NOW Sports Micellar Casein, Unflavored Review
#4 of 8 · Best budget✓ Label verified · Supplement Facts read Sep 7, 2026Real retailer photo, cut out. Label unedited.
Buy it. The budget certified pick — single-ingredient, Informed Sport tested, and the cheapest per serving here. Micellar casein + a touch of sunflower lecithin, unflavored, with a genuine Informed Sport certification — a rare combination at ~$0.65/serving, the lowest cost per serving in the lineup.
$22$0.65 / serving
Why It Scores 8.4 — And The Label Line Behind Each Number
Form & purity (micellar)
30% of scoreIt's genuine micellar casein — the slow-release form — as a single ingredient plus about 1% sunflower lecithin to help it mix. That's a clean, minimally-additive formula, which this axis rewards. It scores a bit below the top picks mostly on the lighter per-scoop dose and its no-frills, unflavored presentation, not on the form itself, which is exactly right.
- Form
- Micellar casein (instantized, slow-release)
- Sweetener
- None — unflavored (micellar casein + ~1% sunflower lecithin)
- Allergens
- Contains milk; soy-free, gluten-free (not lactose-free)
Protein per serving & macros
25% of scoreThe honest deduction: 19 g per scoop for ~90 calories is lighter than the 24-26 g leaders, so to match a full 25 g dose you'll use roughly one-and-a-third scoops. The macros themselves are lean and clean, but on a per-scoop basis it delivers less protein than the top tubs, which is why it lands mid-pack here despite the clean profile.
- Protein
- 19 g per scoop (~90 cal)
Third-party testing
20% of scoreThe star axis: NOW Sports carries a genuine Informed Sport certification — independent banned-substance screening — at a budget price, which is genuinely rare. It's also made in a cGMP facility. Getting a real third-party seal on the cheapest casein here is the whole reason this pick outranks pricier tubs on testing, and it earns the near-top score on this axis honestly.
- Third-party testing
- Informed Sport certified (banned-substance tested); cGMP facility
Value per serving
15% of scoreAt about $22 for a 1.8 lb bag, per-serving cost lands near $0.65 — the lowest sticker-per-serving here. The nuance that keeps it from a perfect value score: the 19 g scoop means a true 25 g dose costs a bit more than the headline figure. Even adjusted, it's excellent value, especially for a certified product — cheap slow-release protein without giving up the seal.
- Value
- ~$22 / 1.8 lb bag ≈ $0.65 per serving
Taste & mixability
10% of scoreIt's unflavored, so there's no taste to rate and you supply your own — and plain casein is bland and thick, which drags this axis down. The sunflower lecithin helps it mix better than raw casein, and stirring it into oats, yogurt or a flavored shake works well, but on its own it's the least drinkable format. The lowest-weighted axis, and the honest weak spot of an otherwise strong budget pick.
- More Specs
- Carbs / sugar
- Low carb, minimal sugar
Label verified. Every figure read from the Supplement Facts photo, Sep 7, 2026.
Marketing Claims Vs. Reality
Informed Sport certified.
NOW Sports carries a genuine Informed Sport certification — independent banned-substance lot screening. Having that real seal on the cheapest casein here is unusual and verifiable, and it's the core of the pick's value proposition.
Single-ingredient, unflavored micellar casein — no artificial sweeteners.
It's essentially single-ingredient — micellar casein — with roughly 1% sunflower lecithin added as a mixing aid, so 'single-ingredient' is true in spirit but not literally one component. There are genuinely no artificial sweeteners or flavors, which is the meaningful part.
19 g of protein per scoop.
The label states 19 g protein for ~90 calories per scoop — a lighter dose than the 25 g picks, which the listing shows honestly. To hit 25 g you'd use about one-and-a-third scoops.
Budget-friendly slow-release protein.
At roughly $0.65 per serving it's the lowest sticker-per-serving in the lineup, and it's genuine micellar casein — the slow-release form. Even adjusting for the lighter scoop, it's excellent value, especially for a certified product.
Soy-free and gluten-free.
The listing states soy-free and gluten-free, and the formula (micellar casein + sunflower lecithin, not soy lecithin) is consistent with that. It does contain milk and is not lactose-free.
What Our Test Actually Found
A real certification at a budget price is the headline
The standout is that NOW pairs the lowest cost per serving here with a genuine Informed Sport certification — independent banned-substance screening. That's an unusual combination; certified caseins are usually premium. If you want third-party verification without paying the clean-label premium of Ascent, this is the answer, and it's why it outranks pricier uncertified tubs.
The 19 g scoop is the trade-off to plan around
Its one honest weakness is the lighter dose: 19 g per scoop versus 24-26 g in the top picks. That's fine — just use about one-and-a-third scoops to hit a full 25 g. It nudges the effective cost per gram up slightly and it's the main reason this sits at #4 rather than higher, but it's a measuring-cup issue, not a quality one.
Unflavored means you build the taste
There's nothing to drink here on its own — plain casein is bland and thick. That's a feature if you want to avoid sweeteners and stir it into oatmeal, Greek yogurt or a flavored smoothie, and a chore if you wanted a ready shake. Blend it with fruit or cocoa and it disappears into the mix; sip it plain in water and you won't enjoy it.
Clean allergen profile for a casein
It's soy-free (uses sunflower rather than soy lecithin) and gluten-free, which is a nice edge over the mainstream flavored tubs that carry soy. It's still a dairy protein and not lactose-free — micellar casein is naturally low in lactose, so most dairy-sensitive people tolerate it, but genuine dairy reactors should look at whey isolate or a plant protein instead.
