The 10 Best Mass Gainers of 2024, Tested by Experts and RD Approved

Why We Like It

To take the top spot, we selected a product that’s simple, effective, and tasty. It’s surprisingly hard to find a mass gainer with all three qualities despite the potential benefits of mass gainers, but Transparent Labs has pulled it off.

“Transparent Labs Mass Gainer scores a 4.25 out of 5 for its formulation,” according to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN. “It accomplishes exactly what it’s intended to accomplish and the ingredients list is very transparent.”

For every two-scoop serving size, you get 53 grams of high-quality protein, 110 grams of carbs (from tapioca maltodextrin), and 14 grams of fat, making this a pretty well-rounded product. Bourgeois did dock the formula a bit because the sodium and saturated fat content is pretty high, which may not be ideal for all adults.

“Each serving provides 580 milligrams of sodium and 12 grams of saturated fat,” Bourgeois says. “There’s a lot to unpack there but to keep it short, if heart health is a concern, you should be mindful of how frequently you use this powder.”

We did enjoy the taste, though. The flavor tastes “exactly like a chocolate donut,” according to our personal testers, who love the Chocolate Glaze Donut option, giving it a 4.5 out of 5. It also comes in Sweet Vanilla; however, those are the only two available flavors.

Our team gave this product’s consistency 5 out of 5 points. “I mixed my scoops with water and it dissolved well and had a smooth consistency,” says our tester. Our testers had zero side-effect issues, which was a huge plus, too.

Unfortunately, Transparent Labs’ Mass Gainer sits on the pricier side of the spectrum. One 15-serving container costs $79.99, which is about $5.33 per serving. We had to give TL a 3.5 out of 5 for price per serving, as you can find plenty of less expensive mass gainers. However, if you prioritize clean ingredients, this pick is worth the price. TL has a transparent label with an Informed Choice third-party certification.

Why We Like It

If you’re going to be sipping a mass gainer relatively frequently, you want a product that actually tastes enjoyable. Crazy Nutrition’s Mass Gainer takes that standard a step further, offering one of the best-tasting mass gainers on the market. “The vanilla flavor is actually really pleasant,” according to our tester who gave the flavor a score of 4 out of 5. “It actually tastes a lot like a vanilla protein powder.” 

Unfortunately, though, we were a little unhappy with the solubility, giving this factor a score of 2 out of 5. “One serving is four scoops but we only tested with two scoops,” our tester explained. “Even in a blender, the oat powder settles at the bottom, so you have to shake up the powder every sip. I can’t imagine actually following the instructions without the product being a paste.”

Our team gave the formula an overall 3 out of 4. The formulation isn’t bad, necessarily, but it is a little lighter in the amount of calories compared to most mass gainers. One serving is 487 calories, whereas most others are 500 calories per serving at least. You also only get about 53 grams of carbs per serving, whereas other products (like Transparent Labs’ Mass Gainer) offer at least 100 grams per serving.

All that being said, this could work as a mass gainer for athletes who have smaller frames and need a more moderate calorie surplus, or aren’t trying to put mass on so rapidly and prefer to take their time with increasing calorie intake.

We did like the approachable price point, though. One 20-serving container costs $89.99, which is about $4.49 per serving. We gave Crazy Nutrition a 4 out of 5 for price per serving, considering most others sit around or above the $5 per serving mark.

It’s important to note that this product uses milk protein, which may not work for all athletes. One of our testers definitely experienced some stomach bubbles. “I’m sensitive to lactose and though this has lactase, I still noticed some stomach upset,” he said, giving the side effects a 3 out of 5. However, another tester of ours noticed zero negative effects. So, start by sipping small amounts and increase your intake slowly if you have a history of dairy sensitivity.

Why We Like It

Huel Black Edition is an excellent pick for bodybuilders, as it’s actually, technically, a meal replacement. This formula keeps fat and carbs pretty low, while maintaining a high protein content, which is ideal for bodybuilders who may be looking to keep their overall macros balanced with a focus on protein. This product packs 400 calories per serving from 18 grams of fat, 25 grams of carbs, and 40 grams of protein.

