EXPERT TESTED: Transparent Labs vs Legion Protein (Who Wins)

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Over two months, I thoroughly tested and reviewed two of the highest-quality protein powders available on the market: Transparent Labs and Legion Athletics. 

For individual breakdowns, you can read my in-depth reviews of each product here or check out my colleague’s YouTube videos here and here.

Both formulas are incredibly similar in quality, taste, and price, so you might wonder if one stands out as a clear winner. 

The goal of this article is to answer that question by comparing Transparent Labs and Legion head-to-head across seven categories: 

• Ingredients
• Quality Assurances
• Taste
• Mixability
• Texture
• Satiety
• Cost

Just want the results? After tallying the scores, Transparent Labs Protein came out ahead because of its better taste and higher protein percentage. 

That said, both products are fantastic options for anybody concerned about their products’ quality. 

Key Takeaways

• Transparent Labs and Legion share key similarities. They are both known for using the highest-quality ingredients with no artificial additives or preservatives. They use grass-fed whey isolate, are third-party tested by the same state-of-the-art facility, and have the same cost per serving.

• Both brands offer various flavors (16 for Legion and 15 for Transparent Labs) and have good mixability. However, I found that Transparent Labs had a more enjoyable overall taste (I tested every flavor, which you can read about here).

• Transparent Labs has a higher total protein content. Depending on the flavor, Transparent Labs offers 80-93% of the calories from protein, and Legion has only 65-88% of the calories from protein. 

Note: Whether you are interested in trying Transparent Labs or Legion protein, I have done the research to find the most affordable places to buy them. I will update the links below if a better price ever comes up.

Transparent Labs Protein: Overview

Transparent Labs is a high-quality whey protein powder that uses 100% grass-fed whey isolate. 

The fact that it is an isolate protein means that it has had virtually all carbohydrates and fats removed, and it is a fast-digesting protein powder. This makes it great for workout recovery and easy integration of protein into your day, but it isn’t great for prolonged satiety. 

The whey that Transparent Labs uses is sourced from pure grass-fed American dairy cattle raised without the use of growth factors or hormones. It is certified by Labdoor, the same high-quality third-party testing lab that also tests Legion Whey. 

While being grass-fed does not necessarily impact the nutrient profile of the whey protein, it does improve the quality of life of the cows, which may be important for you personally.

• Related: Grass-Fed Whey Protein vs Regular Whey Protein

Each flavor of Transparent Labs Whey has 28g of protein. The carbs and fats vary slightly by flavor, so the total calorie content ranges from 120 to 150. Only one flavor, Vanilla Peanut Butter, has 150 calories. All other flavors have 120 to 140 calories per scoop.

Excluding the Vanilla Peanut Butter outlier, which has 75% protein per scoop, all other flavors of Transparent Labs Whey offer 80-93% protein per scoop, putting this product in the good to excellent category for protein content.

For context, some of the protein powders I have tested on Feastgood.com contain as little as 60% protein per scoop, and two of the flavors of Legion Whey+, despite using high-quality ingredients, contain only 65% protein per scoop. 

Transparent Labs publicly discloses the results of all of their testing on their website, and they are committed to using no artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, or preservatives in their protein powder (here are the exact testing results for the bottle I purchased).

Transparent Labs Whey costs $2.00 per serving ($1.80 if you choose the subscribe and save feature), making it one of the most expensive protein powders on the market. 

When I evaluated over 30 protein brands, I found that the average cost per serving was $1.34. 

To further put this into perspective and assess whether Transparent Labs Whey offers a good value, I took the average protein percentage per scoop of all flavors of Legion Whey+ and Transparent Labs Whey. 

Both products offer the same third-party testing, the same high-quality ingredients, and the exact same cost, but Transparent Labs has an average of 86% protein per scoop across all flavors compared to only 78% in Legion Whey. 

Overall, Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey is as close as it comes to finding the sweet spot between quality, taste, and value for protein powder. 

