Getting enough protein on a vegan diet isn’t always a piece of cake. (We’re talking vegan cake, of course.) So we’ve curated this list of the 12 best vegan protein powders to help you stay healthy, fit, and free of animal products.
Farther down, we explain our process for selecting the best plant-based protein powders. We also lay out research-backed info on the best ways to take protein powder.
| Quick Glance: 4 of 12 | ||
 | Best Vegan: Swolverine – PLANTPRO5 Plant-Based Protein “This massive tub of vegan protein delivers naturally delicious flavor and diverse protein sources.” | Check Price 10% off coupon |
 | Runner-Up: Snap Supplements – Plant Protein with Nitric Oxide Booster “This delicious, easy-mix protein powder is a tasty treat for any vegan diet.” | Check Price 20% off coupon |
 | Highest Protein Content: Naked – Pea Protein Isolate “This protein-packed pea isolate powder is perfect for anyone with high protein needs.” | Check Price 10% off coupon |
 | Diverse Protein Pick: KOS – Organic Vegan Protein Blend “This vegan protein powder has a complete amino acid profile with just a handful of natural, organic ingredients.” | Check Price |
Top 12 Best Vegan Protein Powders
Best Vegan Protein Powder Overall
Swolverine – PLANTPRO5 Plant-Based Protein
- 100% plant-based
- Diverse protein sources
- Delicious flavor
| 30g ≈ 1 oz ≈ 1/4 cup | |||
18g protein | 6g carbs | 2.6g fats | 111 calories |
Swolverine’s massive, two-pound tub of plant-based protein takes the cake for our top vegan protein powder.
Exquisitely flavored with redwood dutch cocoa and naturally sweetened with a little bit of stevia, this first-class protein powder makes delicious shakes. Mix it into water or coconut milk for a traditional shake or stir it into some coffee for a delightful sugar-free protein mocha!
And unlike some vegan protein powders, it’s a complete source of protein. A blend of pea, hemp, quinoa, sacha inchi, and pumpkin seed protein sources, it contains all essential amino acids needed to build muscle.
BOTTOM LINE
This massive tub of vegan protein delivers naturally delicious flavor and diverse protein sources.
Runner-Up Best Vegan Protein Powder
Snap Supplements – Plant Protein with Nitric Oxide Booster
- Vegan
- Complete protein
- Delicious flavors
| 30g ≈ 1 oz ≈ 1/4 cup | |||
22g protein | 1g carbs | 2.1g fats | 105 calories |
Protein Sources: Brown rice, yellow peas, lentils
Snap Supplements’ vegan plant protein is a great option for clean and delicious muscle fuel. With protein derived from brown rice, yellow peas, and lentils, you’re getting a complete amino acid profile that measures up closely with animal protein sources. (See this table for a comparison.)
Available in a handful of delectable flavors, this powder is a treat whether mixed into water or blended into a smoothie. And we were even able to fully dissolve the powder with only some brisk stirring—no blender needed.
BOTTOM LINE
This delicious, easy-mix protein powder is a tasty treat for any vegan diet.
Highest Protein Content
- Vegan
- High protein content
- 1-3 ingredients
| 30g ≈ 1 oz ≈ 1/4 cup | |||
27g protein | 2g carbs | 0.5g fat | 120 calories |
Protein Sources: Yellow pea
Naked delivers pea-based powder with the highest protein content of any other powder on this list.
With the unflavored version, you’re getting nothing but pure yellow pea protein isolate. If you pick vanilla, chocolate, or matcha, you get just two additional ingredients for flavoring.
BOTTOM LINE
This protein-packed pea isolate powder is perfect for anyone with high protein needs.
Diverse Protein Source Pick
KOS – Organic Vegan Protein Blend
| 30g ≈ 1 oz ≈ 1/4 cup | |||
15.4g protein | 6.9g carbs | 4.6g fat | 131 calories |
Protein Sources: Pea, flaxseed, quinoa, pumpkin seed, chia
KOS’s plant-based protein powder is super clean and great for any goal.
