A good fruit-flavored protein powder is a nice break from the usual chocolate and vanilla rotation. If you can’t stand the taste of plain unflavored whey protein powder, a fruity option makes hitting your daily protein target much easier.
Plenty of them taste like watered-down candy, though. We cut the list down to the 5 that are actually worth buying, ranked, with the flavor to grab for each one.
Our top pick is the strawberry 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate by Transparent Labs. It’s clean, it’s lean, and the strawberry drinks closer to a milkshake than a protein shake.
If that’s not your style, there’s a little of everything below, from a clear whey that drinks like fruit juice to a budget pick that still clears 20 grams a scoop. It’s our list, so we make the rules. Let’s get into it.
If you're looking for a high quality, clean protein powder, Transparent Labs' 100% Grass Fed Whey Isolate is an excellent choice.
With a slew of delicious flavors and a totally transparent, clean label, this is a premium product.
Discount code:
LV10 = 10% off at Transparent Labs
Table of Contents
- 1 The 5 Best Fruit Flavored Protein Powders
- 2 Didn’t Make the Cut
- 3 Benefits of Fruit Flavored Protein Powder
- 4 What to Look for When Buying Protein Powder
- 5 How to Choose Between Whey Concentrate, Whey Isolate, and Casein
- 6 Protein Powder Benefits
- 7 Tips for Consuming Protein Powder
- 8 FAQs
- 9 Final Thoughts
The 5 Best Fruit Flavored Protein Powders
- 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate – Transparent Labs
- Clear Whey Isolate – Myprotein
- Impact Whey Protein – Myprotein
- Naked Whey Protein Powder – Naked
- Authentic Iso Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate – Jacked Factory
100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate – Transparent Labs
Recommended fruit flavor: strawberry
If you're looking for a high quality, clean protein powder, Transparent Labs' 100% Grass Fed Whey Isolate is an excellent choice.
With a slew of delicious flavors and a totally transparent, clean label, this is a premium product.
Discount code:
LV10 = 10% off at Transparent Labs
The strawberry is the best fruit-flavored protein we’ve tried. It’s flavored naturally and sweetened with stevia, and the result drinks more like a strawberry milkshake than a protein shake.
It also has one of the highest protein-by-weight ratios out there at 82%, which works out to 28 grams of protein per scoop.
If you want to add size without dumping junk into your body, this is an easy one to reach for. The protein is fully disclosed, sourced from 100% grass-fed, grass-finished dairy cattle, and it’s 99% lactose-free, so it sits fine even if you’re lactose intolerant.
It’s third-party tested for heavy metals too, so you know what you’re getting.
Here’s how one verified buyer put it:
“First time using Transparent Labs. I bought the Grass Fed Whey Protein, strawberry flavored. Great taste, mixes well, no stomach issues, mixes well, and a great product. It’s a little pricey, but you get what you pay for. Great protein.” – Lenny D
Key Ingredients:
- Calories: 120
- Protein: 28 g
- Carbohydrates: <1 g
- Fat: 0.5 g
Clear Whey Isolate – Myprotein
With a wide variety of flavors available at about $1.30/serving, Myprotein's Clear Whey Isolate is a solid option for those looking for refreshing protein supplementation that won't break the bank.
Contains 20 grams of whey protein isolate per serving.
Discount codes:
MYPLIFTVAULT = 35% off + free US shipping
Recommended fruit flavors: lemonade, peach mango, sour cherry, strawberry, tropical dragon fruit, Mike & Ike
Next up, Clear Whey Isolate from Myprotein is the best clear fruit-flavored option we’ve found. Clear whey mixes into something closer to fruit juice than a milkshake, so it’s light and easy to drink when a creamy shake is the last thing you want after training.
Here’s what it looks like once it’s stirred up:
The flavor lineup is where it stands out.
- Lemonade
- Peach mango
- Sour cherry
- Strawberry
- Tropical dragon fruit
- Mike & Ike-inspired flavors
That’s more flavor options than most clear wheys give you.
It’s sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame K.
It packs 20 grams of whey isolate per serving, though, 6 grams less than our top pick.
One verified buyer summed it up:
“This is the BEST TASTING, most refreshing protein drink ever!! It does mix well with slight clumping, but the taste and quality outweigh that. Enjoy!” – Judy
Key Ingredients:
- Calories: 84
- Protein: 20 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.7 g
- Fat: 0 g
Impact Whey Protein – Myprotein
Impact Whey Protein delivers 21 grams of high-quality whey protein at a great price. If you're looking for the best cheap protein powder, this is it!
Discount codes:
MYPLIFTVAULT = 35% off + free US shipping
Recommended fruit flavors: fruity cereal, strawberries & cream
Impact Whey is the budget pick that still holds up, with a couple of fruity options in the lineup.
