Mass Gainers: 10 Best Protein Powders For Weight Gain
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Have you been looking for a weight gain supplement that can help you gain mass quickly and safely? If so, then you’re in the right place!
In this guide, we’re going to share our top picks for best protein powders for weight gain in different categories, as well as our pick for the overall best option under 1,000 calories and the best option over 1,000 calories.
Why you should trust us
I’ve been a personal trainer for nearly two decades and have helped countless clients with their supplementation goals. When evaluating these mass gainers, I look for reputable brands with high quality standards and particularly those that don’t use artificial sweeteners, coloring, or preservatives. Furthermore, we’ve had out resident Registered Nutritionist, Matt McLeod, review this info for accuracy and clarity.
Here are our quick answers:
- Overall Best Protein Powder For Weight Gain Under 1,000 Calories Per Serving: Transparent Labs Mass Gainer
- Overall Best Protein Powder For Weight Gain 1,000 Calories Per Serving: Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass
- Best Affordable Protein Powder For Weight Gain Under 1,000 Calories Per Serving: CytoSport Muscle Milk Gainer
- Best Affordable Protein Powder For Weight Gain Over 1,000 Calories Per Serving: Dymatize Super Mass Gainer
- Best Vegan Protein Powder For Weight Gain: Vegan Naked Mass
- Best Protein Powder For Weight Gain With Creatine: MuscleMeds Carnivor Mass Beef Protein
Now let’s get into the details about our picks and why. Stay to the end if you want to learn a bit more about mass gainers and using protein powder for weight gain – and see some frequently asked questions!
Note: Pricing is subject to change or may vary based on where you purchase and current sales.
Overall Best Protein Powder For Weight Gain Under 1,000 Calories Per Serving
PRICE
QUALITY
FLAVORS
OVERALL
Pros
- No GMOs
- Great taste profile
- Subscribe and save option is great
Cons
- Pricey at $80
- Limited flavor options
Calories per serving: 760
Carbs: 109g
Fat: 12g
Protein: 53g
Protein source: Grass-Fed Whey Protein
Flavors: Sweet Vanilla, Chocolate Glazed Donut
Largest tub size: 6.18 lbs (2.8 kg)
Servings per container: 15
Cost per serving: $4.67
Transparent Labs Overview
Transparent Lab’s Mass Gainer is our top pick for a few reasons. First, the supplement is sweetened with stevia and monk fruit, so you don’t have the fake sugars that many mass gainers and protein powders contain. The carbohydrate sources are oats, sweet potatoes, and organic tapioca, which are also more natural.
Additionally, there are no artificial preservatives or coloring, and it’s gluten-free and non-GMO, making it a healthier option for your bulk.
The company itself is also reputable. Transparent Labs is a well-known brand for health supplements and bases its products on science, hard evidence, and unbiased studies.
Their independent advisory board includes personal trainers, clinical physiologists, medical doctors, and registered dieticians, so you know you’re getting a product with experts behind it.Add in their 60-day money-back guarantee, and you can see why this is Fitness Mentors’ top choice!
Overall Best Protein Powder For Weight Gain Over 1,000 Calories Per Serving
PRICE
QUALITY
FLAVORS
OVERALL
Pros
- High calorie formula
- Great taste profile
- Highly competitive pricing
Cons
- Complaints about lumping are frequent
- High sugar content at 29g a serving
Calories per serving: 1,250
Carbs: ~254g
Fat: ~4g
Protein: 50g
Protein source: Whey, Calcium Caseinate & Egg Whites
Flavors: Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Strawberry, Vanilla
Largest tub size: 12 lbs (5.44kg)
Servings per container: 16
Cost per serving: $4.75
Optimum Nutrition overview
Optimum Nutrition is a brand built on using the highest quality raw ingredients in a state-of-the-art approach. Each product is tested and retested to ensure you know what’s going into your body.
The company’s Serious Mass product is our top choice overall for over 1,000 calories per serving protein powder because of the quality of what’s in it, including the addition of 25 vitamins and essential minerals.
The powder is also great mixed with other foods and liquids to add more flavor and calories, like fruits, milk, and nut butters – giving you endless options for a great meal
Optimum Nutrition has been another trusted source of supplements for myself and clients for many years. Their Serious Mass gainer is a great choice if you’re looking to maximize calories in a post workout shake, or simply trying to bump your calories overall. I’ve used Serious Mass with good success over the years, and as long as you’re training hard and recovering well, it can be a great addition to a bulk.
