The Top 5 Best Protein Powders For Building Muscle In 2021

But high-protein foods like chicken breast, tuna, and eggs can get boring after a while.

Not to mention, send your weekly shopping budget through the roof. That’s why we recommend a good protein powder to help you meet your protein goals, save money, and satisfy your sweet tooth without adding any unnecessary sugar and fat into your diet.

So, let’s take a look at the top five best protein powders for building muscle currently available for sale!

1. CrazyBulk Tri-Protein
2. Redcon1 Isotope
3. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard
4. Thorne Whey Protein Isolate
5. Gnarly Whey

We believe each supplement brings something unique to the table, and all are great protein powders for gaining muscle.

Especially our #1 pick, which contains a three-stage release of six different types of protein!

1) Tri-Protein by Crazy Bulk

At the very top of our list of best protein powders for muscle gain is Tri-Protein by Crazy Bulk.

Described as “the only protein powder you’ll ever need,” this stand-out supplement is trusted by pro bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts alike, and it has a huge global fan base on social media.

Tri-Protein contains a powerful blend of six different sources of protein designed to release in three separate stages and deliver 21 grams of protein per serving.

The fast, medium, and slow digesting proteins mean that your muscles will constantly be fueled with the proteins they need to repair and grow.

How Tri-Protein Works

Each 30g scoop of Tri-Protein is filled with the following proteins:

• Micellar Casein (slow digesting) This source of protein is the slowest to digest. It gradually releases amino acids over a prolonged period.
• Calcium Caseinate (slow digesting) This also takes a long time to digest and is perfect before bed to slowly absorb protein overnight.
• Milk Protein Concentrate (medium digesting) Combines whey and casein to deliver a varied source of protein.
• Whey Protein Concentrate This type of protein has a medium digestion time.
• Whey Protein Isolate (fast digesting) Has a high purity level, meaning it can be digested fast.
• Whey Protein Hydrolysate (fast digesting) Is formed from splitting isolate into smaller chains of amino acids and can therefore be digested even faster.

Because your body digests these different proteins at different speeds, your muscles will be fueled with protein for longer.

This means your body will absorb higher doses of protein and be more effective at packing on muscle mass.

Tri Protein For Recovery

Tri-Protein also contains DigeZyme, which helps to reduce pain and soreness in your muscles following a heavy workout session.

This study gave 20 men either a placebo or a 50mg DigeZyme capsule three times a day for three days. After exercise, each group was given a muscle soreness questionnaire.

The men who had taken DigeZyme reported significantly lower muscle soreness, as shown in the following chart:

This means that taking Tri-Protein will allow your major muscle groups like legs, chest, and back to recover faster following a heavy workout, meaning you can work out more often!

What Are People Saying About Tri-Protein?

Overall, the bodybuilding community has been super positive about Tri-Protein, and we have yet to see any negative reviews.

Here’s what some people are saying: Stephan loves the Tri-Protein formula and likes how well it mixes, even by hand.

Oliver thinks the chocolate flavor is delicious and points out how easily it mixes. He takes Tri-Protein with milk and has already noticed some gains! Choose Tri-Protein for Maximum Gains

With six proteins packed into one, we think Tri-Protein by Crazy Bulk is well deserving of our number-one pick.

And with its three-stage release formula, you will absorb more protein throughout the day to help get those killer gains you’re looking for.

At just 97 calories per serving, it’s also the lightest formula on our list. Perfect for lowering your body fat and building some pure, lean muscle.

And it comes with free worldwide shipping! You can read real customer reviews of Tri-Protein here or click the link below to visit the official website.

2) Isotope by Redcon1

At number two on our list of the best protein powders for muscle gain is Isotope by Redcon1.

This powerful mixture contains an impressive 25g of protein per serving to boost your protein intake and help you pack on muscle mass! It contains 100% whey protein isolate and no lactose, which allows for lightning-fast digestion straight after your workout, so it’s great for building muscle.

Made from a high-purity protein, Isotope is easy to mix and naturally smooth. It comes in six mouth-watering flavors, meaning you’ll never get bored of the taste:

• • Vanilla
  • Blueberry Yogurt
  • Cake Batter
  • Chocolate
  • Mint Chocolate Ice Cream
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate

What’s in Isotope?

Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients:

• Whey Protein Isolate: This is the highest-quality form of whey protein compared to whey concentrate or casein. It contains no lactose, no carbs, and no fats and is easy to absorb. It’s perfect for limiting your fat and carb intake, while still hitting your protein goals to pack on lean muscle.
• Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate: This protein has gone through hydrolysis, which means the bonds linking the amino acids have been broken down, making it the purest form of whey protein. It’s included to make Redcon1 Isotope even smoother and faster to digest, so you enjoy a full recovery much more quickly.

Redcon1: A Company You Can Trust

We think Isotope by RedCon1 firmly deserves a spot on our list of the best protein powders for building muscle.

You’re not only getting a great protein powder, but there’s a great company behind it too. They even offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied!

You can read real Isotope customer reviews here or click the image below to visit the official website.

3) Gold Standard 100% Whey by Optimum Nutrition

In third place on our list of best protein powders for building muscle is the hugely popular Gold Standard 100% Whey by Optimum Nutrition.

It’s the world’s number-one selling protein powder, and for good reason! Packed into every scoop is an impressive 24g of high-quality protein to help you build a physique that gets people turning their heads.

This product really does come with the Gold Standard of quality.

All the excess carbs, fats, and lactose are isolated out using sophisticated filtering technologies.

And the 100% whey blend contains a mix of isolate, concentrate, and peptides to support lean muscle mass and endurance, so you’ll see noticeable results in your strength and size within weeks.

What’s in Gold Standard Whey?

Let’s take a more detailed look at the ingredients:

• Protein Blend: By combining both whey isolate and whey concentrate, this unique blend offers a balance of high-protein content, fast absorption, and consistent delivery of protein throughout the day. This means your muscles will always have the protein they need to grow.
• Whey Peptides: This contains naturally occurring branch-chained amino acids, which your body uses as the building blocks for muscle. BCAAs are also proven to reduce soreness and boost recovery times, allowing you to hit the gym more often.
• Low-Calorie: At only 110 calories per serving, you can reach your protein intake goals without consuming extra calories. Great for weight loss and toning!

Gold Standard is banned substance tested, so if you’re a professional competitor you can rest assured it won’t trigger any positive drug tests. It’s also “instantized” for easy mixing. All you need is a glass and a spoon.

16 Delicious Flavors to Choose From

Optimum Nutrition understands that tasting the same flavor three times a day can get boring after a while. That’s why they’ve put a lot of effort into developing 16 tasty flavors, which include:

• Banana Cream
• Chocolate Coconut
• Chocolate Malt
• Chocolate Mint
• Chocolate Peanut Butter
• Coffee
• Cookies and Cream
• Delicious Strawberry
• Double Rich Chocolate
• Extreme Milk Chocolate
• French Vanilla Creme
• Mocha Cappuccino
• Rocky Road
• Strawberries and Cream
• Strawberry Banana
• Vanilla Ice Cream

Each flavor is 100% gluten free and contains no artificial growth hormones.

Get Bigger and Stronger with Gold Standard Whey

Optimum Nutrition not only delivers a high-quality and effective protein mix, but it also provides one of the most affordable powders on the market.

For just $30, you get an incredible 30 servings, so it’s hard to find another protein powder that offers this much value for money.

No wonder it’s the world’s best-selling protein supplement.

The only problem you’ll have is deciding between the 16 delicious flavors! You can read real Gold Standard Whey Protein customer reviews here or click the image below to visit the official website!

4) Whey Protein Isolate by Thorne

At number four on our list of the best protein powders for muscle gain is the super health-focused protein isolate from Thorne Research.

Thorne is well known in the sporting community for being focused on purity, health, and well-being, delivering scientific solutions to push your performance further.

And they don’t disappoint with their proprietary protein blend. Each serving provides 21g of high-quality protein with flavors and sweeteners from 100% natural sources.

What’s in Thorne’s Protein Isolate?

Thorne believes in keeping things simple so uses 100% whey protein isolate as their protein source. Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients and nutritional information:

• Whey Protein Isolate: This is the purest form of protein available. You’ll be able to absorb it quickly, which means your muscles will be fueled with high-quality protein immediately. This is essential for muscle hypertrophy and growth.
• Leucine: The proprietary protein blend also contains 2.3g of leucine. This is an amino acid that signals the muscles to recover and repair. This study looked at 10 men performing elbow extensions over a five-week period. The leucine supplemented group had less muscle damage compared to the placebo group, suggesting leucine can aid muscle recovery, allowing you to train muscle groups more often.
• Bromelain & Papain: These natural ingredients help with protein digestion, further boosting your absorption rate and gut health. Bromelain can also reduce soreness in aching muscles, helping you recover from a heavy session faster.
• Cane Sugar & Stevia: The mix is sweetened using evaporated cane sugar and stevia extract. This keeps the calorie count down and only contains around 2g of sugar per scoop. Perfect if you’re looking to build toned muscle and avoid any extra calories.

NSF Certified for Professional Use

Thorne Research has partnered with an incredible array of professional sports and teams, including the MLB, NHL, NFL, and even the UFC. Their dedication to quality, performance, and testing has helped them build an impressive reputation in the competitive world.

When using a Thorne product, you can rest assured that you’re only consuming safe, essential, NSF-certified ingredients that have been tested for over 200 banned substances.

Why Choose Thorne?

Trusted by professional athletes across the globe, Thorne’s protein powder is ideal for the super health-conscious competitors out there.