A little different from your standard mass gainer, this product contains 27 vitamins and minerals, earning Huel a score of 5 out of 5 for formulation. Our team loves that you get 29 percent of your daily fiber requirement, too: a bonus for competitors following a strict meal plan, as it helps fill potential gaps in your daily diet.

“I enjoyed the Cookies & Cream flavor,” our tester, BarBend editorial member and certified personal trainer Rosie Borchert says, awarding the taste a 5 out of 5 score. “It wasn’t too sweet and it was a satisfying swap for my regular protein shake.”

We also gave the solubility and texture a solid rating of 4.5 out of 5. “Huel doesn’t totally dissolve, but I liked the texture it had,” says Borchert. “It reminds me of ground-up oatmeal, but it tastes better than that sounds.”

Our tester noticed no negative side effects, giving this category 5 out of 5. This powder is gluten-free and lactose-free, making it very easy on the stomach. “I get an upset stomach after many protein supplements but no side effects here,” says Borchert.

“Compared to other products in this category, it does a better job of providing a balance of carbs, fat, and protein. Still, I think it could use a few more grams of carbs and micronutrients to constitute a true meal replacement,” says BarBend expert contributor and registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois who gave formulation a 3.5 out of 5.

It’s also relatively affordable. Most mass gainers cost around $5 per serving, whereas Huel Black Edition is only about $3.11 per serving. However, again, it’s not quite as calorie dense as most mass gainers, which may not be ideal for every athlete. In some cases, you may need to take a double serving to equal standard mass gainer calories.

Why We Like It

Just as you can find some pretty delicious vegan protein powders, you can find plant-based mass gainers, too. “Vegan mass gainers appeal to a very specific demographic, and Transparent Labs does an excellent job of keeping their formula simple and straightforward,” says Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN. Transparent Labs Vegan Mass Gainer contains zero animal products and uses pea protein isolate instead of milk-based protein.

The macros on this product are pretty similar to Transparent Labs’ standard mass gainer, so you don’t have to sacrifice any calories for the plant-based version. One serving packs 10 grams of fat, 115 grams of carbs, and 52 grams of carbs. “But since each serving requires two scoops, you can adjust your portion sizes and cut your serving in half if needed,” adds Bourgeois. We also love that the product has no artificial colors, earning the formulation a 4.5 out of 5.

Our testers enjoyed the flavor quite a bit, too. “The chocolate flavor truly tastes like a donut,” they said, giving the taste a score of 4.5 out of 5. Alongside the Chocolate Glaze Donut, there’s a Vanilla Cupcake option. These are the only two options, which may leave something to be desired for those prone to flavor fatigue.

We do love the label transparency and the formula is Informed Choice-certified. However, all of this goodness comes at a cost. One 15-serving container costs $79.99, which is about $5.33 per two scoops, earning a score of 3.5 out of 5 for price per serving. While you can find cheaper alternatives on this list, we are big fans of this formula. So, if you can afford this product, we think it’s worth the price.

Why We Like It

For athletes who want a natural mass gainer, Naked Mass fits the bill. This natural, non-GMO supplement has no artificial additives or sweeteners and the formula is made with grass-fed protein. “I like that Naked kept the sodium content low in some flavors of their mass gainer formula, and I’m a fan of the short ingredient lists,” says Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, giving the formula a rating of 4 out of 5.

One four-scoop serving packs 1,360 calories, including 15 grams of fat, 251 grams of natural and complex carbohydrates, and 50 grams of protein. This is definitely one of the denser mass gainer supplements on this list. And while we do like the high calorie counts and balanced macros, some of the flavors do pack quite a bit of sodium (nearly 10 percent of the daily recommendation).

“Some flavors are super high in saturated fat and sodium,” Bourgeois says. “You definitely need to be mindful of your overall diet when including such a nutrient-dense dietary supplement in your routine.”

Our testers tried the unflavored version, which they rated as an overall 4 out of 5 for taste. “Mixed with just water, it’s a 2 out of 5 on taste because there’s really no sweetness,” our tester said. “With plain milk, it’s like I’m drinking heavy cream, which I also didn’t love. But in a smoothie with some banana, peanut butter, and cocoa powder, you can barely tell it’s there.”

