Best Protein Drinks at Woolworths - Ranked 2026
The full protein drink range in the Woolworths fridge, ranked on protein, sugar and ingredients. The cheapest pick is genuinely one of the best.
23 products ranked. Updated 2026-06-13.
Overview
The protein drink aisle can be a minefield of sugary flavoured milks masquerading as a healthy choice. Our analysis of 26 popular drinks shows a huge spread on both sugar and protein. Topping our list is the Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake Strawberry Milkshake, delivering a hefty 7.5g of protein per 100ml and a full 30g of protein per serve. Its Vanilla Ice Cream and Milk Choc siblings share the top spot with similarly strong numbers. But with six additives on the label, the Muscle Nation range is one to skip if you're after a cleaner ingredient list. For a drink with a simpler panel, we'd point you towards Rokeby Protein Smoothie Vanilla Wafer. It earns the highest Clean Score of 9.8 across the category, uses stevia instead of artificial sweeteners, and still packs in 7.1g of protein per 100ml. The choice really comes down to what you prioritise. If you're chasing the absolute highest protein-per-serve figure and don't mind the additives, Muscle Nation wins on the numbers. For everyone else looking for a balanced, cleaner protein drink without the shaker faff, the Rokeby smoothies are the smarter pick from the Coles and supermarket chiller.
The verdict
On the numbers, Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake Strawberry Milkshake takes the crown, delivering a huge 30g of protein per serve from 7.5g protein per 100ml. But we can't ignore the six additives listed on the back. For anyone looking for a cleaner drink, that's a simple skip. The real winner is the product that balances a high protein count with a much shorter ingredient list. We'd grab the Rokeby Protein Smoothie Vanilla Wafer every time. It lands the same 30g of protein per serve but uses just two additives, earning it a class-leading Clean Score of 9.8. This is the one to get if you want a serious protein top-up without the gums and stabilisers. The Banana Honey + Cinnamon flavour is another strong performer from the same range with a similarly clean profile.
Rankings
- #1. Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake Vanilla Ice Cream - Protein Score 10.0/10 · Clean Score 8.5/10 · 30g/serve
With a Protein Score of 10.0/10, this Muscle Nation drink nails the brief, delivering a hefty 30g of protein per serve. It backs that up with just 1.6g of sugar per 100ml and a lean 41 calories per 100ml, a combination that puts it right at the top of the category for pure protein efficiency. The trade-off for that smooth texture and low sugar count is a list of six additives. While this isn't a concern for everyone, it's worth noting if you're aiming for a cleaner ingredient panel. If your goal is maximum protein with minimal sugar in a convenient format the supermarket shelf, this is the one to grab.
- #2. Rokeby Protein Smoothie Vanilla Wafer - Protein Score 10.0/10 · Clean Score 9.8/10 · 30g/serve
With a Protein Score of 10.0/10, Muscle Nation's Vanilla Ice Cream variant sits alongside its sibling, the Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake Strawberry Milkshake, at the top of this list. The numbers are hard to argue with, delivering a huge 30g of protein per serve (7.5g per 100ml) with just 1.6g of sugar per 100ml. At only 42 calories per 100ml, it's one of the leanest ways to get a big protein hit from the drink fridge. The trade-off for those stats is a heavy additive load. With 6 additives listed, including thickeners and emulsifiers, this is far from a clean formula. If you prioritise minimal ingredients over maximum protein, skip it. The Rokeby Protein Smoothie Vanilla Wafer is a much cleaner pick with fewer additives. This one is strictly for the protein-focused shopper who isn't fussed by a longer ingredient list.
- #3. Rokeby Protein Smoothie Banana Honey + Cinnamon - Protein Score 10.0/10 · Clean Score 9.2/10 · 30g/serve
Protein Score 10.0/10. This Milk Choc flavour matches its sibling, the Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake Strawberry Milkshake, with a perfect score. The numbers are elite for a pre-mixed format, delivering a huge 30g of protein per serve. It keeps sugar low at just 1.7g per 100ml and calories down to 47 per 100ml, making it one of the most macro-focused protein drinks the supermarket shelf. The trade-off is the ingredient list. With 6 additives including gums, emulsifiers, and sweeteners, it's a heavily engineered drink. If a clean label matters to you, we'd say skip it and grab the Rokeby Protein Smoothie Vanilla Wafer instead. But if you prioritise maximum protein convenience above all else, this Muscle Nation drink delivers exactly that.
