The 5 BEST Protein Powders for Women (Tested)

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It can be overwhelming trying to sort through the hundreds of protein powders and shakes marketed toward women, especially when you’re trying to find something high-quality that matches your fitness goals.

I’ve personally tested over 20 protein powders just for FeastGood.com and tried more than 100 throughout my career as a supplement store manager. After helping thousands of women find the right fit, I’ve narrowed it down to my top five favorites, with options for every budget, diet, and goal.

If you just want the best all-around pick without reading the whole article, go with Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Isolate. It’s clean, high-protein, and mixes better than anything else I tested.

Key Takeaways

• Despite some marketing claims, there are no characteristics to protein powder that make them “better” or “worse” for women. 

• My favourite all-around protein based on quality, mixability, and flavor variety is Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey 

• If you don’t like drinking traditional milky protein shakes, there are protein powders with unique characteristics that mix up clear like a juice or make them great for alternate uses like baking.

Before We Begin

One thing to clarify before diving into this article is that a lot of products claiming to be made specifically for men or specifically for women are clever marketing ploys. 

For certain supplement categories, like hormonal support or multivitamins, it makes sense to have formulas targeted towards the specific biology of the individual. 

For protein powders, however, there is no quality to a protein powder that would make it either more or less suitable for a woman.  

In the same way that there are no packages of chicken in grocery stores that label as being “better for women”, protein powders can be considered a food item that can be enjoyed in equal measure by everyone. 

I came across a few products labeled “designed for women,” but their ingredients were no different from any standard protein powder.

Best Overall: Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Isolate

Highlights:

• 28g Protein per scoop
• Protein Source: Grass-Fed Whey Isolate
• No artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners
• Publicly disclosed third-party testing results
• 16 different flavor varieties

Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey is usually at the top of my list. They have a huge variety of flavors which taste great and mix really well. 

Transparent Labs uses exclusively whey isolate and offers 28g of protein per 130 calories*, providing 86% protein per scoop. This puts it in the Excellent category for protein percentage. 

Because Transparent Labs uses only whey isolate, which is a fast digesting protein, on its own it won’t provide prolonged satiety. When mixed with just water, you will likely feel hungry again within an hour. 

That being said, adding Transparent labs Whey to other foods such as oatmeal or a fruit smoothie will help prolong the satiety of that meal. 

Transparent Labs does not use any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Their products use natural ingredients like cocoa and vanilla for flavor and stevia as their sweetener. 

Transparent Labs also has publicly disclosed third party testing results and they are Informed Choice and Informed Protein certified. These certifications and this level of transparency adds an extra level of reassurance that the protein powder is free of heavy metals and contaminants and also actually contains the full amount of protein that it claims to. 

Transparent Labs is a bit more expensive than the average cost of protein powder, coming in at around $2.00 per scoop. When we compared 50 different protein powders, we found the average cost per serving to be around $1.45 per serving (adjusted for inflation). 

Other proteins of similar quality (grass-fed whey, no artificial ingredients, third party tested) like Naked Whey cost up to $2.40 per serving. When you consider quality, protein percentage, taste, mixability, and versatility, Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey provides phenomenal value. 

As a pure isolate, Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey is best served as a post-workout protein powder, or added to snacks or meals to boost their protein content. On its own, it is too low calorie to be considered a meal replacement and will not provide a lot of satiety. 

With more than 15 different flavors, including an unflavored option, Transparent Labs Whey is incredibly versatile. I have used it to make Ninja Creami protein ice cream, stir it into coffee, add it to smoothies, and add it to yogurt and oatmeal. 

It can be added to baking, but I find that pure isolate proteins tend to dry out the recipes so I prefer to use products like PEScience for those projects. 

*some variation in calories based on flavor. 

Best For Muscle Building: Nitro-Tech

Highlights:

• 30g Protein per scoop
• Protein Source: Whey Concentrate, Whey Isolate, Whey Peptides
• 3g Creatine Monohydrate per scoop 

Nitro-Tech is one of several protein powders manufactured by Muscletech. While all protein powders can support muscle growth and recovery, Nitro-Tech stands out in the crowd because of the addition of 3g of creatine monohydrate per serving. 

Creatine monohydrate is one of the most thoroughly studied sports supplements and has been proven beneficial for increasing strength and athletic performance as well as muscle growth. 

Nitrotech also offers a full 30 grams of protein per scoop, where lots of other whey proteins fall between 20 and 28 grams. 

At 150 to 160 calories per scoop (flavor dependent), Nitro-Tech offers 75-80% protein per scoop, putting it in the “Good” category for protein percentage. The additional calories come from the 3g of fat and 4g of carbohydrates. 

These carbs and fats are not added ingredients, but are naturally found in the whey protein. 

