Protein is a vital nutrient. It’s crucial for building muscle and recovering after exercise, and it’s useful for weight loss too. Because of this, protein supplements are very popular – they make consuming adequate amounts of protein much easier.
Most protein powders are made from whey, which is a by-product of cow’s milk. However, some protein powders are made from collagen, which is made by processing animal tissues such as bones, skin, cartilage, and tendons.
Collagen is the main structural protein that makes up your skin, hair, and connective tissue. The best collagen protein powders have the potential to support health and immunology, as well as prevent and treat joint pain. Collagen is also good for your skin, hair, and nails.
Collagen supplements can be taken in capsules, but the best way to get adequate amounts of this valuable substance is by using a powder to makes a collagen protein drink.
Note: Collagen protein supplements are not suitable for vegetarians or vegans as they are made from animals.
Top-Rated Collagen Protein Powders
Here are eight of the best, most popular collagen protein powders, all tried and tested for you!
1. Vital Proteins Original Collagen Peptides
Features
- Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Advanced is a premium offering with 20g collagen peptides per serving plus two additional functional ingredients – 100% daily value vitamin C and 80mg hyaluronic acid. Vitamin C helps to support the body’s natural collagen production while hyaluronic acid helps to improve skin hydration and joint mobility.**^ Our product quantity is based on weight, not canister size.
- Bioavailable Collagen Peptides Advanced Powder: Sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine. Digested and absorbed by the body quickly for maximum benefits.
- Same Product You Love, Packaging May Vary: While we are going scoopless, the recommended dosages will stay the same. We encourage consumers to follow the measurement guidance on our updated label which provides servings measured in tablespoons.
- Easy To Use: One serving a day of Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Advanced is easily digested and dissolves in cold or hot liquids, like coffee, tea and smoothies.
- Made With You In Mind: Certified Paleo Friendly & Whole30 Approved. No added sugars or sweeteners. Flavorless and odorless. Made without gluten & dairy.
Most collagen protein powders contain just 7-12 grams of protein per serving. That’s fine for health, but not so good for muscle building. This product from Vital Proteins contains a very respectable 18 grams of protein per two-scoop serving, making it useful for exercisers too.
Key Features
- 18 grams of protein per serving
- 70 calories per serving
- No sugar or carbs
- Completely unflavored and odor-free
- Made from 100% pure bovine collagen
- High in all essential amino acids
Vital Proteins specialize in making high-quality collagen protein supplements. This unflavored collagen protein powder is their best seller. Easy to use and very potent, this is a good product for anyone who wants to enjoy the health-boosting benefits of collagen.
Pros
- Easy to mix
- No added ingredients
- Versatile and easy to use
- Certified gluten and dairy-free
Cons
- Expensive
While Sports Research Collagen Peptides Powder is quite expensive, it also contains much more protein per serving than its competitors. If you want, you could just use half a serving at a time, which would mean the tub lasts twice as long. However, for immediately after exercise, a bigger serving is best.
2. Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate
Great Lakes
$25.99
Features
- DAILY WELLNESS: For your daily routine, 12 grams of unflavored collagen hydrolysate per serving. Types I and III hydrolyzed collagen provide the amino acids necessary to support hair, skin, nail, and joint health.
- HYDROLYZED FORMULA: An easy way to supplement collagen into your diet. Great Lakes Wellness Collagen Peptides Powder provides support for collagen production as we age. Good for men and women.
- QUICK DISSOLVE: Collagen Peptides Powder is sourced from grass-fed bovine. Easily digested and absorbed by the body quickly for maximum benefits.
- EASY TO USE: Daily Wellness Quick Dissolve Collagen Peptides is easy to add to hot or cold liquids. Perfect for coffee, tea, smoothies, or recipes.
- MADE FOR YOU: iGen Non-GMO Tested, Paleo-Friendly, KETO-Certified, Gluten-Free, No Preservatives, Glyphosate Free, Kosher, and Halal. No added dairy, sugars, or sweeteners. Flavorless and odorless.