- #4. Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake Milk Choc - Protein Score 10.0/10 · Clean Score 8.4/10 · 30g/serve
- #5. Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake Strawberry Milkshake - Protein Score 10.0/10 · Clean Score 8.5/10 · 30g/serve
- #6. Dairy Farmers Protein Smoothie Vanilla - Protein Score 9.9/10 · Clean Score 9.0/10 · 30g/serve
- #7. Dairy Farmers Protein Smoothie+ Drink Mixed Berry - Protein Score 9.9/10 · Clean Score 8.0/10 · 30g/serve
- #8. Dairy Farmers Protein Smoothie Mango - Protein Score 9.9/10 · Clean Score 8.3/10 · 30g/serve
- #9. Dairy Farmers Protein Smoothie Chocolate - Protein Score 9.8/10 · Clean Score 8.4/10 · 30g/serve
- #10. Pauls PLUS+ Protein Chocolate Flavoured Milk - Protein Score 9.8/10 · Clean Score 8.3/10 · 30g/serve
- #11. Pauls Plus+ Protein Flavoured Milk Banana & Honey - Protein Score 9.8/10 · Clean Score 8.6/10 · 30g/serve
- #12. Pauls PLUS+ Protein Summer Berries Flavoured Milk - Protein Score 9.8/10 · Clean Score 8.1/10 · 30g/serve
- #13. Dairy Farmers Protein Smoothie Drink Banana Honey - Protein Score 9.8/10 · Clean Score 9.0/10 · 30g/serve
- #14. Pauls PLUS+ Protein Double Espresso Caramel Flavoured Milk - Protein Score 9.8/10 · Clean Score 8.3/10 · 30g/serve
- #15. Crankt Premium Protein Shake Chocolate - Protein Score 9.6/10 · Clean Score 8.3/10 · 20.8g/serve
- #16. Crankt Protein Shake Choc Honeycomb 400mL - Protein Score 9.6/10 · Clean Score 8.3/10 · 20.8g/serve
- #17. Crankt Banana Protein Shake 400mL - Protein Score 9.6/10 · Clean Score 8.3/10 · 20.8g/serve
- #18. Ice Break Iced Coffee Strong Espresso + Protein - Protein Score 9.1/10 · Clean Score 8.7/10 · 30g/serve
- #19. Rokeby Protein Smoothie Dutch Chocolate - Protein Score 7.2/10 · Clean Score 8.2/10 · 30g/serve
- #20. Rokeby Protein Smoothie Double Espresso - Protein Score 7.2/10 · Clean Score 8.2/10 · 30g/serve
Editorial deep dive
Ready-to-drink protein is all about convenience. It's the simple grab-and-go option from the chilled aisle at Coles or Woolworths when you can't be bothered with powders and shakers. The best protein drinks deliver a real protein hit without the sugar load of a standard flavoured milk, but the trade-offs are often hidden in the fine print. Across the 26 protein drinks we scored, the divide is clear: some go all-in on protein density, while others prioritise a cleaner, simpler ingredient list. On pure protein metrics, the Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake Strawberry Milkshake leads the category with a Protein Score of 10.0. It packs a solid 7.5g of protein per 100ml and keeps sugar low at just 1.6g per 100ml. Its siblings, the Vanilla Ice Cream and Milk Choc flavours, post almost identical numbers. On paper, it's a knockout. But the ingredients list tells another story, with six additives used to get there. For us, that's too many. We say skip it. For a much cleaner profile, look to the Rokeby Protein Smoothie Vanilla Wafer. It earns the highest Clean Score of 9.8 in this guide with just two additives. You're still getting a very 7.1g of protein per 100ml, so the drop-off in protein is minimal for a huge improvement in label simplicity. The Dairy Farmers Protein Smoothie range also matches the leader on protein at 7.5g per 100ml, but relies on artificial sweeteners like 950 and 951 to keep the sugar down. The biggest trap in this aisle remains sugar. While the top performers keep it under control, some options are closer to a dessert than a recovery drink. The Atkins Smooth Chocolate Protein Shake sits at the absolute bottom for sugar with only 0.03g per 100ml, making it a clear standout for anyone on a strict low-sugar diet. It shows it's possible to deliver flavour without loading up on sweetness, a lesson some other brands could learn from. So, what's the final call? While Muscle Nation takes the top spot on our Protein Score, the heavy additive load is a dealbreaker. For a drink that delivers on protein without compromising on a clean ingredient list, the Rokeby Protein Smoothie Vanilla Wafer is the smarter pick. It balances a strong protein serve with a far simpler formulation, making it our recommendation for your next post-gym refuel.
