The best vegan protein powders don’t just help you meet your protein needs — they also taste great. Here are seven options to choose from.
Best overall: Naked Pea Premium Pea Protein Powder|Skip to review
Best for weight gain: Naked Mass Vegan Protein Powder|Skip to review
Best post-workout: Vega Sport Premium Protein Powder|Skip to review
For athletes and active adults who don’t eat animal products, getting adequate protein from diet alone can be challenging. A vegan protein powder may help.
Our dietitians vetted more than a dozen plant-based protein powders, while our tester weighed in on flavor. Here are the ones they recommend.
A note on price
Prices for vegan protein powder can range from $1.33 to $5.91 per serving, or $19.99 to $64.99 per container, though this may vary depending on where you shop and the container size.
For this article, these price ranges are represented as follows:
Pricing guide
- $ = under $2 per serving
- $$ = $2 to $3 per serving
- $$$ = over $3 per serving
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Price range
Highlight
Protein type
Third-party tested
$
unflavored, more natural product
pea
yes
$$
well-rounded powder
pea, navy bean, lentil, garbanzo bean, cranberry
yes
$$
well-rounded organic powder
pea, rice, cranberry, sacha inchi, amaranth, quinoa
yes
$$$
good for weight gain
pea, brown rice
yes
$$
good for exercise recovery
pea, pumpkin seed, sunflower seed, alfalfa
yes
- Ritual Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+: This powder is third-party tested, Informed Sport certified, and made from traceable ingredients, including organic pea protein sourced from U.S.-grown peas. Plus, at just 115 calories, 0 g of sugar, and 3 g of fiber per serving, it may be a good choice for those looking to lose weight. However, our tester wasn’t impressed with the flavor, which she felt tasted artificial, or the thick texture.
- Gainful Personalized Protein Powder: We were intrigued by Gainful’s customization options (you can add flavor boosts to create your own mix), but the texture fell short for our tester. It remained somewhat grainy mixed with almond milk and in a smoothie. With only 10 servings in a container, it has a high price per serving compared with other options on our list.
- Orgain Simple Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder: This protein powder contains 35% of the daily value (DV) for iron, making it a good choice for people who menstruate. It’s also organic and free of sugar substitutes. However, our tester found it to be a little too sweet, and with 5 g of added sugar (from coconut sugar) per serving, it didn’t quite meet our requirements. Additionally, while Orgain says on its website that all its products have been third-party tested, it doesn’t disclose any information about the testing organization.
- KOS Organic Superfood Protein: This protein powder offers 20 g of protein per serving and contains all nine essential amino acids, which are sourced from a blend of pea protein, flaxseed, quinoa, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds. However, the brand doesn’t include any third-party testing information on its website. In testing, it remained fairly clumpy when mixed without a blender. Testers had mixed opinions on the flavors and sweetness level.
To create this list, we first had registered dietitians weigh in on the best vegan options out there. Here’s what they considered:
- Ingredient quality: The powders on our list contain high quality sources of plant-based protein. We also prioritized products that contain few or no artificial flavors, colors, and other additives.
- Low in added sugar: We included protein powders that contain 3 g or less of added sugar per serving.
- Amino acid profile: We prioritized plant-based protein powders that contain all nine of the essential amino acids your body needs.
- Brand quality: The products we chose are produced by medically credible companies that follow ethical, legal, and industry best standards. They’re also manufactured in facilities that adhere to the current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs) established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Testing: Many of the protein powders we selected have been tested by third-party labs to ensure quality, purity, and potency.
We also took price and online customer reviews into consideration.
Then, we put the protein powders to the test. One of our editors, who has been vegetarian for more than 20 years and vegan for 3 years tried all but one of the protein powders to give real-life feedback on the taste and texture.
- Name: Chelsea Logan
- Role: Healthline senior editor
My experience with protein powders: I eat a pretty balanced diet, but I like to supplement with protein powders from time to time to ensure I’m getting enough protein. I was vegetarian for over 20 years before transitioning to fully vegan 3 years ago.
