What are the best supplement brands for bodybuilding? We’ve been researching the most famous sports supplements manufacturers in the global market, and it’s clear that these companies have established themselves as leaders in the industry. With their high-quality products and commitment to research and development, they have gained recognition and popularity among athletes and fitness enthusiasts worldwide.
All of these supplement companies listed in this review have contributed amazing products to the bodybuilding industry and are well-respected among top athletes in the industry’s community. The solid reputations they have built over the years are most apparent when consumers keep coming back again and again to buy the products they offer.
Here are 15 supplement companies that have stood out and made significant contributions to the competitive world of bodybuilding and/or the fitness industry. By the end of this list, you will feel confident about who to trust.
#01 Optimum Nutrition
Founded: 1983
Popular Supplement: Gold Standard Whey
Optimum Nutrition, Inc. (ON) is part of the Glanbia global nutrition group and has been setting the Gold Standard in sports nutrition for more than 30 years – helping performance-focused athletes achieve their goals.
With state-of-the-art production facilities in Middlesbrough, UK, Optimum Nutrition is one of the few sports nutrition companies to manufacture in every product category. From the very beginning in 1986, Optimum Nutrition has always taken a hands-on approach to maintaining the very highest standards of quality.
Optimum Nutrition is home to the bestselling protein powder supplement in the world. Their Gold Standard Whey protein helps ensure you’re getting enough protein to build mass, recover faster, and stay lean. It contains twenty-four grams of protein in each serving along with 5.5 grams of naturally occurring BCAAs.
In addition to making Gold Standard 100% Whey the world’s best-selling whey protein powder, Optimum Nutrition created the slowly digesting protein category with Gold Standard 100% Casein. Optimum Nutrition also created the anytime energy category, which remains dominated by Essential Amino Energy, and launched the Optimum Protein Bar and the Protein Crisp Bar, the perfect on-the-go protein snacks.
Their products can be found throughout the United Kingdom in specialty retail stores, gyms, and fitness centers as well as major grocery chains and online retailers and of course directly from their official website. Optimum Nutrition’s products are available across the globe.
100% Whey Gold Standard
100% Whey Gold Standard remains one of the most popular and highest-quality protein powders on the market. It provides 24 grams of quality whey protein and contains a slim 120 calories per serving. With more than 20 different flavors – including naturally flavored options – there’s no doubt this is the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein. The powder is also instantiated for easy mixing using just a glass and spoon.
#02 Universal Nutrition
Founded: 1977
Popular Supplement: “Animal” Product Line
Founded during the Golden Age of Bodybuilding, when the first Sandow was awarded and “Pumping Iron” featuring a young bodybuilder from Austria premiered in theaters, Universal has been a vital part of the fabric of the sport and industry. Today, they are proud of their place in the weightlifting community and many of their products are available all around the world.
Their roots go back to 1977 and a small manufacturing factory in Linden, New Jersey. Started by a hard-working and passionate family in that year, Universal is still a privately held company today – still owned and operated by that same family. Their values have remained the same, values based on “old school” ideals where one’s word and a handshake meant something.
Today, their state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and corporate headquarters are located in New Brunswick, NJ. Though they are much bigger, they still try to think small – think about growing their business one customer at a time. For over forty years, they’ve been pushing sports nutrition forward.
Universal Nutrition formulates and produces world-class sports nutrition products, available in over 90 countries.
Animal Cuts
For bodybuilders, all the muscle in the world means little if it is shrouded by layers of body fat. That’s when you add Animal Cuts. The Animal Cuts supplement contains ingredients that support various aspects of fat loss, metabolism, and energy. Some of the common Animal Cuts ingredients include: Caffeine Anhydrous, Green Tea Extract, L-Carnitine, Yohimbe Extract, Synephrine, Tyrosine, and Garcinia Cambogia. Some other ingredients are B vitamins, Cayenne Pepper Extract, Black Pepper Extract (Bioperine), Juniper Berry Extract, Uva Ursi, and Dandelion Root Extract…
#03 Weider
Founded: 1936
Popular Supplement: Tiger’s Milk Nutrition Bar
The Weider brand is one of the most recognized brands in the industry. Since 1936, the Weider brand has been displayed both in the US (based in Phoenix, Arizona) and throughout the world with association in magazines, nutritional supplements, sporting events, equipment, and brand licensing.