Nitro-Tech uses a blend of three types of whey protein in their formula: Whey concentrate (medium to fast digestion), whey isolate (fast digestion), and whey peptides (very fast digesting). 

This combination can provide a bit more satiety than a pure whey isolate, but also helps keep the cost a little bit lower. 

Nitro-Tech is available for between $1.58 and $1.81 per serving. This is slightly above the average cost per serving of whey protein powder, but is still a really good value since you get the combination of 30g of protein (more than any others on this list) and a full daily maintenance dose of creatine monohydrate. 

I have personally tried the chocolate flavor and I really like the creamy texture and rich taste. 

Muscletech Nitro-Tech does not have the same certifications that Transparent Labs and PEScience have (Informed Choice) and I can find no indication on the label or on the MuscleTech website if their product is independently third party tested. 

This may not matter for some individuals, but it does mean that consumers have no way to verify the purity of the product or the accuracy of the label claims. 

Nitrotech could technically be added to the same items I mentioned adding Transparent Labs Whey to: smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal, coffee, baking, and shakes. My favourite way to take it, however, was one scoop mixed with water or milk after my workouts. 

Best Budget Friendly: Nutricost

Highlights:

• 30g Protein per scoop
• Protein Source: Whey Isolate
• Money Back Guarantee
• Best Cost per Serving
• Won the #1 Spot in our “Best Chocolate Protein Powder” test

It took me a long time to test Nutricost protein, honestly because other more flashy brands caught my attention. 

When I did finally get to test Nutricost Whey Isolate, it shot to a permanent place among my top 3 favourite protein powders. 

We put Nutricost head to head against more than a dozen other protein powders in a blind taste test and Nutricost took the number one spot. It was rich and flavorful without being too sweet and had a pleasant, creamy texture. 

• Related article: Chocolate Protein Powder Tier List: 15 Brands Tested

Nutricost Whey Isolate offers 30g of protein and has 130-140 calories per scoop, making it between 85 and 92% protein per scoop. (Cookies and Cream and Chocolate Peanut Butter are the exceptions, with 75-80% protein per scoop due to the added cookie pieces and peanut flour respectively). 

As a pure whey isolate, Nutricost contains only fast digesting protein and doesn’t provide a lot of satiety (around an hour) but the creamy texture made it feel more filling and satisfying. 

Nutricost is available for as low as $1.28 per serving, and if you take advantage of the Subscribe and Save Feature you can save an additional 20% off your order. This makes it by far the most affordable protein powder on this list. 

A quick note here is that the value is slightly dependent on flavor. All Nutricost tubs are filled by weight (e.g. 2lbs or 5lbs), but the flavors can be heavier or lighter depending on how much flavoring is added. 

For example, the unflavored protein has a 35g scoop so a 5lb tub has 65 servings. Cookies and Cream, on the other hand, has a 41g scoop so the 5lb tub only has 55 servings. Cookies and Cream and Chocolate Peanut Butter were the most significant outliers, but all of the other flavors had a similar scoop size and ergo a similar value. 

When I consider Nutricost’s fantastic taste, high protein percentage, low cost, and add the fact that it is independently third party tested, there’s no denying that Nutricost provides some of the best value in the industry for high quality protein. 

The only potential drawback of Nutricost protein is that they use artificial flavors and sweeteners in their products, so users who prefer all-natural products may still opt for Transparent Labs despite the higher cost per serving. 

Nutricost Isolate is available in 11 different flavor varieties, and mixes easily with zero clumps or gritty texture. Even though I loved the taste on its own, Nutricost is also incredibly versatile and I often stir it into oatmeal or add it to smoothies. 

As a whey isolate, Nutricost may dry out recipes that involve baking (I made some unintentionally very dense pancakes that my family refused to eat). 

Best for Creatives: PEScience Select

Highlights:

• 24g Protein per scoop
• Protein Source: Milk Protein (Casein and Whey Blend), and Whey Concentrate
• Third party tested for quality and purity
• Great for satiety and baking

Now that I have shared several products I don’t necessarily recommend for baking, here is a great option for Kitchen Creatives. 

PEScience Select uses a blend of Whey and Casein proteins, the latter of which is still derived from dairy but is very slow digesting. 

In my experience, I have had a lot more success using casein-based protein powders for baking and recipes. I find that the recipes retain more moisture and don’t get as dense or as dry as they do when I use pure whey isolates. 

The addition of casein protein means that this protein digests more slowly than pure isolates and can provide longer satiety than whey isolates and concentrates. 

PEScience has 24g of protein per scoop and between 110 and 125 calories per scoop. This means the protein percentage ranges from 77 to 87% landing it in the Good to Excellent categories. 

