• Why it’s Vogue-approved: With pea protein sourced from regeneratively farmed peas grown in the US, this non-GMO vegan protein powder is clean, delicious, and minimalist – without chalky textures or gooey clumps. But beyond the smoothness and fantastic flavour, the best thing about Ritual is its commitment to traceability, purity, testing, and quality, earning it our top spot for best vegan protein powders. “It’s important to seek out brands that are upfront with their ingredients and third-party testing results,” says Kamen. Ritual goes above and beyond with testing and transparency and even earned the Clean Label Project Certified Purity Award, ensuring each batch meets the strictest standards and is tested for over 200 environmental contaminants so consumers can rest assured there aren’t harmful levels of chemicals, like heavy metals, or artificial flavours. The peace of mind you get when trying to meet your protein goals? Priceless.
• Protein source: Organic pea protein
• Protein per serving: 20g
• Pea protein, MCT oil, natural flavour

• Why it’s -approved: I have long been a fan of Hermosa, the protein brand that Barry’s Bootcamp uses in its studios across the country. Included in its famous Simply PB and in the huge variety of shakes on the menu, Hermosa’s vegan alternative whey acts as a gentler alternative on the stomach, encouraging muscle recovery after a workout, whether you’re doing one of the legendary HIIT classes or making your own Fuel Bar at home post gym or running.
• pea protein, white hemp protein, sweetener, raw cacao, natural flavouring, xanthan gum
• natural sources

• Why it’s -approved: Vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and preservative-free, the Ka’Chava vegan protein powder creates an instant shake – one of the most delicious vegan protein shakes out there. With over six flavours to choose from – so there’s an option that suits everyone’s taste preference – it’s also one of the smoothest and most mixable options too. With adaptogens, vitamins, and minerals, this shake is chock full of over 85 nutrients and superfoods, so you get a little bit of everything in each serving – a vegan protein blend, a digestive enzyme blend, a fibre blend, a pro-and-prebiotic blend, and more, making it a great option for those interested in getting more from their protein powders. However, it is worth noting that the label shows there are four grams of added sugar (along with 3 grams of natural sugar), so those looking for a sugar-free option may need to opt for something else.
• Yellow pea protein, brown rice protein
• Whole grain oats, flaxseed, organic acacia, chia seed

• Why it’s -approved: If you’re the type of person for whom taste and texture can make or break your mealtime, this unflavored high-performance vegan protein powder may be the ideal choice. It’s so smooth, blendable, and tasteless that it’s easy to drink two scoops with just water – but supercharging smoothies, oatmeal, or baked goods like muffins, pancakes, and more with some of the protein powder is just as delightful.
• Organic yellow pea protein
• B12, Organic Canadian Yellow Pea Protein Isolate, Organic Vanilla Extractives, Monk Fruit, Vitamin B12

• Why it’s -approved: Made without gums or fillers, this vanilla protein powder offers 23 grams of protein per serving – an ideal dose to work into your routine. “For most adults, 15-30 grams of protein per meal is effective for muscle synthesis and satiety,” says Kamen. “This number varies based on age, activity level, size, and medical history.” It’s also made with a powerful digestive enzyme blend like amylase and protease, making it a gentler option for those with digestion issues who want to enhance protein absorption and reduce bloat.
• Organic cocoa powder, natural dark chocolate flavour, organic monk fruit extract
• Chocolate, vanilla, vanilla chai, unsweetened

• Why it’s -approved: High-quality protein starts with high-quality ingredients. A favourite brand of Rigden’s, this vegan powder is NSF-certified and offers 20 grams of high quality protein with nine essential amino acids that your body needs. While chocolate-flavoured protein typically showed higher levels of heavy metals than vanilla flavoured in previous reports (cacao, after all, is a plant), you can still enjoy a chocolate vegan protein powder if you look for formulas with stringent standards. “Make sure you look for protein powders that are third-party tested for heavy metals and other contaminants and have certifications like Clean Label Certified or NSF Certified on the product labels,” says Ridgen. “Brands like Momentous prioritise transparency and clean sourcing.”
• Protein source: Pea protein, brown rice protein
• Protein per serving: 20g
• Cocoa, natural flavors, salt
• Organic cane sugar, stevia, monk fruit extract
• 1.16 lbs

Why it’s -approved: Athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and exercise fiends, rejoice. If you’re looking for a clean, simple, and effective vegan protein powder that packs a performance punch, this powder is ideal post-workout or to supercharge recovery. With 30 grams of multi-source protein, it also offers a full amino acid profile—a rarity in many vegan protein powders. “From an amino-acid standpoint, common vegan protein sources are typically low in 1-2 essential amino acids,” says Kamen. “But the concept that this means they are nutritionally inferior is false—you can simply pair that protein source with a complementary protein, like rice or beans, to compensate for the missing amino acid gaps.” By including 5 grams of BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids), which are the three essential amino acids—leucine, isoleucine, and valine—that your body can’t produce itself and must get from food, this powder is a great choice for those who can’t tolerate whey protein powders and are looking to support muscle protein synthesis.
Organic pea seed protein isolate, brown rice protein, pumpkin protein
30g
Black pepper extract, curcumin, digestive enzyme blend, BCAA
Stevia, thaumatin
Chocolate hazelnut, chocolate peanut, tiramisu, vanilla
1.1 lb

Are vegan protein powders as good as traditional formulas?

The short answer is, plant-based protein powders can be. The long answer involves what you’re looking for in a protein powder and how you’re incorporating it into your overall diet and lifestyle routine. As with most supplements, most nutritionists, including Kamen and Rigden, agree that getting the majority of your protein from natural, whole foods should take priority over supplements. “Protein powder is a great way to help you meet your protein intake goals,” says Rigden, noting that it should never act as a meal replacement for whole foods. Beans, lentils, tofu, nuts, and seeds are all great options to work into your diet for adequate protein intake.

What to look for in a vegan protein powder

There are a few things to consider when evaluating the best protein powders. “Always prioritise real, whole food ingredients in your protein powder,” says Kamen. You also want to scan your ingredient label for sugar bombs or tons of unnecessary, empty calories. “You want to avoid a bunch of common additives like fillers, thickening agents, emulsifiers, artificial sweeteners (like aspartame), or synthetic additives,” says Kamen. “Instead opt for natural sweeteners like monk fruit, maple syrup, or honey.” A good rule of thumb is to look for a vegan protein powder with fewer ingredients on the label. Both Kamen and Rigden also suggest looking for formulas that are third-party tested and transparent about the results to confirm you’re using a quality vegan protein powder with clean, safe ingredients. If you’re concerned about trace minerals or metals, take a look at The Clean Label Project’s report on heavy metals in protein powders, and check for certifications like NSF Certified, Clean Label Certified, or Informed Choice.

How we tested

When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on ’s vast network of experts – from board-certified dermatologists to dietitians – to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.

As it relates to vegan protein powders, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredient list, protein source, serving size, protein per serving, how easily it dissolves, taste and flavours, certification, dietary notes, and the wellness concerns they address. To do this, we paired expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.

Meet the experts