This guide is for anyone who drinks protein every day and is tired of choking down chalk. You drink this stuff daily, so flavor matters as much as macros. Some of you want dessert in a shaker. Some of you want something light and juicy that drinks like juice. I grouped my picks that way.
How I picked: every protein here is one I reviewed over the last 12 months on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, from October 2025 to October 2026. On camera I score the flavor out of 10 and break down the macros and the formula. So the score next to each pick is my flavor score, not a ranking of the whole product. There is no single best protein powder. There is only what fits your needs, your goals and your taste buds. Some of these were sent to me by brands, and I have discount codes with some of them. That does not change what I say about them.
Quick picks
| Product | Flavor | My flavor score | Best for | Key specs (per scoop, from the label) | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MuscleSport Lean Whey Iso Hydro | Nice 'N' Crispy | 9.7 | Late-night dessert shake | 130 cal, 2 g fat, 4 g carbs, 25 g protein | LUCAS973 |
| MuscleSport Lean Whey | Dubai Chocolate Street Style | 9.7 | Flavor chasers | 135 cal, 2 g fat, 5 g carbs, 25 g protein | LUCAS973 |
| Unmatched Supplements Isolate | Orange Cream | 9.7 | No artificial flavors or sweeteners | 110 cal, 0.5 g fat, 2 g carbs, 24 g protein | LUCAS973 |
| MuscleSport Lean Whey Gourmet | Lemon Raspberry Wedding Cake | 9.6 | Gourmet inclusions | 135 cal, 1.5 g fat, 6 g carbs, 24 g protein | LUCAS973 |
| Panda Supps Fuel Premium Protein | Strawberry Ice Cream Crumble | 9.5 | 30 g protein | 160 cal, 2 g fat, 5 g carbs, 30 g protein | LUCAS973 |
| Core Nutritionals PRO | Airplane Cookies & Cream | 9.3 | Dessert blend | 160 cal, 3 g fat, 9 g carbs, 25 g protein | LUCAS |
| Panda Supps Fuel Iso | Frosted Animal Cracker (Panda Cookie) | 9.2 | Straight isolate | 120 cal, 0.5 g fat, 4 g carbs, 25 g protein | LUCAS973 |
| MuscleTech Plasma Whey | Vanilla Cake Batter | Not scored | Newer whey tech | ioWhey protein blend | GETBIG973 |
| V1 Nutra V1 Pro | Lemon Crumble Cake | Not scored | Limited gourmet flavors | 130 cal, 2 g fat, 3 g carbs, 25 g protein | None |
| MuscleSport Lean Whey Clear Iso | Pineapple Cooler, Patriot Pop | 9.9 | Clear whey | 90 cal, 0 g fat, 3 g carbs, 20 to 22 g protein | LUCAS973 |
| Enhanced Labs IO Clear Whey | Mixed into key lime sparkling water | 9.2 | DIY protein soda | 100 cal, 0 g fat, 0 g carbs, 24 g protein | LUCAS10 |
| Intellekt Lifestyle BYLD (x Hulky Dad) | Tropihulk | Not scored | Clear whey, no aftertaste | 90 cal, 0 g fat, 0 g carbs, 21 g protein | LUCAS |
Gourmet whey and isolate flavors
If you want your shake to taste like dessert, these are the ones I kept coming back to this year. Most are whey isolate, hydrolyzed whey or a whey blend at 24 to 30 g of protein and 110 to 160 calories, and the best ones use real inclusions like cereal bits, cookie crumbs or chocolate shavings.
