The 7 Best Casein Protein Powders of 2024, According to an RD

Why We Like It

Transparent Labs’ casein protein is a good all-around pick for athletes looking to invest in this supplement. One serving contains 120 calories, including 4 grams of carbs, 0.5 gram of fat, and 25 grams of protein, earning an overall 4.5 out of 5 for the formulation from our testers. This protein also uses grass-fed dairy and has zero artificial sugars and additives (it’s sweetened with stevia instead).

Our team loved the flavor, too. “I tried the chocolate and it tastes just like the chocolate pudding in the little plastic tubs you eat as a kid,” our tester said, giving the flavor a rating of 5 out of 5. “It’s so delicious, I actually find myself craving the taste for dessert.” We do wish there were more than one flavor option, though, as chocolate may not be every athlete’s favorite.

After trying this product, we didn’t notice any negative side effects, so our testers gave this category a 5-out-of-5 score, too. Plus, we like that this formula is third-party tested and Informed Choice Certified. This helps guarantee that the ingredients on the label are reflective of the actual product. 

Our expert Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, M.S., R.D.N., L.D had one caution: “This protein powder contains 300 milligrams of sodium per scoop, which is a significant amount of your day’s recommended total.”

The consistency is great, evidenced by our tester’s 5-out-of-5 score for solubility. “This product can mix up into a nice, thick shake or a pudding-like consistency,” our tester said. “I don’t think this one clumps or settles much at all.” One minor thing to note: This powder is much softer than others, our tester explained. It puffs up in the air when you scoop, so it can be a little messy. Just scoop carefully.

While we love the high-quality formula, it isn’t the most budget-friendly on the market, earning a score of 2.25 out of 5 in the cost category. One 30-serving container costs $59.99, which is about $1.99 per serving. You can definitely find more budget-friendly options, and this price point may not be accessible for everyone. TL does offer a subscribe-and-save option, though, which can save you $6 plus shipping costs.

Why We Like It

Legion’s casein comes in four tasty flavors, and after trying the product ourselves, our team loved the taste of the Dutch Chocolate option. “I tried the Dutch Chocolate flavor and I liked it,” our tester said, giving the flavor a 5 out of 5. “The taste is a lot like dark chocolate, which isn’t too rich or too sugary.”

We’re fans of Legion’s formula, too. One serving offers up 25 grams of protein with only 3 grams of carbs and half a gram of fat. We also like that the brand uses grass-fed dairy and zero refined sugars or unnecessary additives, choosing instead to sweeten this protein powder with stevia leaf extract. Its macro profile, and the fact that it’s free from artificial ingredients, earned it 4.5 out of 5 points for the formula category. (17)

Our team loves that this product is third-party tested for purity and potency, which earned it a score of 5 out of 5 points in that category. Plus, you can even see the brand’s lab results for the latest tested batch of protein right on the product page, which is great for transparency. 

The BarBend team worked with a third-party accredited lab, testing and comparing Legion Casein+ against more than 150 protein powders. It scored in the top 50 percent or better in categories like label accuracy, pesticides, phthalates, bisphenols, and heavy metals, landing it near the top of our list of casein proteins. 

After mixing this product with water, we liked the solubility, giving this category 4.5 out of 5 points. “This mixed really well and had a normal thickness,” one tester explained. “When I left it alone too long, the product did separate but this was after 20 minutes.” We also wanted to note that the aftertaste is pretty chalky, which some people may not love. 

Neither of our testers noticed any side effects, which is a plus. “I’d give my overall experience with this casein a 4 out of 5,” one tester said. “I definitely plan to use this product more in the future.”

The pricing isn’t the best, though: At $59.99 for 30 servings, this definitely isn’t the cheapest product on the market. Casein+ earned 3 out of 5 points in this category, because you can definitely find casein proteins that are less expensive than $2 per serving—but they won’t all be as high-quality.  

