Packing on serious size isn’t just about crushing weights in the gym. If you want real gains, you need fuel, and sometimes regular food just doesn’t cut it. That’s where mass gainers come in.
These calorie-loaded shakes are built to feed your muscles, keep you in a surplus, and move the scale in the right direction without wasting time. In this guide, we break down the 10 best mass gainers on the market so you know exactly which ones are worth your money and which ones to skip.
These are the 10 best mass gainers you can buy. No matter what kind of mass gainer supplement you are looking for, you will find it here.
Best Mass Gainer Overall
Transparent Labs by Mass Gainer
Transparent Labs nailed this one. Their mass gainer isn’t just another tub of powder on the shelf, it’s built with purpose. The ingredients are clean, the ratio of protein to carbs is on point, and every scoop feels like it was designed to actually work, not just fill space on a nutrition label.
The label itself is fully transparent, which tells you right away there’s nothing shady hiding inside. No mystery blends, no filler junk. Just the good stuff. If you’re the type who doesn’t want to waste time testing random brands, this is the one you grab first.
Each serving hits you with 750 calories, 53 grams of protein, and 109 grams of carbs. The protein comes from grass-fed whey concentrate, while the carbs are pulled from real sources like sweet potato, oats, and tapioca. On top of that, they throw in MCTs, coconut milk powder, and creatine monohydrate so your workouts don’t just feel fueled, they feel charged. It’s clean, powerful, and your body actually knows what to do with it.
Mix it with milk, not water, if you want to squeeze every ounce of growth out of it. Flavors keep it simple but solid with Cookies N Cream and Sweet Vanilla. Price-wise, it runs higher than some, but you’re paying for quality, not fluff. Grab multiple tubs or drop in the code TL10 at checkout and the cost starts to look a whole lot friendlier.
Pros
The best mass gainer protein powder from a trusted brand
Crazy Nutrition pulled off something most companies can’t. They made a mass gainer that’s affordable without cutting corners, and honestly, that shocked me. Usually the budget option tastes like chalk or skips the good stuff, but this one actually holds its own against pricier tubs.
Each serving gives you 390 calories, 50 grams of protein, and 100 grams of carbs. The protein is straight from whey, sweet potato, and flaxseed, which means it’s not just empty calories. They even tossed in creatine monohydrate for strength and muscle growth, plus digestive enzymes so you’re not walking around bloated all day.
The taste is another win. Only two flavors, vanilla and chocolate, but both actually taste like something you’d want to drink instead of choke down. It’s clean, it’s gluten-free, and it doesn’t scream “cheap,” even though the price tag says otherwise.
You can snag free shipping if your order clears $50, and buying multiple tubs brings the price down even further. It’s not quite as polished as the premium picks, but when you look at what you’re paying, your wallet is going to thank you.
Beast Mass doesn’t tiptoe around. This thing is built for people who want to load up on calories and carbs without apology. Crack open the label and it smacks you right away with 263 grams of carbs and nearly 1,300 calories per serving. That’s not just a shake, that’s a full-blown meal that laughs at whatever you had planned for dinner.
But here’s the kicker, it’s not just raw numbers. Each scoop packs 55 grams of protein from five different sources, plus essential fatty acids that help keep your gains lean instead of sloppy. They even worked in digestive enzymes so your body actually uses what you’re pouring in, instead of making you feel like you swallowed a brick.
Quality-wise, it checks the boxes. Made in the US, produced in a GMP-certified facility, and it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee in case you somehow don’t feel the difference. Flavors stick with the classics, vanilla and chocolate, and both are easy to get down without making a face.
It’s heavy, it’s dense, and if you’re chasing serious size, Beast Mass is the kind of fuel that pushes you past plateaus.
Pros
1,300 calories and 260 grams of carb
Has digestive enzymes so you can absorb the nutrients better
Transparent Labs is back on the list, and for good reason. Earlier it stood out as the overall best mass gainer, but it also earns a second spot as the top choice if your main goal is building lean muscle. That alone should tell you something about the quality here.
To pack on lean size, you need more than just calories, you need clean, high-quality protein in serious amounts. This gainer delivers with 740 calories and a hefty serving of 100% grass-fed whey concentrate that’s free of hormones and fillers. Mix it with milk and you’ve got the kind of shake that helps you gain muscle without sacrificing definition.
The ProteinSeries label is as no-nonsense as it gets. No artificial junk, no hidden blends, just the nutrients you need to grow. On top of that, they add creatine monohydrate, which gives you the extra push to turn those extra calories into strength and performance in the gym.
That’s why Transparent Labs shows up here twice. It doesn’t just help you bulk, it helps you build muscle that actually looks and performs the way you want it to.
Pros
Has Creatine Monohydrate for boosting gym performance
Vegan Naked Mass grabbed our attention right away, and it didn’t take long to see why it stands out as the best vegan option. The formula hits the sweet spot with two quality plant proteins, then takes things up a notch by adding organic maltodextrin for that extra burst of workout power.
