The Best 15 Cheap Whey Protein Powders

Are you looking for cheap whey protein powder in the UK? If so, you’ll be glad to know that OriGym has got the perfect product list for you. We understand how important it is to find the right whey protein powder when you're shopping on a budget. 

That’s why we have tried and tested thousands of cheap whey protein powders and whittled it down to the top 15 products available in terms of quality for the price that you are paying. 

Before we get started, with our reviews of the best budget whey protein in the UK, if a career in nutrition is something that interests you, why not take a look at our Level 4 Sports Nutrition Course. You can become a nutritionist to help clients develop their nutrition knowledge and provide meal plan guidance to help them live healthier lives.

For further information on the courses that we offer here at OriGym, download our free prospectus here.

What is cheap whey protein?

Whey protein is a protein isolated from whey. It is the liquid part of milk which separates during cheese production. Not only is it typically quite cheap if you shop around as you'll see from our list of products below, but it is also a really effective way of boosting your daily protein intake in no time at all.  

When you buy whey protein for cheaper it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are buying a lesser grade product; some companies simply buy protein in bulk to make it cheaper to sell on to their customers. 

If you take a look online, the competition for selling protein is high and that’s why some companies decide to make their protein cheaper, as they are able to make their product more appealing to potential customers.

Cheap VS Expensive Protein Powder

Before we get into our list of the cheapest whey protein powders, we’re going to briefly discuss the pros and cons of both cheap and expensive protein powder!

Pros of Buying Cheap Whey Protein

Cost Effective

Whenever you’re looking to buy whey protein online, cost always plays a part in deciding whether or not you should go for a particular option. 

If you use protein powder regularly, it only makes sense that you’ll want to look for a cheaper alternative. And if there are cheap whey protein powders out there that are just as good as the more expensive options, why would you spend the extra money?

The only issue with this approach is that finding the balance between cost and quality is tough without trying out tons of different products. 

One way to ensure a cost effective approach to buying decent protein is to buy in bulk at a discounted price. Or, you can check out our reviews just below to find our favourite cheap but high-quality whey protein products!

Bulk Buying  

As we briefly mentioned above, buying cheap whey protein in bulk is typically much more cost effective than buying smaller packets as it drives down the price per serving. 

Thanks to the fact that protein powder is such a dry substance, buying in bulk really isn’t an issue as long as you use your protein powder within 6 months of opening it.

Not only does buying whey protein powder in bulk reduce the cost per 100 grams, but buying a larger tub of protein means less frequent online purchases and fewer trips to the shops. This will help you to save money and even save on the delivery costs of your protein!

Cons of Buying Whey Protein for Cheap 

Questionable Ingredients

Sometimes when you buy whey protein online for cheap, some ingredients will not help you in terms of your fitness goals. 

If you’re using the protein to gain muscle mass or lose weight, you should be aware that some cheap protein powders may include artificial sugars or flavourings to disguise the taste of a poor quality product. 

Now that we’ve discussed the pros and cons of buying a cheaper whey protein, let’s move on to discuss the pros and cons of buying expensive protein.

Poor quality raw ingredients

Often when you come across cheap whey protein powders, you will see 'whey concentrate' on the ingredients list instead of the more expensive 'whey isolate'. 

Whey protein concentrate costs far less to produce in comparison to whey isolate. This is because there are more steps to extract whey isolate from milk and thus, the cost is far higher. 

Therefore, some protein companies will offer a blend of both whey concentrate and whey isolate to keep costs down.

Low content of protein

Not all protein powders will have the same amount of protein per serving. More expensive whey protein may contain a higher percentage of between 70-90% of protein per serving. 

Whereas, cheap protein powders may use as little as 30-40% of protein per serving. 

There will be a higher content of carbohydrates and fats with filler ingredients such as thickening agents to bulk up the shake and keep costs down.

