Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate Review (2024)

In this Transparent Labs whey protein isolate review, we’ll be taking a look at TL’s main protein powder to help you decide if it’s right for you. While this brand has numerous options for high-quality protein, we believe this is one of their best offerings. So, let’s get into the review so you can see if it’s right for you!

The Most Honest Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate Review

Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Protein

• Serving Size: 32.96g
• Price Per Serving: ~$1.8
• Protein: 28g
• Carbohydrates: 1g (depends on flavor)
• Fat: 0.5g (French Vanilla only)
• Added Sugar: 0g
• Calories Per Serving: 120
• Recommended By Athletes: Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Terron Beckham, Paul Sklar

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If you’re looking for an honest review of Transparent Labs Whey isolate, then you’re in the right place. Below we’ll be breaking this supplement down based on several different factors, so you can make an informed decision on whether it’s right for you. 

1. Protein Source

First, this is a whey isolate supplement, meaning it’s some of the purest protein powder you can get. Compared to whey concentrate, whey isolates are more heavily filtered, leading to fewer carbs and fats compared to protein. Typically, concentrates contain about 80% protein, while isolates have over 90%. 

On top of this, the whey used in this supplement is sourced from 100% grass-fed cattle. Grass-fed dairy is largely considered to be healthier than regular milk, which is another benefit of this supplement. 

2. Macronutrients Breakdown

In terms of macros, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more solid protein powder than this. Depending on flavor, each serving has 120-140 calories, which is broken down between 1-3g of carbs, ~1g of fat, and 28g of protein. This means this protein powder is ~80-93% protein by calories.

3. Protein-by-Weight Ratio

Each scoop of Transparent Labs’ protein is 32-37g in total. With 28g of protein, this means it has a protein-by-weight ratio of ~82% on average between flavors. For reference, Transparent Labs’ Casein protein has an average ratio of ~71%, while their Plant-Based protein has an average ratio of ~70%. This shows that their whey isolate is superior in terms of protein content when compared to their other products!

4. Mixability and Texture

Whey isolates are commonly some of the best protein powders available in terms of mixability and texture, with this supplement being no exception. From our experience, this product mixes excellently with minimal clumps, especially if you’re using a blender. Overall, this is probably as close as a protein powder will ever come to the taste and texture of a milkshake. 

5. Flavors Variety

This protein powder comes in 15 different unique flavors. However, keep in mind that the larger 4lb package only comes in 4 flavors:

• Milk Chocolate
• French Vanilla
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie
• Chocolate Peanut Butter

With many protein powders simply coming in basic chocolate and vanilla, Transparent Labs does offer a solid amount of flavor variety with the inclusion of many unique flavors. However, with other brands like MyProtein offering their protein powders in dozens of flavors, 15 flavors is far from the most variety on the market. 

6. Other ingredients

While Transparent Labs’ protein powder is mainly made of high-quality grass-fed whey protein, it does contain a few additional ingredients. These mainly come in the form of natural flavors, a bit of salt, and stevia as the main sweetener included. 

With many protein powders being made with artificial sweeteners like sucralose, Transparent Labs makes a great choice if you want to avoid artificial ingredients in your supplements. 

7. Sodium Content per Serving

As mentioned above, this protein powder does contain a bit of salt. Depending on the flavor, this protein contains 5-12% of your daily value. For most people eating a healthy diet, this amount of sodium won’t be a concern. 

However, if you’re intentionally limiting your sodium intake, this may be something you want to keep in mind when making a decision. We recommend simply choosing a flavor with sodium on the lower end of this range!

Transparent Labs is Certified by Informed Choice!

Moving on, a major advantage Transparent Labs has over competitors is that it’s certified by Informed Choice. If you’re unfamiliar, this is a company that ensures a certain level of quality in the manufacturing, packaging, and formulas of supplements. Transparent Labs protein is certified 

These certifications are a great thing to look out for if you’re concerned about potential contamination with harmful substances like heavy metals. This is why we generally recommend choosing supplements from established brands like Transparent Labs which obviously prioritize quality across their manufacturing processes. 

How to Optimize Budget when Using Transparent Labs Whey Protein Isolate? 

While Transparent Labs’ Protein is clearly a high-quality product, it is somewhat expensive. The smaller packages all provide 30 servings, so the sizes range from around ~2-2.5lbs. This means regardless of flavor, each serving will cost you around ~$2.00 per serving. 

If you want to buy in bulk, Transparent Labs offers a standard package size of 4lbs. However, Transparent Labs only offers these larger packages in 4 flavors. Depending on flavor, each serving will cost you around ~$1.75-2.04. This means, you’ll only be getting good value when buying in bulk for certain flavors. 

You’ll be getting some savings in the chocolate and vanilla flavors. However, the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie flavor costs the same as it does in the smaller package, and the chocolate peanut butter flavor works out to be slightly more expensive! 

1. If in Doubt, Buy a Smaller Tub First

Overall, we generally recommend buying a smaller tub if it’s your first time buying this product. This will allow you to give it a try without spending too much money, or having an excessive amount of protein to get through. 

After all, the larger packages are only available in 4 flavors. And, unless you’re buying chocolate or vanilla, you won’t be getting any significant savings. Especially with the smaller package offering way more flavors, you may honestly be better off sticking with these instead of the large packages. 

With that being said, if you’re a fan of the product, buying chocolate or vanilla protein in bulk will save you a good amount of money in the long run!

