Quick answer
Unflavoured whey is our best no-sweetener option; Bulk Natural Pure Whey is our stevia-sweetened option; Form Performance Protein is our plant pick. Avoiding artificial sweeteners is a preference or tolerance decision, not an automatic health upgrade. Check the exact flavour because a brand can use different sweeteners across one range. ‘Natural’ products can still taste strongly sweet, and stevia can be less acceptable than sucralose for some buyers. Start small.
What is the best protein powder without artificial sweeteners?
Bulk Natural Pure Whey is the top naturally sweetened whey in the UK. It uses stevia instead of sucralose and still holds a reasonable price per gram of protein. Form Performance Protein is the best plant based pick, with 30g protein per serving, no artificial sweeteners, no soy, and a short ingredient list. If you want zero sweetener of any kind, an unflavoured whey such as Pink Sun Whey Protein Concentrate or The Organic Protein Co is the cleanest choice, plain enough to disappear into cooking and smoothies.
Why avoid artificial sweeteners in protein powder?
There are three practical reasons people move away from artificial sweeteners, and none of them require a health scare to justify the switch.
- 1
Digestive comfort. Some people find sucralose and, more often, sugar alcohols cause bloating or loose stools. A naturally sweetened or unflavoured powder removes that variable entirely.
- 2
Taste preference. The lingering aftertaste of sucralose and acesulfame K puts many people off. Stevia and unflavoured options taste cleaner to a lot of palates.
- 3
Shorter ingredient lists. Clean label buyers simply prefer fewer additives, and an unflavoured whey is just protein with nothing else added.
The best naturally sweetened and unflavoured proteins UK
Bulk's naturally sweetened whey uses stevia instead of sucralose and sits around 73g protein per 100g. It offers the best balance of clean label and price for anyone who still wants a flavoured shake without artificial sweeteners.
Form's blend is the cleanest plant protein on UK shelves. It combines pea, brown rice, hemp, and algae for 30g protein per serving, with no artificial sweeteners, soy, or artificial colours. It is the clear winner if you want plant based and clean label in one product.
Pink Sun Whey Protein Concentrate is just whey protein and nothing else, at around 82g protein per 100g with no sweetener, flavouring, or additives. It is the plainest way to add protein to oats, smoothies, or baking without changing the taste, and works as the benchmark for a genuinely zero sweetener powder.
The Organic Protein Co makes an organic, unflavoured whey from grass fed milk at around 79g protein per 100g. It suits buyers who want both organic certification and zero sweetener, though it is priced at a premium for a genuinely short and traceable ingredient list.
A natural positioned whey concentrate sitting around 72g protein per 100g gives buyers a flavoured shake without the usual artificial sweetener load, making it a solid middle ground between unflavoured and a fully sweetened mainstream whey.
Live comparison
Whey Protein products
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 50001167 £39.99 24.3g114£0.239 1000133 £14.99 24.3g114£0.454 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 3000177 £38.99 6.0g148£0.506 2000151 £28.99 6.0g148£0.568 1000126 £16.99 6.0g148£0.653 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1000152 £23.99 18.0g110£0.461 25001100 £53.99 18.0g110£0.540 2250190 £68.49 17.0g109£0.761 750130 £23.99 17.0g109£0.800 375115 £13.49 17.0g109£0.899 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 48001160 £85.69 17.7g110£0.536 2400180 £44.79 17.7g110£0.560 1200140 £23.19 17.7g110£0.580 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2340190 £61.99 20.0g100£0.689 36001150 £102.99 20.0g94£0.687 2160190 £61.99 20.0g94£0.689 34501150 £102.99 20.0g91£0.687 37501150 £102.99 20.0g96£0.687 2070190 £61.99 20.0g90£0.689 2250190 £61.99 20.0g96£0.689 780130 £21.99 20.0g100£0.733 750130 £21.99 20.0g97£0.733 720130 £21.99 20.0g94£0.733 43501150 £113.99 22.0g114£0.760 690130 £21.99 20.0g91£0.733 930130 £25.99 23.0g115£0.866 45001150 £113.99 20.0g112£0.760 2610190 £71.49 22.0g114£0.794 2700190 £71.49 20.0g112£0.794 870130 £25.99 22.0g114£0.866 50001166 £157.49 23.0g114£0.949 900130 £25.99 20.0g112£0.866 390115 £13.49 