This 100% vegan blend of pea, flaxseed, quinoa, pumpkin seed, and chia seed is one of the most diverse plant-based protein powders available. The selection of protein sources adds up to a complete amino acid profile, so you don’t have to worry about protein quality on a vegan diet.
This vegan protein powder is completely organic and non-GMO. It’s also sweetened with coconut and monk fruit instead of sugar or artificial sweeteners, making this a great pick even for those on the strictest diets.
BOTTOM LINE
This vegan protein powder has a complete amino acid profile with just a handful of natural, organic ingredients.
Best Vegan Protein Powder for Weight Loss
| 30g ≈ 1 oz ≈ 1/4 cup | |||
20.3g protein | 4.1g carbs | 1.6g fat | 105 calories |
Protein Sources: Pea, hemp seed, pumpkin seed, alfalfa
High-quality protein without the high calorie count makes this the best plant-based protein powder for weight loss. It contains low levels of carbs, fats, and calories, without compromising on quality. In fact, you can count all the ingredients on your fingers—all vegan and non-GMO.
This powder’s protein content comes from a blend of pea, hemp, pumpkin, and alfalfa. Some of these, like hemp protein powder, are already complete proteins. This means that this powder contains all essential amino acids. The high protein quality and low calorie content add up to make this the best plant-based protein powder for weight loss.
BOTTOM LINE
With a low calorie count, healthy ingredients, and high-quality protein, this is one of the best vegan protein powders for weight loss.
Best Vegan Protein Powder for Bodybuilding
Garden of Life – Plant-Based BCAA Protein
| 30g ≈ 1 oz ≈ 1/4 cup | |||
21.4g protein | 2.9g carbs | 2.1g fat | 114 calories |
Protein Sources: Pea, navy bean, lentil, garbanzo bean, cranberry seed
With some of the highest protein content backed by BCAAs, this is the best vegan protein powder for bodybuilding.
This vegan protein powder is perfect for bulking. It’s made from all organic peas, navy beans, lentils, garbanzo beans, and cranberry seed. This blend adds up to a complete essential amino acid profile, making this a complete protein.
This is one of the best plant-based protein powders for bodybuilding not only because of its high protein content, but also for its BCAAs. Branched chain amino acids are incredibly helpful for bodybuilders, as they can help boost muscle building and decrease muscle breakdown after working out.1Postexercise net protein synthesis in human muscle from orally administered amino acids
BOTTOM LINE
It’s simple math: Complete protein + high protein content + BCAAs = one of the best vegan protein powders for bodybuilding.
Best Vegan Meal Replacement Protein
SB Organics – Vegan Meal Replacement Powder (Vanilla)
| 30g ≈ 1 oz ≈ 1/4 cup | |||
16.2g protein | 5.7g carbs | 4.9g fat | 130 calories |
Protein Sources: Pea, flaxseed, quinoa trim, pumpkin seed
Sometimes you have to skip a meal. This probiotic, vitamin and mineral-packed protein powder is a great fallback.
SB Organics is an underdog brand with a top-notch vegan meal replacement protein powder. This organic powder is chock-full of protein, probiotics, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. It makes great vegan protein shakes for supporting a healthy diet, feeding muscles after a workout, or for replacing a meal here and there.
BOTTOM LINE
This nutrient-rich probiotic powder is one of the best vegan meal replacement protein powders.
Fun Flavors Pick
PlantFusion – Complete Vegan Protein
| 30g ≈ 1 oz ≈ 1/4 cup | |||
21g protein | 2g carbs | 3g fat | 120 calories |
Protein Sources: Pea, artichoke, algae
Available in cookies n cream, vanilla, chocolate, and red velvet, this vegan powder is sure to please the palate.
Featured on our list of gluten-free protein powders, this organic, non-GMO plant-based protein powder is a delicious pick. Not everyone wants to take the time to craft their protein shakes from scratch with unflavored powder. The answer is simple: delicious as-is protein powder.
