Supplementing with a vegan protein powder can be a great plant-forward way to keep your energy up during a busy workday. It is especially helpful for vegans and vegetarians who may need help boosting their daily protein intake.
Vegan protein powders are frequently made with multiple types of protein to ensure you get as complete an amino profile as possible—as plant-based protein sources are typically lower than animal proteins in overall amino acid count. “It is important to assess if a vegan protein powder includes a complete essential amino acid (EAA) profile, high digestibility (often improved by blending sources like pea and rice), and low levels of contaminants,” says our medical reviewer, Jillian Robillard, MS, RD, LDN, CSSD.
We tested and selected the six best plant-based protein powders of the year to keep you feeling sustained and clear-headed throughout the workweek and then some.
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Best Vegan Protein Powders of 2026
- Best Vegan Protein Powder for Weight Loss: Legion Plant+
- Best Vegan Protein Powder for Muscle Gain: 1st Phorm Vegan Power Pro
- Best Clean Vegan Protein Powder: Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein Powder
- Best Vegan Protein Powder for Weight Loss: Swolverine Plant-Based Protein Powder
- Best Organic Vegan Protein Powder: Nutricost Organic Vegan Protein
- Best Tasting Vegan Protein Powder: Ritual Plant-Based Protein Powder
- Best Vegan Protein Powder Formula: NOBULL Plant Protein
About Our Expert
This article was medically reviewed by Jillian Robillard, MS, RD, LDN, CSSD. Jillian is a licensed and registered dietitian at Whole Balanced Nutrition.
Best Vegan Protein Powders Comparison Table
Best Vegan Protein Powder Overall: Legion Plant+
Legion Plant+
Protein Source
Protein Per Serving
Servings Per Container
Third-Party Testing
Flavors
Wide flavor range
Our Thoughts on Legion Plant+
Legion Plant+ is our pick for the best vegan protein powder overall because it has a very lean macro profile, which may help support weight loss while still giving you an energy boost for exercise. It’s low in calories, carbs, and fat, but higher in protein, along with a complete amino acid profile. With dessert flavors like apple pie, salted caramel, and cinnamon cereal, Legion Plant+ is easy to sip and enjoy.
Pete tested Legion Plant+, rating his first impression of the product a 5 out of 5. “Legion’s Plant+ protein powder comes in a resealable plastic bag instead of a typical plastic tub,” he said. “I prefer this style of packaging for protein powder supplements because it is less bulky and easier to store in your pantry. The label is well-designed and looks high-quality. A scoop is included for easy measuring.”
“The protein did fully dissolve during the initial 60 second shake, and there weren’t any visible chunks or clumping,” Pete said. Unfortunately, our tester did notice a little grittiness while he sipped the shake, so he had to give Legion a 3.5 out of 5 for mixability.
When it comes to taste, Pete rated it a 3 out of 5, saying, “I personally didn’t love the taste of this protein powder, but I also generally dislike the taste of French vanilla. That said, regardless of the flavor, the product tasted a bit too sweet to me. Legion uses monk fruit extract to sweeten this supplement.”
Of his overall experience, Pete thinks Legion Plant+ is well-formulated. “Legion Plant+ is a plant-based protein powder that uses a blend of pea protein isolate and rice protein concentrate. This blend ensures a complete amino acid profile, which you want to see in a well-formulated protein powder,” he noted. “Plant+ delivers 24 grams of protein per serving, which is a solid dose for plant-based powders. This product is also third-party tested, 100% plant-based, and non-GMO.”
Check out our full review of protein powders for weight loss.
Best Vegan Protein Powder for Muscle Gain: 1st Phorm Vegan Power Pro
1st Phorm Vegan Power Pro
Protein Source
Protein Per Serving
Servings Per Container
Third-Party Testing
Flavors
Also includes fruit and veggie extracts
Our Thoughts on 1st Phorm
1st Phorm’s Vegan Power Pro is our pick for the best vegan protein powder for muscle gain because the pea and rice blend provides a total amino acid profile and the leucine content is also enough to support muscle growth. It’s low enough in calories that you could double up on a serving for more protein, as well.
