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Best Vegan Protein Powder Products To Buy 2024
Updated on
- Written by Blanca Garcia, RDN
Medically reviewed by
Kathy Shattler, MS, RDN
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PlantFusion
- Organic, non-GMO, vegan-certified
- Dairy-free, soy-free
- Peptide Protein for ease of cellular uptake
25% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL
Naked Nutrition
- A variety of plant-based protein sources
- Variety of unconventional flavors
- One-ingredient protein powder
15% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL
Orgain Organic
- Individual packets
- Easy subscriptions and discounts
- Reward system for future purchase
Wellness and physical activity have evolved over the years, and so have protein powders that provide the nutrients for pre and post-workouts.
For years nonvegan protein powder was all there was, the only protein powders[1] available were whey protein, protein powders high in sugars or with artificial sweeteners, and in big tubs.
Now you can find many protein powders that are vegan with a complete protein source. The demand from ultra athletes, athletes, and regular old joes for top-quality protein sources has increased.
They look for the cleanest ingredients, socially and environmentally friendly practices, and third-party testing for quality. Companies are having to shift practices to meet these demands.
Luckily, if you follow a vegan diet or have special protein needs, you can now find complete vegan protein powders with a variety of protein sources.
Best Plant-Based Protein Powder Choices In October. 2024
- PlantFusion – Best Option
- Naked Nutrition – Best Variety
- Orgain – Best For A Variety Of Programs
- Gainful – Best High-End
- Ora – Best for Transparent Ingredients
- Garden of Life – Best In Powder Form
- Now Sports – Best Value
7 Best Vegan Protein Powder Supplements 2024
PlantFusion Protein Powder
25% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL
This is a simple and easy-to-choose product, that is free of major food allergens. Its trademark blends of plant-based protein help ensure all essential amino acids are available.
- Non-GMO, vegan-certified
- Dairy-free, soy-free, free of the eight major food allergens
- Peptide protein option available, for ease of cellular uptake
- It has “natural flavors,” which means it can be chemicals, carrier solvents, or preservatives
- No individual packets available for the protein powders
PlantFusion provides a vegan protein powder that has a blend of plant proteins and manages to eliminate the most common food allergens. It is open and transparent to what is inside its products; the proprietary blends are carefully chosen to provide optimum health without compromising quality.
It also provides an amino acid infusion to provide branched-chain amino acids through pea, artichoke, amaranth, and quinoa proteins. This allows it to be a complete amino acid profile. It also includes a blend of digestive enzymes that help with digestion.
Third-party testing has found heavy metals in the rice protein therefore PlantFusion has eliminated it from its products.
The products are of low glycemic index, great for those who struggle with blood sugar problems or who have diabetes, and test negative for the eight major food allergens.
You can also choose to subscribe and save or purchase bundles to mix and match.
Naked Nutrition Protein Powder
15% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL
You will get a variety of plant-based protein powder choices with interesting flavors that will amaze your palate.
- Several types of plant protein sources
- Variety of unconventional flavors
- One ingredient protein powder
- Not all products are organic, non-GMO, vegan, kosher, gluten-free
- Prices are lower with a subscription
Naked Nutrition has over 50 products, with most of them having three or fewer ingredients. Its plant-based proteins are peas, peanuts, brown rice, and pumpkin seeds. It offers 16 varieties of these proteins with flavors like strawberry banana, peanut butter, pumpkin spice, or chocolate. Also, a new product, you can get plant-based protein shakes.
You can take a quiz to find what product fits your lifestyle and goals, and you will get a 20% off coupon with your first purchase.
You can also shop by a goal; you buy products by bundles based on your goals, which includes a PDF guide from a nutritionist. So, you get a semi-customizable format with a 15% discount.
Naked Nutrition has a nicely developed blog section that covers various topics related to wellness, recipes, fitness, diet, protein, and supplements.
This blog can really help with understanding how to choose protein and supplements. This is also the only company that talks in-depth about hemp protein, and hemp seeds and why it does not offer them.
Orgain Organic Protein Powder
With an array of tasty flavor options and affordability Orgain offers choice and versatility.
- Ease of transport
- Easy subscription setup, and discounts all over the website
- Reward system for future purchase
- Not all products are organic, non-GMO, vegan, kosher, or gluten-free
- Prices are lower with a subscription
Orgain was created by an integrative medicine specialist Dr. Andrew Abraham, also a cancer survivor. Striving to provide nutritional products that are healthy and are sourced from organic ingredients.
The popular vegan protein powders have blends of plant-based proteins to optimize amino acids. It also provides a subscription service with a 25% discount on the first order, limited-time free shipping on all orders, a reward system to earn points for future purchases with 11 different ways to earn points, free samples available at the checkout, a welcome offer of 20% off your first order, $5 of coupon for any organic protein powder jug.