We’ve featured the cookies n cream flavor here, but this best-tasting vegan protein powder is also available in chocolate, red velvet, and vanilla. You can’t go wrong with any option.
BOTTOM LINE
Looking for some delicious protein? This is some of the best-tasting plant-based protein powder on the market.
Most Nutritious Vegan Protein Powder
EarthChimp – Vegan Protein Supershake
| 30g ≈ 1 oz ≈ 1/4 cup | |||
15g protein | 13.5g carbs | 1.9g fat | 113 calories |
Protein Sources: Pea, pumpkin, sunflower
This plant-based protein powder, made by a small Irish team, is packed with organic superfoods and probiotics.
This vegan protein shake is more like a healthy smoothie than a simple protein drink. This small, Dublin-based company mixes in organic fruits and vegetables, including dates, bananas, strawberries, beets, kale, and spinach. And that’s on top of a high-protein base of pea, pumpkin, and sunflower powders!
This company’s goal has been to create a healthy, all-natural, vegan protein powder without being too sweet. If you’re hesitant about the superfood approach, they do offer a 30-day, no-questions-asked money-back guarantee.
BOTTOM LINE
This is a delicious, healthy, plant-based protein powder packed with superfoods and probiotics.
Most Allergy-Friendly Vegan Protein
OWYN – Allergy Friendly Vegan Protein
| 30g ≈ 1 oz ≈ 1/4 cup | |||
15.6g protein | 7g carbs | 3.1g fat | 117 calories |
Protein Sources: Pea, pumpkin, chia
If you have any common food sensitivity, this vegan protein powder is for you. No trace of gluten, dairy, peanuts, soy, and more.
This vegan protein powder lives up to its name: Only What You Need. And if you have food allergies, “what you need” doesn’t include gluten, dairy, peanuts, or whatever your aversion may be. This plant-based protein powder is tested for traces of all top 8 allergens after production. It contains no trace of peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, soy, gluten, eggs, shellfish, or fish.
And this plant-based protein powder is notable for more than just what it doesn’t contain. On top of its vegan complete protein blend, it contains zucchini, spinach, broccoli, and kale for some extra green superfood oomph.
BOTTOM LINE
This allergy-friendly plant-based protein powder is a go-to for anyone with food allergies.
Most Keto-Friendly Vegan Protein Powder
Sunwarrior – Plant-Based Keto Protein
| 30g ≈ 1 oz ≈ 1/4 cup | |||
21.6g protein | 2.4g carbs | 2.4g fat | 120 calories |
Protein Sources: Pea, hemp, goji berry
This MCT-oil packed vegan protein powder is perfect for anyone on a keto diet.
This powder is low in carbs, high in protein, and contains MCT oil for an immediate ketone supply (which you can read about in our guide on the best keto protein powders). You can also take a look at our MCT oil guide for more information and top picks.
In addition to containing keto-promoting MTC oil, the protein content itself is phenomenal. The blend of pea, hemp, and goji berry sources makes a complete protein source with every essential amino acid.
BOTTOM LINE
This low-carb, high-protein, MCT oil vegan protein powder is perfect for keto-conscious vegans.
Best Collagen Support
Amazing Grass – GLOW Vegan Protein Powder
| 30g ≈ 1 oz ≈ 1/4 cup | |||
21.4g protein | 2.9g carbs | 2.1g fat | 114 calories |
Protein Sources: Pea, brown rice
This plant-based collagen support protein powder will leave your skin and hair positively GLOWing.
Since practically all dietary collagen comes from animal sources, it can be hard for people on vegan diets to get the collagen they need. That’s why natural collagen synthesis (that is, the body’s own production of collagen) is incredibly important.
To support natural collagen synthesis, GLOW vegan protein powder contains vitamin C from organic acerola cherry, as well as other vitamins and minerals. Available in three delicious flavors, this is a fantastic plant-based pick for hair, skin, and nail support.
BOTTOM LINE
This plant-based protein powder contains vitamins and minerals for supporting hair, skin, and nail health.
