Are both Klean Athlete and Kaged NSF Certified for Sport?

Yes, both brands hold NSF Certified for Sport status on select SKUs. Klean Athlete is NSF Certified for Sport across the entire Klean Isolate line, including all three flavors. Kaged Re-Kaged Whey Protein Isolate and Kaged Whey Protein Isolate carry NSF Certified for Sport on the chocolate and vanilla SKUs. Both are appropriate for athletes competing in tested federations (NFL, MLB, NCAA, IOC).

Which has more protein per scoop?

Kaged has more protein per scoop. Kaged Re-Kaged delivers 28 g protein per 42 g scoop. Klean Isolate delivers 20 g protein per 29 g scoop. Kaged is the higher-density option but with a larger scoop size. If you want the leanest macros (more protein in a smaller scoop), Kaged wins. If you want a smaller-calorie shake, Klean's 20 g serving size works better.

Klean Athlete is slightly cheaper per gram of protein in the smaller 20 oz size at $39.99 ($0.099 per gram). Kaged Whey Isolate 5 lb at $69.99 works out to $0.041 per gram of protein, which is meaningfully cheaper when you buy bulk. For one-tub shoppers, Klean is the lower up-front cost. For daily-use buyers, Kaged's 5 lb tub is the better per-gram value by a wide margin.

Who owns these brands?

Klean Athlete is owned by Douglas Laboratories, a practitioner-grade supplement company that has been making professional-grade products since 1955. The Klean Athlete sub-brand launched in 2010 specifically for the athletic and Olympian market. Kaged was founded in 2017 by veteran bodybuilder Kris Gethin and acquired by Glanbia Performance Nutrition (parent of Optimum Nutrition) in 2023. Both brands are professionally backed but with different positioning.

Which one tastes better?

Kaged tastes better. The Chocolate and Vanilla variants are sweetened with monk fruit and stevia and deliver a more mainstream-shake palatability. Klean Isolate is intentionally minimally flavored with natural cocoa and natural strawberry, which can read as 'medicinal' to shoppers coming from a sucralose-sweetened mainstream whey. Klean is the cleaner-flavored, less sweet option; Kaged is the easier daily drinker.

Where can I buy these brands?

Klean Athlete sells primarily through kleanathlete.com, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe and limited Amazon listings. Kaged is at GNC, Bodybuilding.com, Amazon, Walmart, iHerb, plus the kaged.com direct site. Kaged has wider mainstream distribution; Klean is more available through practitioner and natural-products channels. For Costco shoppers, neither brand is currently a Costco staple.

Klean Athlete vs Kaged 2026: NSF Certified Premium Whey Compared

This page is getting a full refresh. Something better is coming. Check back soon.