Brand-by-brand notes
Muscle Nation
Muscle Nation is a well-known Australian name in sports nutrition, moving beyond its online and supplement store roots into the mainstream. The brand's three ready-to-drink protein options are now a common sight in the fridge at major supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths. This makes their high-protein drinks accessible without needing a trip to a specialty shop. The entire range performs identically on the numbers, sharing the top spot in this guide. The Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake Strawberry Milkshake leads the category with a Protein Score of 10.0, driven by a chart-topping 7.5g of protein per 100ml. Sugar is also kept very low at just 1.6g per 100ml, delivering a lean and consistent macro profile across all three flavours. For a straight-up protein hit from the supermarket, the Muscle Nation range is hard to beat. All three drinks deliver the highest protein density we've scored, so the choice just comes down to flavour. The trade-off is a longer ingredient list with several stabilisers and artificial sweeteners. If you're after a cleaner profile, the Rokeby Protein Smoothie Vanilla Wafer is a better pick, but for pure protein performance, these are easy to find during your weekly shop.
Dairy Farmers
Dairy Farmers is one of the most recognised names in the Australian dairy aisle, now part of the Bega Cheese family. You won't need to hunt for their protein drinks in specialty stores. All 5 of the protein drinks we've scored are standard fare in the fridges at Coles and Woolworths, making them an easy grab during the weekly shop. The brand's protein drink lineup is remarkably consistent, with all five flavours delivering an identical 7.5g of protein per 100ml and 4.6g of sugar per 100ml. That protein figure puts them at the top of the category for density, tying with our #1 pick, Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake Strawberry Milkshake. The trade-off is the sugar, which is significantly higher than the leanest drinks, and the use of artificial sweeteners like aspartame (951) across the board. For a pure protein hit from the supermarket, Dairy Farmers gets the job done. With identical nutritionals across the range, the choice between the Vanilla, Chocolate, or Mango smoothies comes down to personal taste. If you're looking to minimise sugar or avoid specific artificial sweeteners, you'll find better-aligned options from other brands.
Pauls
Pauls is a dairy aisle giant in Australia, part of the global Lactalis food group. You'll find their protein drinks in the fridge section of every major supermarket, making them one of the most accessible options around. Across the four Pauls PLUS+ Protein drinks we've scored, the brand delivers a consistent, high-protein formula aimed squarely at the mainstream shopper. The numbers are identical across the whole range, which is unusual. Every flavour hits a strong 7.5g of protein per 100ml, matching the most protein-dense drinks in our analysis, including the category-leading Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake Strawberry Milkshake. Where they fall back is on sugar, with each drink containing 5.1g of sugar per 100ml, plus artificial sweeteners and stabilisers. This consistency means there's no standout or weak link, just a uniform mid-tier performance. If you're just grabbing a protein top-up from the Coles or Woolies fridge and only care about the protein number, Pauls gets the job done. However, for a similar protein hit with significantly less sugar, the Muscle Nation drinks are a better pick. If you're looking to avoid artificial sweeteners entirely, you're better off with a cleaner option like the Rokeby range.
Rokeby
Rokeby is a familiar sight in the supermarket drinks fridge, known for its focus on protein smoothies with a cleaner profile. The brand pitches itself as a more natural alternative, and all four of the protein drinks we've scored are easy to find at Coles or Woolworths. They are Australian-owned and stick to what they know, focusing exclusively on chilled dairy drinks. Across the range, protein is consistent at 7.1g per 100ml, which is solid but just shy of the 7.5g per 100ml mark set by leaders like the Muscle Nation lineup. The real difference is in the sugar content. The standout `Rokeby Protein Smoothie Vanilla Wafer` keeps sugar to 3.9g per 100ml and earns the title of the cleanest drink in this guide with a Clean Score of 9.8. On the other end, the `Rokeby Protein Smoothie Double Espresso` contains 5.9g of sugar per 100ml, a noticeable jump for the same protein hit. For shoppers, the choice is clear. The `Rokeby Protein Smoothie Vanilla Wafer` is one of our top picks, sharing the #1 spot with the `Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake Strawberry Milkshake` while being the cleanest of the lot. The higher-sugar flavours like `Double Espresso` and `Dutch Chocolate` are mid by comparison. Stick to the Vanilla Wafer or Banana Honey + Cinnamon options on your next supermarket trip.
Ice Break
Ice Break is an Australian iced coffee icon, a staple of servo fridges and supermarket coolers for decades. Owned by Lactalis, their move into protein drinks is a logical step, aiming to capture a more health-conscious crowd. You'll find the two protein drinks we've scored right on the shelf at major supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths. The performance of the two drinks we analysed is worlds apart. The Ice Break Iced Coffee Strong Espresso + Protein delivers 6g of protein per 100ml. In contrast, the Ice Break Iced Coffee Triple Shot falls well short with just 3.3g of protein per 100ml and a hefty 9.9g of sugar per 100ml. Neither comes close to the 7.5g of protein per 100ml offered by the category leader, Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake Strawberry Milkshake. If you're an Ice Break loyalist, the Strong Espresso + Protein is your only real choice here for a protein top-up. We'd give the Triple Shot a hard pass, as its low protein and high sugar content make it more of a standard flavoured milk than a functional protein drink. For a proper protein hit, you're better off looking at other brands in the same supermarket fridge.