Pete tested this vegan protein powder, rating his first impression of the product a 5 out of 5. “This protein powder comes in a white plastic tub with a screw top lid that opens and closes easily. It’s your typical two-pound protein powder container,” he said. “All of the logos and text are metallic and stand out against the white label. The label also has all of the relevant information I want to see, including the nutrition facts, usage directions, and product highlights like being free from artificial sweeteners and being Informed Choice certified.”
Mixability earned a 5 out of 5, as Pete was impressed with the smooth consistency after shaking. He didn’t see any visible clumps or chunks, nor did he taste any unwanted grittiness.
Our tested loved the flavor. “I tested the Vanilla Creme and I really enjoyed the taste. Vanilla flavored protein powders are typically not my favorite, but this one was very enjoyable. The vanilla flavor comes through nicely and the protein powder has just the right amount of sweetness,” Pete said. He rated the flavor a 5 out of 5 and the sweetness level a midrange 3 out of 5.
The product also includes a fruit blend and a fruit and vegetable extract blend that provides a few additional micronutrients in the shake. The product is also artificial ingredient-free, using monk fruit as a sweetener. “Overall, it’s a solid plant-based protein powder. My only real critique would be that it would be nice if it provided a bit more than 19 grams of protein per serving,” said Pete.
Best Clean Vegan Protein Powder: Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein Powder
Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein Powder
Protein Source
Protein Per Serving
Servings Per Container
Third-Party Testing
Flavors
The French vanilla flavor is subtle and well-balanced
Our Thoughts on Transparent Labs
Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein Powder is our pick for the best clean vegan protein powder because it is both Informed Choice and Informed Sport certified, making it safe for athletes and everyday gym goers alike. The brand also provides their third-party testing results directly on the product making, making it easily accessible for folks who want to ensure their vegan protein powder is clean.
Carter tested Transparent Labs’ Organic Vegan Protein Powder, rating the instructions a 5 out of 5 for being simple and easy to follow. The product mixed together efficiently, too. “The product dissolved nicely without any chunks after 60 seconds of shaking,” Carter said. “There were no chunks, and the bubbles dissipated quickly as well.”
He tried the French vanilla flavor, rating it a 5 out of 5 for taste. “The product was not overly sweet–the flavor is subtle and nicely balanced,” Carter said. “The protein powder was slightly gritty though, likely due to the vegan proteins used. In my experience, pea and rice protein typically do not dissolve as well as classic whey protein. The texture was, however, consistent with other vegan protein powders I’ve tried. If the slight grittiness is something you’re used to in other dairy-free protein powders, this one shouldn’t stand out.”
Carter didn’t experience any side effects or digestive issues. “The protein powder left no weird aftertaste,” he said. “The grittiness was noticeable, but as noted, I wasn’t surprised by this given the product’s vegan formula.”
Of his overall experience, Carter is glad to see brands embracing plant-based protein powders. “Whey protein commonly causes digestive issues, so it’s good to see more brands moving towards more plant-based offerings,” he said. “While this protein powder could be improved in some ways, including texture and consistency, it overall fits nicely among other vegan protein powders that I’ve tried.”
Best Vegan Protein Powder for Weight Loss: Swolverine Plant-Based Protein Powder
Swolverine Plant-Based Protein Powder
Protein Source
Protein Per Serving
Servings Per Container
Third-Party Testing
Flavors
Dissolves well with no chalkiness
Our Thoughts on Swolverine
Swolverine’s Plant-Based Protein Powder is our pick for the best overall vegan protein powder because it packs a lot into each lean 140-calorie serving: plant protein from peas, faba beans (also commonly spelled as fava beans), and pumpkin seed protein, along with healthy fats from MCT oil and olive oil. This formula helps keep you full without upping your caloric intake too much. It’s available in three flavors—chocolate cake, vanilla oatmeal cookie, and salted caramel.