Best Affordable Protein Powder For Weight Gain Under 1,000 Calories Per Serving
PRICE
QUALITY
FLAVORS
OVERALL
Pros
- Best budget mass gainer
- Lactose free
Cons
- Complaints about flavors are common
- Low protein compared to other brands
Calories per serving: 650
Carbs: 109g
Fat: 9g
Protein: 32g
Protein source: Milk protein isolate, caseins, whey protein
Flavors: Cookies & Creme, Vanilla Creme, Chocolate
Largest tub size: 5 lb (2.27 kg)
Servings per container: 14
Cost per serving: $2.78
CytoSport overview
Despite proteins derived from dairy, this gainer is actually lactose-free and includes 20 vitamins and minerals, including calcium and electrolytes.
Muscle Milk Gainer contains a special Protein System that combines proteins from multiple sources to deliver them to your body over an extended period. These include faster-acting whey proteins and slower acting casein proteins to provide longer term gaining potential.
If you’re not looking to break the bank, this is a great choice for your gaining goals.
The MuscleMilk gainer is usually my top choice for affordable mass gainers, and almost always my recommendation for anybody looking for a lactose-free alternative. I’ve always enjoyed their flavors and this mass gainer has great mixability. I’ve recommended it many times over!
Best Affordable Protein Powder For Weight Gain Over 1,000 Calories Per Serving
PRICE
QUALITY
FLAVORS
OVERALL
Pros
- Great budget calorie powder
- Makes you full quickly
Cons
- Common complaints about sludge-like thickness
- Taste is often a customer complaint
Calories per serving: 1280
Carbs: 252g
Fat: 4.5g
Protein: 50g
Protein source: Whey, casein, egg
Flavors: Rich Chocolate, Gourmet Vanilla, Cookies & Cream
Largest tub size: 6 lbs (2.7kg)
Servings per container: 16
Cost per serving: $2.68
Dymatize overview
Dymatize focuses on a special high-quality blend of complex carbohydrates to help build mass and keep your energy up.
Each serving also includes 17g of BCAAs (Branched-Chain Amino Acids) as well as 7.7g of L-Leucine, an amino acid that helps activate protein synthesis in your muscles.
The flavors are delicious (our favorite is the Rich Chocolate), and the product mixes very well with both milk and water. In fact, mixing it with 32 ounces of whole milk will increase your calorie count to 1900 per serving if you are in need of a bit extra.
So if you’re looking for some hefty calories and carbs, but want the lower cost, Dymatize Super Mass Gainer is a great choice.
Dymatize is my no-brainer for a cost effective high-calorie mass gainer. It’s my recommendation for bulking on a budget. Dymatize is dedicated to being evidence-based, and I trust the brand. I’ve only tried the chocolate and cookies and cream, and they were fantastic!
Best Vegan Protein Powder For Weight Gain
PRICE
QUALITY
FLAVORS
OVERALL
Pros
- Free of many allergens like dairy and gluten
- GMO free
Cons
- High sugar content
- Vegan option makes it pricey
Calories per serving: 1,230
Carbs: 248g
Fat: 4g
Protein: 50g
Protein source: Pea protein and brown rice protein
Flavors: Chocolate and Vanilla
Largest tub size: 8 lb (3.63 kg)
Servings per container: 11
Cost per serving: $5.91
Vegan Naked Mass overview
Naked Nutrition’s Vegan Naked Mass combines pea protein and brown rice protein to give you a completely plant-based blend for your bulking goals.
We like this product because in addition to being vegan, it’s also free of artificial ingredients. You can count the ingredients on one hand, and they’re all recognizable – while still including all 9 essential amino acids.
In addition, if you’re environmentally conscientious, the farming practices used to create the product are sustainable, which sets it apart from other vegan protein powders.
For vegan clients or friends, Naked Mass is almost always my first recommendation. I trust the brand, and they use quality sources of protein. It’s a bit more expensive, but many vegan products are! I wish they had more flavors, but both chocolate and vanilla are tasty.
