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Last updated: December 2025

The Top Protein Powder Brands Winning In AI Search

We track thousands of real ChatGPT conversations daily to find the most visible brands in AI search.

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Top sources shaping AI answers

These domains shape what AI search engines recommend. Understanding citation patterns reveals how to build AI authority in your category.

#Source
Share of citations
1.healthline.com3%
2.forbes.com2%
3.garagegymreviews.com2%
4.cyvigor.com1%
5.orgain.com1%
6.veganproteinpowder.reviews1%
7.verywellfit.com1%
8.glamour.com1%
9.mensjournal.com1%
10.livestrong.com1%
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AI Search Visibility Insights

AI search visibility research by user intent

Discover what types of sources are cited most in AI Search Answers, by business model, category and search intent.

Source link type
All
Search Queries%no. of links
Awareness
Search Queries%no. of links
Consideration
Search Queries%no. of links
Decision
Search Queries%no. of links

*This study was conducted using On Target AI and is focused on the Unites States market.

Research foundation

Behind the numbers: uncovering real AI search queries.

What types of search queries did we run?

We reverse-engineered actual user queries instead of guessing what people search for.

  • Awareness search queries:

    users are problem-aware, but not solution-aware

    (e.g. "How to get more protein in my diet without eating more meat?")
  • Consideration search queries:

    users are weighing possible solutions

    (e.g. "Does cooking protein powder destroy the protein?")
  • Decision search queries:

    users are choosing between vendors or brands

    (e.g. "Best type of protein powder for people with lactose intolerance?")
Awareness stage
Consideration stage
Decision stage
Research illustration

Where did we find these queries?

We used On Target AI to identify common ways people ask questions or describe pain points, and tied them back to search intent:

Reddit & Quora mining:
We analyzed the most engaged posts and comments to extract authentic user queries.
Social Media & Review sites:
We looked at real product reviews and active social media communities to find common ways people describe their issues, or ask questions.
Audience research:
We reviewed survey responses, interview transcripts, and customer support logs from a leading Protein Powder brand to uncover additional queries buyers actually use.

The result?

A dataset grounded in real-world conversations and customer intent - not assumptions or keyword tools.

Key findings based on user intent

Our biggest takeaways from this study

What makes protein powder brands show up in early-stage ("problem-aware") queries

At the awareness stage, users are searching for things like:

  1. 1. "How to get more protein in my diet without eating more meat?"
  2. 2. "Why am I not building muscle even though I exercise?"
  3. 3. "How to recover faster after gym workouts?"

Most cited category: Business

Sites like cyvigor.com, healthline.com, and tomsguide.com make up 41.3% of citations for awareness stage queries.

Most cited page type: Listicle

Listicles seem to get cited more than any other type of content here.

Awareness stage search results
Awareness stage

What makes protein powder brands visible in mid-funnel ("solution comparison") queries

At the consideration stage, users are asking things like:

  1. 1. "What’s the difference between whey protein and plant protein powder?"
  2. 2. "Does cooking protein powder destroy the protein?"
  3. 3. "How much protein powder should you take daily?"

Most cited category: Business

Sites like cookingupdate.com, chefsresource.com, and healthline.com make up 48.3% of citations for consideration stage queries.

Most cited page type: Comparison

Comparisons seem to get cited more than any other type of content here.

Consideration stage search results
Consideration stage

What makes protein powder brands surface in purchase-ready ("brand vs. brand") queries

Decision-stage prompts are the most direct, and where ChatGPT most clearly lists and ranks specific brands. Examples include:

  1. 1. "What is the best protein powder that doesn't mess up your stomach, recommended by nutritionists, under $15?"
  2. 2. "Best type of protein powder for people with lactose intolerance and vegan?"
  3. 3. "Which are the best protein powder options for vegan people who are diabetics?"

Most cited category: Business

Sites like forbes.com, garagegymreviews.com, and healthline.com make up 41.9% of citations for decision stage queries.

Most cited page type: Listicle

Listicles seem to get cited more than any other type of content here.

Most recommended brand: Orgain

Orgain appears in 72.0% of all decision stage conversations with ChatGPT, with an average position of 4.8.

Decision stage search results
Decision stage

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Track and improve brand visibility across AI search engines with insights rooted in real persona data.

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Categories we track

Ecommerce
Air FryerAir PurifierElectric Tooth BrushErgonomic Office ChairMatcha PowderMilk FoamerOrganic Dog FoodPremium Bed LinenPremium MatressProtein PowderRunning ShoeSmart Thermostat For HomeSmartwatchStanding DeskWater Filter
B2B Tech Products
Ecommerce Low Code ToolEcommerce Payment ProcessorEmail Marketing AutomationInternational Ecommerce Shipping ServicesInvoicing SoftwarePassword ManagerPre Employment Assessment ToolProject Management SolutionSales CRMSocial Media Management ToolTax Filling SoftwareTime Tracking SolutionWebsite Error MonitoringWebsite Heatmaps SolutionWebsite Survey Solution
Consumer Services
Electricity ServicesHome InsuranceInternet ServicesLandscaping & Lawn ServicesMoving ServicesPlumbing ServicesStorage ServicesTravel AgenciesVeterinary Services

Frequently
asked questions

What is the AI Visibility Leaderboard?

The AI Visibility Leaderboard ranks Protein Powder brands based on how prominently they appear in AI-generated answers across tools like ChatGPT. It's a snapshot of which brands are most visible when users ask questions about Protein Powder at different stages of their buying journey.

How does the AI Visibility Leaderboard work?

Every day, we run prompts across three buyer-intent stages: Awareness, Consideration, and Decision. We record which brands AI mentions, how frequently they appear, and in what context. Those results are then aggregated into a visibility score and ranking that reflects how dominant each brand is across AI search experiences.

What does the AI Visibility Leaderboard measure?

It measures how frequently and favorably brands are referenced by AI models when people ask questions about Protein Powder. Higher visibility means a brand is more likely to be surfaced in AI recommendations, similar to ranking higher in search engine results.

How do you measure AI Visibility?

AI Visibility is measured by two key metrics: 1. AI visibility score: Measures how often each brand appears in AI responses as a percentage of total responses the brand was mentioned in. 2.Average position: Your average rank in AI recommendation lists.

How often is the AI Visibility Leaderboard being updated?

We update the leaderboard weekly, but our system runs all prompts daily to capture any changes in how AI engines answer over time.

Why don't I see my company in the rankings?

Our public leaderboard only displays the top 10 Protein Powder brands based on their AI Visibility Scores. If your brand doesn't appear, it likely means it didn't make the top 10 for this category during the time period of the analysis, even if it ranked close (for example, #11 or #12). Your brand may still be mentioned by ChatGPT in responses and could appear in the top 20 or top 30 when looking at the full dataset.

How accurate are these rankings?

Our rankings are based on daily, repeatable, and unbiased testing using consistent prompts and evaluation criteria. While AI variability does exist, we run ongoing daily queries to smooth out fluctuations and ensure reliable trends, reflecting authentic user experiences.

Can I request a new category?

Yes! We're continuously expanding into new verticals. If you'd like to see your industry or niche analyzed next, reach out through our contact form to submit a category request.

Is the AI Visibility Leaderboard free?

Yes, the public version of the leaderboard is free to explore. Deeper insights, including brand-level trend reports and citation source breakdowns, are available to On Target AI customers.