10 Best Protein Shakes in 2023

A quick look at the 10 best protein shakes

• Best for an energy boost: SlimFast Advanced Energy Meal Replacement Shakes | Skip to review
• Best for muscle mass: MuscleMeds Carnivor Ready to Drink Protein | Skip to review
• Best vegan: OWYN Vegan Protein Shake, Chocolate | Skip to review
• Best high in calcium: Orgain Clean Protein Milk Protein Shake | Skip to review
• Best for muscle recovery: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Protein Shake, Chocolate | Skip to review
• Best for lean muscle: Lean Body Ready-to-Drink Protein Shake | Skip to review
• Best for amino acids: Core Power Elite High Protein Shake | Skip to review
• Best organic: Kate Farms Nutrition Shake | Skip to review
• Best for pregnancy and breastfeeding: Ritual Essential Daily Shake Pregnancy & Postpartum | Skip to review
• Best keto-friendly: Iconic Protein Shake | Skip to review

What are protein shakes?

A protein shake is a dietary supplement. Typically, it consists of protein powder mixed with water, milk, or a milk substitute. Depending on the manufacturer, the beverage may contain other ingredients such as flavorings, vitamins, and branched-chain amino acids.

Protein shake pros and cons 

People may wish to consider the benefits and risks of protein shakes before making a purchase:

How we chose

Top ready-to-drink protein shakes

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

Best for an energy boost: SlimFast Advanced Energy Meal Replacement Shakes

• Serving size: 325 milliliters (mL)
• Protein per serving: 20 g per serving
• Protein source: milk protein concentrate
• Flavors: caramel latte
• List price: around $37

This SlimFast shake contains caffeine so it may suit people looking for an energy boost in the morning.

To maintain a balanced diet, a person should consider consuming this alongside other nutritious breakfast foods.

The product contains dietary fiber, which research suggests can promote weight loss and help individuals stick to their diet. This is likely because fiber takes longer to digest, helping people feel fuller for longer.

Its primary protein source is milk protein isolate.

This shake also includes 24 vitamins and minerals. It is gluten-free and kosher-friendly.

Nutritional values

The nutritional values per 325 mL of this shake are:

Best for muscle mass: MuscleMeds Carnivor Ready to Drink Protein

• Serving size: 500 mL
• Protein per serving: 40 g per serving
• Protein source: beef protein isolate
• Flavors: chocolate, fruity cereal, and vanilla cupcake
• List price: from around $40

This protein shake from MuscleMeds contains 40 g of protein per serving. This may make it suitable for people who are building muscle, as it contains a higher amount of protein than many other brands.

It does not contain sugar, fat, or cholesterol. However, it is not suitable for vegetarians, as its protein source comes from beef. It also contains soy.

The company claims that its products are clinically tested and its pure beef protein isolate is 350% more concentrated in amino acids than steak.

A person should not use this protein shake as a meal replacement, as it does not have a balanced nutritional profile.

Nutritional values

The nutritional values per 500 mL of this shake are:

Best vegan: OWYN Vegan Protein Shake, Chocolate

• Serving size: 355 mL
• Protein per serving: 20 g per serving
• Protein source: pea protein
• Flavors: seven flavors, including chocolate, coffee, and vanilla
• List price: from around $37

This protein shake is made of protein from peas, pumpkin seeds, and flax. It also includes omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

The company claims it is free of soy, gluten, egg, peanuts, and tree nuts.

Some research suggests pea and whey protein produce similar outcomes for muscle thickness and strength. Therefore, this shake may suit vegans and people with dairy allergies looking for a post-workout shake.

It is also reportedly gluten-free and kosher-friendly.

Other OWYN protein shake flavors include:

• smooth vanilla
• strawberry banana
• coffee
• cookies and creamless
• sea salted caramel

Nutritional values

OWYN’s shake comes with these nutritional values per 355 mL:

Best high in calcium: Orgain Clean Protein Milk Protein Shake

• Serving size: 330 mL
• Protein per serving: 20 g per serving
• Protein source: grass-fed milk protein concentrate
• Flavors: chocolate and vanilla
• List price: from around $9

Orgain offers a chocolate fudge-flavored protein shake that contains 20 g of protein per serving.

Its protein content comes from milk. As a result, it is not suitable for vegans.

