Myprotein dominates the UK sports nutrition market for good reason — they are cheap, they have an enormous range (including Impact Whey Protein, one of the best-selling protein powders in the country), and there is nearly always a discount code floating around. For a lot of people, they are the obvious first choice for a daily protein shake.
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. If you have been buying Impact Whey Protein on autopilot, it is worth checking whether another brand offers better value or higher quality standards for the same money.
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
Compare all protein powder prices1. Bulk — best budget alternative
Trustpilot — 61,700+ reviews
"Vanilla whey protein powder tastes fantastic, not too sweet, not too artificial." — Warren W.
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. Both deliver a strong amino acids profile suitable for post workout recovery, so the switch is straightforward.
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.
Bulk Pure Whey Protein
2.5kg bag
Budget-friendly Informed Sport tested whey from Bulk with 50+ flavours. Consistently among the cheapest per serving in the UK.
See cheapest price →Buy direct from Bulk →Bulk Pure Whey Protein
2.5kg bag
Budget-friendly Informed Sport tested whey from Bulk with 50+ flavours. Consistently among the cheapest per serving in the UK.
See cheapest price →Buy direct from Bulk →Quick verdict
Pros
- + Among cheapest UK whey options
- + Huge 50+ flavour range
- + 22g protein per 30g scoop
- + Informed Sport batch tested
Cons
- – 70-75% protein purity only
- – Some flavours overly artificial
- – Can cause bloating if lactose-sensitive
Quick verdict
Pros
- + Among cheapest UK whey options
- + Huge 50+ flavour range
- + 22g protein per 30g scoop
- + Informed Sport batch tested
Cons
- – 70-75% protein purity only
- – Some flavours overly artificial
- – Can cause bloating if lactose-sensitive
2. Applied Nutrition — best for Amazon shoppers
Trustpilot — 3,990+ reviews
"Their supplements are fantastic, quality is great and so are the prices, with very fast delivery." — Steve L.
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.
Applied Nutrition Critical Whey – 24g Protein | 4 Protein Blend | Informed-Sport Tested | 2kg
2kg bag
Protein powder from Applied Nutrition. Compare prices across UK retailers.
See cheapest price →Applied Nutrition Critical Whey – 24g Protein | 4 Protein Blend | Informed-Sport Tested | 2kg
2kg bag
Protein powder from Applied Nutrition. Compare prices across UK retailers.
See cheapest price →Quick verdict
Pros
- + Good 24g protein per serving
- + Added digestive enzyme blend
- + 2kg tub decent mid-range value
- + Smooth creamy texture praised
Cons
- – Concentrate-dominant blend
- – Contains soy lecithin emulsifier
- – Fewer flavours than competitors
Quick verdict
Pros
- + Good 24g protein per serving
- + Added digestive enzyme blend
- + 2kg tub decent mid-range value
- + Smooth creamy texture praised
Cons
- – Concentrate-dominant blend
- – Contains soy lecithin emulsifier
- – Fewer flavours than competitors
3. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard — best premium option
Amazon UK — thousands of reviews
"The gold standard chocolate whey is delicious, better than most milkshakes. Mixes so well, more or less dissolves as soon as it hits the water."
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 — the quality standards are among the highest in the sports nutrition industry
- 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.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder
900g bag
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard delivers 24g protein per scoop and holds 4.6 stars across 55,000+ Amazon UK reviews. The default benchmark whey for buyers who want proven consistency over the lowest cost.
See cheapest price →Buy direct from Optimum Nutrition →Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder
900g bag
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard delivers 24g protein per scoop and holds 4.6 stars across 55,000+ Amazon UK reviews. The default benchmark whey for buyers who want proven consistency over the lowest cost.
See cheapest price →Buy direct from Optimum Nutrition →Quick verdict
Pros
- + 24g protein per scoop blended WPI WPC and hydrolysate
- + Most reviewed whey protein on Amazon UK with 55,000+ ratings
- + Instantised formulation mixes cleanly in cold water
- + 20+ flavour range with Double Rich Chocolate consistently 4.6 stars
Cons
- – Premium price tier above MyProtein and Bulk
- – Contains soy lecithin and artificial sweeteners
- – Smaller 450g tubs poor value vs 900g and 2.27kg sizes
Quick verdict
Pros
- + 24g protein per scoop blended WPI WPC and hydrolysate
- + Most reviewed whey protein on Amazon UK with 55,000+ ratings
- + Instantised formulation mixes cleanly in cold water
- + 20+ flavour range with Double Rich Chocolate consistently 4.6 stars
Cons
- – Premium price tier above MyProtein and Bulk
- – Contains soy lecithin and artificial sweeteners
- – Smaller 450g tubs poor value vs 900g and 2.27kg sizes
4. The Protein Works — best for flavour variety
Trustpilot — 47,900+ reviews
"Good flavours with excellent nutritional value and they actually do fill you up!" — Barbara R.
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.
The Protein Works Whey Protein 80 - BLACK Innovation
2kg bag
Protein powder from The Protein Works. Compare prices across UK retailers.
See cheapest price →The Protein Works Whey Protein 80 - BLACK Innovation
2kg bag
Protein powder from The Protein Works. Compare prices across UK retailers.
See cheapest price →Quick verdict
Pros
- + Frequently on sale great deals
- + 80% protein purity decent
- + Massive 40+ flavour menu
- + Smooth mixability with water
Cons
- – Full price is above average
- – Sweetness overpowering some flavours
- – Taste can vary between batches
Quick verdict
Pros
- + Frequently on sale great deals
- + 80% protein purity decent
- + Massive 40+ flavour menu
- + Smooth mixability with water
Cons
- – Full price is above average
- – Sweetness overpowering some flavours
- – Taste can vary between batches
5. PhD Nutrition — best for in-store buyers
Trustpilot — 13,100+ reviews
"Really helping me with my weight loss. Unlike other diet plans, this protein whey really stops me from feeling hungry." — Chris W.
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.
PhD Nutrition Diet Whey Protein Powder 1kg
1kg bag
Protein powder from PhD Nutrition. Compare prices across UK retailers.
See cheapest price →PhD Nutrition Diet Whey Protein Powder 1kg
1kg bag
Protein powder from PhD Nutrition. Compare prices across UK retailers.
See cheapest price →Quick verdict
Pros
- + Added CLA and L-carnitine
- + Low calorie only ~95kcal serving
- + Green tea extract included
- + Designed for cutting phases
Cons
- – Lower 17g protein per serving
- – Diet extras likely underdosed
- – 1kg tub poor long-term value
Quick verdict
Pros
- + Added CLA and L-carnitine
- + Low calorie only ~95kcal serving
- + Green tea extract included
- + Designed for cutting phases
Cons
- – Lower 17g protein per serving
- – Diet extras likely underdosed
- – 1kg tub poor long-term value
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.
Whichever brand you pick, the fundamentals are the same: look for a protein shake that fits your budget, mixes well, and gives you enough protein per serving to support your post workout recovery. All five alternatives above meet reasonable quality standards for the UK market, so the choice is really about price, taste, and convenience rather than a meaningful difference in nutrition.
