Optimum Nutrition vs Dymatize
Optimum Nutrition vs Dymatize — Gold Standard 100% Whey against ISO100 hydrolysed isolate. Both 100/A, both with verified aminograms: the purest label shootout we've run.
Optimum Nutrition
ON Gold Standard 100% Whey
77g protein / 100g
Winner
Dymatize
Dymatize ISO100
83g protein / 100g
Representative products shown — the top efficiency scorer in each line. Tap a card for the full product page.
Our verdict
Dymatize ISO100 wins on the label
Both score a perfect 100/A, but ISO100 packs more protein into the tub: 83.3g vs 77.4g per 100g — 25g vs 23.2g per scoop — with fractionally fewer calories and a better Clean Score (94 vs 90). On protein density and label cleanliness, the isolate does what isolates are supposed to do.
Gold Standard's consolation is real but thin: a whisper of an amino edge — leucine 8.98g vs 8.92g per 100g (0.7%), BCAAs 19.45g vs 18.48g. At 2.69g vs 2.68g leucine per scoop, both clear the ~2–3g per-meal threshold for muscle protein synthesis with room to spare. The amino 'gap' is a rounding error.
The honest caveat is price: hydrolysed isolate typically costs more per kilo than Gold Standard's whey blend. You're paying for an extra 1.8g protein per scoop and a cleaner label. Whether that's worth it depends on your budget, not your biceps.
Head to head
Per 30g scoop, from UK label data.
| ON Gold Standard 100% Whey | Dymatize ISO100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 23.2g | 25.0g ✓ |
| Calories | 112 | 110 ✓ |
| Sugar / 100g | 3.2g ✓ | 3.3g |
| Fat / 100g | 4.5g | 3.3g ✓ |
| Clean Score | 90 | 94 ✓ |
| Leucine | 2.70g | 2.70g |
| BCAAs | 5.80g ✓ | 5.50g |
| EAAs | 12.40g ✓ | 11.80g |
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
2.70g vs 2.70g
BCAAs
5.80g vs 5.50g
EAAs
12.40g vs 11.80g
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 | ON Gold Standard 100% Whey | Dymatize ISO100 |
|---|---|---|
| Histidine * | 1.54g | 1.47g |
| Isoleucine * | 5.73g | 4.74g |
| Leucine * | 8.98g | 8.92g |
| Lysine * | 8.09g | 7.83g |
| Methionine * | 1.67g | 1.89g |
| Phenylalanine * | 2.60g | 2.59g |
| Threonine * | 5.94g | 5.74g |
| Tryptophan * | 1.92g | 1.38g |
| Valine * | 4.74g | 4.82g |
| Glutamic acid | 15.12g | 14.69g |
| Aspartic acid | 9.49g | 8.68g |
| Proline | 4.97g | 4.78g |
| Alanine | 3.96g | 4.13g |
| Serine | 3.90g | 4.19g |
| Tyrosine | 2.53g | 2.40g |
| Arginine | 1.92g | 2.29g |
| Glycine | 1.52g | 1.51g |
| Cysteine | 1.89g | 1.74g |
* Essential amino acid. All values manufacturer-verified — never estimated.
Who should buy which
Buy Gold Standard if…
You want the proven all-rounder — top-tier aminos, huge flavour range, usually the better price per kilo. The safe decade-long choice.
Buy Dymatize ISO100 if…
You want the leanest numbers in the premium tier — 25g protein per scoop, 94 Clean Score, hydrolysed isolate. Pay the premium if the last few grams matter to you.
Frequently asked
Which has more protein, Gold Standard or ISO100?
ISO100: 83.3g vs 77.4g per 100g — about 25g vs 23.2g per 30g scoop. The isolate's protein density is its whole pitch, and it delivers.
Which has more leucine?
Gold Standard, by 0.7% — 8.98g vs 8.92g per 100g (2.69g vs 2.68g per scoop). Immaterial: both clear the ~2–3g per-meal threshold comfortably.
Is ISO100 worth the higher price?
On the label you're buying 1.8g more protein per scoop and a cleaner ingredient list (94 vs 90). If budget is tight, Gold Standard gives you 95%+ of the outcome for less.
Do both publish amino acid profiles?
Yes — both publish verified aminograms, which is what makes this the purest shootout we've run. No estimates anywhere on this page.
Compare them yourself, live
Run ON Gold Standard 100% Whey against Dymatize ISO100 in our interactive compare tool — with your own product picks.
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