Impact Whey vs Gold Standard 100% Whey
MyProtein Impact Whey vs Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey — the UK's defining protein powder debate, settled on the label with verified amino data.
MyProtein
MyProtein Impact Whey
67g protein / 100g
Winner
Optimum Nutrition
ON Gold Standard 100% Whey
77g protein / 100g
Representative products shown — the top efficiency scorer in each line. Tap a card for the full product page.
Our verdict
Gold Standard wins on the label
Both score 100/A on protein efficiency, but the labels diverge underneath: Gold Standard packs 10.4g more protein per 100g (77.4g vs 67g), 24% more leucine and 27% more essential amino acids — with less sugar (3.2g vs 5.3g per 100g).
The honest caveat: both scoops land near the ~2–3g leucine-per-meal threshold for maximal muscle protein synthesis (2.69g vs 2.18g per 30g scoop), so the practical gap is smaller than the percentages suggest — half a scoop more of Impact Whey closes it.
Impact Whey's case was never the label: it's the flavour range and the discount-code pricing. If you buy on numbers alone, Gold Standard takes it.
Head to head
Per 30g scoop, from UK label data.
| MyProtein Impact Whey | ON Gold Standard 100% Whey | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 20.1g | 23.2g ✓ |
| Calories | 112 ✓ | 112 |
| Sugar / 100g | 5.3g | 3.2g ✓ |
| Fat / 100g | 6.2g | 4.5g ✓ |
| Clean Score | 90 | 90 |
| Leucine | 2.20g | 2.70g ✓ |
| BCAAs | 4.60g | 5.80g ✓ |
| EAAs | 9.80g | 12.40g ✓ |
Amino acids: why they matter
Both brands publish verified aminograms — so we can compare what's actually in the protein, not just how much of it there is. Per 30g scoop.
Leucine
2.20g vs 2.70g
BCAAs
4.60g vs 5.80g
EAAs
9.80g vs 12.40g
Leucine — the trigger
Leucine is the amino acid that signals muscles to start building, via the mTOR pathway. Research points to roughly 2–3g per meal as the intake associated with maximal muscle protein synthesis — check where each scoop lands against that line.
BCAAs — the workers
Leucine, isoleucine and valine are burned directly in muscle rather than the liver. Honest context: BCAAs alone don't build muscle — research shows complete protein beats BCAA supplements. Their value here is as a quality marker of the whey itself.
EAAs — the builders
The 9 essential amino acids are the raw material of muscle protein synthesis — your body can't make them. Greater EAA availability per serving is associated with a stronger synthesis response, which is why this underrated number matters.
Full aminogram — all amino acids (per 100g)
| Amino acid | MyProtein Impact Whey | ON Gold Standard 100% Whey |
|---|---|---|
| Histidine * | 1.22g | 1.54g |
| Isoleucine * | 4.20g | 5.73g |
| Leucine * | 7.26g | 8.98g |
| Lysine * | 6.21g | 8.09g |
| Methionine * | 1.47g | 1.67g |
| Phenylalanine * | 2.19g | 2.60g |
| Threonine * | 4.63g | 5.94g |
| Tryptophan * | 1.34g | 1.92g |
| Valine * | 3.98g | 4.74g |
| Glutamic acid | 11.70g | 15.12g |
| Aspartic acid | 7.24g | 9.49g |
| Proline | 3.89g | 4.97g |
| Alanine | 3.40g | 3.96g |
| Serine | 3.38g | 3.90g |
| Tyrosine | 2.02g | 2.53g |
| Arginine | 1.79g | 1.92g |
| Glycine | 1.26g | 1.52g |
| Cysteine | 1.56g | 1.89g |
* Essential amino acid. All values manufacturer-verified — never estimated.
Who should buy which
Buy Impact Whey if…
Flavour variety keeps you consistent, you shop with discount codes, or you're building a wider MyProtein basket. The nutritional gap is real but closable — and you'll never get bored.
Buy Gold Standard if…
You want the best numbers in the tub — more protein, more leucine, cleaner macros — and the same tub tasting identical every time. The 'buy it for a decade' choice.
Frequently asked
Which has more protein, Impact Whey or Gold Standard?
Gold Standard: 77.4g per 100g vs 67g for the Impact Whey representative we tested — about 23.2g vs 20.1g per 30g scoop.
Which has more leucine?
Gold Standard, by 24% — 8.98g vs 7.26g per 100g (2.69g vs 2.18g per scoop). Both are near the ~2–3g per-meal threshold linked to maximal muscle protein synthesis.
Is Gold Standard worth the higher price?
On the label, yes — you're getting measurably more protein and amino acids per scoop. But MyProtein's frequent discount codes often erase the price gap, so compare the price per 100g of protein on the day you buy.
Do both publish their amino acid profiles?
Yes — both brands publish verified aminograms, which is why we can compare them at all. Brands that don't publish theirs can't be compared on amino quality.
Compare them yourself, live
Run MyProtein Impact Whey against ON Gold Standard 100% Whey in our interactive compare tool — with your own product picks.
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