This company is also on board with technology; they have an application (app) called Orgain Healthcare App, a new Podcast The Good Clean Nutrition Podcast is hosted by a Registered Dietitian that helps you stay in the know with the latest nutrition topics and interviews with top experts in wellness, health, and nutrition.
Gainful Personalized Protein Powder
A luxurious experience with a personalized health assessment to choose the best vegan protein powders for your lifestyle. Includes support from a Registered Dietitian health professional.
- Personalized supplement with support from a Registered Dietitian
- Unflavored with options to add flavors
- Two different types of plant-based protein; Organic pea protein and organic brown rice protein
- Requires a survey before you can see prices
- Difficult to see the price of products at a glance for comparison
Gainful feels like a high-end service, after a health survey that asks questions about lifestyle, allergies, preferences, and goals, it personalizes a vegan protein powder that fits your needs.
This is the powder with the most flavored protein powders; you can choose from nine different flavors. You can get strawberry cream, Madagascar vanilla, rich chocolate, cafe mocha, cookies and cream, chocolate and peanut butter, Matcha Green tea, Cinnamon toast, and sea salt caramel; providing a delicious balanced choice of tastes.
At checkout, you get suggestions for an improved experience.
The cost of one purchase is not that much higher than other brands that sell a similar vegan protein powder.
A Registered Dietitian is also available for the duration of the product subscription. The Dietitian provides additional guidance with protein intake and general diet recommendations. This is a subscription service and you will get your personalized products delivered every four weeks. You may pause or cancel this subscription.
Ora Organic Plant-based Protein Powder
5% Off Coupon: HEALTHCANAL5
All products are tested by a third party for quality, heavy metals, pathogens, contaminants, and allergens, making this product great for those with food allergies.
- Third-party lab tests
- All products are plant-based protein supplement
- Screening for allergens: gluten, dairy, peanut, soy
- No individual packets available for the protein powder
- Prices are lower with a subscription
Ora Organic protein powder products are all plant-based, with ethical sourcing, and a co-founding chef who curates amazing flavors to be used on their own or in recipes.
All products are screened by a third party that goes above and beyond just testing quality. It also tests for heavy metals, pathogens, contaminants, and allergens like gluten, dairy, peanut, and soy. For a person with food allergies, this is great. Providing the results of the third-party lab tests shows it to be a trustworthy product that is transparent.
You can find Ora products online or in various stores like ULTA, Vitamin Shoppe, or other natural retailer shops. You can also choose to be in a subscription program with a guaranteed 20% discount; with the possibility of selecting the frequency you want, skipping shipments, or even delaying shipments. This is great if you need more flexibility.
Garden of Life Protein Powder
It comes with 12 certifications that fulfill rigorous standards, it provides each product with the best and cleanest ingredients for the body. It also takes into account practices that are safe for the environment.
- Certified organic, non-GMO, vegan, kosher, gluten-free
- Traceable ingredients to the source
- Live probiotics and digestive enzymes
- The vegan protein blend is not suitable for people with food allergies
- Only 2 flavors
Garden of Life has three organic plant-based vegan protein powders. They provide unflavored, chocolate, and vanilla flavor options. The protein content is a blend of several different types of plant-based proteins. The product is raw and prepared with a technique to preserve the quality of the protein. In the unflavored protein powder version, the product is stevia-free.
This label comes with a breakdown of the typical amino acid profile to help ensure you have all the amino acids your body needs. The protein blend is made of fava beans, sprouted barley protein, and rice proteins. This protein supplement contains 20 grams of protein per serving.
Garden of Life sets the bar high with 12 certifications. Some of their 12 certifications include Organic, non-GMO, Vegan, Kosher, and Gluten-Free Certifications for the products that are plant-based. Other certifications are related to being a company that is environmentally conscious and kind to animals.
Unfortunately, not all products are plant-based protein products but vegan products can be easily identifiable through certification logos.
Now Sports Protein Powder
Now Sports has an amazing variety of plant-based protein and budget-friendly ingredients. The products it carries are easy to choose from and buy.
- Variety of flavors
- Affordable
- Variety of plant-based proteins
- Not all products are organic, non-GMO, vegan, kosher, gluten-free
- No individual packets available for protein powders
Now Sports provides an easy, no-hassle buying experience, and it’s a budget-friendly option. With over 1400 products, you are sure to find the vegan protein powder you are looking for.
Their protein ingredients are not blends but often just the one plant protein with a profile of the amino acids found in the powder. Having this option allows you to be able to control what type of protein you decide to consume.
