11 Best Vegan Protein Powders, According to Registered Dietitians

Orgain’s plant-based powder boasts 21 grams of protein from pea, rice, and chia seed, and has 7 grams of prebiotic fiber per serving. Prebiotic fiber is a type of dietary fiber that can’t be digested by the body, which means it serves as food for the healthy microoganisms, or probiotics, in your lower digestive tract. Consuming prebiotic fiber can help improve digestive issues and supports gut health, so if you’re struggling with bloating or constipation, this might be a good option for you. Orgain’s powder also has 15 grams of carbs, which makes it a great choice for athletes looking to replenish carb sources post-workout, says Terry. It contains sunflower oil as well, which is a great source of poly- and monounsaturated fatty acids for heart health, Barrett says.

“Orgain is a known name in the plant-protein world, and the product has improved over the years in texture and flavor,” Terry says. “Personally, I still find it a bit earthy for my preferences.” But if other protein powders taste too sweet to you, this one might be worth a try, says Alison L., who works for a sports apparel brand. She drinks the chocolate flavor with just water or milk, and uses the vanilla in smoothies or mixes it into foods. “I’m a big fan of the flavor. That’s the main reason I buy it,” she says. “The main nonvegan alternative I have tasted is whey-based powders, and I find those vanilla flavors to be super sweet, or taste very artificial to me. The vegan ones taste a bit more natural, just more like vanilla extract was added or something,” she says.

• Protein per serving: 21 g
• Servings per container: 20
• Protein type: Pea, brown rice, chia seed
• Pros: Organic; no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or carrageenan; high in prebiotic fiber and carbs
• Cons: May be too earthy and gritty for some

If you find most vegan protein powders unpleasant on your palate, go for this pick that comes in many fun flavors, including chocolate cereal milk, pancake batter, and Cinnabon. Each flavor mixes well, whether you’re drinking it on its own as a protein shake or incorporating it into homemade waffle batter, oatmeal, or yogurt.

One serving delivers 20 grams of protein in a package of 110 to 120 calories (depending on the flavor). The protein comes from a diverse blend of pea, watermelon seed, and pumpkin seed, which also contributes to the 2 grams of fiber in each serving. Barrett recommends Ghost’s vegan protein powder for people who are looking to avoid added sugars but still want something flavorful.

Tip: Add a scoop of the Cinnabon flavor to your pancake batter for a cinnamon-bun-inspired breakfast that’ll hold you over for hours.

• Protein per serving: 20 g
• Servings per container: 28 (per 2.2-lb. container)
• Protein type: Pea, watermelon seed, pumpkin seed
• Pros: Contains multiple protein sources; tastes good and dissolves well; free of added sugars
• Cons: Sweetened with sucralose, an artificial sweetener

One scoop of this powder contains 20 grams of protein from a blend of pea protein isolate and rice protein, providing a complete amino acid profile, and there are only 2 grams of sugar per serving. It’s free of artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, or carrageenan (these may cause gas, bloating, diarrhea, or upset stomach in some people), and it’s NSF Certified for Sport as well as Informed Sport certified, meaning it’s gone through third-party testing to ensure the ingredients listed on the package are what’s actually in the product. “I think this is one of the best-tasting protein powders,” says Kristy Baumann, RDN, LDN, who works with athletes to fuel their training. “It mixes well with water, has a smooth consistency, and doesn’t taste chalky like other brands.”

• Protein per serving: 20 g
• Servings per container: 20
• Protein type: Pea protein isolate, rice protein concentrate
• Pros: Tastes good; third-party-tested; no artificial sweeteners
• Cons: Expensive

This powder is packed with 25 grams of pea, sunflower, and pumpkin proteins (making a complete protein profile), as well as 4 grams of BCAAs. It also contains 2 grams of leucine, an amino acid shown to help repair muscle damage, which makes it a great post-workout, muscle-building companion. Terry is a big fan of Ascent and orders their products for her gym. “It blends well—it requires four to six more ounces of water than their whey product—is third-party-tested, and has no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or colors,” she says, noting that among her clients, chocolate seems to be the favorite flavor though reactions to the flavors are mixed.

• Protein per serving: 25 g
• Servings per container: 18
• Protein type: Pea, sunflower, pumpkin
• Pros: Third-party-tested; no artificial sweeteners
• Cons: Not all flavors get good feedback

For some folks, making gains on a vegan diet can be difficult, and that’s where this vegan protein powder comes in. Two scoops of Transparent Labs Vegan Mass Gainer give you 730 calories, 52 grams of protein, and 115 grams of carbs. “This is for the serious athlete with long, intense workouts who needs to pack on the pounds for their sport of choice,” Barrett says. “My female collegiate rowing athlete needed to consume over 4,000 calories a day, and it was a challenge at times to eat that amount. This protein powder would help her get more macros in a small size.” We also love that this mass gainer is free of artificial sweeteners, gluten-free, and third-party-tested for quality and purity.

