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
Casein only. We pulled every casein product in our catalog and ranked by cost per gram of protein. Each pick mixes to a thicker shake that drip-feeds amino acids for 5 to 7 hours overnight.
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
5.5 lb · 24g protein/scoop · 83 servings
Slow-release micellar casein at a price that beats the premium players by 20 to 30 percent. 25g protein per scoop, mixes to a pudding-thick shake that drip-feeds amino acids while you sleep. The value pick of the bedtime tier. See MyProtein price →
Runner-Up
5 lb · 24g protein/scoop · 73 servings
Premium casein from a flagship brand. Better flavor, higher price. Pick if taste matters more than cost-per-gram. See Vitacost price →
Honorable Mentions
The next picks worth knowing about. Slightly different trade-offs but still in the top tier for this category.
Legion Athletics Casein+ Micellar Casein. 4 lb, 26g protein/scoop, $54.99 at Amazon.
Cellucor COR-Performance Casein. 4 lb, 24g protein/scoop, $49.99 at Amazon.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Casein. 4 lb, 24g protein/scoop, $49.99 at Walmart.
Dymatize Elite Casein. 4 lb, 25g protein/scoop, $49.99 at Amazon.
See live casein pricing across retailers
Browse every casein protein in our catalog with live pricing.
Browse casein protein →Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, and it's one of the better-supported pre-bed protein habits in the research. A 2012 Trommelen et al. study showed 40g casein before bed increased overnight muscle protein synthesis by ~22 percent vs no protein. Multiple follow-up studies have replicated this.
30 to 40g for maximum overnight muscle protein synthesis. Some lifters do 25g to keep the calorie load down; some go to 50g for hard training periods. The benefit plateaus past about 40g for most users.
Casein. Whey is digested in 1 to 2 hours; casein takes 5 to 7 hours. For overnight use you want the slow drip. If you only have whey, drink a larger dose (40 to 50g) so the trailing amino acid release lasts longer.
Mostly. The slow-digesting profile fits the overnight gap better than daytime. During the day, faster-absorbing whey is more practical for between-meal and post-workout windows. Casein at lunch isn't 'wrong' but doesn't unlock its specific advantage.
Less than whey for most users (lower lactose if it's micellar casein). Some users find casein's thicker texture harder to drink. Mixing with milk or yogurt and refrigerating for 5 to 10 minutes helps with both taste and texture.
Thicker, slightly less sweet, and more 'milky' than whey. Many users mix casein with a small amount of nut butter or cocoa powder before bed to create a pudding-like dessert texture that doubles as a snack.
Related Rankings
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- Protein bar comparisons across 70+ tracked bars.
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