Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate
Ingredient-conscious consumers who want full label transparency with grass-fed whey isolate
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey
Budget-conscious gym-goers who want proven, great-tasting protein at the best value
Score Comparison
Pricing & Features
Making Your Decision
When to Choose Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate
Ingredient-conscious consumers who want full label transparency with grass-fed whey isolate
Transparent Labs lives up to its name with full-disclosure labeling and zero proprietary blends. The grass-fed whey isolate delivers 28g protein per serving with clean ingredients. While it lacks NSF certification, the published independent lab results provide strong purity assurance.
Strengths
- Fully transparent label with every ingredient amount disclosed — no proprietary blends
- Grass-fed whey isolate with 28g protein per serving and no artificial additives
- Independently tested with published lab results for purity verification
Limitations
- Not NSF Certified for Sport — uses independent lab testing instead
- At $2.00/serving, positioned above many budget alternatives
- Only available direct-to-consumer and Amazon — no retail store presence
When to Choose Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey
Budget-conscious gym-goers who want proven, great-tasting protein at the best value
Gold Standard has been the world's best-selling protein powder for over a decade, and the value proposition is hard to beat — 74 servings at $1.08 each with Informed Choice certification. The trade-off is artificial ingredients and a whey blend rather than pure isolate.
Strengths
- Informed Choice certified — the most popular protein powder worldwide for a reason
- Outstanding value at $1.08/serving with 74 servings in the 5lb size
- Excellent taste and mixability across 20+ flavor options
Limitations
- Contains artificial flavors (acesulfame potassium) and soy lecithin
- Uses whey blend (isolate, concentrate, peptides) rather than pure isolate
- Does not publish independent lab test results or batch-level COAs
