Summary of my selection
# Best vegan protein powder 🥇
> Plant-based protein – Nutripure
# Best vegan protein with vitamin B12
> Vegan and organic whey – Nutri&Co
# Best value for money
> Vegan 3K protein – Nutri+
Plant-based protein sources are often less concentrated and of lower quality than animal-derived proteins. Indeed, some essential amino acids are not present in sufficient quantities in plant proteins to meet all the needs of the human body. They are said to be “limiting”.
Fortunately, the limiting amino acids are not the same for all foods. That’s why combining different types of plant proteins results in a high-quality protein.
When you want to reduce or stop your consumption of animal products, turning to vegan protein substitutes is a simple, quick and convenient option to meet daily protein needs.
That said, you still need to choose them well among the many options on the market.
In this comparison, I tested and analyzed 10 plant protein brands among the best-selling online, I evaluated them according to 5 criteria and then selected 4.
Tested brands : Alpha Foods, Body Me, Bulk, Foodspring, Nature Diet, Nutri+, Nutri&Co, Nutripure, Optimum Nutrition, Weider.
We evaluate all dietary supplements independently. If you click on one of the links provided, a commission may be paid to us.
📚 Also read | Our comparison of the best whey
Plant-based protein powder: my selection criteria
To carry out this comparison, I defined 5 qualitative criteria based on the characteristics and my testing of each of the 10 vegan proteins.
Each criterion is rated out of 5, and the average of the 5 criteria determined my final selection.
→ Access my complete comparison table here (Google Sheet)
1. Nutritional value
By nature, plant proteins are generally incomplete in essential amino acids. That’s why a good vegan protein is made from a blend of several plant proteins.
For a plant protein to be worthwhile, its BCAA content (branched-chain amino acid essential for muscle building) should be substantial, ideally above 10%.
A protein with a high amount of BCAAs indicates a better quality of the raw materials used.
To assess the quality of plant proteins, I therefore based my evaluation on the protein content but also the amount of BCAAs.
Plant-based diets are largely deficient in vitamin B12. I therefore also paid attention to the presence or absence of vitamin B12.
2. Safety
To assess the safety of plant proteins, I relied on several criteria:
- The source of raw materials
It is not always known. I therefore preferred brands that specify their origin.
- Organic certification or not
When products are organic, we can be confident they have fewer pesticide residues compared to a non-organic protein.
- The sweeteners used
I favored plant proteins that contain no chemical sweeteners such as sucralose. Indeed, this sweetener is controversial given the potential effects it could have on the microbiome. The steviol glycoside from stevia is currently not controversial.
- Other additives and texturizing agents
I favored products with the fewest texturizing agents, even though those used do not pose any particular problems. Simplicity in product formulation is a plus.
3. Brand reputation
To assess the brand’s reputation, I relied on various criteria:
- The brand’s founding date, on the assumption that a company that lasts over time is often a sign of quality.
- The number of followers on Instagram
- Reviews on review sites like Trustpilot, as well as Amazon reviews
- I also favored French companies.
4. Taste and texture
When a product is consumed daily, pleasure is paramount. I therefore evaluated the texture and taste of the product.
I favored the creamy textures and the absence of aftertaste such as bitterness. I also valued a sweet taste that is present but balanced.
5. Packaging sustainability
In an effort to reduce waste, I favored products containing less plastic and using recyclable or durable materials.
The aesthetics and practicality of the packaging were also taken into account.
Best vegan proteins: my review
# Best vegan protein powder 🥇
Nutripure: 4.8/5
Nutrition: ★★★★★
Safety: ★★★★★
Brand: ★★★★★
Pleasure: ★★★★☆
Pack: ★★★★★
Nutripure is a French brand created in 2017 by two elite athlete brothers passionate about nutrition, Florian and Christophe Carrio.
Nutripure plant protein contains 80 g of protein per 100 g with 18.5 g of BCAAs per 100 g. It contains only 11 g of carbohydrates and 6.8 g of fat.
