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The 8 Best Vegan Protein Powders for Plant-Based Gains
Unlock the power of plants
Tested by Yanar AlkayatFormer Fitness Group Testing Manager
Finish your workout, grab a protein shake — it's a tried and tested recipe for success. That's because protein helps feed your muscles and repair those tiny tears that are responsible for muscle growth.
But what if you’re vegan? Thankfully, the protein you reach for after a tough workout doesn't have to be derived from animal products — ie. whey protein — as the best vegan protein powders can also help you make serious gains.
Best vegan protein powder
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It also makes perfect sense even if you're not vegan. A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that body mass index and cholesterol levels are both typically lower among vegans, while vegan diets have been linked to a 35% lower risk of prostate cancer.
But, before you choose a vegan protein powder, it's important to make sure it’s right for you. That depends on many variables, from budget and taste to mixability, ingredients and nutritional content. That's where we come in. Below, we break down everything you need to know about vegan protein. Ready to unlock the power of plants?
How We Test Vegan Protein Powder
Over the past few years, the market has exploded with vegan protein supplements. While that gives more options, it also makes finding the right one for you even trickier.
As part of our 2024 Sports Nutrition Awards, we recruited a panel of sports and diet nutritionists to help us judge a variety of vegan protein powders from popular brands. They got to work assessing each product based on the quality of its ingredients, nutritional make-up and formulation. Only those that ticked all our boxes made the cut and were put forward for further testing.
Back at Men's Health HQ, our panel of editors and food testers rated each of the contenders on flavour, texture, aroma and ease of use. To keep things fair, packaging was blinded, and everything was prepared according to packet instructions. The feedback and ratings were then analysed, and final scores were awarded. You’ll find our winning protein powders below alongside the Sports Nutrition Awards logo.
More supplement reviews: Best Protein Powders | Best Whey Protein Powders | Best Pre-Workouts | Best Meal Replacement Shakes | Best Mass Gainers | Best Protein Bars | Best Vegan Protein Bars
Form Nutrition Performance Protein: Chocolate Hazelnut
Plant-based protein has a bit of a rep for being grainy and unpleasant, but our top pick proves the doubters wrong. Even when blended with water alone, the consistency was ultra creamy and there was no dodgy aftertaste – just sweet, sweet chocolate with nutty undertones.
The organic blend includes pea, brown rice and pumpkin protein and is brimming with energy-boosting ingredients such as BCAAs, turmeric and digestive enzymes. It also scored extra brownie points for its environmentally friendly packaging, which is 100% plastic free and compostable.
Per 40g serving
| Protein | 30g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 145 |
| Carbohydrates | 1.7g |
| Fat | 2.4g |
No time for a proper post-workout feed? Chuck one of these pre-mixed Huel shakes into your gym bag. It’s been carefully formulated to ensure you get the right amount of carbs, protein and fat, plus sufficient calories, to help your battered body repair and rebuild after exercise.
It contains all 26 essential vitamins and minerals, including B12, omega 3 and calcium, which can be tricky to come by on a plant-based diet. Our panel couldn’t' find fault with the rich chocolate flavour and thought the thick, creamy consistency was bang on.
Per 500ml bottle
| Protein | 20g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 400 |
| Carbohydrates | 35g |
| Fat | 18g |
Innermost The Fit Protein: Summer Strawberry
Dishing up 31g of protein to power your recovery, along with all nine essential amino acids and a dose of extra goodness from maca, magnesium, coconut water extract, Rhodiola root and pink Himalayan salt, you get a lot for your money here.
The powder ranked highly for texture – it's delightfully thick and lump-free, according to panellists – and the strawberry flavour hits just the right level of sweetness. There are also chocolate and vanilla options, though, if you’re not feeling fruity.
Per 40g serving
| Protein | 31g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 144 |
| Carbohydrates | 4.3g |
| Fat | 1.1g |
Made with a blend of pea, sunflower and rice protein, plus organic coconut sugar, raw cacao and banana, 33Fuel’s Premium Protein avoids the artificial ingredients often found in these powders.
Flavour-wise, it’s rich in cacao with hints of malt and dried fruit. Our testers described it as well-balanced, without tasting overwhelmingly sweet. Just note that the thin texture doesn’t make for the most satisfying shake, so we'll be blending ours into a smoothie or adding it to cereal.
The brand’s eco creds also deserve a mention – the packaging is fully recyclable, and a portion of every purchase goes to One Tree Planted.
Per 38g serving
| Protein | 20g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 145 |
| Carbohydrates | 15g |
| Fat | 2g |
The Protein Works Vegan Wondershake: Banana
Don’t let the name dictate how you consume this versatile, banana-flavoured vegan powder from Protein Works. Sure, the fine texture means it’s great as a shake with oat milk and ice, but to up the carb count, why not stir it into your oats or whizz it up in a smoothie for a serious AM protein punch?
Low-cal, high protein and tasty, with a subtle banana flavour and an uber creamy consistency, it had our testers sold. Oh, and it comes in a host of other flavours, including choc caramel biscuit and apple and cinnamon, if banana isn’t your jam.