Carter tested Swolverine, rating his first impression of the product a 5 out of 5 and saying, “The product comes in a bag, which is convenient for storage but can be a pain to actually scoop. My hand got powdery every time I used this product due to reaching so deep down into the bag.” He added: “It does have a very nice design and is more sustainable than plastic, so I am a fan.”
Mixability was also a hit, combining easily in a shaker cup of water. “The protein powder dissolved within the 60-second window and was not grainy or chalky at all,” Carter said, rating it a 5 out of 5 in this category. “It does have a slight plant flavor, even with the salted caramel flavor, so if you’re not into that, it may not be your favorite. I, however, prefer plant-based protein, so I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Our tester rated the sweetness a midrange 3 out of 5 (meaning it’s moderate), and loved the flavor, rating it a 5 out of 5. “The product tastes really nice,” Carter said. “The salted caramel flavor is pretty subtle and not too sweet. It is relatively thick for a plant protein, but the flavor was not overwhelming at all—it was frothy and creamy. It would be even better with milk or almond milk.”
Carter didn’t experience any side effects after taking Swolverine’s plant protein powder. “I didn’t have any digestive issues, and the plant protein went down really smooth,” he noted. Of his overall experience, Carter said he was pleasantly surprised by Swolverine. He liked the flavor and was pleased with the types of plant protein included.
Best Organic Vegan Protein Powder: Nutricost Organic Vegan Protein
Nutricost Organic Vegan Protein
Protein Source
Protein Per Serving
Servings Per Container
Third-Party Testing
Flavors
It’s available in 2 or 5 lbs
Our Thoughts on Nutricost
Nutricost Organic Vegan Protein Powder is our pick for the best organic vegan protein powder because it’s USDA-certified organic and has been certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers, too. Nutricost is also a GMP compliant facility, meaning that it follows Good Manufacturing Practices.
Pete tested this vegan protein powder, rating it a 5 out of 5 for his first impression. “It comes in a white plastic tub with a blue screw top lid that opens and closes smoothly. The container contains two pounds of powder, and is about average in size for a protein powder tub,” he said. He wouldn’t consider it travel-friendly, though it does include a scoop, making it easy to measure. The blue label also has a simple design with large and easy to read text, too.
He rated mixability a 5 out of 5, as the protein powder mixed “extremely well” in the standard shaker bottle. “It fully dissolved in the initial 60-second shake. I mixed one scoop with 10 ounces of water, and there were no visible chunks or clumps after mixing,” Pete said.
Pete tested the milk chocolate flavor and thought it tasted great for a plant-based protein powder. “The formula uses organic rice protein as the primary protein source, with organic pea protein isolate as the secondary protein source. This helps to reduce the chalky pea protein taste that many people associate with plant-based powders,” he said.
“The flavor itself wasn’t anything over the top, but it was clearly chocolate and had a well-balanced level of sweetness,” Pete added. “It’s sweetened with organic stevia. The consistency was also great–the powder mixed easily without clumps or chunks.” Our tester rated the flavor a 3 out of 5, and the sweetness a midrange 3 out of 5 as well.
Best Tasting Vegan Protein Powder: Ritual Plant-Based Protein Powder
Ritual Plant-Based Protein Powder
Protein Source
Protein Per Serving
Servings Per Container
Third-Party Testing
Flavors
Provides a complete amino acid profile in each serving
Our Thoughts on Ritual Plant-Based Protein Powder
Ritual’s Plant-Based Protein Powder is our pick for the best tasting vegan protein powder because our tester really enjoyed the vanilla flavor, which is sourced from a direct-from-farmer vanilla bean extract sustainably harvested in Madagascar. Chocolate flavor is also available, and the cocoa beans are responsibly sourced from small farms with sustainable programs across seven countries.
Pete tested this vegan protein powder, rating his first impression of the product a 5 out of 5.