Why We Like It

Naked Nutrition’s unflavored casein protein powder consists of 100 percent slow-digesting micellar casein—there are no other ingredients. Even the flavored versions (chocolate and vanilla) feature minimal ingredients lists, with just cocoa powder or natural vanilla flavor, respectively, plus a bit of organic coconut sugar. 

The lack of unnecessary ingredients should make this casein protein powder easier on the stomach, which earns it its title of the best casein protein for digestion, according to our hands-on testing. 

This casein has an ultra-lean macronutrient profile, including 26 grams of protein and zero grams of carbs or fat per serving. Our team likes that the brand doesn’t use any artificial sugars or additives, nor any artificial flavors, dyes, or texture agents. (17) Combined, these factors earned Naked Casein a perfect 5-out-of-5 score for formula. 

“The unflavored option is pretty true to the description,” our tester said, giving the flavor a 4 out of 5. “I’ve mixed it with coffee or chocolate syrup and that definitely makes it more appetizing. I also baked it with other ingredients and it tasted great.”

In our experience, the product dissolved okay, but we did find it a little difficult to shake up. Compared to the other casein proteins we tried, this product earned 4 out of 5 points for solubility. It didn’t clump too much but we’ve definitely tried options that dissolved more smoothly. This is due to the lack of a lecithin, a common emulsifier found in most casein protein powders. 

Naked Nutrition’s casein actually has a pretty budget-friendly price point. The container costs $79.99 for 76 servings, which is about $1.05 per serving. We do have to point out that one container is five pounds, though, which may be a little too much product for people with limited cabinet space.

Why We Like It

For athletes who want a natural casein protein, we recommend this product from Muscle Feast. Muscle Feast’s casein is grass-fed and uses only natural ingredients with no artificial additives. With just 0.5 grams of fat and 1.2 grams of carbs per serving, the macro balance is ideal for a protein powder, though this powder only serves up 19 grams of protein per scoop.

Though lower in protein than competitors, that’s still a respectable amount, and the low calorie content (88 per serving) makes it a suitable option for individuals looking to lose weight but still maintain protein intake. All in all, our team awarded the formula 4.5 out of 5 points for its simple, straightforward ingredients list and great macro ratio. 

Our team tried the Chocolate option, giving it a score of 3 out of 5 points. “The taste wasn’t particularly strong,” our tester said. “I almost thought I’d accidentally purchased the Unflavored option. It’s not bad, just not a very strong, noticeable flavor.” 

The solubility was solid, though. Our tester used this powder to make a protein pudding and gave the consistency a score of 5 out of 5. In their experience, it was pretty comparable to other protein puddings they’ve tried. 

Unfortunately, this product isn’t third-party tested, which we would have liked to see. We had to give this category a score 2 out of 5 points, since there doesn’t appear to be any sort of independent verification of potency or purity. 

This protein isn’t the most expensive but it’s not the cheapest either, earning a 4 out of 5 in the cost category. One 37-serving bag costs $52.99, which is about $1.28 per serving. For the most part, we think this is a pretty budget-friendly pick.

Why We Like It

Building a supplement stack can get pricey, quick. Luckily, there are a number of budget-friendly supplement options out there, including casein protein. Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Casein is the epitome of a good value: For about a buck-fifty per serving, you get 24 grams of slow-digesting micellar casein protein.

Overall, our team really liked this formula. One serving is only 120 calories, including 1 gram of fat, 4 grams of carbs, and 24 grams of protein. We don’t love that Optimum Nutrition uses sucralose, as this artificial sweetener may not sit well with all athletes. (13) Registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois says she loves that this casein protein provides 100 percent of the daily recommended value for zinc. (14)

“Zinc is essential to make proteins in the body, so it plays a role in many biological functions,” she says. “I also like that the protein powder is pretty lean, letting you prioritize protein intake without excessive carbs and fat. It gives you the chance to get those macros from whole foods.” 

All things considered, Bourgeois awarded the formula for this micellar casein protein powder 4.25 out of 5 points, with high marks for its lean macro ratio and high zinc content.

