Building muscle as a vegan can be tricky. A lot of protein powders contain whey protein, which comes from cow’s milk. However, there are plenty of different plant-based protein sources you can opt for instead, if you’re looking for vegan alternatives. If you don’t know your pea from your pumpkin seed, we spoke to the experts, and tried and taste-tested a range of options for every preference and budget.
“Pea, rice, hemp or soy as single-ingredient powders are all great options. Or, a blend of those along with pumpkin seed powder (which is rich in magnesium, zinc, and other essential nutrients) and quinoa works well,” says VeganMacros101 vegan fitness influencer and nutritionist Vicki Jones. “Something to take into consideration is that blend formulas usually digest the best and also have the smoothest texture! Pea, rice or hemp can be a little chalky.”
Ryan Adams, the founder of vegan nutrition coaching programme Slim and Sustain, suggests looking for a protein powder with as few ingredients as possible. “Some vegan protein powders use a long list of artificial ingredients for flavour,” advises Adams. “I think some stevia to provide sweetness is perfectly acceptable, but when something has lots of refined sugars, things like maltodextrin, which is commonly used as a filler in all protein powders, or artificial sweeteners like sucralose, then it’s not so great. It’s also best to avoid vegan protein powders that contain large quantities of vegetable oils or added fats, which are used to give a richer taste.”
After mixing, sipping, and sometimes cooking with the vegan protein powders below, it was NGX bodyfuel that reigned supreme. The DNA nutrition test and report are incredibly expensive, but its personalised approach is impressive. For something more affordable, Innermost health protein packs in the most protein of all the powders we tried, while providing immune support.
How we tested
Our experts tested a range of leading vegan protein powders. All of the powders were assessed on the following criteria:
- Taste: While highly subjective, we gave our opinion on the flavour, noting whether it was particularly sweet, earthy, or artificial-tasting, and if it was a strong flavour. We tried the powders in water primarily, but we also whizzed them into smoothies, added them to pancake mix and stirred them into porridge (weaker or unflavoured powders tend to be best for cooking). It was also important that the powders came in a variety of flavours, meaning it’s more likely there will be one to suit your palate, so we noted the number of flavours available.
- Nutrition: We noted and compared the type and amount of protein, and any other nutritionally beneficial ingredients and their claimed benefits. Where relevant, we noted the calories.
- Consistency: We mixed the powder with just water, as per the packet instructions, and made a note of mixability, paying attention to whether the resulting drink was bitty or smooth.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Zoe Griffin has been contributing to IndyBest for years. As a triathlete, she spends her free time pounding the pavement, racking up miles on her bike and enduring lengths in the pool, giving her ample opportunity to test out a wide range of sports equipment and essentials, from googles to Garmin sports watches. She’s committed to finding protein powders that pack in all the good stuff and that actually taste good enough to savour, rather than swig.
Alice Barraclough is a fitness and wellbeing writer with a decade of experience in fitness reviews and reporting. Alice has reviewed activewear brands, foam rollers, protein bars and more for IndyBest – like all our reviews, everything in Alice’s round-ups has been through thorough real-world testing.
The best vegan protein powders for 2025 are:
- Best overall – NGX bodyfuel: £299.99, Nutri-genetix.com
- Best budget option – Bulk vegan protein powder: £8.99, Bulk.com
- Best award-winner– Innermost health protein: £29.95, Liveinnermost.com
- Best for women – Free Soul vegan protein blend: £23.39, Amazon.co.uk
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NGX bodyfuel
Best: Vegan protein powder overall
Size: 1kg
Flavours available : Unflavoured, but you can choose add-ons
Servings: 28
Why we love it
- Personalised blend
- 27g protein per serving
Take note
- Expensive
If you’re looking for a completely personalised take on nutrition, it doesn’t get better than Nutri-Genetix (NGX) – the world’s first genetically personalised nutrition shake, tailored to your DNA. After a super quick and easy swab test (inside the cheek), we sent off our DNA and then received a personalised blend of NGX “bodyfuel” based on our own genetic make-up. You’re also given a very detailed report of your results, explaining how you metabolise and process different nutrients. Turns out we have reduced levels of vitamin B12, who knew?
Each serving contains up to 27g of plant protein and 30 essential nutrients, including iron, omega-3, vitamin B complex and vitamin D. The best part? You can buy it unflavoured, so it’s much more versatile – and you can get specific flavour add-ons. We tried the antioxidant-packed super berry, which tastes delicious, too.
