Naked Whey Protein Review (2024)

If you’re looking for a high-quality protein supplement, there are several great options out there. Today, we’ll look at one of our favorite choices from Naked Nutrition. This protein supplement is excellent for anybody after a high-quality, simple protein powder that’s also very budget-friendly. 

In this Naked protein review, we’ll be doing an in-depth look at Naked’s macronutrient breakdown, as well as weighing out its pros and cons so you can decide if it’s a good fit for you!

Naked Grass-Fed Whey Protein Powder

• Best For: Protein intake, Fat Loss, Building Muscle, Recovery
• Suitable for Vegans: No
• Protein Source: Whey Protein Concentrate
• Serving Size: 30-44g
• Calories: 120-180
• Protein per Serving: 25g
• Carbohydrates: 3-13g
• Fat: 2-3.5g
• Added Sugar: 0-5g
• Price per Serving: ~$1.24-$1.82
• Recommended by Athletes: Kenzie Mariano, Daniel Victor

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Naked is a brand committed to delivering high-quality, simple supplements, and their whey protein powder is no exception. Naked protein is made from high-quality grass-fed whey and only contains natural flavors and sweeteners. With this supplement, you’ll be getting a simple formula made with high-quality ingredients, all for a good price. 

Each serving of Naked contains 120-180 calories, with 25g of protein per serving. Keep in mind that calories vary depending on what flavor you get, with the Unflavored option being the lowest in calories and Chocolate Peanut Butter being the highest. Ultimately, however, this isn’t a major difference.

It’s also worth noting that this is a whey concentrate supplement, so it will be slightly higher in calories, carbs, and fat compared to whey isolate supplements. While we tend to recommend whey isolates, concentrates will be perfectly suitable for most people. 

In terms of taste and mixability, we found Naked to mix smoothly and have an enjoyable taste. Because it’s made of all-natural ingredients, it has a somewhat milder flavor than other protein powders that contain strong artificial sweeteners. 

Finally, while Naked grass-fed whey does come at a great price for the most part, there is also some variation between flavors. For a 5lb tub, the Unflavored option will be ~$1.24 per serving, while the Chocolate Peanut Butter option will be ~$1.82. So, keep this in mind when deciding which flavor you’re going to get!

Naked Whey Protein Macronutrients Breakdown

Let’s take a closer look at Naked’s macronutrients so you can get a better idea of what to expect in each serving. Before getting into this, keep in mind that Naked’s calories vary quite a bit between flavors, so some options will be more macro-friendly than others.

1. Source and Amount of Protein per Serving 

While there is some variation between calories, carbs, and fat, protein amounts stay consistent between flavors, with all options containing 25g per serving. While there are certainly other protein supplements out there with higher protein per serving, this is still a solid amount.

For muscle growth, we recommend eating 0.7-1g of protein per pound of body weight each day. So, Naked will provide you with a significant boost of protein if you struggle to hit your protein goals, or you just want a convenient high-protein snack. 

This is a whey concentrate, meaning it’s not as highly filtered as whey isolates, which tend to have higher amounts of protein per serving. However, for most people, concentrates are still an excellent choice. 

Additionally, this supplement is made from grass-fed cows, which have been shown to produce milk with a healthier balance of fatty acids. With this being said, it’s unclear how much of a difference this makes in terms of protein powder. Still, you can be confident that Naked is sourcing their whey from high-quality dairy farms. 

2. Carbs per Serving

Carbs are where the biggest variation between flavors is, with 3-13g per serving. An extra 10g of carbs won’t be a big deal for most people, but it’s something to be aware of, especially if you’re on a carb-restricted diet like keto. 

It’s worth noting that if you want a lower-carb protein supplement, you’re likely better off buying a whey isolate instead of a whey concentrate. This is because whey isolates contain a higher percentage of protein by weight. However, for most people, this won’t make a huge difference. 

3. Fat per Serving

Fat content is fairly consistent between flavors with 2-3.5g per serving. Again, a whey isolate supplement will typically be lower in fat, although it won’t be a major difference. 

It’s worth noting that this is mostly saturated fat if this is something you’re concerned about., It's not a significant amount, especially compared to a lot of other processed food out there, and just be aware that saturated fats are also playing their part in a healthy and balanced diet.  

4. Calories per Serving

You can expect between 120-180 calories per serving. While this isn’t a huge difference, it may be significant if you’re on a strict calorie deficit. Just be aware that if you’re after the lowest calorie option, the Unflavored option will likely be your best bet. 

Pros and Cons of Naked Whey Protein

Now that we’ve covered Naked’s macronutrient breakdown, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons here, so you can see if Naked has everything you’re looking for in a protein supplement. 

6 Pros of Naked Whey Protein

Let’s start by taking a look at Naked’s pros, which include the cost, formula, protein source, flavor variety, and Informed Choice certification. 

