Which is cheaper, Pure Protein or Six Star?

Six Star is slightly cheaper at standard Walmart pricing. Six Star 100% Whey Protein Plus runs about $19.97 for the 2 lb tub. Pure Protein 100% Whey runs about $22.97 for the 2 lb tub. Both are positioned as Walmart-aisle budget options under the $30 entry-level price point.

Which has more protein per scoop?

Pure Protein 100% Whey has slightly more pure whey protein per scoop at 25 g, while Six Star 100% Whey Plus delivers 30 g per scoop but includes extra carbs from a creatine and amino blend. For pure protein density, Pure Protein wins. For total post-workout dosing with carbs and creatine, Six Star wins.

Are these brands worth buying or should I spend more?

Both deliver real whey protein at supermarket prices. Macros are competitive, ingredient panels are honest, and both brands have decades of retail track record. If you are starting out or need the lowest possible entry price, either works. If you want premium taste and texture, step up to Optimum Nutrition or Dymatize.

Where can I buy Pure Protein and Six Star?

Both brands are Walmart-first with strong presence at Target, Amazon, GNC, Walgreens, CVS and most US grocery chains. We currently track five Pure Protein SKUs (mostly bars and shakes) and eight Six Star SKUs (whey and pre-workout).

How often do prices update on ProteinPrice.com?

Prices refresh multiple times per day across all 12 tracked US retailers. Check the timestamp on any product page or visit /scraper-status/.

Pure Protein vs Six Star

Q: Which has better flavor, Pure Protein or Six Star?

Six Star generally wins on flavor depth and mixability thanks to MuscleTech's flavor R&D budget. Triple Chocolate, Vanilla Cream and Cookies & Cream are standout SKUs. Pure Protein flavors are functional but less polished. Both are decent for budget tier.

Two of the most ubiquitous mass-retail whey and bar brands in America. Pure Protein dominates the grocery aisle and shake-bar shelf. Six Star backs MuscleTech's wallet-friendly performance line. Both live under $30 and stay there year-round.

Overview: Pure Protein

Pure Protein has been a Walmart and grocery-aisle staple since 1998, owned by Worldwide Sport Nutritional Supplements. The brand is best known for its 20 g protein bars (especially Chocolate Peanut Butter and Chewy Chocolate Chip) which retail for under $1 per bar. The Pure Protein 100% Whey powder uses a blend of whey isolate, whey concentrate and whey peptides for 25 g of protein per 35 g scoop, with light vanilla or chocolate flavor and minimal added ingredients.

We currently track five Pure Protein SKUs including the 100% Whey powder, the protein bar lineup (Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chewy Chocolate Chip, Birthday Cake, Lemon Cake, Greek Yogurt Strawberry) and shake variants. The 2 lb whey tub lands at $22.97 at Walmart, with multi-pack bar deals around $0.95 per bar at Costco and Sam's Club. Available at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Walgreens, CVS, GNC and most US grocery chains.

Overview: Six Star Pro Nutrition

Six Star launched in 2005 as MuscleTech's mass-retail value brand, designed to deliver "MuscleTech-quality formulas at Walmart-level pricing." Six Star 100% Whey Protein Plus is the flagship: a blend of whey isolate, whey concentrate and whey peptides delivering 30 g of protein per scoop, with added creatine, BCAAs and L-leucine. The product is positioned as a post-workout muscle-builder rather than a clean protein-only formula.

We track eight Six Star SKUs across 100% Whey Protein Plus (2 lb and 4 lb tubs), Six Star Pre-Workout, Six Star Casein and Six Star RTD shakes. The 2 lb Whey tub lands at $19.97 at Walmart, with the 4 lb tub at $34.97 (best per-gram value). Available at Walmart, Target, Amazon, GNC and most US grocery chains. Six Star has heavier presence in big-box retail than direct-to-consumer.

Head-to-head comparison

Metric	Pure Protein 100% Whey (2 lb)	Six Star 100% Whey Plus (2 lb)
Tub size	907 g / 2 lb	907 g / 2 lb
Servings per tub	26	22
Protein per serving	25 g	30 g
Carbs per serving	2 g	5 to 7 g
Total protein per tub	650 g	660 g
Lowest tracked price	$22.97 (Walmart)	$19.97 (Walmart)
Cost per serving	$0.88	$0.91
Cost per gram of protein	$0.035	$0.030
Added BCAA / creatine	No (protein only)	Yes (added creatine + BCAA + leucine)
Protein form	Isolate + concentrate + peptides	Isolate + concentrate + peptides
Bar / RTD lineup	5 bars + multiple RTD options	3 to 4 RTD options, no bar focus
Retailer reach	Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Amazon, GNC, grocery chains	Walmart, Target, Amazon, GNC

Value Score breakdown

Six Star has the cleaner per-gram math. The 2 lb tub at $19.97 with 30 g protein per scoop delivers about $0.030 per gram of protein. Pure Protein at $22.97 with 25 g per scoop delivers about $0.035 per gram. Over a year of daily use, Six Star will cost about $325 and Pure Protein will cost about $385. The $60 annual gap is meaningful at the budget tier.

