Levels Protein Review: Budget Grass-Fed Whey: Best Value Or Too Many Trade-Offs?

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I have been a supplement store manager for more than a decade, which has given me the opportunity to try hundreds of different protein powders. This first hand experience has given me industry insight into what goes into making the best products, as well as consumer experience for what makes a desirable and good tasting product. 

Levels is a brand who goes above and beyond to produce some of the highest quality protein with no artificial flavors or ingredients. There’s one key downside however that has kept this protein from earning a permanent spot on my shelf. 

Key Takeaways:

Honest Review Guarantee from FeastGood: Our testing team purchases each product 100% independently and uses the product for several weeks up to several months before writing a review. Learn more about our review process here.

• Levels Whey uses grass-fed whey concentrate which provides 24g of protein and 130 calories per scoop

• Levels Whey costs between $1.10 and $1.78 per serving, making it among the most affordable protein powders in the naturally-flavored category

• Levels Whey has a gritty texture and ranked in the bottom spot when we did a blind taste test of more than a dozen chocolate flavored proteins which might rule it out for people sensitive to taste and texture

About Levels (The Company)

Levels makes it impossible to miss the fact that they are a brand focused on all-natural ingredients with no artificial flavors or additives. When navigating to their home page, my entire laptop screen is taken up by their slogan written in enormous text that reads “Nothing Fake. Ever”. 

Specifically, they avoid the use of added sugars, soy, gluten, and artificial sweeteners in their products. 

Levels uses sea salt, stevia, and monk fruit to sweeten and flavor their products, plus additional ingredients that vary by flavor such as cocoa powder, peanut powder, and vanilla extract. 

Levels has also managed to create a naturally-flavored product at an incredibly reasonable price point. Other all-natural protein powders, like Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Isolate and Naked Nutrition Whey, offer products that cost between $2.00 and $2.40 per serving. 

Levels offers their protein for between $1.10 and $1.78 per serving (depending on which size you buy) which makes it a bargain in the naturally flavored category. 

Perhaps the biggest advantage that Levels has, aside from the all-natural formula and affordability, is the fact that they offer a 15-day satisfaction guarantee. If you are unhappy with your product, they will send you a promotional gift card to try something new, making your investment into Levels protein a low risk one. 

Aside from their whey protein powder, Levels also manufactures collagen and casein protein which all follow the same all-natural guidelines. 

Levels products are all made in the USA and each batch is third party tested for heavy metal content. The whey protein is sourced from suppliers of humanely raised, grass-fed cows from across the USA.

Overview of Levels Protein Powder

Levels Whey uses exclusively whey concentrate protein which has undergone minimal processing. They have 9 different flavor options available that are sweetened with stevia and monk fruit. 

The macronutrient breakdown of Levels Whey protein is: 

• Protein: 24g  
• Carbohydrates:  4g
• Fat:  2.5g
• Sugar: 2g

Levels whey has 130 calories per scoop (chocolate peanut butter is the one exception, at 140 calories). With 24g of protein per scoop, Levels Whey Protein offers around 74% protein per scoop. 

This puts Levels Whey protein right on the cusp of having a “good” protein percentage, but it technically falls down into the “Reasonable” range. 

As per Feastgood.com criteria, a “Reasonable” protein percentage is one that is between 60 and 74% protein per scoop. To be considered a “Good” protein percentage, it should fall between 75 and 85% protein per scoop with anything above 85% considered “Excellent”. 

One reason for this lower protein percentage is due to the fact that Levels uses whey concentrate instead of whey isolate. Whey concentrate has undergone less filtration and retains some of its naturally occurring sugars and fats.

Levels Whey protein offers 74% protein per scoop, making it a “Reasonable” protein source. 

Highlights: What I Liked About Levels Protein

All-Natural Ingredients

What I appreciate most about Levels is their commitment to using all-natural ingredients and grass-fed whey protein. They avoid the use of artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners. 

There is typically a sacrifice made in taste when a company uses all-natural ingredients, which I found to be the case with Levels whey protein and similar protein powders I have tried, like Naked Nutrition Whey. 

That being said, customers who prioritize high quality ingredients and find conventional protein powders to be too sweet will appreciate Levels Whey. 

Phenomenal Value

Levels Whey costs between $1.10 and $1.78 per serving. When assessing more than 50 commercially available protein powders, we found the average cost per serving to be around $1.35 per serving. 

Among all whey proteins, Levels come in at a very attractive price point. If we take this one step further, however, and compare Levels to similar, all-natural protein powders the value is amplified. 

Similar brands, like Naked Nutrition Whey, cost between $2.23 and $3.36 per serving for the same amount of protein per scoop (25g) and significantly higher sugar and carb content. 

The cost of Levels Whey is dependent on which size of tub you buy. The smaller tubs will be a lower overall investment, but a higher cost per serving. On the other hand, the larger tubs will require a bigger initial investment, but save you considerable money in the long term. 

Drawbacks: What I Didn’t Like About Levels Protein

Poor taste and mixability

The biggest con of Levels Protein for me was the bitter, unpleasant taste and gritty texture.

