How We Evaluate Brands
Our process for comparing protein products — what we measure, where data comes from, and what we don't do.
Where Our Data Comes From
Every brand profile on ProteinCompared is built from publicly available information. We don't accept paid placements or sponsored rankings.
- Brand websites — product specs, pricing, ingredient lists, certifications
- Product labels — Supplement Facts panels, serving sizes, protein per serving
- Public reviews — Amazon ratings, Reddit discussions, YouTube reviewers, nutritionist recommendations
- Certification databases — NSF, Informed Sport, and Clean Label Project registries
Price Tiers
We measure price as cost per gram of protein, not cost per container. A $50 tub with 60 servings of 30g protein is a better deal than a $30 tub with 20 servings of 15g.
Our baseline anchor is roughly $0.04–0.06 per gram of protein — what most people pay at warehouse clubs and grocery stores for brands like Premier Protein or Muscle Milk. Everything else is compared against that average. If you're paying more, you should know why.
Protein Price Guide
Price per gram of protein. The "Average" tier ($0.04–0.06/g) is what most people pay at warehouse clubs and grocery stores — use it to judge if something is a good deal.
Walmart Equate, Body Fortress, Six Star
Premier Protein, Muscle Milk, Kirkland Signature
Optimum Nutrition, Quest, Dymatize, Ghost
Momentous, Levels, Garden of Life, Transparent Labs
Vital Proteins, Ancient Nutrition, Primal Kitchen
Tip: The Average tier ($0.04–0.06/g) is your baseline. If you're paying more, make sure you're getting something extra — better taste, certifications, or specialty ingredients.
Taste Scores
Taste is subjective, but patterns emerge across hundreds of reviews. We aggregate public sentiment into a 1–5 scale, then translate it into three plain-English labels:
Yep!
Score 1–2
Tastes like a supplement. You know what you're drinking.
Kinda
Score 3
Noticeable protein taste, but totally fine. Most people won't mind.
You'd never know
Score 4–5
Tastes like regular food. No protein aftertaste.
Taste scores are based on aggregated public reviews, not our own testing. We update them as new reviews become available.
GLP-1 Friendly Criteria
GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound) can cause nausea and reduced appetite. A "GLP-1 Friendly" label means the product tends to work well for people experiencing these side effects. We look at:
- Easy on the stomach — light texture, low fiber per serving, minimal artificial sweeteners
- Lower volume — delivers protein in smaller portions (less food to get down)
- Smooth texture — sippable formats over thick, gritty shakes
- Community feedback — reports from GLP-1 users in online communities
This label is informational, not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider about adding protein products while on GLP-1 medications.
Third-Party Testing
Third-party testing means an independent lab verified what's on the label is actually in the product — and that nothing harmful is hiding in there. Here's what the major certifications mean:
NSF Certified for Sport
Tests for 280+ banned substances. Required by many pro sports leagues. The gold standard.
Informed Sport
Every batch tested for WADA-prohibited substances. Popular with UK and international athletes.
Clean Label Project
Tests for heavy metals, pesticides, and other environmental contaminants. Focused on overall product purity.
USP Verified
Verifies ingredients match the label and the product was manufactured under good practices. Common in pharmaceuticals.
What We Don't Do
Transparency means being honest about our limitations too.
Affiliate Transparency
ProteinCompared earns commissions when you purchase products through our affiliate links. This keeps the site free. Here's what you should know:
- Affiliate status does not influence taste scores, GLP-1 labels, or any evaluation data
- We feature brands whether or not they have affiliate programs. If a brand is good, it gets listed
- Every page with affiliate links includes a disclosure notice
- You never pay more by using our links — the price is the same
For full details, read our Affiliate Disclosure.
Have questions about our methodology?