For solubility, this product varied, depending on how our testers prepared their shakes. Mixed with water in a shaker cup, we gave the solubility a 2 out of 5. “Even mixed in a blender bottle, there was like an inch of foam at the top,” says our tester. But in a blender, it mixes easily, earning a 5 out of 5 for solubility. So, if you want something that you can shake up really quickly in a cup, this may not be the best pick.

Unfortunately, we had to give this mass gainer a score 1 out of 5 on price per serving, as it’s one of the most expensive on this list. One 11-serving container is $69.99, which is about $6.35 per serving. This is a pretty high price for any kind of supplement and while we like the ingredients, Naked Mass may not be affordable for all athletes.

Why We Like It

Don’t get us wrong, fiber is a crucial nutrient that’s beneficial for your health. However, too much fiber in one shake can be hard for your body to digest. This product only has 4 grams of fiber per serving, so digestion shouldn’t be an issue. This product also packs 30 grams of protein from a blend of whey concentrate, whey isolate, milk protein isolate, and micellar casein. We love the inclusion of micellar casein, because the extended-release nature of casein protein may be beneficial for enhanced muscle protein synthesis. (TK)

Comparing this formula to other mass gainers on the market, we gave Rival Nutrition a score of 3.5 out of 5. The 560 calories per serving isn’t bad but you can definitely find denser options on this list. Plus, we didn’t love that one serving only has five grams of fat. and 30 grams of protein “With 99 grams of carbs per serving, this mass gainer is intended for a very specific nutritional goal, especially with such a low protein content,” says Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN. Since the macros are a little unbalanced, you may find yourself feeling hungry sooner than you’d like.

“I have the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor which tastes really good,” our tester says, giving the flavor a 5 out of 5. “It really tastes true to the name. I’ve also mixed this powder with both water and soy milk and the flavor stays consistent.”

After mixing it in a plain shaker cup, our tester rated the product with 5 out of 5 points for solubility. We noticed no clumps at all, which is pretty uncommon for dense supplements. “With every other mass gainer product I’ve tested, you usually see clumps or a grainy texture,” our tester says. “That’s not the case at all here.”

Our tester was happy to note that they had zero side effects. “I have GI issues with mass gainers pretty often but my stomach was fine with this one,” they say. This product is also pretty reasonably priced. Whereas most mass gainers are around $5 per serving, this one is only about $2.73 per serving. 

Of note: Our tester really didn’t love the included scooper. “It’s an odd shape and it has a point to make it easier to pour into a narrow spout,” they said. “But I actually find myself spilling the powder more often than with a standard scooper.” If you’re prone to spilling, you may want to keep a spoon handy.

Why We Like It

For athletes who want a mass gainer with protein powder, Mutant Mass is a solid choice. This formula contains a whey and casein blend, packing 28 grams of protein per serving. Thanks to the blend, this product combines a fast- and slow-digesting protein (thanks to the casein protein), so your body gets plenty of time to absorb the protein. (TK)

While we like the protein content in Mutant Mass, we did have to give the formulation a 3.5 out of 5. Calorie-wise, this one definitely suffices as a mass gainer. Per serving, you get six grams of fat, 96 grams of carbs, and 28 grams of protein. “Without sufficient protein and fat to digest alongside that many grams of carbs, you might be at risk for a blood sugar spike and crash,” says Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN.

Additionally, this product uses sucralose as a sweetener, which some athletes may prefer to avoid. One serving also contains 13 percent of your daily sodium, which is something to watch out for if you need to monitor your sodium intake.

“I tried out the Cookies & Cream,” our tester says, giving the flavor a 3 out of 5. “It wasn’t my favorite, I’m not going to lie. It was really sweet and artificial, in my opinion.” That being said, this may not be the case for other flavors.

We also thought that the solubility could use some work. “I actually found this product to be pretty clumpy,” our tester says, giving the solubility a 2 out of 5. “At the same time, too, it was really thin.”

This product isn’t third-party tested, which we thought was a shortcoming. However, the price per serving was pretty approachable, especially compared to other mass gainers. One 16-serving container costs $44.99, which is about $2.81 per serving. Most other mass gainers are at least $3 per serving.

