Which supplements help you lose fat?
Fat loss is driven by a calorie deficit, and no supplement creates one. Hitting your protein target helps with fullness and muscle retention, and protein powder is the lowest-calorie way to do it. Fat burners haven’t been shown to have a meaningful effect.
What helps, what doesn’t?
Protein powder (if needed)
Target: 0.7–1 g protein per lb of body weightIn a calorie deficit, hitting your protein target helps limit muscle loss and keeps you full. If food falls short, powder is the lowest-calorie way to get there.
Caffeine
Can slightly reduce fatigue and appetite. The active ingredient in most fat burners is caffeine anyway; coffee does the same job.
Creatine
3–5 g a dayHelps you keep your strength while dieting. It doesn't block fat loss; the 2–4 lb it adds on the scale is water in muscle.
Fat burners (thermogenics)
Haven't been shown to cause meaningful fat loss without a calorie deficit.
L-carnitine and CLA
Their effect on fat loss in healthy people has been either very small or inconsistent.
Lowest price per pound
We divide the pack price by its weight, so a bigger tub often comes out cheaper. Only products in stock with a known pack weight are listed, one per brand. A green badge means the price really dropped against our own 30-day price history.
Protein powder
All protein powder prices- Nutricost Organic Rice Protein Powder - 5 LBSNutricost5 lbGo to store$11.00/lb$54.97 per pack
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Pea Protein Powder | Naked Pea - 5LBNaked Nutrition5 lbGo to store$11.60/lb$57.99 per pack
- Soy Protein Isolate Powder - Powder / 5 Kilograms (11 lbs)BulkSupplements5 kgGo to store$12.97/lb$142.97 per pack
- Mhp Probolic SR Protein - 5lbMHP5 lbSold by bodybuilding.comGo to store$13.50/lb$67.49 per pack
- Pro Supps Whey Concentrate Vanilla - 80.07 oz.Pro Supps80.07 ozSold by bodybuilding.comLowest in 30 daysGo to store$14.38/lb$71.99 per pack
- Animal 100% Whey Protein - 4 lbsAnimal4 lbGo to store$16.24/lb$64.95 per pack
From 283 eligible products, each brand’s lowest price per lb.
Frequently asked questions
Do fat burners work?
They haven't been shown to cause meaningful fat loss without a calorie deficit. In most of those with any effect, the active ingredient is caffeine.
Should I use protein powder on a diet?
If you can't hit your protein target from food, yes: it's a low-calorie protein source and helps with fullness. If you can, you don't need it.
Does L-carnitine burn fat?
In healthy people its effect on fat loss has been either very small or inconsistent.