Since 1936, the WEIDER Family and brand has developed innovative dietary supplements based on these important aspects:
- QUALITY: Meeting all manufacturing and nutritional standards
- SCIENCE: Ingredients proven to deliver efficacious benefits the consumer wants
- KNOWLEDGE: Worldwide network involving all aspects of health and well-being
- TRUST: Products you can rely on to deliver upon your goals
Today, the Weider® name is synonymous with health and fitness worldwide — the quality brands, information, products, and services sold in over 120 countries.
Weider Prime
Weider Prime is marketed as a natural testosterone-boosting supplement. It is targeted at men and claims to help boost male vitality and physical energy levels. There is a myriad of benefits associated with increasing your testosterone levels, especially if they are low. Benefits of boosting your testosterone levels include improved bone density and reduced risk of stress fractures, higher sex drive, increased protein synthesis, improved mood levels and stability, better focus and concentration levels, and lower body fat accumulation.
#04 Bio-Engineered Supplements & Nutrition (BSN)
Founded: 2001
Popular Supplement: N.O. -Xplode Vaso
Bio-Engineered Supplements and Nutrition, Inc. (BSN®) was founded in 2001 and since then has become a global leader in the sports nutrition marketplace through relentless dedication to creating dynamic, cutting-edge, and result-producing products. BSN® products and the brand itself have won more than 35 sports nutrition awards over the course of the last six years, more than any other company in the industry. This legacy of performance has created tremendous brand awareness and loyalty for the company, building a faithful following of consumers, athletes, and fans in the process.
BSN®’s reach and exposure are truly global, with products shipped to over 40,000 retailers nationally and distributed in over 90 countries worldwide. Its diverse product line has always produced results among the company’s core demographic; however, the majority of its products are multi-functional enough that they offer applications for a myriad of lifestyles and consumer types, setting BSN® apart from a number of its competitors whose products lack this valuable mass appeal. Given this potential for tapping into broader markets, BSN® is committed to bringing top-of-the-line nutritional supplementation and beverages to a mass audience through broadened distribution channels and innovative partnerships.
BSN® is steadfast in its commitment to setting new standards in product development with complete dedication to one very important principle: Innovation – Never Duplication! Category-creating products such as Advanced Strength N.O.-XPLODE®, which created the entire pre-workout category are the reason that BSN® has some of the best-selling and most sought-after supplements in the world today.
BSN’s associations with numerous top athletes create a buzz around their products, but the other part of their rise comes from BSN’s quality products including N.O. -Xplode, Cellmass, and Syntha-6.
N.O.-Xplode VASO pre-workout
Many pre-workout supplements deliver energy and focus but fail to deliver the pump you are after. Thanks to N.O.-XPLODE VASO your search is over!! N.O.-XPLODE VASO is scientifically engineered to deliver real pumps, as well as the power to drive energy, endurance, focus, and muscle performance. You get exactly what you need every time!
#05 MuscleTech
Founded: 1995
Popular Supplement: Hydroxycut Hardcore Pro Series
Established in 1995 and run by a privately held company, the passionate MuscleTech R&D machine is led by the successful Marvin Heuer, MD, who acts as the firm’s Chief Science Officer.
With over 30 years of medical experience, both in patient care and clinical research areas, Heuer has written over 40 scientific papers and authored various other publications and is an authority on traditional fitness, heart, and muscle physiology, and the science and study of muscle growth and performance.
Hydroxycut Hardcore Pro has been one of MuscleTech’s most successful supplements. In terms of their products, MuscleTech offers a broad range of sports supplement products. These include pre and post-workout supplements, protein powders, fat burners and diet supplements, testosterone boosters, vitamin and food supplements as well as some of their own line of fitness apparel and accessories.
MuscleTech is located in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
MuscleTech’s sports supplements are made in the USA and are manufactured according to Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) standards. As well as complying with FDA guidelines, MuscleTech’s nutritional supplements are also transparent about the ingredients in the formula. They avoid using proprietary blends and fully disclose the list of ingredients and their amounts in the products.
MuscleTech products are available to purchase worldwide either through the official website or via local retailers. A list of which is available on the MuscleTech site.
Hydroxycut Hardcore Super Elite
Hydroxycut Hardcore Super Elite from Muscle Tech is a high-quality fat burner containing a full set of active ingredients supporting weight loss and getting rid of excess body fat. In the supplement, you will find a large dose of caffeine, green coffee, choline, ALA acid, and strong antioxidants in the form of plant extracts. The Hydroxycut Hardcore Super Elite fat burner has also tyrosine to support the breakdown of fatty acids, and B vitamins: B12, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and B6 to support the proper metabolism of fats and fight fatigue.