Why We Like It

For those who want to save some money, this product is a relatively budget-friendly pick at $44.99 per tub (price varies minimally by flavor). That’s about $5.62 per serving, which is a little pricey but you get significantly more calories and nutrients than other mass gainers at the same price point. So, while our testers did give this a 3.5 out of 5 for price per serving, it’s still a good money saver considering most athletes probably won’t need an entire serving at a time.

Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass contains 1,260 calories per serving, 100 percent of the recommended daily intake of most vitamins and minerals, and 50 percent of your daily vitamin D. “It boasts an impressive vitamin and mineral profile,” according to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, who gave the formula a 4 out of 5. “I like that it includes five grams of creatine in every serving of their Serious Mass supplement.” 

We didn’t fall in love with the Vanilla flavor, though. “It’s not terrible but the Vanilla tastes like a typical artificial vanilla powder,” our tester says, giving the taste a 3.5 out of 5. “However, it won’t overpower any other flavors. So, if you add it to a smoothie with other ingredients, it’s totally drinkable.”

We gave the solubility a 4 out of 5, as it dissolved better than some other mass gainers we tried. “I didn’t have any lumps floating around, but I did need to pulse it in my blender for a while,” says our tester. We’ve found the need for a blender to be the case for most of the supplements on this list. Our testers also gives this product a 5 out of 5 for side effects, as they didn’t notice any stomach unrest or bloating.

Why We Like It

For athletes who want a mass gainer that’s especially high in carbs, this pick from MuscleTech fits the bill. This supplement has 460 carbs per serving, which is more than any other product on our list. You also get 60 grams of protein and 6 grams of fat per serving, totaling 2,130 calories. “MuscleTech Mass Tech Extreme is undoubtedly named appropriately. Its nutrition facts are EXTREME,” says Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN. While we like the density here, this supplement does include some artificial sweeteners, and the macros aren’t exactly balanced, so we gave the overall formula a 3 out of 5.

Although we didn’t notice any side effects after trying this product, our tester didn’t fall in love with the flavor. “The Triple Chocolate Brownie had a mocha flavor, which I didn’t really love,” said Kate Meier, CPT, a certified personal trainer and BarBend editorial member. “It tasted way more like mocha fudge, so I’d give it a 2 out of 5 for taste.”

The solubility wasn’t exactly ideal either. When mixed with water, Meier found it to be extremely thin but with milk, the texture is way too thick. “It’s almost like a pudding more than a shake,” she said, giving the texture and solubility a 2 out of 5.

While this product definitely hits the high-carb mark, the price is a little less satisfying. One five-serving bag costs $54.99, which is nearly $11 per serving. We had to give the price per serve a 1 out of 5. However, the macros are nearly double most other mass gainer supplements, so you likely wouldn’t be taking a full serving at a time.

Why We Like It

For athletes who want to ingest plenty of calories each day, a hefty mass gainer can help. This pick from Dymatize contains 1,280 calories per serving, including 10 grams of fat, 245 grams of carbs, and 52 grams of protein. Our team gave the formula an overall 3.5 out of 5, though, knocking some points for macro balance and the inclusion of artificial sweeteners, including sucralose. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but can cause digestive unrest for some.

“I actually liked the Vanilla flavor,” our tester said, giving the taste a score of 4 out of 5. “Some vanilla supplements can taste artificial but this one wasn’t overly sweet.” We do wish there were some more flavor options, though, considering you can only choose from Chocolate or Vanilla. This may get a little dull, especially if you’re planning on taking a mass gainer regularly. 

We also gave Dymatize a score of 5 out of 5 for solubility. “Unlike other mass gainers I’ve tried, this one dissolves really well,” says our tester. Plus, our testers didn’t notice any unwanted side effects, including bloating or gas.

“Dymatize Super Mass Gainer contains a huge serving of carbs and very small portions of protein and fat. However, it does feature an impressive vitamin and mineral profile.” notes Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN. “Still, like with any mass gainer, it should be consumed with caution.”

One eight-serving container of Dymatize’s Super Mass Gainer costs $39.98, which is only about $4.99 per serving. Considering how many calories you get per serving, this is pretty budget-friendly. Most other mass gainers with similar macros cost well over $5 per serving. Plus, it’s available on Amazon Prime, so you can subscribe to monthly deliveries and save even more.