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I’ve been reviewing protein powders on YouTube for the past 7 years, and the two most popular brands subscribers talk about for being high-quality are Transparent Labs and Dymatize Iso 100.
But which is better? That’s what I’m going to answer today.
I recently bought both brands and have used them consistently for the past month. I’ve now ranked and compared them based on the following categories:
- Ingredients
- Quality Assurances (aka Brand Trust)
- Taste
- Mixability
- Texture
- Satiety
- Cost
In a Hurry? Here’s The Winner
After breaking down the scores, Transparent Labs came out on top. That said, Dymatize Iso 100 is still a fantastic product for several reasons, so I recommend reading my comparison to decide which of the two is better for you.
Note: For brevity, I will refer to Transparent Labs’ protein as ‘TL whey isolate.’
Key Takeaways
- The main difference between TL whey isolate, and Dymatize Iso 100 is that TL uses exclusively grass-fed whey isolate without artificial flavors or sweeteners. Iso 100 uses a blend of whey isolate and hydrolyzed whey, both fast-digesting proteins, but it’s also sweetened with sucralose.
- Transparent Labs is perfect for those looking for a grass-fed whey isolate sweetened with stevia and providing a high protein concentration (up to 86% of calories). In contrast, the Dymatize Iso 100 flavors with the highest protein top out at 85% (Dunkin’ Cappucino and Fruity Pebbles).
- While Dymatize Iso 100 offers slightly less protein percentage per scoop, it’s also $0.30 cheaper per serving, making it a high-quality protein for those looking to save a few bucks.
What Is Transparent Labs Whey Isolate?
TL whey isolate is a grass-fed whey isolate protein with two distinct benefits.
First, isolate means the product is more refined and has virtually no fats or carbohydrates; almost all the calories come from protein.
For reference, depending on the flavor, a scoop offers 130 calories and 28 grams of protein, which means 86% of the calories are protein. To put this into context, some of the proteins we’ve tested on FeastGood have 60-70% of their calories coming from protein (yikes!). Anything over 85% is considered extremely high quality, so TL whey easily falls into this level.
Second, ‘grass-fed’ means the cows are fed a diet primarily based on grass and have a higher quality of life than conventional cows, which are fed a mixture of grains, silage, and supplements, often non-organic.
Aside from that, TL whey isolate only has a handful of ingredients: stevia, salt, natural flavors, and sunflower lecithin, a natural ingredient that helps with mixability. This is in stark contrast to most products that contain multiple thickeners (like gums), multiple artificial sweeteners, soy, and oils.
And, of course, what’s a nutritional label without third-party testing to confirm its accuracy?
TL whey is third-party tested, with the results of each tested batch available on their website. You can look up the serial number of the bottle you get to make sure the product is pure and free of any ingredients you don’t want.
Lastly, let’s look at the cost.
At $2.00 per serving, TL whey isolate is on the expensive side, given that our evaluation of 30+ protein brands showed that the average price per serving of whey is $1.34. That said, this average considers all types and quality of protein powders, including whey concentrates.
So, given the quality, excellent taste, impressive mixability, texture, and proof of safety, the price is justified and worth paying. You can also save 10% using their subscribe and save feature.
Check out my colleague Jennifer Vibrent’s review on Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate.
Pros
- Up to 86% protein per scoop (can vary slightly between flavors)
- Whey from grass-fed cows
- Quality ingredients and no potentially harmful additives
- Impressive mixability with no chunks
- Good taste with a wide variety of flavors
- Third-party tested with analysis available on the website
Cons
- The cost per serving is well above the average of $1.34
Who Should Take It?
Transparent Labs Whey Isolate is a great option for:
- Gym-goers who want to maximize their protein intake while limiting the calories per serving
- People who value quality and don’t want to consume additives with poorly understood long-term health effects
- Those who prefer dairy from grass-fed cows
- People with lactose sensitivity
- Athletes who are subject to drug testing
What Is Dymatize Iso 100 Protein Powder?
Dymatize Iso 100 is made with hydrolyzed whey protein (broken down into shorter peptide chains that are easier to digest) and whey isolate. These two are the fastest-digesting types of whey.
Like TL whey isolate, Iso 100 is third-party tested for banned substances and is evaluated for its label transparency and accuracy by LG Informed Choice. You can find the batch IDs, corresponding flavors, batch expiration dates, and test dates here.
Each serving contains 2.7 grams of leucine, which is particularly beneficial because this amino acid stimulates muscle protein synthesis to support growth and recovery.