This is the vegan protein with the highest protein content in our comparison, and the highest concentration of BCAAs. This indicates excellent protein quality ideal for muscle recovery. As a reminder, BCAAs are branched-chain amino acids, without which muscle building is impossible..
The proteins come from a blend of pea protein and organic rice protein. The raw materials do not come from France but from Spain.
This protein blend contains no additives.
Nutripure has chosen to offer a natural plant-based protein, with a neutral flavor, unflavored and without any sweeteners. It can therefore be used in both sweet and savory recipes.
It is also possible to add a flavor by purchasing a natural flavoring sold separately. There are 8 different ones. I tested the hazelnut flavor which adds a slight hazelnut taste, but which is not sweet at all. This flavoring is natural and contains no controversial ingredients.
Personally, I found that the proteins had no unpleasant aftertaste and no bitterness. On the other hand, I did not like the hazelnut-flavored aroma.
I really appreciate the clean, plastic-free packaging of Nutripure’s plant protein. The brand uses an aluminum pouch covered in kraft paper. You can only appreciate the effort made to reduce waste.
This plant protein costs €35.99/kg. If you want to add a flavor, you’ll need to add €9.90. Recently, chocolate-flavored plant proteins have been available at the same price as the plain plant protein.
Advantages
- Organic
- High in protein and BCAAs
- No additives
- Can be used in sweet or savory preparations
- Sustainable packaging
Disadvantages
- Not indulgent
- Flavor sold separately
# Best vegan protein with vitamin B12
Nutri&Co: 4.4/5
Nutrition: ★★★★☆
Safety: ★★★★★
Brand: ★★★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★☆
Packaging: ★★★★☆
Nutri&Co is a French brand founded in 2017. It specializes in selling dietary supplements intended to improve health, beauty, and athletic performance.
Nutri&co plant protein contains 60 g of protein per 100 g with 10.2 g of BCAAs. It also contains 25 g of carbohydrates, including 12 g of sugar and 8.2 g of fat.
The amount of protein is not very high compared to other brands, but the amount of BCAAs is good.
Nutri&co plant protein is organic and made from a blend of 4 proteins: pea, rice, pumpkin seed, and chia seed. This blend provides good protein quality.
Nutri&co protein has the particularity of being enriched with vitamin B12 derived from Shiitake extract. This mushroom is one of the few plant-based foods to contain this vitamin.
The amount is notable because a 25 g serving of plant protein covers the daily vitamin B12 requirements, i.e. 2.5 µg.
The origin of the raw materials is varied but very clear: all information is presented via a QR code to scan. I really appreciate Nutri&co’s transparency, everything is very clear. The origin of each ingredient is well detailed.
Nutri&co whey contains only one non-controversial additive: guar gum fibers. Its cocoa flavor comes from cocoa powder and a natural flavor.
There is also a bit of organic cane sugar (about 10 g/100 g). This amount of sugar is negligible, representing only 2.5 g per serving and avoiding the need to use sweeteners that are often controversial.
For taste and enjoyment, I liked the intense cocoa flavor but regretted that the sweetness was so lacking. I didn’t notice any bitter aftertaste and I liked the smooth texture. It’s a shame that there is only one flavor.
To reduce plastic waste, I would have preferred a cardboard pouch or a compostable material.
This plant-based protein is the most expensive in our comparison with a price of €55.80 per kg. In my opinion, this price is perfectly justified justified by the organic quality of the raw materials and the presence of naturally derived vitamin B12.
Advantages
- High in protein and BCAAs
- Good cocoa flavor
- No controversial additives
- Vitamin B12
- Transparency
Disadvantages
- Plastic pouch
- Not sweet enough
- High price
# Best value for money
Nutri+: 4.4/5
Nutrition: ★★★★★
Safety: ★★★★☆
Brand: ★★★★☆
Pleasure: ★★★★★
Package: ★★★★☆
Nutri+ is a German brand founded in 2013. It specializes in selling food and dietary supplements targeted at athletes and vegans.