Pros of Expensive Protein Powders

High-quality Ingredients

Buying a more expensive protein powder may mean that the product is made of ingredients like whey isolate or made with organic ingredients which are far more effective than some cheaper alternatives. 

Protein is, of course, the main ingredient in the powder and most cases, the type of protein the brand will use will be of higher quality and will correlate with how efficient the protein powder will be in absorption rates.

Rigorous Testing 

When a protein powder is expensive, the company will want to make sure the product is top of the range. 

If a company is going to sell a product at a premium price, they will want to assure their customers that it’s worth the money. 

Therefore, the protein will undergo rigorous testing with scientist providing evidence to prove the protein powder will be the best on the market.

Cons of Expensive Protein

Not cost effective

Just because the protein is more expensive, it doesn’t mean it is the best. Several protein companies tend to claim a range of benefits to entice you to purchase their protein.

You should carry out further research and see if buying the expensive protein will benefit you and your fitness goals. If you could get the same results from cheaper whey protein, why wouldn’t you go for the cheaper alternative?

Now that we’ve explained what it is, let us find out where to buy cheap whey protein!

15 Best Cheap Whey Protein Powders (UK)

1. Innermost Whey Protein Shake

Price: £29.95

Innermost as a company are ahead of the competition in terms of sourcing the ingredients for their shakes. Plus, with awards from Men’s Health in the category of ‘The Game Changer Award,’ this company is certainly going places.  

At £29.95, their product isn’t the cheapest whey protein shake you may have come across online, but if we break down all the ingredients into their subcategories you will begin to realise how good this protein powder is in terms of quality for the price that you are paying. 

The whey protein per serving is one of the best on this list. At 34g of protein per serving, this product will make sure you will hit your protein goals in no time at all.

The Innermost The Strong Protein also includes casein protein, and if you haven't heard of casein before, you should know that it’s a slower digesting protein that is perfect if you tend to drink your shakes in the evening. 

The Montmorency cherries included in the shake have anti-inflammatory properties which help to reduce any major damage from intensive exercise. The bilberries included aid cardiovascular health, glucose control and any inflammation within the body.

Magnesium also helps to regulate your blood pressure and keep your bones strong. 

Like with most premium whey protein powders, this protein powder also includes 3g of creatine and this helps your muscles recover quicker during exercise.  

All in all, this is a great product due to the quality of the ingredients that are listed above, and this makes it one of the best cheap protein powders on the market.

2. Pulsin Whey Protein Concentrate

Price: £8.99 (250g)

As you would expect from a health food brand, Pulsin’s whey protein concentrate is made using hormone-free, non-genetically modified milk from European grass-fed cows, and is one of the most natural offerings on our list.

Alongside being environmentally friendly, this protein powder is great as it provides you with all of the amino acids that the body cannot make itself, and contains no fillers, sugars, or sweeteners.

In fact, one 30g serving provides 24g grams of protein, and only 120 calories!

Pulsin’s cheap whey protein offering is also rich in calcium, as well as being gluten free and suitable for vegetarians.

3. PBN Cheap Diet Whey Protein 1kg Pouch

Price: £14.99

This PBN Diet Whey is great if you’re looking for whey protein on a budget. 

Available in chocolate, strawberry and vanilla, it’s readily available on Amazon with 4.5 stars from almost a thousand ratings. 

All products from PBN are blended and packaged in the UK and it follows the highest standards and uses only premium ingredients. 

This diet protein powder contains 16.5g of protein and 101 calories per serving from a blend of whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate. If you didn’t know the difference between isolate and concentrate is that whey isolate undergoes more processing.

Whey isolate normally contains a higher protein content with fewer carbohydrates, fat and lactose, whereas whey concentrate contains more carbohydrates and fats and is effectively cheaper than isolate. 

The PBN also includes green tea extract to aid your metabolism and boost weight loss, and flaxseed powder for omega 3.

It has a sweet taste as well as a creamy texture, and is overall a cheap and good whey protein powder to have in your cupboard! 