Most of the Iso 100 flavors provide 25 grams of protein per 120 calories, which means 83% of the total calories come from protein, which is just shy of what we like to see at 85% for what’s considered a high-quality protein.
However, three out of the 12 flavors, Gourmet Vanilla, Strawberry, and Fruity Pebbles, have 25 grams of protein per 110 calories, which gives these flavors a protein percentage of 90% instead of 83%. So my recommendation is to stick with those flavors.
However, I’ve only tried the Cocoa Pebbles and Cookies and Cream, so I can only really comment on the taste of these two specifically. I enjoyed both equally, but my wife finds them a bit too sweet. This is probably because Dymatize uses two sweeteners: stevia and sucralose.
Aside from its decent taste, it also has great mixability, texture, and digestibility. As someone with a somewhat sensitive stomach, this protein never sat ‘heavy’ for me or made me feel nauseous. It also mixed easily (even with water) and had a nice texture.
That said, one thing I noticed was that this protein didn’t keep me full for longer, which is normal, given that it’s a combination of hydrolyzed and whey protein, which doesn’t take long to digest.
The main con with Dymatize Iso 100 is the fact that it has way more artificial and unnecessary ingredients than what’s nutritionally required in a protein powder. I’ll cover this more in-depth in the head-to-head section though.
At around $1.70 per serving, Dymatize Iso 100 protein powder is a good option that balances affordability and quality. That said, the cost per scoop can range from $1.70 to $3.20, which is annoying because the pricing isn’t always consistent, depending on where you buy it.
My colleague Amanda Parker wrote an excellent review on Dymatize Iso 100––check it out here.
Pros
- Third-party tested for safety, purity, and quality
- Up to 90% protein per serving for select flavors
- There are many delicious flavors to pick from
- It digests easily and doesn’t sit heavy in your stomach
- It holds up well when used in baking recipes (like oatmeal)
- It has 2.7 grams of leucine per serving
Cons
- Not as thick or creamy as TL whey isolate
- Not as satiating as other protein powders
- Some flavors can feel a bit too sweet
- The price can vary greatly depending on where you buy it
- More ingredients than nutrtitionally needed
Who Should Take It?
Dymatize Iso 100 Protein Powder is ideal for:
- People who don’t mind a slightly thinner protein shake
- Folks looking for a protein that digests easily and doesn’t sit heavy in the stomach
- Those interested in a fast-digesting protein to kickstart recovery following a workout
- Those who are particularly picky with their protein taste and want to try different flavors
Main Differences: Transparent Labs Whey Isolate vs Dymatize Iso 100
Ingredients
The Winner: Transparent Labs
The main reason I’m putting Transparent Labs at the top of this category is that they have a more natural ingredient label.
While some consumers might not care, I prefer natural sweeteners like stevia, which is what Transparent Labs uses. On the contrary, Dymatize Iso 100 uses artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose.
Some people, including myself, find artificial sweeteners to upset their stomachs, especially in higher quantities. Some research also suggests that regular sucralose consumption can affect the gut microbiome by drastically reducing the amount of good bacteria.
Additionally, I do not appreciate how Dymatize Iso 100 has artificial colors in many flavors, like Red #3 and Red #40.
In January 2025, the FDA announced they would be banning Red #3 in food products in the US due to evidence it causes cancer in lab animals.
Time will tell if Dymatize Iso 100 must remove the ingredient in future batches–I’m assuming so. But, at least while I was testing Dymatize Iso 100, it’s still part of the ingredient list.
Quality Assurances
The Winner: Tied
Transparent Labs is a brand that genuinely lives up to its name because its products have the most transparent nutritional labels, and all of its products’ test analyses are freely published on its website.
You can find all their certificates on their website and click on any lot number to see the test results.
That said, Dymatize is also dedicated to delivering safe and effective products to its customers. Their protein powders are LG Informed Choice-approved, and the test results are publicly available here.
So, while the two companies have slightly different testing methods and certifications, both stand out for their quality and transparency.
Protein Percent of Calories
The Winner: Tie
TL whey isolate has most of its flavors consisting of 86% protein percent of calories, whereas Dymantize ISO 100 has most of its flavors at 83%. I’d normally give the title to TL whey isolate, but because Dymatize ISO 100 has 3 flavors that have 90% protein percent of calories, I’m going to call this a draw.
Taste/Flavor
The Winner: Transparent Labs
While this is likely the most subjective category, Transparent Labs edges out Dymatize Iso.