I’ve probably tried around a dozen protein powders over the years. I like to have both flavored and unflavored varieties in my kitchen. With flavored protein powders, I prefer something that’s not too sweet, and I’m more likely to choose something with sugar than a sugar substitute.
I usually consume protein powder mixed into a smoothie with almond milk, frozen fruit, and sometimes other ingredients like ground flaxseed.
Why Trust Healthline
75
protein powders evaluated by our medical standards team
58
protein powders met our criteria
19
protein powders personally tested by our team
How we evaluate protein powders
Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We fact-check health claims, evaluate ingredients, and look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline.
To choose the products on this page, we considered all the protein powders that passed our vetting process. Then, we personally tested some of them to narrow down our list even further.
Below are several factors to consider when shopping for a vegan protein powder.
Dietary restrictions and preferences
If you have any food allergies, restrictions, or intolerances, be sure to carefully read ingredient labels and consider opting for products that are certified vegan or allergen-free.
You may want to avoid products that contain high amounts of added sugars or artificial sweeteners, flavors, fillers, and preservatives. If you prefer to eat organic, look for products that are certified organic by the USDA.
Quality and safety
Ideally, look for products that have undergone third-party testing by an organization, like NSF International or Informed Choice, to ensure that the contents of the powder match the label. These organizations also test for heavy metals and contaminants.
If you’re a competitive athlete, you’ll want to choose a product that’s NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport certified to avoid consuming substances that are banned by most competitive sports organizations.
Budget
With so many protein powders available, you’re sure to find one that fits your budget. Remember to consider the number of servings per container when deciding what price you’re comfortable with.
Taste and flavor preferences
Some vegan protein powders are available in a variety of flavors, while others are unflavored. Consider your preferences and how you plan to use your protein powder.
For example, if you prefer to combine your powder with milk or water, you may want to choose a flavored product. But if you plan on mixing the powder into smoothies or food items, an unflavored powder might be best.
It’s also worth reading customer reviews to see what people have to say about the powder’s texture. For example, is it easy to blend in a shaker bottle, or do you need an electric blender to avoid clumps?
Goals
Depending on your goals, some vegan protein powders may be better than others. For example, if you’re looking to lose weight, a low calorie powder may be suitable.
Alternatively, if you’re working to build muscle, a vegan protein powder that contains a blend of plant-based sources
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Vegan protein powders are generally well tolerated and aren’t known to have serious negative side effects.
It’s worth noting, however, that plant-based protein powders may contain more heavy metals than other protein powders because plants take in heavy metals from the soil, air, and water.
Generally, it’s a good idea to opt for products that have been third-party tested for the presence of heavy metals and other contaminants.
While more research is needed, some studies suggest that products containing a blend of plant-based proteins may have higher amounts of leucine and may be more effective for muscle building than single-source vegan protein powders.
You can mix any vegan protein powder into liquid to form an easily drinkable shake. We recommend adding it to a blender or shaker cup with your desired liquid, like water or oat milk, to get a smooth consistency.
Complete protein sources include all nine essential amino acids. However, most plant-based protein sources are low in one or more amino acids. If you eat a plant-based diet, it’s important to combine plant protein sources to get all nine amino acids.
For example, Garden of Life Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein Power blends peas, navy beans, lentils, garbanzo beans, and cranberry to contain all essential amino acids.
Whether you follow a vegan lifestyle or simply prefer plant-based products, there are several vegan-friendly protein powders to choose from.
To narrow down your options, be sure to consider factors, such as the type of protein used, available flavors, nutritional profile, and cost.
You may also want to choose a product that’s free of fillers, preservatives, and artificial flavors or sweeteners.
Look for products that have undergone third-party testing. If you’re a competitive athlete, be sure to select protein powders that are certified safe for sport.
Regardless of which product you choose, be sure to talk with a healthcare professional before adding any new supplements to your wellness routine.