Best Protein Powder For Weight Gain With Lower Carbs
PRICE
QUALITY
FLAVORS
OVERALL
Pros
- Free of many allergens like dairy and gluten
- GMO free
Cons
- High sugar content
- Vegan option makes it pricey
Calories per serving: 650
Carbs: 85g
Fat: 9g
Protein: 60g
Protein source: Whey and casein
Flavors: Double Chocolate and Vanilla Custard
Largest tub size: 10 lb
Servings per container: 28
Cost per serving: $3.68
Best Protein Powder For Weight Gain With Creatine
PRICE
QUALITY
FLAVORS
OVERALL
Pros
- Free of many allergens like dairy and gluten
- GMO free
Cons
- High sugar content
- Vegan option makes it pricey
Calories per serving: 720
Carbs: 125g
Fat: 2.5g
Protein: 50g
Protein source: Beef protein isolate
Flavors: Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Fudge, Vanilla Caramel and Strawberry
Largest tub size: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Servings per container: 14
Cost per serving: $3.62
Carnivor Mass overview
Most gainer powders have triple-digit carb content, so if you’re looking to bulk up with a lower ratio, this may be the option for you.
With a 65:85 protein to carb ratio and low added sugars, these shakes are a great supplement to a balanced diet. They even include a lot of extra vitamins and minerals to make the calories count!
Creatine is a substance that’s found naturally in the body, and it’s also available in supplement form. It’s often used by athletes and bodybuilders to improve performance and increase muscle mass.
Creatine works by supplying energy to the muscles, which can help improve strength and power. It may also help reduce fatigue during exercise.
MuscleMeds Carnivor Mass Beef Protein is loaded up with creatine as well as blocked-chain amino acids your muscles need. With four flavors to choose from, it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a weight gain protein powder with creatine.
However, it’s important to note that not everyone responds to creatine supplements in the same way. Some people may see no benefit from taking it, while others may experience side effects.
Carnivor Mass is often my first recommendation when friends or clients are seeking a low or no sugar option. It also has a ton of protein per serving, making a good choice for high protein bulks. I’ve noticed the flavors can have meat-like aftertaste at times, but Muscle Meds does a good job making it taste good. I also found it kept me full for quite a while.
Mass Gainer Alternatives
The below mass gainers are also worth mentioning but didn’t quite make our top picks for some of the more popular classifications around price, calories, creatine, or vegan options. This doesn’t mean they are not great options, as they all come from reputable sources and we still highly recommend them.
Best Protein Powder For Weight Gain For Competitive Sports
Calories per serving: 750-770
Carbs: 109-116g
Fat: 9-10g
Protein: 55g
Protein source: Whey and isolates
Flavors: Colossal Chocolate, Vanilla Ice Cream
Largest tub size: 10.29 lb (4.67 kg)
Servings per container: 23
Cost per serving: $3.91
When it comes to competitive sports, it’s especially important to know what’s going into your body.
Gold Standard Gainer is banned substance tested, so you can be assured it’s acceptable to take if you’re involved in competition.
This powder contains complete dairy proteins from mainly isolates and oat, pea and potato carbohydrates. Included fats come from flax, chia & MCTs for added benefits.
If you need a protein powder for weight gain that gives you a good source of carbs and proteins, but is tested to ensure you can use it in competitive sports, this is a great pick.
Top-Rated Protein Powder For Weight Gain By Customers
Calories per serving: 2050
Carbs: 440g
Fat: 6g
Protein: 60g
Protein source: Whey
Flavors: Delicious Strawberry, Triple Chocolate Brownie, Vanilla Milkshake
Largest tub size: 22 lbs (9.98 kg)
Servings per container: 20
Cost per serving: $4.80
With thousands of verified 5-star ratings across multiple sites, MuscleTech Mass-Tech Extreme 2000 packs a ton of nutrients into a serving.
Not only is it high in calories, carbs and protein, it also includes 10g of creatine and 20 vitamins and minerals, making it an ideal macronutrient profile for bulking up.
Some of the reviews boast “The most complete weight gainer on the market, very good flavor. Muscletech is one of my favorite brands” as well as “Mixes great, easy to digest, no grit, and great flavor”.
So if you’re looking for a weight gaining protein powder that has the backing of tons of people, this one might be the choice for you.
Protein Powder For Weight Gain With The Most Flavor Options
Calories per serving: 1,010
Carbs: 170g
Fat: 8g
Protein: 64g
Protein source: Whey and isolates
Flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry Banana, Cookies & Cream and Chocolate Peanut Butter
Largest tub size: 6 lbs (2.72kg)
Servings per container: 10
Cost per serving: $5.99
Shakes can get boring after a while, especially with the size of them when you’re intending to bulk up.