- Fruity cereal
- Strawberries and cream
Of the two, strawberries and cream is the crowd favorite, and it’s refreshing after a hard session.
It’s sweetened with sucralose and mixes clean.
At 21 grams of protein per scoop it isn’t the highest ratio here, but it beats the brand’s own Clear Whey Isolate and most other fruit-flavored wheys.
Key Ingredients:
- Calories: 103
- Protein: 21 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.0 g
- Fat: 1.0 g
Naked Whey Protein Powder – Naked
Recommended fruit flavor: strawberry
If you want the cleanest label on the list, Naked Whey is it. The strawberry version is grass-fed whey concentrate mixed with real dried strawberries and coconut sugar, and that’s the whole ingredient list.
It blends well with a banana for a milky smoothie, and at 25 grams of protein per serving it’s an easy way to hit your daily target.
The flavor range is limited, though, since strawberry is the only fruit option. The strawberry itself is subtle, so if you want a bold berry punch, this isn’t the one.
One buyer said it plainly:
“Great product, but the strawberry flavor is very subtle. Excellent tasting protein nonetheless.” – Abu
Key Ingredients:
- Calories: 150
- Protein: 25 grams (2 scoops per serving)
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fat: 2 g
Authentic Iso Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate – Jacked Factory
Authentic Iso Whey is one of the lowest calorie protein powders available with over 90% of its calories from pure protein. If you're looking for lean, effective, and tasty protein powder, look no further.
Recommended fruit flavor: blueberry muffin
This one earns its spot for being light on fat and carbs with no added sugar. The sweetness comes from sucralose and stevia.
If most protein powders sit heavy in your stomach, this affordable isolate goes down easier. Being an isolate, it also works if you’re lactose intolerant.
The one fruit flavor is Blueberry Muffin.
Key Ingredients:
- Calories: 110
- Protein: 25 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fat: 0.5 g
Didn’t Make the Cut
Protein Puff Bars – Promix
Promix's Protein Puff Bars provide a delicious, on-the-go option for a protein-rich snack in between meals. Available in a variety of delectable flavors!
Promix Protein Puff Bars used to earn a spot here on their blueberries and cream and strawberries and cream flavors. Both fruit flavors have been discontinued and the current lineup is all dessert-style, so there’s nothing fruity left to recommend. The bars are still a decent protein snack, they just no longer fit a fruit-flavored roundup.
Benefits of Fruit Flavored Protein Powder
Taste
Fruit-flavored protein is far easier to get down than unflavored powder. The taste and smell make a post-workout shake something you’ll actually look forward to.
Once you find a flavor you like, sticking to your protein target gets a lot easier, and you’ll probably end up drinking more of it.
Most fruit-flavored powders lean on natural flavorings, so you’re not piling on extra sugar or calories the way you would with a dessert-flavored powder loaded with add-ins.
Pair well with fruit smoothies
Fruit-flavored protein won’t fight the flavor of a fruit smoothie the way chocolate or vanilla can. It usually plays right into it, depending on what you’ve blended in.
Mess around with different fruit proteins and different fruit and you’ll land on your own post-workout treat.
Variety
There are plenty of fruit-flavored protein powders out there, and each one tastes different, so shopping around stays fun. You won’t hit flavor fatigue when you can rotate to a new one every week or two.
That’s true if you go with something like Clear Whey Isolate from Myprotein, which offers everything from peach mango to tropical dragon fruit.
Peach mango and tropical dragon fruit beat plain chocolate or vanilla any day.
What to Look for When Buying Protein Powder
If you’re stuck between the options above, a few things are worth weighing.
Flavor
The flavor has the biggest effect on whether you actually drink the stuff. Building muscle means getting enough protein, and a shake is one of the easiest ways to do it, but that only works if you like what’s in the glass.
If you enjoy the taste, you’re less likely to reach for sweets, crisps, and other junk. You’ll drink the shake instead, and it fills you up while helping your muscles recover and grow.
Know your goals
The amount of protein per scoop should match how much size you’re chasing. To maximize intake, look for powders that clear 20 grams per scoop. Under 20 grams is fine for recovery, but it won’t add the mass that a 25-30 gram scoop will.
So if you’re pushing for muscle, go with 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate by Transparent Labs and its 28 g per scoop.
Limit excess sugar
Protein powder should be good for you first. A powder that’s loaded with sugar can work against you if you drink it every day, so look for one with little to no added sugar.
Essential amino acids
All protein powders contain amino acids, the molecules behind muscle recovery, growth, and tissue repair. But some powders don’t carry all 9 essential ones: histidine, tryptophan, lysine, leucine, methionine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, threonine, and valine.
Some brands lean on what’s called “amino spiking,” where cheap free-form amino acids get added so the label shows a higher protein number than the powder really delivers. They charge more for it, but those extras won’t do much for your muscles.
