It's the ultimate protein powder review. 9 of the Best Vegan Protein Powders compared side-by-side. Get protein to calorie ratio, cost analysis, breakdown of ingredients, nutritional information, and more.
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When it comes to vegan protein powder, I've tried them all. For the 8+ years that I've been a mother, protein powder has been one of my go-to sources for fueling up and staying healthy. I add protein powder to smoothies, cookies, shakes and over the years, I've developed a pretty good sense of what to look for in a good vegan protein powder.
Recently, I've had several readers ask me about the best vegan protein powders. After the 3rd or 4th request, I decided to create a comprehensive guide on the best (my favorite and top-rated) vegan protein powders on the market.
Let's dig in!
Best Vegan Protein Powders | Review
First, I broke each product down by a handful of categories: taste, texture, quality of ingredients, protein to calorie ratio, and price point. Second, I share Amazon star ratings and reviews of each product so you can see what other people are saying about these protein powders. Finally, I rank my personal favorite three protein powders from the group.
A few things to keep in mind...
For this comparison, I reviewed only vanilla protein powders. However, I offer more options for each brand, either flavors that I particularly love or have had personally recommended to me.
For each product, I provide the overall Amazon ratings and include the commonly reported pros and cons. Even some of the most-loved products get negative reviews and often times the pros and cons list are similar. If you are interested in trying a particular protein powder, I recommend you take a look at all the reviews for that particular product to get a fuller sense of what people are saying about it overall.
I am not sponsored by any of these brands. However, I do have affiliate relationships with some of them. That means that any products you purchase through the links below give me a small commission. It's no extra cost for you, just a happy win-win situation for everyone.
Sunwarrior - Vanilla Protein Blend
Taste: 4.5/5 perfect sweetness, not overpowering
Texture: 5/5 creamy, not gritty
Organic/Non-GMO: Yes
Protein Base: Blend of Pea, Hemp, and Goji Berry Protein
Calorie/Protein Ratio: 100/18g (18%)
Perks:
- Zero Sugar
- 100% plant-based company
- Keto, Vegan, and Paleo Friendly
- Soy-Free, Gluten-Free
Price: $1.43/serving
Also Try: Plant-Based Collagen and Chocolate Protein Powder
Amazon Reviews: ⅘ stars, 1478 ratings
Pros: Taste, texture, blending power, quality of ingredients
Cons: Price, packaging
Bob's Red Mill - Vanilla Protein Powder
Taste: 5/5 perfect sweetness, mild flavor
Texture: 4.5/5 very mild chalkiness
Organic/Non-GMO: No
Protein Base: Blend of Pea Protein and Chia Seeds
Calorie/Protein Ratio: 180/20g (11%)
Perks:
- Beneficial probiotics
- 240 mg Omega-3 per serving
- Soy-Free, Gluten-Free
Price: $1.95/serving
Also Try: Chocolate Protein Powder and Chai Protein Powder
Amazon Reviews: ⅘ stars, 355 ratings
Pros: Flavor, texture, blending power
Cons: Unnecessary ingredients, added sugar, probiotics caused stomach pains
Vega - Protein Smoothie
Taste: 4.5/5 - mild, not overpowering
Texture: 4.5/5 - very little grittiness
Organic/Non-GMO: Non-GMO certified
Protein Base: Blend of pea, brown rice, and hemp protein
Calorie/Protein Ratio: 80/15g (18.7%)
Perks:
- All Vega products are Certified Vegan
- Zero Sugar
- Soy-Free, Gluten-Free
Price: $1.41/serving
Also Try: All-in-One Shake and Vega Protein & Energy
Amazon Reviews: ⅘ stars, 1415 ratings
Pros: Taste, texture, blending power, value
Cons: Unnecessary ingredients (fillers)
Aloha - Organic Vanilla
Taste: ⅘ - mild coconut flavor
Texture: ⅘ - mild chalkiness
Organic/Non-GMO: Yes
Protein Base: Blend of pea, brown rice, hemp, and pumpkin seed protein
Calorie/Protein Ratio: 120/18g (15%)
Perks:
- Certified Vegan
- No artificial ingredients
- Soy-Free, Gluten-Free
- Excellent source of fiber and iron
Price: $2/serving (cheaper on Amazon)