PEScience is one of my favourite protein powders for versatility because of the unique protein blend and delicious flavors. This works well as a post-workout protein, an any-time-of-day protein, or a baking protein. 

It is gluten-free and contains low lactose which makes it likely to digest well for most individuals. PEScience is also kosher certified. 

At the time this article is being written, PEScience comes in 11 different flavors including unique varieties like Snickerdoodle, Cake Pop, Strawberry Cheesecake. 

At $1.45 to $1.66 per serving, PEScience falls right around the average cost per serving for protein powders, offering great value since it is third party tested and has a great protein percentage.  

Best Vegan Protein: Transparent Labs 100% Pea Protein Isolate

Highlights:

• 28g Protein per scoop
• Protein Source: Pea Protein Isolate
• Vegan, Gluten-Free, Non-GMO
• Publicly disclosed third-party testing results
• No artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives

If you follow a plant-based diet, have a milk or lactose allergy, or find that you often get bloated or gassy from protein powder then I suggest trying Transparent Labs Pea Protein. 

The first thing that is really impressive about Transparent Labs’ vegan protein is that it has 28g of protein per scoop. The majority of Vegan proteins fall below 25g of protein per serving, often closer to 20. 

The yellow pea protein that Transparent Labs uses contains all 9 essential amino acids, which technically makes it a complete protein source. Oftentimes plant proteins will only contain some of the 9 essential amino acids and need to be paired together in order to make a complete protein. 

With 150 calories, the Transparent Labs Pea Protein offers 75% protein per scoop. By whey protein standards, this falls into the “Good” category, but by vegan protein powder standards this is actually closer to “Excellent”. 

Typically, vegan protein powders have a lower protein percentage than whey proteins due to its naturally higher carbohydrate content. 

It is also common for vegan protein powders to have a gritty texture and a more “earthy” or natural taste. I was pleasantly surprised by the rich flavor of the Transparent Labs Pea Protein (I specifically tested the chocolate flavor) and I found that it mixed easily without clumping. 

It does have a slightly gritty texture when compared to whey protein, but I found it to be much smoother and way more enjoyable than other vegan protein powders I have tried in the past. 

In true Transparent Labs fashion, you can find the certificate of analysis from the third party tester directly on the product website which adds an extra level of security that your product is high quality and free of contaminants. 

It costs $1.66 per serving, which is phenomenal value considering the high protein content, all-natural ingredients, and quality standards. For example, PEScience Select Vegan protein has a similar cost per serving but only has 20g of protein per serving. Transparent Labs gives you 40% more protein for the same cost. 

Transparent Labs Pea Protein is only available in two flavors, Chocolate and Vanilla. I personally didn’t like adding this one to my coffee because I didn’t find it mixed in well, but I did enjoy the Pea Protein added to smoothies, oatmeal, and muffins. 

Best for Fat Loss: All Of The Above

There are a few specific protein powders, such Nitro-Tech Ripped, the sister product of the Nitro-Tech that we discussed above. This specific formula has added ingredients like CLA or L-Carnitine, which can support fat metabolism.

In both my professional opinion and experience, these protein powders do not contain clinical (i.e. effective) doses of these ingredients to be really effective for fat loss on their own. 

For example, in clinical trials, CLA has been shown to provide some fat loss benefits at a dose of 3.2 grams daily. Nitro-Tech Ripped contains 0.25g of CLA which means you would have to take more than 12 scoops of Nitro-Tech Ripped to get enough CLA. 

The clinical dose of L-Carnitine for fat loss is 2g daily. With 0.5g per scoop, you would have to take 4 scoops of Nitro-Tech Ripped to get a full daily dose.

You may still decide you want to go this route, just know that opting for a product like this will amount to a fairly significant cost per day since you will have to take several scoops daily for 6 to 8 weeks in order to see significant results. 

In both my professional opinion and personal experience, I think a better route is just to focus on increasing your overall daily protein intake and add fiber rich foods which will support fat loss, lower cholesterol, and provide a longer period of satiety fullness to help control appetite. 

When in a 500 calorie per day deficit, one study found that the group who consumed a 20g of protein supplement daily lost more body fat and retained more lean mass than the group who had a placebo supplement, even though they both had the same calorie deficit.

Honorable Mention: Clear Protein Powders

If you find that traditional whey based protein powders always have a texture or taste that you struggle with, there is a second variety of whey protein called “Clear Protein”. 

This kind of protein mixes up like a juice and is almost translucent with almost no added thickness or creaminess when added to water (hence the term, “Clear Protein”).

Most Clear Protein powders contain less than 1g of carbohydrates per serving, meaning these proteins contain virtually no lactose and are commonly well-tolerated by individuals who are lactose intolerant. 

