Protein Pop Plus Review: The Biggest Number on the Shelf, Read the Blend
Protein: 30g per 12 oz can (whey protein isolate + bovine collagen blend)
Sugar: 0g
Where: All 600+ US Costco locations as of February 2026
Price: Warehouse pricing, varies by region; check your club
The Costco Protein Arms Race
Rise Wellness launched Protein Pop Plus at Costco nationwide in early 2026, planting the biggest protein flag in the category: 30 grams in 12 ounces, lightly carbonated, built to drink like soda rather than shake. It shares the warehouse lane with Genius Gourmet's Blue Raspberry Lemonade sparkling protein, also 30 grams and also Costco-exclusive, which Tasting Table described as candy-like and closer to an energy drink than a true soda (it ranked seventh of eleven there).
The Collagen Asterisk
Here is the part worth slowing down for. Protein Pop Plus hits 30 grams with a blend of whey isolate and bovine collagen. Collagen is protein, so the label is legal and accurate. But collagen is an incomplete protein: it lacks tryptophan and is low in leucine, the amino acid that primarily triggers muscle protein synthesis. Gram for gram, collagen contributes much less to muscle building than whey isolate does.
What we could not verify from public materials is the exact whey-to-collagen ratio, so we cannot tell you how many of the 30 grams are "whey-equivalent." If your goal is joints, skin, and general protein intake, the blend is fine. If you are counting grams toward muscle, treat 30 blended grams as worth somewhat less than 25 pure-whey grams from a Bucked Up can. That comparison is closer than the front labels suggest.
Who Should Buy It
Pros
- Highest protein number in the category
- Costco warehouse pricing usually beats per-can online prices
- Zero sugar, soda-style drinking experience
Cons
- Collagen padding makes the 30g less than it appears for muscle goals
- Costco membership required, no reliable online channel at publication
- Whey-to-collagen ratio not published where we could verify it
Verdict: Worth throwing in the cart on a Costco run if the per-can price beats Bucked Up, especially if you value collagen anyway. If every gram needs to count for muscle, pure whey isolate cans still win. See protein soda vs protein shake for where all of these fit in a real protein plan.