UP&GO
UP&GO is a household name in Australia, a Sanitarium brand that essentially owns the liquid breakfast space. You'll find their protein drinks in the aisles of every major supermarket, positioned as a convenient meal on the move. While they're known for that get-up-and-go convenience, their protein-focused drinks sit in a very competitive category. The two Protein Energize drinks we've scored hold their own on protein density, with the Choc Hit delivering 7.2g of protein per 100ml. The problem is the sugar. The UP&GO Protein Energize Vanilla has 6.2g of sugar per 100ml, a hefty amount compared to the category leader, Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake Strawberry Milkshake, which provides 7.5g of protein per 100ml for just 1.6g of sugar per 100ml. That's a massive difference for a similar protein hit. Our verdict is that UP&GO's protein drinks are more like traditional liquid breakfasts with a protein boost, rather than dedicated, lean protein drinks. If you're grabbing one for pure convenience, it's an okay choice. But if you are focused on maximising protein while minimising sugar, you can find far better performers on the same supermarket shelf.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best protein drink in Australia 2026?
- The best protein drink in Australia for 2026 is the Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake Strawberry Milkshake, which earned a top Protein Score of 10.0 in our analysis. It leads the category by combining a high protein density of 7.5g per 100ml with a very low sugar content of just 1.6g per 100ml. While other Muscle Nation flavours and the Rokeby Protein Smoothie range also score exceptionally well, the Strawberry Milkshake flavour comes out on top based on our scoring.
- Is Muscle Nation a good protein drink?
- We don't give nutritional advice, but on the numbers, Muscle Nation makes the top-ranked protein drinks in Australia for 2026. Their RTD Protein Shake Strawberry Milkshake claims the #1 spot with a perfect Protein Score of 10.0, driven by its high 7.5g of protein per 100ml and low 1.6g of sugar per 100ml. The Vanilla Ice Cream and Milk Choc flavours are right there with it, making it a consistently high-performing brand in our index.
- Rokeby vs Muscle Nation protein drinks: which is better?
- Both brands produce excellent protein drinks, but they win on different measures. Muscle Nation takes the crown on our primary ranking metric, with its RTD Protein Shake Strawberry Milkshake achieving a Protein Score of 10.0. However, the Rokeby Protein Smoothie Vanilla Wafer is the cleanest protein drink we scored, earning a Clean Score of 9.8 for its short ingredient list and lack of artificial sweeteners. Pick Muscle Nation for the highest Protein Score, but go for Rokeby if you want the cleanest ingredient panel.
- What is the best protein drink for weight loss?
- We can't recommend any product for weight loss, but if you're looking for a protein drink with minimal sugar, the data points to the Atkins Smooth Chocolate Protein Shake. It contains just 0.03g of sugar per 100ml, which is the lowest of all protein drinks we scored by a significant margin. Its protein content is more moderate at 4.6g per 100ml, so it's a trade-off, but it's the clear leader for anyone strictly managing sugar intake.
- How much protein is in a Rokeby Protein Smoothie?
- The Rokeby Protein Smoothie range delivers 7.1g of protein per 100ml. This is consistent across all their flavours in our guide, including Vanilla Wafer, Banana Honey + Cinnamon, and Dutch Chocolate. This places them firmly in the top for protein density, just slightly behind the category leaders which hit 7.5g of protein per 100ml. They also stand out for using natural sweeteners like stevia instead of artificial ones.
- How does ProteinScore rank protein drinks?
- We rank protein drinks using two main scores. Our primary metric is the Protein Score, a 0-10 rating that measures protein density (grams of protein per 100ml) while penalising for high sugar content. A great protein drink should be high in protein and low in sugar. We also calculate a Clean Score, from 0-10, which assesses the ingredient list, marking down products for using artificial sweeteners, colours, and a long list of additives.
- Is Dairy Farmers Protein Smoothie good for you?
- We can't say if it's healthy for you specifically, but on the numbers, the Dairy Farmers Protein Smoothie range is very effective at delivering protein. All their flavours we scored provide 7.5g of protein per 100ml, which is tied for the highest in this category. The main trade-off is the ingredient list, which includes artificial sweeteners like aspartame (951) and acesulphame K (950), resulting in a lower Clean Score than naturally sweetened alternatives.
- What is the best low sugar protein drink?
- The standout low-sugar protein drink in our analysis is the Atkins Smooth Chocolate Protein Shake. It contains low 0.03g of sugar per 100ml, making it the clear winner for anyone prioritising minimal sugar. If you need higher protein with that, the Muscle Nation RTD Protein Shake range is another strong choice, offering a much higher 7.5g of protein per 100ml while keeping sugar low at 1.6g per 100ml.