These mass gainers are great for all your clean bulking needs and provide clean carbs for increased muscle mass.
For those of us looking to really increase muscle mass, mass gainers can help with our clean bulking needs by pumping us with clean carbs and protein. Seeking a real increase in our strength and size can be challenging and often times it is the fine line between the right diet, most effective training plan, and top tier supplements. But with a mass gainer, you allow yourself to meet your desired caloric intake while also giving your body the fuel it needs to really power itself through the day. The right ratio of macronutrients and other added ingredients, paired with a quality company who cares about their consumers and the needs of athletes, all your clean bulking needs can be met with a high-quality mass gainer.
We’ve put together a list of the Best Mass Gainers for 2021 so you can see the gains you want most. Reflective of everything you deserve to have, these mass gaining supplements are packed with clean carbs and protein to give you the desired results for your overall health and performance.
Best Mass Gainers 2021
- Best Mass Gainer Overall: Transparent Labs ProteinSeries Mass Gainer
- Best Premium Mass Gainer: Enhanced Whey Protein Isolate
- Best Clean Protein-Carb Blend: Cellucor Cor-Performance Gainer
- Best All-Natural: Naked Nutrition Naked Mass Weight Gainer
- Best Mass Gainer For Digestion: Transparent Labs ProteinSeries Mass Gainer
- Best For High Protein: MyProtein Weight Gainer Blend
Best Mass Gainer Overall
A great natural mass gainer overall will work to increase strength, size, and all your clean bulking needs. With a top tier formula made from great ingredients with the right balance of macronutrients, this is achievable and will give you the results you want most.
Transparent Labs ProteinSeries Mass Gainer
| Calories | 790 |
| Protein | 53g |
| Carbs | 114g |
| Fat | 14g |
| Sugar | 17g |
| Flavors | Chocolate, Cookies ‘N Cream (Not Gluten Free), Sweet Vanilla, Chocolate Glaze |
| Best Way To Take | Mix with milk or water. |
Transparent Labs Mass Gainer is loaded with essentials to give you serious growth and better overall health and wellness. Designed to enhance lean muscle growth and athletic performance, this is a safe and effective way to pack on muscle and healthy weight. With 750 calories for a two scoop serving size, this mass gainer is loaded with 53 grams of protein per serving. With no artificial sweeteners, food dyes, or harmful additives, this product is transparent with its label and high quality with ingredients great for pairing with whey protein or other protein drinks so you feel full while getting the right protein content with this powder for recovery and a well-balanced diet.
Transparent Labs ProteinSeries Mass Gainer is great for packing on muscle and healthy weight. Perfect as a meal replacement or a mass gaining supplement, this product is pumped with protein and no added artificial substances.
Pros
- Great for lean muscle growth
- Perfect for a meal replacement or paired with a grass fed whey protein supplement
- Great ingredients and no artificial additives for a transparent label
- From a reputable company in Transparent Labs
Cons
- A premium priced option only available directly through their site
Price: $65.00
Use the promo code GENIRON10 for 10% off! Check out our individual review for Transparent Labs ProteinSeries Mass Gainer here!
Best Premium Mass Gainer
You want your mass gainer to be of the utmost quality and a premium mass gainer will stand out amongst its counterparts, especially as a natural mass gainer. Looking at ingredients and the formula, as well as the reputation of the company and price, will prove to be very important overall moving forward.
Enhanced Whey Protein Isolate
| Calories | 110 |
| Protein | 25g |
| Carbs | 2g |
| Fat | 1g |
| Sugar | 1g |
| Flavors | Chocolate Brownie |
| Best Way To Take | Mix 1 scoop with 6-8 oz. of cold water or your desired beverage. |
Enhanced Labs starts by selecting the highest quality whey proteins which undergo a series of sophisticated filtration processes to ‘isolate’ out excess fat and sugar. The final product is a complete protein containing no lactose and over 90% of pure protein per serving. Enhanced Whey is then fortified with the trademarked DigeSEB digestive enzyme blend for better protein utilization within the body. With 25g of protein at just 110 calories, this high quality whey is perfect for your muscle building and recovery goals and works well as a natural mass gainer.
