared to protein powders which have 0-2g of fat per serving. 

When we dig into it and compare protein powders to whole food sources of protein, the cost per serving is very similar, and the convenience of protein powders makes them more accessible for many people throughout the day since heat or refrigeration is not required. 

Our Testing Methodology Explained 

First and foremost, we ensured that we only tested products prioritizing a lower-than-average cost per serving. 

Other online articles recommend products like Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Isolate as the best overall budget-friendly protein powder.

Don’t get me wrong; Transparent Labs Isolate is undoubtedly one of my absolute favorite protein powders (click to read my review). 

However, it’s also one of the most expensive proteins on the market and doesn’t belong on a list of inexpensive protein powders. 

We also tried to bring you products in this list to suit every use case: 

  • Low-calorie
  • High-calorie
  • Meal replacement
  • Post-workout
  • Any time of day
  • Vegan. 

We like to get our hands on as many of these products as possible, and in those cases, you can find in-depth reviews of these products linked throughout this article.   

For the other products, we rely on a combination of customer feedback, online ratings, and online reviews from websites like Reddit, Quora, and YouTube that showcase unbiased, honest reviews. 

I, personally, am fortunate to have been a supplement store manager for the past decade, granting me extra access to products that I can try personally and a bigger pool of customer feedback and experience to draw from when making my recommendations. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Cheapest Protein on Amazon?

The cheapest protein powder found on Amazon is the Nutricost Whey Concentrate (unflavored), available for as low as 78 cents per serving for 25g of protein. 

Are There Risks of Taking Cheap Protein Powder?

Taking cheap protein powder does not pose a severe health risk, but if it is not third-party tested then it might not meet its label claims. E.g. it might advertise 25g of protein but only contain 10g of protein and have added cheap fillers. Cheap protein may also contain higher levels of allergens like lactose.

About The Author

Jennifer Vibert

Jennifer Vibert is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Nutrition Coach, and supplement store manager. She has a Bachelor of Kinesiology with a major in Fitness and Lifestyle and a minor in Psychology from the University of Regina. She is a Certified Nutrition Coach through Precision Nutrition, with a passion for helping clients learn the fundamentals of nutrition and supplementation in order to build healthy, sustainable habits.

Why Trust Our Content

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On Staff at FeastGood.com, we have Registered Dietitians, coaches with PhDs in Human Nutrition, and internationally ranked athletes who contribute to our editorial process. This includes research, writing, editing, fact-checking, and product testing/reviews. At a bare minimum, all authors must be certified nutrition coaches by either the National Academy of Sports Medicine, International Sport Sciences Association, or Precision Nutrition. Learn more about our team here.

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If you have any questions or feedback about what you’ve read, you can reach out to us at [email protected]. We respond to every email within 1 business day.

Bulk Supplements Whey Concentrate

The #1 Best Cheap Protein Powder

Bulk Supplements is my top pick. Here’s why:

  • Lowest cost per serving ($0.89 compared with market average of $1.34)
  • Third-party tested
  • Gluten-free with no artificial sweetener

Bulk Supplements is my top pick. Here’s why:

  • Lowest cost per serving ($0.89 compared with market average of $1.34)
  • Third-party tested
  • Gluten-free with no artificial sweetener