19 Best (and Worst) Vegan Protein Powders Tested and Ranked

Protein is important. Especially for those of us who are active outdoorists, whether that means we’re into hiking, climbing, backpacking, kayaking, mountain biking or anything in between. Because getting optimal protein is important for recovery and maintaining (and gaining) strength and endurance (so you can really carve those lines the next time there’s fresh powder on the mountain or power up the next incline). in fact, peer reviewed studies show that a high-protein diet can be instrumental in maintaining lean body mass in athletes. And that includes outdoor athletes.

And with the ever growing popularity of plant-based and vegan diets (we’ve been vegan ourselves for 10 years now), the number of vegan protein powders has sky rocketed, which we’re not mad about. In fact, in my research for this post, I came across over 70 plant-based proteins on the market in the U.S. alone.

Of course, every protein powder has its pros and cons. Some use artificial sweeteners, some have more vitamins, minerals and BCAAs than others, some offer unique flavors, and prices can range from around a dollar to over three dollars a serving.

So with so many options, how do you choose what supplement to drop your hard-earned cash on? We’re here to help. In this ever expanding list of vegan protein powders, we’ll outline everything that matters including cost-per-serving, how they taste, and what other nutritious (or not) ingredients they contain. So let’s get crackin’! (And check back often for fresh new options that we’ll add as we try them–and we have tried all of these, so you can trust that our assessment isn’t based on some over-hyped Amazon reviews.)

Notes on Ranking

Taste tests are, of course, highly objective. I pride myself on having a pretty discerning pallet so I did my best to present things in a manner that people with other tastes can take with a grain of salt. You’ll also notice I’ve ranked taste, mouth feel, mixability, and ingredients out of 10. For taste, I ask questions like: is this an overall pleasing and natural tasting flavor? Is there a harsh aftertaste from ingredients like Sucralose or monk fruit extract? For mouth feel: Is it smooth or grainy? For mixability: does it stick to the walls of a blender or shaker? Does it settle to the bottom of the cup before you’re done drinking it? And for ingredients I look at the overall nutrition, if it’s using natural or artificial ingredients, fillers, thickeners, etc. The higher the score the better.

1. Form Nutrition Performance Protein: The Premium One

$3.00 per serving – 30g of protein

Form has won a lot of awards and there’s a reason for that. And while it may not be the most expensive on this list, they make one of the, if not the tastiest and most well-balanced protein supplement out there. The flavors are anything but bland and without any unpleasant after taste, which is surprising given it’s whopping 30 grams of protein per serving. Another thing I like about the brand? They’re a certified B Corp. Not sure what that means? Check out this post on their website. Bonus: The packaging is also compostable, making it one of the most sustainable options.

What we like: Complete amino acid profile and 5 grams of BCAAs. 100% plastic free, compostable packaging and no plastic scoops. Honestly, get a food scale or just use a tablespoon already!

2. Ka’Chava The All-In-One Nutrition Shake: About as good as it gets.

$3.99 per serving – 25g of protein

With a great mix of proteins including Yellow Pea and Organic Whole Grain Brown Rice, excellent macros (you can blend with a banana for added carbs for a meal replacement), virtually all of your daily vitamins and minerals and 6 grams of fiber, Ka’Chava has it all. And it delivers on flavor. Flavors include Chocolate, Vanilla, Coconut Acai, Chai, and a new Matcha flavor which we’re a little addicted to. It’s one of the least grainy protein shakes on the list and can easily be shaken with water or your favorite plant milk.

What we like: While this does contain a zero calorie sweetener (Lo Han Fruit Extract), it also contains 5 grams of added sugar which we were actually happy to see. Too many protein shakes have artificial sweeteners that can upset your stomach or at the very least leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. Ka’chava does neither.

3. Vega Sport Berry: Peanut Butter Jelly Time

$3.41 per serving – 25g of protein

Vega is a widely recognized plant-based protein powder. They offer lots of flavors and formulations (including ones for gut health), but for this test, we tried multiple flavors including Vega Sport in Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Berry, and Vega Original Protein in Creamy Chocolate. While all the flavors were tasty when mixed with our favorite plant milk, the one that stood out to me was the Sport Berry flavor. Why? Because when blended in a smoothie with banana and peanut butter, it’s like drinking a peanut butter jelly sandwich, which is absolutely delicious.

As for taste? Smooth without any significant Stevia aftertaste and surprising berry taste thanks to the strawberry, tart cherry, and beet powders (which doesn’t make it taste like beets).

What we like: 5g BCAAs per serving, extremely high in protein per serving, and was gentle on the stomach unlike some other proteins containing Stevia or artificial sweeteners. Looking for something a little gentler on your wallet? Check out their new Original Protein.