Most whey protein shakes contain dozens of ingredients, many of which are artificial and synthetic. Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate is made from pure bovine hydrolyzed collagen, making it a very pure protein supplement. This product can be mixed with hot and cold liquids and is unflavored.
Key Features
- 45 calories per serving
- 11 grams of protein per serving
- No added flavors or preservatives
- Free from fat and carbs
- Easy blend formula
- Unflavored
Collagen protein powders don’t come much purer than this. Made from 100% pure hydrolyzed collagen, it’s nice to know you are getting precisely what you paid for, and no fillers.
Pros
- Good for skin, hair, nails, bones, and digestive health
- Very pure product
- Tasteless and odorless formulation
- Very easy to use
- High in essential amino acids
- 38 servings per canister
Cons
- May taste too bland for some users
You probably won’t want to drink this product mixed with plain water. It’s not that it tastes bad; it just doesn’t taste especially good! Providing you don’t mind mixing it with a flavored beverage, this is an excellent pure collagen protein powder.
3. Physician’s Choice Collagen Peptides
Physicians Choice
$19.97
Features
- Collagen Powder for Enhanced Absorption: Our collagen peptides powder is hydrolyzed, grass-fed, pasture-raised, and contains digestive enzymes, which allow for enhanced absorption compared to other collagen supplements. It’s also all-natural, non-GMO, and contains 19 amino acids to promote vitality and support hair, skin, nails, and joints.
- Settling Expected: Each Jar is filled to capacity at the factory. However, the jar may appear less full once it arrives due to settling during shipping. This does not affect the amount of collagen in the jar – the weight is the same – the powder just becomes more compact
- For Optimal Results: To get the most out of our collagen powder, add to your preferred beverage or dish. Mix thoroughly until fully dissolved. Consume daily to support healthy skin, joints, and bones.
- Replenish, Repair & Recover – Unlike most other collagen powder for women and men includes digestive enzymes and 19 amino acids to help repair and replenish hair, skin, and nails along with aiding in post-workout & recovery.
- All-Natural and Ethically made: Our Collagen Peptides Powder is 3rd-party tested for purity, without any harmful additives. Our collagen is manufactured in the USA using imported and domestic ingredients.
Some people find that, despite being naturally free from dairy and gluten, collagen protein powders are hard to digest. Undigested protein is just money down the drain or, more accurately, down the toilet! Physician’s Choice Collagen Peptides contains digestive enzymes to make sure none of your collagen powder will go to waste.
Key Features
- 6 grams of protein per serving
- 25 calories per serving
- 50 mg of digestive enzymes per serving
- Made from 100% grass-fed bovine collagen
- Unflavored
The beauty of unflavored collagen powder is that you can mix it with almost any liquid – even your morning coffee. With its small serving size, this product is very easy to use, blends easily, and provides just enough collagen per serving to benefit your joints, hair, skin, nails, and digestive system.
Pros
- Versatile, easy to use product
- Free from artificial additives
- Easy to digest
- No known side effects
Cons
- Not suitable for post-exercise recovery
While six grams of protein is enough to benefit your health, it won’t do much for your post-exercise recovery. If you are looking for a health-boosting protein supplement, this could be a good choice. But, if you want to speed up workout recovery, this one is probably too low in protein.
