6 Best Protein Powders for Weight Gain in 2025

The Fast Facts

• Protein powders can assist in increasing calorie intake and supporting muscle growth.
• Our dietitians selected 6 top protein powders for gaining weight based on ingredient quality and other factors.
• Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass Protein Powder is our top recommendation for weight gain in competitive athletes.

Quick look at the best protein powders for weight gain

Mass gainer powders, sometimes referred to as weight gain powders, are formulated specifically for athletes and lifters who want to add mass, particularly lean muscle.

Compared with regular protein powders, they deliver a dense source of calories from high-quality proteins, fats, and carbs, making it simpler to raise daily calorie totals without ingesting large amounts of solid food. The carbohydrate-to-protein balance also helps sustain energy and supports recovery and performance.

Below are the top mass gainer protein powders, as recommended by our dietitians.

Pricing guide

• $ = under $3 per serving
• $$ = $3 to $5 per serving
• $$$ = over $5 per serving

HealthEH’s picks of the best protein powders for weight gain

Best protein powder for weight gain for competitive athletes

Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass Protein Powder

• Protein type:whey, casein, egg
• Available flavors:Banana, Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Vanilla, Strawberry
• Price:$$$

HealthEH’s review

Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass carries Informed Sport certification, which makes it a solid option for competitors who must avoid prohibited substances.

It also contains nearly double the calories per serving compared with its lower-calorie counterpart.

As with most mass gainers, the majority of calories in this formula are supplied by carbohydrates — this product contains over 250 g of carbs per serving.

There are five flavor choices, each sweetened with acesulfame potassium and sucralose.

Pros & cons

• various flavor choices
• enriched with 25 vitamins and minerals
• produced in Informed Choice- and Informed Sport-registered facilities

• includes two artificial sweeteners
• pricey
• may overlap with those already taking a multivitamin

• various flavor choices
• enriched with 25 vitamins and minerals
• produced in Informed Choice- and Informed Sport-registered facilities

• includes two artificial sweeteners
• pricey
• may overlap with those already taking a multivitamin

Product details

• Number of servings :8 per container
• Serving size :2 scoops (340 g)
• Certifications :Informed Choice Certified
• Nutrition stats per serving :(Chocolate) Calories: 1,260, Total carbs: 251 g, Added sugar: 8 g, Fat: 6 g, Protein: 50 g

• Number of servings :8 per container
• Serving size :2 scoops (340 g)
• Certifications :Informed Choice Certified
• Nutrition stats per serving :(Chocolate) Calories: 1,260, Total carbs: 251 g, Added sugar: 8 g, Fat: 6 g, Protein: 50 g

Best vegan protein powder for weight gain over 1,000 calories

Naked Mass Vegan Protein Powder

• Protein type:pea, brown rice
• Available flavors:Chocolate, Double Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Vanilla, Unflavored
• Price:$$$

HealthEH’s review

For those seeking to load calories with a plant-based mass gainer, Naked Mass delivers 1,230 calories and 50 g of plant protein per serving. It’s vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and soy-free.

Unlike several powders on this list, Naked Mass uses sugar (coconut sugar) for sweetness. That makes it a good choice for people who dislike the aftertaste of artificial sweeteners.

Furthermore, all Naked products undergo third-party testing by Eurofins Scientific and are made in CGMP-certified facilities.

Pros & cons

• third-party tested for purity and potency
• available in both flavored and unflavored versions
• simple ingredient list
• certified vegan and gluten-free

• costly

• third-party tested for purity and potency
• available in both flavored and unflavored versions
• simple ingredient list
• certified vegan and gluten-free

• costly

Product details

• Number of servings :17 per container
• Serving size :7 scoops (315 g)
• Certifications :certified vegan, certified gluten-free, third-party tested
• Nutrition stats per serving :(Unflavored) Calories: 1,230, Total carbs: 248 g, Added sugar: 0 g, Fat: 4 g, Protein: 50 g

• Number of servings :17 per container
• Serving size :7 scoops (315 g)
• Certifications :certified vegan, certified gluten-free, third-party tested
• Nutrition stats per serving :(Unflavored) Calories: 1,230, Total carbs: 248 g, Added sugar: 0 g, Fat: 4 g, Protein: 50 g

Best vegan protein powder for weight gain under 1,000 calories

Iron Vegan Athlete’s Gainer

• Protein type:pea, brown rice
• Available flavors:Chocolate, Vanilla
• Price:$$

HealthEH’s review

Iron Vegan is a solid alternative for those seeking a vegan, somewhat lower-calorie weight gainer to support their mass-gaining goals.

This gainer delivers 42 g of protein from pea and brown rice in just 720 calories. It includes greens, fruit concentrates, plant oils, and sprouted grains and seeds, and is sweetened with stevia.

