The Best and Worst Protein Powders at Costco

Protein powder can be such an easy way to hit your protein goals, but not all protein powders are created equal.

Some have simple ingredients and high-quality protein. Others look healthy at first glance but sneak in artificial sweeteners, seed oils, gums, fillers, and other additives I personally try to avoid.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the protein powders you’ll find at Costco — from worst to best — plus my top pick if you want the best of the best.

Click here to shop my favorite grass-fed whey, Just Ingredients here (code meowmeix). 

Click here to shop levels grass-fed whey on Amazon.

Worst: Gold Standard Whey

Gold Standard Whey might sound like it should live up to the name, but when you flip over the label, it’s not my favorite.

On the positive side, it does have 24 grams of protein from whey protein, which is great.

But the ingredient list is where it falls short. It contains artificial flavors, emulsifiers, seed oils, and additives like maltodextrin.

To top it off, it also uses artificial sweeteners I personally avoid, including acesulfame potassium and sucralose.

While it does provide protein, this is not the option I would choose if you’re looking for a cleaner, better-for-you protein powder.

Better, But Not Best: Orgain Organic Protein

Orgain Organic Protein is a better option in some ways.

I do appreciate that it’s organic and free from artificial sweeteners. That’s a big plus compared to many conventional protein powders.

However, it still contains ingredients like seed oils and gums, which I’m not a huge fan of.

Another thing to keep in mind is that this is a plant-based protein. Plant proteins are typically less bioavailable than whey protein, meaning your body may not use them quite as efficiently. Plant-based protein powders can also be more likely to contain higher levels of heavy metals compared to whey protein.

So unless you’re vegan or avoiding dairy, I would personally upgrade to a higher-quality whey protein instead.

Good Extra, But Not a Whey Replacement: Collagen Protein

Collagen is a great supplement, especially if you’re looking to support hair, skin, nails, joints, or gut health.

But collagen is not a complete protein, meaning it does not contain all of the essential amino acids in the amounts your body needs.

That doesn’t mean collagen is bad. I actually think it can be a great addition to your routine.

But if your goal is hitting your daily protein needs, I would prioritize a high-quality whey protein first, then add collagen in later as an extra supplement.

Best Option at Costco: Ascent Whey

The best protein powder option I found at Costco is Ascent Whey.

It has 25 grams of protein coming from native whey, and the ingredient list is much simpler compared to many other options.

I also like that it uses stevia leaf extract as the sweetener instead of artificial sweeteners like sucralose or acesulfame potassium.

It does still contain some emulsifiers and natural flavoring, so it’s not perfect, but for an in-store Costco option, this is a solid choice.

Click here to shop ascent whey on amazon. 

Best of the Best: Just Ingredients Grass-Fed Whey

While Ascent is my top Costco pick, my personal best-of-the-best option is Just Ingredients Grass-Fed Whey.

This is the one I’d choose if you’re looking for a protein powder with better ingredients, grass-fed whey, and a cleaner formula overall.

You can shop it here: https://justingredients.com/MEOWMEIX

Use code MEOWMEIX to save.

Final Thoughts

Protein powder can be a helpful tool, but the ingredient list matters.

Here’s the simple breakdown:

Gold Standard Whey is my least favorite because of the artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, seed oils, and additives.

Orgain Organic is better because it’s organic and artificial sweetener free, but it still contains gums and seed oils, and plant protein isn’t my first choice unless you’re vegan.

Collagen is a great extra supplement, but it’s not a complete protein, so I wouldn’t rely on it as your main protein powder.

Ascent Whey is the best protein powder option I found at Costco.

And my best-of-the-best pick is Just Ingredients Grass-Fed Whey.

The goal is not perfection. It’s just learning how to read labels and make better choices when you can.