However, Six Star's added creatine and BCAA blend means you are getting carbs and extras you may not want. For a pure post-workout protein hit without sugars or added ingredients, Pure Protein's leaner label is the cleaner buy. If you would otherwise pay for creatine and BCAAs separately, Six Star bundles them at no extra cost.

For other budget whey comparisons, see Body Fortress vs Nutricost and Six Star vs Body Fortress.

Flavor and mixability

Six Star benefits from MuscleTech's flavor R&D pipeline and consistently scores well in budget-tier taste tests. Triple Chocolate, Vanilla Cream and Cookies & Cream are the standouts. Mixability is good in a standard shaker with no foam or clumping. The added creatine can produce a slightly grainy texture in some lots, but most users do not notice.

Pure Protein flavors are functional but lower in intensity. Vanilla Cream and Frosty Chocolate are the most reliable options. Mixability is excellent because the formula contains no added creatine or amino acids, just whey and natural flavor. The leaner ingredient list trades flavor intensity for clean drinking experience. Some users prefer this profile for routine daily use.

Verdict by goal

Best raw cost-per-gram

Six Star 100% Whey Protein Plus (2 lb)

$0.030 per gram of protein at $19.97 for 2 lb at Walmart. The best value in the under-$20 budget tier we track.

Best clean-label budget pick

Pure Protein 100% Whey

25 g protein, 2 g carb, no added creatine or BCAA. The cleanest under-$25 whey we track for users who want protein only.

Best for post-workout bundling

Six Star 100% Whey Plus

Already has creatine, BCAA and L-leucine built in. Single-scoop post-workout shake without buying separate supplements.

Best for grab-and-go snacking

Pure Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar

20 g protein at under $1 per bar at Costco. The cheapest brand-name protein bar we track per gram of protein.

Best big-box retail availability

Pure Protein

Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, plus most US grocery chains. Almost certainly available at your nearest store right now.

Best for budget bulkers

Six Star 100% Whey Plus (4 lb)

$34.97 for 4 lb at Walmart with 30 g protein per scoop. Hard to beat for high-volume eaters on a tight budget.

Which one should you buy?

If you are starting out or your only criterion is "protein per dollar at Walmart this weekend," buy Six Star 100% Whey Protein Plus. The 2 lb tub at $19.97 (or 4 lb at $34.97 if you want better per-gram value) delivers 30 g of protein per scoop with added creatine and BCAAs already in the formula. Triple Chocolate is the flavor most users default to.

If you want a slightly cleaner ingredient panel, lower carbs and the option to mix and match a brand that also sells bars and RTDs, buy Pure Protein. The 2 lb whey tub at $22.97 is a fair value, but the brand really shines in the bar category where the Chocolate Peanut Butter and Chewy Chocolate Chip 12-packs at Costco land at under $12 for 240 g of total protein.

If you cannot decide: buy Six Star 4 lb Triple Chocolate ($34.97) for your daily shake and a 12-pack of Pure Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter bars ($11.97) for snacking. Total cost: under $50 for a full month of post-workout shakes and 12 bars. Both brands punch above their price point.

Common questions about Pure Protein vs Six Star

Are these brands the same quality as Optimum Nutrition?

The protein source is similar (whey concentrate plus isolate from major dairy commodity suppliers), but the brand investment in flavor R&D, packaging and overall product polish is lower at the budget tier. Pure Protein and Six Star deliver real whey protein with honest macros. The differences between these brands and ON are in flavor intensity, mixability and brand perception, not in the underlying protein quality.

Does Six Star really have creatine and BCAAs in the whey?

Yes. Six Star 100% Whey Protein Plus contains 2 g of creatine monohydrate, 5 g of BCAAs (which includes whey-naturally-occurring BCAAs plus a small added dose) and 6 g of L-leucine per serving. The added creatine and leucine make the product more carb-heavy than a pure isolate. For post-workout muscle building this stacking is well-supported by research; for cutting protocols where you want minimal extras, Pure Protein is the leaner choice.

Is the protein in Pure Protein 100% Whey actually 100% whey?

Yes, the protein source is exclusively whey (isolate, concentrate and peptides). The "100% Whey" claim is accurate. Pure Protein also avoids adding non-protein performance ingredients like creatine or BCAAs, sticking to whey, natural and artificial flavor, sucralose and a small amount of lecithin for mixability.

Can I trust the protein content labeling?

Yes. Both brands operate under FDA-regulated supplement manufacturing standards and have multi-year track records of independent lab tests confirming label accuracy. Six Star is part of the larger MuscleTech corporate group which has its own QC infrastructure. Pure Protein has been independently tested by ConsumerLab and other watchdog organizations with consistent passing results.

Which is better for a high school or college athlete on a budget?

Six Star is the typical pick for high school and college athletes due to the lower per-gram price and the added creatine that supports strength training. Walmart availability also matches the typical student budget shopping pattern. Pure Protein is better if the athlete needs portable bars for between-class snacks or post-practice eating before getting home.

What's the best Walmart-aisle protein for under $25?

Six Star 100% Whey Protein Plus 2 lb at $19.97 is the standout pick for raw cost-per-gram. Pure Protein 100% Whey 2 lb at $22.97 is the standout pick for clean ingredient labels. Body Fortress Super Advanced Whey 2 lb at $17.97 is the absolute cheapest. For a deeper comparison, see our Six Star vs Body Fortress matchup.