4. BULK Mass Gainer 

Price: £11.69 (1kg)

If you’re looking for a cheap whey protein for bodybuilding, this will be your answer!

With just one serving, you can get up to 40g of protein which is a fantastic return considering the price of this protein. 

This is one of Bulk Powder’s most popular protein powders, one serving contains over 500 calories and would be perfect for people who are looking to increase their calorie intake. 

This very cheap whey protein is fortified with additional amino acids such as leucine which is an essential amino acid necessary for the buildup of new muscle.

Bulk Powders have also included an ultra-fine blend of Scottish Oats as a source of high-fibre carbohydrates. 

With a blend of 40% whey protein concentrate, 40% milk protein concentrate and 20% egg white powder, the Complete Mass protein power will deliver energy to your body at different speeds of absorption. 

From just one shake you will receive a 4-8 hour supplementation clock which is fantastic. It is up for debate whether or not this is the best whey protein, cheap or not!

It is available in six flavours including chocolate mint, chocolate cookies, strawberry, vanilla and banana.

5. MyProtein Cheap 100 Whey Protein

Price: £16.20 

If you’re looking for a good, cheap whey protein powder, then you can’t go wrong with the MyProtein Impact Whey. 

Using only the finest ingredients, MyProtein's Impact Whey Protein contains 100% whey protein concentrate in their unflavoured and a minimum of 95% in their flavoured varieties.

Being one of the go-to protein powders on the market, Myprotein's Impact Whey Protein is also one of the best budget whey protein powders at under £17 per kilo. 

Each serving packs 21g of high grade protein with 3.6g of glutamine per serving, 2g of leucine for essential amino acid building blocks and 4.5g of BCAAs.

MyProtein Impact Whey Protein Powder comes in over 60 different flavour varieties which include, 'Rocky Road', 'Salted Caramel', 'Sticky Toffee Pudding', 'Marzipan', 'Creme Brulee', 'Eton Mess', and 'Blueberry Cheesecake' plus more refined varieties such as 'Irish Coffee' and 'Earl Grey'.

6. SCI-MX Nutrition Ultra Whey Protein

Price: £17.95

Dedicated to offering premium quality supplements at fantastic prices, SCI-MX is one of the best protein companies in the world. 

Working with the world’s leading universities, sports research institutes and their products produced under pharmaceutical conditions, SCI-MX has have perfected the craft in creating protein powders. 

Unlike other protein powders, the SCI-MX Nutrition Ultra Whey Protein is cold processed and is made up of a blend of premium whey protein concentrate, hydrolysate and whey isolate. 

The reason why SCI-MX have gone to this cold filtration process is it prevents any damage to the structure of the proteins in the whey. It also preserves nutrients which other forms of processing can damage meaning you will get all the macros that have been listed. 

One 45g serving of this whey protein will deliver 179 calories and 35g of protein, which is fantastic for a low cost whey protein. 

SCI-MX Nutrition Whey Protein is the perfect product to help with recovery and help rebuild muscles after working out.

Brilliant as a milk substitute with breakfast cereals, in shakes and even bakes, the SCI-MX Nutrition Ultra Whey Protein is a great quality protein at a brilliant price point.

7. MyProtein Clear Whey Isolate

Price: £26.99 (20 Servings)

If you’re wanting to make cheap whey protein shakes, but aren’t a fan of rich, milky drinks, then this Clear Whey Isolate from MyProtein is the perfect alternative.

Clear Whey is a light, refreshing, juice-like drink, that comes in a wide range of fruity flavours, including orange mango, mojito, and rainbow candy.

This unique protein powder is made from hydrolysed whey protein, which is made when protein chains are broken down into smaller segments using enzymes. Consequently, this gives a much purer form of whey protein.

MyProtein’s cheap whey protein isolate contains less than 90 calories per shake, along with just 0.1g of fat, and 0.3g of sugar. However, it still manages to pack in an impressive 20g of protein per serving!

