If TikTok nutritionists are people to go by, fuelling your workouts with a reliable source of protein – such as one of best vegan protein powders – is a must for athletes. But with a host of brightly-coloured protein powder containers holding different edible, drinkable and shakeable options, it can be a lot trying to work out where to start.
A speedy flashback to school, but protein is one of three vital macronutrients — alongside fats and carbohydrates — which can help build lean muscle mass. While you can get enough protein while sticking to a plant-based diet from whole foods (legumes, nuts, seeds, and certain grains), vegan protein powders come with whole-body benefits, such as working to lower your cholesterol, reducing your risk of heart disease, and aiding digestion, thanks to the high fibre content.
When shopping for a quality plant-based protein powder, diabetes and plant-based nutrition expert Vandana Sheth recommends looking for vegan protein shakes which include multiple types of protein from different sources. She also suggests looking for blends which incorporate extra essential amino acids where possible, due to plant proteins being considered ‘incomplete’ as they don’t contain all nine essential ones.
So, whether you’re vegan or lactose intolerant, see below for the best plant-based, vegan protein powders, approved by GLAMOUR editors. After something else? Shop the best whey protein powders.
SKIP TO: Meet the experts | How we test the best vegan protein powders | What are the benefits of vegan protein powder? | What should I look for in a vegan protein powder?
Please note: Vegan protein powder should be taken in conjunction with a healthy, balanced diet. Seek the advice of your GP or a qualified healthcare professional if you have any questions.
How we test the best vegan protein powders:
The GLAMOUR team are a diverse bunch, moonlighting as mothers, athletes and foodie fanatics at weekends. As a result, they had no qualms about road-testing a selection of vegan proteins to see which would help them meet their fitness, health and nutrition goals.
Each willing volunteer was asked to consider each vegan protein powder’s ease of use, efficacy — how long until they noticed a difference, if any at all — taste and value for money. Unsurprisingly, only the top-rated made it into our edit below. But we also trawled the customer reviews for key pros and cons, considering our tastes, priorities and needs all differ.