Full analysis: all pros & cons (6), buy if / skip if
- Informed Sport certified at a budget price — rare for a low-cost casein
- Single-ingredient, unflavored — no artificial sweeteners; mix into shakes, oats or yogurt
- Lowest cost per serving in the lineup (~$0.65)
- Soy-free and gluten-free; instantized with sunflower lecithin for easier mixing
- Lighter 19 g protein per scoop — use about 1⅓ scoops for a full 25 g dose
- Unflavored only — bland and thick on its own; contains milk (not lactose-free)
- You want the cheapest casein that still carries a real banned-substance certification
- You prefer a single-ingredient, unflavored powder with no artificial sweeteners
- You mix it into shakes, oats or yogurt and don't need a ready flavor
- You want a full 25 g in one scoop without measuring more — go Dymatize (#1) or Ascent (#3)
- You want a ready-to-drink flavor — this is unflavored and plain on its own
Micellar casein + a touch of sunflower lecithin, unflavored, with a genuine Informed Sport certification — a rare combination at ~$0.65/serving, the lowest cost per serving in the lineup. The catches: a lighter 19 g scoop (use a bit more for a 25 g dose) and you bring your own flavor. Soy-free and gluten-free. The best pick when value and certification both matter.
NOW Sports Micellar Casein is the value-and-trust pick: it's about the cheapest casein per serving you'll find that also carries an Informed Sport banned-substance certification, which is genuinely unusual at this price. It's a single, clean ingredient — unflavored micellar casein with a touch of sunflower lecithin for mixing — so there are no artificial sweeteners, and you can stir it into a smoothie, oatmeal or Greek yogurt for a pre-bed slow-release boost. Two honest caveats: the scoop is a lighter 19 g, so you'll want a slightly bigger serving to hit a full 25 g, and being unflavored, it needs you to bring the taste. It's soy-free and gluten-free, and for a budget, tested, no-nonsense casein it punches well above its price.
The budget certified pick — punches well above its price for value-plus-trust buyers.
NOW Sports Micellar Casein is the value-and-trust play: about the cheapest casein per serving you'll find that also carries an Informed Sport banned-substance certification, which is genuinely unusual at this price. It's a single clean ingredient — unflavored micellar casein with a touch of sunflower lecithin — so there are no artificial sweeteners, and you can stir it into a smoothie, oatmeal or yogurt for a pre-bed slow-release boost. The two honest caveats: the scoop is a lighter 19 g, so you'll want a slightly bigger serving to hit 25 g, and being unflavored, it needs you to bring the taste. If you want a full 25 g in one flavored scoop, Dymatize (#1) or Ascent (#3) is better; if you want the same certification with a stevia flavor, Ascent is the step up. But for a budget, tested, no-nonsense casein, this punches well above its price. (Dairy-derived — low lactose, not lactose-free.)
If This Doesn’t Fit — Try These
03Ascent Native Fuel Casein
Ascent Native Fuel is the pick for anyone who wants a casein that's both clean and genuinely tested.
08BulkSupplements Micellar Casein
BulkSupplements Micellar Casein is the bargain-basement value play: a big, plain 1 kg bag of single-ingredient micellar casein at about the lowest cost per gram of protein in this roundup.
01Dymatize Elite Casein
Dymatize Elite Casein is the best all-round pick because it nails the things that actually matter for casein: it's 100% micellar (the genuinely slow-digesting form), it's dosed at a full 25 g of protein for only about 130 calories, and at 50 servings a tub it's one of the better values here — all wrapped in a chocolate that's repeatedly rated among the smoothest-mixing caseins, which is no small thing for a notoriously thick protein.
Quick Answers
The scoop is only 19 g — is that enough?
For per-serving muscle protein synthesis, ~20 g of quality protein is near the effective dose (Moore 2009), so one scoop is in the ballpark. But the pre-sleep casein evidence (Res 2012) used ~40 g, and most people target ~25 g for a pre-bed dose — so use about one-and-a-third scoops. It's a measuring-cup adjustment, not a quality shortfall; just factor the slightly higher effective cost per gram.
How do I make unflavored casein taste good?
Don't drink it plain in water — it's bland and thick. Stir it into oatmeal, blend it with frozen fruit and milk, mix it into Greek yogurt, or add cocoa and a little sweetener. Unflavored is the point: you control the taste and avoid artificial sweeteners entirely. If you'd rather skip all that, a flavored pick like Dymatize (#1) or Ascent (#3) is ready to go.
Is it really tested, given how cheap it is?
Yes — it carries a genuine Informed Sport certification, which means lots are independently screened for banned substances, and it's made in a cGMP facility. That's the unusual part of this pick: the low price doesn't come at the cost of the seal. It's the cheapest certified casein here, which is exactly why it earns the 'best budget (tested)' badge.
Sources & Further Reading
2 peer-reviewed sources, each linked to PubMed
- [1] Res 2012 PMID 22330017 — Protein ingestion before sleep improves postexercise overnight recovery. 40 g of casein before sleep raised overnight muscle protein synthesis versus placebo — the basis for a pre-bed casein dose. Note the study used ~40 g, so NOW's 19 g scoop is worth doubling toward that range for the overnight slot.
- [2] Moore 2009 PMID 19056590 — Ingested protein dose response of muscle and albumin protein synthesis after resistance exercise in young men. About 20 g of high-quality protein near-maximally stimulated muscle protein synthesis per serving — so a single 19 g NOW scoop already sits near the effective per-serving dose, though pre-sleep protocols used more.
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