Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Strawberry 6kg (40 Servings) vs Serious Mass Cookies & Cream 2.73kg
Side-by-side comparison of scores, ingredients, prices and real customer feedback for Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Strawberry 6kg (40 Servings) and Serious Mass Cookies & Cream 2.73kg.
Last verified: 07 Apr 2026 · Based on 13 reviews
Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Strawberry 6kg (40 Servings) scores 74.0/100 vs Serious Mass Cookies & Cream 2.73kg at 70.0/100. Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Strawberry 6kg (40 Servings) wins on ingredient quality, side effects, certifications. Serious Mass Cookies & Cream 2.73kg is stronger on effectiveness and value for money.
Which is better: Critical Mass Professional ... or Serious Mass Cookies & Cream 2.73kg?
Applied Nutrition Critical Mass edges ahead with a 74/100 score and Informed Sport certification, making it the safer choice for tested athletes despite costing £12.95 more. Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass suits budget-conscious hardgainers who prioritise taste and sheer calorie density over quality assurance.
— AIScored Editorial Team
How Do the Scores Compare?
Critical Mass Professional ...
Applied Nutrition
|
Serious Mass Cookies & Cream 2.73kg
Optimum Nutrition
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 74.0 | 70.0 |
| Effectiveness | 73.0/100 |
80.0/100
Best
|
| Ingredient Quality |
76.0/100
Best
|
70.0/100 |
| Value for Money | 71.0/100 |
80.0/100
Best
|
| Side Effects |
77.0/100
Best
|
70.0/100 |
| Certifications |
83.0/100
Best
|
30.0/100 |
| Best Price | £52.95 Amazon UK → |
£40.00
Holland & Barrett →
Cheapest
|
| Form | Powder | powder |
| Dose | None | None |
| Third-Party Tested | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Reviews Analysed | 9 | 4 |
Critical Mass Professional Lean ...
Pros
- ✓1,000+ calories per serving well-suited to hard gainers who struggle to hit caloric surplus
- ✓Informed Sport registered — meaningful third-party quality and contamination testing
- ✓Comprehensive formula beyond just protein: creatine monohydrate, HMB, glutamine, CLA, and MCT
- ✓Reduced-sugar formulation compared to older mass gainers — favourable for lean bulk
Cons
- ✗Taste inconsistency across batches — some report a chemical or medicinal aftertaste in the strawberry flavour
- ✗150g per serving is a very high volume, potentially difficult for smaller individuals or those with lower appetite
- ✗Not vegan — whey-based formula unsuitable for plant-based users
- ✗1,000+ kcal per serving requires careful use; excess can lead to unwanted fat gain if training volume is not sufficient
Best For
Serious Mass Cookies & Cream 2.73kg
Pros
- ✓Excellent taste and mixability (mentioned in 3 of 4 reviews)
- ✓High calorie density (1,250 kcal per serving) supports rapid weight gain for hardgainers
- ✓50g protein per serving aids muscle protein synthesis and recovery
- ✓Added 3g creatine monohydrate per serving (evidence-based for strength and muscle gains)
Cons
- ✗Extremely high sugar content (12g per serving) and 250g carbs may cause energy crashes or GI distress in sensitive individuals
- ✗Not third-party tested or certified (no NSF, Informed-Sport, or banned substance screening listed)
- ✗Contains common allergens (milk, soy, wheat, gluten) limiting accessibility
- ✗Very high serving size (336g per scoop) makes convenient dosing impractical; typically mixed with large volumes of liquid
Best For
What does the data say about Critical Mass Professi... vs Serious Mass Cookies &...?
Critical Mass Professional scores 74/100 overall against Serious Mass Cookies & Cream's 70/100, but the gap between them depends heavily on what you're actually after. Critical Mass packs creatine monohydrate, HMB, glutamine, CLA, and MCT into its formula alongside protein, whereas Serious Mass keeps things simpler — 50g protein and a very high carbohydrate load at 250g per serving, delivering 1,250 kcal. Critical Mass scores higher on ingredient quality (76/100 vs 70/100), which reflects that broader formula. Serious Mass scores higher on both effectiveness (80/100 vs 73/100) and value for money (80/100 vs 71/100), and at £40.00 versus £52.95 for 6kg of Critical Mass, the per-serving cost difference matters if you're buying month after month.
For hard gainers in post-surgery or illness recovery, or anyone wanting extras like creatine and HMB bundled in, Critical Mass Professional makes more sense. The 6kg bag gives you 40 servings, which is good longevity. Serious Mass suits someone who just wants straightforward calories and protein at a lower outlay — the 2.73kg tub at £40.00 is a reasonable entry point, and its effectiveness score suggests it delivers on the basic job of weight gain.
Practically, both are powders you'll be scooping into a shaker. The 150g per serving of Critical Mass is a lot of powder — anyone with a smaller appetite may struggle to finish a shake. Serious Mass users flag excellent taste and mixability in reviews, while Critical Mass's strawberry flavour has reported batch inconsistency, with some servings carrying a chemical or medicinal aftertaste. The 250g carbs in Serious Mass may cause GI distress in sensitive individuals.
Applied Nutrition Critical Mass Professional is a high-calorie lean mass gainer delivering 1,000+ calories and 42g of protein per 150g serving, built around ISO-XP 95% Whey Protein Isolate with added creatine monohydrate, HMB, glutamine, leucine, CLA, and MCT powder.
What are the key differences?
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Strawberry 6kg (40 Servings) or Serious Mass Cookies & Cream 2.73kg? ▼
Is Critical Mass Professional Lean Mass Gainer Strawberry 6kg (40 Servings) worth the price compared to Serious Mass Cookies & Cream 2.73kg? ▼
Which has fewer side effects? ▼
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Disclaimer: AIScored provides data-driven comparisons based on publicly available reviews. This is not medical advice. Affiliate links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
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