Best Casein Protein in Australia (Night-Time Protein)

Casein is the slow-digesting milk protein that many people use as a night-time protein before bed. Supps247 stocks two pure micellar casein powders, so this page ranks those first by units sold, then two of our popular protein blends that contain casein for anyone who wants a creamier, all-day shake. Each pick is checked against its brand label for protein per scoop, protein sources, sugar and testing claims, and we explain what the research on protein before sleep actually shows. If you are comparing the best casein protein in Australia, start with the table. Updated October 2026.

Our top picks at a glance

1. Rule 1 R1 Casein: best overall casein

R1 Casein is our best-selling pure casein. All of its protein comes from micellar casein, and a 35 g scoop gives 25 g of protein for 120 Calories, with less than 1 g of sugars. Rule 1 positions it for before bed or between meals, and states that it is Informed Choice certified, which suits people who want a batch-tested product.

• 25 g protein per 35 g scoop, with 100% of the protein from micellar casein
• 120 Calories, 3 g carbohydrate, less than 1 g sugars and 1 g fat per scoop (Chocolate Fudge)
• 600 mg calcium per scoop (Chocolate Fudge)
• 11 g naturally occurring EAAs per serve and Informed Choice certified, according to Rule 1

Worth knowing: It contains milk and soy (lecithin). Casein mixes thicker than whey, so use a little more liquid if you like a thinner shake. We stock 2 lb and 4 lb tubs, and the 4 lb tub works out slightly cheaper per scoop.

View Rule 1 R1 Casein

2. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Casein: best big-brand casein

Gold Standard 100% Casein is the other pure micellar casein on our shelves and a long-standing name in the category. The Australian labels list 24 g of protein per scoop, all from micellar casein, and Optimum Nutrition describes it as a slower digesting protein for after exercise, between meals or before bed. It is close to R1 Casein on value, so the choice mostly comes down to flavour.

• 24 g protein per scoop, with 100% of the protein from micellar casein (front label)
• 1 g sugar per scoop on the Creamy Vanilla label
• 9 to 10 g naturally occurring EAAs per serve, depending on the tub (front labels)
• 4 lb (1.82 kg) Creamy Vanilla tub labelled 54 serves; the 2 lb Chocolate Supreme tub on ON's Australian site is labelled 28 serves

Worth knowing: Labels differ between tubs, and the 2 lb Chocolate Supreme front on Optimum Nutrition's site also mentions added zinc and magnesium, so check the panel on the tub you buy. It contains milk.

View Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Casein

3. Rule 1 R1 Source7 Protein: best multi-source blend

Source7 is not a pure casein. We have included it because it is one of our best-selling proteins that contains casein. It mixes seven protein sources, from whey isolate and hydrolysed whey to micellar casein and milk protein isolate, plus pea protein. Rule 1 describes it as a blend of faster, moderate and slower digesting proteins for any time of day, so it suits people who want one tub for after training and before bed.

• 22 g protein per 41 g scoop
• Protein from whey isolate, whey concentrate, hydrolysed whey, native whey isolate, micellar casein, milk protein isolate and pea protein
• 170 Calories, 10 g carbohydrate, 5 g sugars (0 g added) and 4.5 g fat per scoop (Chocolate)
• Over 10 g naturally occurring EAAs per serve and Informed Choice certified, according to Rule 1

Worth knowing: Per scoop it has less protein and more energy than the pure caseins above, so it is not the pick for the leanest night-time shake. Rule 1 sells 1.8 lb and 4 lb tubs, while our listing names 2 lb and 5 lb sizes, so check the net weight and serves on your tub.

View Rule 1 R1 Source7 Protein

4. BSN Syntha-6 Ultra Premium Protein: best creamy blend

Syntha-6 is a creamy, milkshake-style protein built on six milk proteins, including calcium caseinate, micellar casein and milk protein isolate alongside whey. BSN labels it for use any time, day or night. It is the most dessert-like option here, which some people prefer as an evening shake, but it carries more energy and fat per scoop than a pure casein.

• 22 g protein per 47 g scoop on the 2.5 lb panel we checked
• Protein from whey concentrate, calcium caseinate, hydrolysed whey concentrate, whey isolate, micellar casein and milk protein isolate
• 200 Calories, 6 g fat, 14 g carbohydrate, 4 g fibre and 3 g sugars (1 g added) per scoop on that panel
• 5 lb tub labelled 48 serves; the 2.5 lb tub is labelled 25 serves

Worth knowing: The ingredient list includes a creamer made with sunflower oil and corn syrup solids, and values vary by flavour. It contains milk and soy.

View BSN Syntha-6 5 lb or the 2.5 lb tub

How we chose

We ranked casein and night-time protein products by units sold at Supps247 stores and online over the last six months, and combined sizes and listings of the same product. Only two pure casein powders are live online and in stock, so we ranked those first, then the best-selling blends that contain casein, and labelled them clearly as blends. We left out products that are not on our online store, blends with no casein on the label, and a very slow seller with almost no stock. Label facts were checked against brand websites and label panels in October 2026. Value tiers come from price per 25 g of protein at the time of writing, because scoop sizes differ: $ is cheaper than most picks on this page, $$ is in the middle and $$$ is premium. Brands do not pay for placement.

