ParrotPalProtein powders and shakes in the UK: what our members actually use
These are the protein powders and shakes our UK members logged most, with the protein in a typical serving. We don’t rank brands, and none paid to be here.
Protein powders and shakes our UK members logged most
| Brand | Logged by | Protein per portion |
|---|---|---|
| Myprotein | 30% | 20 g90 kcal |
| For Goodness ShakesReady‑to‑drink | 19% | 35 g220 kcal |
| Optimum Nutrition | 17% | 24 g115 kcal |
| Applied Nutrition | 8% | 20 g85 kcal |
| Aldi | 8% | 22 g190 kcal |
| UfitSmall portion as logged | 7% | 10 g60 kcal |
| Grenade | 5% | 26 g175 kcal |
| Free Soul | 5% | 19 g95 kcal |
| The Protein Works | 5% | 23 g110 kcal |
Out of more than 1,000 UK members who logged a protein powder or shake. Some logged more than one brand, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Aggregated and anonymised ParrotPal food diaries from UK members, February to August 2026. Each figure is the share of members who logged at least one protein powder or shake, and only brands logged by enough members to be reliable are shown. Values per portion are the median as members logged them, so portion sizes vary. These are patterns in what people logged, not recommendations.
Check any tub
Per servingType two numbers from the nutrition panel on your tub or bottle, for one serving.
Fill in the numbers above to see the result.
Whey, plant or ready-to-drink: what’s the difference?
- Whey protein powder is made from milk. It’s the most common kind of tub. “Whey isolate” has had more of the milk sugar and fat taken out.
- Plant protein powder is usually pea, soya, rice or a blend. It suits you if you’re vegan or don’t get on with dairy.
- Ready-to-drink shakes come in a bottle or carton, so there’s nothing to mix. Portions are often bigger: For Goodness Shakes, a ready-to-drink brand, was logged at about 35 g of protein and 220 kcal.
How much protein is in a serving?
About 20 to 25 g of protein a serving is typical. Most of the powders in the label above were logged at about 19 to 24 g of protein for 85 to 115 kcal. For comparison, a 170 g pot of 0% Greek yogurt has about 17 g, and 100 g of cooked chicken breast about 30 g (approximate, check the label).
A common habit is about 25 to 30 g of protein at each meal. A serving of powder can top up a meal that falls short.
Protein powder for weight loss
Protein powder doesn’t burn fat, and no tub makes you lose weight on its own. What it can do is help you reach your protein target while you eat less, because a serving gives a lot of protein for not many calories. Use it alongside food, not instead of meals.
Protein powder for women, and over 50
There’s no special “women’s protein”. Powders sold for women are the same kinds of protein, so the same tub works for anyone, at any age. What matters is how much protein is in a serving and how much you need in a day.
Our protein calculator works out your daily target from your height and weight. It uses 1.6 g per kg of body weight, counting weight only up to a healthy weight for your height. That figure comes from a review of 49 trials: with strength training, extra muscle from more protein levelled off at around 1.6 g per kg of body weight a day (Morton et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2018). That's an average: some people do better on more, up to about 2.2 g per kg, so treat it as a target to reach rather than a ceiling.
On Mounjaro or Wegovy?
When your appetite is low, a shake can help on days food won’t go down; our guide to protein shakes on Mounjaro shows how a shake compares with everyday food.
Reading the label on a tub
- Protein near the top. In the ingredients, the protein (such as whey protein concentrate or pea protein) should be listed first or close to it.
- Sugar. Look at “of which sugars” per serving, especially in flavoured powders and ready-to-drink shakes.
- Serving size. Check whether the figures are per 100 g or per serving, and whether a serving is made with water or milk. Milk adds protein and calories.
- Protein per 100 kcal. Divide the protein by the calories and multiply by 100. A higher number means more protein for the calories. The checker above does it for you.
What’s your own protein number?
A tub only helps if you know how much protein you need. The calculator works out your daily target in 10 seconds, and the checker above will use it.
Work out my protein Protein shakes on Mounjaro Free LeanShield scoreQuestions people ask
Which protein powders do people in the UK use most?
Among more than 1,000 ParrotPal UK members who logged a protein powder or shake from February to August 2026, Myprotein was logged by 30%, For Goodness Shakes by 19% and Optimum Nutrition by 17%. That shows how often each brand was logged, not which is better. We don’t rank brands, and none paid to be included.
Is there a special protein powder for women or over-50s?
No. The same powder works for anyone. What matters is how much protein is in a serving and how much you need in a day, which our protein calculator works out from your height and weight.
Does protein powder help with weight loss?
It doesn’t burn fat on its own. It can make it easier to reach your protein target while you eat less, because a serving gives a lot of protein for not many calories. Use it alongside food, not instead of meals.
How much protein powder should I have a day?
There’s no set amount. Start from your daily protein target and get most of it from food. A serving of powder usually gives about 20 to 25 g of protein, so one serving can fill a gap on a day you fall short.
Should I choose whey or plant protein?
Either can give about 20 g of protein a serving. Whey comes from milk; plant powders suit you if you’re vegan or avoid dairy. Whichever you pick, compare the protein per serving on the label.
Also from ParrotPal
Please read. This page is general information, not medical advice. It isn’t tailored to you and doesn’t replace advice from your GP, prescriber or dietitian. If you have kidney disease, diabetes, a history of disordered eating or any other medical condition, check with them before changing how you eat. Protein values are approximate, so check the label.
Brand names are trademarks of their owners. ParrotPal isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by any brand shown, and no brand paid to appear. The figures show how popular each brand was in members’ food diaries, not a recommendation. Mounjaro® is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company, and Wegovy® of Novo Nordisk. LeanShield™ is ParrotPal’s muscle protection score: it rates the habits linked to protecting muscle, is not a medical device and doesn’t measure muscle.