Nutri+ vegan 3K protein contains 76 g of protein per 100 g with 13.8 g of BCAAs: it is one of the plant proteins with the highest protein concentration in our comparison. It also contains 3.2 g of fat and 3.9 g of carbohydrates, of which only 1 g is sugar.
We note that the amount of salt is 2.7 g per 100 g. It’s a bit high for a protein substitute.
The Nutri+ protein comes from 3 different plant sources: soy, pea and sunflower seed.
This blend helps optimize protein quality and achieve a good biological value.
Unfortunately, we don’t know much about the origin of the raw materials.
The vegan 3K protein contains no additives except a synthetic sweetener for the sweet flavor, sucralose. Unfortunately this sweetener is ranked as not very recommendable in the 2023 ranking of food additives 2023 by the magazine “Que choisir”.
For taste and enjoyment , I really liked the chocolate / coconut flavor. The flavor is well balanced, indulgent and not too sweet. To vary tastes and pleasures, the brand offers 16 different flavors. It’s rare to find such diversity in vegan proteins.
The texture is creamy and very pleasant.
It’s a shame that the packaging is a plastic pouch even though it is resealable and very convenient. However, it seems the brand plans to change the packaging sometime in 2024.
The vegan Nutri+ protein is very competitive in terms of price. In fact, it costs only €28.90 / kg.
It is one of the cheapest in our comparison. Without hesitation, it’s the plant protein with the best quality/price ratio.
Advantages
- High in protein and BCAAs
- Good taste
- Attractive price
- Many different flavors
Disadvantages
- Plastic pouch
- Sucralose
- Lack of transparency
# Best taste
Foodspring: 4.2/5
Nutrition: ★★★★☆
Safety: ★★★☆☆
Brand: ★★★★☆
Pleasure: ★★★★★
Packaging: ★★★★★
Foodspring is a German brand founded in 2013. It specializes in dietary supplements for athletes.
Foodspring’s vegan protein contains 68 g of protein, including 11.8 g of BCAAs. It also contains 8.9 g of fat and only 1.7 g of carbohydrates.
The vegan protein is well positioned in terms of protein and BCAAs, which demonstrates the good quality of the raw materials.
Be careful because the salt content is not negligible, it is 3.3 g per 100 g which represents about 1 g per serving. As a reminder, the WHO recommends not consuming more than 5 g of salt per day.
For its vegan protein, Foodspring uses a blend of 4 different proteins: pea, sunflower seed, chickpea and hemp seed. This blend provides a good biological value.
It also contains vitamins and minerals that can be deficient in a vegan diet such as zinc, calcium, vitamin B12, B9 and B6.
Unfortunately I was not able to find the source of the raw materials.
Foodspring uses 2 non-controversial thickeners and a sweetener, sucralose. Sucralose is ranked as not recommended in the food additives ranking 2023 by the magazine “Que Choisir”.
From a pleasure standpoint, the vegan protein is spot on. Its solubility is excellent, I really liked its creamy texture.
Its sweet taste is balanced and the chocolate flavor is delicious without any bitter aftertaste. It made me want to try the 3 other available flavors.
From a packaging point of view, I really liked its modern look and the small amount of plastic used. It’s a cardboard tube coated with an aluminum film. To limit waste, the brand chose not to include a dispenser in the package, which can be annoying on first use.
Its price is €46.60 per kilogram; it is one of the most expensive in our comparison.
Advantages
- High in protein and BCAAs
- Very good taste
- Contains vitamins and minerals
- Attractive packaging
Disadvantages
- Contains sucralose
- High price
- Lack of transparency about raw materials
Complete comparison
| Note globale | Nutrition | Sécurité | Marque | Plaisir | Packaging | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1: Nutripure 🥇 | 4.8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Nutri&co | 4.4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| NUTRI + | 4.4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Foodspring | 4.2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Bulk | 4.0 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Weider | 3.8 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Optimum Nutrition | 3.8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Body Me | 3.8 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Alpha Foods | 3.6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Nature Diet | 3.2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
→ Access my full comparison table here (Google Sheet)
Frequently asked questions about plant-based protein powders
What do vegan protein powders contain?