The product is gluten-free, non-GMO, and Informed Sport certified.

Pros & cons

• Informed Sport certified
• vegan-friendly
• budget-friendly
• naturally sweetened
• taste feedback is mixed

• only offered in two flavors

• Informed Sport certified
• vegan-friendly
• budget-friendly
• naturally sweetened
• taste feedback is mixed

• only offered in two flavors

Product details

• Number of servings :13 per container
• Serving size :2 scoops (190 g)
• Certifications :Informed Sport Certified, certified vegan, non-GMO
• Nutrition stats per serving :(Chocolate) Calories: 720, Total carbs: 120 g, Total sugar: 1 g, Added sugar: not listed, Fat: 8 g, Protein: 42 g

• Number of servings :13 per container
• Serving size :2 scoops (190 g)
• Certifications :Informed Sport Certified, certified vegan, non-GMO
• Nutrition stats per serving :(Chocolate) Calories: 720, Total carbs: 120 g, Total sugar: 1 g, Added sugar: not listed, Fat: 8 g, Protein: 42 g

Most flavor options

Rival Nutrition Clean Gainer

• Protein type:whey, casein
• Available flavors:Chocolate Fudge, Soft Serve Vanilla, Cookies and Cream, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Campfire Smores, Cinnamon Toast Cereal
• Price:$$

HealthEH’s review

Preferences for flavor vary: some prefer sweet, others prefer minimal flavor.

Among the powders we considered, Rival Nutrition Clean Gainer offers the greatest variety of flavors. Seven options are available — all sweetened with stevia and the artificial sweetener sucralose.

It is also the lowest in calories and protein on our list, providing 560 calories and 30 g of protein per serving, and includes healthy fats from flaxseed, avocado, and sunflower powders.

This product bears the Informed Choice seal and is third-party tested by Nutrivo, LLC.

Pros & cons

• third-party tested for purity and potency
• 7 flavor varieties
• reasonable price

• contains sucralose, which some prefer to avoid
• some flavors may be harder to source

• third-party tested for purity and potency
• 7 flavor varieties
• reasonable price

• contains sucralose, which some prefer to avoid
• some flavors may be harder to source

Product details

• Number of servings :30 per container
• Serving size :2 scoops (149 g)
• Certifications :Informed Choice Certified
• Nutrition stats per serving :(Chocolate Fudge) Calories: 560, Total carbs: 99 g, Added sugar: 4 g, Fat: 5 g, Protein: 30 g

• Number of servings :30 per container
• Serving size :2 scoops (149 g)
• Certifications :Informed Choice Certified
• Nutrition stats per serving :(Chocolate Fudge) Calories: 560, Total carbs: 99 g, Added sugar: 4 g, Fat: 5 g, Protein: 30 g

Best for lower carb, higher protein

Huel Black Edition Protein

• Protein type:pea
• Available flavors:Chocolate, Vanilla, Banana, Strawberry Shortcake, Coffee Caramel, Cookies and Cream, Salted Caramel, Cinnamon Roll, Unflavored and Unsweetened
• Price:$$

HealthEH’s review

This powder is marketed as a complete meal. It contains 27 vitamins and minerals and is gluten-free. With eight flavors that include caffeine, Huel aims to keep you full and alert.

Huel Black Edition has one of the lower protein amounts on our list, but dietitian Kelli McGrane notes, “40 g of protein (in [Huel’s] Black Edition) is a lot,” and may be sufficient for some people. She also points out that the macronutrient distribution in the Black Edition is less balanced than in Huel Original or Complete Protein products.

The notably lower carbohydrate content in the Black Edition — the lowest in our selection — could be preferable depending on your nutrition goals.

What our tester says

Tester JaTory Reid is a former collegiate athlete and currently a hybrid athlete. “My workout routine combines weightlifting five to six times weekly with distance running three times a week. Balancing these intense sessions with a full-time job is challenging, which makes proper nutrition essential,” he says.

At 6’4″, Reid needs to put effort into maintaining mass, so he sampled Huel’s Black Edition as an addition to his usual diet while training for a marathon.

He tested the Cinnamon Swirl flavor and enjoyed the taste but experienced mixing problems. “Even using the recommended serving and the supplied bottle, I had trouble getting the powder to dissolve. It clumped at the bottom, leaving an uneven, overly thick texture.”

Reid described the texture as “thick and a bit gritty,” something some might like for a meal-like shake. He prefers a smoother drink that doesn’t feel so heavy afterwards. Although the flavor was pleasant, the thickness wasn’t ideal for him.

Despite adding extra water and blending, Reid found the shake to be quite filling and noted he had to wait longer than usual before exercising due to the heaviness.

