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The best vegan protein powders come from brands such as Optimum Nutrition, Naked, and True Nutrition. Consuming protein powders is an easy way for someone to include extra protein in their diet or support muscle gain.
- Best protein powder with superfoods: Ora Organic So Lean & So Clean Plant-Based Superfood Protein | Skip to review
- Best for protein from a range of sources: Orgain Simple Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder | Skip to review
Medical News Today features vegan protein powders that meet the following criteria:
- Quality of ingredients: All of the protein powders in this article contain high quality proteins suitable for vegans. We also choose products that are free from artificial ingredients, such as flavoring, colors, or additives.
- Low fat and sugar content: Where possible, we suggest products that do not contain high amounts of added sugar or fat.
- Complete amino acid profile: We chose protein powders that provide people following a vegan diet with all of the essential amino acids they need in their diet.
- Testing and brand reputation: We aim to feature products that go through third-party testing for quality and safety. We also choose brands on their reputation among customers.
- Certifications: We aim to select products with certifications for non-GMO or organic ingredients, among others relating to quality.
- Price: We feature protein powders that suit a range of budgets.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
Medical News Today has tested some of the products below. Reviewers may have received some products from the manufacturers for free, which does not influence their review. All opinions are the reviewers’ own.
The following table compares the protein powders in this article on price, flavors, serving sizes, and more.
| List price | Flavors | Number of servings | Serving size | Protein content | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naked | around $20 | • unflavored • vanilla • chocolate • chocolate and peanut butter • double chocolate | 15 per container | 2 scoops (30 g) | 27 g per serving |
| Vega | around $43 | • chocolate • mocha • peanut butter • berry | 19 per 812 g container | 1 scoop (43 g) | 30 g per serving |
| True | $15 | 34 flavors | 14 per 454 g container | 1 scoop (34 g) | 30 g per serving |
| Garden | around $35 | • vanilla • chocolate | 20 per 660 g container | 1 scoop (33 g) | 22 g per serving |
| Anthony’s | around $23 | unflavored | 90 per 907 g container | 1 tablespoon (10 g) | 8 g per serving |
| Momentous | around $48 | • vanilla chai • chocolate | 20 per 754 g container | 1 scoop (37.7 g) | 20 g per serving |
| Ora | around $45 | • unsweetened • vanilla • chocolate • vanilla chai | 20 per 600 g container | 2 scoops (30 g) | 23 g per serving |
| Orgain | around $25 | • chocolate • vanilla | 15 per 567 g container | 2 scoops (38 g) | 20 g per serving |
| Gainful | from $45 | 8 flavors | 14 to 28 servings per 840 g container | 1 to 2 scoops | 19 to 26 g per serving |
| KOS | around $56 | 6 flavors | 28 servings per 1092 g container | 2 scoops (39 g) | 20 g per serving |
The vegan diet may provide
Protein is important for the function of almost every body part, including skin, bones, muscles, and organs. Protein helps the body repair and make new cells.
Amino acids are the
According to The European Food Information Council, a plant-based diet can provide all the protein necessary if people plan it carefully. It suggests people choose protein-rich plants and combine various protein sources throughout the day. Examples of protein-rich plants include
Vegans can also get protein from nuts, seeds, grains, and peanut butter. Non-animal products like
Other ways to get more protein on a vegan diet
In addition to eating different proteins daily, vegans can supplement their protein intake with powders and other high-protein supplements.
Vegan protein powders can be a quick and easy way to meet daily protein needs. This is especially important if a person exercises regularly. Powders can also help supply the body with the essential amino acids it needs to support protein synthesis, which is the creation of proteins by cells.
The recommended daily protein intake depends on age, sex, health status, and activity levels. However, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests that most United States adults require around
Vegan protein powders provide an average of 20 to 30 g per serving. People should not rely on protein powders as their main source of protein.
