BEST PROTEIN POWDERS OF 2025: ACCORDING TO A DIETITIAN
A quick Google search for the “best protein powders” produces around 84 million results. Talk about overwhelming! To save you the trouble of sifting through the chaos, GNC has curated a list of the best protein powders for 2025. As a Registered Dietitian who has worked at GNC for nearly a decade, I know a thing or two about what makes some protein powders stand out.
For this project, I reviewed dozens (and dozens) of protein powders and singled out the best of the best. Because protein powders are so versatile, the winning products are categorized based on your health goal, the type or source of protein, and flavor.
The criteria for the winning products included:
- Nutritional Profile: High-quality sources of protein with minimal added sugar
- Popularity: I prioritized products based on sales and customer reviews
- Flavor & Mixability: It must taste good with minimal clumping. Bonus points for having several flavor options
- Additional Features: Bonus points for banned substance testing and added ingredients for health benefits
PROTEINS FOR HEALTH GOALS
Best Protein Powder for Gaining Muscle and Strength
GNC AMP Wheybolic Whey Protein
Nutritional Profile: Protein per Serving: 40g | Protein Source: Whey Isolate, Hydrolyzed Whey | Calories 200, Carbs 6g, Fat 2g (chocolate)
Additional Features: Proven performance benefits backed by several clinical studies, 6.2g leucine, 15g essential aminos, Third-party tested for banned substances
Why It Stands Out: I could write a book about Wheybolic, but I’ll keep it short. To put it simply, Wheybolic is in a league of its own. It’s the only protein powder I’ve seen that is backed by several clinical studies showing improvements in strength and muscle size. The combination of high-quality, fast-absorbing whey isolate combined with 6.2g of leucine is a one-two punch for muscle protein synthesis (aka. muscle growth). Wheybolic has been a best-seller for years and years, which means customers love it too (and keep coming back for more).
Best Protein Powder for Weight Loss
GNC AMP Wheybolic Whey Protein
Nutritional Profile: Protein per Serving: 25g | Protein Source: Whey Concentrate, Milk Protein Concentrate, Whey Isolate | Calories 190, Carbs 18g, 6g SunFiber®, 3.5g Fat (mocha espresso), 23 vitamins and minerals
Additional Features: Slimvance®, a botanical blend to help you lose weight and inches. A clinically-studied thermogenic blend, shown to help you burn 12x more calories. It also features Bimuno®, a prebiotic shown to improve digestive comfort and bloating.
Why It Stands Out: Lean Shake + Slimvance is a fully loaded meal replacement (and a dieter’s dream). Not only does it taste fabulous, it combines two proven ingredient blends for weight loss and calorie burning. With 200mg of caffeine, I recommend swapping out your morning coffee for this hunger-satisfying shake.
Best Protein Powder for Women
Total Lean Shake 25
Nutritional Profile: Protein per Serving: 25g | Protein Source: Whey Concentrate, Milk Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate | Calories 180, Carbs 18g, Fat 3g, 8g fiber (chocolate)
Additional Features: 23 vitamins and minerals, and lots of flavors to choose from.
Why It Stands Out: Lean Shake 25 has thousands of five-star reviews, mostly touting how fabulous it tastes. Yes, it’s a meal replacement that can be used to lose weight, but many people use it as a convenient and tasty meal (regardless of their weight). I especially love the ready-to-drink version when I’m on the go.