Also containing 4g of BCAAs and 3g Glutamine, essential nutrients which stimulate muscle growth and reduce muscle breakdown, why not give this one a go if you’re looking for a protein powder with a difference?

8. Bulk Natural Pure Whey Protein

Price: £13.19 (500g)

If you’re wondering, ‘what is the cheapest whey protein in the UK’? This will be your answer. 

Bulk Powders offers the UK's cheapest whey protein but still has high-quality ingredients in every scoop. 

As Europe’s fastest growing sports nutrition brand, Bulk Powders buy ingredients at high volume without sacrificing on quality, providing the very best, cheap whey protein in the UK. 

Bulk Powders Natural Pure Whey uses whey protein sourced from European grass-fed cows milk which is free from antibiotics, genetic modification and hormones. Bulk Powders are still using the same trusted supplier for their milk since their founding in 2005. 

One serving of this cheap whey protein powder will have 22g of protein.

The Natural Pure Whey Protein is also flavoured by Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni which is the sweetest and purest form of stevia extract available. Whereas, other cheap whey protein products tend to use sucralose to keep costs down.

This powder is also complete with Glutamine and BCAAs. If you haven’t heard of Glutamine before, it’s an important amino acid as it is the building block for protein and vital for your immune system. 

Likewise, BCAAs otherwise known as Branch Chain Amino Acids are amino acids which are not produced within the body. The three main branches of amino acids are: 

• Leucine - The most important out of the 3 as it helps stimulate protein synthesis within the body. 
• Isoleucine - Essential for the production and formation of haemoglobin. It also helps with the production of red blood cells. 
• Valine - This amino acid helps promote muscle growth and repairs tissue within the body. 

Having these BCAA’s will help to boost muscle growth and enhance physical performance. 

Bulk Powders only uses 100% natural flavourings and sweeteners with no additives and the powder are available in flavours chocolate and strawberry.

9. Optimum Nutrition - Gold Standard Whey Protein

Price: £22.49

The Cheap Gold Standard Optimum Nutrition is a staple in most bodybuilders’ cupboards. 

This protein has stood the test of time, the Gold Standard Optimum Nutrition is the world’s number one best selling whey protein powder which is widely beloved by pro-athletes. 

Each serving packs 24g of blended whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate and hydrolysed whey isolate. It also delivers 5.5g of BCAAs and 4g of glutamine for muscle recovery.

There are 15 available flavours to choose from. This includes 'Double Rich Chocolate', 'Caramel Toffee Fudge', 'Cookies & Cream', and 'French Vanilla Crème', perfect if you have a sweet tooth. 

10. Bulk Pure Whey Protein Isolate

Price: £15.39 (500g)

Coming in at a whopping 24g protein per 30g serving, if you’re looking for a cheap pure whey protein then this one from Bulk is a great choice!

With hundreds of five-star customer reviews, this one is a firm favourite over many other popular protein powders, as whey protein isolate contains a much higher percentage of protein in comparison to normal whey protein.

This is because there is an increased production process to create whey isolates, meaning that they are usually much more expensive. However, Bulk have been able to create a cheap whey protein isolate, without compromising on quality!

As well as quality, Bulk also haven’t compromised on taste, despite their protein powder being extra filtered to contain less than 1g of sugar and fat per serving.

Alongside chocolate, strawberry, and banana, there are a wide range of flavours including birthday cake, chocolate malted honeycomb, and pistachio ice cream, designed for those with more adventurous tastebuds!

11. The Bulk Protein Company SERIOUS GAINZ 

Price: £23.99 

This probably is the cheapest whey protein powder you can find online, the Bulk Protein Company SERIOUS GAINZ is available in a 5kg tub and comes in at £0.15 per serving. 

With 30 grams of protein per serving, SERIOUS GAINZ delivers 468 calories in every shake! This is ideal if you’re looking to increase your calorie intake. 