People can also get more protein by consuming foods that have unexpectedly high protein content. These include:
tempeh , which contains 23.5 g of protein per 100 g servingseitan , which contains 17.9 g of protein per 100 g servingedamame , which contains 10.6 g of protein per 120 g servingkidney beans , which contain 23.6 g of protein per 100 g servingnutritional yeast , which contains 50 g of protein per 2-tablespoon serving
Many protein powders include whey or animal proteins. However, people on a vegan diet and other people who do not or cannot eat whey can use products that contain soy or other plant protein sources.
A
According to the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, adults require
For more science-backed resources on nutrition, visit our dedicated hub.
People may wish to consider the following when purchasing protein powder.
Protein content
People who build muscle may prefer a powder with a higher protein content. Some companies offer products with a small amount of protein. These may be a good option for people who require less protein supplementation.
Ingredients
People can consider the ingredients in the powder. Some companies offer organic powders, and others may also be suitable for people who require a gluten- or soy-free product. People can pay attention to the fat content and any added sugars in their chosen protein powder to ensure it is a balanced powder to try.
Allergens
It is important to read the ingredient label before purchasing to ensure a person does not consume powder that contains allergens. However, it is worth noting that many companies cannot guarantee there has not been cross-contamination in the facilities they use to make products.
Taste
Many vegan protein powders contain pea protein or a protein blend of different plants. Some people may prefer to use a powder that masks the taste of these ingredients.
Blending
People may wish to read customer reviews to ensure that the powder they purchase blends in water, smoothies, or juices without leaving a gritty texture.
Price
Instead of looking at the overall price of a protein powder, some people may prefer to look at the price per serving. More expensive options may be more cost-effective due to needing less powder per serving.
Third-party testing
When choosing a vegan protein powder, people may look for brands that send their products to third-party labs to test for quality and purity. This means they can ensure they are getting a good quality product.
Health goals
People will have different goals they hope to achieve by using protein powder, such as gaining muscle. People may wish to consider the ingredients, amount of protein per serving, and calories per serving when choosing a vegan protein powder. These elements may have different effects on a person’s health goals.
Anyone who experiences adverse side effects, such as a stomachache, after using protein supplements can stop taking them immediately. Pregnant or breastfeeding people may wish to speak with a doctor before trying protein powders.
A 2019 study suggests that a higher protein diet can lead to benefits for muscle mass. However, according to a 2023 study, vegan diets may not include sufficient protein. Different vegan protein powders contain different amounts of protein per serving. However, supplementing a balanced vegan diet with vegan protein powder may help people consume more protein, leading to muscle gain.
The best vegan protein powder may vary between people, and individuals may consider different factors when choosing products. Protein and calorie content can vary widely between companies and even between flavors from the same company. Price may also be a factor, with some people preferring to spend more on personalized products. Carefully studying a product’s ingredients, available nutritional information, and pricing can help a person make an informed choice.
A complete protein contains all nine essential amino acids, which are specific amino acids required for growth or nitrogen balance in humans. Most animal-based protein sources, such as milk and eggs, are complete protein sources. However, plant proteins may have insufficient levels of essential amino acids.
A 2020 study shows that soy, canola, potato, pea, and quinoa proteins have comparable levels of essential amino acids to milk. Vegan protein powders containing these sources of protein may be suitable options for people aiming to increase the amount of complete vegan proteins in their diets.
Different vegan protein powders come from different plants. Some vegan protein powders contain very few ingredients, so they may suit people with allergies or sensitivities. Other vegan protein powders use many different plant-based ingredients and may suit people looking to supplement their diet with other vitamins and nutrients in addition to protein.
The best vegan protein powders offer the full range of amino acids a person needs. They will also be free of allergens and artificial flavors and colors. Some vegan protein powders contain protein from various sources, such as rice and soy, whereas others contain protein from one ingredient, such as peas.
Although these protein powders can supplement a person’s daily protein intake, they are not a substitute for a nutritious, balanced diet.