The 9 Best Vegan Protein Powders for Plant-Based Fuel

Consuming enough protein each day isn’t an issue for many adults, but for some groups it can be harder than for others. Many of the best protein sources come from dairy and animal products, which can make it difficult for vegans and vegetarians to get enough protein in their diet. While legumes, nuts/seeds, and soy products (such as tofu and tempeh) are all great options, sometimes it can be useful to add an additional protein supplement to help maintain or build muscle. We’ve rounded up the best vegan protein powders available, with organic plant protein choices to allergy-friendly options, and even powders with greens in them for a boost of added wellness. 

The products featured in this article have been independently reviewed by the team. When you buy something through the retail links on this page, we may earn commission at no cost to you, the reader.

• Best Overall Vegan Protein Powder – Kos Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder
• Best Pea Protein Powder – Vega Protein Made Simple
• Best Brown Rice Protein Powder – SunWarrior Classic Protein
• Best Soy-Free Vegan Protein Powder – Aloha Organic Plant-Based Protein
• Best Keto Vegan Protein Powder – Now Sports Pea Protein Powder
• Best Organic Vegan Protein Powder – Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein Powder
• Best Vegan Protein Powder for Weight Loss – Anthony’s Premium Pea Protein Powder 
• Best Budget Vegan Protein Powder – Orgain Plant-Based Protein Powder
• Best Vegan Protein Powder with Greens – Amazing Grass Plant Protein Superfood Powder 

Available Flavors: 

Chocolate, Vanilla, Chocolate Chip Mint, Blueberry Muffin, Chocolate Peanut Butter,  Salted Caramel Coffee, Unflavored 

When looking into what makes a vegan protein powder a good one, there were several factors that we took into consideration: Taste, amount of protein and ingredients (and whether they’re organic or not), to name a few. KOS Plant Protein Powder checks all of the boxes, and even offers a solid variety of flavors to boot. Users rave about the taste of the powder, claiming it’s one of the best-tasting vegan protein powders (a review that we agree with). The fact that this powder uses multiple protein sources (with organic pea protein being the most predominant) and 100% organic ingredients makes us love it even more. 

Available Flavors: 

Caramel Toffee, Strawberry Banana, Dark Chocolate, Vanilla 

Pea protein powders can often come with a bland, distinctly plant-like flavor that most of us aren’t overly keen on. And if they do taste good, odds are there are a ton of ingredients in the powder that serve to cover up the unmistakable taste. However, Vega’s Protein Made Simple sits firmly on the corner of “tastes great” and “no unnecessary ingredients,” which is why we awarded it the title of Best Pea Protein Powder. Each of the four flavors has a super short ingredient list (chocolate and vanilla each have only four ingredients), and none of them use artificial sweeteners, opting for natural cane sugar and coconut cream powder to give the powder a sweet and creamy flavor that helps mitigate pea protein’s distinct earthiness. Users get a solid amount of protein for a fairly low calorie count, which makes it great for those looking to keep their calorie intake lower while meeting their protein goals. 

Available Flavors: 

Chocolate, Vanilla, Natural

If you deal with an allergy to peas or soy, your options for good vegan protein powders can be quite limited. Brown rice protein is a great option for vegans looking to boost their protein intake, and SunWarrior Classic Protein is the best brand out there. SunWarrior uses raw, whole-grain brown rice and uses the entire grain, from the endosperm to the bran, to provide users with optimal nutritional benefits such as high fiber content, good bio-availability, easy digestibility and essential amino acids. The Classic Protein is also a low glycemic index food (the vanilla and natural flavors contain fewer than two grams of carbohydrates, the chocolate has four), which is suitable for those following a low-carb diet such as keto, or people looking to keep their carb intake down. 

Available Flavors: 

Vanilla, Chocolate 

While soy can be a great source of protein for vegans, not everyone can consume it. For those seeking a soy-free protein powder, we recommend Aloha Plant-Based Protein, which uses organic ingredients and offers protein from a blend of pea, brown rice, hemp seeds and pumpkin seeds. MCT oil (from coconut oil) lends the powder a richness, while also giving users the added benefit of healthy fats in their protein powder. The use of natural sweeteners (agave and coconut sugar) makes Aloha protein a great choice for those who are sensitive to sugar alcohols, which are often present in protein powders in order to keep the carbohydrate content down. While Aloha does have a higher carbohydrate content than other powders, it comes from the use of these natural ingredients. 

