It might be challenging to consume an adequate amount of protein through food alone. If you want to put on muscle and get stronger, taking protein supplements, particularly whey protein, can be of tremendous help to you in achieving your goals. We did extensive research and compiled the following list of the best hydrolyzed whey protein supplements for your needs. Check out the list below of our top picks of hydrolyzed whey proteins available on the market.
In a hurry?
In a hurry?
In a hurry and can’t keep reading? How about you check out the Optimum Nutrition Hydro Whey.
This low-calorie protein powder, which many users have said is rather easy to combine, comes from one of the most well-known brands of sports supplements. Platinum is the finest type of whey protein available and is a 100% hydrolyzed whey isolate.
Top 7 Best Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Powders Reviewed
1. Optimum Nutrition — Top Pick
- Diet Type (best for): Build Muscle, Recovery
- Suitable for Vegans: No
- Protein Source: Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate
- Serving size: 39 g
- Price per serving: ~$2.1
- Protein By Weight Ratio (%): 77%
- Proteins: 30 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fat: 1 g
- Added Sugar: 0 g
- Company Founded (year): 1986
- Recommended by Athletes: Tunde Oyeneyin, Clay Harbor
photo by dj_trevor_t_
This low-calorie protein powder, which many users have said is rather easy to combine, comes from one of the most well-known brands of sports supplements. Platinum is the finest type of whey protein available and is a 100% hydrolyzed whey isolate. Enzymes were utilized to pre-digest the product for subsequent processing of this form. This enables your body to absorb amino acids soon after an exercise much quicker.
Hydro is one of the purest types of whey protein. The main advantage of hydrolyzate is that it has the lowest amount of lactose when compared to other forms of whey protein powders, which can be less stressful for you GI tract.
Because of the high concentration of pre-digested protein in hydrolyzed rapid assimilating whey protein, the flavor is not always pleasant but Optimum has done an excellent job of it because the bitterness isn’t noticeable. This product delivers efficiency and flavor at an affordable price, if we consider the amount of protein per one serving.
Positives:
Great for many diet types because of the great macro profile
Great dose of glutamine peptides
Very tasty and mixable
Informed Choice Certified (tested for banned substances and contaminants)
Could be better:
Contains soy (which is not suitable for people with soy allergy) and artificial sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium (may not suit someone)
Only 2 flavors
2. Dymatize ISO100 — Runner Up
- Diet Type (best for): Build Muscle, Muscle Recovery, Cutting Weight
- Suitable for Vegans: No
- Protein Source: Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate
- Serving size: 30-32 g
- Price per serving: ~$1.3
- Protein By Weight Ratio (%): 78-83%
- Proteins: 25 g
- Carbohydrates: 1-2 g
- Fat: 0-0.5 g
- Added Sugar: 0 g
- Company Founded (year): 1994
- Recommended by Athletes: Kayla Demarco, Tasha Turnbull, Dani Speegle
photo by sydneydiauto
The most well-known supplement offered by the well-established brand Dymatize is their ISO100 brand of hydrolyzed whey.
Only 1-2 grams of carbohydrates, 0-0.5 grams of fat, and 25 grams of protein depending on the flavor, are included in one 30-32 gram scoop of ISO100. The carb and fat content is quite minimal which makes it an excellent choice. The first component stated, hydrolyzed whey, makes up the majority of this product. It is not a completely hydrolyzed product since part of the Whey Isolate is not hydrolyzed.
Along with water, this powder also tastes fantastic in milk. The drink has a smooth texture because of its excellent mixability profile and ability to dissolve entirely.
A hydrolyzed product is not necessary for everyone to spend a lot of money on, but if you're an athlete, it's definitely one to think about. When your muscles require amino acids, ISO100 makes sure they get to them quickly. This high-quality product also provides everything you need at a very reasonable cost. It is very easy to mix, tastes fantastic in milk or water, has zero or almost zero fat and up to 2 g of carbohydrates.
Positives:
Informed Choice certified (tested for banned substances and contaminants)
- Zero or 0.5 g fat, low carb content per serving
- Variety of flavors
Could be better:
Takes a bit more mixing to get a smooth texture
- Diet Type (best for): Cutting weight, Recovery, Build Muscle
- Suitable for Vegans: No
- Protein Source: Grass-Fed Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate
- Serving size: 33-34 g
- Price per serving: ~$1.55
- Protein By Weight Ratio (%): 73.5-76%
- Proteins: 25 g
- Carbohydrates: <1 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Added Sugar: 0 g
- Company Founded (year): 2016
- Recommended by Athletes: Sascha Barboza
photo by get_fun_be_fit
This product is a protein powder of the highest possible quality, and it has a fantastic taste and is simple to combine. It assists in the growth of muscle and complements your diet.
If you want to improve your body composition, Sascha protein isolate is the perfect hydrolyzed protein powder to use. It includes less than 1g of carbohydrates, which makes keeping track of your daily carb consumption much simpler. If you follow a keto diet, this protein can be considered as one of the suitable options. The flavor of this whey protein is definitely the nicest thing about it.
