14 of the Best High-Protein Drinks of 2026, Ranked by Taste

Value: $4.99 for 12 fluid ounces

Energy: 210 energy

Protein: 16 grams

Added sugar: 7 grams

The style of the Treatment Organics Cacao Necessities Protein Shake was what I may finest describe as wholesome.

The date-sweetened drink is full of plant-based components, together with adaptogens like ashwagandha and maca root powders in addition to tapioca prebiotic powder.

However taste-wise, they weren’t as sweet-treat-like as among the different shakes. It tasted strongly of cacao, but it surely felt somewhat chalky, and appeared saltier than it did candy.

Whereas I favored the drink’s components, I actually disliked the style. Should you’re in search of a plant-based, adaptogen-full drink that will even show you how to attain protein targets, this could possibly be an choice for you — however do not go into it anticipating a candy chocolate milk sort of drink.

Taste score: 1/10

General score: 6/10

Value: $3.99 for 14 fluid ounces

Energy: 170 energy

Protein: 25 grams

Added sugar: 0 grams

After I first poured the Muscle Milk Zero Sugar shake, I seen simply how darkish and thick it was. Tasting it, I discovered that it was means too candy for my style. This, mixed with the thick texture, made for a reasonably fascinating consuming expertise — I needed to wash down the shake with some water to comply with up the candy style left in my mouth.

Though I could not end consuming the small style I would poured myself, it additionally had the fewest energy and grams of sugar within the rating, the best fiber, and I felt just like the protein payoff was nice, which made the overly candy style really feel extra like a trade-off.

Should you’re making an attempt to get half of your day by day protein in as few energy as potential whereas additionally watching out for sugar content, this drink is likely to be good to have in your radar … however you will must remind your self of the vitamins in each sip.

Do it for the protein, bro.

Taste score: 3/10

General score: 6/10

Value: $4.99 for 12 fluid ounces

Energy: 190 energy

Protein: 18 grams

Added sugar: 4 grams

In comparison with among the different protein drinks, I discovered Koia’s Cacao Bean protein shake to be very skinny and lightweight in coloration once I first poured it.

Its taste, because the title would point out, may be very cacao-bean ahead. To me, it tasted precisely like cacao nibs, which may lean extra nutty and earthy than chocolate-y.

In a press release to Enterprise Insider, Koia mentioned the Cacao Bean protein shake is “crafted to focus on cacao’s naturally daring, barely bitter profile quite than masking it with extreme sweetness or synthetic flavoring,” leading to a taste that “could also be much less candy than conventional protein shakes.”

The almond-based, monk-fruit-sweetened drink, which is not too candy and packs in plant-based components like rice, pea, and chickpea protein and a prebiotic mix, wasn’t one among my favorites for style, though it was pretty aggressive with the opposite choices when it comes to vitamins.

Taste score: 4/10

General score: 5/10

Value: $2.00 for 11 fluid ounces

Energy: 350 energy

Protein: 12 grams

Added sugar: 39 grams

I discovered the flavour of the chocolate Sport Shake to be probably the most pleasant within the rating, and it jogged my memory a variety of plain chocolate milk — it was very, very candy. I additionally favored that it did not style an excessive amount of like dairy, one thing that bothered me with different drinks within the lineup.

Nonetheless, the drink’s candy and attractive taste was overshadowed by its ultra-high added sugar content material of 39 grams, or greater than 9 teaspoons.

Whereas the drink has some fiber in it, coming in with 3 grams, and it was the most cost effective of the rating, I could not justify that a lot sugar. I’ll most likely not attain for this once more.

Taste score: 8/10

General score: 1/10

Value: $2.50 for 14 fluid ounces

Energy: 250 energy

Protein: 14 grams

Added sugar: 18 grams

I used to be shocked once I discovered that Nesquik’s traditional chocolate milk could possibly be thought of a dietary drink.

At 14 grams of protein, as marketed on the bottle, the drink has extra grams of protein per serving than different drinks labeled as protein drinks.

