How much do BCAA and EAA supplements cost in South Africa?

We priced nine products from brand shops and retailers in October 2026. Most listings do not state grams of amino acids per scoop in text, so the fair comparison is Rand per 10 g of powder. That includes flavouring and any added ingredients, so treat it as a ceiling on the cost of the aminos themselves.

Why do prices differ so much?

• Tub size. NPL's 600 g tub is R8.33 per 10 g against R11.83 for the 300 g.
• Retailer. USN Amino Energy ranges from R259 on the USN shop to R324.99 at Dis-Chem, a gap of more than 25%. Price gaps above 10% are common between a brand's shop, Takealot and Dis-Chem.
• Contents. BCAA-only powders are not interchangeable with EAA mixes, and Evox includes glutamine.

PriceCheck snapshots carry no date, so confirm the price at checkout.

Is it good value compared with whey?

Usually not. NPL Platinum Whey Plus 1 kg (R490, NPL shop) costs R23.52 per 30 g of protein, and it supplies all nine essential amino acids and protein. About 10–15 g of EAAs with 2–3 g of leucine matches roughly 20–25 g of whey, so a daily EAA dose costs roughly the same as a whey serving without the extra protein.

Do you need them at all?

If you eat 1.4–2.0 g of protein per kg a day, BCAAs add nothing meaningful, and the AIS classes them as Group C. See do BCAAs work if you eat enough protein and BCAA vs EAA in South Africa.

How can you spend less?

1. Buy the biggest tub you will finish.
2. Compare the brand shop, Takealot and Dis-Chem before checkout.
3. Check the serving size; a cheap tub with a 5 g scoop may cost more per dose.
4. Consider whey for your amino needs; see best whey protein.
5. Ask whether you need a product at all; best BCAA and best EAA rank the options.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, living with kidney or liver disease, or taking regular medication, speak to a doctor, pharmacist or registered dietitian before using supplements.

Products mentioned