Best Protein Powder in Australia

This guide lists the protein powders Supps247 customers buy most, checked against each brand's own label so you can compare like for like. We started with units sold across our stores and website over the last six months, then made sure the list covers different needs: lean isolates, cheaper whey blends, plant protein and big tubs for heavy users. Each pick shows protein per serve, scoop size and a value tier instead of a price, because prices change. Updated October 2026.

Our top picks at a glance

1. R1 Protein WPI: best overall

R1 Protein is the protein powder our customers buy more than any other, across the 2 lb, 5 lb and 10 lb tubs. All of the protein comes from whey protein isolate and hydrolysed whey protein isolate, and Rule 1 says it uses no whey concentrate, creamers or gums. That keeps carbs and fat low per scoop, and the long flavour list, which includes an Unflavoured option, makes it easy to stay consistent.

• 25 g protein per 32 g scoop (Chocolate Fudge label)
• 3 g carbohydrate, 0 g sugars and 0.5 g fat per scoop (Chocolate Fudge)
• Protein blend of whey protein isolate and hydrolysed whey protein isolate
• More than 6 g of naturally occurring BCAAs per serve, according to Rule 1
• Rule 1 states it is Informed Choice certified

Worth knowing: Flavoured tubs are sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium and contain soy lecithin, so check the allergen line if you avoid soy. The 2 lb tub costs noticeably more per serve than the 5 lb and 10 lb sizes.

View R1 Protein WPI

2. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey: best whey blend

Gold Standard 100% Whey has been on supplement shelves for a long time and is a steady seller for us. It blends whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate and whey peptides, with isolate listed first on the Australian label. Because it is a blend, it costs less per serve than most pure isolates while still giving 24 g of protein, which makes it a sensible default for most people who tolerate dairy well.

• 24 g protein per 31 g scoop
• 4 g carbohydrate, 2 g sugars and 1 g fat per serve (Banana Cream, Australian label)
• 73 serves per 2.27 kg tub
• 5.5 g naturally occurring BCAAs per serve
• Optimum Nutrition says it is banned substance tested under the Informed Choice program

Worth knowing: It has a little more carbohydrate and sugar per serve than most of the isolates on this list, and it contains soy lecithin and the sweeteners 950 and 955. If dairy sits heavily with you, an isolate or a plant protein may suit you better.

View Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey

3. Primabolics Iso-Ripped: best isolate with digestive enzymes

Iso-Ripped is one of our steadiest sellers among the whey isolates. The current V2 formula combines instantised and hydrolysed whey protein isolate with a small digestive enzyme blend that includes lactase, plus sea moss and chromium picolinate. It suits people who want a lean isolate with a few extras, and it comes in plenty of flavours in a 750 g or 1.65 kg pack.

• 25 g protein per 30 g scoop
• 2.1 g carbohydrate, 1.1 g sugars and 0.8 g fat per serve
• 2,846 mg leucine per scoop
• 50 mg digestive enzyme blend per serve, including lactase
• 55 serves per 1.65 kg pack

Worth knowing: Primabolics has moved to a V2 formula, and older stock listed different extras, so read the panel on the pack you buy. It is sweetened with stevia, and the label says it is not suitable for children under 15 or pregnant women.

View Primabolics Iso-Ripped

4. Rapid Vegan Plant Protein: best plant-based

Rapid Vegan is our best-selling plant protein. It blends organic pea and organic brown rice protein with pumpkin, watermelon and sunflower protein, so there is no milk in the ingredient list. With 23.3 g of protein in a 30 g serve and less than 1 g of carbohydrate, it sits close to the whey picks on the numbers, and the 1 kg size is one of the cheapest options here per serve.

• 23.3 g protein per 30 g serve (Chocolate)
• 0.9 g carbohydrate, 0.1 g sugars and 0.7 g fat per serve
• Protein from organic pea, organic brown rice, pumpkin, watermelon and sunflower
• Sweetened with stevia
• 33 serves per 1 kg and 15 serves per 450 g

Worth knowing: The Chocolate flavour lists 411 mg of sodium per serve, about twice as much as any whey pick here. It is made on a line that also handles gluten, soy, egg, nuts and seeds. For more plant options, see our best vegan protein picks.

View Rapid Vegan Plant Protein

5. Dymatize ISO100 Hydrolyzed: best hydrolysed isolate

ISO100 is a hydrolysed whey isolate: all of the protein comes from whey protein isolate, and part of it has been broken down into smaller peptides. Dymatize lists 25 g of protein, 1 g of sugar and 2.6 g of leucine per scoop, and says it mixes easily in water or milk. It is one of the pricier options per serve, so it suits people who want a very lean shake and are happy to pay for it.

• 25 g protein per 32 g scoop (Gourmet Chocolate)
• 2 g carbohydrate, 1 g sugars and 1 g fat per serve
• 5.5 g BCAAs and 2.6 g leucine per serve
• Ingredients start with hydrolysed whey protein isolate, then whey protein isolate
• Dymatize says it is banned substance tested

Worth knowing: It contains soy lecithin, sucralose and stevia. Price per serve is near the top of this list, and the 20-serve pack costs more per serve again than the 3 lb and 5 lb tubs.

View Dymatize ISO100

6. MuscleTech Nitro Tech 100% Whey Gold: best big-tub value

Nitro Tech 100% Whey Gold gives you the lowest price per serve of the whey picks here, especially in the 10 lb size. MuscleTech's current label lists a blend of whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate and whey peptides, with 24 g of protein in a 33 g scoop. It is a practical choice for people who go through a lot of protein and digest dairy without trouble.

• 24 g protein per 33 g scoop
• 2 g carbohydrate, 2 g sugars and 2 g fat per serve (Double Rich Chocolate)
• 5.4 g BCAAs per serve
• About 69 serves in a 5 lb tub

Worth knowing: It contains whey concentrate, soy, sucralose, acesulfame potassium and a gum blend that includes carrageenan. Some of our stock may carry an older label with a slightly different ingredient order, so check the panel on your tub.

View MuscleTech Nitro Tech 100% Whey Gold

7. CBUM Itholate Protein: best dessert-style flavours

CBUM Itholate is a whey protein isolate from the CBUM Series, and its dessert-style flavours, such as Vanilla Oatmeal Cookie, Maple Waffle and Milk and Cookies, are the main draw. Every flavour lists 25 g of protein per scoop, and it carries Informed Protein certification, a program that tests whether the protein content matches the label. It is a treat-style shake that still keeps protein front and centre.

• 25 g protein per scoop in every flavour
• Scoop size ranges from 31 g to 36 g depending on flavour
• 25 serves per 2 lb tub
• Whey protein isolate is the protein source
• Informed Protein certified for label protein accuracy

Worth knowing: Some flavours add MCT oil powder, cookie pieces or marshmallows, which lifts fat and sugar a little (Milk and Cookies lists 3 g fat and 3 g sugars). Most flavours also contain a gum blend and sucralose, and it is a premium option per serve.

View CBUM Itholate Protein

How we chose

We ranked protein powders by units sold at Supps247 stores and online over the last six months, combined size variants of the same product into one pick, and then dropped anything that was not a protein powder or that we could not check against a brand label. Label facts were checked against brand websites and label panels in October 2026. Value tiers come from price per serve at the time of writing: $ is cheaper than most picks on this page, $$ is in the middle and $$$ is premium. Brands do not pay for placement on this list.

How to choose protein powder

Start with food, then fill the gap. Better Health Channel notes that 99% of Australians already get enough protein from the food they eat, healthdirect says most people do, and training, not extra protein, is what stimulates muscle growth. The AIS still lists protein supplements as a Group A sports food, and a powder earns its place when it makes your daily target easier to reach, such as after training, on busy days or when your diet is light on meat, eggs and dairy.

Know your target. The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) suggests 1.4 to 2.0 g of protein per kg of body weight a day for most people who exercise, and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements reports no safety concerns at the 1.2 to 2.0 g/kg intakes recommended for athletes. Per serve, ISSN suggests 20 to 40 g (about 0.25 g/kg) with 700 to 3,000 mg of leucine, spread every 3 to 4 hours. Every pick on this page delivers between 23 and 25 g per scoop.

Isolate or blend? Whey protein isolate is filtered further, so labels usually show less fat and sugar per serve, while blends that include whey concentrate usually cost less per serve. Our guide to whey isolate vs whey blend explains the trade-off, and our best whey protein isolate picks compare isolates only.

Plant protein works too. ISSN notes that plant proteins have been studied less than whey, although one eight-week study found similar strength and body composition changes with rice protein and whey. Check protein per serve, because plant powders vary more than whey.

Read the panel, not the front. Divide protein per serve by scoop size to see how much of each scoop is protein, then check sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame potassium, stevia), gums and allergens such as milk and soy. Serves per tub tells you the real cost per serve, and bigger tubs are usually cheaper per scoop. You can compare the full range in our protein powder collection.

Tested athletes. If you are drug tested in your sport, choose batch-tested products (for example HASTA or Informed Sport certified) and check with your sport before using any supplement.

FAQs

How much protein powder should I have each day?

Most people only need one or two scoops, used to top up meals rather than replace them. Work out your daily target first: ISSN suggests 1.4 to 2.0 g per kg of body weight for people who exercise. A 75 kg person would aim for roughly 105 to 150 g a day from all foods, so a 25 g scoop covers a useful share without crowding out whole foods.

When is the best time to have a protein shake?

ISSN says the benefit of having protein right before or after training depends on the individual, and suggests spreading 20 to 40 g doses every 3 to 4 hours across the day. A shake after training is convenient, but one with breakfast or as an afternoon snack works just as well if it helps you reach your daily total.

Is whey protein isolate better than a whey blend?

Both are whey protein. An isolate is filtered further to remove more fat and sugar, so it is usually leaner per scoop: R1 Protein lists 0 g sugars and ISO100 lists 1 g, against 2 g for Gold Standard 100% Whey. Blends usually cost less per serve. Choose an isolate for the leanest shake or if dairy sits heavily with you, and a blend if price per serve matters most.

Can I have protein powder if lactose upsets my stomach?

Whey isolates are filtered to remove more of the sugar, which includes lactose, and Dymatize says ISO100 is filtered to remove excess lactose. They are still dairy products, though. Iso-Ripped adds a digestive enzyme blend that includes lactase. If small amounts of dairy bother you, Rapid Vegan has no milk ingredients. If you have a diagnosed condition, check with your doctor first.

Is plant protein as good as whey?

It can do the job. ISSN notes plant proteins have been studied less than whey, but one eight-week study found similar strength and body composition changes with rice protein and whey protein. Rapid Vegan lists 23.3 g of protein per 30 g serve, close to the whey picks. The bigger difference is usually taste, texture and price per serve.

Do I need protein powder to build muscle?

No. Better Health Channel points out that most Australians already eat enough protein and that training is what stimulates muscle growth. Protein powder is simply a convenient way to reach your daily target when meals fall short, for example if you train often, have a small appetite or eat little meat and dairy. Food first, powder when it makes life easier.

Sources: ISSN position stand: protein and exercise (2017); NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance; Better Health Channel: Protein; healthdirect: Protein; AIS Sports Supplement Framework.

Order online with Australia-wide delivery, free on orders of $100 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.