April 2024
Protein Drinks: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of protein drinks rankings posted by key online experts, as of April 2024.
Summary
On 9 Apr 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 85 protein drink endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
61 protein drinks were endorsed in total, only 16 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 9 Apr 2024, Owyn Vegan Protein Shake takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed protein drink with 5 expert endorsements. 3 experts out of 5 recommended it as the '#1 protein drink' this month.
Brand breakdown
-
Orgain: 3 protein drinks
(#1 is Orgain Clean Protein Shake)
-
Owyn: 2 protein drinks
(#1 is Owyn Vegan Protein Shake)
-
Aloha: 2 protein drinks
(#1 is Aloha Plant Based Protein Shake)
-
Optimum Nutrition: 2 protein drinks
(#1 is Optimum Gold Standard Whey)
-
Fairlife: 2 protein drinks
(#1 is Fairlife Elite Core Power)
Price breakdown
At a glance - April Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Protein Drink |
TheManual
|
The Strategist
|
Healthline
|
Insider
|
Good Housekeeping
|
Verywell Fit
|
MedicalNewsToday
|
Health.com
|
Popular Science
|
Eat This, Not That:
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $15 |
Owyn Vegan Protein Shake
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
|
2
|
- | Check price |
Aloha Plant Based Protein Shake
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
2
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
3
|
- | $47 |
Iconic Protein Drink
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
|
4
|
- | $37 |
Optimum Gold Standard Whey
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
|
5
|
- | $45 |
Fairlife Elite Core Power
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
6
|
- | Check price |
Kate Farms Organic Nutrition Shake
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
8
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
|
7
|
- | $32 |
Orgain Clean Protein Shake
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
|
12
|
- | $34 |
Ripple Vegan Protein Shakes
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
|
13
|
- | $31 |
Evolve Plant-Based Protein Shakes
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
14
|
New * | $47 |
Momentous Essential Plant-Based
|
-
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
15
|
-1 | Check price |
Chobani Complete
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
|
16
|
-1 | Check price |
Pirq Vegan Caramel Coffee
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
17
|
-1 | $23 |
Vital Collagen Powder
|
-
|
9
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
18
|
-1 | $44 |
Ritual Daily Shake Pregnancy & Postpartum
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
|
19
|
-1 | $30 |
Fairlife Core Power
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
6
|
|
20
|
-1 | Check price |
Gainful Whey Protein
|
-
|
-
|
13
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
We ranked Owyn Vegan Protein Shake #1 in April 2024 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
- Out of those, 3 experts ranked Owyn Vegan Protein Shake as #1.
Verywell Fit
Best Overall
|
Free from major allergens
Contains omega-3 fats, potassium, calcium and 30% Daily Value of iron
Vegan friendly
|
May not be an adequate carbohydrate energy source for pre or post workout
|
MedicalNewsToday
Best vegan
|
includes omega-3 fatty acids
contains added vitamins and minerals
suitable for vegans
provides 30% of a person’s daily iron
|
contains relatively high amounts of sodium
has sugar
unsuitable for people who have sunflower oil allergy
|
We ranked Aloha Plant Based Protein Shake #2 in April 2024 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
Insider
The best vegan protein shake
|
Vegan, contains MCT oil, pea and brown rice protein, no artificial ingredients, mild flavor, sweetened with coconut sugar, soy-free
|
Only 20 grams of protein per serving, expensive
|
Verywell Fit
Best Coconut Base
|
Vegan-friendly
Contains 40% Daily Value of iron
Certified USDA Organic and Fair Trade Certified
|
Not suitable for those with tree nut allergies
May not be an adequate carbohydrate energy source for pre or post workout
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend protein drinks.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of protein drinks, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for April 2024 ranking
TheManual
The Strategist
Healthline
Insider
Good Housekeeping
Verywell Fit
MedicalNewsToday
Health.com
Popular Science
Eat This, Not That:
We ranked Iconic Protein Drink #3 in April 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Iconic Protein Drink as #1.
Insider
The best overall protein shake
|
4 flavors to choose from, no artificial ingredients, made with grass-fed milk protein isolate, 20g protein per serving
|
Not enough calories to be a meal replacement
|
MedicalNewsToday
Best keto-friendly
|
keto-friendly
no additional sugar or fillers
uses ethically sourced ingredients
|
not suitable for vegans
some flavors contain caffeine
|
We ranked Optimum Gold Standard Whey #4 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Optimum Gold Standard Whey as #1.
We ranked Fairlife Elite Core Power #5 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Fairlife Elite Core Power as #1.
MedicalNewsToday
Best for amino acids
|
no added sugar
contains nine essential amino acids
|
has a high amount of total sugar per serving
has a weaker mineral profile in comparison to other products
contains sucralose and maltodextrin
|
We ranked Kate Farms Organic Nutrition Shake #6 in April 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
Verywell Fit
Best Organic
|
Higher carbohydrate content suitable for replenishing energy stores post-exercise
Contains a phytonutrient blend from organic fruits and vegetables and is fortified with vitamins and minerals
Vegan-friendly and Certified USDA Organic
|
Slightly lower in protein than other options
|
MedicalNewsToday
Best organic
|
vegan
free from most common allergens
does not contain artificial sweeteners
|
a more expensive option
contains a relatively high amount of sugar per serving
|
We ranked Orgain Clean Protein Shake #7 in April 2024 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
Verywell Fit
Best High Calcium
|
Contains 45% Daily Value of calcium and smaller amounts of iron and potassium
Contains carbohydrates for energy from agave and dairy
|
Not suitable for those with a lactose allergy or intolerance
|
MedicalNewsToday
Best high in calcium
|
more affordable than many brands
gluten- and soy-free
may be suitable for muscle recovery
|
limited flavor range
does not suit vegans
contains sugar
contains a high amount of sodium per serving
|
We ranked Ripple Vegan Protein Shakes #8 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
We ranked Evolve Plant-Based Protein Shakes #9 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
Verywell Fit
Best Vegan
|
Vegan friendly
Contains 20% Daily Value of zinc, calcium and iron, and 15% DV of B12
A blood sugar stabilizing option for those with diabetes
|
May not be an adequate carbohydrate energy source for pre or post workout
High fiber content may cause GI upset if used before exercise
|
We ranked Momentous Essential Plant-Based #10 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
Verywell Fit
Best for Athletes
|
NSF Certified for Sport and Informed Sport Certified
Whey isolate form has optimal amino acid profile, including BCAAs, to support muscle repair and synthesis
Whey sourced from milk from grass-fed cows
|
May not be an adequate carbohydrate energy source for pre or post workout
Powdered form requires mixing into liquid
|
We ranked Chobani Complete #11 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
Verywell Fit
Best Yogurt-Based
|
Contains probiotics and antioxidants
Contains carbohydrates for energy from blended fruit and dairy
Contains 25% Daily Value of calcium
|
Requires refrigeration
|
We ranked Pirq Vegan Caramel Coffee #12 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
We ranked Vital Collagen Powder #13 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
Healthline
Best collagen protein powder
|
third-party tested for purity and potency
sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows
non-GMO
free of dairy, gluten, and added sugar
|
relatively expensive
may not dissolve well in cold liquids
not suitable for vegan diets
|
We ranked Ritual Daily Shake Pregnancy & Postpartum #14 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
MedicalNewsToday
Best for pregnancy and breastfeeding
|
may help support pregnancy health
contains organic and traceable ingredients
third-party tested
suitable for vegans
|
contains coconut oil, making it unsuitable for people with a coconut allergy
a more expensive option
only available in one flavor
|
We ranked Fairlife Core Power #15 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
We ranked Gainful Whey Protein #16 in April 2024 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best protein drinks” rankings.
Healthline
Best personalized protein powder
|
customized protein blend using online quiz
multiple Flavor Boosts available
personalized nutrition advice included with subscription
|
more expensive than other protein powders
not third-party tested for purity and potency
|