Thorne
Amino Complex
6.6Mixed
A well-balanced, NSF Certified for Sport EAA formula with 1.25 g leucine per scoop, but only about 4 g of amino acids for roughly $1.73 a serving.
NSF Sport
2 videos$1.73/serving
Nutricost Best Overall · Amino Acids (BCAA & EAA)
EAA Powder
A budget EAA powder at about $0.67 a serving that includes all nine essential amino acids, but 6 of its 8 g are BCAAs and several others are only token amounts.
7.0
Mixed
Nutrition Reviews score
Weighted across efficacy, quality, value, experience & transparency. See breakdown
- Form
- Powder
- Serving
- 1 scoop (11 g)
- Servings
- 30
- Videos
- 2
Third-party testedcGMP facility
VegetarianGluten-freeNon-GMO
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Last reviewed September 29, 2026 by the Nutrition Reviews Editorial Team · How we review
Our verdict
Nutricost EAA is cheap, tasty and better grounded than a pure BCAA drink because it includes all nine essential amino acids. The formula is so BCAA-heavy, with only token amounts of several essentials, that it falls short of the balanced profile research favors. It is fine as a low-cost training drink, but a scoop of protein powder delivers more complete amino acids for similar money.
Best for
- Budget buyers who want a flavored amino drink
- Sipping during training when a protein shake isn't practical
- Vegetarians who want a meat-free amino acid supplement
Skip it if
- People who already drink protein shakes
- Anyone expecting a balanced, protein-equivalent EAA profile
How it scored
Our five-factor score out of 10. Factors are weighted by how much they matter to the outcome you’re paying for. Methodology
7.0
Mixedout of 10
- Efficacy30%5.8
Key ingredients at clinically studied doses, and how strong the evidence is.
- Quality & Purity25%7.0
Third-party testing and certifications, manufacturing standards, contaminant testing, recall history.
- Value20%8.0
Cost per effective serving compared with category peers.
- Experience15%8.0
Taste, mixability, texture and tolerability from aggregated buyer and creator feedback.
- Transparency10%7.5
Full label disclosure (no proprietary blends), available COAs, honest marketing.
Our review
Nutricost EAA Powder is one of the cheapest ways to buy an essential amino acid drink: about $20 for 30 servings. Each scoop of the Fruit Punch version supplies 8 g of amino acids, and unlike a BCAA product it lists all nine essential amino acids. That matters, because muscle protein synthesis requires the full set, and a 2017 review by amino acid researcher Robert Wolfe concluded that BCAAs alone cannot drive it.
The catch is the balance. Six of the 8 g are BCAAs (about 3 g of leucine), followed by 800 mg of lysine HCl and 690 mg of threonine, while phenylalanine, histidine, tryptophan and methionine appear at 350, 100, 50 and just 10 mg. The International Society of Sports Nutrition's protein position stand emphasizes a balanced array of essential amino acids, and it notes that intact proteins such as whey can produce an anabolic response similar to or greater than free-form amino acids at equal EAA intake. In practice, this product behaves much like a BCAA drink with the other essentials added in small amounts.
Buyers like it. The Fruit Punch listing averages 4.7 stars across roughly 890 ratings, with taste and value the most praised features, while a minority mention clumping or stomach upset. Nutricost says each batch is tested by independent ISO-accredited labs and made in a GMP-compliant facility, though it carries no named certification, and the brand's site lists a California Prop 65 lead warning for the Blue Raspberry flavor.
For most people, a protein shake remains the more complete and cost-effective source of essential amino acids.
What’s inside
| Key ingredient | Per serving | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| BCAAs 2:1:1 (instantized) About 3 g of leucine, within the ISSN's 700–3,000 mg leucine target per protein dose. | 6,000 mg | About 3 g of leucine, within the ISSN's 700–3,000 mg leucine target per protein dose. |
| L-Lysine HCl and L-Threonine The most substantial of the non-BCAA essential amino acids in the blend. | 800 mg / 690 mg | The most substantial of the non-BCAA essential amino acids in the blend. |
| L-Phenylalanine, L-Histidine, L-Tryptophan, L-Methionine Present, but in small amounts compared with the BCAAs. | 350 / 100 / 50 / 10 mg | Present, but in small amounts compared with the BCAAs. |
Supplement Facts
Serving Size 1 Scoop (11 g)
Servings Per Container 30
Amount Per Serving% Daily Value
2:1:1 BCAA (Instantized) 6,000 mg*
L-Leucine approx. 3,000 mg*
L-Isoleucine approx. 1,500 mg*
L-Valine approx. 1,500 mg*
L-Lysine HCl 800 mg*
L-Threonine 690 mg*
L-Phenylalanine 350 mg*
L-Histidine 100 mg*
L-Tryptophan 50 mg*
L-Methionine 10 mg*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. † Daily Value not established.
Other ingredients: Malic acid, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, sucralose, beet root powder (for color), silica, acesulfame potassium.
Flavors & variants
Fruit PunchBlue RaspberryPeach MangoPOG (Passion Fruit Orange Guava)Unflavored
Testing & quality
States that products are made in an FDA-registered, GMP-compliant facility and tested by an independent, accredited lab. No named product certification (such as NSF or Informed Choice) on its KSM-66 capsules.
Goals it supports
Creator video reviews
Independent creators reviewing EAA Powder on TikTok and YouTube.
1 positive1 mixed0 critical
Pros & cons
What we like
- About $0.67 per serving, among the cheapest EAA powders
- Lists all nine essential amino acids with a fully disclosed label
- 4.7 stars from roughly 890 buyer ratings, with taste widely praised
- Brand says every batch is tested by ISO-accredited labs
Watch-outs
- 6 of 8 g are BCAAs; methionine is only 10 mg
- Less complete than the same money spent on protein powder
- No named third-party certification
- Blue Raspberry flavor carries a California Prop 65 lead warning on the brand site
Questions buyers ask
Are EAAs better than BCAAs?
In principle, yes. Muscle protein synthesis requires all nine essential amino acids, and research reviews have found that BCAAs alone cannot sustain it. An EAA product supplies the full set, although quality depends on how balanced the amounts are, and in this formula most of the dose is still BCAAs.
Can Nutricost EAA replace a protein shake?
Not really. Eight grams of free amino acids, 6 g of them BCAAs, is a smaller and less balanced dose than a typical 20–40 g serving of whey or plant protein. One reviewer who tried using it in place of meat found it didn't measure up. It works better as a training drink alongside an adequate protein diet.
Which flavor should I choose?
Buyers rate the flavors highly overall, with Fruit Punch and Blue Raspberry among the most reviewed. Nutricost's own product page lists a California Prop 65 lead warning specifically for the Blue Raspberry flavor, so the other flavors or Unflavored are an easy way to sidestep that concern. Some reviewers find the flavored versions very sweet.
Sources we checked (8)
- 1.nutricost.com/products/nutricost-eaa-powder
- 2.nutricost.com/products/nutricost-eaa-powder.json
- 3.vitacost.com/products/nutricost-performance-eaa-fruit-punch-11-8-oz-330-g-131966
- 4.vitacost.com/products/nutricost-performance-eaa-unflavored-8-9-oz-249-g-131954
- 5.amazon.com/dp/B09SPDV3JK
- 6.amazon.com/dp/B09SNPJGG7
- 7.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5568273/
- 8.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5477153/
Alternatives worth a look
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Xtend
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Transparent Labs
BCAA Glutamine
6.1Poor
Clean-label BCAA drink with 8 g fermented BCAAs, 5 g glutamine and no artificial sweeteners, but about $1.33 a serving and 1,500 mg of vitamin C per scoop.
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