First, TL whey isolate is offered in 15 flavors, whereas Dymatize Iso 100 comes in 13. This is not a huge difference, but one worth keeping in mind, especially if you struggle to settle on a single flavor and like to mix things up.
Second, in my experience testing both products, I found TL whey isolate to have a slightly milder but still delicious taste. In contrast, Dymatize Iso 100 felt a bit too sweet.
That said, some people may prefer the slightly sweeter taste of Dymatize’s protein powder, so try both products to see which one you enjoy more.
I also want to acknowledge my biases because I’ve tried every single Transparent Labs protein flavor, and even made a dedicated video about my experiences, and I’ve only tried two out of the 13 flavors for Dymatize Iso 100.
Mixability
The Winner: Tied
I didn’t notice any difference between the mixability of the two products. Both mixed well with water and milk and there weren’t any significant clumps in my protein shakes.
Texture
The Winner: Transparent Labs
Given their good mixability, both products had a smooth texture and were pleasant to consume with milk and water.
That said, TL whey isolate felt slightly thicker and creamier compared to Iso 100, which is why I it won this category.
Satiety
The Winner: Tied
Transparent Labs uses whey isolate, and Dymatize uses a combination of whey isolate and hydrolyzed whey. As such, both products digest fairly quickly, which is nice because they don’t sit heavy in your stomach and are ideal for getting high-quality protein without feeling stuffed.
That said, neither product is particularly filling, especially if you take one scoop at a time. You’re likely to feel hungry within a couple of hours.
Cost
The Winner: Dymatize Iso 100
With a $2.00 cost per serving, TL whey isolate is above the average of $1.34 per serving (we’ve looked at 30+ protein powders on the market to calculate this).
In contrast, Dymatize Iso 100 costs around $1.70 per serving, making it the more affordable of the two.
However, depending on where you purchase Iso 100 online, its cost can range from $1.70 to $3.20 per serving. Make sure to shop around for the best prices; we’ll share the best places to buy both products below.
Where To Buy
Transparent Labs Whey Protein
Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Isolate is the #1 protein that FeastGood.com recommends.
Dymatize Iso 100 Protein Powder
Dymatize Iso 100 is a worthy contender for the top whey isolate on the market and offers competitive pricing.
What Other Experts Are Saying
- Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson aka The Mountain, winner of the Arnold Strongman Classic, Europe’s Strongest Man, and the World’s Strongest Man competitions, has been a Transparent Labs athlete since 2020. He’s openly showcased his use of TL products through every phase of his training and life. During his massive 2023 weight loss transformation, he credited Transparent Labs Whey Isolate as playing a major part in his success. Here’s his favorite pancake recipe with TL whey isolate, made by his wife Kelsey Henson.
- Christian McCaffrey, an all-pro running back for the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year for 2023, has led the NFL in rushing yards and scoring a touchdown in 14 consecutive games since 2022. He’s part of the Dymatize squat and has repeatedly stated that recovery is twice as important as training for him. A big part of his recovery regimen is Dymatize Iso 100. His MVPs (most valuable proteins) are Iso 100 Fruity Pebbles, Gourmet Chocolate, and Gourmet Vanilla.
References
Garlick PJ. The role of leucine in the regulation of protein metabolism. J Nutr. 2005 Jun;135(6 Suppl):1553S-6S. doi: 10.1093/jn/135.6.1553S. PMID: 15930468.
Méndez-García LA, Bueno-Hernández N, Cid-Soto MA, De León KL, Mendoza-Martínez VM, Espinosa-Flores AJ, Carrero-Aguirre M, Esquivel-Velázquez M, León-Hernández M, Viurcos-Sanabria R, Ruíz-Barranco A, Cota-Arce JM, Álvarez-Lee A, De León-Nava MA, Meléndez G, Escobedo G. Ten-Week Sucralose Consumption Induces Gut Dysbiosis and Altered Glucose and Insulin Levels in Healthy Young Adults. Microorganisms. 2022 Feb 14;10(2):434. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10020434. PMID: 35208888; PMCID: PMC8880058.
About The Author

Philip Stefanov is a certified conditioning coach, personal trainer, and fitness instructor. With more than nine years of experience in the industry, he’s helped hundreds of clients improve their nutritional habits, become more consistent with exercise, lose weight in a sustainable way, and build muscle through strength training. He is passionate about writing and has published more than 500 articles on various topics related to healthy nutrition, dieting, calorie and macronutrient tracking, meal planning, fitness and health supplementation, best training practices, and muscle recovery.
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