Enhanced Whey Protein Isolate is a high quality whey protein with just 110 calories and 25g protein. Fortified with DigeSEB digestive enzyme blend, this allows for better protein utilization in your body.
Pros
- No fillers or artificial flavors
- Massive 3-pound container
- Fully disclosed supplement facts panel
- 100% whey isolate
- Added digestive enzymes
Cons
- Premium priced product
- only one flavor option
Price: $64.99
Use code GENIRON for 15% off! Also, check out our individual review for Enhanced Whey Protein Isolate here.
Best Clean Protein-Carb Blend
A mass gainer needs to have the right balance of protein to carbs in order to fuel recovery and boost muscle growth. But this blend must be made from only the cleanest sources so you don’t compromise any gains with added substances you don’t want or need, especially with a natural mass gainer.
Cellucor Cor-Performance Gainer
| Calories | 580 |
| Protein | 30g |
| Carbs | 100g |
| Fat | 2.5g |
| Sugar | 5g |
| Flavors | Chocolate, Vanilla |
| Best Way To Take | Take one serving with 16 fl. oz. of cold water or another beverage, one to two times daily. |
Cellucor Cor-Performance Gainer is a high quality protein for you to see lean muscle gains with the right ratio of clean carbs and fat sources to balance out a great formula of macros. Able to support muscle growth and fuel recovery, the added BCAAS give this supplement a boost to help with all your gains. Packed with 30g protein, 100g carbs, and 2.5g fat, this 580 calorie mass gainer can work wonders for your clean bulking needs.
Cellucor Cor-Performance Gainer is what you need to see lean muscle gains with high-quality protein. The right ratio of protein, healthy carbs, and fats will pack on muscle for your desired gains.
Pros
- High quality protein and clean carbs
- Great to support muscle growth and fuel recovery
- From an honest company in Cellucor
Cons
- More servings and flavors would be nice
Price: $28.49
Best All-Natural
You want a product that is safe and effective and having something that is all natural will prove to be the best decision for you. Too often do companies put added substances and fillers that just aren’t necessary and an all-natural option will give you all the benefits of a great natural mass gainer and much more.
Naked Nutrition Naked Mass Weight Gainer
| Calories | 1250 |
| Protein | 50g |
| Carbs | 252g |
| Fat | 2.5 |
| Sugar | 5g |
| Flavors | Unflavored Gainer, Unflavored Vegan Gainer, Chocolate Gainer, Chocolate Vegan Gainer, Vanilla Gainer, Vanilla Vegan Gainer |
| Best Way To Take | Mix four scoops with 24 oz. of milk or your favorite beverage. |
Naked Nutrition Naked Mass Gainer is the ultimate muscle building and weight gaining supplement perfect for your clean bulking needs. The perfect blend of fast and slow absorbed proteins and complex carbs, each serving is 1,250 calories with 50g of high quality protein and 252g of clean carbs. Able to help fuel your workouts, meet your daily calorie requirement, and build and sustain muscle mass, this is an honest product to help boost all your gains.
Naked Nutrition Naked Mass is the ultimate muscle building and weight gaining supplement. With 50g protein and 1,250 calories per serving, this is the perfect blend of fast and slow absorbed protein and complex carbs to see gains.
Pros
- Great blend of fast and slow absorbed protein and complex, clean carbs
- Perfect for muscle building and weight gaining
- Only three ingredients
- From a reputable company in Naked Nutrition
Cons
- Premium priced option
- Four scoops is a big serving size
Price: $64.99
Best Mass Gainer For Digestion
With so much protein and carbs included in a mass gainer, you want to make sure this doesn’t hinder digestion. With added ingredients or a clean source of both, you can be sure your digestive needs are met so your body absorbs these nutrients as effectively as possible.
