Quick Picks
Eight products that made our shortlist after filtering across all 12 tracked US retailers. Click any pick to see live prices, all retailers, and the latest deal.
How We Ranked These
We pulled every protein drink in our catalog with calories per bottle, then filtered to 110 calories or less while maintaining at least 18g protein. Sorted ascending by calories.
All prices verified within the last 24 hours. We re-check every product across all 12 tracked retailers (Walmart, Amazon, iHerb, GNC, Bodybuilding.com, Target, Vitacost, Muscle & Strength, Costco, Tiger Fitness, MyProtein, Transparent Labs) every two hours. Out-of-stock products are excluded from these rankings entirely.
Our Top Pick
20g protein/scoop · 12 servings
Protein waters and clear shakes are the leanest RTD category. Top pick combines 80 calories, 20g protein, and a clean taste profile that doesn't feel like a meal in a bottle. Ideal for cuts and hot weather. See Amazon price →
Runner-Up
20g protein/scoop · 12 servings
Premier Protein's clear line: 80 calories, 20g protein, lighter texture than the original Premier shakes. See Amazon price →
Honorable Mentions
The next picks worth knowing about. Slightly different trade-offs but still in the top tier for this category.
Isopure Zero Carb Protein Drink (12-Pack). 20g protein/scoop, $26.99 at Amazon.
Isopure Zero Carb Protein Drink (12-Pack). 20g protein/scoop, $26.99 at Amazon.
Premier Protein Clear Protein Drink (12-Pack). 20g protein/scoop, $26.99 at Amazon.
Premier Protein Clear Protein Drink (12-Pack). 20g protein/scoop, $26.99 at Amazon.
Browse all low-cal RTDs and protein waters
The clear protein drinks category has expanded fast in 2025-26. See live pricing on every bottle.
Browse clear protein drinks →Frequently Asked Questions
Protein waters (BodyArmor Protein Water, Isopure Zero Carb RTD, Premier Protein Clear) all land at 80 calories with 20g protein per bottle. That's roughly half the calories of a standard milk-based RTD shake at the same protein dose.
Pure whey isolate dissolved in water, no fat, no carbs. 20g of protein = ~80 calories from protein alone (4 calories per gram). Add nothing else and you land at exactly that. Most milk-based shakes add 60 to 120 extra calories from fat and lactose.
Less so. Without fat or carbs to slow gastric emptying, protein waters digest fast and don't deliver the same satiety as a 200-calorie creamy shake. Trade-off: leaner macros but less suppression of next-meal hunger.
They deliver high-quality whey protein and not much else. No fat, no carbs, minimal vitamins/minerals. Think of them as a pure protein supplement, not a meal replacement. For a meal in a bottle, look at higher-calorie 'meal replacement' shakes.
Yes. Many cutters use a protein water as a base and add a tablespoon of nut butter or some berries to slow digestion and add micronutrients. You're still ahead vs a 250-calorie creamy shake.
Functionally yes. Both use whey isolate or whey isolate hydrolysate as the protein source. Same amino acid profile, same digestion rate. The difference is in the carrier (water vs milk) and what else is added.
Related Rankings
Other useful price comparisons on ProteinPrice.com:
- The full best-value protein ranking across all 377 tracked products.
- Head-to-head product comparisons across our catalog.
- Browse whey isolate, the cleanest whey category by macros.
- Browse all whey protein blends, isolates, and concentrates.
- Casein protein for slow-release recovery and bedtime use.
- Plant protein from pea, rice, hemp, and soy blends.
- Mass gainers for hard gainers and calorie-surplus bulking.
- Protein bar comparisons across 70+ tracked bars.
- Ready-to-drink shakes and protein waters.
- Current protein deals live across all retailers.