BPN vs 1st Phorm: Which Protein Powder Is Better?

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When it comes to protein powder, both BPN and 1st Phorm really stand out for their whey options. The team at FeastGood has been reviewing protein powders for four years now, and these two consistently land near the top of our list.

To figure out which one comes out ahead, I compared BPN and 1st Phorm using the following criteria:

• Ingredients
• Quality assurance (brand trust)
• Protein percentage
• Cost
• Taste
• Texture & mixability

It was a close race, because both protein powders have clear strengths and weaknesses. 1st Phorm was the obvious winner for protein percentage, but it fell behind when it came to certain ingredients and overall cost.

In the end, BPN Whey Protein is the winner, but only slightly. Both products are solid choices, and the “better” option for you will probably come down to whether you prefer a whey isolate or a whey concentrate/casein blend.

Check the current price of BPN Whey Protein here.

Key Takeaways

• Containing 23g of protein per 29g scoop, 1st Phorm is 84% protein per scoop. It also uses high-quality whey processed at low temperatures, keeping nutrients intact and making it easier to digest.

• BPN wins on ingredients, using natural sweeteners like monk fruit and stevia instead of sucralose. It also costs less at $1.85 per scoop versus $2.17 for 1st Phorm.

• Both protein powders guarantee quality with third-party testing, but BPN goes a step further by using Informed Sport, which requires rigorous testing for every batch.

What Is BPN Protein Powder?

BPN (Bare Performance Nutrition) is a whey concentrate and casein blend formulated to support digestion and recovery.

Because it combines whey concentrate and slower-digesting casein, it’s a great option if you want a protein that helps with muscle recovery while also keeping you fuller for longer.

BPN is a veteran-owned brand that emphasizes trust and quality. It’s popular with high-performance athletes thanks to its strict testing standards and recovery-focused formula.

At $1.85 per serving, it’s slightly above the average cost of whey protein, but many people feel the premium is justified by the guaranteed quality and purity.

BPN certifies its products through NSF Certified for Sport, the same third-party program used by major leagues like the NFL and NHL, and also uses Informed Sport, which tests every single batch they produce. This extra testing not only verifies that the product matches the label, but also helps ensure it’s free from harmful substances like heavy metals or contaminants.

In terms of flavor, BPN offers a great protein that mixes well with water, oatmeal, yogurt, and even coffee. There are 10 flavors to choose from, all sweetened with natural sweeteners monk fruit and stevia. This is a big plus if you’re sensitive to stevia’s usual bitterness, since monk fruit helps smooth that out.

Macronutrient Breakdown of BPN Protein Powder

*Calories and macros below are for the Salted Caramel flavor.

Calories	130 calories
Protein	25g
Carbs	3g
Fat	2g
Sugar	2g

While the calories and macros for BPN protein powder do vary slightly depending on the flavor you choose, the protein content is always 25 grams.

Our Feastgood criteria for protein percentages in protein powder is:

• Excellent: more than 85% per scoop
• Good: 75-84% per scoop
• Acceptable: 65-74% per scoop
• Inadequate: Less than 65% per scoop.

As far as protein percentage goes, BPN provides between 71-77% protein per scoop (depending on the flavor), with 100 calories in each scoop coming directly from protein. This puts BPN protein in the “acceptable” to “good” protein percentage range.

Pros:

• Clean Ingredients and Third-Party Tested: With NSF and Informed Sport certifications, BPN tests every single batch of its protein. This gives you extra confidence that you’re getting what’s on the label without the harmful substances sometimes found in lower-quality products.

• The BPN Whey Protein ingredient list is also very minimal, with no artificial sweeteners or colors.

• Great Taste and Mixes Easily: You can choose a variety of 10 different flavors of BPN protein powder, and it can be delicious whether it is mixed on its own in water or added to different foods or recipes. Since it has casein in it, it does have a thicker consistency, but is not chalky or clumpy when mixed into any liquids.

• Provides Higher Satiety Compared to Whey Isolates: the inclusion of both whey concentrate and casein provides both medium and slow digesting proteins that help to support muscle growth and recovery as well as help with satiety and fullness.

Cons:

• Higher Price Point: BPN protein powder may not be ideal if you’re on a budget, since it costs $1.85 per scoop compared to an average of about $1.50. That said, it’s still reasonable for an NSF-certified, high-quality protein, and many people feel the added quality is worth the extra cost.

• Not Ideal for Lactose Intolerance: Because BPN uses both whey concentrate and casein, it naturally contains lactose, which can cause gas or bloating for some people. If you’re lactose intolerant, a lactose-free whey isolate would be a better choice.

Who Should Take It?

BPN Whey Protein is a great option for any elite athlete who requires NSF sport certifications in order to guarantee the absence of banned substances in their products.

It’s also a superior choice for endurance athletes who wish to support recovery, and for anyone wanting a product that is gluten free and does not contain any artificial flavors and colors.

Want more info?  Read my full review on BPN Whey Protein Review here.

What is 1^stPhorm- Phormula-1 Protein Powder?

1^st Phorm is a company that prides itself on making high-quality supplements, and their Phormula-1 Whey Protein Powder is no exception to this.

Their brand is built around factors such as quality control, and creating a premium product through quality ingredient sourcing and top of the line manufacturing.