20.0g100£0.899 375115 £13.49 20.0g97£0.899 360115 £13.49 20.0g94£0.899 2500183 £82.99 22.0g115£1.000 345115 £13.49 20.0g91£0.899 1920160 £66.49 22.0g114£1.108 1000140 £34.99 18.0g98£0.875 1800160 £66.49 23.0g114£1.108 465115 £16.49 22.0g114£1.099 435115 £16.49 22.0g114£1.099 2520190 £97.49 20.0g105£1.083 32401120 £127.49 20.0g102£1.062 450115 £16.49 20.0g112£1.099 2430190 £97.49 20.0g102£1.083 840130 £34.99 20.0g105£1.166 810130 £34.99 20.0g102£1.166 960130 £34.99 20.0g124£1.166 2000166 £76.99 20.0g120£1.167 600120 £24.99 20.0g112£1.249 1050130 £39.99 20.0g128£1.333 500115 £24.49 20.0g113£1.633 525115 £24.49 20.0g128£1.633 660120 £32.49 20.0g123£1.625 480115 £24.49 20.0g113£1.633 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 50001156 £129.99 23.0g121£0.833 2500178 £67.99 23.0g121£0.872 1000131 £27.99 23.0g121£0.903 500116 £15.99 23.0g121£0.999 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2000161 £60.00 27.0g137£0.984 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 50001167 £139.99 22.0g113£0.838 2500183 £74.99 22.0g113£0.903 1000133 £31.99 22.0g113£0.969 500117 £16.99 22.0g113£0.999 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 43501150 £113.99 20.0g108£0.760 930130 £25.99 23.0g115£0.866 45001150 £113.99 20.0g114£0.760 2610190 £71.49 20.0g108£0.794 2700190 £71.49 20.0g109£0.794 870130 £25.99 20.0g108£0.866 900130 £25.99 20.0g109£0.866 465115 £16.49 23.0g115£1.099 450115 £16.49 20.0g104£1.099 435115 £16.49 20.0g108£1.099 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2100170 £59.95 22.5g113£0.856 510117 £29.95 22.5g113£1.762 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1800172 £54.95 20.0g101£0.763 1000140 £32.95 20.0g101£0.824 450118 £19.95 20.0g101£1.108 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 48001160 £125.99 20.4g111£0.787 2400180 £65.89 20.4g111£0.824 1200140 £34.09 20.4g111£0.852 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 50001167 £149.99 23.1g110£0.898 2000167 £62.99 23.1g110£0.940 1000133 £32.99 23.1g110£1.000 500117 £18.99 23.1g110£1.117 6012 £3.99 23.1g110£1.995 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2500171 £60.49 22.0g140£0.852 1000128 £25.99 21.0g137£0.928 500114 £14.99 22.0g140£1.071 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 50001167 £159.99 23.7g119£0.958 30001100 £99.99 23.7g119£1.000 2000167 £69.99 23.7g119£1.045 1000133 £35.99 23.7g119£1.091 500117 £19.99 23.7g119£1.176 6012 £4.49 23.7g119£2.245 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 48001136 £134.99 24.4g127£0.993 2400168 £70.59 24.4g127£1.038 1200134 £36.59 24.4g127£1.076 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 5000183 £122.99 36.0g215£1.482 2500141 £69.49 35.0g214£1.695 1000116 £29.49 35.0g214£1.843 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1000140 £29.99 17.8g97£0.750 500120 £17.99 17.8g97£0.899 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2270176 £79.99 24.0g113£1.052 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2000162 £59.99 20.0g125£0.968 1000131 £34.99 20.0g125£1.129 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 40001133 £139.69 22.3g113£1.050 2000166 £72.49 22.4g113£1.098 1000133 £37.59 22.4g113£1.139 500116 £21.49 23.1g113£1.343 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2000161 £68.95 24.0g130£1.130 825125 £33.95 24.0g130£1.358 450114 £19.95 24.0g130£1.425 13214 £9.95 24.0g130£2.487 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2500183 £91.99 23.0g110£1.108 1000133 £39.99 23.0g110£1.212 500117 £23.49 23.0g110£1.382 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1000130 £36.99 25.0g131£1.233 500115 £25.99 25.0g131£1.733 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2000157 £75.00 27.0g136£1.316 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1000140 £36.49 22.0g113£0.912 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1000133 £37.99 23.0g116£1.151 300110 £21.99 23.0g116£2.199 3011 £2.49 23.0g116£2.490 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 45301146 £170.00 24.0g116£1.164 2260173 £98.00 24.0g116£1.342 899129 £50.00 24.0g116£1.724 620120 £40.00 24.0g116£2.000 465115 £32.00 24.0g116£2.133 310110 £24.00 24.0g116£2.400 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 900130 £32.00 22.0g113£1.067 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1800172 £75.00 21.0g-£1.042 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 650124 £22.00 