Fairlife Core Power Elite vs Muscle Milk: Protein Shake
When you want the most protein in a single grab-and-go bottle, Fairlife Core Power Elite (real ultra-filtered milk) and Muscle Milk (a classic protein shake) are two of the names people reach for. They differ a lot on protein source, sugar, and ingredient quality — here is the comparison.
The verdict
On the Labelgrade — our 6-dimension score weighing protein, ingredients, sugar, saturated fat, sodium, and fiber — Fairlife comes out ahead, 81 to 80. It also packs more protein (42 g vs 20 g per bottle).
Higher Labelgrade Fairlife Core Power Elite 42g Protein Shake (Chocolate) B+ 81/100 Check price →
Side by side
| Fairlife Core Power Elite 42g Protein Shake (Chocolate) | Muscle Milk, Non Dairy Protein Shake, Chocolate | |
|---|---|---|
| Labelgrade | B+ 81/100 | B+ 80/100 |
| Protein (per bottle) | 42 g | 20 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 10.1 g | 6.1 g |
| Calories (per bottle) | 232 | 158 |
| Sugar | 7 g | 10 g |
| Sodium | 261 mg | 129 mg |
| Fiber | 2 g | 0.99 g |
| Ingredient list length | 15 items | 14 items |
Bold/highlighted = the better figure on that row. Protein per 100 g normalizes for different serving sizes. All data from USDA FoodData Central.
Where to buy
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Where each one wins
- Fairlife leads on protein — 42 g vs 20 g per bottle.
- Fairlife is lower in sugar — 7 g vs 10 g.
- Muscle Milk is lower in sodium — 129 mg vs 261 mg.
- Muscle Milk has the shorter ingredient list — 14 vs 15 items.
How they're scored
Both products are graded on the identical v3 Labelgrade formula (see methodology): protein density 23% + ingredient quality 21% + saturated fat 18% + sodium 15% + sugar 15% + fiber 8%. Nothing here is hand-weighted to favor one product. Want to compare different items? Use the interactive Compare tool. Last refreshed 2026-06-03.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has more protein per bottle?
Fairlife Core Power Elite is one of the highest-protein RTD shakes on the market (around 42 g from ultra-filtered milk). Muscle Milk is lower per bottle — see the table. If maximum protein per bottle is the goal, Core Power Elite leads.
Which is cleaner?
Core Power Elite is built on real ultra-filtered milk; Muscle Milk is a formulated shake with a longer ingredient list. The Labelgrade in the table weighs protein, sugar, and ingredients together — Core Power generally grades higher on the dairy-protein-density angle.