Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Banana 2.4kg (16 Servings) vs Informed Mass, Strawberries and Cream, 3kg

Side-by-side comparison of scores, ingredients, prices and real customer feedback for Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Banana 2.4kg (16 Servings) and Informed Mass, Strawberries and Cream, 3kg.

Last verified: 07 Apr 2026 · Based on 18 reviews

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80.0

Quick Answer

Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Banana 2.4kg (16 Servings) scores 80.0/100 vs Informed Mass, Strawberries and Cream, 3kg at 77.0/100. Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Banana 2.4kg (16 Servings) wins on effectiveness, value for money, side effects. Informed Mass, Strawberries and Cream, 3kg is stronger on ingredient quality and certifications.

Which is better: Critical Mass Professional ... or Informed Mass, Strawberries...?

Applied Nutrition Critical Mass wins with an 80 vs 77 score and costs £5 less, making it the better pick for most hard gainers chasing rapid lean mass. Opt for Bulk Informed Mass if you're a drug-tested competitive athlete who needs Informed Sport certification and prefers complex carbs from oats over a more processed formula — just be sure you have a blender.

— AIScored Editorial Team

How Do the Scores Compare?

Critical Mass Professional ...

Informed Mass, Strawberries...

	Critical Mass Professional ... Applied Nutrition	Informed Mass, Strawberries... Bulk
Overall Score	80.0	77.0
Effectiveness	90.0/100 Best	72.0/100
Ingredient Quality	80.0/100	83.0/100 Best
Value for Money	80.0/100 Best	76.0/100
Side Effects	80.0/100 Best	78.0/100
Certifications	80.0/100	85.0/100 Best
Best Price	£40.00 Holland & Barrett → Cheapest	£45.00 Amazon UK →
Price per Serving	N/A	£2.25 20 servings
Form	None	Powder
Dose	None	45g protein, 550+ kcal per serving
Third-Party Tested	✗ No	✗ No
Reviews Analysed	4	14

Critical Mass Professional Lean ...

Pros

✓Rapid results: Users report visible muscle gain and strength increases within 2-4 weeks
✓Strong, enjoyable flavor that encourages consistent use
✓High caloric density (1,000+ calories) supports the caloric surplus needed for lean mass gain
✓Informed Sport registered and Halal certified—meets testing and dietary standards

Cons

✗Very high calorie content may lead to excess fat gain if training stimulus is insufficient
✗Strong flavor (per reviews) may be overwhelming for some users even at reduced portions
✗Not third-party tested beyond Informed Sport registration; lacks independent lab verification
✗High sugar content in standard formulation (though 'reduced sugar' variant exists); not suitable for strict carb-controlled diets

Best For

Hard gainers and ectomorphs seeking rapid lean mass and strength Athletes in high-volume training phases requiring caloric surplus Individuals prioritizing convenience and taste over minimal processing Users following halal dietary requirements

Holland & Barrett £40.00

View full review →

Informed Mass, Strawberries and ...

Pros

✓No maltodextrin — oat flour provides complex carbs with a lower glycaemic impact, widely praised by reviewers
✓Informed Sport certified, providing reliable banned-substance assurance for competitive athletes
✓Added creatine monohydrate (3g) and HMB (1.5g) add meaningful ergogenic value beyond a standard gainer
✓Generally well-tolerated, with DigeZyme enzyme blend supporting digestion of the large serving size

Cons

✗Mixes poorly in a shaker without a blender — clumping and undissolved particles reported by multiple reviewers
✗Thick, heavy texture is polarising; some users found it unpleasant to drink
✗Only 20 servings per 3kg bag — serving size (150g) is large and the bag depletes quickly
✗Taste described as average to decent across flavours; some find it overly saline or requiring large water volume

Best For

Drug-tested competitive athletes needing a certified mass gainer Hard gainers struggling to meet caloric surplus through food alone Experienced gym-goers who already own a blender and want a cleaner gainer Users specifically avoiding maltodextrin or high-sugar mass gainers

Amazon UK £45.00

View full review →

What does the data say about Critical Mass Professi... vs Informed Mass, Strawbe...?

