Mass Gainer vs Whey Protein: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Whey protein has 66.7 g of protein per 100 g, while mass gainer has 15 g. Mass gainer contains 380 calories, compared to 385 calories in whey protein.

Mass gainers and whey protein are popular supplements, each designed for specific dietary goals. This comparison highlights their nutritional profiles to help you choose the right one for your needs.

What Is the Difference Between Mass Gainer and Whey Protein?

Mass gainer is a high-calorie supplement designed to help individuals gain weight and muscle mass. It typically contains a blend of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Whey protein is a high-quality protein derived from milk, commonly used to support muscle recovery and growth. It is low in carbohydrates and fats.

Mass Gainer vs Whey Protein: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of mass gainer and whey protein based on their nutritional content.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Mass gainer powder	Whey protein powder
Calories	380 kcal	385 kcal
Protein	15 g	66.7 g
Carbs	60 g	17.9 g
Sugar	15 g	5.1 g
Fat	5 g	5.1 g
Fiber	2 g	0 g
Sodium	200 mg	385 mg

Which Is Better, Mass Gainer or Whey Protein?

For weight loss: Mass gainer has 380 calories, while whey protein has 385 calories, making the difference minimal.

For muscle and protein: Whey protein provides significantly more protein at 66.7 g compared to mass gainers 15 g.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Mass gainer contains 60 g of carbs and 15 g of sugar, while whey protein has 17.9 g of carbs and 5.1 g of sugar.

How to Track Mass gainer and Whey protein Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros, which can affect your dietary goals. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use, not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for personalized guidance. Values are per 100 g: Mass gainer from Open Food Facts (aggregated plain entries), Whey protein from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Whey protein has 66.7 g of protein per 100 g, while mass gainer has 15 g.

Which has fewer calories?

Mass gainer has 380 calories per 100 g, while whey protein has 385 calories.

How much sugar is in mass gainer?

Mass gainer contains 15 g of sugar per 100 g.

What is the fat content in whey protein?

Whey protein has 5.1 g of fat per 100 g.

How much fiber is in mass gainer?

Mass gainer contains 2 g of fiber per 100 g.

What is the sodium content in whey protein?

Whey protein contains 385 mg of sodium per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Mass gainer: 380 calories per 100 g.
• Whey protein: 385 calories per 100 g.
• Mass gainer: 15 g of protein per 100 g.
• Whey protein: 66.7 g of protein per 100 g.
• Mass gainer: 60 g of carbs per 100 g.
• Whey protein: 17.9 g of carbs per 100 g.