If you’re following a low carb or ketogenic (keto) diet, you may use protein powders to supplement your diet.

While you can likely meet your protein needs with food alone, protein powders offer a convenient and easy way to increase your intake.

However, choosing the right one to fit your low carb or keto lifestyle can be challenging, as there are countless protein powder forms and sources.

Most protein powders are low in carbohydrates; however, many are made from foods that naturally contain carbohydrates or are blended with carbohydrates.

“Most protein powders are lower in carbohydrates; it often depends on the source they come from, such as dairy, pea proteins, or soy, along with added sugars to increase palatability,” explains Cari Riker, registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist based in Nashville, Tennessee.

We have found the best protein powders to fit a low-carbohydrate diet, many of which are also keto-friendly.

Whey protein (isolate and concentrate)

  • Source: dairy
  • Pros: high quality source of protein that’s easily digested and quickly absorbed (1Trusted Source)
  • Protein volume: whey protein isolate must have at least 89.5% protein by weight, whereas whey protein concentrate is required to have at least 79.5% protein by weight (2Trusted Source)

There are two types of whey protein: concentrate and isolate.

Whey protein isolate is the purest form of whey protein you can buy, and it has the highest percentage of protein and the lowest number of carbs per serving of any whey protein. It contains few — or even zero — carbohydrates per scoop.

Casein protein

  • Source: dairy
  • Pros: slower to digest, which may benefit overnight muscle protein synthesis (3Trusted Source)
  • Protein volume: many casein protein powders have at least 80% protein by weight

Casein is the other milk protein. Unlike whey, casein is digested and absorbed much more slowly, making it a popular choice for overnight recovery.

Casein powders has few carbs and generous amounts of protein. They can also be a source of calcium, an important mineral your body needs for bone health, muscle contractions, and blood clotting (4Trusted Source).

Egg protein

  • Source: eggs
  • Pros: eggs are nutrient-dense; they’re a source of protein, choline, vitamins A, D, and E, and multiple B vitamins (5Trusted Source)
  • Protein volume: protein makes up 12.5% of the weight of a whole egg; the protein percentage of egg-based protein powders varies depending on whether they’re made from egg whites, yolk, or both (5Trusted Source)

Most egg-based protein powders are made from egg white. Egg white protein powders are manufactured by removing the yolks and dehydrating the remaining whites to create a powder.

The egg whites are then pasteurized to deactivate avidin, a protein that inhibits the absorption of biotin, an essential B vitamin (6Trusted Source).

However, some egg protein powders are purely egg yolk, while others are a combination of white and yolk. Depending on the type of egg protein powder you choose, the specific nutrient values for things like cholesterol and protein will vary significantly.

Collagen protein

  • Source: usually cowhide, cow bones, chicken bones, eggshell membranes, and fish scales
  • Pros: may aid in injury prevention when taken prior to exercise; plays a role in skin aging and wound healing (7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source)
  • Protein volume: many collagen supplements are 90% or more protein by weight

Collagen protein powder, or collagen peptides, is often tasteless and unflavored and is made from animal sources.

It’s the most common structural protein in your body, and is found in your hair, skin, nails, bones, ligaments, and tendons (8Trusted Source).

Research shows that collagen may play a role in injury prevention when taken prior to exercise. However, it’s lacking in tryptophan, an essential amino acid, making it an incomplete protein and not optimal for muscle protein synthesis (8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).

Soy protein isolate

Soy protein powder is created by grinding soybeans into a meal and then into soy protein isolate, which is high in protein and very low in carbohydrates (11Trusted Source).

Manufacturers sometimes add sugar or other additives to plant-based protein powders like soy, which increases total carbohydrates. However, this isn’t always the case, which makes it important to check labels carefully.

Studies have shown that soy protein can be as effective for muscle protein synthesis as animal-based protein, including whey (10Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source).

Soy protein is a high quality protein alternative for people allergic to milk or anyone looking for a plant-based protein.

Pea protein isolate

  • Source: peas (legume)
  • Pros: allergy-friendly, high quality protein that may have similar muscle repair and growth benefits to animal protein when eaten after resistance training (13Trusted Source)
  • Protein volume: <85% protein by weight (14Trusted Source)

Peas naturally have between 20% and 25% protein (14Trusted Source).

Like soy protein isolate, pea protein powder is made by grinding dried peas, which naturally contain protein, into a powder and extracting the carbs (15Trusted Source).

However, manufacturers sometimes add sugar — and therefore carbs — to increase palatability, so you’ll want to carefully review ingredient labels.

Rice protein isolate

  • Source: rice
  • Pros: rice is hypoallergenic, so it’s unlikely to cause allergic reactions; plus, this type of protein is plant-based
  • Protein volume: 90% of protein by weight (16Trusted Source)

Rice protein powder is typically made by treating brown rice with enzymes that cause the carbs to separate from the proteins.

