Protein powder is sold on protein percentage, which is the least interesting thing about it. The differences that actually matter are how fast it digests, what it costs per gram of protein, how it behaves in cooking, and whether you can tolerate the lactose.
This guide covers every protein we make in Australia and what each is genuinely for.
Quick Comparison
| Protein | Source | Digestion speed | Lactose | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whey concentrate | Dairy | Fast | Moderate | Value, general use, baking |
| Whey isolate | Dairy | Fast | Low | Leaner macros, lactose sensitivity |
| Hydrolysed isolate | Dairy | Fastest | Low | Rapid absorption |
| Micellar casein | Dairy | Slow | Low | Overnight, satiety, baking |
| Complex blend | Dairy | Mixed | Moderate | All-round, one product |
| Pea isolate | Plant | Moderate | None | Dairy-free |
| Rice isolate | Plant | Moderate | None | Dairy-free, blending |
| Egg white | Egg | Moderate | None | Dairy-free, baking structure |
Whey Proteins
Whey Protein Concentrate
The least processed whey. Retains more of the fat and lactose, which means a slightly lower protein percentage and a better price per gram of protein. It also mixes and bakes more forgivingly than isolate for exactly that reason.
For most people training normally and eating normally, concentrate does the job at lower cost.
Whey Protein Isolate
Filtered further to remove most of the fat and lactose. Higher protein per serve, lower in carbohydrate and fat, and naturally low in lactose, which is why people with mild lactose sensitivity often tolerate it when concentrate causes problems.
You pay more per gram of protein for that filtration.
Hydrolysed Whey Protein Isolate
Isolate that has been enzymatically pre-broken into shorter peptide chains, which speeds absorption. It is the most processed and the most expensive of the whey range, and it carries a distinctly bitter taste that comes with hydrolysis.
Genuinely useful where absorption speed is the priority. Overkill for general use.
Casein
Casein is the other dairy protein, making up about 80% of the protein in milk to whey's 20%. It forms a gel in the stomach and digests slowly over several hours, which is why it is conventionally taken before bed and why it is more filling than whey.
It is also the best of the dairy proteins for baking, because it absorbs and holds a lot of liquid.
Blends
Complex protein combines whey and casein so you get both the fast and slow digesting fractions in one product. If you want a single tub rather than two, this is the practical answer.
Plant Proteins
Pea Protein Isolate
The workhorse of plant protein. High in protein, dairy-free, and reasonably neutral once flavoured. It is lower in methionine than dairy protein, which is why it is often combined with rice.
Rice Protein Isolate
Complements pea well, being higher in methionine and lower in lysine, which is the reverse of pea's profile. The pairing is the standard approach to a complete plant protein.
Plant Protein Blend
Multiple plant sources combined to cover the amino acid gaps that any single plant protein leaves.
Egg Protein
Egg white powder is nearly pure protein, dairy-free, and the only protein here that whips and sets. That structural property makes it the choice for protein baking that needs to hold a shape.
Shop egg white powder or whole egg powder
Mass Gainers
A gainer is protein plus carbohydrate, formulated for people who struggle to eat enough to gain weight. The protein content per serve is not the point; the total energy is.
If you can eat enough food, you do not need one. If you genuinely cannot, it is easier to drink 1,000 kilojoules than chew them.
How to Choose
Best value per gram of protein - whey concentrate.
Leaner macros or mild lactose sensitivity - whey isolate.
Before bed or when satiety matters - casein.
Dairy-free - pea, rice, a plant blend, or egg white.
Baking - casein for softness, egg white for structure, concentrate for general use. See baking with protein powder.
One product for everything - a complex blend.
The Thing Worth Saying
Total daily protein intake matters far more than which powder you choose or when you take it. Powder is a convenient way to hit a number that whole food could also hit. If you are already eating adequate protein, switching from concentrate to hydrolysed isolate will not change your results.
Read Next
- Whey isolate vs concentrate: what the filtration actually changes
- Baking with protein powder
- EAA vs BCAA
Browse whey protein, plant protein or the full range.