#06 Maximum Human Performance (MHP)
Founded: 1997
Popular Supplement: Secretagogue-One
Maximum Human Performance is the result of a partnership between long-time friends Gerard Dente, a professional bodybuilder and hormone supplement expert, and medical professional Vincent Giampapa, MD, who is also the founder of the revolutionary American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.
The company’s first product to hit the fitness scene was the clinically proven Secretagogue-One, which continues to be one of the nation’s top HGH boosters.
Later, MHP introduced two revolutionary muscle-building breakthroughs: SARM-X and Cyclin-GF, both of which are now bestsellers.
Every MHP product is made in GMP-certified facilities in the USA from both domestic and internationally sourced ingredients. These Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines provide protocols for manufacturing, testing, and quality assurance to ensure safety.
Secretagogue One – HGH BOOSTER
Created in the labs at MHP, the new supplement for growth factor releases is Secretagogue-One. Secretagogue-One is a peptide whose primary job is to help you rebuild your muscle tissue and improve lean mass gains. It also contains a delivery system for the hormones once they have been released.
#07 Labrada
Founded: 1995
Popular Supplement: Lean Body Hi-Protein Meal Replacement
Labrada is a popular supplement company that has won awards for its Lean Body meal replacement line. It was founded by Lee Labrada – a professional bodybuilder, published author, and CEO of Labrada Nutrition. He won the title of Mr. Universe in 1985 and placed top 4 for seven consecutive years in Mr. Olympia.
Labrada’s mission is to, “empower people with nutritional products and the knowledge they need to get into great shape and be healthy for life”. Labrada Nutrition provides education on fitness, nutrition, and health through its weekly newsletters, videos, content-rich websites, social media, online fitness contests, and dedicated customer support.
A popular supplement from Labrada is its Lean Body Hi-Protein Meal Replacement.
Lean Body High Protein Meal Replacement Shake
Enjoy the benefits of a nutritious meal in a smooth, delicious shake that you can make in under a minute – anywhere, any time. Provides high-quality protein to support lean muscle and metabolism. Lean Body® Hi-Protein Meal Replacement shakes contain a balanced blend of protein, carbs, and fiber to help satiate appetite, plus 22 vitamins and minerals. Just tear open a convenient packet, put it in a glass of water or shaker cup, mix, and enjoy Lean Body’s® delicious taste!
#08 Nutrex Research
Founded: 2002
Popular Supplement: Lipo-6x
Nutrex Research was founded in 2002 ( by Jens Ingenohl and Jeff McCarrell, a talented and energetic duo with years of expertise in the sports nutrition and bodybuilding fields) and operates out of its’ own 80,000 sq ft, state-of-the-art facility in Oviedo, Central Florida. Their focus has always been on developing innovative, high-quality supplements with superior taste powered by the most effective ingredients.
Nutrex Research first hit the industry by storm with our advanced liquid capsule technology making LIPO-6 a household name that became symbolic for stronger and faster weight loss results. Since then they have been a trusted brand for almost 20 years as they continued to develop a wide array of results-oriented products.
Today their supplements are distributed and used around the globe in 100+ countries. They are driven by the desire to offer you the best possible product solutions so their customers can reach their physique and fitness goals faster. They are committed to providing continuous and standout product innovations to create stronger and healthier bodies.
Nutrex has devoted itself to the demands of dedicated bodybuilders, and one of it’s most impressive products is the widely demanded fat burner Lipo-6x.
Lipo-6 Black UC
LIPO-6 BLACK ULTRA CONCENTRATE is a very strong fat burner. It’s so strong that you can never take more than one pill per serving. This is an ultra-concentrated super potent fat-loss aid that is designed to fully assist your body in burning off fat. LIPO-6 BLACK UC helps fire up your metabolism to stimulate calorie burning. It supports appetite control to help prevent food cravings and overeating. It also promotes energy and alertness, so you can keep your activity level high while dieting.
#09 Gaspari Nutrition
Founded: 1998
Popular Supplement: SuperPump MAX
Founded in 1998. (by Rich Gaspari in New Jersey) Gaspari Nutrition’s mission was and continues to be: To produce the highest-quality, science-based sports nutrition supplements in the world. Gaspari Nutrition has since been ever-evolving, and when it comes to athletic sports supplementation one name seems to stand above the rest. No matter the category of bodybuilder, MMA athlete, or weekend warrior, Gaspari Nutrition has become a pillar in the sports nutrition industry. With groundbreaking innovation and research-backed products, Gaspari has led the way in performance nutrition products since its humble beginnings.