Applied Nutrition's Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer scores 80/100 overall against Bulk's Informed Mass at 77/100, but the numbers tell different stories depending on what you care about. Critical Mass pulls ahead sharply on effectiveness at 90/100 versus 72/100, and reviewers back that up with reports of visible muscle gain within two to four weeks. Informed Mass counters with better ingredient quality at 83/100 versus 80/100 — its oat flour base instead of maltodextrin means slower-releasing carbs, and each 45g protein serving also includes 3g creatine monohydrate and 1.5g HMB, which add real value beyond the calories alone. At £40 for 2.4kg versus £45 for 3kg, Critical Mass works out slightly better on value too, scoring 80/100 against 76/100.

If you want results fast and don't want to overthink your stack, Critical Mass is the easier pick. The 1,000-plus calorie density does the heavy lifting, though that same density becomes a problem if your training volume is low — unused calories end up as fat. Informed Mass suits drug-tested competitive athletes specifically, since it carries Informed Sport certification, and its creatine and HMB inclusion means fewer separate supplements to buy. Hard gainers who want a cleaner carb source will prefer it too.

The practical gap is real, though. Critical Mass mixes in a shaker without issue but the banana flavour has been described as overwhelming — worth trying a smaller portion first. Informed Mass requires a blender; multiple reviewers flag clumping and undissolved particles when using a shaker, and the thick texture puts some people off entirely. Neither product is for anyone counting calories cautiously.

Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Banana 2.4kg (16 Servings) Winner 80.0/100

Applied Nutrition Critical Mass Professional is a high-calorie lean mass gainer (1,000+ calories per serving) designed for hard gainers and athletes seeking rapid weight gain.

Effectiveness

Critical Mass Pr..

90.0/100

Informed Mass, S..

72.0/100

Ingredient Quality

Critical Mass Pr..

80.0/100

Informed Mass, S..

83.0/100

Value for Money

Critical Mass Pr..

80.0/100

Informed Mass, S..

76.0/100

Side Effects

Critical Mass Pr..

80.0/100

Informed Mass, S..

78.0/100

Certifications

Critical Mass Pr..

80.0/100

Informed Mass, S..

85.0/100

What are the key differences?

Critical Mass Professio.. is best for: Hard gainers and ectomorphs seeking rapid lean mass and strength, Athletes in high-volume training phases requiring caloric surplus

Informed Mass, Strawber.. is best for: Drug-tested competitive athletes needing a certified mass gainer, Hard gainers struggling to meet caloric surplus through food alone

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Banana 2.4kg (16 Servings) or Informed Mass, Strawberries and Cream, 3kg? ▼

Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Banana 2.4kg (16 Servings) scores 80.0/100 overall while Informed Mass, Strawberries and Cream, 3kg scores 77.0/100. Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Banana 2.4kg (16 Servings) comes out ahead, scoring higher on effectiveness (90.0 vs 72.0). Critical Mass Professional Lea is best suited for Hard gainers and ectomorphs seeking rapid lean mass and strength and Athletes in high-volume training phases requiring caloric surplus. Informed Mass, Strawberries an is better for Drug-tested competitive athletes needing a certified mass gainer and Hard gainers struggling to meet caloric surplus through food alone.

Is Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Banana 2.4kg (16 Servings) worth the price compared to Informed Mass, Strawberries and Cream, 3kg? ▼

Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Banana 2.4kg (16 Servings) costs £40.00 while Informed Mass, Strawberries and Cream, 3kg is £45.00. For value, Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Banana 2.4kg (16 Servings) scores 80.0/100 vs Informed Mass, Strawberries and Cream, 3kg's 76.0/100. Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Banana 2.4kg (16 Servings) delivers better value relative to its quality.

Which has fewer side effects? ▼

Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Banana 2.4kg (16 Servings) scores 80.0/100 for side effects (higher means fewer reported issues) while Informed Mass, Strawberries and Cream, 3kg scores 78.0/100. Reviewers report fewer side effects with Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Banana 2.4kg (16 Servings). For certification and testing, Critical Mass Profes scores 80.0/100 vs Informed Mass, Straw's 85.0/100. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement.