The short answer
Compare whey proteins by the price per kilo of protein, not the price of the tub: between the cheapest and the dearest of the products recorded, the gap reaches 112% for the same protein. A concentrate in a large size takes first place; isolate costs from 33% to nearly double depending on the brand and is only justified if you digest lactose poorly. And the most recent meta-analysis shows no lean mass gain attributable to whey.
The price of the tub means nothing
Two powders at 40 EUR a kilo can provide 80 g and 71 g of protein per 100 g: that is a 12% gap nobody sees. Add recommended doses ranging from 30 to 32 g and sizes from 450 g to 5 kg, and comparing on the displayed price becomes guesswork.
The only honest unit is the price per kilo of protein: the price of the size divided by its weight, then divided by the protein content. The calculation is given for each row of the table, so you can redo it.
The ranking by price per kilo of protein (recorded on 23/09/2026)
| Product and size | Protein / 100 g | Price | Price / kg of powder | Price / kg of protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nutrimuscle Whey Native, 4 kg | 80% | 131.95 EUR | 32.99 EUR | 41.23 EUR |
| Nutrimuscle Whey Native, 2.25 kg | 80% | 80.95 EUR | 35.98 EUR | 44.97 EUR |
| Nutrimuscle Whey Native, 1 kg | 80% | 37.95 EUR | 37.95 EUR | 47.44 EUR |
| Nutripure Whey Isolate native, 4 kg | 86.8 g | 189.90 EUR | 47.48 EUR | 54.69 EUR |
| Nutri&Co Whey concentrée native, 900 g | 73.7 g | 39.90 EUR | 44.33 EUR | 60.15 EUR |
| Nutripure Whey Isolate native, 2 kg | 86.8 g | 109.90 EUR | 54.95 EUR | 63.31 EUR |
| Nutripure Whey Isolate native, 750 g | 86.8 g | 44.90 EUR | 59.87 EUR | 68.97 EUR |
| Nutrimuscle Whey Native Isolate, 4 kg | 81.2 g | 246.95 EUR | 61.74 EUR | 76.03 EUR |
| Nutrimuscle Whey Native Isolate, 1 kg | 81.2 g | 70.95 EUR | 70.95 EUR | 87.38 EUR |
Three lessons, and they are worth more than the ranking.
1. Size weighs more than brand. The same Nutrimuscle product goes from 47.44 to 41.23 EUR a kilo of protein depending on whether you take 1 kg or 4 kg, which is 13% less without changing powder. Before comparing two brands, compare two sizes.
2. Isolate costs nearly double, for 1.2 points more protein. 81.2 g against 80 g per 100 g of powder: the difference in content is negligible, the difference in price is not: 87.38 against 47.44 EUR a kilo of protein at equal size. What you buy with an isolate is not more protein, it is less lactose.
Update of 23/10/2026: Nutripure’s native isolate, at 86.8 g of protein per 100 g, works out at 54.69 EUR a kilo of protein in the 4 kg tub, 28% less than the Nutrimuscle isolate in the same size (76.03 EUR) and 33% above the cheapest concentrate. For someone who is lactose intolerant, it is the most economical option in our records.
3. Over a year, the gap is 421 EUR. At 25 g of protein a day, you consume 9.1 kg of protein a year: 376 EUR with the cheapest line, 797 EUR with the dearest. That is the figure this comparison brings, and it is the only one we are certain of.
The additive detector
The lists below are copied from the official pages. None of these powders contains maltodextrin, contrary to a widespread fear; the subject is covered in our guide to the glycaemic index. What you do find are sweeteners, gums and emulsifiers.
| Product | Sweetener | Gum / emulsifier | Other additions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nutrimuscle Whey Native Isolate, plain version | none | none | none: isolate only |
| Nutrimuscle Whey Native, flavoured | sucralose | none declared | inulin, Tolerase L lactase, Bacillus coagulans, organic cocoa |
| Nutri&Co Whey concentrée native | steviol glycosides | xanthan gum, sunflower lecithin | natural flavouring, Tolerase L lactase |
| Bulk Pure Whey Protein | sucralose | xanthan gum, sunflower lecithin | flavourings |
| Bulk Pure Whey Isolate | sucralose | xanthan gum, sunflower lecithin | flavourings, cocoa |
The only product with no additive at all in the table is a plain version. That is the real rule: it is not the brand that determines the ingredient list, it is the choice between plain and flavoured. If additives bother you, take plain and flavour it with unsweetened cocoa or a banana.
What science says, including the uncomfortable part
On strength: a clear effect
A systematic review with meta-analysis published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements in 2026, covering 12 studies and 261 resistance-trained participants, measures a significant gain in the bench press (+8.87 kg, 95% confidence interval: 5.95 to 11.79) and in the squat (+9.60 kg, 95% CI: 5.61 to 13.60), with low to zero heterogeneity (PMID 41454445).
On lean mass: nothing
The same meta-analysis finds no significant effect of whey or soy on lean mass. That is the exact opposite of what the label on most of these tubs promises. Whey makes you stronger without it being possible to show that it makes you gain measurable muscle, across these twelve studies. The authors themselves call for larger trials: 261 participants is few. But as things stand, it is the best synthesis available.
