When you’re trying to build muscle, it’s no secret that you need to eat enough protein to go along with your lifting. Ghost Whey Protein is a popular option in the supplements world for chasing those gains. As a nutrition coach, I often help my clients up their protein intake, so I like Ghost’s high protein content and unique flavors. Does Ghost live up to the hype when compared to the other best whey protein powders? Overall, we think this unique blend can be effective (and tasty), but we don’t love its lengthy list of additives.
At BarBend, we know the importance of sports nutrition for fitness goals, and we put every product through our supplement testing methodology to deliver honest ratings, having tested over 110 protein powders. Here’s what we’ve found — let’s dig into our Ghost Whey Protein review.
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. Individual needs for vitamins and minerals will vary.
This protein powder comes in unique flavors like ice cream, toaster pastry, cereal milk, and more. Each rounded-single-scoop serving sports 25 grams of protein and 130 calories.
Main Takeaways
- Ghost Whey Protein Powder offers 25 to 26 grams of a whey protein blend of hydrolyzed whey, whey isolate, and whey concentrate.
- It’s unique because it contains digestive enzymes (protease, bromelain, lactase) to help with lactose absorption from whey. However, it may still be unsuitable for vegans or people with lactose intolerance.
- Ghost Whey Protein comes in 11 unique flavors and contains artificial sweeteners and a long ingredient list of additives.
Ghost Whey Protein Specs
| Price Per Serving | Starting at $1.61 |
| Available Flavors | Oreo Mint, Cinnabon, Chips Ahoy, Nutter Butter, Oreo, Cereal Milk, Peanut Butter Cereal Milk, Coffee Ice Cream, Fruity Cereal Milk, Marshmallow Cereal Milk, Milk Chocolate |
| Main Ingredients | Whey protein (whey protein isolate 90%, whey protein concentrate 80%, hydrolyzed whey protein isolate), high fructose corn syrup, leavening, salt, soy lecithin, natural and artificial flavor, cocoa, xanthan gum, digestive enzymes (protease, bromelain, lactase), cellulose gum, sucralose |
| Dosage | One scoop (39g protein) |
| Sweeteners Used | High-fructose corn syrup and sucralose |
| Servings Per Container | 26-28 |
From the brand Ghost Lifestyle, Ghost Whey Protein contains 25 to 26 grams of a whey protein blend per scoop, making it a contender for one of the best protein powders for muscle gain. The whey protein blend consists of whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, and hydrolyzed whey protein. Whey protein is a high-quality, bioavailable, complete protein source, meaning it contains all the amino acids your body needs post-workout, and they can be rapidly absorbed. (1)
Not everyone’s stomach can take whey, which comes from milk and contains lactose. Ghost Whey Protein contains digestive enzymes (protease, bromelain, and lactase). Our bodies naturally produce digestive enzymes, which are responsible for absorbing nutrients from food. People with certain medical conditions or sensitivities may not make them on their own, so adding them in supplement form may help. (2)
Each scoop of Ghost Whey Protein contains 120 to 150 calories, 1 to 3 grams of fat, and 2 to 8 grams of carbohydrates (depending on your flavor choice). These low numbers are ideal for keto diets and potential weight loss, but you may want more if you’re looking to bulk up overall.
Ghost Whey Protein comes in 11 unique flavors that collaborate with brands like Chips Ahoy and include real cookie pieces. An upside for those with a sweet tooth but a potential drawback for others — our expert tester and some customers find it too sweet. It also contains high fructose corn syrup, the artificial sweetener sucralose, and a long ingredient list with other additives.
The price per serving ranges from $1.61 to $1.75, which may be a bit steep, but you do get more grams of protein than some comparable brands. Ghost Whey Protein is not third-party tested.
Who Should Use / Who Shouldn’t Use Ghost Whey Protein
Have you tried BarBend’s protein intake calculator? If you’re aiming for muscle gain or even weight loss, you may well find you have a high goal, and reaching for Ghost Whey Protein can help you reach it. Of course, there’s more to protein powder than how much protein it has (surprisingly) — here’s who should or should not try it.
Recommended for:
- People with muscle gain or weight loss goals
- People sensitive (not intolerant) to lactose
- People who like a high-protein sweet treat
Not Recommended for:
- People with a lactose intolerance
- Anyone looking for a vegan protein
- People who avoid artificial sweeteners and additives
Our Experience Using Ghost Whey Protein
A protein shake is a quick and easy way to kickstart muscle recovery after a workout. Ghost Whey Protein gets a lot of hype and engagement from customers and influencers. They call themselves a “sports nutrition lifestyle brand.” But what is it actually like to add this supp to your stack?
