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Head to head · Protein Powder

Dymatize ISO100 Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate vs Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Casein

Dymatize scores higher overall (8.7 vs 8.1 out of 10), mainly on efficacy, quality & purity, experience and transparency. Optimum Nutrition still leads on value.

Updated September 2026 from our full reviews · How we score

Higher score

An all-isolate whey with a hydrolyzed fraction: 25 g protein and about 2.7 g leucine per 120-calorie scoop, with Informed Choice testing.

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A slow-digesting micellar casein with 24 g of protein per scoop for bedtime or long gaps between meals; thick, filling and fairly priced.

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The short answer

Choose Dymatize if…

  • Lifters who want a low-carb, low-fat isolate
  • People with mild lactose sensitivity
  • Drug-tested athletes
  • Calorie-conscious dieters
  • You care most about efficacy, quality & purity, experience, transparency

Choose Optimum Nutrition if…

  • A slow-digesting shake before bed
  • Staying full between meals
  • Thick shakes and protein puddings
  • You care most about value

Side by side

ISO100 Hydrolyzed Whey Protein IsolateGold Standard 100% Casein
Our score8.7 / 108.1 / 10
Efficacy (30%)9.08.3
Quality & Purity (25%)9.07.4
Value (20%)8.08.6
Experience (15%)8.98.5
Transparency (10%)8.57.8
FormPowderPowder
Serving1 scoop (32 g)71 servings per container1 scoop (34 g)53 servings per container
Testing & certifications
Informed Choice
None verified
DietaryGluten-freeGluten-free
Key ingredients
  • Hydrolyzed whey protein isolate and whey protein isolate25 g protein
  • Leucine (naturally occurring)2,677 mg
  • BCAAs (naturally occurring)5.5 g
  • Sucralose and steviol glycosides (stevia)
  • Micellar casein24 g protein
  • Naturally occurring essential amino acids9 g
  • Calcium, magnesium and zinc500 mg / 85 mg / 11 mg
  • Acesulfame potassium and sucralose
Flavors8 (Gourmet Chocolate, Gourmet Vanilla, Fruity Pebbles…)4 (Chocolate Supreme, Creamy Vanilla, Chocolate Peanut Butter…)
Creator video reviews53

Pros and cons

ISO100 Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate

  • 25 g of protein and about 2.7 g of leucine per 120-calorie scoop, all from whey isolate
  • Informed Choice banned-substance mark on the label
  • Only 2 g of carbohydrate and 1 g of sugar in Gourmet Chocolate
  • Dymatize publishes a full amino acid profile for the flavor
  • buyers frequently praise fast, clump-free mixing
  • About $1.55 per serving for the 5 lb tub, pricier than whey blends
  • Contains soy lecithin and is sweetened with sucralose (plus stevia in the current formula)
  • Some buyers still report bloating despite the isolate base
  • Evidence for a real-world benefit from hydrolysis is thin, so part of the premium is marketing

Gold Standard 100% Casein

  • 24 g of micellar casein protein per 120-calorie scoop
  • Adds 500 mg of calcium and 100% of the Daily Value for zinc
  • About $1.40 per serving, good value for casein
  • 4.6 stars from more than 9,000 buyer ratings, with many saying it keeps them full
  • Not listed among ON's Informed Choice-certified products
  • Sweetened with both acesulfame potassium and sucralose, plus artificial flavor
  • Thick texture and mixability get mixed reviews
  • One scoop is below the 30 to 40 g used in most pre-sleep protein studies

Our verdicts

ISO100 Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate

ISO100 is one of the most complete whey isolates you can buy: 25 g of protein per scoop with a published amino acid profile, minimal carbs and fat, and banned-substance certification. You pay a premium over whey blends, and the hydrolyzed angle is more marketing than proven performance edge, but for a lean, well-tested isolate that mixes easily it is a safe pick.

Full review

Gold Standard 100% Casein

Gold Standard 100% Casein is a dependable, well-priced micellar casein for nighttime or between-meal protein, with good flavor and a filling texture. It lacks the named third-party certification of ON's whey and uses artificial sweeteners, but for most people who want a slow-digesting shake it does the job at a fair price.

Full review

What creators say

Questions people ask

Is Dymatize better than Optimum Nutrition?
In our scoring, Dymatize ISO100 Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate rates higher overall (8.7 vs 8.1 out of 10). Dymatize leads on efficacy, quality & purity, experience and transparency; Optimum Nutrition leads on value. Scores weigh efficacy, quality, value, experience and transparency.
Are Dymatize and Optimum Nutrition third-party tested?
Dymatize carries Informed Choice; Optimum Nutrition has no independent certification we could verify.
Who should choose Dymatize over Optimum Nutrition?
Our reviews suggest Dymatize is best for lifters who want a low-carb, low-fat isolate, people with mild lactose sensitivity and drug-tested athletes, while Optimum Nutrition is best for a slow-digesting shake before bed, staying full between meals and thick shakes and protein puddings.

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