Level up Your Nutrition With the Best BCAA Powders

There are a handful of supplement varieties that have become commonplace on any countertop or within any cabinet of the loyal gym-goer. Protein is a hearty, muscle-building staple designed to boost your macro intake. Pre-workout is a popular supplement as well, serving as a great energy source for rallying through even the toughest workouts. In the middle of these two nutrition heavyweights is another supplement category that should be known by all: Branched-Chain Amino Acids.

Branched-chain amino acids, or BCAAs as they’re generally dubbed, can provide a litany of possible benefits to the dedicated enthusiast, but there are some instances where just eating a well-balanced diet might be the best option for your needs. With years of supplementation experience under our belt and a good understanding of how certain products should affect performance, we’ve scoured the shelves to determine the best BCAA powders for any training routine. Before we dive into the roundup of our top picks, though, let’s get a little background on these health-inspired building blocks.

What Are BCAAs?

BCAAs are composed of the essential amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine, taking their name from their branched chemical structure which differs from other common amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, which play heavily in muscle, bone and overall health. What makes these “essential” is the fact that our bodies cannot create them, therefore, they must be consumed through your diet, whether that be through proper nutrition or supplementation.

Typically, you’ll see BCAA powders with a ratio on the label. This indicates the ratio between each BCAA in the mixture. Because leucine has a higher oxidation rate, this will generally be the larger number in the listed ratio. While there are some that differ, a good rule of thumb is to choose a BCAA powder with a 2:1:1 ratio, meaning the supplement contains two parts leucine to every one part isoleucine and valine.

What Are the Benefits of BCAA Powders?

As stated previously, BCAAs have a number of potential positives going for them. Because they play such a pivotal role in protein synthesis, they carry a number of suspected benefits, including:

• Improved muscle growth
• Boosted muscle retention
• Lessened fatigue
• Increased recovery time

Naturally, however, every supplement’s performance is subjective, meaning the results you read about might not be felt in your experience. For example, a 2018 study found that those consuming a high-protein diet saw little to no post-workout enhancement when supplementing with BCAAs. This is why paying close attention to your normal diet and nutritional goals is important before deciding to take these supplements.

The Relationship Between BCAAs and Your Diet

While BCAAs cannot be constructed by our bodies, this doesn’t mean that supplementation is the only way to consume them. Despite the popularity of this supplement category, you’re more than capable of ingesting healthy amounts of BCAAs through a well-regimented diet plan. If you’re eating meals that contain a good dose of protein, you might not need to supplement with BCAAs. But for those that aren’t as strict with their daily portions — or for those that want a strong foundation between meals for muscle-boosting qualities — BCAA powders can be an easy, effective way to maximize your training results with a few rattles of a shaker cup.

How We Tested

Amazon

BEST OVERALL BCAA POWDER

EVLution Nutrition BCAA5000 Powder

• $14.00 at Amazon
  $22.00 (36% off)

With a wide assortment of flavors and a trimmed-down list of ingredients, BCAA 5000 from EVLution Nutrition is a can’t-miss supplement. Each scoop contains five grams of muscle-boosting BCAAs, and we’ve really enjoyed the energy retention experienced in-between sets. Plus, EVL is constantly running deals and promotions, so you’re easily able to get this supplement at a lower price point, which is why we’ve been turning to BCAA 5000 for many years. As with any nutritional powder, though, make sure to shake it properly in your bottle.

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BEST UPGRADE BCAA POWDER

Swolverine BCAA 2:1:1 + Electrolytes

• $45.00 at bodybuilding.com

Aside from the fact that we just can’t resist a good gym pun, Swolverine has quickly become one of our favorite BCAA supplements. Each serving contains a proper 2:1:1 ratio of BCAAs with an added boost of glutamine for better recovery and electrolytes for hydration. While you can take this supplement anytime in relation to your training, we really enjoyed the lemon-lime concoction during our workouts as opposed to pre- or post-training. The only true downfall? If you’re not a fan of lemon lime, you’re out of luck, as Swolverine’s BCAA powder only comes in one flavor at this time.

Editor’s Note: The price indicates a 60-serving container, Swolverine’s lone size option.

XTEND

BEST BUDGET BCAA POWDER

XTEND Original BCAA Powder

• $28.00 at cellucor.com

Why search through countless containers when you can just go with one of the most trusted BCAAs on the market? Delivering an impressive 7 grams of BCAAs per serving, Xtend has been providing muscle-boosting benefits for over 15 years. We found Xtend helped reduce our recovery time between workouts, and every flavor is extremely tasty. There’s even candy-inspired flavors, like the recently released Airheads collection.

While each offering contains zero sugars, this BCAA powder does use artificial flavorings, though, which could be a deterrent for some fitness enthusiasts. With that said, however, this reasonably-priced supplement can be a great addition to any novice gym-goer’s daily intake.

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BEST BCAA POWDER FOR HYDRATION

Vital Performance Recover

• $27.00 at vitalproteins.com
  $36.00 (25% off)

Ever have that parched feeling when you’re working out? Sure, a sip of water could do the trick, but what if you combined the hydrating properties of electrolytes with the muscle-retaining qualities of BCAAs? Vital Performance Recover from Vital Proteins does just that in a flavorful powder designed for post-workout recovery. While slightly more expensive than others on this list, we easily quenched our thirst after long sessions thanks to this supplement. Additionally, the included collagen peptides are a nice touch, and promote better muscle, bone and skin health. A well-rounded product that packs plenty of mouth-watering goodness in every scoop.

Editor’s Note: The price indicates a 21-serving container.