The company claims it is gluten and soy-free, vegetarian, and kosher.

It recommends this shake for weight management, lean muscle building, and muscle recovery. It also writes that a person can drink this shake as a meal replacement, a snack, or as a pre- or post-workout drink.

Due to its high calcium content, which the company claims equals 45% of a person’s daily intake, this Orgain shake may suit active people who would like to increase their bone and muscle strength.

Nutritional values

This shake comes with these nutritional values per 330 mL:

Best for muscle recovery: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Protein Shake, Chocolate

• Serving size: 325 mL
• Protein per serving: 24 g per serving
• Protein source: milk protein isolate, milk protein concentrate, whey protein concentrate, and calcium caseinate
• Flavors: chocolate and vanilla
• List price: around $25

This shake’s protein sources include milk protein isolate, milk protein concentrate, whey protein concentrate, and calcium caseinate.

The company claims that it can improve muscle recovery. This may make it suitable for people who want a post-workout shake.

One advantage of consuming this shake is that each serving provides 24 different minerals, vitamins, and nutrients. These include vitamins A, C, D, E, and K.

However, the average amount of these nutrients is around 20% of the Daily Value. As such, this shake may be a better choice for people who combine it with balanced meals and other vitamin supplements.

Each bottle is relatively inexpensive in comparison to other alternatives. It is also gluten-free, but it is unsuitable for those with lactose intolerance.

Nutritional values

Optumimum Nutrition features these nutritional values per 325 mL:

Best for lean muscle: Lean Body Ready-to-Drink Protein Shake

• Serving size: 500 mL
• Protein per serving: 40 g per serving
• Protein source: milk protein isolate
• Flavors: 11, including vanilla, banana, and strawberry
• List price: from around $14

Protein sources for this shake include milk protein isolate, calcium caseinate, and whey protein concentrate.

The company says this shake helps boost metabolism and reduce sugar cravings.

Each serving provides around 22 vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A and E, biotin, potassium, and magnesium.

However, the brand includes these in small amounts. For example, one serving only provides around 10% of the daily value of vitamin D and 30% of calcium.

This shake is gluten-free, but contains milk, making it unsuitable for vegans or people with lactose intolerance.

The high amount of protein per serving and the no addition of added sugar make this shake a potential choice for people who want to build lean muscle.

Nutritional values

The below are the nutritional values per 500 mL:

Best for amino acids: Core Power Elite High Protein Shake

• Serving size: 414 mL
• Protein per serving: 42 g per serving
• Protein source: low fat filtered milk
• Flavors: chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla
• List price: from around $35

This product’s main protein source comprises concentrate from ultra-filtered milk. The company says that by filtering the milk, it extracts its protein and calcium and removes its lactose and some of its sugars.

The brand says that this product is gluten and lactose-free. However, those with allergies or severe intolerances should contact a healthcare professional before drinking it.

Each serving provides:

• 50% of the daily value of vitamin D
• 70% of calcium
• 25% of vitamin A
• 15% of potassium
• 8% of iron

This shake may be a good choice for people who want to add more amino acids to their meals.

Nutritional values

These are the nutritional values per 414 mL:

Best organic: Kate Farms Nutrition Shake

• Serving size: 325 mL
• Protein per serving: 16 g per serving
• Protein source: organic pea protein
• Flavors: chocolate, coffee, and vanilla
• List price: around $51

This shake’s main protein source is organic pea protein.

Kate Farms states that the shake is dairy- and gluten-free, and it is also reportedly easy to digest. In addition, it is vegan, USDA-certified organic, and Non-genetically modified organism (GMO) Project verified.

The company says that this shake is packed with phytonutrients that come from nutritious foods, such as organic broccoli, green tea, and turmeric.

The shake does not contain any artificial sweeteners and is free from milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans.

Nutritional values

The below table shows the nutritional values that this shake has per 325 mL:

Best for pregnancy and breastfeeding: Ritual Essential Daily Shake Pregnancy & Postpartum

• Serving size: 30 g
• Protein per serving: 20 g per serving
• Protein source: organic pea protein
• Flavors: vanilla
• List price: $40

Ritual offers this vanilla-flavored shake for people who are pregnant or postpartum.

It contains plant-based protein and choline, which can help support healthy pregnancy and breastfeeding. It may also help build lean muscle.