Available Flavors:  

Natural/Unflavored, Vanilla Toffee, Vanilla, Chocolate, 

Pea is a great source of protein for vegans and non-vegans alike, containing a huge amount of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) and high bioavailability that makes digesting the powder easier on the stomach. NOW Sports Pea Protein contains the full amino acid profile and their unflavored option uses only one ingredient: Pea protein isolate. Where many vegan protein options have at least a few grams of carbs, there is only one gram of carbohydrates in the unflavored protein, making it an excellent option for vegans who follow a ketogenic diet and are limiting their carb intake. The protein is certified organic, contains no major allergens, and is Informed Sport and ConsumerLab.com verified, ensuring it contains no contaminants. The flavored options use erythritol, a sugar alcohol, which some users may have difficulty digesting, in which case we suggest opting for the unflavored variety. 

Available Flavors: 

Unflavored, Vanilla, Vanilla Spiced Chai, Chocolate Cacao

If choosing organic foods and supplements is important to you, Garden of Life Organic Protein Powder is right up your alley. Made from organic and whole foods, this protein powder offers plenty of fiber, amino acids, fat-soluble vitamins and minerals for users, plus packs an extra health punch by including live probiotics and enzymes into the mix. Rather than use a single type of protein source, Garden of Life uses 13 organic foods: Pea, sprouted brown rice, amaranth sprout, buckwheat sprout, millet sprout, cracked wall chlorella, quinoa sprout, chia seed sprout, garbanzo bean sprout, lentil sprout, adzuki bean sprout, flax seed sprout, sunflower seed sprout, pumpkin seed sprout and sesame seed sprout. Vegans looking to ensure they’re receiving the necessary nutrients from their diet will love the sheer variety and amount of beneficial ingredients found in this protein powder. Due to the fact that it uses multiple protein sources that are organic and low-temperature processed, this powder tends to be a bit pricier than other options. 

Available Flavors: 

Unflavored

If you don’t care for added sweeteners or ingredients in your protein and are looking for a powder that’s super clean, packs a ton of protein without a ton of calories, and has almost no grams of carbohydrates and fats per serving, Anthony’s Pea Protein is your best bet. Not only does this vegan protein powder contain no artificial flavors and use only one ingredient – pea protein isolate – but it’s also one of the more affordable options on this list: Less than $20 for a two-pound bag. For those looking to lose a little weight, this powder has only 35 calories and eight grams of protein per tablespoon, so users can easily up their protein intake without adding a ton of calories (or sugar) to their diet. 

Available Flavors: 

Creamy Chocolate Fudge, Strawberries and Cream, Vanilla Bean, Cookies & Cream, Iced Coffee, Pumpkin Spice, Natural/Unsweetened 

Some vegan protein powders can be quite pricey, especially compared to other types of protein powders, such as whey protein. Orgain Plant-Based Protein is an affordable vegan protein powder that uses a blend of brown rice, pea, and chia seeds in its protein blend, and has a trademarked creamer base that gives the powder a better texture and taste compared to other vegan protein powders. Most people struggle with vegan protein powders because they have a distinct chalky taste or texture (especially if the user has tried whey protein powder before, which doesn’t have those issues). Orgain offers a lot of awesome flavors and boasts a super blendable texture, plus it’s affordable: Customers can buy a two-pound canister on Amazon for less than $30. 

Available Flavors: 

Vanilla, Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Original/Unflavored

Looking to add a little more green into your daily diet? Amazing Grass Plant Protein Blend packs a serious nutritional punch, with each serving containing 20 grams of protein, seven different greens, and the equivalent of two cups of fruits and vegetables. With ingredients such as barley grass, spirulina, alfalfa grass, chlorella, spinach, broccoli, carrot, beet root (and quite a few more), this superfood powder is a great way to get a lot of nutrients without changing up your diet too much, plus the protein keeps you fuller longer. Even better, it comes in a variety of tasty flavors if you don’t want to drink something that tastes super “green,” though if you don’t like sweet things, we suggest the Original/Unflavored option, as the vanilla, chocolate, and chocolate peanut butter are a bit on the sweeter side, thanks to the use of Stevia as a sweetener. 