Buy now £229.99, Nutri-genetix.com
Bulk vegan protein powder
Best: Budget vegan protein powder
Size : 500g
Flavours available: Caramel latte, chocolate orange, chocolate cookies, chocolate peanut, strawberry, unflavoured, vanilla and white chocolate coconut
Servings : 14
Why we love it
- 23g of protein per serving
- Easy to digest
- Great price
Formerly known as Bulk Powders, this brand is already a household name among gymgoers, and the bulk whey isolate 90 (£19.99, Bulk.com) is particularly popular. But does its vegan offering measure up?
Loaded with 23g of protein per serving, bulk’s plant-based protein blend includes pea, brown rice and pumpkin proteins, as well as flaxseed powder and quinoa flour. It’s also soya- and gluten-free. But what lets it down is its somewhat gritty texture. While the sweet vanilla flavour tested here didn’t really do much for our taste buds either, we did find it one of the easiest on the stomach. That’s possibly thanks to the additional “digezyme” – a popular blend of five digestive enzymes that help you break down the protein.
If vanilla isn’t really your vibe, Bulk offers eight other flavours, including apple strudel, banana caramel, caramel latte, chocolate mint, chocolate peanut, peanut butter, strawberry and white chocolate coconut.
Buy now £8.99, Bulk.com
Innermost health protein
Best: Award-winning protein powder
Size: 520g
Flavours available : Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry
Servings: 13
Why we love it
- Contains nine essential amino acids
- Targets the immune system
Take note
- Bitter aftertaste
Award-winning wellness brand Innermost is all about creating targeted and specific solutions for different health and fitness goals. It’s developed protein especially for building muscle, weight loss, performance and for wellbeing.
We tried the health protein, which claims to “boost your health, immune system, and support muscle repair”. Using a combination of pea and brown rice protein, it’s filled with all of the good stuff (and none of the bad). Each serving includes an impressive 31g of protein and contains all the essential amino acids your body needs for repair, recovery and muscle development. But we do recommend mixing this into porridge or smoothies, as the aftertaste can be quite bitter when just mixed with water.
Buy now £29.95, Liveinnermost.com
Free Soul vegan protein blend
Best: Vegan protein for women
Size: 600g
Flavours available : Chocolate, vanilla, berry, salted caramel
Servings: 20
Why we love it
- Helps regulate female hormones
- Good mixability
Designed with women in mind, Free Soul vegan protein powder was formulated by Dr Adam Cunliffe, a leading UK nutritionist, to enhance the performance of the female body. Alongside an impressive 20g of protein per 30g serving, this gluten-free, soy-free, vegan protein features numerous nutrients and vitamins, including ingredients such as Peruvian Maca (to help regulate female hormone health), Ginseng (to support energy levels), Iron and Magnesium.
Claiming to target important aspects of female wellness – from hormonal balance and bone density, to energy, metabolism, and hair, skin and nail health – this protein powder is touted as the protein powder for busy women on the go. There are three flavours to choose from – chocolate, vanilla and ginger biscuit – we decided to taste test the chocolate (which arrived with a free coconut water). And, actually, it tasted pretty good. Not too sweet – and no earthy artificial taste. Granted, it’s better whizzed up in a shake with a banana and some oats, but if you opt for it with just water, the mixability is pretty decent.
Buy now £23.39, Herfreesoul.com
Myprotein Impact vegan protein powder, 1kg
Best: Vegan protein powder for flavour variety
Size: 1kg
Flavours available : Chocolate, banana, cereal milk, chocolate coconut, chocolate peanut butter, chocolate salted caramel, coffee and walnut, strawberry, turmeric latte, vanilla, white chocolate raspberry, unflavoured
Servings: 33
Why we love it
- Lots of flavour options
- Contains all essential amino acids
Take note
- Gritty texture
Myprotein’s budget-friendly vegan offering is a pea and fava bean protein isolate blend. It offers 22g of protein per serving and contains all nine essential amino acids.
We’ve tried this mixed into shakes, smoothies and even added to pancake mix, and preferred it in smoothie form as it does have a gritty texture that can be hidden when blended with fruits and ice. The amount of flavours available is impressive, with options like chocolate peanut caramel and cereal milk standing out.
Buy now £7.49, Myprotein
Form performance nutrition
Best: Vegan protein powder for nutritional value
Size: 520g
Flavours available : Banoffee, chocolate hazelnut, chocolate peanut, tiramisu, vanilla
Servings: 13
Why we love it
- Compostable package
- Smooth texture
Take note
- Very sweet
Form’s performance protein is a little on the sweeter side (which is a plus, in our opinion). Combining wholesome ingredients such as organic pea, brown rice and hemp protein, it’s designed to support the growth and maintenance of muscle mass. And with 30g of protein per serving – plus a complete amino acid profile and additional probiotics to help boost the immune system – it marks highly on nutrition.