Tasting it was simply as nostalgic as anticipated. In comparison with among the different drinks, nevertheless, I seen it had a stronger dairy style and was very candy, with a complete of 18 grams of added sugar.

I additionally seen that the bottle advisable a portion of half a bottle, most likely as a result of drink’s excessive sugar content material, which might additionally end in half the protein consumption general.

I most likely would not have reached for this in maturity if to not evaluate it right here, and I most likely will not actually attain for it once more.

Taste score: 6/10

General score: 4/10

Value: $5.99 for 14 fluid ounces

Energy: 220 energy

Protein: 40 grams

Added sugar: 0 grams

Like its low-sugar model, the Muscle Milk Professional seemed darkish and thick. Style-wise, the drink was sweeter than chocolate-y, and I did not love the flavour.

Though the drink packs a formidable 40 grams of protein in 14 ounces and 220 energy, has the best ratio of protein to fluid ounces, and in addition has the best fiber content material within the checklist, the style was one among my least favorites, and I needed to wash it down with some water after tasting, because it had such a lingering taste on the tongue.

When contemplating the dietary elements of the drink, nevertheless, I felt just like the style was a stable trade-off for probably the most protein-efficient drinks within the rating, having the second-highest quantity of grams of protein in a single bottle.

However when you’re strictly going for the ultra-high-protein choice, the Fairlife Core Energy Elite — which comes later on this rating — is likely to be a greater wager for taste.

Taste score: 4/10

General score: 7/10

Value: $4.49 for 12 fluid ounces

Energy: 200 energy

Protein: 32 grams

Added sugar: 0 grams

After I first poured the OWYN — which stands for Solely What You Want — Professional Elite Protein Shake, it seemed a lot thicker than among the different drinks within the rating.

It tasted vastly totally different from the others, too. The components gave some clues as to why: The primary components — water, pea protein, pumpkin protein, and flaxseed oil — have been utterly totally different from the opposite shakes.

The plant-based, dairy-, soy-, and wheat-free drink, which incorporates 3 grams of prebiotics, makes use of monk fruit extract to sweeten its cocoa-heavy taste, and in addition has a greens mix that features spinach, kale, and broccoli.

I figured that the odd taste I skilled was maybe as a result of a few of its most health-forward components, just like the greens mix.

In a press release to Enterprise Insider, OWYN mentioned that the exclusion of synthetic sweeteners and sugar alcohols within the components “generally means a extra pure, earthy style profile,” when in comparison with their common shake, which makes use of a mix of natural cane sugar and monk fruit.

Finally, I wasn’t a fan of the style and possibly would not attain for this drink once more, though nutrition-wise, it was a stable ultra-high-protein plant-based choice.

Taste score: 5/10

General score: 6/10

Value: $5.99 for 14 fluid ounces

Energy: 230 energy

Protein: 42 grams

Added sugar: 0 grams

One in every of three protein shakes in Fairlife’s line, the Core Energy Elite shake was a bit thinner than lots of the different drinks I attempted.

It was much less candy than Fairlife’s common chocolate milk, which I did not thoughts. Nonetheless, it had a a lot stronger dairy style — I do not love the style of dairy milk, so this labored towards the drink for me.

Nonetheless, its insane quantity of protein — as a lot as a complete hen breast — earned it further factors in my rating.

This drink was one thing I did not thoughts consuming, even when I would not often go for it. At the same time as a non-gym-bro, I’d most likely attain for this drink if I have been making an attempt to get effectively over half of my wanted protein for the day in a single serving.

Taste score: 5/10

General score: 8/10

Value: $2.50 for 11 fluid ounces

Energy: 330 energy

Protein: 15 grams

Added sugar: 29 grams

After I poured the chocolate Nutrament, I seen its consistency was among the many runniest within the rating.

The drink, the second-cheapest drink within the lineup, tasted similar to chocolate milk, though it was nonetheless a bit too candy for me.