4. Gnarly Vegan Meal Replacement: The Tasty One

$3.84 per serving – 25g of protein

If you’re not familiar with Gnarly, you should be. They make one of the tastiest meal replacements out there. And it is a meal replacement. As in, there’s lots more than just protein in here. Another thing I like about the brand? They create their products with outdoor pursuits in mind.

This protein shake thickens when mixed and is smooth for a protein powder. It’s sweetened with stevia and evaporated cane juice and the chocolate flavor is one of the more decadent on this list with a subtle stevia aftertaste.

What we like: It contains additional vitamins, minerals, and all 9 essential amino acids. It’s a meal replacement, after all, not just a protein supplement. Plus the flavor is bomb and the stevia aftertaste is minimal.

5. Chike High Protein Iced Coffee: For Coffee Lovers

$3.21 per serving – 20g of protein

It tastes exactly what it sounds like: A couple shots of real espresso (in powder form, of course) with natural cane sugar and a hint of protein. It’s pretty dang tasty and I appreciate the use of real sugar as opposed to Sucralose or monk fruit. It might just be the best coffee protein powder we’ve tried. The coffee flavor is on point and it’s definitely worth a try for those looking for out-of-the-box ways to get more protein in their diets (and get a caffeine pick-me-up). It is on the sweet side–we tried the toasted coconut mocha and salted caramel–but the mouth feel is smooth and tastes great both with milk and water. Thanks to the combo of protein, simple carbs and caffeine, we’ll be taking this on plenty of outdoor adventures for a morning or afternoon pick-me-up. Apart from the somewhat awkward name, we fully approve of this caffeinated protein powder.

What we like: Great coffee flavor with 150mg of caffeine and clean ingredients. As low as $2.85 per serving with subscription.

7. Be Amazing Vegan Protein Powder: Big Name Collabs

$2.11 per serving – 20g of protein

I’d like to shake the hand of the flavor scientist who worked on this one. Notable flavors include IHOP Double Blueberry Pancakes and Dole Whip Strawberry. And yes, they taste exactly how they sound. After drinking a IHOP Pancakes and Syrup shake, I could still taste the syrup on my lips. It’s both bizarre and wonderful. What’s more they nail the balance of flavor and sweetener so there’s no bad aftertaste (Steviol and Monk Fruit Extract make up the sweeteners). The protein comes primarily from a trademarked blend of pea protein and pumpkin seeds and they threw in some MCT oil and a handful of vitamins and minerals for good measure. Probably one of the most surprising finds on my quest for the best vegan proteins. The only downside: overly sweet and intense flavors can lead to palate fatigue.

What we like: Great ingredients, incredibly unique and accurate flavors.

8. Aloha Plant-Based Chocolate: Big Coconut

$1.96 per serving – 18g of protein

As the name might suggest, this product contains coconut. And yes, it does taste like coconut. It also tastes cocoa powder given that we tried the chocolate flavor. They did a great job of balancing different sugars and substitutes – Coconut Sugar, Blue Agave Inulin and Monk Fruit Extract – for a nice level of sweetness with relatively no aftertaste. The mouthfeel is smooth, though stays pretty thin when mixed with water, so this is best with your favorite dairy-free milk. It contains MCT oil from coconut if you’re into that sort of thing, and their protein blend is a combination of Pea, Brown Rice, Hemp, and Pumpkin Seed.

What we like: Nice coconut flavor (if you like coconut), good blend of plant proteins. Discount with subscription.

9. California Gold Nutrition: Great Ingredients and Great Taste

$1.17 per serving – 20g of protein

If you’ve seen a running theme here it’s that we’re pretty picky about our sweeteners. Put too much monk fruit or stevia in your protein shake and it’s game over. Fortunately that’s not the case here. We tried the Cinnamon Bun flavor and not only was it subtle on the sweeteners but also on the flavor. And that’s a good thing. Sometimes the flavors are so overwhelming you don’t want to finish your shake. And while I think this could use a tiny bit more sweetness, blending with frozen fruit (a ripe banana in my case) balanced it out perfectly.

What we like: Subtle cinnamon bun flavor, near perfect sweetness, and nutritious ingredients including a fruit and vegetable powder blend. $1.11 per serving with subscription.

10. Momentous 100% Plant Protein: Well respected by sports teams

$2.27 per serving – 20g of protein

At around $2.27 a serving ($1.70 with the subscription discount), this is a solid option if you care about where your protein comes from and it’s 3rd party certifications (you should). Momentous’ claim to fame: it’s used by over 200 college and pro sports teams and all 32 NFL teams. The plant protein contains no gums, fillers or stabilizers, is NSF Certified for Sport®, is vegan, soy and allergen-free. The pea and rice proteins are also sourced exclusively from the U.S. and Canada. It has a solid amino acid profile with only 2 grams of sugar plus some monk fruit extract and stevia. As for flavor? The chocolate is perfectly fine mixed with your favorite non-dairy milk. We found the vanilla flavor to be overpowering even when blended into a smoothy.