2. For Whom is Whey Protein from Transparent Labs an Ideal Choice?

In all honesty, Transparent Labs will make an ideal choice for most people looking for a high-quality protein powder. Because of its high protein content, it will be useful for virtually all goals, including recovery, muscle gain, fat loss, and body composition.

Additionally, the fact that it’s informed choice certified, and made without artificial ingredients makes it ideal for anybody concerned about the quality of the supplements they’re buying. 

3. Who is this Protein Powder not Suitable For? 

With this being said, not everybody will want to choose this protein. 

First, this is a dairy-based option. As a result, those who have milk allergies or milk protein intolerances will want to choose a different option. Additionally, if you’re vegan, you’ll want to choose a plant-based protein instead. Keep in mind that Transparent Labs does offer a great plant-based protein as well!

Also, although stevia is better than artificial sweeteners sucralose in our opinion, it does have a fairly strong aftertaste. If you’re someone who can’t stand this flavor, you may want to choose a different protein as well. 

Finally, it’s worth noting that Transparent Labs is far from the cheapest protein powder on the market. Each serving will cost you around ~$1.75-2.00 depending on the package size and flavor. As a result, if you’re prioritizing your budget, you may want to find a cheaper option. 

However, beyond these 3 factors – dietary restrictions, stevia aftertaste, and price – Transparent Labs will make a great choice for most people. 

The final verdict on Whey Protein Isolate from Transparent Labs

So, is Transparent Labs protein good? 

As you can probably tell from our review above, we’re pretty big fans of Transparent Labs Whey Isolate. While there are plenty of good protein powders available, we think you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better overall choice than this. 

First, with 28g of protein per serving across all 15 flavors, as well as minimal carbs and fats, Transparent Labs’ protein powder will make a perfect fit for almost any fitness goal – whether it be weight loss or muscle gain. 

Additionally, this product is made with high-quality, grass-fed whey, contains no artificial ingredients, and has solid third-party certification. There are very few protein powders available that are made with such a high level of quality. 

Overall, beyond a few downsides like the high price, and a lack of flavor variety/discount for larger package sizes, this protein is near perfect. If you’re interested in a whey protein supplement, you can’t go wrong with Transparent Labs. 

FAQ

Is Transparent Labs FDA Approved?

Dietary supplements are not subject to review from the FDA, so Transparent Labs is technically not FDA-approved. However, Transparent Labs has made it clear that all their products are manufactured in facilities compliant with FDA/GMP standards. 

So, while Transparent Labs has not directly been approved by the FDA, they do follow FDA guidelines in terms of their manufacturing. 

Is Transparent Labs Protein Clean?

By virtually all standards, Transparent Labs offers some of the cleanest protein on the market. It does not contain any artificial ingredients, is made from grass-fed whey isolate, and has third-party certification from Informed Choice. If you’re after clean supplements, Transparent Labs is a great choice, whether it’s protein, pre-workout, or anything else they offer. 

Is Transparent Labs Protein Worth the Price?

At ~$2.00 per serving in the smaller package size, Transparent Labs’ whey protein isolate is far from the cheapest protein powder on the market. However, this protein contains a solid 28g of protein per serving, as well as minimal carbs or fats. Along with a great formula and third-party testing, we believe that this supplement is still well worth the money. 

What is the Best Transparent Labs Protein Flavor?

Because taste is so subjective, it’s impossible for us to recommend the best Transparent Labs protein flavors – especially with 15 different options to choose from. However, if you want the best value for money, we recommend buying chocolate or vanilla in bulk, as these are the only flavors that offer any significant savings when buying a larger package size. 

Conclusion

If you’re looking to buy a high-quality whey protein isolate, you can’t go wrong with Transparent Labs. This supplement ticks pretty much all the boxes, including high protein content, a great formula, and excellent flavor variety. The one concern here is the price, although we believe such a high-quality product is well worth the money. 

Overall, we strongly recommend Transparent Labs protein powder for anybody looking for a high-quality protein supplement. We hope our Transparent Labs protein reviews can help you make a more informed decision!

Are you interested in trying Transparent Labs grass-fed whey protein isolate? Do you use protein regularly, or are you looking to try it for the first time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Also read:

• Transparent Labs Bulk Pre Workout Review
• Whey vs Plant Protein
• Transparent Labs Mass Gainer Review
• Transparent Labs Bulk Pre Workout Review
• Transparent Labs Mass Gainer Review

References:

1. Recreation, “The Rundown on Protein Powders,” Georgia State University, https://recreation.gsu.edu/2023/03/31/the-rundown-on-protein-powders/ (Accessed February 4, 2024).
2. 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 February 4, 2024).
3. Informed Choice Certification Process, “Informed Choice: Four Steps to Certification,” INformed Choice https://choice.wetestyoutrust.com/about/certification-process (Accessed February 4, 2024).
4. Rumor Control, “Facts About Dietary Supplements,” FDA.gov, https://www.fda.gov/news-events/rumor-control/facts-about-dietary-supplements#:~:text=Fact%3A%20The%20FDA%20does%20not,after%20products%20enter%20the%20marketplace.  (Accessed February 4, 2024).
5. Trevor Hiltbrand, “The Truth about GMP Certifications for Supplements” Transparent Labs, https://www.transparentlabs.com/blogs/all/the-truth-about-gmp-certifications-for-supplements  (Accessed February 4, 2024).