18.0g98£0.917 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2270161 £68.00 22.0g150£1.115 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2250166 £69.99 21.4g110£1.060 908127 £39.99 21.4g110£1.481 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2267.96174 £96.00 25.0g120£1.297 1133.98137 £58.00 25.0g120£1.568 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2000166 £71.99 20.6g108£1.091 1000133 £39.99 20.6g108£1.212 500116 £21.99 21.3g108£1.374 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2010167 £79.99 22.0g115£1.194 900130 £49.99 22.0g115£1.666 450115 £29.99 22.0g114£1.999 3011 £2.99 22.0g114£2.990 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2270170 £90.00 24.0g120£1.286 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 899129 £34.99 22.0g120£1.207 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1000140 £37.99 17.0g90£0.950 500120 £19.99 17.0g90£0.999 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1800160 £80.98 24.0g115£1.350 900130 £44.99 24.0g115£1.500 3011 £2.49 23.0g113£2.490 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 420114 £18.99 23.4g113£1.356 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1800160 £69.99 20.1g112£1.166 1200140 £47.49 20.1g112£1.187 600120 £24.99 20.1g112£1.249 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2000166 £89.98 23.0g115£1.363 1000133 £49.99 23.0g115£1.515 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2250175 £119.99 27.3g110£1.600 750125 £49.99 27.3g110£2.000 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 900130 £43.99 25.0g-£1.466 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 48001192 £224.00 19.6g99£1.167 2400196 £120.00 19.6g99£1.250 1200148 £62.00 19.6g99£1.292 60001160 £208.00 16.2g141£1.300 400116 £26.00 19.6g99£1.625 3000180 £110.50 16.2g141£1.381 1800148 £70.20 16.2g141£1.463 600116 £29.00 16.2g141£1.813 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2000167 £89.99 22.0g119£1.343 1000133 £49.99 23.0g122£1.515 300110 £21.99 22.0g117£2.199 3011 £2.49 22.0g119£2.490 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1020130 £44.99 25.0g130£1.500 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1000133 £48.95 22.0g115£1.483 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1000133 £48.95 22.0g115£1.483 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1000130 £36.99 19.3g128£1.233 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 2000165 £110.00 25.0g130£1.692 1000132 £58.00 25.0g130£1.813 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 640120 £27.49 20.0g120£1.374 620120 £27.49 20.0g115£1.374 600120 £27.49 20.0g111£1.374 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1000129 £46.74 24.0g129£1.612 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1350145 £69.99 22.0g117£1.555 450115 £29.99 22.0g117£1.999 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 1001212 £25.00 20.0g81£2.083 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 300110 £24.99 22.0g100£2.499 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 3111 £4.39 24.0g116£4.390 |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 20001- £77.50 24.0g-- |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 9001- £28.00 --- |
FlavourSize (g)Size (ml)QtyServingsOfferTotal Per serving 20001- £67.50 24.0g-- 9081- £36.00 24.0g-- 4761- £18.00 24.0g-- |
Community perspective
What others are saying
The bloating is caused by whey concentrate,it has nothing to do with artificial sweeteners. The bloating stopped just because you switched from concentrate to isolate
u/battorwddu in r/nutrition
Bob’s Red Mill makes a hemp powder with no flavoring. It’s great and mixes well into smoothies and oatmeal. I hate the artificial stevia style powders
u/Ok-Cryptographer7424 in r/nutrition
stevia is one that seems to only work well in certain places and the type (powder or liquid) and brand make a big difference IMO. It absolutely does not ever work in coffee but works great in tea, it's gross in cookies or baked goods but great on cold cereal or oatmeal. it has its place but just not as many places as it could.
u/bannana in r/science
Watch what buyers found
Hands-on opinions
The Truth About PROTEIN SHAKES Revealed | Dr. Steven Gundry
The Dr. Gundry Podcast
A topic-specific video selected for additional practical context on Protein Powder without Artificial Sweeteners UK: Benefits, Risks and Label Checks.
