5 Best Cheap Protein Powders – 2017 Reviews And Top Picks
Finding the best cheap protein powder can be a tricky thing. This is because there’s a big difference between getting something cheap but poor in quality and getting a product that provides massive value for your money.
For any serious fitness enthusiast, it is important to find the right protein powder supplement. This article contains loads of information that will help you find the ideal protein supplement at an affordable price.
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Product Name | Quality | Price | Our Rating |
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Cellucor Cor-Performance 100% Whey Protein Powder with Whey Isolate | A | $ |
Product Summary
Product Name | Product Summary |
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This protein powder combines protein with essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, and dietary fiber to help support muscle growth and recovery. This product can easily fit into any fitness regimen and diet plan. | |
This product offers 60 grams of protein per serving, mostly composed of whey protein and branched chain amino acids. This combination allows for optimal muscle recovery and maintenance. | |
This product from Optimum Nutrition is one of the highest-rated protein powders out there today. Utilizing whey protein isolate as its main ingredient, it provides high-quality protein without much excess. | |
A protein powder designed for people with active lifestyles, this product contains high-quality protein that’s well-utilized by the human body. It contains proteins that digest at different rates, for up to 8 hours. | |
Cellucor Cor-Performance 100% Whey Protein Powder with Whey Isolate | This product contains 100% whey protein, loaded with branched chain amino acids and naturally occurring digestive enzymes. It can also be used for preparing food outside of protein shakes. |
5 Best Cheap Protein Powder Reviews
Reviews of the Best Cheap Protein Powders
The Syntha-6 is considered as BSN’s best protein formula. It does not just contain protein, but it also contains dietary fiber, essential amino acids, and essential fatty acids.
This superior formulation allows users to get optimal muscle gains coupled with improved recovery times. Consistent use of this product should allow you to build and maintain muscle and maximize your gains in each training session.
The Syntha-6 Protein Powder has also earned a reputation for being among the best-tasting protein powders on the market. Available in 10 different flavors, each flavor is a must-try for all fitness buffs.
Pros
- Well-balanced formulation
- Great as a meal replacement or a post-workout recovery drink
- Has a lot of benefits for its price range
- Flavor options are nice
Cons
- Calories may be too high for people trying to lose weight
- Need to watch out for ingredients you may be allergic to
- Some may find it difficult to digest
This product from Body Fortress is designed with actively training athletes in mind. Their formulation mainly focuses on enhancing overall gains and improving recovery from workouts.
The supplement is able to perform this function by combining branched chain amino acids (great for maintaining muscle tissue) with whey protein (great for enhancing muscle recovery and muscle gains). With a total of 60 grams of protein per serving, there’s more than enough protein for your bulging muscles.
Beyond its health enhancing benefits, this product provides great value for money. Its superior formulation is combined with a relatively friendly price, so lifters on a budget can find great value in this product.
Pros
- Lots of good quality protein per serving
- The product is oriented towards muscle maintenance and recovery
- Each serving is highly filling, great as a meal replacement
- It helps in speeding up muscle gains
- The taste is well-received by users
Cons
- There is a lot of disagreement about the ingredients and nutritional value
- May not be suited for people with specific health problems
The Optimal Nutrition Gold Standard is designed with people wanting no less than high-quality protein in mind. It contains 24 grams of whey protein, which is rapidly absorbed by the body for rapid gains.
Aside from containing whey protein, the product also contains 5.5 grams of branched chain amino acids per serving. Naturally sourced, these amino acids are essential for maintaining optimal muscle mass.
One of the things that make this protein product stand out from the rest is its purity. It does not contain extras such as fats and lactose, so those looking for pure protein will not be disappointed with the product.
Pros
- Contains high quality of protein and amino acids
- Low carbohydrate and fat formulation
- Great for enhancing muscle recovery and growth after workouts
- Comes in 20 different flavors, so you can pick one you like
- Dissolves easily, even in less-than-ideal mixing conditions
Cons
- Contains artificial flavorings such as sucralose
- Some flavors are not as good as advertised
The protein supplement from Muscle Pharm is created with active people and athletes in mind. It is formulated for proper protein utilization and maximum muscle growth.
