GHOST Protein Powder Review: Is It the Best Tasting Protein?

Heard the hype about GHOST's tasty protein powder flavors? We had a certified sports nutrition coach review their protein powders to get the scoop.

Author:
Pete Nastasi, certified sports nutrition coach
Updated:
Nov 3, 2023

GHOST Vegan Protein Powder _Hero — GHOST

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GHOST is one of the fastest growing brands in the sports supplements industry, and much of their growth is due to their partnerships with popular companies like Nabisco (the company that makes Oreos, Chips Ahoy and Nutter Butter cookies). These collaborations have allowed GHOST to offer exclusive flavor options, and have also led to GHOST Whey’s notoriety as one of the best tasting protein powders on the market. GHOST also accommodates the plant-based community with their GHOST Vegan protein powder.

To see if GHOST’s flavors live up to the hype, we asked a certified sports nutrition coach to taste test GHOST protein and break down its ingredients and nutrition label. In this article, he’ll share his opinion about the quality of GHOST protein, its pros and cons and how the GHOST protein powders stand up against the competition.

This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.

What is GHOST?

When GHOST was first launched back in 2016, founders Ryan Hughes and Dan Lourenco set out to create the “first lifestyle sports nutrition brand.” Their combined vision was to show that sports supplements are beneficial for performance, can have a great flavor profile and can be accessible not just to the hardcore bodybuilder, but also the casual gym goer, the athlete and the weekend warrior. The partnerships they fostered with other brands—including Oreos, Chips Ahoy, Nutter Butter, Sonic, Swedish Fish, Warheads and Sour Patch Kids—helped to bring their goal to fruition. These familiar flavors, paired with GHOST’s supplement line, brought instant approachability to their products that resonated well with the public. The result was the meteoric rise of GHOST as a serious contender in the supplement industry. They currently offer protein powders, pre-workouts, greens powders, hydration supplements, nootropics and energy drinks.

If you're interested in a pre-workout supplement, check out our GHOST pre-workout review.

GHOST Protein Powder Flavors

GHOST Whey Protein Collaborations

GHOST Whey Protein Originals

GHOST Vegan Protein Originals

GHOST Seasonal Protein Flavors

Taste

I truly believe that taste is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting a protein powder supplement. No matter how great the macronutrient profile is or how clean the ingredients are, if you don’t like the taste of the protein, then you just aren’t going to drink it. That’s why I really appreciate what GHOST is doing by collaborating with companies like Oreo, Nutter Butter and Chips Ahoy. In addition to their GHOST Whey X collaborations, they also have seven original flavor options to choose from, which is more variety than most of their competitors have in total. I tried the GHOST Whey Chips Ahoy, Oreo and Milk Chocolate options, as well as the GHOST Vegan Chocolate Cereal Milk flavor. Here are my thoughts:

GHOST Vegan Chocolate Cereal Milk

I follow a plant-based diet, and have tried numerous vegan and vegetarian protein powders. GHOST’s vegan protein is hands down the best tasting vegan protein powder I’ve tried. It mixes easily in a shaker bottle, tastes great and is an accurate representation of chocolate cereal milk.

GHOST Whey X Collaborations

I was excited to test out these flavors, since I hadn’t had an Oreo or Chips Ahoy cookie in many years. What I wasn’t expecting was for the protein powders to also include real cookie pieces. While this adds authenticity to the flavor profile, I found the chunky cookie pieces unpleasant when chugging my shake after a workout. That being said, an easy remedy was to blend the protein powder instead of hand mixing it in a regular shaker bottle. Using a blender mixed up the pieces nicely and made the shake a smoother consistency that I really enjoyed.

I can definitely see why consumers are such avid fans of the GHOST protein powders. The flavors really are delicious, and I would have to agree that both the GHOST Whey and Vegan proteins lived up to the hype.

Mixability

All of the GHOST protein powder flavors that I tried—both whey and vegan—mixed seamlessly in a traditional shaker bottle. There was zero clumping, and they mixed quickly and easily in both soy milk and water. (I assume they also mix well with dairy milk.) For the GHOST Whey X collaborations, I disliked the cookie pieces in the protein powder when mixed in a conventional shaker bottle, but after reading a number of customer reviews, it’s clear that many others really enjoy that classic cookie crunch. However, I prefer to mix both the Oreo and Chips Ahoy flavors in a blender for a smoother consistency.

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition facts are an important part of choosing the best protein powder supplement for your needs. Here are the nutrition facts (per serving) for the GHOST Whey X collaboration flavors, GHOST Whey original flavors and GHOST Vegan flavors.