Best overall Whey Protein
Sports Fuel Premium Protein
Bodybuilding Warehouse · 5kg
Pros
- Whey concentrate supplies a complete essential-amino-acid profile
- 77.3% below the £3.53/100g average across 58 comparable /compare listings
Cons
- Whey concentrate may not suit lactose-sensitive users
How to read the label: what counts as artificial
Avoiding artificial sweeteners comes down to learning a short list of names. These are the ones to watch for.
- 1
Sucralose (sometimes listed as E955), by far the most common sweetener in UK whey.
- 2
Acesulfame K (E950), often paired with sucralose in the same product.
- 3
Aspartame (E951), less common now but still found in some ranges.
The natural alternatives worth knowing
Clean label products swap the names above for one of these instead.
- 1
Steviol glycosides (stevia), plant derived and the most common natural sweetener on the market.
- 2
Thaumatin, a natural protein sweetener used in small amounts.
- 3
Nothing at all, since unflavoured powders contain no sweetener whatsoever.
A separate label check: sugar alcohols
Sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, maltitol, and xylitol are not classed as artificial sweeteners, but they are the most common cause of sweetener related bloating. Clean label and sensitive stomach buyers often avoid these too, so it is worth checking for them separately from the artificial sweetener list above.
Do naturally sweetened proteins taste worse?
Not worse, just different. Stevia sweetened protein has a cleaner finish but carries a faint liquorice or herbal note that some people love and others avoid. Unflavoured protein tastes plain and slightly milky, which is the whole point: it is built to disappear into other food rather than to be drunk neat. If you want a clean label but still enjoy a strongly flavoured shake, a stevia sweetened whey like Bulk Natural is the easiest transition to make. For the best tasting flavoured options overall, see best tasting protein powder UK.
What clean-label protein costs per 25g
Clean label proteins usually cost a little more than mass market sweetened whey, because natural sweeteners and tighter sourcing both add expense. Here are the UK benchmarks as of June 2026.
You can rank every product by cost per 25g of protein on the main comparison table, and learn the maths behind it in how to calculate protein cost per serving.
- 1
Naturally sweetened whey (Bulk Natural): roughly 90p to £1.05 per 25g of protein.
- 2
Unflavoured whey concentrate (Pink Sun): around 85p to £1.10 per 25g, depending on pack size.
- 3
Organic unflavoured: the most expensive tier at £1.40 or more per 25g.
- 4
Clean plant protein (Form): a premium of roughly £1.50 or more per 25g, reflecting the cost of the formulation.
References
Sources and further reading
- 01ProteinDeals — live product comparison
Current product, nutrition and retailer data used for the article's buying context.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best protein powder without artificial sweeteners in the UK?+
Bulk Natural Pure Whey is the best naturally sweetened whey, using stevia instead of sucralose. Form Performance Protein is the best plant option with no artificial sweeteners and a short ingredient list. For zero sweeteners of any kind, an unflavoured whey such as Pink Sun Whey Protein Concentrate or The Organic Protein Co is the cleanest choice.
Which protein powders use stevia instead of sucralose?+
Naturally sweetened ranges such as Bulk Natural Pure Whey and Olimp 100% Natural Whey use stevia or no added sweetener rather than sucralose. Most plant-protein brands aimed at clean-label buyers, including Form, also avoid artificial sweeteners. Always check the ingredient list because brands run both standard and natural versions of the same product.
Are artificial sweeteners in protein powder bad for you?+
For most people, sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame K are considered safe at the levels used in protein powder by UK and EU food authorities. The reasons people avoid them are usually digestive comfort, taste preference, or a wish for a shorter ingredient list, rather than a proven health risk. Some people also report bloating from sugar alcohols, which are a separate category from sucralose.
Does unflavoured protein powder have any sweetener?+
True unflavoured protein powder contains no sweetener at all, just the protein source. It tastes plain and slightly milky or earthy, which makes it ideal for adding to cooking, smoothies, or coffee where other ingredients provide the flavour. It is the only way to guarantee zero artificial and zero natural sweeteners.

































