Also Try: Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bars and Chocolate Protein Powder
Amazon Reviews: 3.5/5 stars, 831 ratings
Pros: Taste, texture, blending powder, no artificial ingredients
Cons: poor quality ingredients, the formula change
Naked Nutrition - Naked Pea
Taste: 4.5/5 mild and blends well
Texture: ⅘ mild chalkiness
Organic/Non-GMO: Non-GMO only
Protein Base: Pea Protein
Calorie/Protein Ratio: 120/27g (22.5%)
Perks:
- No Artificial Sweeteners, Flavors, or Colors
- No Additives or Fillers
- Non-GMO, Soy Free, and Gluten Free
Price: $0.76/serving
Also Try: Naked PB (this is my favorite protein powder on the market. It is smooth, creamy, and with no grittiness. However, it only works when you want a peanut butter taste. I always have this on hand and use it in cookies, shakes, and protein balls)
Amazon Reviews: ⅘ stars, 1739 ratings
Pros: Flavor, texture, quality ingredients (no fillers)
Cons: Taste, Texture, Packaging
KOS - Vanilla Shake
Taste: 5/5 subtle vanilla, not overpowering
Texture:4.5/5 creamy
Organic/Non-GMO: Yes
Protein Base: Blend of pea protein, flaxseed, quinoa, pumpkin seed, and chia seeds
Calorie/Protein Ratio: 160/20g (12.5%)
Perks:
- Zero sugar, low carb
- Packed w/ vitamins and minerals
- Soy-Free, Gluten-Free
Price: $2.92/serving
Also Try: Organic Greens Blend and Raw Chocolate Blend
Amazon Reviews: 4.⅕ stars, 1593 ratings
Pros: Taste, texture, versatility, ingredients, blending power
Cons: Too sweet, taste, not allergy-free
Orgain - Plant-Based Vanilla
Taste: 4.5/5 - tasty and not overpowering
Texture: ⅘ - mild grittiness
Organic/Non-GMO: Yes
Protein Base: Blend of pea, brown rice, chia
Calorie/Protein Ratio: 150/21g (14%)
Perks:
- Low carb, high in fiber
- Soy-Free, Gluten-Free
Price: $1.66/serving
Also Try: Chocolate Peanut Butter and Vegan Greens Protein Powder
Amazon Reviews: 4.⅗ stars, 8609 ratings
Pros: Taste, texture, blending power, quality ingredients
Cons: texture, bloating, ingredients
Nuzest - Vanilla Protein
Taste: ⅘ slightly overpowering
Texture: 4.5/5 mildly gritty
Organic/Non-GMO: Yes
Protein Base: Pea Protein
Calorie/Protein Ratio: 90/20g (22.2%
Perks:
- No filler ingredients
- Soy-Free, Gluten-Free, Paleo
Price: $2.24
Also Try: Chocolate and Strawberry
Amazon Reviews: 4.⅗, 200 ratings
Pros: Quality ingredients, no fillers, flavor
Cons: Price, texture
Garden of Life - Raw Organic Protein
Taste: 4.5/5 mild and pleasant
Texture: ⅘ mildly gritty
Organic/Non-GMO: Yes
Protein Base: A variety of sprout grain protein
Calorie/Protein Ratio: 110/22g (20%)
Perks:
- Low carb
- 14 organic grains, seeds, and legumes
- Free of soy, gluten, and added sugars
Price: $1.6
Also Try: Meal Replacement Vanilla and Greens and Probiotics
Amazon Reviews: 4.⅗ stars, 1140 ratings
Pros: Quality of ingredients, blending power
Cons: Flavor, dislike the new formula
Best Vegan Protein Powders
All of these protein powders have their merit. When balancing all the factors listed above, I came up with my 3 favorite protein powders based on the following factors: Taste and Texture, Quality of Ingredients, Calorie to Protein Ratio, Blending Power.
The winners are...
- Sunwarrior - Vanilla Protein Blend
- Naked Nutrition - Naked Pea*
- Vega - Protein Smoothie
*I tried the Naked Pea for the sake of this review that showcases only vanilla flavored protein powders. However, Naked Nutrition is largely in my top three because of their Naked PB. It is so good and I highly recommend it.
There you have it. 9 of the BEST vegan protein powders. Keep learning about vegan nutrition by checking out the following articles.
Top Articles on Veganism
Looking for more vegan resources? Make sure to check out these articles below.
- Top 10 Superfoods Everyone Should be Eating
- 10 Plant-Based Protein Sources and FAQ
- Ultimate Guide on Stocking the Vegan Kitchen
- Clean Vegan Wine Guidebook
- How to Go Vegan in 8 Easy Steps
Find all my vegan resources here.
Written by Sarah McMinn
Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m a 14-year (and counting) vegan, professionally trained photographer, former pastry chef, founder of My Darling Vegan, and author of the
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