Quantity matters more than source
The International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand sets clear benchmarks: 1.4 to 2.0 g of protein per kilo of body weight per day is enough for most people who train, and 2.3 to 3.1 g/kg/day may be needed to preserve lean mass during a calorie deficit. Per serving, the benchmark is 0.25 g/kg, or 20 to 40 g in absolute terms, with 700 to 3,000 mg of leucine (PMID 28642676).
In other words: if you reach your daily total, the powder adds nothing. First work out your need with our protein requirement calculator, and read our guide to how the body uses protein. Whey is only useful for filling a gap.
What 25 g of protein costs elsewhere
A shaker of 32 g of powder provides about 25 g of protein for 113 kcal. Here is what you need to eat for the same intake, according to the site’s Ciqual pages.
| Food | Amount for 25 g of protein | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Protein powder | 32 g | 113 kcal |
| Turkey escalope | 88 g | 109 kcal |
| Beef steak | 91 g | 116 kcal |
| Emmental | 92 g | 342 kcal |
| Cooked sardine | 100 g | 193 kcal |
| Chicken breast | 120 g | 147 kcal |
| Skyr | 227 g | 143 kcal |
| Hard-boiled egg | 185 g, or about 4 eggs | 248 kcal |
| Tofu | 170 g | 250 kcal |
| Cooked green lentils | 248 g | 309 kcal |
Turkey escalope beats the powder: 109 kcal against 113 for the same protein intake. So whey’s real advantage is neither caloric nor nutritional, it is practical: it is made in thirty seconds, easy to carry, and can be drunk after a session when you are not hungry. That is a real advantage, but it is not the one the label sells. See also our protein foods for muscle building and satiety and the plant-based sources.
Concentrate, isolate, native, clear: how to decide
Concentrate. 71 to 80 g of protein per 100 g, the rest being lactose and a little fat. It is the best value, and it is enough for almost every situation.
Isolate. About 81 g and above all very little lactose. The only serious reason to pay double is lactose intolerance. Note that some concentrates add lactase, which solves the problem without the extra cost.
Native. Extracted directly from milk by microfiltration, without going through cheese-making. The argument is industrial and credible; the clinical advantage measured on concrete outcomes is not established. Do not pay a significant premium for this mention alone.
Clear whey. An isolate formulated to give a clear drink. It is a matter of taste and texture, not nutrition.
Whey for women, shakes for weight loss: what these labels hide
A “women’s” whey meets no particular need
EFSA’s reference values set an adult’s protein requirement at 0.83 g per kilo of body weight per day, the same value for women and for men. What changes from one person to another is weight, not sex: a woman weighing 60 kg needs about 50 g of protein a day, a man weighing 80 kg about 66 g. People who strength train often aim for more, but the calculation rule stays the same.
A whey sold “for women” therefore contains the same whey protein as the others. Judge it exactly as in our ranking: by the price per kilo of protein and the list of additives, not by the colour of the tub. If “slimming” ingredients are added, they are not taken into account in our assessment, and none is authorised to promise weight loss.
A whey shake is not a meal replacement
The European register of health claims authorises no claim linking protein, or whey, to weight loss. The only authorised claims for protein concern muscle mass and the maintenance of normal bones.
A weight-loss claim does exist, but for another category of product: meal replacements intended for weight control. European Regulation 432/2012 authorises the statement that replacing two of the main meals of the day with these replacements, as part of a low-calorie diet, contributes to weight loss. These products must meet a regulated composition in energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. A whey shake mixed with water is not one of them: it provides protein, not a complete meal.
In practice, a shake drunk in addition to meals adds calories, and may make you gain weight rather than lose it. What makes you lose weight is an energy intake lower than your expenditure; whey can help you reach your protein needs during a diet, nothing more. To calculate your deficit, see our guide to the calorie deficit.
Three brands are missing, and we say so
MyProtein returns a certificate error on automatic reading, foodspring.fr no longer resolves, and Bulk shows a price without specifying which size it applies to, so its two products appear in the additives table, where the data is solid, but not in the price ranking, where it is not. Copying a price from a third-party site would be simpler; it is also how errors spread.
Why avoid maltodextrin in a whey: see maltodextrin: a real danger or a false accusation?.
Our sources
- Official Nutrimuscle, Nutri&Co and Bulk pages, consulted on 23/09/2026: protein content, servings, sizes, prices and ingredient lists.
- Jäger R. et al., International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise, 2017: PMID 28642676.
- Davis B.E. et al., The Impact of Whey and Soy Protein Supplementation on Resistance Training in Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Journal of Dietary Supplements, 2026: PMID 41454445.
- Ciqual 2025 table (Anses) for the food equivalences.
- EFSA. Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for protein. EFSA Journal, 2012;10(2):2557.
- Regulation (EU) No 432/2012: authorised claims for protein (muscle mass, bones) and for meal replacements intended for weight control.