Dymatize vs Optimum Nutrition vs Nutranelle: Which Is Right for You?

Dymatize ISO100 uses two sweeteners. Optimum Nutrition's label lists its sweetener by additive code rather than name. Nutranelle uses stevia leaf extract and nothing else. We compared all three using publicly available label data and aggregated community discussions where available.

Here's what we found.

Our pick: For women who want clean protein and functional nutrition in a single daily scoop - with no artificial sweeteners and nothing unnecessary added - Nutranelle is our pick. 

Learn more.

Quick Reference

Prices captured 10 March 2026. Dymatize: Amazon US, 1.34 lb pack. ON: Amazon US, 1 lb pack. Nutranelle: nutranelle.com, 30-serving container. See current pricing at source before purchasing.

TLDR: Which One Is Right For You?

Nutranelle is right for you if you want your protein powder to do more than deliver protein - clean plant-based protein from four complementary sources, plus organic greens, digestive enzymes, and an antioxidant berry blend in a single scoop, with no artificial sweeteners and no non-functional additives beyond natural flavor.

Dymatize ISO100 is right for you if you want a fast-digesting, high-purity whey isolate with broad retail availability, are comfortable with sucralose as a sweetener, and protein delivery without additional functional ingredients is your primary objective.

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard is right for you if you want a widely available, competitively priced whey protein at a strong price-per-serving, and what's in the scoop beyond the protein itself is less of a priority.

How We Chose These Products and What We Evaluated

These three brands were selected because they represent the most frequently compared options in this category based on search data and buyer research.

We evaluated them across four criteria - ingredient transparency, sweetener profile, what you get per serving, and value per serving - because these are the dimensions women most consistently cite as decision factors when researching protein powder. 

We used publicly available label data as our primary source throughout. Where community sentiment is referenced, it reflects aggregated patterns from fitness and nutrition forums rather than individual opinions. 

Taste and mixability observations for Dymatize and Optimum Nutrition are drawn from community discussion patterns.

The Comparison Framework

We evaluated these three products across four criteria that matter most to women looking for a clean protein powder: ingredient transparency, sweetener profile, what you get per serving beyond the protein itself, and value per serving.

Here's what the data show.

Ingredient Transparency

The ingredient list tells you everything that's in the product beyond the headline macros. It's the most honest signal available about how a product was formulated - and for buyers who care about what goes into their body, it's often the first filter.

What the label data shows

Dymatize ISO100 Gourmet Chocolate full ingredient list

Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate, Cocoa Powder (Processed With Alkali), Less Than 1% Of: Salt, Soy Lecithin, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Sucralose, Steviol Glycosides (Stevia).

Total disclosed ingredients: 9

Notable ingredient notes

• Soy Lecithin (PubChem) - a phospholipid derived from soybeans, used widely in food products as an emulsifier to improve mixability and texture.

• Natural and Artificial Flavor - standard food-industry flavouring agents; "artificial flavor" designates synthetic compounds approved for use in food products.

• Potassium Chloride (NIH MedlinePlus) - a mineral salt used in some food and supplement products as a flavour agent or electrolyte component.

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Double Rich Chocolate full ingredient list

Protein Blend (93%) (Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Hydrolysed Whey Protein) (Emulsifier: INS 322i), Cocoa Powder (Processed With Alkali), Flavours, Sweetener (INS 950).

Total disclosed ingredients: 7 (including sub-ingredients within the protein blend)

Notable ingredient notes

• INS 322i (FAO Codex GSFA) - corresponds to Lecithin; a widely used food emulsifier.

• INS 950 (FAO Codex GSFA) - corresponds to Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K), a calorie-free synthetic sweetener approved for use in food and beverages.

• "Flavours" is listed without further specification on the label.

Nutranelle Plant-Based Protein Powder Vanilla full ingredient list

Property Blend 31g: Veggie Zest™ Protein (Fava Bean, Mung Bean, Pea and Rice Proteins), Digestive Enzyme Blend (Protease, Amylase, Lactase and Lipase), Organic Greens Balance Alkalizing Blend® (Barley Grass, Kale, Alfalfa Grass, Wheatgrass, Oat Grass, Spirulina, Lemon Juice, Chlorella and Astragalus Root Extract), Betta Berries Antioxidant Blend® (JabuVital®, Pomegranate Juice, Goji, Acerola, Mangosteen Super ORAC, AcaiVida®, Strawberry Juice, Amla, Cranberry Juice and MaquiForza®) and Hyaluronic Acid.

Other Ingredients: Natural Flavors, Ultrasmooth Gum Blend (Acacia Gum, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum), Stevia Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum and Pink Himalayan Crystal Salt.

Total disclosed ingredients: 35 (counting all disclosed sub-ingredients)

The length of Nutranelle's ingredient list reflects the multi-blend formulation rather than the addition of non-functional agents.

Each component within the Property Blend serves a stated functional purpose - protein delivery, digestive support, greens nutrition, or antioxidant activity. Selected ingredient notes:

• Astragalus Root Extract (NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health) - an adaptogenic herb used in traditional medicine. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, consult your healthcare provider before using products containing astragalus root extract.

• Spirulina (NIH) - a blue-green algae used as a nutrient-dense food supplement, commonly included in greens blends for its micronutrient profile.

• Chlorella (Examine.com) - a freshwater algae included in greens blends for its nutrient density.

• Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, and Maca - adaptogenic botanicals with a growing body of research on stress response and hormonal support; each is a substantive topic in its own right and is discussed in Nutranelle's published ingredient guides.

• Acerola (Examine.com) - a fruit extract used as a natural source of Vitamin C.

• Hyaluronic Acid (NIH MedlinePlus) - a naturally occurring compound in the body, included here for its role in joint and skin health support.

What users say about ingredients

A consistent pattern across community discussions is that both products are perceived as straightforward and uncomplicated in their formulation. Forum users frequently note the short ingredient list of Dymatize ISO100 as a positive - it's easy to understand exactly what you're consuming.

For Optimum Nutrition, the use of additive codes rather than common names occasionally surfaces as a point of confusion among buyers who prefer fully spelled-out ingredient labels.

The takeaway: Dymatize and ON are formulated for a single job - protein delivery - and their ingredient counts reflect that. Nutranelle's longer list is the product of a different formulation philosophy: more ingredients, but each serving a stated functional purpose. If knowing exactly what's in your scoop and why it's there matters to you, the difference in how each brand structures its label is worth paying attention to.

Sweetener Profile

Sweeteners are one of the most common reasons you might switch protein powders. Digestive sensitivity, taste preferences, and questions about long-term consumption of artificial sweeteners all drive this decision.

Understanding what's in each product - and what the research says - makes the comparison easier to evaluate.

What the label data shows

• Dymatize ISO100: Sucralose (NIH/PubChem) and Steviol Glycosides (Stevia). Sucralose is a chlorinated derivative of sucrose, classified as a non-nutritive sweetener. It is one of the most widely used artificial sweeteners in protein supplements; some buyers choose to avoid it based on personal digestive response or preference for plant-derived alternatives.

• Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard: Sweetener (INS 950) - Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) (NCBI). Ace-K is a calorie-free synthetic sweetener frequently used in combination with other sweeteners in food products; ON's label lists it as the sole sweetener in this SKU.

• Nutranelle Plant-Based: Stevia Leaf Extract only. Stevia (NIH) is a plant-derived sweetener extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana. It delivers sweetness without calories and without artificial synthesis. It is the only sweetener in Nutranelle's formulation.

What users say about sweeteners

In women-focused discussion threads, sweetener avoidance - particularly of sucralose and acesulfame potassium - is a recurring reason for switching protein powders.

A consistent pattern across community discussions is that aftertaste sensitivity drives a meaningful subset of buyers away from products using multiple sweeteners or high-intensity artificial options.

For Dymatize specifically, the combination of sucralose and stevia is occasionally noted - some users prefer a single sweetener; others report no issues with the combination.

The takeaway: For women who prefer to avoid artificial sweeteners entirely, only one of these three products fits that requirement.

What You Get Per Serving

Protein grams per serving is only part of the picture. What else is in the scoop - and whether those additional ingredients add functional value or are simply texture and flavour agents - matters if you want your supplement to do more than one job.

What the label data show

Amino acid completeness

A complete protein is generally defined as one that provides all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts (NIH MedlinePlus). Whey protein - whether isolate, concentrate, or hydrolyzed - is consistently characterised in nutrition literature as a complete protein that meets this standard.

Plant proteins present a different picture. Rice protein is frequently identified as lysine-limited in published research. Pea protein literature commonly identifies sulphur-containing amino acids (methionine and cysteine) as limiting.

For Nutranelle's fava bean component specifically, a peer-reviewed study (Marti et al., PMC7143175) reports that fava bean protein isolate meets WHO adult thresholds for most essential amino acids, with sulphur-containing amino acids (methionine + cysteine) as the limiting factor - consistent with the broader legume pattern.

This is precisely the rationale behind multi-source plant protein blending. By combining legume proteins (fava bean, mung bean, pea) with a grain protein (rice), the blend addresses the specific limitations of each individual source through complementarity.

A precise amino acid score for the finished product cannot be calculated from label data alone - but the blending rationale is grounded in published research on plant protein complementarity.

Functional ingredients

The "non-functional additives" categorisation throughout this post refers to ingredients whose role is texture, stability, or flavour rather than nutrition - an accurate and label-derivable distinction.

For Nutranelle's functional blend components:

• Organic Greens Balance Alkalizing Blend® - barley grass, kale, alfalfa grass, wheatgrass, oat grass, spirulina, lemon juice, chlorella, and astragalus root extract. These are ingredient categories associated with micronutrient density and, in the case of adaptogens, with stress-response research.

• Digestive Enzyme Blend - protease, amylase, lactase, and lipase. These are digestive enzymes that support the breakdown of protein, carbohydrates, lactose, and fats respectively (Examine.com).

• Betta Berries Antioxidant Blend® - a proprietary fruit and berry concentrate blend including pomegranate, goji, acerola, mangosteen, açaí, strawberry, amla, cranberry, and other sources.

• Hyaluronic Acid - included for joint and skin health support.

A recurring pattern in discussions is that users who switched to Dymatize ISO100 or ON Gold Standard from more complex formulations did so specifically because they wanted a simpler product.

Digestive tolerance is frequently cited as a factor - though individual variability around both products is high, with a visible subset of community members attributing digestive discomfort to dairy tolerance rather than the products themselves.

So, all three products deliver roughly the same amount of protein per serving.

The meaningful difference is what comes with it. For a buyer who wants protein plus functional nutrition in a single daily scoop, the ingredient lists tell a clear story.

Value Per Serving

Price per gram of protein is a useful comparison metric when products deliver essentially the same thing. 

It doesn’t tell the whole story when one product includes a greens blend, digestive enzyme complex, and antioxidant stack that the others don't.

Still, for what it’s worth, here’s how the three brands compare.

 

Prices are point-in-time captures. Check current pricing at source before purchasing.

For context: a spot-check of mainstream US-market protein powders captured on 10 March 2026 found price per gram of labelled protein ranging from about $0.04/g at the budget end (large-format whey tubs) to about $0.10/g for smaller premium plant-based formulations, with many mainstream tubs clustering around $0.05–$0.07/g.

Nutranelle sits toward the upper end of that observed range.

What users say about price

Value perception for Dymatize and Optimum Nutrition products is mixed in community discussions.

For Dymatize ISO100, the most visible 3-star community pattern involves container quantity relative to price - a recurring complaint that the container appears less than half full. For Optimum Nutrition, packaging and seal concerns surface repeatedly in mid-rating reviews, even among users who are satisfied with the product itself.

These aren't formulation criticisms, but they are worth noting for buyers considering repurchase.

Nutranelle sits at the premium end, and whether that represents good value depends on whether you need - or would otherwise buy separately - the greens blend, enzyme complex, and antioxidant stack that come included in every serving.

Next Steps

If you've read this far, Nutranelle was built for exactly the buyer you are.

Shop Nutranelle Plant-Based Protein Powder

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Nutranelle's plant protein compare to Dymatize and Optimum Nutrition on BCAAs?

Whey protein is naturally high in branched-chain amino acids - leucine in particular, which is the primary trigger for muscle protein synthesis. Nutranelle's four-source plant blend delivers BCAAs across all sources, with leucine present in meaningful amounts in both pea and fava bean protein.

The blending rationale matters: pea protein is relatively leucine-rich among plant sources, and combining it with rice, fava bean, and mung bean addresses the sulphur amino acid limitations that any single legume protein carries on its own.

A peer-reviewed amino acid analysis of fava bean protein isolate (Marti et al., PMC) confirms that most essential amino acids - including the BCAAs - meet WHO adult thresholds, with sulphur-containing amino acids as the primary limiting factor.

You won't get the leucine concentration of a hydrolyzed whey isolate from a plant blend, but if your total daily protein intake is adequate, the per-serving BCAA difference between a well-formulated plant blend and whey is less consequential than it's often made out to be.

Does plant protein cause more digestive issues than whey for people who train hard?

For most people, the answer is no, but the mechanism matters. Whey isolate is highly digestible on its own; the digestive issues that do show up in community discussions around Dymatize and ON tend to be attributed to lactose tolerance rather than protein type.

Plant proteins can present their own digestive challenges at high volumes, primarily from fibre content and antinutrient compounds in some legumes. Nutranelle addresses this directly with a built-in digestive enzyme blend - protease, amylase, lactase, and lipase - which supports breakdown of protein, carbohydrates, lactose, and fats in the same scoop.

If you're consuming high daily protein and have found plant proteins difficult in the past, the enzyme complex is a meaningful formulation difference worth factoring in.

Can I use Nutranelle as a post-workout protein if I'm focused on muscle gain?

Although whey is absorbed faster than plant protein, the research on protein timing consistently shows that total daily protein intake is the dominant variable for muscle gain, with timing playing a secondary role for most trainees who are eating adequate protein across the day.

Used as part of a diet that hits your daily protein target, Nutranelle functions effectively as a post-workout source.

If post-workout absorption speed is your primary criterion, check out Nutranelle’s Whey Protein Powder. 

Why does Nutranelle cost more per serving?

The price difference reflects what else is in the scoop. Dymatize and ON are protein delivery products - their formulations are built around that single function, and their pricing reflects it.

Nutranelle's serving includes an organic greens blend, a four-enzyme digestive complex, an antioxidant berry blend, and hyaluronic acid alongside the protein.

If you would otherwise buy a greens powder and a digestive enzyme supplement separately - both common purchases for health-conscious buyers - the per-serving cost looks different.