How to Shop for the Best Vegan Protein Powders
Picking the best vegan protein powders for your goals isn’t easy. Here are a few considerations to bear in mind.
Complete vs. Incomplete Proteins
To immediately answer a question many readers will have, every protein powder listed on this page is a complete protein source. This means that no matter which plant-based protein powder you pick, you’ll be meeting your body’s protein needs.
Proteins are made up of amino acids. There are 8 amino acids that the body can’t produce and must come from diet—or 9 if you’re in infant, which you probably aren’t. These are called essential amino acids, and proteins that contain all 8 are called complete proteins.
Most animal protein sources are complete proteins. This means that foods such as meats or whey, casein, or egg white protein powders are complete proteins. However, by the very definition of veganism, these foods are off limits.
On the other hand, most plant-based protein sources are incomplete proteins, missing one or more essential amino acid. There are a few vegan foods that are complete protein sources, though.
A Few Complete Vegan Proteins
- Soy
- Hempseed
- Lentils
- Certain peas
- Quinoa
- Certain types of rice
- Chia seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
Note that some of these, such as hempseed, contain low levels of one or more essential amino acid. This means that although they’re complete, you’ll want to vary your protein sources to fill those weaknesses.
So if you were taking hemp protein powder or brown rice protein powder, you would want to ensure you’re also incorporating quinoa, lentils, or another complete protein in your diet. If you’re trying to maintain a healthy vegan diet, you should be doing this anyway.
Is Whey Protein Vegan?
No, whey protein is not vegan. Whey is a byproduct of cow’s milk in the process of cheesemaking. Since this milk comes from cows, whey is off the menu.
This is unfortunate for vegans because whey protein powder is generally regarded as one of the best protein powders. There are plenty of good options, though, which you can read about in our guide on the best protein powders by type.
How to Take Vegan Protein Powder
Once you’ve picked the best vegan protein powder for whatever your goals may, you’ll need to figure out how to take it. Here’s some helpful information on when to take your plant-based protein powder and how much to take.
How Much Vegan Protein to Take
- For Building Muscle
There has been a lot of research on the ideal amount of protein to take. If your goal is to build up muscle mass, that research has shown that it’s best to consume 0.73 to 1.1 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight each day (or 1.6 to 2.4 grams per kilogram of weight).2A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults3Do athletes need more dietary protein and amino acids? And bear in mind that the more you lift weights and work out, the more protein you’ll need.
For building muscle with vegan protein powder, we would recommend Garden of Life’s high-protein, BCAA-packed plant-based protein powder.
- For Weight Loss
If you’re wanting to lost fat, studies have demonstrated that consuming 0.36 to 0.73 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight is best (or 0.8 to 1.6 grams per kilogram of bodyweight).4A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults5Dietary protein intake and human health. And with any protein recommendations, the more you work out, the more you’re wall to take.
For weight loss goals, we recommend Vega’s plant-based clean protein powder, because it’s low in calories and contains only a handful of clean, non-GMO ingredients.
When to Take Your Vegan Protein
- For Building Muscle
For anyone with a goal of building muscle mass, research has demonstrated the best time to take a protein supplement is right after each workout. Here are a few ways that can help boost your muscle-building potential.
Benefits of post-workout protein:
- Boosted muscle protein synthesis (muscle tissue building)6Reduced resting skeletal muscle protein synthesis is rescued by resistance exercise and protein ingestion following short-term energy deficit.7Regulation of Muscle Glycogen Repletion, Muscle Protein Synthesis and Repair Following Exercise
- Increased muscle mass over time8A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults
- Improved glycogen production and storage (a form of muscle energy)9Early postexercise muscle glycogen recovery is enhanced with a carbohydrate-protein supplement10Postexercise protein-carbohydrate and carbohydrate supplements increase muscle glycogen in men and women
- Increased strength and performance levels11THE EFFECT OF A CARBOHYDRATE AND PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT ON RESISTANCE EXERCISE PERFORMANCE, HORMONAL RESPONSE, AND MUSCLE DAMAGE12Timing of postexercise protein intake is important for muscle hypertrophy with resistance training in elderly humans
- Decreased muscle damage13Effect of milk-based carbohydrate-protein supplement timing on the attenuation of exercise-induced muscle damage
- Decrease delayed-onset muscle soreness14Acute milk-based protein–CHO supplementation attenuates exercise-induced muscle damage
This is important for women as well as men, no matter the fitness goal. Since muscle is more calorie-hungry than fat, it helps to best your calorie burning potential (even when resting). So the more muscle you have, the more calories you’ll burn. For more information, you can read our guide on the best protein powders for women.