Ultimately, Reid reported positive results. “Compared with mass gainers, this meal replacement provided a strong sense of fullness and helped increase muscle mass. […] I was satisfied with the outcomes, especially given the 40 g of protein per serving, without gaining unwanted body fat.”

Tester JaTory Reid is a former collegiate athlete and currently a hybrid athlete. “My workout routine combines weightlifting five to six times weekly with distance running three times a week. Balancing these intense sessions with a full-time job is challenging, which makes proper nutrition essential,” he says.

At 6’4″, Reid needs to put effort into maintaining mass, so he sampled Huel’s Black Edition as an addition to his usual diet while training for a marathon.

He tested the Cinnamon Swirl flavor and enjoyed the taste but experienced mixing problems. “Even using the recommended serving and the supplied bottle, I had trouble getting the powder to dissolve. It clumped at the bottom, leaving an uneven, overly thick texture.”

Reid described the texture as “thick and a bit gritty,” something some might like for a meal-like shake. He prefers a smoother drink that doesn’t feel so heavy afterwards. Although the flavor was pleasant, the thickness wasn’t ideal for him.

Despite adding extra water and blending, Reid found the shake to be quite filling and noted he had to wait longer than usual before exercising due to the heaviness.

Ultimately, Reid reported positive results. “Compared with mass gainers, this meal replacement provided a strong sense of fullness and helped increase muscle mass. […] I was satisfied with the outcomes, especially given the 40 g of protein per serving, without gaining unwanted body fat.”

Pros & cons

• low in carbohydrates
• wide flavor selection
• reasonably priced

• our reviewer observed the powder didn’t dissolve well in the provided bottle and required blending
• not third-party tested

• low in carbohydrates
• wide flavor selection
• reasonably priced

• our reviewer observed the powder didn’t dissolve well in the provided bottle and required blending
• not third-party tested

Product details

• Number of servings :17 per container
• Serving size :2 scoops (90 g)
• Certifications :vegan, gluten-free, Certified B Corporation
• Nutrition stats per serving :(Unflavored and Unsweetened) Calories: 400, Total carbs: 15 g, Added sugar: <1 g, Fat: 18 g, Protein: 40 g

• Number of servings :17 per container
• Serving size :2 scoops (90 g)
• Certifications :vegan, gluten-free, Certified B Corporation
• Nutrition stats per serving :(Unflavored and Unsweetened) Calories: 400, Total carbs: 15 g, Added sugar: <1 g, Fat: 18 g, Protein: 40 g

Best mass gainer

Dymatize Super Mass Gainer

• Protein type:whey, casein
• Available flavors:Gourmet Vanilla, Rich Chocolate, Fruity Pebbles
• Price:$$$

HealthEH’s review

For people who struggle to eat enough to support weight gain, a high-calorie mass gainer can help. Dymatize Super Mass Gainer provides 1,280 calories per serving to make that easier.

It is third-party tested by Informed Choice to verify quality and label accuracy.

This product includes 1 g of creatine monohydrate per serving, which may be less than optimal for maximal effects, so you might consider supplementing additional creatine separately.

Like many mass gainers, this formula uses acesulfame potassium and sucralose for sweetness.

Pros & cons

• Informed Choice certified
• fortified with 12 vitamins and minerals

• contains artificial sweeteners
• may duplicate nutrients for those on multivitamins

• Informed Choice certified
• fortified with 12 vitamins and minerals

• contains artificial sweeteners
• may duplicate nutrients for those on multivitamins

Product details

• Number of servings :8 per container
• Serving size :2.5 cups (333 g)
• Certifications :Informed Choice Certified
• Nutrition stats per serving :(Gourmet Vanilla) Calories: 1,280, Total carbs: 245 g, Added sugar: 14 g, Fat: 10 g, Protein: 52 g

• Number of servings :8 per container
• Serving size :2.5 cups (333 g)
• Certifications :Informed Choice Certified
• Nutrition stats per serving :(Gourmet Vanilla) Calories: 1,280, Total carbs: 245 g, Added sugar: 14 g, Fat: 10 g, Protein: 52 g

How these protein powders compare

How we chose the best protein powders for weight gain

• Ingredient quality: We considered products using high-quality protein sources like whey, casein, egg, beef, pea, and brown rice.
• Transparency: We favored products that undergo testing to confirm label accuracy, preferably by independent third parties.
• Credibility: We selected brands that follow ethical, legal, and industry best practices.
• Nutritional quality: We included products with a range of calories, carbs, fats, and protein to suit different needs.
• Customer reviews: All chosen products have generally positive consumer feedback.
• Vetting results: Each product listed has been reviewed to meet HealthEH’s medical and business criteria. You can learn more about our vetting process.