This protein powder is still derived from whey, however, and may be reactive for individuals with dairy allergies.

I have kept this kind of product from having a defined spot on this list because I have not personally tested the brands most commonly available in the USA, like MyProtein and IsoPure.

Note: I DID test both MyProtein and IsoPure whey protein powders for Feastgood.com and wrote in depth reviews of them. However, I tested the traditional whey protein powders in flavors like mocha and chocolate, not the Clear Proteins. You can find those reviews here (MyProtein) and here (IsoPure).

Some brands that I have tried which are sold in Canada are ALT Clear Protein (doesn’t ship to US) and Believe Protein Refreshers (Doesn’t ship from their website but I found it available on Amazon.com.) These brands offer a variety of juice-like options such as lemon iced tea, strawberry lemonade, cherry vanilla, and pineapple kiwi. 

I find these proteins particularly refreshing when shaken with ice water, especially in the warmer summer months.

I have had a significant number of female customers coming to shop lately after “Swearing off protein powder because they can’t stand the chalkiness” who end up falling in love with these juice-like varieties. 

Key Criteria

So, what criteria make up a protein powder that is great for women? Well, for the reasons outlined in this article, I used the same criteria to judge protein for women the way I would judge the quality of ANY protein powder. 

I used the following 6 key criteria to evaluate which products made this list.

1. Protein Source

There are many types of protein that can be used to make protein powder. On the surface, they can be dairy based (like whey), plant based (like pea or hemp), or animal based (like beef and salmon). 

Within these three broad categories are additional sub-categories that all provide different benefits. For example, whey isolate protein will have fewer carbs and fats and a higher protein percentage than other types of whey but may be more expensive and doesn’t provide a lot of satiety. 

I chose proteins that have a variety of sources to provide you with some specific recommendations based on your dietary and lifestyle preferences. 

2. Protein Percentage

Protein percentage refers to what percent of the total calories come from protein. So for example, a product that has 100 calories and 20 grams of protein offers 80% protein per scoop.

Protein = 4 calories per gram.

20 Grams of Protein x 4 Calories per Gram = 80 calories from protein. 

80 Protein Calories/100 Total Calories = 80% protein. 

After evaluating more than 50 different protein powders, FeastGood.com has established the following criteria for protein percentage: 

• Excellent: Above 85%
• Good: 75-85%
• Reasonable: 65-74% 
• Inadequate: Anything below 65%

3. Cost

Different consumers have different budgets and priorities. 

Some individuals will be okay spending a little bit of extra money to get a product that has higher quality guarantees and higher testing standards. 

Others might prioritize a low cost that allows them to more easily integrate protein into their daily lives. 

I have aimed to include protein powders that range from inexpensive to more expensive while ensuring high quality along the way. 

4. Taste and Mixability

Even if taste isn’t the number one priority, the reality is that if you cannot stand your protein powder, then you are less likely to consume it. 

This results in lost benefits and wasted money. 

Taste is a very subjective experience and what tastes amazing to one person may taste awful for another. In my reviews and assessments, I have tried to choose a variety of products that have different levels of taste and sweetness. I do my best to describe and relay my experience to you so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not you will like it. 

5. Additional Ingredients

Consumers are becoming more aware of the types of additives that are added to supplements, and pressure is being put on supplement companies to use fewer additives like preservatives and artificial sweeteners. 

Some companies also try to set themselves apart by deliberately adding things to their protein powders like vitamins and minerals. 

I specifically chose brands that minimize the use of added ingredients like artificial coloring and preservatives.

6. Versatility

I have spoken to hundreds of women who enjoy using their protein powders in a variety of ways. 

Versatility refers to how easily the protein powder lends itself to being used in diverse ways such as being mixed into yogurt or oatmeal, added to coffee and smoothies, or used in baking. 

I chose protein powders which have good mixability and/or a variety of flavors which can allow them to be used in a wider variety of ways. 

Our Testing Methodology Explained

When we evaluate our products, we go deeper than just scouring the labels. We personally tested each of the products that we use, and use them in a variety of ways. We also assess different aspects of the overall consumer experience such as how easy it is to order, shipping and return policies, and aspects of the brand itself like quality assurances and customer service. 

Why Trust Our Recommendation?

I have been the manager of a supplement store for more than a decade and have tried hundreds of protein powders throughout my career. This gives me valuable insights into all aspects of protein powder quality testing, from the insider knowledge of the supplement industry to what makes a good product at the consumer level. 

Our team at FeastGood.com is a diverse group of professionals including Registered Dietitians and coaches with PhDs in Human Nutrition. We have personally tried and tested all of the protein powders mentioned in this article. 

I do not receive any compensation from companies in exchange for these reviews. Nobody has “paid” for their spot in this article.