- For Weight Loss
For anyone wanting to drop a few pounds, it’s still best to take your protein shake right after each workout. As touched on above, this helps boost muscle mass, which in turn helps with burning more calories.
For anyone who doesn’t work out, it’s best to drink a protein shake in between meals. Research has shown that this helps with losing more fat than drinking protein shakes with meals.15Effects of protein supplements consumed with meals, versus between meals, on resistance training–induced body composition changes in adults: a systematic review Of course, you’ll want to make sure you to go over your calorie goals.
For more information the best dosage and timing for vegan protein powder, check out our protein powder guide.
Brief Protein Overview
What if you’re on a vegan diet but you’re not sure whether plant-based protein powders are for you? Here’s a brief overview on protein itself to help you make an informed decision.
What Are Proteins?
As discussed above, proteins are made up of amino acids, the building blocks of the entire body. They’re used for all sorts of structures throughout the body, from building muscle tissue to tendons. They also play other important roles in many bodily functions.
There are 20 total amino acids. Eight of these, called essential amino acids, cannot be produced by the body and must come from diet. (There 9 essential amino acids for infants.)
Complete proteins contain all 8 essential amino acids, and incomplete proteins don’t. Most animal food sources are complete, and most plant food sources are incomplete. There are exceptions to both rules, of course.
Benefits of Protein Supplements
The following information is summarized from our complete protein powder guide. Give it a read for more thorough information.
Athletics
- Building and Preserving Muscle Mass
Research has shown that taking protein supplements in addition to working out (particularly lifting weights) leads to increased muscle mass.16Whey Protein Supplementation Improves Body Composition and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Overweight and Obese Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis17A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults
There are a few primary reasons behind this. One of the biggest is that drinking a protein supplement after working out has two immediate effects. First, the supply of amino acids from the protein stops the body from breaking down muscle. Secondly, the body starts to speed up muscle tissue synthesis (muscle creation) when supplied with plenty of amino acids directly following a workout.18Reduced resting skeletal muscle protein synthesis is rescued by resistance exercise and protein ingestion following short-term energy deficit.19Postexercise net protein synthesis in human muscle from orally administered amino acids20Protein requirements and muscle mass/strength changes during intensive training in novice bodybuilders.21Effects of exaggerated amino acid and protein supply in man.
- Boosting Performance and Decreasing Soreness
Protein supplements help with more than just building up muscle size. Research has demonstrated that drinking a protein shake after each workout can lead to increased strength, performance levels, and one repetition max.22A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults/mfn]22Timing of postexercise protein intake is important for muscle hypertrophy with resistance training in elderly humans23Effects of resistance training and protein plus amino acid supplementation on muscle anabolism, mass, and strength
There are three major reasons behind this. First, protein supplements simply help the body produce more muscle tissue, as discussed above.
Second, drinking protein after an intense workout helps restore muscle glycogen, a primary energy source. 24Early postexercise muscle glycogen recovery is enhanced with a carbohydrate-protein supplement25Carbohydrate-protein complex increases the rate of muscle glycogen storage after exercise26Postexercise protein-carbohydrate and carbohydrate supplements increase muscle glycogen in men and women27Regulation of Muscle Glycogen Repletion, Muscle Protein Synthesis and Repair Following Exercise
And finally, post-workout protein also reduces muscle soreness. Since sore, damaged muscle fiber can’t perform as well as it normally could, reducing soreness results in increased performance and resultant strength gains over time. 28THE EFFECT OF A CARBOHYDRATE AND PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT ON RESISTANCE EXERCISE PERFORMANCE, HORMONAL RESPONSE, AND MUSCLE DAMAGE29Effect of milk-based carbohydrate-protein supplement timing on the attenuation of exercise-induced muscle damage30Acute milk-based protein–CHO supplementation attenuates exercise-induced muscle damage
SUMMARY
Taking protein supplements can help with gaining muscle mass, boosting performance, and decreasing soreness.