Transparent Labs ProteinSeries Mass Gainer
| Calories | 790 |
| Protein | 53g |
| Carbs | 114g |
| Fat | 14g |
| Sugar | 17g |
| Flavors | Chocolate, Cookies ‘N Cream (Not Gluten Free), Sweet Vanilla, Chocolate Glaze |
| Best Way To Take | Mix with milk or water. |
Transparent Labs Mass Gainer is loaded with essentials to give you serious growth and better overall health and wellness. Designed to enhance lean muscle growth and athletic performance, this is a safe and effective way to pack on muscle and healthy weight. With 750 calories for a two scoop serving size, this mass gainer is loaded with 53 grams of protein per serving. With no artificial sweeteners, food dyes, or harmful additives, this product is transparent with its label and high quality with ingredients great for pairing with whey protein or other protein drinks so you feel full while getting the right protein content with this natural mass gainer for recovery and a well-balanced diet.
Transparent Labs ProteinSeries Mass Gainer is great for packing on muscle and healthy weight. Perfect as a meal replacement or a mass gaining supplement, this product is pumped with protein and no added artificial substances.
Pros
- Great for lean muscle growth and clean bulking
- Perfect for a meal replacement or paired with a grass fed whey protein supplement
- Great ingredients and no artificial additives for a transparent label
- From a reputable company in Transparent Labs
Cons
- A premium priced option only available directly through their site
Price: $65.00
Use the promo code GENIRON10 for 10% off! Check out our individual review for Transparent Labs ProteinSeries Mass Gainer here!
Best For High Protein
A supplement high in protein is exactly what you want and while most mass gainers have done a nice job of properly dosing their macros, those that prioritize protein can greatly affect your health and performance. With protein being essential for muscle growth and recovery, it would be a disservice to neglect a great high protein, natural mass gainer.
MyProtein Weight Gainer Blend
| Calories | 365 |
| Protein | 27g |
| Carbs | 52g |
| Fat | 6g |
| Sugar | 2g |
| Flavors | Chocolate Smooth, Strawberry Cream, Unflavored, Vanilla |
| Best Way To Take | Add 3 1/3 large scoops to 500-1000 mL. of water or milk. |
MyProtein Weight Gainer Blend is a great mass gainer able to boost recovery growth, especially after a tough workout. With 30g protein and 50g carbs, an impressive 370 calories is fairly low for the amount of macros and its ratio. Made up of fast and slow digesting proteins, the added maltodextrin and oat flour carbs work to give you an energy boost and offer a source of clean carbs for whatever your next session brings. A clean and effective product, your clean bulking needs are not compromised with this mass gainer.
MyProtein Weight Gainer Blend is the perfect supplement to increase strength and size. With 30g protein, 50g carbs, and 370 total calories per serving, this will work to boost growth and recovery.
Pros
- High quality proteins and clean carbs with low calorie count
- Great for muscle growth and recovery while keeping you full.
Cons
- Price is okay for number of servings
Price: $44.99
Benefits Of Mass Gainers
When it comes to mass gainers, you are looking for a supplement that will work to increase muscle mass while meeting all of your clean bulking needs. It is important to know the benefits of a mass gainer as you seek to build serious strength and size to boost your overall health and performance. Benefits of a mass gainer include:
- Boost muscle growth and recovery: With the right ratio of protein, carbs, and fat, you can boost your muscle growth and recovery so all your clean bulking needs are met (1).
- Meet caloric requirements: For those who need to focus on their caloric intake and really get enough into their body, a mass gainer can pump you with clean carbs and protein so you hit whatever number of calories you want (2).
- Helps keep you lean: With good fats and an all-star formula, a mass gainer can help keep you lean as you build muscle.
- Good source of fiber: A mass gainer will typically be a good source of fiber to help with digestion and allow your body to absorb those nutrients much faster (3).
How Many Servings You Should Take
This depends on how many calories you need to consume to gain weight at a rate of a few pounds per month. But then your genetics and training will also determine how much “good” weight you’ll gain. So, there’s no universal answer to this question. However, you should only use a mass gainer to fill in what you cannot get from a primarily whole food diet. And if you need to track your macros then you’ll have to do so accordingly by measuring the serving sizes.
