Mass gainers are one of the most marketed supplements in the UK fitness space. Big tubs, big calorie counts, big promises. But if you flip the bag over and read the ingredients, most of them are selling you something you could buy for a fraction of the price at any supermarket: maltodextrin.
That does not mean every mass gainer is a waste of money. A few offer genuinely useful formulas with decent protein content and cleaner carb sources. The trick is knowing which ones are worth it and which ones are overpriced sugar.
We track prices across 85+ UK protein brands on WheyWise, so we have the data to compare them fairly. Here is what the cheapest mass gainers in the UK actually contain.
What is a mass gainer and who needs one?
A mass gainer is a high-calorie protein powder designed for people who struggle to eat enough food to gain weight. They are sometimes called weight gainers or bulking powders.
The target audience is hardgainers: people with fast metabolisms or small appetites who find it physically difficult to eat enough calories from food alone. If you are already hitting your calorie target through regular meals, you almost certainly do not need one.
Mass gainers are meant to sit alongside a proper diet. They fill the gap between what you can eat and what you need to eat. If you can close that gap with food, save your money.
What's actually in a mass gainer?
Here is the honest truth: most mass gainers are mostly maltodextrin. That is a cheap, highly processed carbohydrate derived from corn or wheat starch. It has a high glycemic index, no nutritional value beyond calories, and costs manufacturers very little to produce.
A typical mass gainer ingredient breakdown looks like this:
- 60 to 70% maltodextrin or similar carb filler
- 20 to 30% whey protein or a protein blend
- Flavouring, sweeteners, thickeners
- Sometimes added creatine, glutamine, or vitamins
Some premium options use oat flour, sweet potato powder, or MCT oil instead of maltodextrin. These are better choices nutritionally, but they cost more.
The protein quality varies hugely between brands. Some use 100% whey protein concentrate or isolate. Others pad the blend with cheap soy protein or wheat protein to hit a number on the label without spending on quality ingredients.
The cheapest mass gainers in the UK right now
| Brand | Type | Best For | Key Benefit | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 MyProteinImpact Weight Gainer | Mass Gainer | Best overall value | 29g protein per 100g, oat-based carbs | |
 BulkMass Gainer | Mass Gainer | Best budget option | 20g protein per 100g, large servings | |
 Applied NutritionCritical Mass | Mass Gainer | Best protein content | 28g protein per 100g, added creatine | |
 WarriorMass Gainer | Mass Gainer | Best for gym-goers | 28g protein per 100g, added glutamine | |
 Optimum NutritionSerious Mass | Mass Gainer | Most trusted brand | 22g protein per 100g, 1250 cal serving |
Mass Gainer · 29g protein per 100g, oat-based carbs
Mass Gainer · 20g protein per 100g, large servings
Mass Gainer · 28g protein per 100g, added creatine
Mass Gainer · 28g protein per 100g, added glutamine
Mass Gainer · 22g protein per 100g, 1250 cal serving
For live, updated prices across every mass gainer we track, check the mass gainer comparison table. Prices change weekly, so always check before buying.
Ingredients compared: what separates good from bad
Not all mass gainers are created equal. Here is what to look for on the label.
Good signs
- Whey protein concentrate or isolate listed as the first protein source
- Oat flour or ground oats as the main carbohydrate
- Low sugar content (under 10g per 100g)
- Short ingredient list with recognisable ingredients
Bad signs
- Maltodextrin as the first ingredient
- Protein blend that includes soy protein or wheat protein
- More than 10 ingredients
- Sugar content above 15g per 100g
MyProtein Impact Weight Gainer and Applied Nutrition Critical Mass use cleaner formulas than most. MyProtein uses oat flour as its primary carb source, which provides slower energy release and more fibre than maltodextrin. Applied Nutrition includes added creatine, which is a genuinely useful addition.
Always compare by protein per 100g. Serving sizes can be 200g or even 300g+, which makes per-serving comparisons misleading. A product with "50g protein per serving" sounds good until you realise the serving is 334g.
Mass gainer vs making your own
The cheapest mass gainer of all is the one you make yourself. A DIY mass gainer shake is simple:
- 1 scoop whey protein (25g protein)
- 80g oats (blended into powder)
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- 1 banana
- 300ml whole milk
That gives you roughly 700 calories and 45g of protein. The cost? Roughly 1 to 1.50 per shake using supermarket ingredients and a decent whey concentrate.
A commercial mass gainer typically costs 2 to 4 per shake, depending on the brand and bag size. So DIY saves you roughly 50 to 70% per serving.
The trade-off is convenience. Commercial mass gainers are faster to prepare: scoop, shake, done. A DIY shake needs a blender and a few minutes of prep. If you are rushing between lectures or shifts, that matters.
For a deeper dive into the cost breakdown, read our affordable mass gainer UK guide.
Mass gainer vs whey protein — which should you buy?
This is the question most people should ask before buying a mass gainer. In most cases, whey protein is the better buy.
Whey protein gives you more protein per pound spent. A typical whey concentrate delivers 70 to 80g of protein per 100g. A typical mass gainer delivers 20 to 30g. Per gram of protein, whey is dramatically cheaper.
If you can eat enough food to hit your calorie target, buy whey protein and eat more food. It is cheaper, cleaner, and gives you more flexibility with your diet.
Mass gainers only make sense in one specific scenario: your appetite is genuinely too low to eat enough solid food. If you are eating three meals a day and still not gaining weight, a mass gainer shake between meals can help bridge the gap.
For most people, buying a bag of whey concentrate and adding your own carbs is the smarter move.
The verdict
Most mass gainers are overpriced maltodextrin. That is the blunt reality. You are paying a premium for convenience and marketing, not for quality nutrition.
But a few options stand out. MyProtein Impact Weight Gainer uses oat-based carbs and delivers 29g protein per 100g. Applied Nutrition Critical Mass offers 28g protein per 100g with added creatine. These are the ones worth considering if you genuinely need a commercial mass gainer.
For the latest prices on every mass gainer we track, check the mass gainer comparison table. It updates weekly and sorts by best value per serving.