GHOST Whey X (Chips Ahoy, Oreo, Oreo Birthday Cake, Nutter Butter)

Calories: 150-160 calories
Protein: 25-26 grams
Carbohydrates: Seven to eight grams
Fats: Two to 2.5 grams

GHOST Whey (Coffee Ice Cream, Milk Chocolate, Cereal Milk, Marshmallow Cereal Milk, Cinnamon Cereal Milk, Fruity Cereal Milk, Peanut Butter Cereal Milk)

Calories: 120-140 calories
Protein: 25-26 grams
Carbohydrates: Two to five grams
Fats: One to 1.5 grams

GHOST Vegan (Chocolate Cereal Milk, Peanut Butter Cereal Milk, Pancake Batter, Banana Pancake Batter)

Calories: 110-120 calories
Protein: 20-21 grams
Carbohydrates: Five to six grams
Fats: 1.5 to two grams

The GHOST Whey X and Whey supplements are a blend of whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate and hydrolyzed whey protein. For those in need of a protein powder for weight loss, the Ghost Whey originals are best. They’re also the better option for those following a strict low-carb or keto diet. The extra calories from the real cookie pieces in the GHOST Whey X collaborations are a better fit for those not concerned about carbs or the extra 10-20 calories per serving.

The GHOST Vegan protein powder macronutrient profile is comparable to other vegan and vegetarian protein powders on the market. Vegan protein powders are often slightly higher in carbohydrates and fats than their whey protein counterparts because of the protein sources, which in this case, include pea protein concentrate, organic pumpkin protein and watermelon seed protein.

Customer Reviews

There’s definitely a common theme in GHOST protein customer reviews: Consumers genuinely love the great taste and numerous flavor options available. Some of the most frequent comments include parents who love that they’re finally able to introduce their teenagers to protein powder, thanks to the flavors based on popular cookies and candies. Others love being able to reminisce and enjoy the flavors of their favorite childhood snacks without eating the actual snacks. The only complaint I notice in customer reviews is that these proteins are very sweet. They’re sweetened with sucralose, so, as one Amazon consumer notes, “If you don’t have much of a sweet tooth, you will easily get tired of this product after a week or two.”

Pricing

All GHOST protein powder two-pound containers cost $44.99 ($1.60 to $1.75 per serving), regardless of protein source or flavor. This price point is expensive when compared to the industry average of about $1 per serving, and at this time, GHOST doesn’t offer any subscription plans.

Who GHOST Protein Powder is Best For

GHOST is best for anyone looking for a delicious protein powder supplement that they can enjoy on a daily basis. This supplement works well for consumers who are not currently following a weight loss program and don’t have to worry about the extra calories from a few additional carbohydrates and fats. The individuals who will benefit the most from GHOST are athletes who burn a large number of calories throughout the day, as well as those looking to build size and muscle mass. GHOST is also both gluten-free and soy-free, so it accommodates people who are allergic or sensitive to these ingredients.

Who GHOST Protein Powder is Not Best For

Since GHOST whey proteins are a blend of whey isolate, concentrate and hydrolysate, they aren’t the best option for consumers in need of a pure whey isolate protein powder that contains little or no excess carbohydrates and fats. GHOST also uses artificial ingredients, including artificial flavors, colors and sweeteners in their products. If these are ingredients you actively try to avoid, then I would suggest finding another protein powder to suit your needs. If you want a protein powder without fillers and artificial sweeteners, flavors and dyes, consider trying Gainful’s personalized protein powder.

GHOST Protein Powder FAQs

Is GHOST protein powder better with milk or water?

I think most people will enjoy GHOST protein powder with milk over water. The extra fat content in milk usually leads to a creamier consistency that most people enjoy. Although I didn’t use regular milk, I did try the protein powders with both water and soy milk, and I thought they tasted great regardless of the liquid used.

Where can I buy GHOST protein powder?

You can buy GHOST protein powder from a number of different vendors including the GHOST Lifestyle website, Amazon and local and online retailers GNC, Vitamin Shoppe and Walmart. All of the websites have a similar price point of $44.99 for a two-pound container except Walmart, which is more expensive, so I suggest avoiding that retailer for now.

Is GHOST a healthy brand?

The concept of “healthy” within the supplement industry is very subjective. Our conventional definition of a healthy food is one that is micronutrient rich and low in fat, sodium and added sugars. GHOST protein powder fits within that definition. That being said, what is “healthy” really comes down to your personal preferences. Certain consumers prefer to avoid all artificial ingredients, and GHOST uses both natural and artificial flavors, colors and sweeteners in their products. Others look to the macronutrient profile and calorie total to justify the “healthiness” of a food, and based on the nutrition facts for GHOST protein, most people would probably label it as a healthy supplement.

Is GHOST protein good for muscle?

GHOST protein is a great supplement to consider if your goal is to build muscle. The number one priority when trying to increase muscle mass through resistance training is to get enough daily protein. GHOST also adds digestive enzymes like protease, bromelain and lactase to their protein powder formula. These enzymes help break down the protein into smaller amino acids, which enhances the digestibility and absorption of the protein. While you don’t need protein powder specifically to achieve this goal, it’s a convenient, easy way to add more protein into your diet.

Final Thoughts

After having the opportunity to test and review GHOST Whey and Vegan protein powders, I can see why they’ve generated such a buzz in the supplement industry. The products taste great, the variety of flavors is phenomenal and the calories and macros are in line with their competitors. My only critique is the use of artificial sweeteners, colors and flavors in their products, and I hope that they eliminate the use of artificial ingredients in the future. That being said, if you’re looking for a delicious protein shake that will help you build muscle mass or manage your weight, then GHOST Whey and Vegan protein powders are worth a try—even if just for the novel flavors.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.