Weight Loss
Research has demonstrated that drinking protein shakes can help with reducing fat mass while increasing or maintaining muscle mass.31Whey Protein Supplementation Improves Body Composition and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Overweight and Obese Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis32A whey-protein supplement increases fat loss and spares lean muscle in obese subjects: a randomized human clinical study33Effects of protein supplements consumed with meals, versus between meals, on resistance training–induced body composition changes in adults: a systematic review
There are a few contributing factors here. The simplest is that protein shakes are filling, and can often replace unhealthy food choices. They can help with both appetite control and responsible dietary choices.
But beyond simple meal replacements, protein shakes help increase muscle mass, which in turns helps with burning fat.
Even at rest, muscle consumes more calories than fat does. This means that the more muscle tissue you have, the higher your resting metabolism. And the higher your resting metabolism, the easier it is to maintain a calorie deficit and burn fat.
SUMMARY
Protein supplements can help with losing fat and maintaining calorie-burning muscle mass.
Summary
Plant-based protein supplements are very helpful for those on vegan diets. There are a lot of different types of vegan protein powders to choose from, but you should be able to make a more informed decision now.
For more information on protein supplementation, see our complete protein powder guide.
| Overview | ||
| Best Vegan: Swolverine – PLANTPRO5 Plant-Based Protein “This massive tub of vegan protein delivers naturally delicious flavor and diverse protein sources.” | Check Price 10% off coupon |
| Runner-Up: Snap Supplements – Plant Protein with Nitric Oxide Booster “This delicious, easy-mix protein powder is a tasty treat for any vegan diet.” | Check Price 20% off coupon |
| Highest Protein Content: Naked – Pea Protein Isolate “This protein-packed pea isolate powder is perfect for anyone with high protein needs.” | Check Price 10% off coupon |
| | Diverse Protein Pick: KOS – Organic Vegan Protein Blend “This vegan protein powder has a complete amino acid profile with just a handful of natural, organic ingredients.” | Check Price |
 | Best for Weight Loss: Vega – Clean Vegan Protein “High-quality protein without the high calorie count makes this one of the best plant-based protein powder for weight loss.” | Check Price |
 | Best for Bodybuilding: Garden of Life – Plant-Based BCAA Protein “With some of the highest protein content backed by BCAAs, this is the best vegan protein powder for bodybuilding.” | Check Price |
 | Meal Replacement: SB Organics – Vegan Meal Replacement Powder “Sometimes you have to skip a meal. This probiotic, vitamin and mineral-packed protein powder is a great fallback.” | Check Price |
 | Fun Flavors Pick: PlantFusion – Complete Vegan Protein “Available in cookies n cream, vanilla, chocolate, and red velvet, this vegan powder is sure to please the palate.” | Check Price |
 | Most Nutritious: EarthChimp – Vegan Protein Supershake “This plant-based protein powder, made by a small Irish team, is packed with organic superfoods and probiotics.” | Check Price |
 | Allergy-Friendliest: OWYN – Allergy Friendly Vegan Protein “If you have any common food sensitivity, this vegan protein powder is for you. No trace of gluten, dairy, peanuts, soy, and more.” | Check Price |
 | Best for Keto: Sunwarrior – Plant-Based Keto Protein “This MCT-oil packed vegan protein powder is perfect for anyone on a keto diet.” | Check Price |
 | Best Collagen Support: Amazing Grass – GLOW Vegan Protein Powder “This plant-based collagen support protein powder will leave your skin and hair positively GLOWing.” | Check Price |