Positives:
7 flavors including an unflavored option
Zero fat and less than 1 g of carbs in serving
Contains 26g of protein
Could be better:
Price per serving slightly higher than ISO
Lower sodium content compared to others
Only 2.17lb container available
- Diet Type (best for): Build muscle
- Suitable for Vegans: No
- Protein Source: Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate, Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate
- Serving size: 38-40 g
- Price per serving: ~$1.27
- Protein By Weight Ratio (%): 60-83%
- Proteins: 24 g
- Carbohydrates: 6-7 g
- Fat: 4-4.5 g
- Added Sugar: 1-2 g (based on flavor)
- Company Founded (year): 2001
- Recommended by Athletes: Dr. Teddy Willsey, Lizzie Martinez, Scott Herman
photo by kw_fitness89
With its iridescent crimson tub and dazzling metallic label, BSN Syntha-6 Edge looks very flashy. Although BSN sells a wide variety of powders and protein bars, its Syntha-6 Edge protein powder is on of their best-known product.
A respectable 24 grams of protein and 6-7 grams of carbohydrates are included in one scoop. A scoop contains 4-4.5 grams of fat as well. This product has a much higher content of carbs and fat compared to other protein powders on the market but it’s great for people who are struggling to gain weight.
This product's protein blend incorporates a variety of ingredients which are combined in a protein matrix. Whey Concentrate, Whey Isolate, Calcium Caseinate, Micellar Casein, Milk Protein Isolate, are all components of its protein matrix. The combination of whey and casein provides a protein that is quickly absorbed as well as a longer-lasting delayed release protein through the casein component. This would make it the ideal supplement for use after an evening workout!
Among protein powders, the BSN Syntha-6 Edge has one of the finest flavors and mixes easily with both water and milk.
Positives:
Excellent flavor and mixability
Reasonable price per serving
Great for bulking and gaining weight
Could be better:
A bit higher on carbs and fats than other products on our list
Not perfect for weight loss
5. Muscle Feast
- Diet Type (best for): Recovery, Build muscle, Weight loss
- Suitable for Vegans: No
- Protein Source: Hydrolyzed Whey Protein
- Serving size: 28 g
- Price per serving: ~$1.17
- Protein By Weight Ratio (%): 82%
- Proteins: 23 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fat: 1.6 g
- Added Sugar: 0 g
- Company Founded (year): 2009
- Recommended by Athletes: Jake Brog, Greg Wayne
photo by thepowerliftingff
People have a tendency to store up on some of this finest hydrolyzed whey protein isolate since it is available in two of the most wanted flavors on the market, chocolate and vanilla.
Muscle Feast hydrolyzed whey protein isolate is compliant with GMPs and the FDA regulations. Their hydro whey isolate does not include fillers and does not contain gluten. Stevia is used to add sweetness to it.
The only thing that you need to keep in mind is that in order to properly dissolve the whey protein isolate powder, you might need to give it quite a lengthy shake.
Positives:
Good price
No additives, sweeteners and no artificial flavors (for those who prefer such products)
Available in the most popular flavors on the market, chocolate and vanilla
Could be better:
Only 2 flavors available
Harder to mix in a standard shaker
- Diet Type (best for): Cutting, Recovery, Build Muscle
- Suitable for Vegans: No
- Protein Source: Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate
- Serving size: 30 g
- Price per serving: ~$1.45
- Protein By Weight Ratio (%): 87%
- Proteins: 26 g
- Carbohydrates: 0 g
- Fat: <1 g
- Added Sugar: 0 g
- Company Founded (year): 2012
- Recommended by Athletes: Holly Hines, Nick Darrow, Chandler Shroll
photo by miss_fit_life
Bulk Supplements isolate has a total of 110 calories, with 26 grams of protein, zero carbs, and a negligible amount of fat. You are responsible for determining how much 30 grams are because the package doesn’t include a scoop.
Since it is a hydrolyzed whey protein isolate, this product has no carbs and almost zero lipid content. Isolates go through a greater amount of processing than whey concentrate, which is produced at a lower cost but has more fat and carbohydrates. And hydro whey contains even less fat than isolate.
This product is made with the cGMP standards which ensures that the manufacturing process including the packaging, labeling and holding operations are of the highest quality.
It is an unflavored hydrolyzed whey protein kind of whey protein, so it is perfect for mixing in with other foods in order to increase the amount of protein you consume throughout the day.