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BEST VEGAN BCAA POWDER

Naked Nutrition Naked BCAAs

• $35.00 at nakednutrition.com

Fast-dissolving and free of artificial additives, Naked’s BCAA supplement gives plenty of performance-enhancing support to those with more restrictive diets. Containing just five ingredients, this bare-boned powder is great for vegan fitness enthusiasts looking to improve their recovery time and muscle development. Plus, every container holds roughly 100 servings, making this an exceptionally budget-friendly nutritional addition, too — even if you don’t follow the vegan lifestyle.

Editor’s Note: The price indicates a 100-serving container, Naked’s lone size option.

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BEST PRE-WORKOUT BCAA POWDER

Transparent Labs Lean

• $50.00 at transparentlabs.com

BCAAs are generally suited for intra- or post-workout usage, but that doesn’t mean your pre-workout powders can’t harness their muscle-building benefits. In our testing, we enjoyed Transparent Labs’ Lean formula the most. With 2.5 grams of BCAAs per serving, this allowed for enough support without overtaking the general purpose of the supplement, which leans more so into energy and alertness. While Transparent Labs does pride itself on visible nutritional facts — we do appreciate that Lean is third-party tested for impurities — the BCAA blend is still a proprietary blend, meaning you don’t know for certain how much leucine, isoleucine and valine are included in each serving.

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BEST INTRA-WORKOUT BCAA POWDER

Kaged In-Kaged

• $30.00 at kaged.com

If you want to sip away at your BCAA supplement while in the throws of a killer session, look no further than this intra-workout from Kaged Muscle. Despite the limited flavor offerings, each taste is bursting with enjoyable notes of appeal, and behind that palette is a strong backbone featuring a hearty 2:1:1 BCAA ratio along with 3 grams of l-citrulline for improved nutrient delivery. We’ve enjoyed In-Kaged for multiple seasons and always appreciated the in-gym focus retained when taking this tasty mixture mid-set. We do caution, however, that each tub only contains 20 servings, so you may be re-ordering this worthwhile intra more often than you’d prefer.

Editor’s Note: The price indicates a 20-serving container.

GNC

BEST POST-WORKOUT BCAA POWDER

Jym Supplement Science Post Jym BCAAs + Recovery Matrix

• $40.00 at gnc.com
  $45.00 (11% off)

After you’ve put in a monster session, you want to make sure that the work you just endured pays off, right? With a slew of ingredients designed to maximize your results, Post Jym can help you achieve such a feat. With a boosted 3:1:1 BCAA ratio — as well as other ingredients like creatine monohydrate for muscle size and taurine for reduced muscle cramps — this post-workout recovery shake has it all. Be prepared, however, to sip on this for a while, as the instructions call for 16–32 ounces of water for proper blending.

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BEST BCAA POWDER FOR ENDURANCE TRAINING

BSN AminoX BCAA

• $28.00 at bodybuilding.com

If you’re in it for the long haul, your supplements should support your enduring training routine. BSN’s AminoX delivers an efficient 2:1:1 ratio of BCAAs with an overall profile designed to propel your workouts forward. L-taurine is included to help prevent muscle cramps, while L-citrulline can keep the blood pumping through every PR-pushing rep. Choose from the four available flavors can lock in for those training days where the clock is an afterthought.

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BEST BCAA POWDER FOR STRENGTH TRAINING

Huge Supplements Huge BCAA

• $40.00 at hugesupplements.com

It’s kind of in the name, isn’t it? Huge BCAA is designed with the strength athlete in mind, boasting an impressive profile that caters to those wanting that muscle-bound physique. 8 grams of BCAAs, as well as the convenient glutamine and coconut water, can improve your muscle retention and recovery. This means that getting back to the plates for continued growth is an easier endeavor than with other supplements. While the price is steeper than other options, if you want to pack on the pounds and flex out of your workout shirts, this is the BCAA powder for you.

Editor’s Note: The price indicates a 25-serving container.

GNC

BEST BCAA CAPSULE

Optimum Nutrition Mega-Size BCAA 1000 Caps

• $45.00 at gnc.com

Sometimes, fussing with a powdered supplement is just annoying, messy and downright inconvenient. Thankfully, Optimum Nutrition, makers of our favorite protein powder, offer BCAA supplementation in a convenient capsuled form. BCAA 1000 Caps feature a solid 2:1:1 ratio and are as bare-boned as we’ve seen in terms of ingredients — just three components make up these ready-to-go pills. Plus, we like having the capsule option as it eliminates the need for scoop measuring or planning for a container if you want to take these tabs on the go. We have noticed, though, that these capsules can be awkward to take due to their sizing, and if you’re supplementing with BCAAs multiple times per day, burnout can occur rather rapidly.

Editor’s Note: The price indicates a 200-serving container.

alani nu

BEST TASTING BCAA POWDER

Alani Nu BCAA

• $40.00 at gnc.com

Take your tastebuds on a journey with this impressive BCAA powder. With nostalgic, candy-inspired flavors like sour peach rings and sour gummy, to the unique summertime notes of Hawaiian shaved ice, we couldn’t find a better tasting powder across our testing. The flavors didn’t fog up our perception of this supplement, though, which packs a trusted 2:1:1 ratio and some added glutamine for potential workout recovery aid. Plus, Alani Nu’s BCAA powder is vegan, gluten free and GMP certified, helping bolster its reputation as a tasty and performance-led supplement. While some might be overwhelmed by the sweet flavor offerings, if you want your powders to double as a guilty treat throughout your day, this might be the perfect fit.

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