If you struggle to hit your protein goal on a vegan or vegetarian diet, the best vegan protein powders can help.
It’s generally recommended for an adult with a healthy weight to aim for 0.75g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, but if you want to build muscle through resistance training, this is upped to 1.2g per kilogram of your weight. In practice, if you weigh 60kg, you would need 72g of protein a day if you want to gain muscle mass – which in my own experience can be a struggle.
While standard protein powders are made with whey from cow’s milk, plant-based alternatives harness pea, pumpkin seed and soya protein. “Vegan protein powder can be a healthy and convenient way to increase your protein intake, particularly if you’re active or find it difficult to get enough protein from food alone,” explains registered nutritionist and author of The Complete Guide to Sports Nutrition, Anita Bean.
“However, a protein powder isn’t automatically healthy simply because it’s vegan. Some products contain significant amounts of added sugar, so it’s worth checking the label and choosing one that provides a useful dose of protein without excessive added sugar. Protein powders are best used to supplement, rather than replace, a balanced diet based mainly on whole foods.”
With this in mind, I put some of the best vegan protein powders to the test. All were tested in the same way to find the most effective, tastiest, and best-value options for building muscle on a plant-based diet.
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The best vegan protein powders for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Momentous 100% plant-based protein vanilla spice: £55.99, Healf.com
- Best for third-party testing – Form performance protein: £26.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for added antioxidants – Innermost the health protein: £33, Innermostglobal.com
- Best budget buy – Protein Works vegan pea protein platinum: £31.74, Amazon.co.uk
- Best with creatine – Dr Vegan protein and creatine superblend: £21.59, Amazon.co.uk
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Momentous 100% plant-based protein vanilla spice
Best: vegan protein powder overall
Why we love it
- Easily mixed with water
- Outstanding flavour with a really lovely spice and sweet vanilla
- 100% traceable, non-GMO pea protein
Take note
- On the pricier side
- Is sweetened with sugar
The taste of Momentous plant-based protein is a breath of fresh air when it comes to vegan protein powder – it has an outstandingly delicious flavour, with a warming spice and sweet vanilla that truly tastes like a cosy treat than something you’re trying to get down your neck in the name of protein. It has a complete amino acid profile (delivering all nine essential amino acids that your body can’t make on its own) with 20g of protein from pea and rice sources per serving. The pea protein is also a 100 per cent traceable, non-GMO pea protein from US company PURIS, which suggests its high quality.
The ingredient list is pleasingly short and readable, with cinnamon bark, ginger root, anise seed and black pepper powder providing the taste. A serving also offers 140mg of calcium and 3.7mg of iron which help contribute to your daily recommended intake. You should note the formula contains organic cane sugar.
Key specifications
Buy now £55.99, Healf.com
Form performance protein
Best: third-party tested vegan protein powder
Why we love it
- Great tasting
- BCAA may help reduce soreness after exercise
- Informed Sport-certified
Take note
- Quite pricey
I’m a big fan of Form’s protein bars, so I was keen to see how I got on with their performance protein. The peanut chocolate flavour is one of the best-tasting proteins I’ve tried; it doesn’t taste artificial or overly sweet. Delivering 30g of a complete amino acid profile protein per serving, it harnesses brown rice and pumpkin seed in the formula, which have a smooth mouthfeel.
A serving also includes 5g of branch chain amino acids (BCAA) which may help reduce markers of muscle damage and soreness following exercise, as well as the active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, with the black pepper extract BioPerine to increase absorption – but the concentration of curcuminoids is unclear, so its effectiveness is difficult to judge. To help you digest the protein, Form has included the enzymes amylase, protease, lactase, lipase and cellulase. A big plus for me is that it’s Informed Sport-certified, meaning it’s been third-party tested for safe consumption by athletes.
Key specifications
Buy now £26.99, Amazon.co.uk
Innermost the health protein
Best: vegan protein powder for added antioxidants
Why we love it
- Includes medicinal mushrooms and antioxidant-rich plants
- Sweet chocolate flavour
- Low sugar
Take note
- Need 4 scoops for 40g serving which is a quite a lot
The Innermost health protein is a hard-working vegan protein powder. Its protein source is pea and brown rice, which have a complete amino acid profile.