What to look for in a mass gainer protein powder

• Is it third-party tested? To confirm a product contains what its label claims, opt for items verified by independent testers. Recognized testers include NSF International, Informed Choice, Eurofins Scientific, and Analytical Resource Laboratories. If a product lacks third-party testing, prefer one produced in a reputable facility, such as a CGMP  or UL certified plant.
• How many extra calories do you need? Consult a registered dietitian or healthcare professional to determine the additional calories needed daily to meet your weight goals.
• What is the serving size? Some powders are very concentrated while others require multiple scoops. Think about the volume you can realistically consume regularly.
• How is it sweetened? If you prefer natural sweeteners, choose products sweetened with stevia or real sugar rather than artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
• What is the protein source? High-quality protein sources include whey, casein, egg, beef, pea, and brown rice. Choose a vegan powder if you wish to avoid dairy or animal-derived ingredients.
• What is the nutrient profile? Mass gainers differ in protein, carb, and fat content. Pick a product that matches your dietary needs.
• What other ingredients does it contain? Some formulas include artificial colors, additives, and preservatives, which some people avoid; others add vitamins and minerals.

Learn more about selecting high-quality supplements.

How to use protein powder for weight gain

Mass gainer powders supply a substantial number of calories on their own. You can mix them with milk or blend into smoothies with fruits, vegetables, or nut butters for extra calories and nutrients.

Taking more than one serving daily can cause side effects like bloating and may reduce diet quality by displacing whole foods, which provide important nutrients.

Regarding timing, take a mass gainer when it fits best into your routine. If your goal is muscle growth, some evidence  suggests consuming protein soon after resistance training is beneficial.

Frequently asked questions about mass gainers

What protein powder is best for gaining weight?

Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass Protein Powder is our top pick for weight gain, particularly for competitive athletes. Still, any of the powders featured here can help you reach your weight goals.

Mass gainer powders are built for athletes and lifters aiming to grow lean muscle, so they’re especially useful for gaining weight. They offer a calorie-dense blend of proteins  and carbohydrates, making them more energy-rich than typical protein powders.

Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass Protein Powder is our top pick for weight gain, particularly for competitive athletes. Still, any of the powders featured here can help you reach your weight goals.

Mass gainer powders are built for athletes and lifters aiming to grow lean muscle, so they’re especially useful for gaining weight. They offer a calorie-dense blend of proteins  and carbohydrates, making them more energy-rich than typical protein powders.

What is the best protein intake for weight gain?

Recent research  indicates consuming at least 1.6 g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day may aid muscle building, especially with resistance training.

However, total calorie intake also matters, and those aiming to gain weight should increase overall energy intake.

Recent research  indicates consuming at least 1.6 g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day may aid muscle building, especially with resistance training.

However, total calorie intake also matters, and those aiming to gain weight should increase overall energy intake.

What are the side effects of protein powder for weight gain?

Protein powders are generally safe. However, if you’re allergic to an ingredient (for example, lactose), you could have a reaction. Always check the label of any powder you consider.

Exceeding recommended amounts may lead to digestive issues.

Protein powders are generally safe. However, if you’re allergic to an ingredient (for example, lactose), you could have a reaction. Always check the label of any powder you consider.

Exceeding recommended amounts may lead to digestive issues.

Can a skinny person gain weight with protein powder?

Protein powders can support muscle growth, so combined with a training program, they can help someone gain weight as muscle.

If someone drinks protein shakes regularly without exercising, the extra calories could lead to weight gain.

Protein powders can support muscle growth, so combined with a training program, they can help someone gain weight as muscle.

If someone drinks protein shakes regularly without exercising, the extra calories could lead to weight gain.

How much weight can the average person gain with protein powder?

A 2022 review  on weight gain guidance for athletes and military members suggests gaining about 1 pound of lean mass per week is achievable with:

• consistent resistance training
• an extra 300 to 500 calories per day, emphasizing energy-dense protein and carb sources

Research on intentional weight gain is limited. Outcomes vary by individual. It’s best to consult a healthcare professional for tailored guidance.

A 2022 review  on weight gain guidance for athletes and military members suggests gaining about 1 pound of lean mass per week is achievable with:

• consistent resistance training
• an extra 300 to 500 calories per day, emphasizing energy-dense protein and carb sources

Research on intentional weight gain is limited. Outcomes vary by individual. It’s best to consult a healthcare professional for tailored guidance.

The bottom line

If you’re struggling to gain weight, you may simply not be eating enough calories.

While you can meet calorie goals through whole foods alone, athletes and lifters aiming to add lean muscle may find mass gainer supplements helpful because they provide an easy way to achieve a calorie surplus.

To pick the right product, consider nutrition quality, serving size, available flavors, and whether it’s third-party tested. We also recommend consulting a qualified healthcare professional before adding a new supplement to your routine.