4. Sports Research Collagen Peptides Powder
Sports Research
$32.95
Features
- RADIANT AND YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE: This collagen powder for women and men provides the protein and amino acids to support healthy nails, and also helps your skin look more radiant and youthful. Give yourself support from the inside out
- BONE SUPPORT: Amino acids support joint and bone health and improve your body’s response to strenuous exercise, making this collagen powder a great post workout supplement and joint support supplement
- EASY TO USE: Use one scoop of our drink mix daily as a smoothie powder or as a completely soluble protein creamer for coffee. Our collagen peptides dietary supplements also dissolve in water and are just 40 calories per serving
- MORE COLLAGEN PER SCOOP: Our collagen peptides powder contains 11 grams of low molecular weight type 3 and 1 hydrolyzed collagen peptides with 18 amino acids, including glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. Each serving contains 10 grams of protein
- BEST INGREDIENTS: We hold our supplements to a higher standard. Our protein powder supplement is Certified Paleo Friendly, Keto Certified, 3rd party quality tested, and non-GMO with no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or hidden fillers
Sports Research Collagen Peptides Powder is an unflavored, easy to mix collagen protein powder supplement that is made from non-GMO 100% bovine collagen. This popular product is certified paleo and keto diet-friendly.
Key Features
- 10 grams of protein per serving
- 40 calories per serving
- Unflavored formula
- Available in four sizes
- Easy to mix
Because Sports Research Collagen Peptides Powder is unflavored, it can be mixed with hot and cold drinks, as well as meals, such as soup. This makes it a very easy to use, versatile collagen protein supplement.
Pros
- No added ingredients
- Free from artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, and sweeteners
- Third-party certified non-GMO
- Designed to support joint health and flexibility. skin hair and nails
- Made from 100% hydrolyzed collagen peptides from bovine hide
- 41 servings per 16 oz. container
Cons
- Some users report powder texture varies from one container to the next
Sports Research Collagen Peptides Powder is a very pure product. It contains nothing but collagen protein and no fillers. You get exactly what it says on the label. This is not a product for boosting post-workout recovery, but if you want a supplement that’s beneficial for your health, this is a good one to choose.
5. Bone Broth Collagen
Features
- 16g PROTEIN per serving. Just add a scoop to 12-16 oz of hot OR cold water to the Collagen Powder, shake or blend, and enjoy!
- PASTURED GRASS-FED BEEF – 100%, with no added hormones, no additives, no dairy, no gluten, no soy, low sodium, and minimal processing
- TURMERIC ROOT added in an optimal ratio, makes this complete collagen powder is ready to fuel your day as a balanced addition to your healthy lifestyle!
- HOT or COLD, it's totally delicious. Enjoy by itself or mix in a variety of beverages.
- FLAVOR VARIETY – Available in Plain, Ancient Cacao or Aztec Vanilla flavors.
Bone broth is a traditional remedy for a range of ailments. It’s naturally high in collagen, which is why it works well for digestive health and joint problems. This product also contains turmeric root, which also has several health-boosting effects.
Key Features
- 16 grams of protein per serving
- 67 calories per servings
- 1 gram of fat per serving
- Free from sugar and carbs
- Naturally flavored and sweetened with monk fruit
- Made from grass-fed beef collagen
- Contains turmeric root for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and physical and mental health-boosting properties.
With 16 grams of protein per serving, this is one of the most well-dosed collagen protein powders available. As well as being good for your health, it could also be used after exercise to boost recovery.
Pros
- Lightly flavored
- No artificial ingredients
- Non-GMO
- Naturally gluten and lactose-free
- Low salt formulation
Cons
- Expensive
- Some users report that this product doesn’t mix well in cold water
- Flavor is not for everyone
If you buy this product thinking it’ll taste like a vanilla milkshake, you’ll probably be disappointed. However, if you want a change from the usual unflavored collagen protein powders, this could be a good product to choose.
6. Ancient Nutrition
Ancient Nutrition
$45.01
Features
- Contains 10 types of collagen from 4 real food sources – beef, chicken, fish and fermented eggshell membrane; Delivers full-body benefits for healthy hair, skin, nails, joints and gut.
- Made with proprietary fermented eggshell collagen, which is shown to reduce exercise-induced discomfort as early as day one; Fermentation boosts the bioavailability of nutrients, making it easier for your body to absorb them.
- Enhanced with SBO probiotics to support healthy gut flora and digestive function: Get 100% of your daily recommended value of antioxidant-rich Vitamin C with a single scoop.
- Easy to use – just add 2 scoops to water, smoothie, protein shake or coffee; Mixes easily in hot and cold liquids; Non-GMO, grass fed and pasture-raised, made without hormones, gluten and grain free.
- Our formulas are informed by ancient wisdom and backed by modern science; We use clinically-studied ingredients, backed by research and tested for efficacy, safety and transparency.
Most collagen protein powders are made from just one protein source – beef hides. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this, it can mean some essential amino acids are missing. Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Protein Powder contains collagen from a range of sources, increasing the variety and amount of amino acids.
Key Features
- 9 grams of protein per serving
- 35 calories per serving
- Contains collagen from bovine hides, eggshell membrane, fish collagen, and chicken bone broth.
- 45 servings per tub
- Unflavored
- No artificial ingredients
Ancient Nutrition products are popular with people following the paleo diet. For a product to be paleo-approved, it must be free from artificial additives and made from 100% natural ingredients. With its combination of collagen sources, Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Protein Powder easily meets these criteria.
Pros
- No added ingredients
- High concentration of amino acids
- Easy to mix formula
- Large volume container
Cons
- Not suitable for people with seafood or egg allergies
- Expensive
With several sources of collagen, this product has all your amino acid needs covered. But, on the downside, it could cause allergic problems for users with egg or seafood allergies. Providing you have no such allergies, this doctor-designed product will benefit your skin, nails, joints, and digestive health.
7. NeoCell Super
NeoCell Super
$12.92
Features
- HAIR, SKIN, NAILS AND JOINT SUPPORT: NeoCell Super Collagen Peptides is formulated with Collagen Type 1 and 3; it supports youthful skin, healthy hair, nails and joints
- HYDROLYZED COLLAGEN: NeoCell hydrolyzed collagen can provide some of the building blocks our bodies need to make collagen and other proteins like keratin, which is found in our nails and hair
- PROMOTE HEALTHY COLLAGEN FORMATION DAILY: Clinical studies have shown that taking collagen can promote healthy collagen formation throughout the body
- FEED YOUR HEALTHY BEAUTY: Neocell Super Collagen Peptides is formulated to support your radiant beauty inside and out with 10 grams of collagen per serving
- GRASS-FED COLLAGEN: Super Collagen Peptides powder is also Keto Certified, gluten-free, Paleo friendly, IGEN Non-GMO tested; contains no soy wheat, lactose, starch, corn or artificial flavors
Where many collagen protein powders are aimed at exercisers, NeoCell Super Collagen Powder is designed for the beauty industry. Amongst the listed benefits are radiant, youthful skin, shiny hair, and stronger nails. This product provides a small dose of collagen, which should be enough for “inner beauty” but is insufficient for boosting exercise performance.
Key Features
- 6 grams of protein per serving
- 25 calories per serving
- Contains type 1 and type 3 collagen
- Hydrolyzed into peptides for easier digestion
- Free from artificial additives
- Unflavored
Made from 100% non-GMO grass-fed bovine collagen, this product is very pure. Enzymatically broken down into smaller protein units called peptides, this product digests quickly and easily, and won’t cause allergic reactions or stomach upsets.
Pros
- Easy to mix
- Very pure product
- Nothing added
- Low in calories
Cons
- Low dose of protein per serving
With just six grams of protein per serving, this product won’t help you build muscle, but if you want better-looking skin, hair, and nails, it could definitely help. It’s very low in calories, so it won’t lead to unwanted weight gain.
8. Transparent Labs Collagen Hydrolysate
Transparent Labs specialize in making very clean, pure sports nutrition products and health supplements. They keep their products free from unnecessary artificial additives. Their hydrolyzed collagen protein supplement contains a high concentration of bovine collagen, and it very low in calories.
Key Features
- 10 grams of protein per serving
- 50 calories per serving
- 2 grams of carbohydrates per serving
- Fat-free formulation
- Natural flavorings and sweeteners
10 grams of protein per serving might not sound very impressive, especially compared to some whey protein products that contain more than double this amount. But each scoop is only 13.75 grams, which is about half the size of a standard scoop of protein powder. Collagen is a much more readily digested form of protein, so, for many users, 10 grams is plenty.
Pros
- No artificial ingredients
- Very low in carbs, sugar, and fat
- Reasonable flavor
- Mixes easily
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Only available in one flavor – chocolate
With so few additives and no artificial flavors, the taste of this product is best described as tolerable! It’s not bad but, compared to sweetened whey protein shakes, it’s quite bland. That said, as the serving size is small, you should have no problem mixing this product with a little water or milk and then just chugging it down.
Key Information
Consider the following key information before buying and using collagen protein powders.
Benefits of Collagen Supplements
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It’s the glue that holds you together! Collagen levels tend to decline after your 30s or so, which is partly why your skin loses its elasticity with age, and your bones lose some of their strength. Taking collagen protein powder replaces the collagen your body is no longer producing and may have the following benefits:
- Better skin health – collagen powder may help restore lost skin elasticity, reducing wrinkle depth, and preventing sagging. It may also prevent skin dryness and reduce the severity of acne.
- Less joint pain – joint pain is often caused by the breakdown of hyaline cartilage, which is the connective tissue that covers and protects the ends of your bones. Taking collagen may help restore lost hyaline cartilage, reducing joint pain at the source.
- Less bone loss – bone density and strength usually decrease with age. Taking collagen powder may promote stronger, more dense bones, making them less prone to fracture.
- Good for digestive health – collagen is good for the micro-organisms that live in your digestive system. Keeping these bacteria healthy will keep your digestive system working properly.
- Stronger, healthier hair and nails – collagen is the main protein in your hair and nails. Taking a collagen supplement will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to keep your hair and nails in tip-top shape.
- Increased muscle mass – like all types of protein, collagen can help with muscle growth and repair. However, most collagen protein supplements contain relatively small amounts of protein, which means using collagen for muscle growth could prove expansive.
Side effects of collagen protein powder
Because it’s free from gluten, soy, and lactose, collagen protein powder is usually very low in side-effects, especially if it’s made from 100% bovine collagen. However, some collagen products are made from eggshells and fish collagen, which could be sources of allergens for some users.
The most common side effect of collagen protein powder is the taste – most products are unflavored, and that means they don’t taste very good, especially when mixed with just water. Because of this, most users add collagen powder to flavored beverages and even food to mask the taste.
The flavor can be a source of another side effect – indigestion.
Bottom Line
Collagen protein powder is a very beneficial supplement. It can have a positive effect on many aspects of your health and even your appearance as it’s useful for fighting wrinkles and making your hair and nails stronger.
Unlike whey protein, most users don’t tend to take huge amounts of this substance. 20-30 grams per serving is almost unheard of and, instead, most people just use 5-10 grams per day.
That’s because collagen protein is more expensive than whey but, because you need less, it works out about the same price per serving.
Another important difference between whey and collagen is the taste – most collagen products are unflavored. Because of this, they can be mixed with different hot and cold beverages, as well as incorporated into food, such as yogurt and soups.
If you are looking for a form of protein that does more than just speed up your recovery after exercise, or boost muscle growth, collagen is it. But, if you need a post-training recovery booster or are a bodybuilder, a whey protein product may be your best bet, and you’ll need to use collagen as your secondary protein supplement.
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Patrick
Patrick Dale is an ex-British Royal Marine and owner and lecturer for a fitness qualifications company. In addition to training prospective personal trainers, Patrick has also authored three fitness and exercise books, dozens of e-books, thousands of articles, and several fitness videos.