The shake is gluten-, allergen-, and GMO-free. Additionally, Ritual states it only uses traceable ingredients. For example, the pea protein in this product comes from United States-grown organic yellow peas from a manufacturing facility in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin.

Nutritional values

Best keto-friendly: Iconic Protein Shake

• Serving size: 340 mL
• Protein per serving: 20 g per serving
• Protein source: grass-fed cow’s milk
• Flavors: vanilla bean, chocolate truffle, cocoa and greens, and cafe latte
• List price: around $42

This protein shake contains protein isolate from grass-fed cow’s milk. Iconic Protein states that the cows it collects the milk from are pasture-fed for over 95% of the year.

The company also states that its protein shakes do not contain any sugar or artificial sweeteners and are keto-friendly. While the protein comes from cow’s milk, the company claims that it is 99.99% lactose-free.

In addition, Iconic Protein has official approval for animal welfare from A Greener World. Additionally, depending on the flavor a person chooses, the shake may contain ethically-sourced Colombian coffee beans.

Nutritional values

Every 340 mL of the café latte flavor contains the following:

Protein shake comparison

The table below compares each of the protein shakes in this article for price, protein source, and more.

How to choose

When looking to purchase a protein shake, individuals may wish to consider the following:

• Protein type: The ingredient label should indicate the protein type the product has. People who are vegetarian, vegan, or lactose intolerant should carefully read the label to ensure they can consume the type of protein.
• Ingredients: Companies must list the ingredients in protein shakes. It is important to read the label to ensure it does not contain any ingredients a person is allergic to or must avoid for dietary or religious reasons.
• Nutritional values: Comparing how much protein, sodium, sugar, carbohydrates, and more several products contain can help people make an informed decision as to which brand best fits their needs.

How and when to use

Each manufacturer will have a specific set of instructions on shake dosages and frequencies. When people wish to drink a shake, they need to shake the bottle, and it is ready for consumption.

Although there is debate about when to consume a protein shake for muscle gain, a person should consider drinking it within 1 hour of their workout.

People considering protein shakes to lose weight may consume them instead of a meal or with a small amount of food. However, it is important to ensure the shake contains other nutrients beyond protein to help a person maintain a balanced and healthy diet.

Alternatives 

There are several ways a person can ensure they have enough protein in their diet. If they wish to consume alternatives to protein shakes, they may consider:

• Increasing dietary protein: Foods, such as beef, chicken, tuna, tofu, and lentils, all contain high amounts of protein.
• Protein powders: A person can purchase protein powder to make shakes at home with milk or water. This allows them to control the amount of protein they consume. Learn more about the best protein powders for muscle building.
• Homemade shakes: By combining Greek yogurt with fruit, milk, and ice, individuals can create protein shakes at home without protein powders.

Frequently asked questions about protein shakes

Below, we answer some of the top frequently asked questions about protein shakes.

Is it safe to use protein shakes as a meal replacement?

A person should speak with a doctor before using protein shakes to replace meals.

A 2018 study found that meal replacement shakes can result in an improvement in body composition in both male and female participants with overweight or obesity.

However, protein shakes may not provide a balanced range of nutrients per serving and may include high levels of sodium. As such, many companies do not recommend their products as meal replacements.

If a person is trying to lose weight by replacing meals, they should ensure they are still getting the recommended amount of essential nutrients each day.

When is the best time to drink a protein shake?

Many protein shakes have instructions to drink them either before or right after a workout, usually within 1 hour.

Do you need to exercise when drinking protein shakes?

Yes. A person will not be able to lose weight or build muscle or fitness by drinking protein shakes alone.

Many protein shake brands state that individuals should drink them as supplements in combination with a balanced diet and regular exercise.

In fact, a 2019 study reports that the formula and timing of protein intake are more important than how much protein a person takes.

Summary

Ready-to-drink protein shakes provide an easy and convenient way to increase protein intake.

Depending on a person’s goals, these drinks may help increase muscle mass, lose weight, or gain weight.

Protein powders are available to the general public to buy and make at home with a shaker or blender. Alternatively, a person can purchase ready-to-drink shakes that they can consume when convenient.

A person should speak with a doctor before changing their diet to lose weight or build muscle to ensure they are still getting all of their essential nutrients through their diet.