How to choose a casein or night-time protein

Get your daily protein right first. The ISSN position stand on protein and exercise suggests 1.4 to 2.0 g of protein per kg of body weight a day for most people who exercise, spread across the day in doses of about 20 to 40 g. A casein shake before bed is one way to add a dose, not a replacement for meals. Isolated protein supplements are listed as a Group A sports food in the AIS framework.

Why casein is called slow. In a well-known study, casein produced a smaller but longer rise in blood amino acids than whey, which the researchers put down to slower stomach emptying, while whey gave a fast, short spike. That is why casein is used before bed or for long gaps between meals, and whey is the usual choice straight after training; see our whey protein isolate picks.

What the pre-sleep research shows. The ISSN notes that 30 to 40 g of casein before sleep increases overnight muscle protein synthesis. In one study, 40 g of casein taken 30 minutes before sleep was digested and absorbed overnight and improved whole-body protein balance. In a 12-week training study, young men who had 27.5 g of protein each night gained more strength and muscle size than a placebo group. A 2021 systematic review supported the overnight effect in young men but urged caution on long-term gains, because protein intakes were uneven between the groups compared.

How much to take. One scoop of the pure caseins on this page gives 24 to 25 g of protein, while the studies above used 27.5 to 40 g. Mixing your scoop with milk instead of water is a simple way to get closer. Follow the directions on your tub.

Pure casein or a blend. Pure micellar casein is the leanest choice per scoop. Blends such as Source7 and Syntha-6 mix faster and slower proteins, taste more like a milkshake and carry more energy, which can suit people trying to gain weight.

Dairy, allergies and testing. Every pick contains milk, so none is suitable for a milk allergy, and none lists lactose separately. If you are lactose intolerant, check with your doctor or a dietitian first, or look at our vegan protein picks. If you are drug tested, Rule 1 states that R1 Casein and Source7 are Informed Choice certified; check with your sport before use. Teenagers, and anyone pregnant or with a medical condition, should check with a GP or sports dietitian first, as food comes first. Browse every option in our casein protein range.

FAQs

What is the best night time protein?

For most people it is a pure casein, because it digests slowly and most studies on protein before sleep used casein. On this page our top pick is R1 Casein, with Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Casein close behind on value. If you want a creamier shake or more energy, a casein-containing blend such as Source7 or Syntha-6 also works. The most important thing is still reaching your total protein target for the day.

Is casein better than whey before bed?

Casein is the usual choice because it releases amino acids more slowly. In a well-known study, casein gave a longer, steadier rise in blood amino acids than whey, which gave a fast, short spike. Research on protein before sleep has mostly used casein, so that is where the evidence is. If whey is what you have, it still counts toward your daily protein total.

How much casein should I take before bed?

The ISSN suggests 30 to 40 g of casein before sleep, and the main studies used 27.5 to 40 g of protein. One scoop of R1 Casein gives 25 g of protein and Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Casein gives 24 g, so a scoop mixed with milk gets you closer. Count it toward your daily total of about 1.4 to 2.0 g of protein per kg of body weight.

Does casein before bed build more muscle?

It can help, but there is a catch. Casein before sleep raises muscle protein synthesis overnight, and a 12-week study found bigger strength and size gains with nightly protein than with a placebo. However, a 2021 systematic review noted uneven protein intakes between the groups in these studies, so part of the benefit may come from extra daily protein. Training and total intake matter most.

Will a casein shake before bed make me gain fat?

Not on its own. A scoop of the pure caseins here adds about 120 Calories, which counts toward your daily energy like any food. The ISSN notes that casein before sleep increased overnight muscle protein synthesis without affecting fat breakdown, and a 2019 review found it did not appear to reduce appetite at breakfast the next day. If you are cutting, a pure casein is leaner than the blends here, which carry 170 to 200 Calories a scoop.

Can I take casein if I am lactose intolerant?

Casein is a milk protein and every pick here states it contains milk, so none is suitable for a milk allergy. The labels do not list lactose separately. If you are lactose intolerant, check with your doctor or a dietitian before using a casein powder, or look at our dairy-free vegan protein picks instead.

Sources: ISSN position stand: protein and exercise (2017); Res et al., protein ingestion before sleep improves postexercise overnight recovery (Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2012); Snijders et al., protein ingestion before sleep increases muscle mass and strength gains (Journal of Nutrition, 2015); Reis et al., pre-sleep protein consumption and muscle-related outcomes: a systematic review (Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2021); Pre-sleep protein ingestion and the skeletal muscle adaptive response: an update (Frontiers in Nutrition, 2019); Boirie et al., slow and fast dietary proteins (PNAS, 1997); AIS Group A supplements and sports foods.

Order online with Australia-wide delivery, free on orders of $99.99 or more, or visit a Supps247 store in Melbourne, regional Victoria or Brisbane to compare products in person before you buy. Members can use our price match guarantee on full-priced items.

Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or take regular medication, check with your doctor first.