MuscleSport Lean Whey Iso Hydro (Nice 'N' Crispy, 9.7)
The last time I had a tub of this, I finished it in under two weeks. Nice 'N' Crispy from MuscleSport is 130 calories, 2 g fat, 4 g carbs and 25 g of protein from whey protein isolate and hydrolyzed whey, with two inclusions: frosted crispy rice and marshmallow bits. I am not a marshmallow guy, and it still works. It is my pick for the best Rice Krispie flavor protein powder. I gave the flavor a 9.5 out of 10 when it launched, and when it came back in September 2026 I upgraded it to a 9.7. It is also great in a Ninja Creami. Watch my review. Code: LUCAS973
MuscleSport Lean Whey (Dubai Chocolate Street Style, 9.7)
This was the first quad-inclusion protein powder I have ever had: chocolate shavings, toasted kataifi, freeze-dried strawberries and pistachio flour. Macros are 135 calories, 2 g fat, 5 g carbs and 25 g of protein from whey isolate and hydrolyzed whey. It comes in a black tub, which MuscleSport saves for its top-tier flavors. What blew me away was the accuracy and the attention to detail, and I gave the flavor a 9.7 out of 10. Also on the classic Lean Whey line: Cinnamon Bun Cheesecake came back after two years in September 2026, and it was even better than I remembered. I gave that one a 9.2. Watch my Dubai Chocolate review or my Cinnamon Bun Cheesecake review. Code: LUCAS973
Unmatched Supplements Isolate (Orange Cream, 9.7)
Orange cream is one of my favorite flavors of all time, and a lot of brands have tried it in a protein without much success. This one gets it. Each scoop is 110 calories, 0.5 g fat, 2 g carbs, 1 g sugar and 24 g of protein from grass-fed whey protein isolate, plus digestive enzymes, with no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners. It tastes exactly like an orange creamsicle: light, accurate and delicious. "This has got to be one of the top orange cream protein powders I've ever had." I gave the flavor a 9.7 out of 10. Watch my review. Code: LUCAS973
MuscleSport Lean Whey Gourmet (Lemon Raspberry Wedding Cake, 9.6)
Lean Whey Gourmet is a newer MuscleSport line in black tubs: 135 calories, 1.5 g fat, 5 to 6 g carbs and 24 g of protein from milk protein isolate, whey concentrate, whey isolate and hydrolyzed whey. Allie and Frankie's Lemon Raspberry Wedding Cake is based on the actual cake from the wedding of Rob from MuscleSport, with golden sandwich cookie crumbs, chocolate shavings and lemon chips. "That might be my favorite gourmet flavor that they made so far." I gave it a 9.6 out of 10. Unicorn Cookie Shake, a mix of birthday cake and sugar cookie, also got a 9.6, and Chocolate Chocolate Chip got a 9.5. Watch my review. Code: LUCAS973
Panda Supps Fuel Premium Protein (Strawberry Ice Cream Crumble, 9.5)
I never saw Panda Supps as a protein brand, and they keep proving me wrong. Fuel is 160 calories, 2 g fat, 5 g carbs and 30 g of protein from whey isolate, whey concentrate, collagen and casein, with a probiotic and digestive enzyme blend, AstraGin and BioPerine. Strawberry Ice Cream Crumble is a limited edition with shortcake crumble inclusions: strawberry, vanilla and a graham coating, like the strawberries and cream ice cream bars I had as a kid. "This might be my favorite limited edition protein powder" from them, and I gave the flavor a 9.5 out of 10. Watch my review. Code: LUCAS973
Core Nutritionals PRO (Airplane Cookies & Cream, 9.3)
PRO is the gourmet protein blend from Core Nutritionals. One scoop is 160 calories, 3 g fat, 9 g carbs and 25 g of protein from whey concentrate, whey isolate and milk protein isolate, with the whole thing disclosed on the back of the label. This flavor has two inclusions, graham cookie gems and crushed chocolate cookie. You get the airplane cookie on the front end and cookies and cream on the back end, and they work extremely well together. I finished the entire shake before I finished the video, and I gave the flavor a 9.3 out of 10. Watch my review. Code: LUCAS
Panda Supps Fuel Iso (Frosted Animal Cracker, 9.2)
If you want straight isolate, Fuel Iso from Panda Supps is 120 calories, 0.5 g fat, 4 g carbs, 1 g sugar and 25 g of protein from whey protein isolate, plus 50 mg of AstraGin. The flavor is listed as Panda Cookie, and it is a frosted animal cracker with real cookie inclusions: smooth, not overly sweet and accurate. I gave the flavor a 9.2 out of 10. Watch my review. Code: LUCAS973
MuscleTech Plasma Whey (Vanilla Cake Batter)
MuscleTech did something new with protein here. Plasma Whey uses an ioWhey protein blend, which is a different processing technology on whey. I did not give it a number, but I expected Double Chocolate to be my favorite, because I am a chocolate guy. Vanilla Cake Batter blew me away and actually tastes like cake batter. "Didn't think it would be a day where I'm recommending vanilla." Watch my review. Code: GETBIG973
V1 Nutra V1 Pro (Lemon Crumble Cake)
V1 Nutra is KJ's brand, and I have never been disappointed by a V1 Nutra product. The Delectable Series flavors were made with Supp Chef, the same flavor mind behind MuscleSport. Lemon Crumble Cake is 130 calories, 2 g fat, 3 g carbs and 25 g of protein from whey isolate and concentrate, with cookie pieces. "They killed this one." The limited Mint Chocolate Chip was also really good, with chocolate chip inclusions and a mint flavor that is not like toothpaste. These sell out fast. Watch my Mint Chocolate Chip review.
