Best Vegan Protein Powders

Vegan Protein Powder Buyers Guide

What do we look for in a quality vegan protein powder?

An excellent way for any vegan to overcome any potential deficiencies in their plant-based diet and to hit sufficient levels for optimal muscle growth is to use a high-quality plant-based vegan protein powder. There are some key things that we look for when reviewing and deciding how good a protein powder is. Only the products that scored highly in each of our review categories made it onto our top picks.

How much protein do you get per serving?

Pay close attention to the amount of protein you are getting per serving. An excellent average range to aim for is around 20 grams of protein per serving. Some companies may state that you get a high amount of servings per bottle, but if the serving size is only 10-15 grams of protein then your product will not last as long as you would have intended and the value for money will have decreased since you will need more servings to hit an optimal amount per serving. 25-30g per serving is in the higher range.

This is great for athletes or very active individuals. 20 grams of protein per serving is brilliant for the vegan who has a very balanced diet with high protein foods but once an additional daily boost to either make sure protein levels are an optimal range for muscle recovery or to ensure there is a wide enough range of amino acids in your diet.

What is the source of protein?

As vegans, we want to avoid any protein derived from meat or dairy, which will mainly be whey protein. The main four protein sources we look for are soy, pea, hemp, and rice protein. 

For those without food intolerances, a soy protein bar or protein blend using a mix of the four is a great choice. Great for providing a varied amino acid profile to your diet, allowing you to reap the benefits of each one.

If you have a sensitive digestive system, it is better to choose a hypoallergenic protein source such as pea or rice protein. Picking a formula with minimal ingredients will allow you to monitor exactly what you are consuming and can prevent any potential allergic reactions.

Calories per serving

The importance of calories in your protein shake will depend on your goals. For those trying to bulk, you should look for a clean plant protein powder with a high protein and calories per serving ranging from 150-200.

For those trying to lose weight or maintain current body composition while retaining muscle a lower calorie per serving with a high overall protein ratio is the best option. A protein amount per serving of 20-25 grams with a calorie amount of 80-100 per serving is a good range.

When analyzing calories, make sure the bulk of the caloric content comes from the protein. Look out for a high caloric content that has come from added sugars or unnecessary filler ingredients.

Taste

It is well known that some lower quality plant protein powders have the potential to taste pretty bad like a unique blend of chalk and salty dust, but many on the market do taste absolutely delicious. The job is trying to find the right ones.

We only picked the vegan protein powders that scored high for taste since this is essential to a pleasant protein shake, especially after a workout. Vegan protein powders usually come either unflavoured for mixing in things like cereal or a fruit smoothie where you want a protein boost while still retaining the fruit flavor. Or they come with a choice of flavors with the usual favorites chocolate vanilla and strawberry. Vanilla and chocolate flavor are usually the best since they tend to taste the most natural and require the least additional ingredients to obtain their flavor. The flavored variety is great for making vegan milkshakes, vegan waffles, or just as a delicious shake mixed with nut milk after training.

Mixability

If you have purchased a low-quality protein shake before, you will likely have experienced the frustration of a powder that doesn’t mix well, resulting in unwanted clumps of protein. 

A key factor for all of our top picks is efficient mixability. A smooth vegan powder that can mix well with water, juice, or your favorite choice of nut milk is essential.

Yeast, Corn, Soy, and Gluten-free and other additives?

For those with a sensitive digestive system, it is essential to avoid yeast corn gluten and sometimes soy. We recommend choosing a rice or pea protein powder since they are hypoallergenic and are the easiest to digest.

The best vegan protein powders will have minimal additives. What we are looking for is a small and clean ingredients list. Some companies may add extra ingredients to make their protein appear unique. It is important to ensure any added ingredients provide an ultimate benefit and aren’t just empty calories. 

An exception to this rule is if the company adds natural ingredients that boost the nutritional value of the product.

Organic and Non-GMO 

It is paramount any product chosen uses organic ingredients and non-GMO to ensure a minimal amount of chemicals in your shake. This will allow your body to make the most of the nutrients contained within the protein shake.

Be aware the if a product is Non-GMO but doesn’t state organic, it still may contain vegetables that had pesticides or herbicides used on them, so always look for the organic label in the ingredients.

Vegan friendly?

Always lookout for a vegan label on the product to ensure that the supplement is vegan-friendly. You want to avoid protein powders derived from whey or casein, which both come from dairy. 

If there is no vegan label or certification on your vegan protein powders packaging, then there is a high chance the protein powder will contain whey. Always read the label and nutrition info to avoid any mishaps. 

Value

How many servings do you get per bottle? What is the cost per serving?And how many grams of plant proteins are you getting for the price?

Always compare serving amounts to the overall cost of the product and other similar products to make sure you are getting the best value for money.

The second thing to pay attention to is whether the company provides a return or guarantee with the purchase. When a company offers a way for you to return your product if you are not satisfied, it instills confidence in your purchase and the brand.

Primary sources of protein for Vegan protein powders 

Most vegan protein powders will be created with a unique blend of 4 lactose-free protein sources with a few extra vitamins and minerals thrown in to create their own unique vegan protein blends.

The main four are:

Soy beans

The downside to soy products is that some people are allergic/sensitive to it or may simply want to avoid it, so a pea protein source may be a better alternative.

Peas

Peas are an overall wonder protein source but are overall low in methionine, which is one of the essential amino acids we cant create ourselves. To compensate for the small amounts of methionine in pea protein, they can be combined with brown rice protein since it is high in methionine.

Brown rice

The main downside to rice protein is that it is low in lysine, which is a vital amino acid. A solution to the low lysine content is to either buy a protein shake with a blend of peas, hemp, or soya. The other option is to make sure as part of your balanced diet to add in plant-based foods high in lysine such as quinoa, tempeh, black beans, and lentils.

Hemp

Blending for smooth protein shakes

For those who want to make the smoothest protein shakes without the powdery lumps in the quickest time possible check our top 5 blenders for protein shakes to find a quality blender for the perfect protein shake.

For more in-depth information on vegan protein and amino acid profiles, check out our detailed vegan protein guide to help you master protein on a vegan diet.

Frequently asked questions

Want to get more out of your vegan diet?

Why not try out some of our delicious vegan recipes, high in plant protein, to boost your essential amino acid intake and bring balance back to your diet!

• Incredible tofu and broccoli stir fry noodles
• Delicious vegan falafel recipe
• Amazing vegan chicken wings recipe
• Tantalizing vegan bean curry 

To learn everything you need to know about protein on a vegan diet check out our free, informative guide on plant-based protein.