For some time now the two best selling whey protein powders on Amazon have been Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey and Bulk Powders Pure Whey.
And understandably there seems to be an ever increasing number of people wanting to know just what the difference between them is.
And, supposing there are any major differences, which one is the best.
So we decided to compare the two of them and find out. We looked at the differences and the similarities to see if we could come up with a clear winner.
Hopefully, if you are trying to decide which one is best for you, or you’re looking to change from one to the other but don’t know if you should, this will help.
Bulk Powders vs Optimum Nutrition – What Are The Differences?
Let’s start by taking a look at the actual protein source in each one:
Bulk Powders Pure Whey:
Bulk Powders Pure Whey is made solely from a premium quality undenatured whey protein concentrate.
The protein in Pure Whey is sourced from grass-fed cattle grazed on fresh pasture at one of the leading dairies in Europe.
Protein made from the milk of grass-fed cows is the highest quality, and most nutritious there is.
Another thing you’ll notice immediately about Bulk Powders Pure Whey is the packaging.
One of the things Bulk Powders do to keep their prices as low as possible is to package their protein powders in resealable pouches instead of tubs.
This tactic is definitely paying off as 1 kg of Pure Whey costs £17.99 per kilo which is less than 908 g of Gold Standard Whey which costs £25.29 per kilo. Read more on Bulk Powders Pure Whey.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey:
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey is a triple protein blend, unlike Pure Whey above which is derived from just one protein source.
The protein blend in Gold Standard Whey consists of whey protein isolates, whey protein concentrate and whey peptides.
Whey protein isolate is the main ingredient and also the purest form of whey known to man.
Each of these 3 different proteins has a different absorption rate meaning you get a longer lasting anabolic environment than you do with a single source whey protein.
As you can see Gold Standard Whey comes in plastic tubs like most other protein powders.
There is also quite a difference in price with Gold Standard Whey coming in at £25.29 a kilo. A full £7.30 more than the cost of a kilo of Pure Whey. Read more on Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey.
How They Differ On Effectiveness…
We found both protein powders had a positive effect on recovery rates.
However we find that we experience more noticeable improvements in recovery when using Gold Standard Whey.
There is less muscle soreness following workouts and performance is slightly improved as well.
And Now Let’s Look At The Similarities…
Nutritionally both Pure Whey and Gold Standard Whey are very similar indeed:
Bulk Powders Pure Whey contains 24 g of protein in each serving. It also has 5.3 g of BCAA’s. Less than 2.3 g of carbs and 2.5 g of fat. All for a total of 125 calories:
Gold Standard Whey has 24 g of protein per serving. It is slightly higher in BCAA’s than Pure Whey, with 5.5 g and has over 4 g of glutamine and glutamic acid as well. It has 3 g per serving of carbs and 1 g of fat. All for just 120 calories:
Who Are They Designed To Benefit?
Both these protein powders are aimed at the same groups of people.
So if you’re an athlete or gym-goer who needs extra protein to increase your muscle mass, improve your recovery rates and repair muscle damaged during your workouts, you can benefit from either of them.
They will also be suitable for anyone who is just looking to increase their daily protein intake healthily.
On Taste, Texture And Mixability…
We found that both these protein powders produced very drinkable and pretty great tasting shakes.
If a great taste is something you look for in a shake be careful when ordering Bulk Powders Pure Whey. They have an unflavoured option so if that’s not what you want make sure you don’t order it by mistake.
We’re not saying you would, but accidents can happen when you’re in a rush.
Both Gold Standard Whey and Pure Whey have been ‘instantised‘ for easy mixing. This just means that they dissolve well quickly when added to water, or milk if you prefer, or any other liquid of your choice.
We found this to be true for both powders. They both mixed quickly and easily to produce smooth, creamy shakes. No lumps or grittiness. And that’s when you mix it with water or milk in just a shaker cup.
The Verdict…
Bulk Powders vs Optimum Nutrition – Which Is The Best?
Let’s start by saying we consider Bulk Powders Pure Whey and Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey to both be excellent choices of protein powder.
However the one that comes out on top for us has to be Gold Standard Whey.
The time release triple protein blend does make a significant difference.
And when you’re training hard in the gym and refuelling with the right protein supplement, the difference can be very significant indeed.
Is It Worth Paying The Extra Money For?
The short answer is YES!
Gold Standard Whey may be more expensive than Pure Whey but if it’s within your price range we strongly recommend you grab a tub and try it for yourself.
It hasn’t got to be the world’s best selling protein powder for nothing.
Having said that, if Gold Standard Whey is a little out of your price range at the moment, don’t worry.
You are still going to get some great results using Pure Whey. It ‘s a top quality protein remember, from some of the best grass-fed cows in Europe.
Plus you may find it every bit as effective as we found Gold Standard Whey to be.
The Bottom Line…
If it’s within your budget, go for Gold Standard Whey, and if it’s not then get some Pure Whey.
The difference in effectiveness is there, but its not a dramatic difference like you’d find between a protein powder and a mass gainer for example.
For some more in depth information, check out our Gold Standard Whey review and our Pure Whey review, or our reviews of the 10 best protein powders for 2018.
