Protein2 min read
Whey, plant or blend: picking a protein by what you actually eat
Protein per scoop is the headline; amino profile, digestion and cost per 25 g are what you live with. A practical way to choose between the three big options.
By Right Supplements
Most protein powders are sold on one number: grams of protein per scoop. It is a useful number and a poor way to choose, because scoops differ in size and the rest of the tub differs in everything else.
Start with cost per 25 g of protein
Pick a fixed amount. 25 g is a reasonable single serving for most people, so work out what each tub charges you for it: divide the pack price by the total protein in the tub (servings multiplied by protein per serving), then multiply by 25. This one calculation reorders most shelves, because a tub with a large scoop and a low protein percentage loses badly once the filler is priced.
Concentrate, isolate and the lactose question
Whey concentrate is the cheapest form and carries more lactose and fat. Isolate is filtered further: more protein per gram, less lactose, higher price. If dairy sits badly with you, isolate is often the difference between using the tub and abandoning it, and an abandoned tub is infinitely expensive per serving.
Plant protein is a blend problem
A single plant source is usually short on one or two essential amino acids. Rice is low in lysine, pea is low in methionine. This is why good plant powders blend two or more sources rather than leaning on one. If you are buying plant protein, the ingredient list matters more than the front of the pack.
Flavour decides whether you finish it
The most economical tub is the one you drink. Buy the smallest pack of a new flavour first, then size up once you know you like it. That is a slightly worse price per serving on the trial and a much better one over a year.
Related on the site
- How to read a supplement label before you buy
- Compare protein powders across every store we track
- Fitness and recovery
Right Supplements compares prices across the stores we track. We are not a pharmacy and not a seller, we hold no stock, and nothing here is medical advice — talk to a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement.