Phormula-1 is a Whey Isolate Protein Powder, which means that it has gone through extra filtration to remove most of the fat, carbs, and lactose. This makes it a great option for anyone who may be sensitive to eating too much lactose, and for those who want a fast-digesting protein product.

The cost of this protein per scoop is quite a bit higher at $2.17 per serving. If you decide to purchase on a subscription, this does bring the cost down to $2.00 per serving. While this is a better cost, it is still quite a bit higher than the industry average ($1.50 per serving).

Like BPN, 1^st Phorm is third-party tested by NSF Certified For Sport, making it a great option for athletes who want products that are guaranteed to be free of any harmful or banned substances. 1^st Phorm also obtains Informed Choice certification, which guarantees regular testing for banned substances and assures quality control and high facility standards.

Phormula-1 has a very minimal ingredient list and keeps it very simple. The major ingredients listed are whey protein isolate, natural flavor, sunflower lecithin, sea salt, and sucralose, with the addition of 1 or 2 other ingredients depending on the flavor.

This protein powder mixes very easily without any annoying clumps in your shaker cup, and comes in 10 different dessert-like flavor options. You can choose basic flavors like chocolate milkshake or vanilla, or more niche flavors like salted peanut butter or café mocha.

Macronutrient Breakdown for 1^st Phorm Phormula-1 Protein Powder

*Calories and Macros below are for the Chocolate Milkshake flavor.

Calories	110 calories
Protein	23g
Carbs	1g
Fat	0.5g
Sugar	0g

At 110 calories per scoop, 84% of these calories come from protein, which is considered “good” and just shy of “excellent” on our Feastgood protein percentage ranking system.

While the calories, fat, and carbs do vary only slightly depending on the flavor you choose, the protein content does remain consistent at 23 grams per scoop.

Pros:

• Third-Party Tested with Simple High-Quality Ingredients: All of 1^st Phorm’s products are produced in FDA approved and cGMP compliant facilities. Their ingredients are third-party testing before arriving to their factory, and are accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis to verify the source, purity, and quality of each ingredient

• Delicious Flavors with Great Mixability: There are 10 different dessert-like flavors to choose from, with unique flavors offered such as CTC (Cinnamon Toast Crunch), and Chocolate Mint Cookie. It mixes easily with water in a shaker cup, or can be added easily to your favorite foods like oatmeal or yogurt.
  
  Find out my favorite chocolate proteins here.

• Contains Minimal Lactose: While it isn’t completely lactose free (and therefore not suitable for anyone with a severe lactose allergy), Phormula-1 is very low in lactose, making it a great option for those who are sensitive and react poorly to having too much lactose.

Cons:

• Very High Price Point: While it is a higher quality protein powder, the cost of Phormula-1 is higher than most protein powders we have tried at FeastGood. At $2.17 per scoop, it may be tough to justify the cost when there are many other premium protein powders out there that cost less.

• Contains Artificial Sweeteners: The ingredients in Phormula-1 Whey protein are so impressive and clean, that it comes as a bit of a disappointment that the main sweetener used in their product is sucralose. With that said, some people have no issues or negative reactions to artificial sweeteners, so this may not be a deterrent for certain individuals.

It is worth noting that 1^st Phorm now offers a natural version of their protein called “Phormula-1 Natural”. It contains all of the same great ingredients as their original formula, but uses Rebaudioside A (stevia extract) instead of sucralose. However, it is only available in 3 flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry.

Who Should Take It?

1st Phorm Phormula-1 is a great protein powder option for anyone who is looking for a high-quality, fast digesting product, and doesn’t mind a higher cost.

Since it is NSF certified, it’s also a great option for athletes who want to guarantee their product is free of harmful or banned substances.

Want more info?  Read my full review on 1^stPhorm Phormula-1 Protein Powder here.

Main Differences: BPN vs. 1^st Phorm

Ingredients

The Winner: Tie

Both protein powders use high-quality ingredients and have short, simple ingredient lists. BPN does have an edge because it doesn’t use artificial sweeteners. However, I’m still calling this one a tie, since 1st Phorm offers a “Natural” version of its whey isolate that also avoids sucralose.

Protein Percentage

The Winner: Phormula-1

The clear winner for percentage of protein calories is Phormula-1 at 84%, compared to BPN at 71-77% depending on the flavor.

Quality Assurance

The Winner: BPN

While both brands do a fantastic job at quality assurance and third-party testing, BPN comes slightly ahead since they also use Informed Sport in addition to NSF. Informed Sport requires the testing of every single batch, something that 1^st Phorm does not do.

Cost

The Winner: BPN

The clear winner when it comes to cost is BPN. At $1.85 per scoop and being considered a higher quality protein powder on the market, it beats out Phormula-1, another high-quality protein powder, at $2.17 per scoop (unless you purchase on a subscription, which brings cost down to $2.00 per scoop).

Taste

The Winner: Tie

While taste is very subjective depending on individual preference, I can safely say that both products offer a delicious taste, along with a variety of flavors (both BPN and 1^st Phorm offer 10 different flavors in their protein powders, all of which are dessert-like and sweet).

Texture & Mixability

The Winner: Tie

BPN whey protein offers a thicker texture and consistency (due to it being a concentrate/casein blend), while Phormula-1 has a slightly thinner consistency (since it is an isolate). Which one you prefer would ultimately come down to preference, but both of these protein powders mix easily and seamlessly in water and in different foods.