“Ritual’s plant-based protein powder comes in a metallic silver plastic bag with a resealable zip-lock design,” he wrote. “I actually like this packaging for protein powders instead of the standard plastic containers because it’s typically easier to store in your pantry, and it takes up less space. The text on the label is dark blue and stands out against the metallic silver background, making it easy to read. The usage instructions, supplement facts label, and ingredients are all clearly displayed on the label. They also include a typical amino acid profile which is helpful, especially for a plant-based protein powder that may be lower in certain amino acids.”
The only downside Pete noted is that a scoop is not provided, and since the recommended serving size is five tablespoons, that has to be measured out every time you want a protein shake.
Mixability earned a 5 out of 5 score, as the protein powder dissolved fully in the 60-second shake time. “There weren’t any visible chunks or clumps, and no further shaking was required. I would actually say this is pretty atypical for a plant-based powder and the fact that it mixed so smoothly is a great feature,” Pete said.
He raved about the vanilla flavor, rating it a 5 out of 5, noting, “I don’t often say this, but I actually really enjoyed the taste of this plant-based protein powder. The brand does a great job balancing the overall sweetness and flavor. The vanilla flavor is very subtle, and so is the sweetness level, but the typical earthy and bitter pea protein flavor is masked very well. The shake feels light and this would be something I would drink regularly.”
Check out our full Ritual protein powder review.
Best Vegan Protein Powder Formula: NOBULL Plant Protein
NOBULL Plant Protein
Protein Source
Protein Per Serving
Servings Per Container
Third-Party Testing
Flavors
Formula includes three different protein sources
Our Thoughts on NOBULL Plant Protein
You don’t name your company NOBULL unless you’re putting out products that contain only clean, premium-grade ingredients. NOBULL Plant Protein embodies the company ethos by packing a solid 25g of plant-based protein into each serving while leaving out artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Throw in the stevia leaf and monk fruit extracts for a touch of sweetness, and you get one of the best vegan protein powder formulas we’ve tested.
Our registered dietitian Pete tested NOBULL Plant Protein and found the packaging functional and aesthetically pleasing, awarding it a 5-star rating in this category. “I liked the use of green lettering for the product name, which is a subtle but cool nod to the product’s plant-based formula,” he said. “The bag includes a scoop for convenient measuring, and a resealable closure that maintained a tight seal and was easy to use.”
NOBULL also earned a perfect 5 out of 5 stars for dissolving quickly and thoroughly in the recommended 10 ounces of water, but Pete found the consistency a touch thick. “There weren’t any chunks or clumps, but I would probably use a bit more water, like 14 to 16 ounces, in the future for a thinner consistency.”
Despite the thickness, Pete still enjoyed the flavor, giving NOBULL Plant Protein 3 out of 5 stars for both taste and sweetness. “It tasted great for a plant-based formula,” he said. “The vanilla flavor tasted natural and the product had a good balance of sweetness to flavor.”
Overall, Pete found the experience pleasant and praised the formula for using clean, premium ingredients. “This is a high-quality plant protein from NOBULL,” he said. “The ingredient list is very simple, using a plant protein blend of pea protein isolate, brown rice protein concentrate, and pumpkin protein to ensure a complete amino acid profile. It’s a bit pricey at $60 for 30 servings, but it’s a quality formula, making the price point feel justified.”
How We Tested and Selected the Best Vegan Protein Powders
We tested and selected the best vegan protein powders that are tasty, provide high-quality protein, and are third-party tested. Here are some more details about our testing.
Taste and Texture
Flavor is a big part of our testing process. We ask our testers to provide feedback on the taste, texture, and pleasantness of the flavor for each vegan protein powder. We rate sweetness on a scale of 1 to 5, based on sweetness strength. A score of 5 is very sweet, and a midrange level of sweetness is considered a 3.
We also consider texture, and ask our tester to record any grittiness, clumps, frothiness, or conversely, smoothness and creaminess, when tasting the protein powder drink.