✅ Affordable Cost per Serving

Overall, Naked’s protein is very affordable compared to other high-quality protein powders out there. Especially if you’re buying the unflavored option, each serving will only cost you ~$1.24 per serving. 

Just be aware the other flavors are slightly more expensive. Chocolate Peanut Butter is the priciest option at ~$1.82 per serving, which is still a decent price for such a high-quality protein powder. 

These are prices for the 5lb tub as a one-time purchase. They will be somewhat more expensive if you’re buying the 1lb or 2lb tubs instead. However, you can save 10-20% if you sign up for Naked’s Autoship option, although this may not be ideal if you haven’t tried the supplement yet. 

✅ Simple Formula

Another major advantage of Naked’s supplement is its simple formula. Many protein supplements out there are made with artificial ingredients and unnecessary filler ingredients. Naked, however, aims to make its supplements as simple as possible. 

It doesn’t get any simpler than the Unflavored option, which contains one ingredient: whey protein concentrate. The flavored options aren’t much more complex, containing only a handful of additional natural ingredients, such as organic coconut sugar and organic cacao. 

This makes Naked a great choice for anybody who prefers to buy simple supplements made from basic ingredients. 

✅ Made from Grass-Fed Whey

As mentioned above, Naked sources its protein from grass-fed whey. As Naked describes on their website, their products are sourced “from small GMO-free dairy farms.” While there may be some health benefits to grass-fed dairy products, it’s generally just a good gauge of high-quality dairy. 

This may not matter to everybody, but some will definitely prefer to buy a grass-fed product. 

✅ Good Flavor Variety

Naked’s whey protein comes in six different flavors, which include:

• Unflavored
• Chocolate
• Vanilla
• Double Chocolate
• Chocolate Peanut Butter
• Cookies & Cream

This is a solid amount of flavor variety, especially considering many protein brands only come in the standard flavors like chocolate and vanilla. 

Naked whey unflavored will be especially beneficial for those trying to lose weight, and those who just don’t love the taste of flavored protein powder. With this being said, you may be wondering, “What does unflavored whey protein taste like?” It has a slight milky flavor, that’s certainly not unpleasant, although it’s not quite as delicious as the flavored option. 

If you’d prefer a stronger taste, additional flavors like double chocolate deliver a super rich flavor perfect for any chocolate lovers out there. Unflavored option might be used also as an addition to some other meals like pancakes or omelet etc.  

✅ Gluten-Free

Additionally, Naked is a completely gluten-free protein powder. While this is likely true of most protein powders, Naked proudly advertises the fact that they’re gluten-free, so you can be confident it doesn’t contain any gluten whatsoever. 

✅ Informed Choice Certified

Our final pro for Naked’s protein is that it’s Informed Choice Certified. If you’re unfamiliar, Informed Choice is a company that tests supplements to provide a reliable seal of quality assurance. This means you can rest assured that Naked doesn’t contain any large amounts of heavy metals or other potential contaminants. 

We always recommend looking for seals like this when buying supplements, especially if they’re from a brand you aren’t familiar with. It’s a quick and easy way to make sure you’re buying a high-quality product that’s 100% safe. 

2 Cons of Naked Whey Protein

Now that we’ve covered the advantages of this supplement, let’s take a look at the downsides. While the pros definitely outweigh the cons, there are a few things worth pointing out, including the calorie and macro variations between flavors. 

❌ Variation Between Flavors

First, while Naked does offer undeniably solid flavor variety, this comes with the downside of each flavor having slightly different macros. As mentioned, the calories range from 120-180 calories per serving, with the carbs ranging from 3-13g. 

Of course, 60 calories and 10g of carbs won’t matter to most people. However, if you’re on a low-carb diet, or you’re eating in a strict calorie deficit, these differences may be significant to you. So, before deciding on a flavor, make sure to double-check the macros to make sure they align with your goals. 

For quick reference, the unflavored variety is the lowest calorie and carb option, while chocolate peanut butter is the highest in calories and carbs. The rest of the flavors all fall somewhere in between these two. 

❌ Some May Prefer Whey Isolate Over Concentrate

Next, as mentioned earlier, this is a whey concentrate and not a whey isolate. The main difference here is that concentrates are not as highly filtered and thus contain more calories, carbs, and fats. 

For most people, this won’t be a big deal. However, if you want to maximize protein intake without adding in too many extra calories, you’ll want to go with an isolate instead. Additionally, because isolates are so highly filtered, they’re typically lactose-free, making them often suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals as well. 

How to Use Naked Whey Protein?

If you’re wondering how to use Naked’s whey protein powder, below we’ll be covering some tips and tricks to get the most out of this supplement. 

If you’re looking to keep it simple, the easiest way to use protein powder is to just mix it with milk or water. Keep in mind that milk will give your protein shakes a much richer, creamier texture. However, water will work just fine if you want a lower-calorie option. 