Plant proteins often have an insufficient biological value. The biological value of proteins refers to their ability to provide the essential amino acids needed by the human body. These amino acids are called essential because our bodies cannot produce them. It is therefore crucial to obtain them from the diet. Plant proteins that contain all essential amino acids are rare, except for soy, hemp, and quinoa proteins. That is why most vegan proteins are formulated from several plant proteins to optimize their nutritional quality. The most commonly used proteins are pea, rice, pumpkin seed, sunflower seed, soy, and hemp proteins. Thanks to blends, vegan proteins come closer to animal-derived proteins like whey, which is among those with the highest biological value. Manufacturers of plant-based protein powders may sometimes fortify their products by adding vitamins, minerals, or even certain amino acids to improve their nutritional value.
What are the benefits of vegan protein powders?
Plant proteins have the advantage of a lower environmental impact than animal-derived proteins. Indeed, their production requires less water and generates less CO2 than the production of animal proteins, as shown by this well-documented article from Science et Avenir. Furthermore, consuming plant proteins means avoiding proteins from intensive animal farming, which raises ethical and animal welfare concerns. In addition, vegan proteins do not contain lactose, which can cause digestive issues, and are low in saturated fats that are linked to cardiovascular problems.
What is the difference between whey and vegan protein powder?
Plant proteins and whey are two types of protein commonly consumed to increase protein intake and promote muscle building and recovery. Plant proteins are extracted from plant sources such as peas, rice, hemp, soy, wheat, etc. Whey, on the other hand, is a protein derived from milk—more precisely the liquid (whey) obtained by filtering and dehydrating milk. Plant proteins are often incomplete; they may lack certain essential amino acids. Combining different plant proteins (such as a rice-and-pea blend) provides a more complete amino acid profile. Whey contains all the essential amino acids needed by the human body, making it a complete and highly valuable protein source. Plant proteins can sometimes be less digestible for some people because of the presence of fiber and anti-nutrients naturally found in plants. They can cause digestive discomfort and limit absorption. Whey is generally well digested and well absorbed, except in people who are lactose intolerant (when lactose is present) or allergic to cow’s milk proteins. In addition to protein, plant proteins can contain other beneficial nutrients such as fiber, antioxidants, and healthy fats. Whey is a concentrated source of protein; it contains little fat and no micronutrients.
What are the best natural sources of plant-based protein?
Several natural sources of plant-based protein exist, and here are some of the best: soy and all soy-based products such as tofu and tempeh: 15 to 20 g per 100 g; cereals (rice, wheat, corn, buckwheat, quinoa…): 5 to 15 g per 100 g; legumes (peas, beans, lentils…): 20 to 25 g per 100 g; seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, chia, hemp…): 20 to 30 g per 100 g; nuts and oilseeds (almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts…): 20 to 30 g per 100 g. Soy is one of the best plant sources because it contains all essential amino acids and has a very high protein concentration (36 g per 100 g). Hemp and quinoa proteins also contain all essential amino acids; however, their concentration is much lower. Spirulina is not a food as such, but this cyanobacterium contains 60–70% protein. It may be beneficial to consume it as a supplement to increase your protein intake.
Sources and scientific studies
Assessment of food additives, “Que Choisir”, 2023 – https://www.quechoisir.org/comparatif-additifs-alimentaires-n56877/
Vegetarian, vegan: why would plant-based diets be less polluting? “Science et Avenir”, 2022 – https://www.sciencesetavenir.fr/nutrition/aliments/vegetarien-vegan-pourquoi-l-alimentation-vegetale-serait-elle-moins-polluante_161353
The role of the anabolic properties of plant protein sources compared to animal sources in maintaining muscle mass. August 2019 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6723444/?_ga=2.34122852.415060896.1700580742-995063299.1700580742
The synthetic response of muscle proteins to the ingestion of a mixture of plant-based proteins does not differ from an equivalent amount of milk proteins in healthy young men. January 2023 – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36170964/