Want even more info?  Read my in-depth Transparent Labs Grass Fed Whey Review here.  

Pros 

• Grass-Fed Whey: While there are no noticeable nutrient differences between grass-fed whey and regular whey, grass-fed whey is a more sustainable and ethical option that emphasizes the quality of life of the cows

• High percentage of protein per scoop: Transparent Labs uses only whey isolate and has very little carbs or fats. Depending on the flavor, it provides up to 93% protein per scoop.  

• No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives: Transparent Labs prioritizes using all-natural, high-quality ingredients in its protein powder. Its grass-fed whey also contains no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. 

• Great taste with a wide variety of flavors: Transparent Labs offers 15 different flavor varieties and occasionally launches seasonal flavors. I’ve personally tested every flavor and could find ways to integrate every single one into my day enjoyably.

• Third-Party Tested and Informed Choice Certified: The publicly disclosed third-party testing and additional certifications provide quality assurance for all consumers and certify this product as safe for use by elite drug-tested athletes. 

Cons 

• Higher Cost Per Serving: At $2.00 per serving, Transparent Labs Whey is one of the more expensive protein powders. However, the cost is justified when you consider factors like the high-quality ingredients, the high protein percentage, and the third-party testing. 

• May not provide much satiety: Whey Isolate is a fast-digesting protein. Since it is the only protein source in Transparent Whey, you might feel hungry again within an hour or two after ingestion.

Who Should Take It? 

Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Isolate is a good option for: 

• Individuals whose main priority is high-quality ingredients

• Anyone looking to avoid artificial flavors, sweeteners, gums, and lecithins

• Athletes who undergo drug testing 

• Individuals concerned with environmental sustainability and animal welfare

• Anyone with a lactose sensitivity, with very low sugar, this product is very low in lactose and may be less reactive

Legion Whey+ Protein: Overview

Legion Whey+ is made of 100% grass-fed whey isolate, a fast-digesting protein. 

Legion uses Truly Grass Fed™ milk from small dairy farms in Ireland that are renowned for their sustainable farming practices and adhering to best practices in animal welfare. 

The farms that source the whey for Legion Whey+ are certified by Ireland’s Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme, which requires farmers to adhere to strict practices for animal welfare, sustainability, soil and grass management, and product quality. 

The protein content varies, with 21g to 23g of protein per scoop depending on the flavor. There are also varying levels of carbohydrates and fats. 

The Fruity Cereal and Honey Cereal flavors notably had the lowest protein content, with 21g of protein per scoop, while the other flavors had either 22g or 23g. 

The different levels of carbs, fats, and proteins mean that this product has different calories for different flavors, ranging from 100 calories per serving to 130 calories. 

Different flavors have different protein percentages because of this disparity in protein, carb, and fat content. 

Fruity Cereal, for instance, has 21g of protein per 130 calories. This means that protein accounts for 84/130 calories, so this product only contains 65% protein per scoop. 

The flavors with the highest protein percentage of calories (88%) were Dutch Chocolate, French Vanilla, Strawberry Banana, and Unflavored. 

Legion Whey+ is third-party tested for purity and potency in a high-quality lab, and its formula does not contain artificial flavors, dyes, or sweeteners.

Legion Whey+ is among the most expensive protein powders on the market, costing $2.00 per serving for a 2lb container. Like Transparent Labs, this is well above the market average, which is calculated to be $1.34 per serving. 

The cost could be well justified for consumers who prioritize high-quality ingredients and environmental responsibility.  

A subscribe and save feature allows you to save 10% off your protein powder. 

You can also save on the cost per serving by investing in a 5-lb tub. This costs more upfront, but it lowers the cost per serving to around $1.54. Note that not all flavors are available in the 5-lb tub. 

Still want more info?  Read my in-depth review of Legion Whey+ here.  

Pros 

• Third-Party Tested: Legion Whey+ is tested by LabDoor™, a state-of-the-art third-party testing facility. The results are publicly disclosed, providing additional reassurance that what’s inside the tub matches the label claims.