What we like: Approachable price with no artificial ingredients – about as clean as they come with low cane sugar. The additional sweeteners, monk fruit extract and stevia, were noticeable but not over powering.

11. Huel Complete Protein: Nutritionally Complete

$1.68 per serving – 20g of protein

Huel Complete Protein has a pretty unique blend of vitamins, minerals, and plant proteins for what it calls “Nutritionally Complete Protein”. The flavor (in this case Chocolate Fudge Brownie) isn’t bad but leaves one wondering, “what’s that odd flavor?” I’m not sure if it’s the micronutrient blend, the faba bean protein, or simply what they use for the chocolate flavor. It’s just a little bit odd with a slight Sucralose aftertaste. Other than that, mouthfeel is smooth (contains some thickeners) and pairs better with your favorite milk substitute than with water. Can be drunk on its own but may be best blended with some fruit if you find the flavor off-putting. 

What we like: Complete amino acid profile, gluten free and 100% vegan, nice blend of vitamins and minerals. Price drops to $1.34 per serving with subscription.

12. Realand Recovery Plant Protein: No-Nonsense Protein

$2.80 per serving – 22g of protein

A newcomer to the protein market, Realand is about as clean and simple as it gets. It only contains 7 ingredients: fava protein isolate, cane sugar, organic cocoa, organic natural flavors, salt, cornstarch, and Stevia. If you’ve been paying attention through the rest of this list, you may notice that fava bean protein is pretty rare and a fairly new development in the world of protein powders. As for mouthfeel, it’s extremely smooth (almost to the level of being off putting). It mixes well with water and milk and has a very subtle chocolate flavor. They do an excellent job of balancing cane sugar and Stevia for a pleasant sweetness and virtually no aftertaste while reducing calories. The macros are well balanced for a shake focusing on a more natural approach: less than a gram of fat, 11g of carbs and 22g of protein per serving. Overall a great shake with a fairly neutral taste that should work for anyone. Only downside: the packaging could be mistaken for a dog food brand.

What we like: Short list of ingredients and good flavor.

13. Green Regime Elite Protein: Perfect for Blended Shakes

$2.00 per serving – 25g of protein

With a full amino acid profile, excellent macros, vitamins, minerals and a dash of fiber, there’s little to complain about with this meal replacement. And while we didn’t find the chocolate flavor very…chocolately…it was probably the most neutral-tasting protein on this list, despite it’s high protein content and added greens, meaning it’s perfect for adding your own touches for a delicious protein smoothy whether that’s berries and greens or banana and peanut butter.

What we like: This protein packed meal replacement is also packed with extra goodness like organic broccoli, parsley, cabbage, kale, and maca root. Excellent price.

Get 10% off when you use code TERRADRIFT

14. Naked Shake: Fun and (mostly) Tasty

$1.40 per serving – 15g of protein

If you’ve ever searched for protein online you’ve probably run into Naked. They have a wide range of sports supplements, both vegan and non-vegan, including isolates, flavored shakes, peanut powder, and mass gainer. And the brand is known for cleaner ingredients, no artificial sweeteners or colors, and no additives. We tried the chocolate, blueberry muffin, and pea protein isolate.

Although there are no artificial sweeteners, you could have fooled us. We can’t quite place it but there’s a distinct and somewhat unpleasant chemical aftertaste present in the blueberry muffin flavor. That flavor is significantly milder in the chocolate. MCT and acacia oil could be to blame here. Based on reviews, some people pick up on this aftertaste while others consider it mild or non-existent. That said, you’re rolling the dice depending on the flavor. The shakes appear to have been reformulated since we tested them (previously 20g of protein per serving, now 15g), so there’s a possibility some flavors are more palatable. The pea protein was flavorless, which was appreciated, and we would happily use that unflavored version again. Bonus: it seems to blend up smoother than some other pea protein isolates, including the option from Now Sports.

What we like: Full amino acid profile, natural sweeteners and enough fat and carbs to be satiating.

15. LyfeFuel Performance Shake: Well rounded for the price

$2.50 per serving – 25g of protein

At around $2.50 a serving, this performance shake isn’t a bad deal thanks to the 25 grams of protein and the added vitamins, minerals, berry and greens blends. Unfortunately, what those things don’t add is flavor. Light on chocolate flavor, this powder is pretty bland even when shaken with our favorite plant-based milk, but if the price is right, it’s still worth considering. It also comes in a Vanilla Chai flavor which had us scratching our heads: Vanilla? Maybe. Chai? Not so sure.

