Flavors Tried: Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry
Price: $4.50 per bottle
Nutrition Facts: 230 Calories, 4g Fat, 6g Carbs (2g Fiber, 2g Sugar), 45g Protein
For years, Fairlife Core Power has dominated the ultra-filtered protein shake game, and for good reason. They taste like actual milk with a protein boost, not like the chalky protein powder shakes most of us are used to.
But now Quest has entered the ultra-filtered milk space with their new Protein Milkshakes, and I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.
As someone who’s been looking for a Fairlife alternative, I was genuinely excited to see if Quest could match what Fairlife has been doing so well.
These new Quest shakes pack 230 calories and an insane 45 grams of protein with just 2 grams of sugar. Compare that to Fairlife’s 42 grams of protein and slightly higher sugar content, and Quest is winning the macro battle. They’re extremely similar, but Quest is definitely catering to the keto crowd a bit more.
The downside? Just like Fairlife, these come with a premium price tag at around $4.50 per bottle, sometimes more depending on where you shop.
So the big question is: can Quest actually compete with the king of ultra-filtered protein shakes? Let’s find out.
Quest Chocolate Protein Milkshake
The chocolate flavor delivers exactly what you’d expect from a chocolate milkshake, and it’s surprisingly close to Fairlife’s Core Power Elite version.
It tastes like a low-sugar chocolate milk, which is exactly what you want from an ultra-filtered shake. The protein and sweetener do come through a bit more than they do in Fairlife, but it’s not enough to ruin the experience.
While Fairlife tastes almost indistinguishable from regular chocolate milk, this one has just a hint of that artificial flavor creeping in. Still, when you consider you’re getting 45 grams of protein, I’m not complaining.
The texture is smooth, there’s no unpleasant aftertaste, and it works perfectly as a milk substitute for chocolate-based cereals. If you’re looking for a high-protein chocolate milk experience, this is as good as you can hope for.
Quest Vanilla Protein Milkshake
This might be my favorite take on vanilla from any protein shake I’ve tried.
Compared to Fairlife’s vanilla, which tastes like vanilla milk, Quest went in a slightly different direction. This one is sweeter and has more of a vanilla ice cream flavor profile, which actually makes it taste more like an actual milkshake.
The additional sweetness gives it that true milkshake flavor you’re expecting when you see the name on the bottle. It’s a subtle difference, but for somebody with a sweet tooth, this elevates it beyond what Fairlife offers.
You can taste the sugar substitute slightly, just like with the chocolate, but there’s no lingering aftertaste that makes you regret drinking it.
If you want something that drinks more like regular milk, Fairlife still gets the edge, but if you want more of a milkshake experience, Quest nailed it.
Quest Strawberry Protein Milkshake
I’ll be honest, I was nervous about this one. Strawberry flavors (or any fruit for that matter) in protein products can go artificial real quick, and it’s usually the flavor that companies mess up.
Quest absolutely nailed this one, and it ended up being my favorite of the three.
The strawberry flavor is smooth and tastes exactly like strawberry milk should. It reminds me of those bottled Hershey’s strawberry milkshakes I used to drink as a kid, which is exactly the nostalgic flavor profile you want.
Surprisingly, this is where I tasted the sweetener the least. The strawberry flavor seems to mask any artificial notes better than the other flavors, making it the most enjoyable to drink.
And if you blend this one with some frozen strawberries, you get an unreal protein shake. Thank me later.
Quest Protein Milkshakes: Final Verdict
If you’ve tried Quest’s protein shakes in the past, it doesn’t matter how you felt about them: these new protein milkshakes are completely different..
The ultra-filtered milk puts them in direct competition with Fairlife, and honestly, they’re not far behind. While I genuinely enjoyed all three flavors and will definitely be buying these going forward, I have to admit that Fairlife still has a slight edge in the flavor department.
Fairlife shakes are still the perfect option for anyone who wants zero “protein” taste and no sugar substitute flavor. They taste like milk because they basically are milk with some added flavor.
Quest’s version brings more protein to the table and keeps the sugar lower, but you do get a bit more of that artificial taste. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s noticeable if you’re doing a side-by-side comparison.
If you’ve been looking for a Fairlife alternative like I have, these Quest milkshakes are absolutely worth trying. They deliver on the promise of a legitimate milkshake experience with incredible macros, even if they’re not quite perfect.
For $4 or more per bottle, they’re expensive, but that’s the price you pay for ultra-filtered milk and 45 grams of protein. If you’re already spending that on Fairlife, these are definitely worth rotating into your routine.