We tested out the tiramisu flavour (it also comes in other options) and blended it with just water; we found it surprisingly smooth. The flavour isn’t far off an iced coffee or frappe – so, if you like coffee, you’ll find this enjoyable enough. But mix it in with almond milk – plus a banana and a large teaspoon of nut butter, and you have a tasty treat that ticks all the boxes.
Buy now £26.00, Formnutrition.com
Tribe cocoa shake
Best: Vegan protein powder for cooking
Size: 500g
Flavours available : Cocoa and sea salt, vanilla
Servings: 12
Why we love it
- Refined sugar-free
- Packed with anti-oxidants
Take note
- Weak flavour
In terms of nutrition, Tribe’s shakes optimise both pea and rice protein with nutrient-rich natural ingredients such as goji berry powder, aiming to support recovery. With 20g of protein per portion, it’s the lowest offering on this list, so perhaps not the best option for serious muscle-building. But it does provide a complete amino acid profile while being dairy and refined-sugar free – so no nasties here.
There are four flavours in the range – we tried the cocoa and sea salt and the flavour is very subtle. So subtle, in fact, it barely tastes of anything. The upside? The weak flavour makes it ideal for cooking. Protein pancakes, homemade protein balls and fruit shakes will all be cleaner using Tribe vegan protein powder.
Buy now £19.00, Ocado.com
Myprotein clear vegan protein powder, 20 servings
Best: Refreshing protein powder
Size: 320g
Flavours available : Lemon and lime, apple and elderflower, strawberry, black cherry, blackcurrant, blood orange, pineapple and grapefruit, raspberry mojito, watermelon
Servings: 20
Why we love it
- Low calorie for weight management
- Mixes easily
Take note
- Relatively low protein
- Low calories won't help you bulk
This is designed to provide a light, refreshing alternative that feels more like a juice, making it easier to consume post-workout, especially if you prefer avoiding heavier shakes. Made from pea protein isolate, each serving offers around 10g of protein while being lower in calories compared to other vegan powders.
We were impressed that it mixes easily with water, making it ideal for those on the go. We also liked that it comes in a variety of refreshing fruity flavors, such as lemon and lime and raspberry mojito. It’s perfect for anyone looking to boost their daily protein intake in a tasty way, as we looked forward to our daily serving of this vegan protein powder.
Buy now £19.99, Myprotein
Your questions on vegan protein shakes answered
What are the best protein shakes?
If money were no issue, the NGX bodyfuel, with its personalised nutrition, is definitely the most impressive vegan protein powder currently out there. We loved the fact it’s optimised especially for you, and targets everything your body personally needs. The downside is that, unless you want to set up a regular delivery, it will cost you a pretty penny for a one-off DNA test and bodyfuel. For maximum protein gains, the Innermost vegan powder has 31g of protein per serving, which is more than all the rest.
Can you build muscle with vegan protein powder?
Yes, according to Vicki Jones. She says: “Many studies have shown that it’s not animal protein we need, but protein in general - paired with a solid training programme! Building muscle comes down to resistance training and challenging the muscles, and protein (specifically amino acids) is the building block that allows us to repair, recover and train again. Ideally, you want to choose a protein powder that contains all nine essential amino acids to ensure you get a full spectrum.
Which is better vegan or whey protein?
While this is a hot topic that requires more than a simple answer, there are a few main points to be made. In terms of muscle gains, a study published in Nutrition Journal found brown rice protein performed just as well as whey when building muscle, gaining strength, and aiding in recovery.
Plant protein is also generally digested more easily. Jones adds: “Vegan protein powders can be just as easy, if not easier, to digest than whey, particularly for those with lactose intolerance or dairy sensitivities. When introducing a new protein powder it’s always a good idea to start adding it in slowly, and many vegan protein powders also contain digestive enzymes to help the body to adjust and absorb the protein powder.”
What are the key nutrients to look for when shopping for protein powder?
If building lean muscle is your goal, you need to pay attention to calories. “When it comes to the protein-to-calorie ratio, I like to recommend that people look for a protein supplement that has under 140 calories per 20-30g of protein,” says Jones. “Many plant-based protein powders can come with extra ingredients that bump up the calories and extra carbs and fats, so you want to look for one that has minimal ingredients.”
What amino acids should vegan protein powders provide?
Our bodies need nine essential acids to function - phenylalanine, valine, tryptophan, threonine, isoleucine, methionine, histidine, leucine, and lysine. Vegan fitness expert Ryan Adams says: “It’s certainly optimal to find a protein powder that contains all nine essential amino acids. Pea and soy protein powders are good examples of this.”
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