Rich Gaspari has been involved in the bodybuilding and fitness field for more than 30 years. He excelled as a top professional bodybuilder from the mid-’80s through the ’90s, winning the very first Arnold Classic in 1989, Mr. America (now known as the NPC Nationals), Mr. Universe, Professional Mr. World, and is a three-time runner-up for the most coveted title in professional bodybuilding: Mr. Olympia. After retiring from professional bodybuilding, Rich began developing his own line of quality supplements and built one of the most formidable and respected brands in the world, Gaspari Nutrition.
One of Gaspari’s most popular products is their SuperPump MAX, which boosts endurance and mental focus, all while promoting muscle growth.
SuperPump Max
The ultimate pre-workout supplement that provides you with the most advanced set of ingredients. You go to the gym to look your best and push yourself to the limits. By using Gaspari Nutrition SuperPump MAX you can become the athlete you’ve always wanted to be – the absolute force to be reckoned with.
#10 Quest Nutrition
Founded: 2010
Popular Supplement: Quest protein bars
In 2010, Mike Osborn, Ron Penna, and Tom Bilyeu established the sports nutrition business Quest Nutrition. El Segundo, California, in the USA, serves as the company’s headquarters. For athletes and fitness fanatics, Quest Nutrition is well-known for its protein bars, which are created from high-quality protein sources and are intended to be a handy and wholesome snack.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Protein Bars
Quest protein bars may serve as a healthy addition to one’s diet, especially for those looking to increase their daily protein and fiber consumption. These bars can be eaten at any time throughout the day as a high-protein snack; however, eating Quest protein bars after your workout may be advantageous. Quest protein bars range from 18-21 grams of whey protein per serving.
#11 Nutrabolt
Founded: 2002.
Popular Supplement: C4 Original pre-workout supplement
Doss Cunningham founded one of the leading American sports nutrition companies Nutrabolt in 2002. Its headquarters are in Bryan, Texas. Cellucor and XTEND, two of Nutrabolt’s most well-known brands, are owned by the firm. One of the top-selling pre-workouts on the market is C4 Original, a pre-workout supplement made by Cellucor.
C4 original pre-workout supplement
Cellucor C4 Original is a new level of sophisticated innovation with an improved formula whose ingredients help improve energy, focus, and performance. The C4 was a worldwide explosion when it was first launched in 2011. It has helped gym addicts, weekend fighters and sports contestants develop into original legends.
#12 MusclePharm
Founded: 2008.
Popular Supplement: MusclePharm Combat Protein Powder
Former NFL player Brad Pyatt established the sports nutrition company MusclePharm in 2008. Denver, Colorado, USA serves as the company’s corporate headquarters. Protein powders, pre-workout supplements, post-workout recovery supplements, and amino acid supplements are just a few of the sports nutrition products available from MusclePharm. They even have a female-focused brand called FitMiss.
MusclePharm Combat Protein Powder
Power Your Workouts with a Delicious Protein Powder that Provides Long-Lasting Energy and Maximizes Recovery! Combat Protein Powder® is a delicious and easy-to-mix shake that provides 25 grams of high-quality protein to support muscle growth and recovery. It is carefully formulated with a variety of protein blends that digest at different rates, allowing your muscles to stay fueled for longer periods of time.
#13 Evlution Nutrition
Founded: 2013.
Popular Supplement: Trans4orm Fat Burner
Evlution Nutrition is known to provide a wide range of products that can help achieve all fitness goals through an emphasis on nutrition and health. The brand offers four main supplement groups, including energy and endurance, weight management, protein and recovery, and essentials. Under the energy and endurance group, Evlution offers a pre-workout shred blend, a BCAA energy blend, a standard pre-workout blend, and a pump accelerator powder, among many others.
Two of the brand’s notable weight management supplements include LEANMODE and TRANS4ORM, which assist in weight loss support. For recovery, Evlution sells a variety of whey protein and isolate protein powders. Finally, the brand offers wellness supplements such as omega-3 fish oil, probiotics, and multivitamins.
Trans4orm Fat Burner
Trans4orm is a scientifically-developed multi-stage thermogenic energizer and weight loss support supplement that works with your body to transform fat and build lean muscle. Each serving contains an effective dose of the most powerful fat-burning ingredients which are scientifically validated. Trans4orm’s 100% transparent formula supports increased thermogenesis, energy level, metabolism, and appetite support, with energy and mental focus boosters to power you throughout the day.
Ready to upgrade your recovery stack? Browse the best BCAA supplements for women — science-approved and coach-tested to help you train harder and recover faster.
See Women’s BCAA Guide#14 Transparent Labs
Founded: 2015.