• Protein per serving: 21 g
• Servings per container: 30
• Protein type: Pea protein isolate
• Pros: Tastes good and dissolves well; third-party-tested; free of artificial sugars and colors
• Cons: Expensive compared with other options

This Now Sports protein powder is made from non-GMO soy protein isolate, which is about 90% protein. That makes this powder high in protein and lower in total calories compared with many other vegan protein sources. One serving of this powder packs 20 grams of protein for just 90 calories, so its macro profile is pretty comparable to that of whey protein powder.

“Soy protein is often easily tolerated by certain individuals who may struggle with whey protein,” says Megan Hilbert, RD, a dietitian with Top Nutrition Coaching. “Some studies show that soy protein may also help maintain a healthy gut barrier, making it easy for your body to digest nutrients,” Sheth says. We like that this protein supplement is third-party-tested and certified by Informed Sport, which attests to its quality and purity.

Tip: This protein powder doesn’t contain any fiber, so Sheth recommends adding chia seeds or high-fiber fruit (such as berries, apples, or pears) to your smoothie when using this powder.

• Protein per serving: 20 g
• Servings per container: 28 (per 2-lb. container)
• Protein type: Soy isolate
• Pros: Great protein-to-calorie ratio; third-party-tested; made with non-GMO soybeans
• Cons: Not suitable for people with soy allergy

This high-quality pea protein isolate contains just one single ingredient: yellow pea protein. A two-scoop serving packs an impressive 27 grams of protein for just 120 calories. “Pea protein is a great source of branched-chain amino acids, which are beneficial in increasing muscle growth as well as promoting healthy blood flow to the heart,” Hilbert says. Naked’s pea protein powder is also great for those who may have allergies, as it’s naturally vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free.

“Naked is one of my favorite brands to recommend, especially for folks who want the simplest protein powder with nothing extra added, including sweeteners, colors, flavors, and proprietary blends,” says Terry.

Fair warning: The pea taste is pretty apparent, but Naked’s protein powder comes in different flavors like double chocolate and chocolate peanut butter that make this product easy to drink. “This tastes best when paired with fruits, milks, nut butters, etc., in a smoothie or yogurt bowl,” says Terry.

• Protein per serving: 27 g
• Servings per container: 15 (1-lb. container)
• Protein type: Yellow pea protein
• Pros: Great protein-to-calorie ratio; third-party-tested; free of added sugar
• Cons: Pea taste is strong

Hemp seed has a complete amino acid profile, deeming this a great pick to include in a balanced diet. “Along with being a good source of protein, hemp also contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation and maintain good heart health and brain function,” Hilbert says.

Manitoba Harvest protein powder contains 14 grams of protein per serving for 130 calories. Although it has less protein than other powders on this list, it makes up for in fiber. It boasts 13 grams of fiber per serving—that’s an impressive 46% of your daily value. “Fiber plays an essential role in digestive and gut health and helps stabilize blood sugar to reduce cravings and keep us feeling fuller for longer,” Hilbert says.

Tip: If you want to up the protein content of your shake, Sheth recommends blending this powder with nondairy yogurt and nuts or seed butter for an extra protein boost. Plus, these can help improve the powder’s slightly gritty texture.

• Protein per serving: 13 g
• Servings per container: 13 (per 1-lb. container)
• Protein type: Hemp
• Pros: A rich source of fiber and omega-3s; free of added sugar
• Cons: Lower in protein compared with other options

This plant-based protein powder from Natreve is made with a variety of non-GMO vegan proteins including pea, brown rice, and pumpkin seed. Hilbert loves that it contains a blend of functional ingredients such as greens, grains, and probiotics, which are important for gut health and digestion as well as skin health, brain health, and metabolic function.

“The specific probiotic strains (lactobacillus and bifidobacterium) in this product are the most highly studied probiotic strains to date and have been shown to help reduce IBS symptoms, digest fiber, promote digestive regularity, and even promote hormone balance,” Hilbert says. With 25 grams of protein and 4.5 grams of BCAAs, this is a great protein source for those looking to maximize their intake of amino acids that can help support muscle metabolism and formation, she says.

We also love that this powder doesn’t have that dreaded artificial aftertaste and is perfectly balanced in its sweetness. It also blends well whether you’re making a simple shake with water or using it as a base for a protein smoothie.

• Protein per serving: 25 g
• Servings per container: 18 (per 1.47-lb. container)
• Protein type: Pea, brown rice, pumpkin seed
• Pros: Contains multiple sources of protein; tastes good and dissolves well; free of added sugar and artificial sweeteners
• Cons: Contains more sodium than other options