Protein powders have become enormously popular among fitness enthusiasts looking to build muscle, recover after workouts, and meet daily protein needs. With so many options on the market, deciding between brands like Muscle Milk and Orgain can be challenging.
This comprehensive guide will compare Muscle Milk and Orgain across a variety of factors, including ingredients, taste, price, and more. Read on to learn the pros and cons of each protein powder brand so you can determine which is best for your individual fitness goals and lifestyle.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Category | Muscle Milk | Orgain |
| Protein Sources | Whey, casein, milk protein | Organic pea, brown rice, chia |
| Protein per Serving | 32-50g | 21-30g |
| Taste | Thick, creamy, milkshake-like | Smoother, lighter flavor |
| Flavors | Chocolate, vanilla, banana, strawberry | Chocolate, vanilla, unflavored |
| Mixability | Can be clumpy | Mixes smoothly |
| Dietary Restrictions | Contains dairy | Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free |
| Other Nutrients | Added vitamins, minerals | Higher fiber and micronutrients |
| Price Per Gram of Protein | $0.06-$0.13 | $0.13-$0.16 |
| Best For | Bulking, mass gain | Everyday use, lean muscle |
Overview of Muscle Milk and Orgain
Before diving into the nitty-gritty details, let’s first understand the background behind each brand.
What is Muscle Milk?
Muscle Milk is a line of protein shakes and powders manufactured by the company CytoSport. Founded in 1998, Muscle Milk was one of the first protein blends to use casein and whey protein to support exercise recovery and build lean muscle mass.
The shakes and powders contain essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus. Muscle Milk aims to provide a complete nutritional option in a protein-packed formula.
What is Orgain?
Orgain was created by Dr. Andrew Abraham, a cancer survivor who developed a nutritional shake when struggling to find a clean protein source during treatment.
Orgain’s line includes both pre-made shakes and protein powder blends made from plant-based proteins like organic pea, brown rice, and chia. The brand focuses on making nutrient-dense, organic shakes without artificial ingredients.
Also Read: Comparison Between Quest And Premier Protein
Key Differences Between Muscle Milk And Orgain:
Now that you know a bit about their origins, let’s see how their flagship protein powder products stack up.
- Comparing Muscle Milk Gainer Vs. Orgain Organic Protein Powder
The Muscle Milk Gainer and Orgain Organic Protein powders represent the standard protein options from each brand. Here’s an in-depth look at how they compare:
Ingredients
Muscle Milk Gainer: Contains a blend of whey protein concentrate, milk protein isolate, maltodextrin, cocoa powder, and sunflower oil powder. Includes lactose.
Orgain Organic Protein: Includes organic pea protein, organic brown rice protein, and organic chia seed. Dairy-free and gluten-free.
Right off the bat, there is a significant difference in protein sources. Muscle Milk uses animal-based proteins while Orgain relies on plant-based.
Watch this review video:
Protein content
- Muscle Milk Gainer: 32g of protein per 2 scoop serving
- Orgain Organic Protein: 21g of protein per 2 scoop serving
Muscle Milk packs over 50% more protein per serving compared to Orgain. This makes it advantageous for upping daily protein intake.
Taste and flavors
- Muscle Milk Gainer: Has a very thick, milkshake-like taste and texture. Comes in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, banana and other flavors.
- Orgain Organic Protein: Features a smoother, lighter taste profile. Available in chocolate, vanilla, and an unflavored option.
Muscle Milk is creamy and indulgent while Orgain is more subdued. But Orgain can blend easier into liquids and recipes.
Price and value
- Muscle Milk Gainer: Around $25 for 2 lbs., so about $0.06 per gram of protein.
- Orgain Organic Protein: Approximately $27 for 2 lbs., making it $0.13 per gram of protein.
When taking protein content into account, Muscle Milk Gainer provides more grams of protein per dollar spent. But Orgain may be worth the extra cost for some people to get its organic plant-based nutrition.
Overall for a high calorie weight gain formula, Muscle Milk Gainer is likely the better value and has more robust protein content. But Orgain Organic offers quality plant-based protein in an easily digestible form.
- Comparing Muscle Milk Pro Series to Orgain Sport Protein
Let’s also look at the specialized protein powder lines from Muscle Milk and Orgain geared towards serious athletes and bodybuilders:
Ingredients
- Muscle Milk Pro Series: Contains a blend of whey protein isolates, whey protein concentrate, whey peptides and sunflower oil powder. Also includes cocoa powder and lactose.
