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Plant-based protein powders vary in quality, price, and ingredients. We picked a few of the best vegan protein powders on the market — including Garden of Life, Gainful, and KOS — to review below.
Protein powders offer an easy way to increase your protein intake.
They can be especially useful for athletes and those who have difficulty meeting their protein needs through food sources alone.
However, many protein powders on the market contain animal products, such as whey, which can make it challenging for people following a vegan diet to find suitable plant-based protein supplements.
To help you decide which powder is worth your money, we rounded up the best plant-based protein powders for every use.
The products featured in this article were selected based on the following criteria:
Ingredient quality: The powders below 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: With the exception of one product, we included protein powders that contain 6 grams (g) or less of added sugar per serving.
Expert-recommended: Every powder on our list was recommended and reviewed by registered dietitians.
Price: We included options to suit a variety of budgets.
Customer reviews: The products below have mostly positive online reviews.
Brand quality: The powders below 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 FDA.
Testing: Many of the protein powders we selected have been tested by third-party labs to ensure quality, purity, and potency.
Personal experience: We included several products that have been tested firsthand by our editors.
General price ranges with dollar signs ($–$$$) are indicated below. One dollar sign means the product is rather affordable, whereas three dollar signs indicate a higher price range.
Generally, prices range from $0.21 to $5.91 per serving, or $19.49 to $111.49 per container, though this may vary depending on where you shop and the container size.
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, you should look for products that have undergone third-party testing by an organization, such as 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 is 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. However, if you plan on mixing the powder into smoothies or food items, an unflavored powder might be best.
It’s also worth reading through customer reviews to see what people have to say about the texture of the powder. 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 ideal.
Alternatively, if you’re working to build muscle, a vegan protein powder that contains a blend of plant-based sources may be more effective than a single-source product (10, 11).
Useful supplement shopping guides
Check out these two articles to help make supplement shopping a breeze:
Vegan protein powders are generally well tolerated and aren’t known to have serious negative side effects.
However, there’s an increasing concern that heavy metals found in protein powders, especially plant-based powders, may pose health risks.
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 (12).
However, recent research has found that the amounts of heavy metals found in protein powders aren’t large enough to cause any adverse effects at typical intakes of 1–3 servings per day (12).
As a general rule, it’s a good idea to opt for products that have been third-party tested for the presence of heavy metals and other contaminants.
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about vegan protein powders.
Is vegan protein powder good for muscle gain?
Increasing overall protein intake has been shown to help improve muscle gain, regardless of whether the protein is plant- or animal-based (9).
While more research is needed, some studies suggest that products containing a blend of plant-based proteins, such as pea and brown rice, may have higher amounts of leucine and be more effective for muscle building than single-source vegan protein powders (10, 11).
How should you prepare your vegan protein powder?
You can mix vegan protein powders into foods or liquids. If you’re going to drink the protein powder, we recommend adding it to a blender or shaker cup with your desired liquid, such as water or oat milk, to ensure that you get a smooth consistency.
Be sure to follow the instructions specific to the product you decide to try.
Do vegan protein powders expire?
Like other protein powders, vegan protein powders do eventually expire, with a typical shelf life of around 2 years. After the expiration date, you can expect the quality to decrease, and the product may spoil.
Be sure to store your protein powder according to the instructions on the label, likely in a cool, dry environment.
What is the best vegan protein powder with collagen?
Because collagen is sourced from animal products, protein powders that contain collagen are not vegan-friendly. However, some vegan protein powders — including Garden of Life’s Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder — contain turmeric and zinc, both of which may promote collagen production (13).
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.
Ideally, you should look for products that have undergone third-party testing, and competitive athletes should 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.