The main selling point of the product is its Advanced Time Release Protein formula. It contains a blend of different proteins that digest at different rates, with digestion extending up to 8 hours.
As advertised, the product contains 25 grams of high quality protein. This may not seem much, but the formula is more oriented towards ensuring your body makes effective use of the protein.
Pros
- Time-released protein makes it stand out from the competition
- Proteins used are effectively absorbed by the body and facilitates muscle growth and maintenance
- High protein-to-carbs ratio, great for those trying to control caloric intake
- Flavors are simple but great
- Not the cheapest protein powder, but provides great value for money
Cons
- Not pure whey isolate, so it’s not the best post-workout protein powder
- May be too sweet for some people
Making use of clinically dosed formulas, this product from Cellucor is designed to boost your workout gains. Utilizing whey protein isolate combined with natural digestive enzymes, this supplement gets absorbed by the body fast.
The product is best used after a workout, right when your body is looking to replenish itself. With its 25 grams per serving of whey protein isolate, the supplement should accelerate your recovery and help you bulk up as fast as possible.
This Cellucor product also comes in different flavors, so you can pick one that suits your personal taste. It’s worth noting that regardless of which flavor you pick, you’ll be getting little carbohydrate or fat per serving.
Pros
- Whey protein isolate makes it one of the most effective protein blends on the market
- The addition of natural digestive enzymes makes this formula work even more efficiently
- Excellent for use for both pre-workout and post-workout loading
- Consistency is smooth, and most of the flavors are great
- It can be used as a food ingredient, meaning you’re not just stuck with protein shakes
Cons
- May be priced a little higher than most “cheap” protein powders
- Stirring this product may prove difficult
- Some flavor variants contain too many ingredients
Value Section
Track Record
The reputation of the company in the industry is an important consideration when buying health products such as protein powder. If a product or the company that produced it has created a track record for quality, the product is more likely to be of good quality.
Aside from the years it has stayed on the market, another way to check the track record of the product is with its reviews. A product that consistently gets good reviews from users is a great option to pick.
Type of Protein Powder
Not all protein powders are created equal. Recognizing the differences between different powders is essential to help you achieve your fitness goals.
You should be able to recognize the difference between a protein powder and a mass gainer. Strictly speaking, a protein powder should only contain protein, or at least a majority of its composition.
In contrast, a mass gainer is a product mainly designed to help people gain weight. Containing other calorie sources such as carbs and fats, these formulas serve a completely different purpose compared to protein powder.
Ingredients
Purity is a major consideration when buying protein powder. The quality of the supplement is directly proportional to the purity of the formulation.
You should avoid products that contain one too many ingredients. As a rule of thumb, any protein powder should only contain at most 10 ingredients, and ideally all, of them should be natural.
There are problems with consuming protein products that contain too many ingredients. Aside from altering your nutritional gains, these products may also jack up the price.
Hype
Hype is one of the major driving forces in spending behavior. Supplement makers hype their products in the hope that it translates into better sales.
A good example of a company hyping up its product is one that creates unrealistic claims and promises. If a product is trying to sell itself too much, it can either mean that the product will not be as effective as it claims to be or it will be too expensive.
It is important that you do not get baited with the hype. Instead of purchasing a product for the sake of going with the flow, you should purchase a product based on how it can help your body.
Price
Lastly, the price should be a major consideration when you are shopping for a protein powder supplement. After all, you are looking for something cheap, right?
One good way to look at price is to go beyond the price tag of the product itself. Instead, take a closer look at its price per unit weight (pound or ounce).
You will know that a protein powder is cheaper than its competition if its price per unit weight is lower than its competition. It will take some computations (you’ll be lucky if you find reviews with price per unit weight), but it’s worth considering.
Conclusion
With all things considered, I would personally recommend Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard. The protein products from BSN and Body Fortress also received some serious consideration, but this product from Optimum Nutrition has proven to be too good to pass up.
One of the things that made the product stand out is its no-nonsense approach to purity. If you want high-quality protein without too much of the extras, this is the protein powder made for you.
This product is best used as a post-workout drink, when your body is looking for that much-needed protein boost. Its wide range of flavors can be considered as a welcome bonus.
For this comparison, the best cheap protein powder on the market today is Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard. No pun intended, but this product is indeed among the gold standards in this highly competitive market.