Our expert tester, a certified personal trainer, provides ratings for us on taste and solubility using a scale of 1 (boo) to 5 (hooray). I’ll weigh in with my take on ingredients and formulation, price, and safety.
Ingredients and Formulation
There are a few types of whey protein, and Ghost Whey Protein uses a blend. They also indicate the percentage of each type — it is 90% whey protein isolate, 80% whey protein concentrate, and 10% hydrolyzed whey protein.
Each type offers different benefits — whey isolate has the most protein, whey concentrate has more nutrients since it is the least processed, and hydrolyzed whey has the quickest absorption. The whey isolate and concentrate have been sunflower lecithinated, which can improve mixability without adding any soy.
Ghost Whey Protein also includes digestive enzymes meant to help even more with absorption. Aside from the protein and digestive enzymes, it has a slightly longer ingredient list with additives and thickeners, high fructose corn syrup, and the artificial sweetener sucralose. Some folks prefer to avoid those ingredients. I’m knocking the score down to a 3.5 out of 5 since the protein and digestive enzymes are still excellent if you’re okay with the sweeteners — but you might prefer to avoid all the extras.
Taste
With 11 unique flavors to choose from, could Ghost Whey Protein be one of the best-tasting protein powders? Our expert tester, a CPT, says maybe not — but it can still be great for people with a strongly nostalgic sweet tooth.
They explain: “I chose the Milk Chocolate, and thought it was pretty sweet for a protein shake — though most of their flavors sounded like they would be too sweet for me. They recommend 5 to 6 ounces of liquid, but I added even more to try to reduce the sweetness. It didn’t taste terrible, though.”
They rate the taste a 3.75 out of 5.
Solubility
Mixability matters to on-the-go athletes. We need to know if it’s a blender-only deal or if we can pop it in a shaker bottle with just water. Our expert tester says, “This powder blended pretty well. With just the 5 to 6 ounces of water they recommend, it was pretty thick. But I added a little more water and it didn’t feel watered down at all. The scoop has a convenient home right under the lid too.”
They score it a perfect 5 out of 5 for mixability.
Price Per Serving
One tub of Ghost Whey Protein costs $44.99 for 26, 27, or 28 servings. The price per serving is $1.73, $1.66, or $1.61. They also offer a subscription for $33.74 per tub, making each serving $1.30, $1.25, or $1.20.
Sure, it’s pricey, but the subscription cost is a great option if you know you like it. Ghost Lifestyle also offers samples for $2.49 per serving, which is a nice feature and somewhat unique among protein supplements. I’m rating the price a 4 out of 5.
Third-Party Testing
Since the FDA does not regulate dietary supplements, like protein powder, we look for third-party testing to ensure the safety and transparency of the nutrition label and ingredient list. Ghost Lifestyle does not do third-party testing, and there is no information on their website about manufacturing, so it’s a 0 out of 5 from me.
What to Consider Before Buying Ghost Whey Protein
Narrowing down your protein powder from all the options is a complex task. To help you decide, consider some high-level properties. First, how much protein does it have? If you count your macros, how many grams of fat and carbs? You’ll also want to consider micronutrient content, other ingredients and sweeteners, affordability, and safety.
- Protein Content: Most flavors of Ghost Whey Protein contain 25 grams of protein; NutterButter and Peanut Butter Cereal Milk flavors have 26 grams.
- Fat and Carbs: Fat content ranges from 1 gram of fat (Cinnabon) to 3 grams (Chips Ahoy), with the rest falling in between. Carbohydrates range from 2 grams (Fruity Cereal Milk) to 8 grams (Oreo Mint and NutterButter), with the rest in between.
- Price: One tub of Ghost Whey Protein costs $44.99 for 26, 27, or 28 servings. The price per serving is $1.73, $1.66, or $1.61. If you’re aiming for the best bang for your buck, this isn’t the best, but also isn’t the worst.
- Sweeteners: Ghost Whey Protein contains high-fructose corn syrup and the artificial sweetener sucralose. Would you prefer one of the best clean protein powders or are you OK with these artificial sweeteners?
- Micronutrient content: Ghost Whey Protein contains 95 (Coffee Ice Cream) to 280 (Oreo Mint) milligrams of sodium, 135 (Chips Ahoy) to 150 (Oreo Mint) milligrams of calcium, and 91 (Chips Ahoy) to 203 (NutterButter) milligrams of potassium.
- Third-party testing: Ghost Whey Protein does not do third-party testing, so take that into account if you’d rather be certain what you’re putting into your body and if you compete in tested sports to ensure no banned substances.