- Orgain Sport: Features the same organic pea protein, organic brown rice protein, and organic chia seed found in the standard Orgain protein. Dairy-free and gluten-free.
As with the standard protein powders, Muscle Milk Pro uses whey while Orgain Sport sticks to plant-based protein.
Protein content
- Muscle Milk Pro Series: 50g of protein per 2 scoop serving
- Orgain Sport: 30g of protein per 2 scoop serving
The Muscle Milk Pro Series has a significant 60% more protein per serving compared to Orgain Sport. Making it better for bulking.
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Taste and texture
- Muscle Milk Pro Series: Very thick and creamy mouthfeel. Available primarily in chocolate flavors.
- Orgain Sport: Lighter taste and smoother texture. Comes in chocolate or vanilla.
Muscle Milk Pro is indulgent like a milkshake while Orgain Sport dissolves more easily into liquids or recipes.
Price and value
- Muscle Milk Pro Series: Around $25 for 2 lbs., so about $0.10 per gram of protein.
- Orgain Sport: Approximately $30 for 1.6 lbs., making it $0.16 per gram of protein.
Once again, Muscle Milk Pro Series offers more protein per dollar spent. But Orgain Sport may justify its higher cost for some people seeking its organic ingredients and plant protein benefits.
For hardcore protein intake needs, Muscle Milk Pro Series packs the most protein punch for the money. But Orgain Sport still provides quality plant-based protein for athletic needs, even if less.
- Additional Factors to Consider Between Brands
Beyond just ingredients and protein content, here are some other important factors to help determine whether Muscle Milk or Orgain is better for your individual needs:
- Mixability: Orgain powders are generally easier to mix and dissolve smoothly without clumping compared to the thicker Muscle Milk powders. This makes Orgain better for mixing into shakes.
- Digestibility: Since whey protein can be harder to digest for some, Orgain’s plant-based protein may be gentler on the stomach, especially for those with dairy sensitivities or trouble digesting lactose.
- Sugar content: Muscle Milk powders contain significantly more sugars to help improve the taste, which also increases the carbohydrate and calorie content.
- Special diets: Orgain is the obvious choice for vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free dietary needs given its plant-based formula. Muscle Milk contains dairy ingredients.
- Micronutrients: Orgain offers more well-rounded nutrition with extra fiber, vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, iron, calcium, and vitamin D.
Keep factors like taste preferences, diet, and nutrition goals in mind when choosing between the two brands.
Also Read: Comparison Between Huel and Garden of Life
Frequently Asked Questions
For most typical users, Orgain is the better choice over Muscle Milk. Orgain has organic plant-based ingredients, fewer additives, and easier digestibility. The smooth flavor and mixability also makes Orgain preferable as an everyday protein powder.
Muscle Milk is a branded line of protein shakes and powders. The key difference from a standard protein powder is that Muscle Milk contains a blend of whey, casein, and milk proteins, along with added vitamins, minerals, and fats. A typical protein powder like whey or plant-based contains mainly just protein.
Yes, Orgain can absolutely help build lean muscle when combined with strength training. Thanks to its organic plant-based protein content and amino acid profile, Orgain provides sufficient protein for muscle protein synthesis and recovery. Any protein powder can assist muscle building as long as nutrition and exercise needs are met.
For some individuals, a plant-based protein powder like Orgain may be better than Muscle Milk. Plant proteins often have fewer additives and are easier to digest, especially if you have trouble digesting dairy. Orgain also has fewer calories from sugars than Muscle Milk. Experiment to find what protein source your body responds to best.
Final Verdict
So in this battle between Muscle Milk Vs. Orgain, which protein powder is the ultimate winner?
For the average gym-goer or athlete looking to build lean muscle, aid workout recovery, and meet daily protein needs, Orgain is likely the smarter choice. Thanks to its smooth texture, organic plant-based ingredients, and easier digestibility, it works well for most goals as a daily protein powder.
On the other hand, for those in need of serious high calorie, mass-gaining formulas for bulking up quickly, Muscle Milk’s heavier protein content can’t be beat.The rich, indulgent whey-based powders provide exceptional protein levels per scoop for hardcore strength training. Just know the thicker texture and dairy content isn’t for everyone.
At the end of the day, carefully compare nutrient labels and ingredients to select the protein powder that best complements your individual diet, taste preferences and fitness regimen. Both Muscle Milk and Orgain make excellent options depending on your specific needs.