It got extra points for its slick packaging, too – the screw on lid keeps things fresh and is less messy than a big bag.
Per 25g serving
| Protein | 20g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 94 |
| Carbohydrates | 1.9g |
| Fat | 0.6g |
This classic chocolate powder has a rich, enticing cocoa flavour and offers 22g of the muscle-building macro, which comes from gut-friendly pea and almond protein. Not only does it boast all the essential acids your body needs to build lean muscle, but it also contains minimal fat and sugar.
Texture-wise, our team of testers described it as smooth, thick and creamy, making it easy to drink with water alone. But we’d recommend blending it up with a frozen banana, some oat milk and a dollop of peanut butter to up the carbs and fats for a satisfying post-workout snack.
The fitness pros among you will be pleased to know that it’s Informed Sport approved and suitable for drug tested athletes.
Per 30g serving
| Protein | 22g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 118 |
| Carbohydrates | 0.9g |
| Fat | 2.6g |
If you’re looking to dip your toe into the world of vegan protein but aren’t sure where to begin, may we suggest this Foodspring powder? The vanilla flavour, with hints of sweet caramel, won our testers over from the first sip. They thought it tasted more like a creamy milkshake than a vegan protein supp and noted there was no chalky aftertaste or grainy residue.
Its nutritional profile is impressive, too. There are zero artificial flavours, it contains 21g of sunflower, hemp and chickpea protein, and it features vitamins B12, biotin and calcium, which can be hard to come on a fully plant-based diet.
Per 30g serving
| Protein | 21g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 116 |
| Carbohydrates | 0.6g |
| Fat | 2.9g |
More than just a bog-standard protein powder, this organic pea and rice protein blend is brimming with a host of performance and recovery-boosting ingredients. We’re talking creatine to help build lean muscle mass, ashwagandha for its stress-quashing qualities and magnesium glycinate to help reduce inflammation and improve sleep quality.
There are no nasties on the ingredients list either; instead, the fruity chocolate flavour comes from organic cacao powder, which is rich with antioxidants. Though one of the pricier options in our round-up, if you’re after a high-quality protein that doesn’t compromise on taste, it’s a winner.
Note, it’s also Informed Sport approved and suitable for drug-tested athletes.
Per 30g serving
| Protein | 21g |
|---|---|
| Calories (kcal) | 95 |
| Carbohydrates | 1.4g |
| Fat | 3.5g |
Is Whey Protein Vegan?
Whey protein isn't vegan. It's derived from milk, which contains both whey and casein proteins. Vegan protein, however, is made using a variety of protein sources including pea, rice, hemp and algae.
Is Vegan Protein as Effective as Whey Protein?
Put simply, yes, vegan protein is as effective as whey. A 2019 study that looked at the effect both whey and pea protein had on body composition and exercise performance found that, whichever protein men opted for, there was little to no difference in their body composition, muscle gain, performance or strength.
What to Look for in Your Vegan Protein Powder
First things first — to get more protein into your vegetarian or vegan diet, you have to go beyond vegan protein shakes. If you look hard enough, your local supermarket will be loaded with vegan-friendly meals and snacks — such as tofu, tempeh and seitan — that will build muscle without any ethical (or financial) qualms.
It's equally important to know what's going into your vegan protein powder. Below, we dissect three of the most important ingredients to look out for.
Pea Protein: We're not talking Green Giant here. Instead, pea protein powders are made from field peas — which are nearly four times higher in protein than sweet peas — helping them pack up to 80% protein content. Handily, pea protein is allergen-free too, meaning it's suitable for vegans and those with food allergies, as well as being free from dairy, egg and soy.
Soy Protein: This vegan protein has been used for decades and comes from defatted soy flour. After processing, it can contain up to 90% protein content and has a neutral flavour, meaning it's suitable for mixing into smoothies, shakes and other protein recipes.
Hemp Protein: Suitable for those trying to follow a diet plan rich in whole foods, hemp protein contains 20 amino acids and provides healthy omega fatty acids and fibre. It has also been found to improve heart health, cull sugar cravings and bolster your immune system.
Priyankaa is our senior health and wellness writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and roundups on the latest health and fitness products. From walking boots to running machines, Priyankaa has written about hundreds of products and is passionate about providing in-depth, unbiased reviews. Plus, as an avid runner and gymgoer, she knows exactly what to look for when finding the right gymwear, fitness tracker or earphones.
Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges.
She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more.
Outside of work, Priyankaa can usually be found trying out a new gym class, seeking out London's best eats or watching a Spanish TV show in a bid to keep up her language skills.
Yanar has spent 15 years as a health and wellness editor and writer for national titles such as Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Runner’s World. Yanar is a 580-hour yoga therapist, 200-hour yoga teacher and level 3 personal trainer at Yanar Mind & Movement. After years of running races and marathons, she discovered CrossFit and Olympic lifting in her mid-30s and fell in love with training and competing. She now advocates strength training for women to build a stronger body for life and the benefits of nervous system regulation for better physical and mental health. When not training, teaching or writing, she can be found experimenting in the kitchen.
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