Also, by having this control, a person with food allergies can easily determine if this is a safe product for them. You can easily see the nutritional value of the one ingredient found.
Now Sports has a variety of pea proteins, organic pea protein powder or soy isolate to choose from in their protein powders. You can also find sprouted brown rice powder. If you know what you want and just want to order, this is the company that can provide ease of purchase.
Is Plant-Based Protein Better?
Yes, It’s better.
Although animal-based proteins are complete and provide all nine essential amino acids for a complete protein, there are additional health concerns from animal protein.[2]
Most plant-based proteins tend to have an incomplete essential amino acid profile. That is why a blend of plant-based proteins is usually found in a plant-based protein supplement, to complement the essential amino acid profile.
Some vegan proteins contain all 9 essential amino acids and do not have to be blended, such as organic hemp protein powder.
To choose an additional source of protein, plant-based protein powders can be a great source. Usually, the best vegan protein powder can be found if you take some factors into consideration.
How To Choose The Best Vegan Protein Powder?
When looking for a plant-based protein powder that is vegan, there is a big possibility that the choice can be confusing.
Most websites will have a dedicated menu that will guide you to the many vegan protein powder products.
The first thing to note is that products that claim to be vegan, will usually also have the vegan-certified logo right by the product or in the About section.
To find the best vegan protein powder is to find one that has a protein blend of a variety of protein sources. Those proteins will either be pea protein, brown rice protein, quinoa protein, chia protein, garbanzo protein, pumpkin seed protein, hemp, or algae to name the most popular.
This is to be able to obtain a variety of amino acids that together provide complete proteins.
Soy, hemp, and quinoa are plant-based proteins that contain all nine essential amino acids on their own and do not have to be blended with another plant protein to have a complete amino acid profile.
Dosage
When it comes to protein supplementation, the dosage can vary. Protein needs are unique to your body according to age and physical activity. That is why it is essential to have a consultation with a health professional to find out your needs.
Once you know your needs, it’s a matter of identifying which vegan protein powders provide the amount you need.
All of the best vegan protein powders mentioned above have a nutrition facts label, and you can easily determine the protein per serving and how many scoops you need based on your protein needs.
Final Thought
Finding the best vegan protein powders that offer all nine essential amino acids can be tough if you don’t know what you are looking for. But because the competition to get you as a customer can be fierce, most companies will find ways to ensure that all nine essential amino acids are included via a blend of proteins or infusion of amino acids.
This, in essence, can make it easy to choose your protein source, but it will help to know your daily protein intake needs. It is essential to understand how many grams of protein you will need to consume for optimal muscle protein synthesis or just to boost muscle growth.
The question now comes down to what you find is important in a company’s mission and what it stands for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, vegan protein powder can be good for you. It comes from plant-based foods; most companies limit unnecessary added ingredients.
Not when used according to instructions; if used in excess or if you already have a large intake of protein in your diet, you may cause your kidneys to have to work harder to process the protein. The other thing to keep in mind, if you have a kidney condition,[3] it is wise to consult with your physician before adding a protein supplement.
Yes, organic means[4] that the product has been produced through approved methods. In order to be labeled organic, the product needs to not have been exposed to synthetic fertilizers, sewage, sludge, irradiation, or genetic engineering.
When protein powder is consumed in excess, there is a possibility of weight gain. Proteins do have calories. If you are not following a regular healthy diet, not exercising, and adding these extra calories, it is a possibility.
The choice will depend on your lifestyle, preferences, needs, and goals. If you don’t have any food allergies, a good choice is a protein powder with a blend of various plant-based sources of protein.
+ 4 sources
Health Canal avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic researches from medical associations and institutions. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Health Canal, you can read more about the editorial process here
- King, S. (2020). Embodiment is Ecological: The Metabolic Lives of Whey Protein Powder – Samantha King, Gavin Weedon, 2020. [online] Body & Society. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1357034X19878775.
- Hoffman, J.R. and Falvo, M.J. (2004). Protein – Which is Best? Journal of sports science & medicine, [online] 3(3), pp.118–30. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3905294/.
- Devries, M.C., Arjun Sithamparapillai, K. Scott Brimble, Banfield, L., Morton, R.W. and Phillips, S.M. (2018). ‘Changes in Kidney Function Do Not Differ between Healthy Adults Consuming Higher- Compared with Lower- or Normal-Protein Diets: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Nutrition, [online] 148(11), pp.1760–1775. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxy197.
- Usda.gov. (2023). What is Organic? | Agricultural Marketing Service. [online] Available at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/what-organic.
Written by:
Blanca Garcia, RDN
Medically reviewed by:
Medically reviewed by:
