MyProtein vs Optimum Nutrition (2026): Impact Whey vs Gold Standard

Short verdict: buy Gold Standard if you want set-and-forget consistency; buy Impact Whey if you’ll use a discount code and enjoy choosing from 30+ flavours. At July-2026 list prices the per-protein cost is nearly level — which makes the old “MyProtein is the cheap one, ON is the premium one” framing obsolete.

All prices and specs below were checked on the brands’ UK product pages on 4 July 2026 — both stores move prices constantly, so treat them as the day’s snapshot.

The numbers, side by side

✓ marks the better figure in each comparable row. Gold Standard takes every price-and-protein row on paper; MyProtein wins UK flavour variety while ON edges the US range. Both powders sit in the same protein-by-weight band — the one-gram-per-scoop difference is noise. The interesting rows are price and flavours, and they point in opposite directions.

Price and value: the story has changed

MyProtein’s reputation says it’s the cheap one. In July 2026, at list prices, Gold Standard’s from-price actually works out cheaper per 100g of protein (≈£4.00 vs £4.48 — our maths from the listed prices and serving specs above).

Two big caveats, both honest:

1. MyProtein rarely sells at list. Its discount codes run near-constantly, and a decent one flips this table on any given day. Check the current MyProtein codes before deciding.
2. “Was” prices on MyProtein are theatre — when we checked, their Isolate showed £44.49 “down from” £58.99, a state of affairs that in our experience is closer to permanent than promotional. Compare real basket prices per 100g of protein, nothing else.

ON discounts exist but come around far less often. If you refuse to play the code game, Gold Standard’s sticker price is the steadier deal.

Nutrition: a one-gram difference and a nicer amino line

Gold Standard lists 24g of protein per ~31g scoop with 5.5g of naturally occurring BCAAs and 4g of glutamine — the amino callouts have always been ON’s pitch, and for people training hard they’re a genuine (if modest) edge. Impact Whey lists 23g per serving and keeps the label simpler. Nobody is out-muscling anybody here; buy on the other rows.

ON’s UK page also touts the Men’s Health Sport Nutrition Award 2024 for best protein powder — their citation, for what it’s worth.

Flavours: variety vs reliability

• MyProtein: 30+ flavours in the UK as of July 2026 (the US site lists 15+), now including licensed Mars®, Snickers and Bounty® collaborations. The catch is variance — some flavours are excellent, some aren’t, which is why our tested flavour rankings exist.
• Optimum Nutrition: 15+ flavours in the UK but 20+ Stateside (Cinnamon Roll, Caramel Macchiato and S’Mores among the extras US buyers get), and the core ones (Double Rich Chocolate, Vanilla Ice Cream, Cookies & Cream) taste identical tub after tub, year after year. In our experience the floor is higher even if the ceiling is lower.

The pattern flips by region: MyProtein has the wider UK range, ON the wider US one — so the “MyProtein = more choice” line only holds on this side of the Atlantic.

Mixability

Both mix cleanly in a basic shaker; clumping complaints are rare for either. From our own tubs over the years, Gold Standard is the more uniform mixer across its range, while MyProtein varies a little flavour to flavour. Not a deciding factor unless you’re deeply texture-sensitive.

Who should buy which

Buy Gold Standard 100% Whey if:

• You want to order the same tub for years and have it taste identical
• You won’t chase discount codes — its everyday per-protein price is now the equal of anyone’s
• The BCAA/glutamine numbers on the label matter to your training

Buy Impact Whey if:

• You’ll spend 30 seconds on a discount code — that’s where MyProtein wins the maths
• Flavour variety keeps you consistent (30+ options vs 15+)
• You’re building a wider MyProtein basket anyway — see our full brand review

The verdict

On today’s numbers Gold Standard edges it at list price — and its old weakness, cost, is gone. But the honest answer is that the brands have converged: same protein band, similar real-world pricing, different personalities. ON is the reliable one; MyProtein is the flexible one with better deals and more fun flavours.

If you’re still brand-shopping, the other half of this decision is usually MyProtein vs Bulk — and our Gold Standard deep-dive covers ON’s flagship on its own terms.

Shop Impact Whey on MyProtein (UK & Europe) · Find Gold Standard 100% Whey on Amazon UK