ALLMAX Nutrition QuickMass has a great variety of flavor options you can mix and match and boasts a popular 3-to-1 carb to protein ratio.
In addition, this supplement includes NP5, a revolutionary patent-pending calorie activation technology.
What Do Protein Powder For Weight Gain / Mass Gainers Do?
Mass and weight gainers are sports nutrition products that are designed to help athletes and bodybuilders bulk up and gain weight. They usually come in powder form, and can be mixed with water or milk to create a shake.
Protein powders for weight gain typically contain high levels of protein, carbs and calories, making them ideal for those who struggle to consume enough calories and nutrients through their diet alone.
While these powders can be beneficial for those trying to bulk up, it’s important to choose one that contains quality ingredients and is appropriate for your individual goals. Not all protein powders are created equal, and some may even do more harm than good.
How To Choose A Good Protein Powder For Weight Gain For Your Needs
Here’s a look at some things to consider when selecting a protein powder for weight gain.
- Protein content: Look for a protein powder or mass gainer that contains at least 30 grams of protein per serving. Protein is essential for muscle growth and development, so you’ll want to make sure you’re getting enough.
- Carbohydrate content: Protein powders for weight gain typically contain high levels of carbs, which can help replenish glycogen stores and promote muscle growth. However, if you’re trying to gain minimal fat while gaining muscle, or are watching your carb intake, you may want to choose one with lower carb levels.
- Calorie content: Most protein powders for weight gain are high in calories, which is necessary for those trying to bulk up.
- Ingredients: Take a look at the ingredient list to see what’s actually in the product. Avoid products that contain fillers, artificial flavors or sweeteners, and other unnecessary ingredients.
- Third-Party Testing: Many products do third-party testing, so you know you’re getting what you’re supposed to. Some of the more well-known organizations that do this testing include NSF International, Eurofins Scientific and USP.
- Cost: Protein powders for weight gain can be expensive, so it’s important to find one that fits into your budget. There are a variety of quality products on the market, so you should be able to find one that’s affordable.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, and truth to be told there often isn’t a universal “best time” to drink your gainers. What’s most important is that you’re getting adequate calories, protein and nutrients in general. However, general advice often recommends drinking mass gainer early in the morning and immediately after workouts.
There is no definitive answer to this question, as mass gainers can have different effects on body weight and muscle growth. Some mass gainer supplements may help to increase muscle mass, while others may cause weight gain. The best way to find which mass gainer supplement is best for you is to speak with a nutritionist or doctor who can help you create a personalized nutrition plan.
Nutritionists and weight-loss experts generally agree that mass gainer supplements can be useful for people who are trying to gain weight or muscle mass. However, there is no definitive answer as to whether mass gainer supplements should be taken every day. Some people may find that taking mass gainer supplements regularly helps them gain weight more quickly, while others may not see any significant benefits. The best way to determine whether taking mass gainer supplements daily is best for you depends on your individual goals, schedule, and workout routine.
To gain weight, you must consume more calories than you burn. Mass gainers help you do this by simply adding calories to your diet, and they’re often the easiest way to do so, but they certainly aren’t the only option.
Takeaway
While these are our top picks, it’s always best to consult a doctor or nutritionist before taking any supplements, as they may recommend alternatives.
Whether your fitness goal is to add muscle with minimal fat or to bulk up all around, there are a lot of choices out there and we hope this guide helps you compare the multitude of products!
Read more: Survey Results: The Best In Fitness & Personal Training for 2022
BS Kinesiology, NASM-CPT, CES, PES FNS, MMAS, WLS, FM-CPT, ACE-CPT, Master Personal Trainer
Eddie Lester is the founder and CEO of Fitness Mentors. With more that 17 years experience in the health, fitness and athletics field, he has helped tens of thousands of personal trainers transform their careers and reach their business goals. With a background in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology Eddie has assisted in research that is spearheading the exercise science field.
His in-depth knowledge of the Health, Wellness and Fitness industry has earned him a place as a regular contributor on high profile sites such as the Personal Trainer Development Center, (Dan to list top sites) online where he writes about nutrition and personal training.
His contributions to help personal trainers include a weekly blog, podcast, youtube channel and multiple books including: Business and Sales: the Guide to Success as a Personal Trainer.
Eddie’s Philosophy often times includes focusing on the bigger picture in which daily positive contributions lead to a major impact on himself, his family, his community and the world.
Eddie is commonly found at the beaches of Southern California with his wife Courtney and five kids.