For anyone who calls themselves a hard gainer, this stuff is a lifesaver. One serving slams you with 1,250 calories and 250 grams of carbs. That’s the kind of fuel that finally tips the scale in your favor and makes adding size feel possible instead of impossible.
The backbone here is simple but effective. Pea protein, rice protein, organic maltodextrin, and a full range of essential aminos to keep muscle growth steady. Naked Nutrition also leans into sustainable practices, which gives it an edge over a lot of competitors that just throw together a “vegan” label without putting real thought behind it.
The details are worth mentioning too. The maltodextrin comes from tapioca, so it’s gluten-free and naturally sweet. The peas are grown in North America, non-GMO, and clean. Flavors are straightforward with natural, chocolate, and vanilla, and they all mix well enough that you don’t dread the next shake.
At the end of the day, Vegan Naked Mass is one of the rare plant-based gainers that actually delivers what it promises. It fuels you, it’s clean, and it makes bulking without animal protein feel not just doable, but smart.
Pros
Truly vegan and free of animal-based proteins
Organic maltodextrin is an excellent addition
Substantial numbers in the protein and caloric department
Taste can make or break a mass gainer. If every shake feels like a chalky punishment, you’re not going to stick with it, no matter how good the label looks. That’s exactly why we carved out a spot for the best tasting option, and Authentic Mass by Jacked Factory takes it without question.
The flavor lineup is simple, just chocolate and vanilla, but here’s the thing—both are actually good. Not “good for a protein shake” good, but genuinely enjoyable. Blend it with milk if you want a creamier texture and some bonus calories, or just use cold water and it still goes down smooth.
Part of the reason it works so well is the ingredient choice. No artificial junk, no added sugars, just sweet potato powder and tapioca maltodextrin for a natural touch of sweetness. The label is fully transparent too, so you know exactly what’s in it and what isn’t.
Nutritionally, it brings 53 grams of carbs along with MCTs and digestive enzymes that help your body actually use what you’re putting in. Calories land at 390 per serving, which is on the lighter side, but honestly that just gives you the perfect excuse to throw in another scoop without hesitation.
Authentic Mass is one of those rare products that makes bulking feel less like a chore and more like something you look forward to.
Naked Mass is exactly what it says, with the label showing only three main ingredients and ‘nothing to hide’. After trying it out, we say the claims are true and you have nothing to worry about when it comes to additives, fillers and whatnot.
So, what are these three things that make up Naked Mass? It’s casein, whey and maltodextrin, a blend of both slow and fast absorbed proteins and complex carbs. We like how Naked Nutrition didn’t put all the proteins in a single category- slow and quick is the best, especially when you want to be sustained throughout the day with protein (and calories).
The total protein is 50g and 1,250 calories per serving, which should be enough to put on mass if you do it consistently. As for the flavors, you get the usual Vanilla, Chocolate and Unflavored variants depending on your preference.
Of course, with a zero artificial product, it has to be GMO, gluten and soy-free, which is exactly what Naked Mass does. You also get a smattering of essential vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and vitamin A, among others.
Naked Nutrition has some pretty good deals for its product, with savings options and installments available for those who need it. For instance, you can subscribe and save 8%, or get a packet and pay for it in four installments.
Pros
No artificial flavors, palm oil, xanthan gum, etc.
Mass Jym is quality through and through, with a superb protein blend leading the pack quickly followed by a carb blend and a great supporting cast of fatty acids.
It’s easy to see that Mass Jym pays special attention to detail, with not just one but three blends for its macronutrients. First, there’s the protein blend which consists of slow- and fast-digesting proteins in the form of casein (from milk protein isolate and micellar protein), whey protein from whey isolate and egg white protein. All of them combine for a complex protein chain at 30 grams per serving.
Let’s move on to the carbs blend. The 30 grams contains high glycemic and low glycemic content at a 1:1 ratio for lean muscle development, made from oat fiber, isomaltulose and pea starch to round out the details. There’s also a 5g fat blend, including CLA and both saturated and unsaturated fat.
Very few other mass gainer products offer this kind of quality, and for this reason, Mass Jym is undisputed in the ‘best high quality’ department. Oh, and before we forget, it boasts some of the most interesting flavors too, with Apple Fritter, Tahitian Vanilla Bean and Chocolate Mousse all having great profiles.
Pros
Multiple, high-quality protein sources of both slow- and fast-absorbing variety
Love shopping on Amazon and getting your mass gainer there? We respect that. Aside from exclusive discounts, Amazon Prime customers can get theirs sooner with faster shipping. As long as you’re on the platform, we recommend picking up Serious Mass from Optimum Nutrition.
Why Serious Mass, though? Its numbers speak volumes when it comes to adding much-needed weight. Each serving contains 250-plus carbohydrates, 50g of protein and 1,250 calories. It’s a good option for when you need an in-between or post-workout shake and to avoid getting caloric deficiency.
Serious Mass has a plethora of supporting nutrients as well, with 3g of creatine monohydrate and 25 essential vitamins and minerals for overall health.
