Protein is a key building block for your body, supporting muscle growth, weight management and overall health. But getting enough protein daily isn’t always easy — especially if you’re constantly on the go.
Ready-to-drink protein shakes can help with this. These pre-prepared drinks are meant for when you’re on-the-go and offer a smooth, well-balanced alternative without the hassle of mixing powders.
We’ve rounded up the best protein shakes, tested for taste, nutrition and texture. Whether you’re fueling workouts, managing your diet or just looking for an easy protein boost, these top picks have you covered.
Best overall protein shake
We didn’t choose a best overall protein shake since everyone has different dietary needs and preferences. Therefore, this list consists of top protein shakes we tried and liked that are plant-based and milk-based. Sometimes people like to mix it up, so it’s ideal to know the best options to pick from at your local supermarket or deli.
These are our top protein shake picks.
There are two common types of protein shakes: whey-based and plant-based. We’ve tested many protein shakes for taste and nutritional value to help you determine which ones are worth your money.
If protein powders are more up your alley, these are some of our favorites for mixing at home.
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Owyn, pronounced “oh-win,” stands for Only What You Need and is a plant-based protein shake that is non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free and dairy-free. Besides gluten and dairy, it’s also free of the rest of the top eight allergens like soy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish or shellfish. I first tried Owyn about a year ago and was pleasantly surprised by the flavor and quality of the beverage. I tried it again recently and dark chocolate is still one of my favorite flavors because it tastes like a chocolate dessert without having a lot of sugar or the bad aftertaste some protein beverages can have.
If you’re vegan, then you know you have to put in a little more effort to meet your protein requirements. Owyn’s standard protein shakes have 20 grams of protein, but it also has a line of Pro Elite High Protein Shakes, which have 35 grams of protein per bottle. These are a good option if you’re looking for a midday snack or when you need a quick protein source after a workout. I’m lactose intolerant and can have a sensitive stomach when trying new supplements, but I had no issues with Owyn. It should be a safe choice if you’re sensitive to dairy or have gluten or nut allergies.
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Premier Protein has made itself a household name and is probably one of the most popular brands you’ll see on store shelves. This shake is whey-based and contains 30 grams of protein per serving. If you are sensitive to whey protein, I would opt for a plant-based protein shake or powder instead. I didn’t have any gastric issues when I tested Premier Protein, but I could see someone with a more acute case of lactose intolerance or someone sensitive to certain artificial sweeteners potentially experiencing some discomfort.
My favorite flavor from this line was a chocolate peanut butter protein shake because it tastes like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in liquid form. The flavor profile tastes rich enough that you feel like you’re drinking a sugar-packed dessert, but in reality, it has only one gram of sugar. I’ve used Premier Protein as a protein shake to hold me over in between meals, and it gets the job done thanks to its protein profile.
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If you’re looking for a plant-based protein shake that has a smooth profile and is creamy and flavorful, then you’ll love Ripple’s protein shakes. They are available in vanilla, chocolate and coffee flavors and features 20 grams of protein per bottle. Ripple’s vegan protein comes from pea protein, and compared to other plant-based proteins on this list is slightly higher in calories (200 calories per serving) and sugar (9 grams per serving).
I tried each of the flavors and I was pleased with the way the brand managed to make an on-the-go plant-based shake that doesn’t have a gritty texture or lingering aftertaste. Some plant-based powders I’ve tried had a less impressive profile than the shakes Ripple has to offer. The sweetener used in this shake is derived from monk fruit, which surprised me because I wouldn’t have known had I not read the nutritional label. I’ve tried other products that include the same sweetener and it’s more detectable.
I would love to see Ripple expand its plant-based shake selection by adding ones that have extra protein and new flavors. Although it’s more of a challenge to have high-protein options with plant-based protein, it’s still possible as Huel has figured out how to do it.
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Core Power became my go-to ready-made high protein shake during the third trimester of my pregnancy when I couldn’t stomach much food and while I was training for a half-marathon and looking to up my protein intake. As someone who is sometimes sensitive to dairy, I love how Fairlife ultra-filters its product to remove the lactose component found in cow’s milk in order to create the 26 grams of high-protein drink. The chocolate flavor is by far my favorite, but there are other selections to pick from like vanilla and strawberry banana. There is also a Core Power version of the shake with 42 grams of protein.
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If you’re a Costco member, you’ll want to stock up on the new Nurri protein shakes. These are similar to Core Power because they are made out of ultra-filtered milk and the chocolate flavor is my favorite. It also has Core Power beat with 30 grams of protein per serving and it’s more affordable at Costco. You can pick up a 12-pack for under $30. These shakes come in an aluminum can and it’s recommended that you lightly shake it before opening. The design of the can isn’t ideal for shaking since if you shake it a touch too hard, it does spray upon opening. Although I prefer the Core Power chocolate flavor a bit more, Nurri’s is good enough to make me feel satisfied. The price tag also helps if you’re on a tight budget, but don’t want to sacrifice your daily protein quota.
Kate Farms
Kate Farms uses organic yellow pea protein in its plant-based shakes that are free of gluten, soy, dairy and artificial sweeteners. I loved how creamy and delicious these protein shakes were. They’re higher in calories (330 calories), which isn’t a problem since it’s considered a meal replacement beverage, not just a protein shake. This product almost made the best list, but it fell short in one important area: It only has 16 grams of protein per serving compared to the other plant-based brands, which have at least 20 grams of protein. If Kate Farms reworked its formula to include 20 grams or more of protein, it would’ve easily made the best list.
Orgain Organic Nutrition Shake
I’m familiar with Orgain’s plant-based protein powders because I’ve had them in the past. I had never tried its shakes before, and they fell short for me. I really wanted to like them, but they had an aftertaste that their powders normally don’t have, and even the creamy chocolate fudge flavor (that I usually like) didn’t taste the same to me. If it were up to me, I’d stick to Orgain in powder form and mix it with my dairy-free milk of choice as I normally do.
Iconic Life Protein Drink
This whey-based protein shake was not a hit for me as I could not get past the artificial taste. I often enjoy vanilla flavors, but I was not a fan of this version of vanilla protein. The chocolate flavor was slightly better, but ultimately the mix of sweeteners was not the right fit for me.
Flavor: We taste-tested to see if the flavor reminded us of the flavor profile. We also made sure there wasn’t a bad aftertaste.
Ingredients: We looked at ingredients to see if they include additional minerals and nutrients to support the protein profile. We also checked for questionable additives.
Grams of protein: We made sure that the products had at least 20 grams of protein per serving.
Side effects: We observed whether gastrointestinal issues arose, because they can be a potential side effect to consuming supplements with whey or artificial sugars.
- Make sure to read the ingredient label, especially if you have lactose intolerance.
- Some protein shakes are sold as a pack or individually depending on where you buy them.
- Whey concentrate and whey isolate commonly make up whey-based proteins. The difference is in the way they are processed, with whey isolate having more protein but less fat and carbs. There also ultra-filtered protein shakes that are ideal if you like milk-based shakes but without the lactose. Plant-based protein main ingredients tend to be a mix of peas, brown rice, hemp, pumpkin seeds or soy.
What should you look for when shopping for protein shakes?
Are whey-based protein shakes better than plant-based ones?
Do you even need protein shakes?
Are there any negative side effects from drinking protein shakes?
Is it OK to drink a protein shake daily?
Do protein shakes help with weight loss?
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