How Do I Pick The Best Vegan Protein Powder for Me?

The most important thing to consider when looking for a new protein powder is ensuring you get one that you’ll use. If you know you dislike the distinct taste of pea protein, we suggest opting for one that doesn’t use pea, or is flavored for easier palatability. If you want something without any added ingredients, finding a powder that has only protein isolate is a good way to ensure you don’t get anything that might upset your stomach. The most important thing is that you like the protein powder you choose, and that you’ll use it! 

Before starting a new supplement, we suggest speaking with a registered dietitian or nutritionist to make sure it’s the right option for you. While consuming vegan protein powder can be a good way to maintain and build muscle, it might not be right for everyone.

Who Is Vegan Protein Powder Good For? 

Vegan protein powder is a good supplement option for a variety of different individuals. Vegan protein powders contain no animal products, meaning they don’t have lactose, whey, animal collagen or other animal-based ingredients. This makes them good for people following a vegan or vegetarian diet, individuals looking to decrease their consumption of animal products, or those who need to be dairy-free due to lactose intolerance. 

Vegans/Vegetarians: Vegans and vegetarians who aren’t receiving enough protein from other sources can greatly benefit from using a vegan protein powder. Some of the powders are a complete source of protein, meaning it contains the nine amino acids that are essential for our bodies that we can’t produce on our own. 

Athletes/Active Individuals: People who lead active lifestyles or are athletes are recommended to consume 1.2-2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. Those with dairy allergies or who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet might have a difficult time consuming the recommended amount of protein through natural sources alone, and thus should consider taking a vegan protein supplement to ensure they’re meeting their protein needs every day. 

Older Adults: Older adults can benefit from taking additional protein supplements to help prevent muscle loss and to maintain proper nutrition. The daily protein requirement is around 1.2 grams per kilogram of weight, and many older adults do not consume enough protein to maintain proper muscular maintenance. 

Types of Protein Sources

There are different types of protein sources found in vegan protein powders, giving customers some choices if they have an allergy or dietary restriction. Many of the vegan protein powders are gluten-free, also. 

Pea: This is one of the more common protein sources for vegan protein powders. Pea protein comes from yellow split peas, and offers a high protein content without too many calories (a quarter cup contains 100 calories and 21 grams of protein). It’s rich in BCAAs, and not expensive. 

Hemp: Hemp protein comes from hemp seeds and offers good amounts of fiber, zinc, magnesium, omega-3 fats and iron. It’s not a complete protein, meaning it doesn’t contain all of the essential amino acids. One quarter-cup serving provides 108 calories and about 12 grams of protein. 

Brown rice: Another high-quality vegan protein source, brown rice is inexpensive and packs a lot of protein without too many calories: One quarter-cup serving has 22 grams of protein and around 107 calories. It provides a decent amount of BCAAs, too. 

Pumpkin seed: Pumpkin seed protein is highly nutritious, containing high amounts of zinc, iron, magnesium and other minerals. One quarter-cup serving contains 18 grams of protein and 103 calories. 

Soy: Soy is a complete plant protein that’s high in BCAAs. One quarter cup serving of soy protein contains 95 calories and 22 grams of protein. It can be difficult to find a soy protein powder that is non-GMO in the US, but there are a few options out there. 

Chia seed: Chia seed protein is a high-fiber option, with 8 grams of fiber per quarter-cup serving. It also contains 50 calories and 10 grams of protein in a serving. 

How To Use/Eat Vegan Protein Powder 

There are a multitude of different ways to consume vegan protein powder. Users can mix it with water or a non-dairy milk to create a post-workout protein shake, they can add it to smoothies for an extra boost of protein, or add it into other foods such as oatmeal to give their breakfast a nutritional boost and added texture. Some vegan protein powders can even be used in baking, though we suggest finding recipes that use the protein powder you plan on purchasing as not all powders are good for baking.