• Vegan protein powders allow anyone on plant-based diets to get the same nutritional benefits of a high protein diet without having to compromise their eating habits by drinking whey.
  • We spoke to nutritionist, Samantha Cassetty, for insight into the health benefits of a plant-based diet and why today’s vegan protein powders are a worthwhile option for those looking to up their protein intake.
  • This article was medically reviewed by Erika Villalobos-Morsink, an MS, RD, and nutritionist based in New York City.

Lots of people are going green in the kitchen.

Between 2012 and 2017, the demand for meatless food grew by a near 1,000 percent, and in 2018 the vegan food market was valued at over 12 billion dollars. Also, in 2018, Netflix released Game Changers, a popular documentary that highlights the benefits of a plant-based diet. While much of the science in the film is under scrutiny, it still helped to popularize veganism.

That’s not to say that the hype isn’t legitimate. According to Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, a nutrition and wellness expert with a private practice based in New York City, adding some green to your plate and reducing your meat intake isn’t a bad move.

The advantage of a plant-based diet

“Whether or not you’re a vegan, everyone should be eating a 75% plant-based diet with lots of veggies, fruits, pulses (the umbrella term for beans, lentils, and legumes), nuts, seeds, and whole grains,” Cassetty told Business Insider. “These foods supply the materials your body needs to operate at its best. A vegan diet has many benefits, including that it’s humane (for those opposed to eating animals) and it’s environmentally friendly.”

Cassetty also adds that a vegan diet may be healthier. The Journal of the American Heart Association, agrees, stating that eating a plant-based diet could lower the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality compared to those who consumed meat.

So, it makes sense that more supplement companies are starting to roll out vegan protein powders. Currently, whey protein (which is derived from cow's milk) is the most popular protein powder consumed, but now there are numerous protein powder options for plant-based eaters.

Vegan protein isn't what it used to be

The last time I had a plant-based protein was roughly four years ago, and I can still remember the grainy, earthy flavor that coated my tongue - it was gross. Today's options are able to deliver both delicious flavor and a lower-calorie high-protein formula, making the market for plant-based protein much more desirable.

But one of the main issues with veganism and vegetarianism is getting ample protein - the FDA recommends one gram for every three pounds of body weight, though some experts suggest you should double that. Eliminating meat from your diet means you need to rely heavily on nuts and legumes, which pack less protein per ounce than meat - so you have to eat a lot more of them - and also contain more fat. That's why relying on a protein powder helps up your intake without upsetting your stomach.

A nutritionist's warning

In speaking with Erika Villalobos-Morsink during the fact check of this guide, she paused when recommending the consumption of vegan protein powders with the exception of Aloha's Organic Protein Powder. Her reasoning is that anything that's not been evaluated by a reliable third party like the Clean Label Project shouldn't be considered entirely safe for consumption (and may have harmful heavy metals present in greater amounts than its protein counterpart).

This advice is also relevant when shopping for both standard whey protein powders and natural protein powders. A third party program like the Clean Label Project can provide added insight into what you're consuming, as well. Prior to taking any supplement, we recommend consulting with your doctor to see if it's right for your diet.

Here are the best vegan protein powders:

Updated on 8/26/2020 by Andrew Gutman and Rick Stella: Updated the entire guide with new picks across every category, insight from a nutritionist on the dangers of heavy metals present in protein powders (including vegan protein powders), and updated the prices, links, and formatting throughout.

The best vegan protein powder overall

Though it's a little pricey, TB12 Plant-Based Protein tastes great, mixes well, is sugar free, and offers a great macronutrient profile with plenty of protein.

Tom Brady's diet has become sporting folklore. In his book, The TB12 Method, the six-time Super Bowl winner says that he doesn't consume gluten, high-fructose corn syrup, frozen meals, white sugar, caffeine, table salt, soy sauce, and nightshade vegetables such as eggplants and tomatoes. Those are just a few of his restrictions, so I wasn't shocked that his brand's plant-based protein was delicious since shakes are a staple in his daily diet.

Aside from taste, which is a very important factor if you're going to be drinking protein powder daily, the macronutrient profile of this one is solid. One scoop, or 34 grams, of this powder gives you 130 calories, 24 grams of protein, three grams of carbs, two grams of fat, and zero grams of sugar. It also contains all of the essential branch chain amino acids, which are essentially the building blocks of protein, to help your body recover and form muscle.

One thing to note is that this pea-based protein powder requires six to eight ounces of water per scoop. The first time I tried this, I used four ounces (which is a common amount for whey proteins), and it was unbearably thick. But after I added the right amount of liquid, the drink was milkshake-thick.

Pros: Great taste, high-protein, low carb/fat formula, packed with BCAAs

Cons: Expensive, only comes in two flavors (chocolate and vanilla)

The best tasting vegan protein powder

Foto: Source: Amazon

Though it's lower in protein and higher in carbs, Aloha Organic Protein Powder is a great choice for folks who hate choking down shakes thanks to its complex and delicious flavor.