It also contains four types of medicinal mushrooms – shiitake, maitake, reishi and cordyceps – which many find support their health by reducing inflammation, supporting heart health and managing stress. On top of that, it contains three antioxidant-rich plants: bilberries, camu camu and acai berries, which have anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Stirred into water, it dissolved fairly well and the chocolate flavour was well balanced and tasty. The texture was a little gritty but pleasant to drink. I’d note it's sweetened by sucralose, which is an artificial sweetener.
Key specifications
Buy now £33, Innermostglobal.com
BodyMe naked with raw cacao protein powder
Best: organic vegan protein powder
Why we love it
- Higher in fibre than most
- Organic ingredients
- Simple formula
Take note
- Don't expect a sweet taste
I named BodyMe’s protein bar the best organic option in my review, and the brand has impressed me once again this time with its protein powder. As its name suggests, the raw range of BodyMe’s protein powder has a stripped-back formula that encompasses all organic ingredients. The one with raw cacao provides 23g of complete protein per serving from organic pea protein, organic brown rice protein, and organic hemp seed protein – plus the 3.5g of fibre makes it feel more gut-friendly.
As there’s no sweetener in the mix, don’t expect a sweet taste but an earthy flavour and texture to go with it from the organic cacao and carob. The mouthfeel was still pleasant and it mixed well with water. If you’re tired of long ingredient lists on protein products and are looking for a simpler powder that is gut-loving, you’ve found your match.
Key specifications
Buy now £38, Amazon.co.uk
Dr Vegan protein and creatine superblend
Best: minimal vegan protein powder
Why we love it
- Doesn't contain sugar, sweeteners, artificial flavours, colours or preservatives
- Streamlines your supplements if you take creatine
- Contains cordyceps and reishi mushroom extract
Take note
- Have to mix it with something for a nice taste
Dr Vegan’s protein combines 3g creatine per serving into its formula which is ideal if you want to streamline your supplements and don’t particularly enjoy taking creatine, as the powder is unnoticeable. The protein source is pea protein isolate, which has a complete amino acid profile, as well as pumpkin seed protein, which also provides fibre. It also has hemp seed protein, which is a source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, as well as the nine essential amino acids.
Additionally, the powder contains cordyceps mushroom extract, which has been studied for its role in improving the body's resistance to stress, and increasing physical endurance and energy, and reishi mushroom extract which may have anti-oxidant properties.
It’s also a very “clean” formula as it doesn’t contain sugar, sweeteners, artificial flavours, colours and preservatives, which is a big tick for me. But that means it's unflavoured so you may want to use it in smoothies, though I didn’t mind the powder’s taste just mixed into water.
Key specifications
Buy now £21.59, Amazon.co.uk
Vivo Life perform protein
Best: vegan protein powder for recovery
Why we love it
- BCAAs included may aid recovery
- Turmeric included has 95% curcuminoids
- Easy to digest
Take note
- A little artificial tasting
The Vivo Life perform vegan protein powder helps your body do what it says on the tin. The formula combines a protein powder blend of yellow pea protein, brown rice protein and pumpkin seed protein (which has a complete amino acid profile and additional fibre) with 4.5g of BCAAs in every serving – branched-chain amino acids which may help to reduce muscle soreness and aid recovery, so I think this works best for people who train heavily.
Given its bright yellow appearance, it also contains turmeric with 95 per cent curcuminoids which is a high concentration of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, as well as black pepper to aid absorption. Speaking of, the blend has herbal enzymes, konjac, papain, ginger and peppermint, which can help your body digest protein and ease bloating so it’s one to try if you suffer from pain after taking protein powder.
There’s a range of enticing flavours like salted caramel, banana bread, chocolate brownie and vanilla, which I tested. It’s a touch artificial tasting but I was pleased to note it’s naturally flavoured with stevia and pink Himalayan salt and its thinner consistency meant it was very easy to mix into water.