This cheap protein powder uses a blend of soy protein, whey protein isolate and casein protein as we just wanted to make you aware that this isn’t a 100% whey protein product. 

However, if you’re looking to buy cheap whey protein in bulk, this certainly is for you. 

The powder is available in flavours chocolate, vanilla, banana and strawberry with a brilliant 4 stars from over three hundred ratings on Amazon, you would be a fool to miss out on if you’re looking for a cheap 5kg whey protein powder.

12. THE PROTEIN WORKS Whey Protein 80

Price: £23.49 

If you’re looking to buy some of the best protein then look no further than this product from the Protein Works. 

This specific Whey Protein 80 product has won an award for the ‘Best Protein’ in the FSN Product Awards. Like Bulk Powders, The Protein Works were able to meet the standards and specifications of their higher-priced products.

This is because, as a large, established supplement brand, they're able to buy premium base ingredients in bulk. 

Their Whey Protein 80 is 100% pure whey protein concentrate with one 25g serving packing up to 82% protein and a macronutrient breakdown of 20.6g of protein in just 101 calories. 

Whey Protein 80 is available in 15 flavour varieties a selection of a few which includes 'Cherry Bakewell', 'Millionaire's Shortbread', and 'Butterscotch Ripple'. 

The Protein Works offers premium quality and award-winning protein at a competitive price point. 

13. Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass 

Price: £25.99 

Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass packs more than 1260 kcal per serving which is designed to increase calorie intake.  It’s one of the most recognised sports supplements brands and it costs £25.99 for over 2 kilos of protein. 

One serving contains 50g of protein, over 250g of carbohydrate, a nutrient blend of 24 vitamins and minerals with added 3g of Creatine.

Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass is not only just a protein supplement, but it can be used also as a meal replacement shake complete with the important vitamin and minerals boost in just two heaped scoops. 

With 4.5 stars on Amazon UK from over 25,366 ratings, you know this brand can be trusted. 

The Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass flavours are available in banana, chocolate, chocolate mint, chocolate peanut butter, cookies and cream, strawberry, and vanilla.

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14. Premium Body Nutrition Whey Protein

Price: £25.99

Another product from PBN, this time their original whey formula, at £25.99 for over 2 kilos, this is a brilliant budget whey powder packing 23g of protein per serving. 

The flavours are available in banana, chocolate, chocolate hazelnut, chocolate peanut, coconut, cookies and cream, strawberry, and vanilla, each 2.27kg tub contains 75 Servings.

Made in the UK using high-quality ingredients, PBN uses a blend of whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate. 

15. PhD Nutrition Diet Whey Protein

Price: £28.79 

A brilliant choice if you’re looking for a cheap diet whey protein, The PhD Nutrition Diet Whey Protein Powder uses a premium blend of whey protein concentrate, milk protein concentrate, and soy protein isolate. 

It includes golden brown flaxseed powder for essential fatty acids and green tea extract to help increase your metabolism.

It also includes L-Carnitine essential to encourage the breakdown of stored fat.

If you haven’t heard of L-Carnitine before, it’s a nutrient you need to help transport fatty acids into the cell’s mitochondria. From there, your cells will burn the fats to create usable energy.

Each serving of the PhD Nutrition Diet Whey Protein Powder packs 91 calories and 19g of protein. 

At £28.79 for a 2kg bag, this is one of the cheapest whey protein powders available on the market today. 

PhD Nutrition Diet Whey Protein Powder is available in 11 decadent flavours including 'Birthday Cake', 'Cherry Bakewell', 'Chocolate Mint', and 'Raspberry and White Chocolate'.

Before You Go! 

Well, there you have it! You now know where to buy whey protein for cheap.  

These protein powders are the best ones you can find online and without doubt, and we’re sure you’re going to love any of these protein powders on this list! 

If this article has inspired you to take the next steps and become a nutritionist, take a look at OriGym’s Level 4 Sports Nutrition Course! Otherwise, download our prospectus for further information about our other courses.