I additionally seen it had an extended components checklist with many unfamiliar phrases, however on nearer inspection, some gave the impression to be added nutritional vitamins and minerals. The drink additionally had the second-highest added sugar content material at 29 grams.

The excessive sugar and relatively low protein knocked this drink down a number of factors for me, and though I loved it, I most likely would not attain for this.

Taste Ranking: 9/10

General Ranking: 5/10

Value: $3.29 for 14 fluid ounces

Energy: 250 energy

Protein: 23 grams

The second in Fairlife’s line, its chocolate ultra-filtered milk, was one other nostalgic providing.

It was very candy, but when I have been craving chocolate milk, that is positively the choice I’d select.

Whereas it is not marketed as a protein drink, it incorporates 23 grams in a 14-ounce bottle and has the second-lowest value per gram of protein.

Taste score: 7/10

General score: 7/10

Value: $18.99 for a six-pack of 8-ounce bottles (or $3.17 for 8 fluid ounces)

Energy: 360 energy

Protein: 14 grams

Added sugar: 18 grams

Whereas among the drinks on this lineup are aimed on the ultra-protein-efficient crowd and others are extra directed at kids, the Increase dietary drink line is marketed towards adults with particular dietary wants. The Increase Plus product, particularly, is geared toward adults hoping to gain or maintain weight.

Style-wise, this was one among my favorites. The candy and wealthy drink was very chocolatey, and it felt like a pleasant candy deal with.

With the product’s goal in thoughts, the drink’s larger energy did not trouble me, and I used to be happy to see its vitamin label flooded with nutritional vitamins and minerals.

Out of lots of the choices, that is one I may see myself reaching for solely primarily based on its style, though I want it had the next protein content material.

Taste score: 9/10

General score: 7/10

Value: $3.00 for 14 fluid ounces

Energy: 290 energy

Protein: 23 grams

Added sugar: 18 grams

After I poured this drink, I used to be shocked by how runny it was in comparison with among the different choices. I actually loved the style, even when it wasn’t precisely the identical because the nostalgic chocolate-milk taste of Nesquik’s traditional choice.

In reality, I really favored this another, even earlier than factoring within the added nutritional value. It was adequately candy, not too dairy-tasting, and it did not have the aftertaste that had put me off the traditional choice.

With 23 grams of protein, this drink may compete with a few of its extra nutrition-leaning counterparts. At $3 for a bottle, it was additionally one of many most cost-effective choices with the best protein content material.

I may completely see myself reaching for this.

Taste score: 8/10

General score: 8/10

Value: $4.29 for 12 fluid ounces

Energy: 180 energy

Protein: 20 grams

Added sugar: 4 grams

In comparison with the higher-protein drink on OWYN’s line, the common protein shake wasn’t as darkish or as thick once I poured it.

Whereas the OWYN Professional Elite had a style I did not like, the OWYN Darkish Chocolate Protein Shake had an easier taste that jogged my memory of chocolate milk.

It was very tasty and chocolatey, and I favored that it additionally had 3 grams of fiber.

General, this felt like a really stable choice that I may see myself reaching for. It was additionally my favourite plant-based drink.

Taste score: 8/10

General score: 10/10

Value: $4.99 for 14 fluid ounces

Energy: 170 energy

Protein: 26 grams

Added sugar: 0 grams

Whereas this drink did not precisely really feel like a dessert or chocolate milk because it leaned extra chocolatey and cocoa-tasting than candy — and it did have considerably of a dairy style — I nonetheless discovered it very pleasant and a really good choose for each style and protein.

Tied with the Muscle Milk Zero Sugar for the bottom energy within the rating, I discovered the Fairlife Core Energy shake way more pleasant and even profitable by a gram within the protein class.

General, this drink had the very best stability between taste and vitamin, and I can see myself reaching for it every time I want a fast post-workout pick-me-up or simply need to get a good portion of my day by day protein on the go.

Taste score: 8/10

General score: 10/10