What’s the Best Protein Drink?

For most people, the best protein drink is fairlife Core Power 26g: 26 grams of milk protein, 170 calories and 5 grams of sugar in a lactose-free bottle. If you want more protein per dollar, Core Power Elite 42g is the better buy. If you’re watching calories, a 150-calorie shake like fairlife Nutrition Plan or Ensure Max Protein makes more sense.

That’s the short answer. The longer one depends on why you’re drinking it.

A protein drink for after the gym is a different job from one that replaces breakfast. It’s different again from one that helps an older parent keep weight on. Most “best of” lists give you the protein number and stop there. We think that’s only half the label.

So we lined up seven of the most popular ready-to-drink shakes in the US. We compared each one on protein, calories, sugar and cost per gram of protein, using the official nutrition labels. Then we picked a winner for each goal.

Quick picks

• Best overall: fairlife Core Power 26g
• Best high-protein: Core Power Elite 42g
• Best low-calorie: fairlife Nutrition Plan 30g
• Best low-sugar pick at the grocery store: Premier Protein 30g
• Best for older adults: Ensure Max Protein or BOOST High Protein
• Best plant-based: OWYN Pro Elite 32g
• Best for weight gain: BOOST Very High Calorie

A note on honesty: DrinkWorlds sells Core Power, Core Power Elite and BOOST. We don’t sell Premier Protein, Ensure, fairlife Nutrition Plan or OWYN. They’re included because they’re genuinely good options, and leaving them out would make this guide less useful to you.

Best Protein Drinks Compared: Protein, Sugar and Cost per Gram

BOOST High Protein is the cheapest protein per gram at 5 cents, while OWYN Pro Elite costs the most at 13 cents. All figures are per bottle, from each brand’s nutrition label.

Protein drink	Size	Protein	Calories	Sugar	Price per bottle	Cost per gram	Best for
fairlife Core Power 26g (Chocolate)	14 oz	26 g	170	5 g	$2.67	10.3¢	Everyday and post-workout
Core Power Elite 42g (Vanilla)	14 oz	42 g	230	8 g	$3.58	8.5¢	Heavy training, big appetites
fairlife Nutrition Plan 30g (Chocolate)	11.5 oz	30 g	150	2 g	$3.22	10.7¢	Weight loss, low calorie
Premier Protein 30g (Chocolate)	11.5 oz	30 g	160	1 g	$2.97	9.9¢	Low sugar, easy to find
Ensure Max Protein (Milk Chocolate)	11 oz	30 g	150	1 g	$2.50	8.3¢	Older adults, low sugar
BOOST High Protein (Rich Chocolate)	8 oz	20 g	240	11 g	$1.00	5.0¢	Budget, meal support
OWYN Pro Elite 32g (Vanilla)	12 oz	32 g	200	0 g	$4.17	13.0¢	Plant-based, dairy-free

Prices checked on 29 Oct 2026: Core Power, Core Power Elite and BOOST at DrinkWorlds (12- and 24-packs); Premier Protein at H-E-B (single); Ensure Max at Target (4-pack); fairlife Nutrition Plan at Walmart (18-pack); OWYN at OWYN (12-pack). Core Power nutrition from the label; Core Power Elite from H-E-B; BOOST from Walmart. Prices change often.

How to read cost per gram: it’s the bottle price divided by its grams of protein. It’s the fairest way to compare a 20g bottle with a 42g one, because a cheap bottle with little protein isn’t really cheap.

The Best Protein Drink for Each Goal

1. Best overall: fairlife Core Power 26g

Core Power gets the balance right. You get 26g of protein, 170 calories and 5g of sugar, with 0g of added sugar. It’s made from ultra-filtered milk, so it’s lactose-free, and it tastes like a milkshake rather than a supplement.

That combination is why Core Power also tops the lists at Food Network and FitnessVolt. Milk protein is a complete protein, with all nine essential amino acids your muscles need to recover.

• Good for: post-workout recovery, a mid-afternoon snack, a lighter breakfast
• Watch out for: at 14 oz it’s a big bottle; it isn’t suitable for a dairy allergy (lactose-free is not dairy-free)
• Flavors: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry banana
• Shop: Core Power 26g Chocolate 12-pack

2. Best high-protein: Core Power Elite 42g

If one bottle needs to do a lot of work, this is it. Elite packs 42g of protein into the same 14 oz bottle, for 230 calories and 0g of added sugar.

It’s also better value than regular Core Power. The chocolate 12-pack works out to about 7 cents per gram of protein, against roughly 10 cents for the 26g version. You pay a bit more per bottle but get 60% more protein.

• Good for: lifters, people with big daily protein targets, anyone replacing a meal
• Watch out for: 42g is more than most people need in one sitting; split it if it feels heavy
• Shop: Core Power Elite 42g 12-packs

3. Best low-calorie: fairlife Nutrition Plan 30g

This is fairlife’s lighter shake. It has 30g of protein in only 150 calories, with 2g of sugar and 4g of carbs, according to fairlife. That’s just 5 calories per gram of protein, which is hard to beat.

It’s a smart choice if you’re cutting calories and want something that keeps you full. It is sweetened with monk fruit, sucralose, acesulfame potassium and stevia, so skip it if you avoid artificial sweeteners.

4. Best grocery-store pick: Premier Protein 30g

Premier Protein is everywhere, and the numbers are solid: 30g of protein, 160 calories, 1g of sugar and 3g of fiber (H-E-B label). At about $2.97 a bottle, it’s around 10 cents per gram.