Positives:
Versatile MACRO breakdown, suitable for any goal or diet
Good price for protein per serving
One of the best hydrolyzed whey protein isolate doses per serving
Made without any additives
Could be better:
Doesn’t come with a 30g scoop
- Diet Type (best for): Cutting Weight, Recovery, Build Muscle
- Suitable for Vegans: No
- Protein Source: Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate
- Serving size: 30 g
- Price per serving: ~$1
- Protein By Weight Ratio (%): 83%
- Proteins: 25 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fat: 0.5 g
- Added Sugar: 0 g
- Company Founded (year): 1999
- Recommended by Athletes: Jodie Yuncker, Maggy Kheir Thistlethwaite, Rebecca Rouse
BodyBuilding.com, which is the largest fitness website in the world, also offers customers a wide variety of dietary supplements to choose from. If you are interested in fitness and have ever looked for supplements or advice on food and exercise online, then you are definitely already familiar with them.
BodyBuilding.com's Signature 100% Whey Protein comes in at the upper end with 25 grams of protein per serving, which is excellent to see because a reasonable range of protein per serving that you want to focus on is about 20-25 grams per scoop.
In addition, this product has an excellent balance of carbohydrates and fat, which is sometimes rather difficult to achieve.
The flavor of the product is also determined by the amount of carbohydrates and fat that it contains, and this particular one has a wonderful flavor. They did an excellent job with the overall flavor, and the five-pound container of powder will be used up pretty fast because it is really simple to make wonderful muscle-building smoothies and other snacks using it.
While the powder in certain products clumps together, the worst thing that can happen is that you wind up having to chew your protein drink because you get these enormous pieces of protein when you are trying to guzzle down a shake. The Signature 100% Whey Protein powder, on the other hand, is not like that at all. It has a good capacity to mix, and all you need to do to get it to combine in cold water is shake it for about ten to fifteen seconds.
Positives:
Lowest price per serving protein on our list
Very tasty and flavorful
Easily mixable
Could be better:
Hard to get because it’s often unavailable
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What is Hydrolyzed Whey Protein?
Hydrolyzed whey protein is a type of processing method that is undertaken to break down the proteins found in Whey Protein Concentrate or Whey Protein Isolate into short chain peptides (often described as ‘pre-digested’) with claims of faster uptake. Hydrolyzed whey protein is often used by athletes and bodybuilders to help build and repair muscle tissue after strenuous exercise, who also wish to avoid problems with lactose digestion. The whey concentrate usually contains a significant amount of lactose, the isolate - less or zero lactose, and the hydrolyzed protein - the least or zero lactose.
Whey Hydrolyzate is the purest, most bioavailable and easily absorbed form of whey protein. (although the most expensive).
Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Benefits
Quick Absorption
The key feature of the hydrolyzate protein is the maximum speed of its absorption. Because the protein has been broken down into smaller peptides, it does not require a lot of digestion. This means that the amino acids from the protein are available to the body very quickly, which can be helpful for muscle building and recovery.
High Quality Protein Source
Promotes Lean Muscle Mass
Help Support Weight Loss
How to Find the Best Hydrolyzed Whey Protein?
Protein Per Serving
Your need for a significant amount of whey protein per day will increase as your total muscle mass increases and your training intensity increases, so the amount of protein you get per serving is one of the main things to look at when buying a hydrolyzed protein powder. Another thing to take into account is the protein source. Whey protein powder typically has more protein per serving than plant-based protein powders and more BCAA.
FAQs
Which is Better Whey Isolate or Hydrolyzed?
One of the cleanest and best form of whey protein is whey hydrolyzed protein. It is the market's most readily bioavailable, digestible, and assimilated type of whey protein.
When should I take hydrolyzed whey protein?
Although whey hydrolysate can be ingested at any time of the day, many individuals take it before and after workouts. Pre-exercise whey consumption guarantees that there will be a sufficient supply of amino acids in the blood during the workout. By optimizing the anabolic response to exercise and boosting muscle development, consuming it post-workout enables you to accelerate recuperation. Whey protein supplements are an excellent way to increase your muscle mass as well as help your muscles recover after a hard workout, and hydrolyzed protein supplements are best for people who are having issues with lactose.
Conclusion
Overall, hydrolyzed whey protein is a useful supplement for athletes and bodybuilders, especially for people with severe lactose intolerance. It is easily absorbed by the body and can help support muscle growth and recovery as well as help you with weight management. One of the best hydrolyzed whey proteins and our top pick for this list is the Optimum Nutrition Hydrolyzed Whey Protein and we recommend it for your daily protein needs.
Let us know your thoughts about these hydrolyzed whey proteins in the comment section below. Do you like any of them or do you have a completely different “go to” protein that you love?
References:
- Hydrolyzed Protein Formulas Versus Whey Protein Concentrate // SDC Nutrition: https://cutt.ly/f0URk52
- Whey protein hydrolysate supplementation accelerates recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage in females // PubMed:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29106812/
Oleksandr is a professional fitness nutritionist, certified by FPA (Fitness Professional Association). Oleksandr adheres to the principles of evidence-based dietetics and instills in his clients a healthy relationship with food - without strict prohibitions on favorite foods and regular disruptions. His main task – not only get a result for you, but also maintain it for many years, enjoying tasty and delicious food.