Ghost Whey Protein Vs. Competitors
Let’s put Ghost Whey Protein to the test — how does it compare when we put it alongside some other favorite brands? We chose Transparent Labs, Xwerks, and 1st Phorm because they have similar protein content and favorable reviews.
| Ghost Whey Protein | Transparent Labs Whey Isolate | XWERKS Grow | 1st Phorm Protein | |
| Price Per Serving | $1.73, $1.66, or $1.61 | $1.99 | $1.97 | $2.03 |
| Available Flavors | 11 | 14 | 4 | 16 |
| Nutrition Per Serving | 25-26 grams of protein; 1 – 3 grams of fat; and 2 – 7 grams of carbs | 28 grams of protein; 0 – 2.5 grams of fat; and 0 – 3 grams of carbs | 23 – 25 grams of protein; 0 – 2 grams of fat; and 1 – 2 grams of carbs | 20 – 21 grams of protein; 0 – 2 grams of fat; and 1 – 3 grams of carbs |
| Dosage | 1 scoop (39 grams) | 1 scoop (34.9 grams) | 1 scoop (30 grams) | 1 scoop (27 to 28 grams) |
| Sweeteners Used | High-fructose corn syrup and sucralose | Stevia extract | Stevia | Acesulfame potassium and sucralose |
| Servings Per Container | 26 – 28 | 30 | 30 | 32 |
The most significant difference is the type of whey — while Ghost Whey Protein offers a whey blend, the other three are purely whey protein isolate. Of course, Ghost includes the digestive enzymes that may help digestion, but cutting straight to whey isolate may help more.
Ghost Whey is also the least expensive, with the other three hovering around $2 per serving. It has the second-highest protein content, with Transparent Labs taking the lead at 28 grams per serving. Ghost and 1st Phorm Protein use artificial sweeteners, while the others use the natural sweetener Stevia.
Places to Buy Ghost Whey Protein
- Ghostlifestyle.com
- Amazon
- GNC
- Vitamin Shoppe
Customer Experience and Brand Reputation
Here’s what it’s like to be a customer of Ghost Whey Protein and how other customers rate the product.
- Shipping and Delivery:
- Time: Ghost Lifestyles offers standard shipping that takes 3 to 5 days to arrive after processing.
- Price: Standard shipping is calculated at checkout based on your location.
- Trial Period: There is no trial period; you can only return unopened products within 15 days of purchase through the website. However, you can order sample packets of Ghost Whey Protein for $2.49 per serving, before you commit to a tub.
- Customer Reviews:
- Ghost Site: There are no customer reviews on the Ghost Lifestyles website.
- Amazon: Out of 11,299 reviews, customers give Ghost Whey Protein a 4.5 out of 5-star rating.
- Customer Thoughts: Customers generally like the taste, texture, solubility, and quality of Ghost Whey Protein. However, some say it is too sweet. They say it mixes well with water or milk. Some say it causes stomach upset (whey protein can do that sometimes), and some are mixed on whether it’s worth the price.
Our Final Verdict on Ghost Whey Protein
Ghost Whey Protein seems to be a solid protein supplement. It has a high protein content and comes in flavors that partner with the dessert brands of your childhood. For those who prefer something less dessert-like without artificial sweeteners, this won’t be the one for you. Folks sensitive to lactose may also prefer a whey isolate, although the digestive enzymes may help.
Not every supplement will work for every person, but if you like a sweeter taste and aren’t sensitive to lactose, this could be a fun product to try, and you can always start with a sample. As with any of the best protein powders, it helps to be able to try it out before committing fully.
Ghost Whey Protein FAQs
Is Ghost Whey Protein good for muscle gain?
Yes, Ghost Whey Protein can be a great asset for muscle gain since each serving contains 25 to 26 grams of high-quality whey protein that can be rapidly absorbed after training. You still need to consume enough protein and calories throughout the day (while training consistently) to stimulate muscle growth, but this is a great and convenient addition.
Is ghost whey protein powder third-party tested?
Ghost Whey Protein is not third-party tested.
How much does Ghost Whey Protein cost?
The price per serving of Ghost Whey Protein ranges from $1.61 to $1.73. If you go with a subscription, each serving ranges from $1.20 to $1.30.
References
- Hoffman JR, Falvo MJ. Protein – Which is Best? J Sports Sci Med. 2004 Sep 1;3(3):118-30. PMID: 24482589; PMCID: PMC3905294.
- Ianiro G, Pecere S, Giorgio V, Gasbarrini A, Cammarota G. Digestive Enzyme Supplementation in Gastrointestinal Diseases. Curr Drug Metab. 2016;17(2):187-93. doi: 10.2174/138920021702160114150137. PMID: 26806042; PMCID: PMC4923703.