Formula
We work with a registered dietitian (RD) during testing to ensure we select the most effective and safest vegan protein powders. We look for over 20 grams of protein for each serving without artificial sweetener or additives, along with a complete essential amino acid (EAA) profile and high digestibility.
Mixability
When mixing a vegan protein powder into liquid, we prepare the product exactly as advised by the brand. We then pay close attention to how well the powder dissolves during a 60-second test, wanting to avoid grittiness in the taste and any chalkiness or chunks.
Third-Party Testing
We put an emphasis on selecting vegan protein powders that are third-party tested. Third-party testing involves independent verification of safety, purity, as well as nutrition label accuracy. This helps ensure the label on the product is accurate. Third-party testing also checks for harmful substances such as heavy metals, pesticides, and more for safety.
The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) does not regulate supplements, so it’s vital to have independent testing done to ensure safety, accuracy, and quality.
Value
When considering value, we place a higher value on brands that source their ingredients in America and have certifications, such as Informed Protein.
How to Find the Best Vegan Protein Powder for You
Everyone has different vegan protein powder needs depending on your fitness and dietary goals, allergies, pre-existing conditions, and more. Some folks may need higher amounts of protein from a vegan powder to make up for nutrient gaps. Here’s what to consider when selecting the best vegan protein powder for you.
Your Fitness Goals
Consider your fitness goals, like building muscle, losing fat, or improving endurance and strength, which will help you select the best vegan protein powder for you.
Flavors
It’s important to choose a vegan protein powder flavor that you genuinely enjoy, because sipping it regularly makes it easier to meet your daily protein goals and stick to your routine.
A tasty flavor also ensures your protein supplement feels more like a treat than a chore, which will support you with consistency and satisfaction long-term.
Cost
A vegan protein powder can be pricey, so you may want to consider your budget when selecting a product for everyday use. Cleaner formulations, meaning those without artificial sweeteners or additives, may cost more because of their higher quality and ingredient sourcing.
Benefits of Vegan Protein Powder
Taking a vegan protein powder can make it easier to meet your daily protein goals, especially if you follow a plant-forward diet. Here are some benefits:
- Helps muscle growth and maintenance
- Supports digestive health by being lactose-free and higher in fiber
- Can help you manage your weight
- Free from animal products, which is better for the environment
How to Take Vegan Protein Powder
Vegan protein powder is usually taken as a drink, mixed with water or the milk of your choice. You could also blend it into a smoothie with some fruit, mix it in with yogurt, or bake with it.
We recommend mixing and taking the vegan protein powder as directed by the manufacturer. It is better to emphasize focus on consuming high quality protein sources in the diet and using this to supplement whole food.
What to Avoid in Vegan Protein Powders
- Ingredients like artificial sweeteners, colors, or sugar alcohols
- Ingredients like inulin or chicory root fiber, which may irritate your stomach
- Beware of vegan protein powders that are not third-party tested
Frequently asked questions
Is vegan protein powder actually healthy?
Vegan protein powder can be a healthy choice when it’s made with high-quality plant-forward protein, such as rice or pea protein. Avoid excessive sweeteners or filler ingredients when shopping. Our medical reviewer notes that pea protein has been shown to be the best plant protein EAA profile. She recommends it over rice protein.
What is the downside of plant protein?
Some plant-forward proteins (like legumes) can cause digestive upset, and many do not have complete proteins. Also, plant protein often requires consuming a larger volume or more varied sources compared to animal protein to meet essential amino acid requirements. It is best to work with a Registered Dietitian if you are following a vegan or vegetarian diet to ensure you are consuming a well-balanced diet.
Is organic protein powder low FODMAP?
Organic vegan protein powder is not automatically low-FODMAP; it would depend more on the ingredients being low-FODMAP. Look for rice or hemp proteins without inulin or sugar alcohols to ensure your vegan protein powder is low-FODMAP.