All whole grains, including rice, are made up of three parts: bran, endosperm, and germ. The endosperm is the largest part of the grain and is made up of starch and protein (17Trusted Source).

Rice is a source of essential amino acids, but some concentrations are higher than others. For this reason, it’s often used as a blend with other plant-based proteins to improve the amino acid profile (18Trusted Source).

We considered the following factors when choosing protein powders for this article:

  • Third-party testing: We chose only protein powders that have been third-party tested. Most powders listed are either NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Choice Certified.
  • Total carbohydrate content: We chose protein powders with less than 10 grams (g) of carbohydrates per serving.
  • Type of protein: We selected protein powders made from a variety of sources in order to meet the needs of different dietary restrictions and eating patterns.
  • Price: We included protein powders that range in price, to make sure there’s something for everyone’s budget.

Pricing guide

Price ranges are indicated with dollar signs ($–$$$). Protein powders range in price from less than $1 per serving to more than $2 per serving.

  • $ = under $1 per serving
  • $$ = $1–$1.99 per serving
  • $$$ = over $2 per serving
Why Trust Healthline
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protein powders evaluated by our medical standards team
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protein powders met our criteria
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protein powders personally tested by our team
How we evaluate protein powders

Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We fact-check health claims, evaluate ingredients, and look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline.

To choose the products on this page, we considered all the protein powders that passed our vetting process. Then, we personally tested some of them to narrow down our list even further.

Consider these important attributes before choosing a protein powder that will fit into your low carb or keto diet.

  • Third-party testing: It’s important to choose only third-party tested protein powders to ensure the purity and potency of the product you choose. Look for NSF Certified for Sport and Informed Choice Certified products whenever possible.
  • Total carb content: If you’re following a low carb or keto diet, total carbohydrate intake should be kept within a specific range based on the diet you’re following. Most protein powders will have less than 10 g of carbohydrates per serving, with many containing under 5 g. “Some of those carbohydrates can come from added sugars, so looking for a powder that has minimal to no added sugars can help to minimize carbohydrate intake,” Riker said.
  • Protein source: Protein powders are made from many types of proteins. Some are single-source powders, while others are made from a blend of protein sources. Choose a protein powder made from a protein source that fits your dietary restrictions and preferences.
  • Allergens: Some protein powders contain major allergens like milk, soy, tree nuts, or wheat. Read the labels carefully as you shop to ensure the protein powder you choose doesn’t contain an ingredient you need to avoid due to allergies.
  • Cost: Protein powder costs vary widely, and the cost per serving should be considered when choosing the best option for you. This will also make sure that you choose a protein powder that’s financially sustainable, if you choose to take it for a long time.

If you spring for an unflavored animal- or plant-based protein powder, there are several ways to make them tastier while still staying within your daily carbohydrate range:

  • Add small amounts of cocoa powder.
  • Stir the powder into low carb beverages.
  • Drizzle in sugar-free syrups.
  • Spoon in artificial sweeteners like Splenda or natural sweeteners, including stevia or monk fruit extract.
  • Use unflavored protein powders in baking.
  • Stir in sugar-free, flavored pudding mixes.
  • Add natural flavor extracts or spices, such as cinnamon.

Yes, protein powder can be a good choice for those on a low carb diet if you need a convenient way to boost total protein intake. Many protein powders are very low in carbohydrates, especially those made without added sugar or other carbohydrate sources.

Building muscle requires following an exercise training regimen incorporating strength training while meeting daily energy and protein needs.

Protein powders can help ensure you’re getting sufficient protein to support muscle maintenance and repair, but your total energy needs must also be met.

Low carbohydrate protein powders made from high quality protein sources that contain the essential amino acids required to promote muscle growth and maintenance are similarly effective as regular protein powders that contain more carbohydrates.

Some research indicates that eating a combination of protein and carbohydrates after exercise is more beneficial for muscle protein synthesis than eating protein alone (25).

Protein powders can be a convenient addition to the diet, but they shouldn’t be used as the primary source of protein.

“Although protein powders can be a convenient way to help meet increased protein needs, trying to meet your protein requirements from whole foods can help ensure you are consuming other nutrients your body needs and can be more satisfying than replacing a meal with a protein powder,” said Riker.

The bottom line

Protein powders are an easy and versatile way to supplement your diet.

Many are inherently low in carbs, but some manufacturers often add sugar or other ingredients to improve flavor, which increases total carbohydrates.

Each type of protein offers unique benefits and can be a potentially beneficial low carb addition to your diet.

Choose from several protein powders that best fit your needs to optimize your low carb or keto diet based on your preferences and goals.

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