This was the last powder I tried and by that point, I was sick of protein. "Just take three sips," I told myself as I tossed two scoops into my shaker, filled it up with 12 ounces of water, and shook. As the liquid hit my tongue, it was as if my palate was reinvigorated with the flavors of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cocoa. I actually let out and audible "Wow, that's good," as my cat stared at me. I drank this on its own and tried it mixed with oatmeal, both of which were great.

Before I even tasted Aloha, I was ready to discount it from this list as two scoops (36 grams) packs only 18 grams of protein and 11 grams of carbs, which is on the high end for most protein powders. Still, the nutritional profile is great. You can pronounce every ingredient that's in this powder, and it's free of GMOs, dairy, gluten, and sugar alcohols (which can cause stomach distress). As for protein, it's a blend of hemp, pea, brown rice, and pumpkin seed protein.

The real issue is the cost. For $30 (or $27 if you subscribe and save), you only get 15 servings, which comes out to $2 per serving. That's expensive, especially when you consider that one tub is only half a month's worth of protein powder for most people - which means a full month would come out to around $60.

Pros: Tastes amazing, clean ingredient profile

Cons: Expensive, low in protein, high in carbs, only 15 servings per tub

The best vegan protein powder for training athletes

Foto: Source: Amazon

Vega Sport Premium Protein offers a high-protein blend tastes great, has a full BCAA profile, and is NSF Certified.

With 30 grams of protein per serving and a complete BCAA profile, Vega Sports' protein is formulated to help athletes and active folks recover from tough workouts. While I can't say that taking this powder helped me recover or perform better, it did taste great and gave me the protein I need to hit my 200-gram daily goal.

The ingredients are premium, too. The protein blend is made up of four sources - pea, pumpkin seed, organic sunflower seed, and alfalfa protein - and it contains other ingredients such as tart cherrys to aid recovery and probiotics for enhanced gut health.

This protein powder did have a texture that was a little too watery for my liking, however. Of course, you can add less water, but even then, it didn't have the same frothy and creamy texture of the TB12 or Aloha protein.

One thing in particular that I like is that Vega Sport is NSF Certified, meaning it's independently tested for quality and safety. This way, you know the company is confident in its product and you're not ingesting any BS fillers or dangerous chemicals.

Pros: Higher protein content, tastes great, smooth texture, third-party tested

Cons: Expensive

The best vegan protein powder for meal replacement

Foto: Source: Amazon

With a higher calorie count and 15 grams of carbs per serving, Orgain Organic Protein can replace a whole meal when in a pinch.

This list was hard to create because, frankly, all of these proteins tasted great and offered a good-enough dose of protein. Orgain stood toe-to-toe with the rest of these powders in the taste department, but the macro profile wasn't as balanced as the others. While I was inclined to boot it for its higher carb and fat content, I realized that some people drink protein in lieu of a meal and for them, Orgain is a great choice.

Per one 46-gram serving, Orgain delivers 4 grams of fat, 15 grams of carbs, and 21 grams of protein with 150 calories and no sugar. If you're too busy to whip up a meal or you're trying to shed some weight, supplementing with one to two servings of Orgain can keep you satiated on fewer overall calories. Of all the proteins I tried, this pick was the most filling.

It's also cost-effective. At $1.50 per serving, Orgain is cheaper compared to TB12 which costs $1.60 per serving, Vega Sport Premium Protein at $2.63, and Aloha a $2.00

Pros: Good meal replacement shake, cheap

Cons: Not ideal for losing weight, higher in calories

The best low-calorie vegan protein powder

Foto: Source: Amazon

Isopure Plant-Based Protein gives you 110 calories and 20 grams of protein and is relatively cost-effective.

Isopure's Plant-Based Protein stands out due to its taste and texture but also that it offers almost pure protein at close to 100 calories. For physique-conscious consumers, this means you're not ingesting unwanted fat and carbs.

I also like that Ispoure's pea and brown rice protein combo is easy on the stomach. One issue I have when drinking whey shakes is that they can cause stomach distress and gas - but I never experienced that with this formula.

At $24.99 for 20 servings, it's also relatively cheap at $0.80 a serving. That said, I normally take two scoops at a time to get 40 grams of protein which raises the cost to $1.60 (which is still cheaper than some of the others on this list).

My only major gripe with this powder is its lack of variety. You can only buy 20 servings (1.37 pounds), which means you need to buy it in bulk or restock twice a month. It also comes in just four flavors - chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and unflavored - which is fine but who doesn't want more options? Other than that, this checks all of the main boxes for a quality vegan protein powder.

Pros: Cheap, low-calorie, tasty

Cons: Small tub, few flavors to choose from