Packed with natural ingredients, it’s one of the best mixes for people with sensitive digestion.

It’s also NSF certified and tested for over 200 banned substances, so if you want a clean protein powder from a trusted brand to help pack on some muscle, then Thorne is a great choice.

They provide fast worldwide shipping, so you won't have to wait long to start boosting your muscles full of high-quality protein! Click the image below to get you supply of Thorne’s Whey Protein!

5) Gnarly Whey

Last, but certainly not least, on our list of best protein powders for gaining muscle is Gnarly Whey.

Their goal is to create fitness supplements that are clean, effective, and great tasting.

And you will be pleased to know they only use quality natural ingredients in their products.

We think the Gnarly Whey mix really packs a punch and delivers an incredible 25g of protein per serving, sourced from New Zealand grass-fed cows.

It’s also packed full of digestive enzymes, healthy fats, omega-3 acids, and other nutritional essentials that support muscle growth.

What’s in Gnarly Whey?

Let’s dive deeper into the ingredients:

• Whey Protein Concentrate: Made from antibiotic-free, grass-fed cow’s milk, this low-processed form of whey is absorbed slowly into your body. Packing an impressive 25g of protein per serving, it keeps your muscles fueled through the day for those all-important gains.
• Digestive Blend: This selection of enzymes helps you digest the protein, so your body gets maximum results. If you’ve previously struggled with digesting whey, Gnarly could be your solution!
• Pre & Probiotics: Included to further support digestion and gut health.
• IMO & Erythritol: Added for sweetness, IMO contains fewer calories than sugar. It makes Gnarly taste great without any extra calories. Perfect for getting toned, low-fat muscle definition. Erythritol is another naturally occurring sugar substitute that helps deliver delicious, low-carb flavor to every scoop.

All Gnarly ingredients are NSF certified.

This means they’ve been tested for over 200 banned substances, so Gnarly won’t trigger any doping tests, which makes it great for professional competitors and athletes.

It’s also GMO free, gluten free, soy free, and contains no hormones and no antibiotics. Their roots are in climbing, but they also support professional and amateur athletes in a range of other activities, including running, weightlifting, surfing, and snowboarding.

So if you want a 100% naturally sourced protein powder that’s easy to digest and delivers amazing results, head over to Gnarly by clicking the image below and order your whey today.

Which Is the Best Protein Powder for Building Muscle?

That concludes our list of best protein powders for building muscle.

Our top pick is Tri-Protein available here, by Crazy Bulk because it contains not one but six different types of protein that release in three stages to fuel your muscles with the protein they need to repair and grow.

By now, you should have an idea of which supplement is right for you. But if you’re still unsure, here’s a reminder of the products we recommend:

1. Tri-Protein by Crazy Bulk: Deserving of its #1 spot, Tri-Protein’s incredible formula contains six different sources of protein designed to release in three separate stages. This means your muscles are fueled with the protein you need to achieve impressive gains! The chocolate flavor is delicious too! Get yours here.
2. Isotope by Redcon1: Made from a highly pure protein source, Isotope delivers an impressive 25g of protein per scoop. Because it only contains whey isolate, it’s lactose free, which reduces bloating. It also makes it smooth and easy to mix, even in water. Get yours here.
3. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard: The world’s best-selling protein powder! Gold Standard comes in a mouth-watering 16 different flavors, so you’ll never get bored of those post-workout shakes. It’s also the most affordable powder on our list, allowing you to boost your muscle size while on a budget. Get yours here.
4. Thorne Whey Protein Isolate: Putting the science into the protein powder, Thorne’s product is a professional-grade product. NSF certification makes it ideal for pro competitors. It’s low in sugar, calories, and fats. Plus, it’s soy free and uses only natural flavors and colors. Great for people with digestion issues. Get yours here.
5. Gnarly Whey: For the super health conscious, Gnarly uses all-natural ingredients. Their impressive whey protein mix is sourced from New Zealand grass-fed cows. This delivers healthy fats, omega-3 acids, and a blend of probiotics to support gut health. Get yours here.

If you want to pack on muscle mass fast, then a good protein powder is essential, and we recommend Tri-Protein by Crazy Bulk every time. Plus they often have special offers running where you can get a nice discount which is nice!

You can read real Tri-Protein customer reviews on our website here or click the button below to go check it out!

We hope you found this article on the best protein powders for gaining muscle helpful! Now go work out, and don’t forget to take your protein!

*This article is provided by an advertiser. Statements made are not meant to offer medical advice nor to diagnose any condition. Any studies cited here may be preliminary, and may or may not be peer-reviewed, and may or may not have sufficient participants to be statistically relevant. Anecdotal accounts should not be taken as scientific results. Products discussed in this article are not designed to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. The FDA does not evaluate dietary supplements. Consult your doctor about possible interactions, allergies, and if you are considering using natural and/or dietary supplements for any condition. Individual results will vary.