Customer reviews are mostly positive, which means Optimum Nutrition is doing something right with its product. Most of the complaints are about the taste, but it’s cost-friendly and priced much lower than premium mass gainers.
Flavor-wise, you can choose from Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Vanilla and Strawberry. You can also pick the size- either 6 lbs. or 12 lbs., but we recommend the smaller pack if you’re just starting it out.
Oat-based mass gainers have a lot going for them, but Muscle Feast has somehow elevated it to a higher level. The clear winner is the healthy carbs from the oats, which make you feel fuller for longer and allow you to work out without feeling tired or sluggish.
Muscle Feast’s product is certified vegan by the American Vegetarian Association and gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Organization. It’s pure, clean and 100% natural, with the oats sourced from whole products and contains zero additives and GMOs.
Oats are good for those who don’t want blood sugar spikes, either for their health condition or for experiencing highs and lows during training. Slow digesting complex carbs round out at 27g and come from North America.
Calories per serving are 142, while protein is only at 7 grams. You’ll probably need to supplement with extra protein from grass-fed and natural sources to really get that lean muscle mass, but you might have a different goal that doesn’t need an addition.
At the end of the day, you’re getting high-quality, oat-based complex carbs that can supplement your lifestyle or training goals. If this is the case, make no other purchase but Whole Oat Powder Nutrition!
Pros
Made from 100% natural, non-GMO and vegan whole oat powder
The process of gaining mass doesn’t necessarily happen overnight, or for a few weeks either. That said, investing in a mass gainer is somewhat a long-term commitment since you’ll want to take it consistently.
This brings us to the point of cost per serving, or the price. We do not recommend using mass gainers as meal replacements because they’re meant to supplement your caloric, carb and protein intake. This means you’ll be spending extra money, which is actually okay if you have a mass gainer that works for you.
Paying too much is not an option for most of us, so we cut out mass gainers that are expensive and those that are overpriced.
Protein to Carb Ratio
Protein and carbs go hand in hand as they’re two of the three macronutrients you should be counting every day.
The ideal ratio of protein to carb is somewhere around 1:2, which means if a mass gainer product has 50g of protein it has to have 100g of carbs for the best effect. You’ll need protein to convert all that mass to muscle and carb for the fuel you’ll need to turn it that way (via workouts, training and exercise).
The ratio can be a bit skewed depending on your personal nutritional needs, but for building lean muscle we recommend the 1:2 ratio.
Nutrients
The 3 major nutrients we looked at are protein, carbohydrates and calories, all of which are essential in gaining weight and packing on muscle.
It should go without saying that these three should come from high-quality and clean sources. Digestive enzymes that help absorb them are a welcome plus, as are amino acids and MCT.
Generally speaking, the more nutrients packed per serving the better. However, it has to come from clean sources, and it has to have zero fillers.
Manufacturer Reputation
This is pretty straightforward. We look at mass gainers from brands such as Transparent Labs, Naked Nutrition, Muscle Feast, Jacked Factory and Beast Sports and favor them above no-names because they have established themselves as leaders in the world of sports and bodybuilding nutritional products.
It’s not enough to chalk up your calorie count as a ‘crap ton’ because then you’d be committing a cardinal sin.
If you’re really serious about mass gain, then you better brush up on your math and start counting your calories in a day-to-day manner. This prevents caloric deficits and puts you on a nice path to building the body you want.
Watch Your Micronutrients
The good thing about mass gainers is that they tell you exactly how much macronutrients you’re getting per serving. However, you shouldn’t let it be the end-all as you’ll need to watch your micronutrients as well.
Vitamins, amino acids and all those goodies round up your bulking phase and can mean the difference between getting the results you want and failing spectacularly. In this case, actively seek essential micronutrients in real food, aka your breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Get Plenty of Rest
Rest is actually an important element in building mass. It serves as the springboard for accumulating protein and letting our muscles repair themselves after training or exercise.
It’s not recommended to work out each day and push as if it’s your last. Get some rest time in and let your body and muscles breathe. It’s during this period that your body builds lean muscle, not when you’re breaking it with movement.
Train for Gains
Also, don’t just do mindless training. Do it smart- more compound lifts and less cardio equals more impressive gains. Follow all these steps and you’ll be huge in no time!
Conclusion
That’s it for the best mass gainers. You can’t go wrong with Mass Gainer by Transparent Labs as it’s the most balanced and one of the cleanest products available right now. The fact that it has the right ratio of protein to carbs cements our conviction. For filling in a more specific niche or need, check out the rest of our best weight gainers.
Ryan is a former college wrestler and lifelong fitness fanatic with over 25 years in the industry. He’s run half marathons, tackled mud runs, placed in body transformation contests, and coached everything from wrestling to girls’ soccer.
Along the way, he’s tested hundreds of supplements and built a deep well of supplement knowledge. His work has appeared in Muscle & Strength, Testosterone Junkie, The Sport Review, and more. Today, he’s the editor-in-chief of this site, still training hard and helping others reach their goals. Connect with him on LinkedIn below.