Clear whey
Clear whey is whey isolate made to drink like juice: light, fruity and thin, not a milkshake. The bad ones have an aftertaste, foam a lot or leave a strange mouthfeel, so flavor execution is everything, and these three get it right.
MuscleSport Lean Whey Clear Iso (Pineapple Cooler and Patriot Pop, 9.9)
These are the highest flavor scores I gave any protein this year. Lean Whey Clear Iso from MuscleSport is 90 calories, 0 g fat, 3 g carbs, 3 g fiber and 20 to 22 g of protein (depending on the flavor) from Clear Pro 90 whey protein isolate, with added electrolytes. The foam settled almost instantly. I have probably tried 90% of the clear whey isolates out there, and "this is the best clear whey isolate I've ever had." Pineapple Cooler tastes like pineapple and strawberry juice with no bad aftertaste. Patriot Pop tastes like a melted Bomb Pop and might be one of my favorite proteins ever. I gave both flavors a 9.9 out of 10. Watch my Pineapple Cooler review or my Patriot Pop review. Code: LUCAS973
Enhanced Labs IO Clear Whey (protein soda, 9.2)
This is my favorite low-calorie protein hack. Take about 8 oz of your favorite sparkling water (I used key lime), pour it into a shaker, then slowly add one scoop of IO Clear Whey from Enhanced Labs. Swirl it, do not shake it, unless you want an explosion. You get 100 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g carbs and 24 g of protein in something that tastes like a soda. I gave the combo a 9.2 out of 10, and it cost me about 80 cents. Watch the hack. Code: LUCAS10
Intellekt Lifestyle BYLD (x Hulky Dad, Tropihulk)
Intellekt Lifestyle launched as a brand new company and put out a collab clear whey right away with creator Hulky Dad. BYLD is 90 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g carbs and 21 g of protein from whey isolate. I did not give it a number, but with how many clear wheys I have tried, "this is by far one of the best clear whey isolates I've ever had." No foaming, no aftertaste, and Tropihulk tastes like a strawberry, pineapple and mango tropical juice. Watch my review. Code: LUCAS
Also worth trying: MuscleSport Cream'd Rice Gourmet in Dubai Chocolate Street Style. It is a cream of rice, not a protein powder, but I gave the flavor a 9.6 out of 10.
Ingredients that matter
Macros on the front are only half the story. Flip the tub and look for these.
- Whey protein isolate: the base of almost every pick here, including all the clear wheys. Studies commonly use about 20 to 40 g per serving.
- EAAs: whey naturally contains all of them. Studies often use about 10 to 15 g of EAAs.
- Creatine monohydrate: none of these powders are built around it, so take it separately. The dose used in most studies is 3 to 5 g per day.
Where to go next
If one of these is calling your name, you can find all my codes in one place. Need something for before the gym? Check out my daily driver, pump and hardest-hitting pre-workouts of 2026. And if there is a protein you think I need to try, let me know. If I have not tried it, I will not talk about it.