Popular Supplement: Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Transparent Labs is a Utah-based supplement company. Their supplements are made from premium and high-quality ingredients. Their lineup is divided into different categories such as pre-workouts, products for bulking up, ways to stay lean, creatine, protein, mass gainers, and much more. Each product has its own unique combination of ingredients that will help regulate your hormones, boost your metabolism, increase your protein intake, and even reduce your recovery time. You can find a supplement through Transparent Labs that will accomplish very specific goals that you have set for yourself.
Transparent Labs produces high-quality products that are made without the use of anything harmful or artificial. They do not have dyes, preservatives, or fillers in them. You’re getting only the pure ingredients that your body needs to thrive. Their whey protein isolate is one of the cleanest on the market.
Transparent Labs writes on their official website that their formulas are created out of the latest science and nutrition research and that they even run their formulas by independent scientific advisors who critique them as needed (with Transparent Labs following up on that feedback by revising products in accordance).
At the time of publishing, Transparent Labs’ advisory board (made up of independent experts and reviewers) includes eight members with specialties ranging from certified personal trainers, medical doctors, registered dietitians, and certified sports nutritionists. The board reviews all information that Transparent Labs presents. Some of these advisors also contribute articles to Transparent Labs’ blog, which offers education on weight loss diets, benefits of specific supplements, meal prep ideas, and exercise guides.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
This supplement is an unusual and never-seen combination of creatine monohydrate and HMB. When combined, creatine monohydrate and HMB have been shown (according to one study) to enhance strength, increase endurance, decrease fat mass, and prevent lean muscle loss. Theoretically, this combination should work in our opinion, but a lot of the human trials on HMB are not properly structured to assess its effects.
#15 ProSource
Founded: 1996
Popular Supplement: Creatine Monohydrate
When ProSource came on the scene in 1996, it was a much simpler company than it is today.
Previously a small supplement distributor, its core product was its ultra-pure German creatine monohydrate, which today remains one of the leaders in the creatine monohydrate supplement category.
The ProSource marketing strategy was simple: offer the best quality supplements and get rid of the middle-men in order to keep the price as low as possible.
This allowed customers to purchase genuinely superior-quality supplements for prices comparable to, and sometimes even lower than, the price of the inferior-grade products sold in retail chain stores. This vaulted ProSource to a spot among the leading companies for legitimate premium-grade supplements.
ProSource’s low pricing and high-quality strategies had a tremendous impact on the industry, and they tirelessly researched, tested, and examined every single product sold under the ProSource name. ProSource brand stands out for its dedication to product research, potency, purity, bioavailability, and results.
A great example of this is their super-premium Original NytroWhey®, the legendary 100% whey isolate that established new standards for protein power, potency, and gourmet flavor. NytroWhey® Ultra Elite marked another great leap forward in protein technology, combining growth-factor-rich hydrolysate proteins, specially processed, super-amino-rich CFM whey protein isolate and a proprietary leucine peptide (Leuvon™ 590), among other key growth-support compounds. These two flagship proteins, Original NytroWhey® and NytroWhey® Ultra Elite, represent the state of the art in protein supplement science.
For more than a decade now, ProSource has continued to utilize the purest, most potent ingredients from around the globe in an ongoing effort to provide the most efficacious brand of sports supplements available worldwide, including compounds like genuine Creapure® creatine monohydrate from Germany, Tribulus from Bulgaria and the world’s purest, most potent aminos from Japan-all the world’s best.
Creatine Monohydrate
ProSource Creatine Monohydrate is 100% Creapure® sourced from Alzchem of Germany, the world leader in superior creatine manufacturing. Creapure’s ultra-pure, micro-crystallized creatine monohydrate is unsurpassed in providing the muscle volume and strength-increase results you’re seeking. Athletes nationwide know they can trust ProSource for the world’s purest, most potent form of creatine monohydrate.
Closing thoughts: Best sports nutrition companies
These sports nutrition and bodybuilding supplement companies have built a strong brand presence and have a loyal customer base. Their wide range of sports supplements caters to different fitness goals and needs, and their products are backed by scientific evidence. They invest in cutting-edge technology and manufacturing processes to ensure the highest quality standards and their commitment to customer satisfaction is evident through their excellent customer support.
Not only do these brands have a long history in the sports nutrition industry, but they have also consistently delivered top-notch sports supplements. They have received numerous awards and accolades for their products and contributions to the bodybuilding & fitness industry. Additionally, they have formed partnerships with professional athletes and sports teams, further cementing their reputation as trusted and reliable manufacturers.
