Protein Powder Cost Comparison
Look, I've mixed a lot of protein shakes in my time. Some tasted like chalk mixed with regret. Others were actually decent. But here's what nobody tells you when you're staring at that wall of tubs at the supplement store: the price on the front means nothing. What matters is what you're paying for the actual protein inside.
That's why we built this table. Not to sell you anything—to show you the math. Because a $50 tub with 25 servings at 22g each? That's a different animal than a $60 tub with 74 servings at 24g each. The numbers don't lie.
| Brand | Product | Price | Size | Protein/Srv | $/Serving | $/g Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built Daily Supply BDS | ROOTED Plant Protein Chocolate → | $44.90 | 1.8 lb | 21g | $2.04 | $0.097 |
| Built Daily Supply BDS | ROOTED Plant Protein Vanilla → | $44.90 | 1.9 lb | 20g | $2.04 | $0.102 |
| Built Daily Supply BDS | SOLID Whey Protein Isolate Chocolate → | $49.90 | 1.8 lb | 22g | $2.27 | $0.103 |
| Built Daily Supply BDS | SOLID Whey Protein Isolate Vanilla → | $49.90 | 1.8 lb | 22g | $2.27 | $0.103 |
| GHOST | Whey Protein Cereal Milk | $49.99 | 2.0 lb | 25g | $1.92 | $0.077 |
| Legion Athletics | Whey+ Chocolate | $49.99 | 2.0 lb | 22g | $1.67 | $0.076 |
| MyProtein | Impact Whey Isolate Chocolate | $54.99 | 5.0 lb | 25g | $0.61 | $0.024 |
| Transparent Labs | Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate Chocolate | $59.99 | 2.0 lb | 28g | $2.00 | $0.071 |
| Kaged | Whey Protein Isolate Chocolate | $59.99 | 3.0 lb | 25g | $1.36 | $0.054 |
| Optimum Nutrition | Gold Standard 100% Whey Double Rich Chocolate | $61.16 | 5.0 lb | 24g | $0.83 | $0.035 |
| Dymatize | ISO100 Hydrolyzed Whey Isolate Gourmet Chocolate | $103.14 | 5.0 lb | 25g | $1.45 | $0.058 |
Sorted by total price (lowest to highest). Prices as of research date.
What Actually Matters
Whey vs. Plant Protein
Here's the deal: whey protein comes from milk. It's got all the amino acids your body needs, and it absorbs fast. That's why it's been the gold standard forever. But if you're lactose intolerant or just don't do dairy, plant protein works too—you just might need a bit more of it.
Plant proteins (pea, rice, soy) used to taste like wet cardboard. They've gotten better. The main thing to know: plant proteins often have a slightly lower "bioavailability"—fancy word for how much your body actually uses. So if a plant protein has 20g per serving, your body might absorb it like 17-18g of whey. Not a huge deal, just something to factor in.
Isolate vs. Concentrate
Whey concentrate is the basic stuff—about 80% protein by weight, with some fat and carbs left in. Isolate goes through extra filtering to get to 90%+ protein. Less lactose, less fat, more protein per scoop. Isolate costs more, but if regular whey makes your stomach angry, isolate might be worth it.
For most guys just trying to hit their protein numbers? Concentrate is fine. Save your money unless you've got a specific reason to go isolate.
Serving Size Tricks
Watch out for this one. Some brands list "30 servings!" on the tub, but a serving is 25g of powder with only 15g of protein. Others give you 32g of powder with 25g of protein. Always look at the protein per serving, not just the number of servings in the tub.
When Ingredients Matter More Than Price
Here's the thing about cheap protein: you get what you pay for. Some budget brands cut corners with fillers, artificial sweeteners, and mystery "proprietary blends" that hide what's actually in the tub.
Built Daily Supply takes a different approach:
- Fully transparent labels — Every ingredient, every dose, listed clearly. No proprietary blends hiding underdosed actives.
- Clean protein sources — SOLID uses whey protein isolate (not cheaper concentrate blends). ROOTED uses fava bean and fermented yeast protein—real food, not processed junk.
- No artificial garbage — Sweetened with stevia, not sucralose or aspartame. No artificial colors or dyes.
- MCT oil added — For sustained energy and better absorption, not just filler.
Is it the cheapest? No. But if you're putting something in your body every day, ingredients matter. The guys who obsess over what goes into their truck's engine should care at least as much about what goes into their body.
The Bottom Line
Protein powder is a tool, not a magic bullet. If you're hitting 0.7-1g of protein per pound of bodyweight from real food, you probably don't need it at all. But if you're working long hours, on the road a lot, or just can't stomach another chicken breast, a shake is a convenient way to fill the gap.
The winner on pure value is MyProtein Impact Whey Isolate at 2.4 cents per gram of protein. That's hard to beat. But remember—the best protein powder is the one you'll actually drink. If a cheaper one tastes terrible and ends up sitting in your cupboard, that's not a bargain. That's a waste.
Built Daily Supply's options sit in the middle-to-upper price range. Solid products if you're already buying from them, but not the budget pick if cost is your only concern.