• High-Quality Whey: Legion Whey+ uses Truly Grass Fed™ milk, which comes from small dairy farms in Ireland that adhere to very strict agricultural, sustainability, and quality practices.

• Commitment to Sustainability: The whey protein in Legion Whey+ comes from farms that are routinely inspected to ensure they are adhering to specific environmental sustainability standards. 

• No side effects: When I tested Legion Whey+, I didn’t experience any bloating, gassiness, or stomach discomfort. This protein advertises lactose-free and may be a suitable option for people with lactose intolerance or sensitivities.

• Wide variety of flavors: Though I found a few flavors had a bit of an odd aftertaste, with 16 different flavors to choose from, it’s likely that you will find a flavor that suits your taste or mixes well into smoothies, oatmeal, or yogurt. 

Cons 

• Potentially Low Protein Percentage: Some flavors (fruity cereal, honey cereal) have as low as 21g of protein per 130 calories offering only 65% protein per scoop, which matches some of the lowest quality protein powders we’ve tested. 

• Cost: Legion Whey+ is one of the most expensive protein powders on the market, costing $9.09 per 100g of protein. Transparent Labs offers the same quality but costs only $7.14 per 100g. 

Who Should Take It? 

Legion Whey+ is a suitable option for: 

• Someone with a generous supplement budget

• Individuals who have a strong ethical pull towards brands that emphasize animal quality of life and environmental sustainability

• Someone looking for a protein that is free of added sugars and artificial ingredients

• Anyone who gets bored with flavors easily

• Individuals with lactose sensitivities, since this product is listed as lactose-free

Main Differences: Transparent Labs vs Legion Protein 

Ingredients

🏆 The Winner: Transparent Labs

Both brands prioritize high-quality ingredients, such as grass-fed whey isolate, and avoid the use of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. Legion adds various gums and lecithins to improve mixability and texture, which Transparent Labs has chosen to omit.

Transparent Labs and Legion are both brands that are very committed to quality. They choose high-quality grass-fed whey proteins, use only natural flavors and sweeteners, and eliminate all food dyes and preservatives. 

Some flavors of Legion Whey+ include creamers like Non-GMO sunflower creamer, and all Legion powders use xanthan gum or gum blends and sunflower lecithin to improve the mixability and texture of the protein powder.

The addition of these ingredients to Legion Whey is not necessarily negative since they are not associated with any negative health outcomes. 

I still have to give Transparent Labs Whey the edge since they don’t include any of these additives in their products and still achieve a similar texture and mixability. 

*For the nutrition facts, I have compared the two French vanilla flavors head to head. There are slight variances in calorie, carbohydrate, and fat content depending on the flavors

Quality Assurances

🏆 The Winner: Tied

Transparent Labs and Legion both use the same third-party tester, LabDoor™, which is a gold standard, state-of-the-art accredited lab for product testing. 

Transparent Labs Whey is Informed Choice and Informed Protein certified, which is an extra insurance policy making it safe for use by drug-tested athletes. 

Legion Whey is Animal Welfare Approved and Non-GMO Project Verified. 

While they have slightly different accreditations, the overall theme is the same with both products: both companies have publicly disclosed testing results for quality and purity and prioritize having high-quality formulas. 

Protein Percent of Calories

🏆 The Winner: Transparent Labs

Transparent Labs Whey has a higher average protein percentage per scoop (86%) when compared to Legion Whey, which has 78% on average. 

Our general guideline is that a reasonable protein powder offers 65-74% protein per scoop, a good protein offers 75-84% protein per scoop, and an excellent product contains 85% or more protein per scoop. 

In analyzing the different flavors available for Transparent Labs Whey:

• 6 flavors have 93% protein per scoop
• 4 flavors have 86% protein per scoop
• 4 flavors have 80% protein per scoop
• 1 flavor (Vanilla Peanut Butter) has 75% protein per scoop. 

