Why Not Try a Different Protein Powder Brand?

Myprotein dominates the UK protein powder market for good reason — they are cheap, they have an enormous range, and there is nearly always a discount code floating around. For a lot of people, they are the obvious first choice.

But obvious does not always mean best. Myprotein's pricing can be confusing (inflated RRPs designed to make perpetual sales look bigger), flavour quality is inconsistent across the range, and some people simply want to try something different without paying a premium.

We track prices across 85+ UK protein brands on WheyWise, so we have a clear picture of where the value actually sits. Here are five alternatives worth trying — each for a different reason.

At a glance

1. Bulk — best budget alternative

Who it suits

Anyone whose main priority is paying as little as possible per gram of protein. If you buy Myprotein Impact Whey because it is cheap, Bulk should be your first comparison.

Why it is worth switching

• Bulk Pure Whey Protein consistently sits within a few pence of Myprotein Impact Whey on cost per 100g — and sometimes beats it
• Pricing is more transparent: less reliance on inflated RRPs and permanent "sales"
• Many people find Bulk's vanilla and chocolate flavours taste more natural than Myprotein's equivalents
• Good range of bag sizes from 500g to 5kg, plus regular bundle deals

Things to know

Flavour range is smaller than Myprotein's — if you want something unusual like Sticky Toffee Pudding, Myprotein has more options. Bulk also does not run sales as frequently, but their baseline price is more honest.

For a full head-to-head, read our Myprotein vs Bulk comparison.

2. Applied Nutrition — best for Amazon shoppers

Who it suits

People who buy most things through Amazon and want the convenience of Prime delivery, easy returns, and a price that does not change every other day.

Why it is worth trying

• Critical Whey is one of the best-selling protein powders on Amazon UK — high reviews, reliable stock
• Pricing is consistent: no discount code games, no inflated-then-slashed RRPs
• Subscribe & Save can knock an extra 5-15% off automatically
• Solid macros: around 22g protein per 30g serving, low sugar

Things to know

Applied Nutrition is not the absolute cheapest per gram — Bulk and Myprotein on sale will usually beat it. But the convenience factor is real: no hunting for codes, no waiting for sales, and it shows up the next day.

3. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard — best premium option

Who it suits

People who want a well-known, independently tested brand and are willing to pay a bit more for consistency. Also a good choice if you buy from high-street retailers like Holland & Barrett.

Why it is worth the premium

• Gold Standard Whey has been around for decades and is one of the most third-party tested protein powders on the market
• Mixes well, tastes reliable — the Double Rich Chocolate is the benchmark a lot of people compare other brands against
• Widely available: Amazon, Holland & Barrett, Bodybuilding Warehouse, supermarkets
• Uses a whey blend (concentrate, isolate, and hydrolysed) rather than pure concentrate, giving a slightly higher protein percentage

Things to know

It costs noticeably more per gram than Bulk or Myprotein — roughly 30-50% more depending on the retailer. The protein quality difference is marginal for most people, so this is really a choice about brand trust and convenience rather than nutrition.

We track the cheapest Gold Standard prices across all UK retailers — see our cheapest Gold Standard Whey guide.

4. The Protein Works — best for flavour variety

Who it suits

People who are bored of the same chocolate-vanilla-strawberry rotation and want to experiment. Also a good pick for anyone looking at diet-focused or meal-replacement blends.

Why it stands out

• Genuinely creative flavours: Choc Peanut Cookie, Banoffee, Millionaire's Shortbread — and they tend to taste good, not just gimmicky
• Their Whey Protein 80 is competitively priced with Myprotein Impact Whey, especially during their frequent sales
• Strong diet range: Diet Meal Replacement, Vegan Wondershake, and protein snacks beyond just powders
• Regular BOGOF and bundle offers that can bring the per-bag cost down significantly

Things to know

Stock can be patchy on individual flavours — popular ones sell out during big sales. Delivery is not as fast as Amazon Prime. But if you are willing to stock up when the price is right, the value is there.

5. PhD Nutrition — best for in-store buyers

Who it suits

People who want to pick up protein powder on their weekly supermarket shop, without ordering online or waiting for delivery.

Why it is a good alternative

• PhD Diet Whey is stocked in Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, and most major UK supermarkets — no other brand on this list has that retail presence
• Formulated as a diet protein: lower calorie, added CLA, L-carnitine, and green tea extract
• No shipping costs, no minimum orders, no waiting — just grab it off the shelf
• Supermarket loyalty points (Tesco Clubcard, Nectar) apply — a small but real saving

Things to know

PhD is more expensive per gram of protein than online-only brands. The diet additives (CLA, green tea) are present in very small amounts — likely too low to have a meaningful effect. But the convenience of buying it in person is genuinely valuable if you hate waiting for deliveries or run out mid-week.

When Myprotein still wins

Myprotein is not the default for no reason. Here is when it is still the right call:

• Deepest sale prices: During major events (Black Friday, Payday sales), Impact Whey can drop below every alternative on this list
• Biggest flavour range: Nobody else comes close on variety — 40+ flavours of Impact Whey alone
• Bundled accessories: Shakers, bars, clothing — if you want a one-stop shop, Myprotein has the widest catalogue
• Isolate pricing: Myprotein Impact Whey Isolate is one of the cheapest isolates in the UK

The point is not that Myprotein is bad. It is that it is not the only option, and depending on what you care about — convenience, taste, transparency, in-store availability — one of these alternatives might suit you better.

How to choose

Ask yourself one question: what annoys you most about your current protein powder?

• Price? → Try Bulk — comparable quality, honest pricing
• Hassle? → Try Applied Nutrition on Amazon — next-day, no codes needed
• Trust? → Try Optimum Nutrition — decades of third-party testing
• Boredom? → Try The Protein Works — actually interesting flavours
• Waiting? → Try PhD — in your trolley today

Or skip the guesswork entirely and compare all of them on price — check the live comparison table to see what everything costs right now.