Much to the dismay of our team of personal trainers and nutrition coaches, Optimum Nutrition casein doesn’t appear to be third-party tested like the brand’s whey is, so it earned a paltry 1 out of 5 points in that category. 

It scored much higher in the taste and texture departments: “I tried both the Chocolate Peanut Butter and Chocolate Supreme and I thought both flavors were smooth and appetizing,” our tester said, giving the flavor a 5 out of 5. “The chocolate flavor is almost as good as chocolate pudding.”

For solubility, Optimum Nutrition’s casein protein supplement earned a 4.5 out of 5. Our tester used this as a protein pudding but didn’t have luck sipping this as a shake. The consistency was really thick and the more liquid they added, the thicker the protein got. So, if you want a protein powder you can sip on, you may prefer another option.

After trying two flavors, our tester didn’t notice any adverse side effects. Our team also likes that this product is available on Amazon Prime, so you can get it delivered in a matter of days.

Why We Like It

Protein powders are pretty versatile and make great baking (or, for casein, pudding) companions. Dymatize’s Elite Casein has a thick consistency, making it easy to bake into a pudding or use for baked goods. Plus, you get six flavor options, so it can work for just about any dessert flavor craving.

With 25 grams of protein and 5 grams of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) per serving, this protein powder can turn your desserts into muscle-building tasty treats. It contains just 1.5 grams of fat and 3 grams of carbs per serving. We like the formula overall—our testers awarded it a score of 3.75 out of 5 points—but it does contain some ingredients some individuals may prefer to avoid, like artificial flavors, sucralose, and maltodextrin. (13)

“The Cookies & Cream flavor makes an absolutely delicious pudding,” our tester said, giving the flavor a score of 4.5 out of 5. “You can also mix it with water as a shake, but it’s pretty thick and more ideal for a snack.” If you plan to bake with this product, know that adding water actually thickens the powder when mixed—this isn’t necessarily a bad thing but may affect your recipe.

“After having this protein, I felt really full,” our tester said, giving the side effects a 4 out of 5. “I’m not exactly sure why, though, because the ingredients aren’t different from any of the other casein products I’ve tried.” It could be that this tester experienced some bloating from the artificial sweetener sucralose in this product, but it’s hard to say for sure. (13) 

This product holds the NSF Informed Choice certification, earning a score of 5 out of 5 points for third-party testing. And our team also liked the approachable price point. One 50-serving container is about $66.48 (depending on the flavor you choose), making it roughly $1.33 per serving.

Why We Like It

For competing athletes, finding products that are safe for sport is a priority. Ascent Native Fuel Micellar Casein is Informed Sport Certified, meaning it doesn’t contain any banned substances and is acceptable for athletes. That being said, every athlete’s body is different. While this product is safe for sport, it’s best to consult a registered dietitian or coach before trying a new supplement.

We liked the formula here, as it offers 25 grams of protein with one and a half grams of fat and six carbs. The carb count is ever-so-slightly higher than other products on this list but athletes may actually like the extra fuel. It also contains no added sugars or artificial sweeteners. Altogether, our testers rated the formula with 4.5 out of 5 points.  

Unfortunately, our testers weren’t huge fans of the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor. “I really wish I’d liked this but the taste is just a little off-putting,” they said, giving it 2.75 out of 5 points for flavor. “The peanut butter tastes artificial and I even tried mixing it into a smoothie with milk and banana.” We haven’t yet tried the chocolate or vanilla casein protein powder from Ascent, but maybe you’ll have better luck with those. 

When it comes to solubility, we gave this product a score of 3 out of 5. Our tester thought this one was really thick and difficult to drink even after letting it chill. But if you want to make protein pudding or ice cream (by freezing the mixture), it may actually work really well. 

At $1.70 per serving, this isn’t the cheapest casein protein on this list. We gave the price per serving a score of 3 out of 5, as you can definitely find casein products for around $1.50 per serving and sometimes even less. That being said, if you’re a competing athlete who needs to prioritize supplements that are safe for sport, this casein ticks that box.