When we compare this to Legion Whey+, which has: 

• 4 flavors have 88% protein per scoop
• 6 flavors have 80% protein per scoop
• 4 flavors have 73% protein per scoop
• 2 flavors (Fruity Cereal and Honey Cereal) have 65% protein per scoop.

This means that all flavors of Transparent Labs protein fall within the good to excellent category of protein percentage, but 6 of the 16 flavors of Legion Whey+ fall down into the “reasonable” category. 

You can find outliers in each brand, but the difference between a product that is 65% protein per scoop and 93% protein per scoop is significant. 

Individuals looking to optimize their protein intake, especially given the high cost per serving, should pay close attention to which flavor they choose. 

Taste/flavor

🏆 The Winner: Transparent Labs

Both products offer a wide range of flavors. Legion Whey+ offers 16 flavors, and Transparent Labs offers 15. 

Taste is a difficult category to judge since everybody has different preferences and palates. 

In my experience thoroughly testing both products, I found that the flavors of Transparent Labs Whey were more enjoyable overall. The products were very true to taste with little to no aftertaste. 

Legion Whey+ was not unpleasant to drink, but I did an almost chemically aftertaste in a few of the flavors. 

Note: I took a deep dive into every single flavor of Transparent Labs Whey. You can read my full review here 

Mixability

🏆 The Winner: Tie

Both brands mixed up with a similar creamy texture. There were no significant clumps or residues. 

This is a bit surprising since Legion Whey+ adds gums and lecithins specifically to improve the mouthfeel and mixability of their protein and Transparent Labs does not. 

I would expect Legion Whey+ to have the advantage here, but that was not the case. 

Texture (Thick or Thin)

The Winner: Tie

Both proteins mixed up with similar thin but smooth textures. 

I would also use the word “creamy” to describe both of these protein powders. 

Satiety

🏆 The Winner: Tie

Transparent Labs Whey and Legion Whey+ use exclusively whey isolate a fast-digesting protein powder. 

As such, they are relatively low in calories (ranging from 100 to 150 depending on the brand and flavor). 

On their own, mixed with water, neither protein powder will provide prolonged satiety beyond an hour or two. 

When added to something fibrous or more calorie-dense like a smoothie or oatmeal, these protein powders can prolong the satiety effect of that meal or snack. 

Cost

🏆 The Winner: Transparent Labs

On the surface, both products cost the same $2.00 per serving. Transparent Labs provides more protein in both grams per scoop and protein percentage, which makes Transparent Labs the better value. 

A tub of Transparent Labs protein has 30 servings at 28g per serving. This means in one tub of Transparent Labs Whey, you get a total of 840g of protein. 

Legion Whey+ has the same 30 servings but only 21-23g of protein per scoop, meaning it has 630-690 total grams of protein per tub. 

In this sense, having both products that are the exact same price but having one that offers 150-200 additional grams of protein per tub puts Transparent Labs in the win column for cost and value. 

Where To Buy

What Other Experts Are Saying

• Taylor Mei, IFBB Fitness Pro and Calisthenics Coach, relies on Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey to fuel her recovery after intense training sessions and is especially fond of the Vanilla Oatmeal Cookie flavor. She uses grass-fed whey mixed with oatmeal as part of her high-carb breakfasts and as a post-workout staple. It’s incredibly fitting that she is a Transparent Labs Athlete, because in an interview by Status, she was quoted as listing Transparency as one of 5 important attributes that she sees in people. 

• Jordan Syatt, Strength and Nutrition Coach, has high praise for Legion and their tremendous quality. While he holds no punches in saying that he has never really been a big supplement guy due to his belief that they are not essential to success, he remarks that there are a few supplements that he does use. He says that Legion is a tremendous company run by people who both trusts and respects, and knows that the quality of their products is second to none.

Reference

Paddon-Jones D, Westman E, Mattes RD, Wolfe RR, Astrup A, Westerterp-Plantenga M. Protein, weight management, and satiety. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 May;87(5):1558S-1561S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/87.5.1558S. PMID: 18469287.