It’s worth reading the ingredient panel. If arginine, glycine, glutamine, or creatine show up as separate line items, the protein count might be padded, though on their own those ingredients aren’t always a problem.
How to Choose Between Whey Concentrate, Whey Isolate, and Casein
Protein powder comes in a few forms. The three you’ll run into most are whey concentrate, whey isolate, and casein.
Whey concentrate
Whey concentrate is protein sourced from whey that hasn’t been processed to strip out the lactose. That makes it a poor fit if you’re lactose intolerant.
Since it goes through less processing than the other types, it tends to be cheaper.
Whey isolate
Whey isolate gets processed further, so it comes with about 99% of the lactose removed. That makes it the better option if you’re lactose intolerant.
The extra processing also cuts the carbs and fat, which lowers the total calories. So if you want the leanest option, look for whey isolate. It’s been processed to “isolate” the protein from everything else in whey.
All that processing means whey isolate usually costs more.
When a protein is labeled “clear,” it’s usually whey isolate. That’s the kind you mix with water for a fruit-juice effect instead of a milkshake, like Clear Whey Isolate by Myprotein.
Casein
Casein is another protein found in cows’ milk, and it digests slower than whey. Because it takes longer to break down, it keeps your energy steadier and keeps you full longer than whey does.
Take casein before bed and the slow digestion is meant to feed your muscles through the night.
Protein Powder Benefits
Whether you go casein or whey, the upsides are similar.
Convenience
If you’ve got a strict training schedule, you’re probably always moving. Protein powder is quick to prep and fits into a packed day. Add water or milk, shake it, and you’re done, no extra meal to cook.
Easy
You can stir protein powder into milkshakes or breakfast cereal so you hit your protein target daily. There are also loads of recipes online that use it to bump up the protein in your meals.
You know the exact macros of what you’re consuming
A protein powder label tells you exactly how much protein you’re getting per scoop. You can’t get that precision from a steak. That makes it far easier to hit your exact daily protein target.
Tips for Consuming Protein Powder
Once you’ve settled on a fruit-flavored powder, a few tips help you get the most out of it.
When to consume protein powder
When to take protein powder always sparks a debate. Plenty of people swear by right after a workout, while others argue it doesn’t matter.
A study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that timing doesn’t have a meaningful impact on strength or hypertrophy.
So take it whenever fits your day. Just keep your total protein intake high enough to meet your goals.
Use a macro tracker
Macro tracking apps let you monitor your daily calories along with your carbs, fats, and protein. Many also track your mood, fitness level, sleep, and water intake.
With that data, you can work out your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure).
Calculate your TDEE
Your TDEE estimates how many calories and how much protein you need each day to hit your goals. It shows how fast you burn calories, which you can build your targets around, and whether you’re trending in the right direction.
How much protein powder to take
So how much should you take? A decent rule of thumb for a sedentary adult is about 0.7 grams of protein per pound of lean body mass (your weight minus fat).
For example, someone who weighs 100 pounds at 10% body fat has 90 pounds of lean mass. Multiply that by 0.7 and you get their daily protein: 90 x 0.7 = 63.
So that person would aim for at least 63 grams of protein a day.
How to bulk up
The easiest way to add protein to a shake is milk. 16 ounces of whole milk adds around 16 grams of protein and 300 calories, which adds up quickly. That helps you put on weight (skip it if you only want lean muscle).
On top of milk, you can experiment with raw honey, coconut oil, almond butter, or peanut butter. Each one bumps up your calories.
If you want more protein without the extra calories, add 16 oz of skim milk to each shake instead.
FAQs
What is the most popular flavor of protein powder?
It’s hard to pin down the single most popular protein flavor, but chocolate, strawberry, peanut butter, cookies and cream, and vanilla are all up there. Those are the flavors most brands sell, so clearly there’s an audience for them.
What protein powder is best with fruit?
The best protein powder to have with fruit is a plant-based one. Fruit and plant-based protein play well together and build a balanced profile of carbs, protein, and healthy fats. If you’re already eating plant-based, that’s an easy call.
The next best option to pair with fruit is a fruit-flavored or vanilla protein powder.
What are the benefits of having fruit with protein powder?
Pairing your shake with fruit has real upside post-workout. The fruit helps restore nutrients and steady your blood sugar.
What’s the best vegan protein powder with fruit flavors?
ALOHA Plant-Based Protein has a good coconut-flavored option. Soylent Protein Nutrition Shakes also make strawberry and banana vegan protein drinks.
Final Thoughts
If you take one thing from this list, make it the strawberry 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate by Transparent Labs. It’s our favorite fruit-flavored protein, it’s high in protein, and it has 0 g of sugar.
It carries more protein per scoop than Clear Whey Isolate or Impact Whey, and the flavor beats Naked Whey’s subtle strawberry.
If you want backups, Myprotein’s Clear Whey Isolate and Impact Whey both bring more flavor options to rotate through.