With this being said, don’t feel like you need to limit yourself to plain protein shakes! Consider blending Naked whey together with other ingredients like frozen berries, bananas, nut butter, or oatmeal. This can be a great way to boost the micronutrient content of a shake, as well as the total calories if you’re on a bulk. The combinations here are endless, so get creative!

Also, be sure to store your protein properly in a cool, dry location. If you’ve ever wondered “Why does protein smell so bad?” It’s probably because it hasn’t been stored properly and has gone bad. If you do everything right, protein should last for months on the shelf. However, if protein smells especially bad, we don’t recommend consuming it. 

Naked Whey Protein vs. Alternatives

Below we’ll be comparing Naked Whey to some other popular protein powders from Transparent Labs and Kaged. This can help you see what other options are out there, so you can see if Naked’s really the best pick for you. 

Naked Whey Protein vs. Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate

Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate

• Serving Size: 28 grams of protein per serving
• Servings per Container: 55 servings
• Carbohydrates: 1 gram (depends on flavor)
• Added Sugar: 0 gram
• Recommended By Athletes: Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Terron Beckham, Paul Sklar

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First, let’s take a look at one of the most popular protein supplements on the market from Transparent Labs. 

At 28g of protein per serving and 130 calories, TL does beat Naked by a little bit in terms of total protein content and calorie ratio. However, this is to be expected when comparing a whey isolate to a concentrate. 

Transparent Labs also has over double the flavor variety of Naked with 13 flavors compared to their 6. This includes plenty of unique options like Chocolate Chip Banana Bread and Blueberry Pancakes along with standards like Milk Chocolate and French Vanilla. Similar to Naked, Transparent Labs is also made with 100% natural ingredients. 

Similar to Naked, Transparent Labs is also Informed Choice certified, which as we mentioned, is a great gauge of quality. 

Finally, Transparent Labs is quite a bit more expensive than Naked at ~$2.00 per serving across all its flavors. However, this isn’t a huge difference when comparing the most expensive flavor offered by Naked, which is ~$1.82 per serving.

Naked Whey Protein vs. Kaged Whey Protein Isolate

Kaged Whey Protein Isolate

• Best For: Muscle Building, Recovery, Cutting
• Flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, Chocolate peanut butter, S'mores
• Protein Source: Whey Protein Isolate
• Suitable for Vegans: No
• Package Information: 3 lb /44 servings
• Protein-by-Weight Ratio: 76%
• Protein: 25 grams
• Carbohydrates: 2 grams
• Fat: 0 grams
• Calories per serving: 110
• Serving: ~33g
• Price per serving: ~$1.36
• Company Founded: 2015
• Recommended by: Brady Barnes, Tawna McCoy, Nicolle Neves

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Next, let’s compare Naked with another option from Kaged. Let’s see how it stacks up. 

In terms of protein, Kaged is exactly the same as Naked with 25g per serving. However, because it is an isolate, it’s slightly lower in calories with 110-120 calories per serving. 

Kaged has slightly less flavor variety than Naked with only 4 options to choose from, although this is still a decent amount of variety. Kaged uses artificial ingredients like sucralose in their formula. Keep this in mind if this is something you’d prefer to avoid. 

Kaged has a similar certification to Naked and Transparent Labs from Informed Sport. This is the same organization as Informed Choice, it’s just a slightly more specialized certification meant to test for potentially banned substances. This is a great certification to look for if you’re a pro athlete who’s subject to drug testing. 

Kaged is also at a similar price point to most Naked flavors at ~$1.42-1.46 per serving. Naked may be slightly cheaper or more expensive depending on the flavor. 

Conclusion

So, is Naked whey good? 

Overall, we believe Naked Whey is one of the best overall protein supplements on the market. While there are a few downsides to Naked, like caloric variations between flavors, there are far more pros than cons. These include the use of high-quality ingredients, simple formulas, and a good price point. 

So, if you’re looking for a great all-around protein supplement, consider giving Naked Nutrition Protein Powder a try today. 

Have you ever tried any Naked supplements? Do you have a different go-to protein powder? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

References:

1. Everson A. Nunes, et. al, “Systematic review and meta-analysis of protein intake to support muscle mass and function in healthy adults,” Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 13, 795–810, (2022)
2. Georgia State University, “The Rundown on Protein Powders,” Georgia State University https://recreation.gsu.edu/2023/03/31/the-rundown-on-protein-powders/ (Accessed August 27, 2024).
3. Brad Heins, “Grass-fed cows produce healthier milk,” University of Minnesota Extension, https://extension.umn.edu/pasture-based-dairy/grass-fed-cows-produce-healthier-milk  (Accessed August 27, 2024).
4. The Nutrition Source, “Types of Fat,” Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/types-of-fat/ (Accessed August 27, 2024).
5. Informed Choice Certification Process, “Informed Choice: Four Steps to Certification,” Informed Choice https://choice.wetestyoutrust.com/about/certification-process (Accessed August 27, 2024).
6. Photos by Torokhtiy Media Team.