In TODAY’s blind taste test, Premier scored lower than Core Power on taste and texture. It’s a good, easy-to-find option, but not the best-tasting one.

5. Best for older adults: Ensure Max Protein or BOOST High Protein

Older adults often need more protein to protect muscle but have smaller appetites. Smaller bottles help.

Ensure Max Protein gives 30g of protein in an 11 oz carton with 150 calories and 1g of sugar (label). BOOST High Protein is a smaller 8 oz bottle with 20g of protein, 240 calories and 27 vitamins and minerals. BOOST has more calories and sugar (11g), which suits someone who needs to keep weight on.

BOOST is also the cheapest protein in this guide: a 24-pack is $23.99 at DrinkWorlds, or about $1 a bottle and 5 cents per gram.

6. Best plant-based: OWYN Pro Elite 32g

If you can’t have dairy, OWYN is the strongest option here. Each bottle has 32g of protein from pea and pumpkin seed, 200 calories and 0g of sugar (OWYN). Its ingredient list has no milk, soy or wheat, but check the label if you have a serious allergy.

The trade-off is price. At about $4.17 a bottle, it’s the most expensive drink per gram in this guide.

7. Best for weight gain: BOOST Very High Calorie

Most protein drinks are built to be light. This one is built to add calories. Each 8 oz bottle has 530 calories and 22g of protein (Walmart listing), so it’s a mini meal in a few sips.

It’s often used by people who are underweight, recovering from illness, or eating very little. If that’s your situation, check with your doctor or dietitian about how many to drink. You can buy the BOOST Very High Calorie 24-pack at DrinkWorlds.

How to Choose the Right Protein Drink

Pick by your goal first, then check five things on the label. It takes about 30 seconds in the store.

1. Protein: 20g to 30g covers most people. Around 20g works for a snack. 30g or more makes sense after a hard workout or when the drink replaces a meal. Active people need about 1.4 to 2.0g of protein per kg of body weight a day, according to the International Society of Sports Nutrition position cited by FitnessVolt.
2. Sugar: under 10g per bottle. The American Heart Association suggests women keep added sugar to about 25g a day and men to 36g, as MyFitnessPal notes. One sugary shake can use up half of that. Look for “0g added sugars” on the label.
3. Calories: match them to the job. A post-workout shake can sit at 150 to 230 calories. A meal replacement or a weight-gain drink can run 240 to 530.
4. Protein source: milk, whey or a plant blend. Milk and whey are complete proteins. Ultra-filtered milk (as in fairlife) is lactose-free. If you’re dairy-free, look for a pea blend like OWYN’s.
5. Cost per gram, not cost per bottle. Divide the price by the grams of protein. A $1 bottle with 20g (5 cents per gram) can be better value than a $3 bottle with 26g (about 11 cents per gram).

Buy by the case if you drink them often. Single bottles cost the most. A 12- or 24-pack almost always costs less per bottle, and shelf-stable shakes keep for months unopened. Check the best-by date on the case when it arrives.

Protein Drink FAQs

What is the healthiest protein drink?

The healthiest protein drink is one with at least 20g of protein, under 10g of sugar and a short ingredient list. Of the drinks above, fairlife Nutrition Plan, Ensure Max Protein and Premier Protein have the least sugar (1g to 2g). Core Power has 5g and no added sugar.

Is it OK to drink a protein shake every day?

Yes, for most healthy adults one protein shake a day is fine if it fits your calorie and protein needs. It should add to real meals, not replace all of them. People with kidney disease should talk to their doctor before raising their protein intake.

When is the best time to drink a protein drink?

The best time is when it helps you hit your daily protein total. After a workout is popular because it supports muscle recovery. A shake at breakfast or mid-afternoon can also keep you full until your next meal.

Which protein drink is best for weight loss?

For weight loss, choose a high-protein, low-calorie shake. fairlife Nutrition Plan (30g protein, 150 calories) and Ensure Max Protein (30g, 150 calories) are the strongest picks here. Protein helps you feel full, which makes it easier to eat less.

Are protein drinks better than protein powder?

Not better, just more convenient. Powder usually costs less per serving and lets you control the mix. Ready-to-drink shakes need no shaker, no water and no cleanup, which is why many people keep a case at work or in the car.

Is Core Power or Premier Protein better?

Core Power is made from ultra-filtered milk, tastes more like a milkshake and is lactose-free. Premier Protein has less sugar (1g vs 5g) and fewer calories (160 vs 170). Choose Core Power for taste and recovery, Premier for the lowest sugar.

Do protein drinks expire?

Yes. Shelf-stable shakes usually last several months unopened; check the best-by date on the bottle. Once opened, refrigerate and finish within a day or as the label directs.

The Bottom Line

There’s no single best protein drink for everyone, but there is a best one for you. For most people, fairlife Core Power 26g is the easiest place to start: good protein, low sugar and a taste you’ll actually want again tomorrow.

Need more protein? Go for Core Power Elite 42g. Cutting calories? Try a 150-calorie shake like fairlife Nutrition Plan or Ensure Max. Buying for a parent or on a tight budget? BOOST High Protein gives you the most protein for your money.

Whichever you choose, buy by the case to bring the price per bottle down. DrinkWorlds ships Core Power, Core Power Elite and BOOST nutritional drinks across the US in 1 to 2 business days, with free shipping on orders over $35.