What we like: The fairly approachable price and all the essential aminos, vitamins, berry and greens blends. The sweeteners, coconut sugar and stevia, were noticeable but not over powering.

16. Awesome Coffee: A Welcome Caffeine Boost

$2.67 per serving – 13g of protein

We kinda wished there was more protein per serving here, but we don’t have much to complain about when it comes to Awesome Coffee’s protein coffee. It’s a slightly sweet, totally vegan, creamy, frothy, quaffable beverage that has 135mg of caffeine plus 50mg of Ashwagandha. There are 4 grams of sugar, the rest is sweetened with monk fruit, which some (including me) think has a curious aftertaste, but after a few sips, I got over it. After all, the beverage itself is pretty dang tasty. The texture is a bit grainy, but that typically comes with the territory, so we’re not too bothered by it. The main downside in my opinion? That there are only 15 servings per bag. You do get a discount for ordering multiple bags at a time, and an additional discount if you subscribe for regular deliveries, so the brand does make it easy to keep your protein supply stocked. Best served cold and shaken.

What we like: It has a serious boost of caffeine with more protein, less fat and less sugar than one of those overpriced cups from Starbucks. It’s creamy iced coffee, but better!

17. Garden of Life Raw Organic Chocolate: A Good Balance of Flavor and Price

$2.54 per serving – 22g of protein

This raw plant-based protein powder is the second grainiest on the list after the Vega (but still not bad from a palatability standpoint). Garden of Life is another brand you’ll see at grocery and health food stores pretty regularly, so it’s fairly accessible.

And while it advertises itself as a “shake” right on the tub and does contain some thickeners, it leaves something to be desired in terms of consistency and features only a light chocolate flavor. Even so, this one is a good “middle of the road” option: Not overly expensive and without too many compromises on flavor and texture.

What we like: It contains additional vitamins, minerals, essential and non-essential amino acids, plus probiotics and is raw.

18. NOW Sports Plant Protein Complex: The Best on a Budget

$1.40 per serving – 22g of protein

NOW is a brand you’ve probably seen in the vitamin aisle of your local grocery store. The brand produces a wide range of products at approachable price points. One such product is their plant-based protein complex. While this is the grainiest vegan protein powder on the list, it doesn’t feature the intense sweetener taste that plague some of the others as it’s sweetened with a combination of xylitol and stevia.

Unfortunately, it does tend to separate if you don’t drink it immediately. This isn’t a problem at home if you’re blending it with other things like banana and peanut butter (our fave protein shake mix-ins), but for outdoor recreation purposes, you’ll probably want to give it a shake before each sip. So while the texture may not be ideal, it’s a great value for quick and easy protein.

What we like: It contains additional vitamins, minerals, essential and non-essential amino acids, plus is budget-friendly.

19. Equate: The Cheap One

$0.92 per serving – 30g of protein

Let’s cut right to the chase. This is probably the worst protein powder I’ve ever had the displeasure of putting in my mouth. At least the vanilla flavor was. Which is why I was so surprised that the chocolate flavor was actually tolerably palatable. It’s worlds apart from its vanilla counterpart. We’re still not saying it’s amazing, but at home when you can blend it with peanut butter and banana, it’s not half bad, though may not be the most gentle on your digestive tract.

The Equate Plant Protein formula has a handful of thickeners in it that produce a fairly unpleasant consistency. The vanilla flavor is…ugh…all you can taste is the Sucralose and the unpleasantly pasty consistency. Even blending in a banana, peanut butter, and almond milk couldn’t fully cover the awful flavor or thin out the texture. The chocolate was fine.

What we like: Basically, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly protein, go with the chocolate. You’ve been warned about the vanilla. It contains additional vitamins, minerals, and 3 amino acids, has the highest protein content, and is super inexpensive.

Bottom Line and Our Favorites

Did you happen to see the pattern here? While not true every time, in general, you get what you pay for when it comes to vegan protein powder. The higher up in price we go, the better the flavors tend to be and the more palatable the texture.

While all of these vegan protein powders are perfectly valid options for shoring up your protein intake (except maybe the Equate), our top three (in no particular order) are Kachava, Vega and Form. Though if it’s caffeine you’re after in conjunction with protein, Chike is definitely an easy-drinking winner (and definitely doesn’t need mixed with anything but water), making it a great choice for a quick and easy start on trail days.

If you’re specifically looking for a meal replacement, Ka’chava takes the gold. It tastes great and contains 25g of protein and 240 calories per serving, which should help you recover after a long day of outdoor activity.

So that’s it! What vegan protein powder should we take a look at next? Let us know in the comments! We’ll be updated this list frequently, so check back any time you’re ready to try something new! So fuel up and wander on