Key specifications
Buy now £35.88, Amazon.co.uk
Nuzest clean lean protein powder vanilla
Best: environmentally friendly vegan protein
Why we love it
- European-sourced peas
- Third-party tested
- Simple ingredient list
Take note
- Not my favourite tasting
Living up to its name, the Nuzest clean lean vegan protein powder has just three ingredients: pea protein isolate, natural vanilla flavour and sweetener from steviol glycosides, so it’s a great option if you’re after a minimal supplement. While pea protein isolate is generally considered a complete protein, it’s lower in sulfur-containing amino acids, including methionine and cysteine, than brown rice for example, if that informs your choice. What the brand believes sets itself apart is the environmentally friendly processing behind the product, as it uses European-secured golden peas which are a sustainable crop.
Taste and texture wise, the vanilla flavour dissolved well and left a creamy drink with a subtle vanilla taste. It wasn’t my favourite taste, but if you like vanilla flavoured drinks you might like it. It’s also third-party tested which gives peace of mind.
Key specifications
Buy now £33.85, Amazon.co.uk
Protein Works vegan pea protein platinum
Best: budget vegan protein powder
Why we love it
- Well priced
- Range of flavours
- Blended easily
Take note
- More artificial ingredients than others
Like many powders in this list, Protein Works’ vegan protein powder contains pea, brown rice and pumpkin seed protein, but uniquely, it also contains soy protein isolate, which is a complete protein and provides vitamin B12 and magnesium, which may help with fatigue. The ingredient list is longer than others I tested, which might put you off, but it's mostly made up of the extended vitamin and mineral blend, which includes things like vitamin C, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6, though I’m less convinced about the need for ingredients in the blend like potassium citrate, chromium chloride and potassium phosphate, and it’s artificially sweetened with sucralose.
That said, the bifidobacterium lactis (a common live bacteria) and flaxseed powder are gut-loving inclusions and the enzyme blend, DigeZyme, may aid digestion and improve nutrient absorption.
There’s a range of flavours to choose from and I found the chocolate silk one sweet and tasty and blended easily. It offers good value for money and it’s often on sale, so is one to stock up on if you get through a lot of protein powder.
Key specifications
Buy now £31.74, Amazon.co.uk
Your questions about vegan protein powders answered
What is the best vegan protein powder?
For me, the best protein powder should have a complete amino acid profile, ingredients that deserve their place, and taste good. I found this in pretty much all those recommended in this guide, but the taste of Momentous’s 100% plant-based protein vanilla spice actually made taking protein a joy, not a chore, if you want to increase your intake. I also really liked Form’s performance protein and the minimal ingredients in BodyMe naked with raw cacao protein powder and Nuzest clean lean protein powder.
How I tested the best vegan protein powders
I tested each powder mixed into a glass of water, as well as blending them into smoothies and yoghurt bowls. When testing a variety of vegan protein powders, I looked out for the following:
What is the healthiest form of vegan protein powder?
“Soya protein is one of the best options nutritionally because it is a complete protein, providing all nine essential amino acids in good proportions, and has a high protein quality and digestibility,” explains registered nutritionist and author of The Complete Guide to Sports Nutrition, Anita Bean. “Pea protein is also a good choice and is particularly rich in leucine, an essential amino acid that plays an important role in stimulating muscle protein synthesis.”
“Blends can also work very well,” the expert adds. “For example, combining pea with rice protein gives a more balanced amino acid profile because the strengths of one complement the limitations of the other. Whichever type you choose, look for one that provides around 20–30g protein per serving and ideally about 2–3g leucine.”
What is the best time to take vegan protein powder?
According to Bean, there isn’t a “narrow ‘anabolic window’ when you have to take a protein shake.”
“Your total protein intake over the day and spreading it fairly evenly between meals are more important than taking it at a precise time,” she explains. “For people who exercise, having around 20–30g protein after training is a convenient way to support muscle repair and adaptation, particularly if you won’t be eating a protein-rich meal for several hours. But there’s no need to rush to have a shake immediately after your workout.”
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Alice Reynolds is a writer and production journalist at IndyBest. With a keen interest in fitness and wellness, she has previously reviewed the best creatine supplements, the best apple cider vinegar drinks and wellness drinks. As someone who doesn’t eat meat, she is also well-placed to give verdicts on vegan protein powder.
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