In a blind taste test of more than a dozen chocolate protein powders, Levels scored at the very bottom for taste and mixability for its two chocolate flavors; Pure Chocolate and Double Chocolate. 

We did two total trials: One where we had all of the chocolate protein powders together, and then one where we separated the all-natural products from the artificially sweetened ones. 

Levels took last place and second to last place in both trials. 

A few days later, when I went back to drinking Levels protein without the influence of other protein powders in the taste test setting, the flavor wasn’t as jarring as I had initially found it. It definitely does have a bitter undertone to it, though. 

When mixed into a smoothie or oatmeal with other ingredients like fruit or peanut butter added, I found it to be more palatable. 

Levels mixes easily without any clumping but I do find it has a slightly gritty texture that leaves a kind of residue on my teeth. 

Unclear Third Party Testing

Levels Whey states that they are third party tested, but they give no indication on their website of who does the third party testing and the results are not easily available to the public. 

There is no reason to think that Levels is being dishonest in their claim and I am sure that they are third party tested like they claim to be. 

As consumers like yourself are becoming more aware of third party testing, more pressure is being put on supplement companies to be transparent about their testing processes. 

Companies like Transparent Labs, for example, publicly disclose the results of their testing on their website. Brands who invest in third party certifications like Informed Choice, Informed Sport, Informed Protein, or NSF, have the results of their tests available on the certification organization website. 

These certifications are expensive, which is perhaps why Levels has chosen to forego that extra step which allows them to keep their costs lower than their competition. 

Levels Protein Review: My Experience

Working in the supplement industry can be both a blessing and a curse. Because I have had the opportunity to test more than a hundred protein powders, I have the luxury of being able to cherry pick my favourites and be extremely picky about which proteins I like. 

For that reason, I think I come across a little bit harsh in my assessment of the taste and texture of Levels Whey. Do I think there are naturally flavored protein powders that taste better than Levels? Absolutely. Do any of these brands offer a high quality grass-fed whey protein for the low price that Levels does? No. 

When I did my blind taste test of the 12 different proteins, I tested them all one right after another. 

Doing this means that any outliers, for example, any proteins that are a little bit bitter or a little bit sweet will have those characteristics amplified. When I tasted Levels side by side with the other protein powders, I nearly wanted to spit it out because it seemed flavorless and extremely bitter. 

When I have Levels on its own, removed from the influence of other chocolate proteins, the taste is much more palatable. I do still find it to be on the bitter side and it is not quite as flavorful as other protein powders, but I don’t feel compelled to spit it out. 

Despite my best efforts, this will not be a protein powder I add to my supplement cupboard on a regular basis. This is mostly because I am the kind of person who mixes my protein powder with water on the go, and Levels just doesn’t have the sweetness or richness that I am looking for from my protein powder. 

If I were making smoothies, adding protein to coffee, or mixing it into yogurt and oatmeal on a more regular basis, then I would definitely be drawn to Levels for two key reasons. 

The more mild flavor means that this protein will lend itself better to recipes where you want other aspects to be the star of the show. For example, if you mix Levels protein into a fruit smoothie, the fruits you choose will dictate the flavor more than the protein powder will. 

Secondly, the cost of this product may well justify the so-so flavor. If you are on a tighter budget but still want a product that uses high quality, all-natural ingredients it isn’t common for those two priorities to work together. Levels has done a great job of marrying the two. 

How Does Levels Stack Up Against Our Criteria For Whey Protein

At FeastGood, we have 8 different criteria for ranking whey protein powders.  Here’s how Levels Whey Protein stacked up:

Nutrition label transparency 

Our rating: 4.5/5

Levels Whey clearly labels all calories, carbs, protein, and fat per serving in accordance with national food guide standards. 

The only place where Levels loses marks for transparency is that they don’t clearly identify who their third party tester is and what the results of that testing are. 

There’s no reason to think they are lying or hiding anything, but other companies like Transparent Labs have adapted the playing field which puts more pressure on more companies to be fully transparent with consumers. 

Fat content transparency 

Our rating: 5/5

Levels Whey has 2.5g to 3.5g of fat per serving with 1.5g of saturated fat, which is clearly identified on each flavor’s nutrition label. 

The Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor has the most fat, 3.5g, on account of the addition of peanut flour which naturally contains fat. 

Cappuccino has the lowest fat content, with 2g of fat per serving and 1g of saturated fats. 

All other flavors have 2.5g of fat.

Effective ingredients 

Our rating: 4/5

Levels Whey Protein uses grass-fed whey concentrate and natural flavors and sweeteners. The product is soy-free and gluten-free. 

Levels does not get a perfect score for effective ingredients, only because their use of whey concentrate instead of whey isolate means that the protein has a lower overall protein percentage and higher naturally occurring carb and fat content. 

This product will contain lactose and may cause reactivity symptoms like gassiness, bloating, or stomach upset for individuals with lactose sensitivity. 

Protein percent of calories

Our rating: 3.75/5

Levels Whey has 24g of protein per scoop and around 130 calories per serving.  This puts it at around 74% protein per scoop, which places it in the “Reasonable” category for protein percentage. 

The reason that the protein percentage is lower despite not having any unnecessary added ingredients is because they use whey concentrate which still has some of the naturally occurring fat and sugar from the dairy. 

Isolate proteins, on the other hand, have been filtered to remove the excess carbs and fats resulting in a protein that offers up to 95% protein per scoop. 

Because they use stevia and monk fruit – two calorie-free sweeteners, the protein does still stay within an acceptable range. 

Taste/flavor

Our rating: 2.5/5

I tried both the Pure Chocolate and Double Chocolate flavors, and while I did prefer the taste of the Double Chocolate, I found them both to be quite bitter and undesirable.

As I mentioned above, the Levels protein scored at the very bottom for taste when we put it to a blind taste test against 12 other chocolate protein powders. 

That being said, taste is an incredibly subjective experience. When I browse the customer reviews for Levels protein, there are hundreds of users who remark on how much they love the taste of this protein. 

If your main priorities are all-natural ingredients and a budget-friendly option, then I still suggest giving Levels a try, despite my experience. 

Mixability

Our rating: 3/5

Levels Whey mixes up without significant clumping, but it does have a gritty texture. When left to sit for a few minutes, the powder starts to separate creating a sticky foam at the top with some sediment on the bottom.

This happened more significantly when I used a traditional shaker cup and mixed the protein with only water. When I used milk, the mixability issue was less noticeable. 

I did not have any mixability concerns when I used a blender to make smoothies or stirred the powder into oatmeal. 

Texture (Thick or Thin)

Our rating: Thick

Levels Whey mixes up with a slightly thicker texture which is common for whey concentrate protein powders. 

If you can get past the slight grittiness, Levels does offer a nice, creamy texture even when just mixed with water. 

Satiety

Our rating: 3/5

Levels Whey contains whey concentrate, which digests a little bit slower than pure whey isolates. I found it provided satiety for approximately 2 hours after ingestion.

On its own, Levels Whey is still a low calorie protein powder and should not be considered a meal replacement. When mixed with just water, I found it tied me over for 1-2 hours between meals. 

When mixed as a smoothie with fruit and some healthy fats or stirred into oatmeal, it provided much more prolonged satiety. 

Who Is Levels Whey Protein For? 

Levels Whey is for: 

• Someone who wants to avoid any artificial flavors, sweeteners, and colors

• Individuals looking for a good any time of day protein 

• Those who find traditional protein powders too sweet

• Anybody looking for a budget-friendly option

Who Shouldn’t Take Levels Whey Protein?

Levels Whey protein is not for: 

• Individuals with a lactose/dairy sensitivity

• Those who want a rich, dessert-like protein powder

• Individuals who are sensitive to texture or want a protein they can easily mix with water and take on the go

Levels Whey Customer Reviews

Like I mentioned above, some customers and I definitely have differences of opinion when it comes to the taste and mixability of Levels protein.

That being said, on the Levels website, they boast a 4.69 out of 5 star rating with more than 5,000 reviews which is a pretty generous sample size. The reviews on large online retailers like Costco and Amazon have very similar ratings, with 4.7 and 4.5 out of 5 stars, respectively.

Many reviews praise the clean ingredients of the product and users have found a variety of ways to integrate the protein into their day, by mixing it into coffee or blending it with various fruits as smoothies. 

Many users feel that the protein digests well and a lot of individuals comment on how they appreciate that the flavor isn’t too sweet. If you are someone who tends to find protein powders to be unbearably sweet, then there’s a good chance you will also appreciate the more subtle taste of Levels Whey. 

Where To Buy Levels Whey? 

You can order Levels protein direct from the Levels website where you can order one tub at a time, or take advantage of their Subscribe & Save feature which allows you to save 10% off your products. You can set your delivery frequency to be every 30, 45, or 60 days. 

Levels Whey is also available on Amazon, and at some large online retailers like Costco and Walmart. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Is Levels Whey Made? 

Levels Whey is proudly processed and packaged in the USA using American grass-fed cattle. 

What Is Levels Whey’s Shipping Policy? 

Products ordered directly from Levels are only shipped within the USA. They offer free standard shipping on all orders which typically arrive within 4-5 business days. 

What Is Levels Whey’s Return Policy? 

Levels offers a 15 day guarantee whereby if you are dissatisfied with their product, they will send you a gift card to try something new. Any exchanges or returns must be processed within 15 days of delivery. The guarantee is applicable to your first time ordering a product and only 1 item per order. 

Is Levels Whey Gluten Free

Levels Whey advertises as gluten-free. 

Are There Any Side Effects?

Levels Whey is a whey concentrate which still contains some naturally occurring sugar (i.e. lactose). Individuals with dairy or lactose sensitivities may experience bloating, gassiness, or GI upset from taking this product. 

How To Contact Levels Whey 

Levels has a chat feature built into their website, or you can reach them by email at hello@levelsprotein.com. 

For a more casual connection, find Levels Whey online on Facebook, Instagram, X, Youtube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.