Protein, Carbs & Fats Requirements
The amount you need will depend on your body weight, activity levels, and age. But generally, 1.6-2.2kg/day is an ideal range for muscle hypertrophy (4). To build muscle, you should be getting sufficient amounts per each meal. And many weight gainers supply rather high amounts so splitting servings is a good idea in many instances.
For size gains, carbs should be on the higher end to replenish lost glycogen, again, if you’re not following a keto diet (high fat, low carbs). But fat is necessary as an energy source as well. Carbs should usually make up half of your daily caloric intake and fat 20-35 percent with protein taking up the remaining percentage.
When To Take Mass Gainers
You can have a serving any time of the day, but according to research, the best time to consume a whey protein is within three hours following resistance training. The reason is that anabolism is increased within this time frame (peak of 45-90 minutes) and muscle protein synthesis drops back down to baseline levels past the three-hour window (5).
But carbohydrates like maltodextrin (added to many mass gainers mentioned) and glucose are also necessary in combination with protein to maximize this process. And essential amino acids which are naturally occurring in most whey protein supplements are also very necessary for optimum protein synthesis.
Safety Of Mass Gainers
The ingredients in these mass gainers are safe for most users. But some products contain artificial ingredients, dairy, added sugars, and additional ingredients which some people have sensitivities to. So, people with blood sugar issues or sensitivities to certain foods should definitely be careful to read the labels before consuming any nutritional supplements.
Now, many supplements have added sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium but these are actually considered safe for daily consumption according to the most recent research on the substances.
How We Choose The Best Mass Gainers
When looking at the best mass gainers, we look first at the reputation of the brand and the product. A good brand will be honest and transparent with their label to ensure your overall health and performance goals are met. We look at included ingredients and the formula because that is what makes up the product. The formula and subsequent ingredients should be clean and ideally sourced naturally to ensure it works to optimize all of your needs. Lastly, we look at price. We know supplements can get expensive and we look for those that will get the job done right while still being affordable.
FAQ Section
What is the best mass gainer?
Transparent Labs ProteinSeries Mass Gainer. This mass gainer is loaded with essentials to give you serious growth and better overall health and wellness. Designed to enhance lean muscle growth and athletic performance, this is a safe and effective way to pack on muscle and healthy weight for your clean bulking needs.
Are mass gainers safe?
Mass gainers on the whole are generally safe to use. Always be sure to read the label before using to make sure the product will suit your needs and is the right supplement for you.
What should I look for in a mass gainer?
When looking at mass gainers, you should look for the amount of protein and carbs, as well as other added ingredients. Serving size and amount is important because you want to make sure you are getting enough for the price. Also, look at taste and the reputation of the brand because you deserve to have the best companies working for you and the product should taste good.
Wrap Up
Mass gainers have the potential to really increase strength and size in an effective and healthy way. By offering a great source of carbs and protein, you ensure you get the most out your caloric intake to still be healthy while also aiding in training and performance. The way you look and feel matters and a mass gainer is a great supplement for those looking to bulk or put on healthy weight so all your goals are met. Check out this list of the best mass gainers to find a great mass gaining supplement suitable for all your clean bulking needs.
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References
- Pasiakos, Stefan M.; McLellan, Tom M.; Lieberman, Harris R. (2015). “The effects of protein supplements on muscle mass, strength, and aerobic and anaerobic power in healthy adults: a systematic review”. (source)
- Howell, Scott; Kones, Richard (2017). “‘Calories in, calories out’ and macronutrient intake: the hope, hype, and science of calories”. (source)
- Slavin, Joanne L. (2005). “Dietary fiber and body weight”. (source)
- Schoenfeld, Brad J.; Aragon, Alan A. (2018). “How much protein can the body use in a single meal for muscle-building? Implications for daily protein distribution”. (source)
- Stark, Matthew; Lukaszuk, Judith; Prawitz, Aimee; Salacinski, Amanda (2012). “Protein timing and its effects on muscular hypertrophy and strength in individuals engaged in weight-training”. (source)
