Vegan protein powder tested: 11 favorites for your 2025 fitness routine

Best vegan protein for muscle building

“Vegan Muscle Plant Protein Powder” von Alpha Foods

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Best vegan protein in different sizes

“Impact Vegan Protein” von Myprotein

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Best vegan protein with high protein content

“Vegan Protein 3K Shake” von nu3

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Vegan protein powder: Our 11 favorites in comparison

You've been sweating in the gym for weeks, butExercise is only half the battle, and not meeting your protein needs could get in the way of your fitness goals. The solution could be onevegan protein powderbe.

Even without whey protein, which is often associated with digestive problems, bad skin and environmental damage, vegan protein powder is an effective and ethical alternative.

We have collected all the advantages and disadvantages of the two proteins and will tell you which are the best vegan options that you can add to your virtual shopping cart. Happy shopping!

Is vegan protein powder as good as whey protein?

The debate aboutvegan protein powdervs. Whey Protein is a hot topic in the fitness community. While whey protein is derived from whey, a by-product of cheese makingvegan Varianton plant protein sources such as peas, rice, hemp or soy.

Traditionally, whey protein has been considered the standard when it comes to building muscle and aiding recovery after exercise. However, in recent years there has beenvegan protein powderestablished as a serious alternative.

What are the biggest differences, you ask? We have put them together for you here:

  • Amino acid profile:Whey protein contains a complete amino acid profile that provides all nine essential amino acids the body needs. Vegan protein powder varies depending on the source: Some plant-based proteins such as soy and hemp also provide all essential amino acids, others do not contain certain amino acids. However, a combination of different plant-based proteins can provide a balanced amino acid profile.
  • Absorption and digestibility:Some research suggests that whey protein is more effective at increasing protein synthesis after exercise due to its rapid absorption. However, vegan protein powder can also be a good option, especially if it is easily digestible and maintains protein intake throughout the day.
  • Ethics and environment:An important difference between whey protein and vegan protein powder lies in their origin: Vegan protein powder supports a plant-based diet and avoids animal products, which is particularly important for anyone who wants to avoid dairy products due to ethical or environmental concerns.
  • Additives and processing:Both whey protein and vegan protein powder may contain additives such as sweeteners, flavors or preservatives. The quality and purity of the protein powder depends on the processing. In both cases it is important to take a look at the ingredients.

Important: Protein powders do not replace a balanced diet.are still important, the powder is only used as a supplement.

Building muscles as a vegan – how does it work?

“If you eat vegan, where do you get your proteins from?” As a vegan you often hear this question. The answer is: Building muscle works just as well with a vegan diet and is practiced by many successful athletes. The key to this is a balanced and well-planned vegan diet that provides sufficient carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals - and of course proteins.

Vegan protein powderplays an important role as it offers a practical way to cover the daily protein requirement, which is crucial for building muscle or maintaining muscle mass. And of course, a hard workout where you push yourself to your limits is essential to really see a noticeable difference in muscle growth.

What should you pay attention to when buying vegan protein powder?

When purchasingvegan protein powderthere are some important aspects to consider. First of all you should pay attention to thebe respected. Popular options include pea protein, rice protein, hemp protein and soy protein, all of which vary in taste. It's best to try it out and decide which protein you like best.

It is also important that the protein powder provides all the essential amino acids that the body needs. The three most important essential amino acids for muscle building and overall health are usually:

  • Leucineis a main component of BCAAs (branched chain amino acids), which are important for muscle building and recovery after training.
  • Isoleucinis also a branched-chain amino acid and is important for energy production and regulating blood sugar levels during exercise.
  • Answerplays an important role in muscle regeneration and energy production. Together with leucine and isoleucine, it forms an important combination for muscle protein synthesis and post-workout recovery. The last thing to be careful of is to avoid some things. Sugar, artificial sweeteners or preservatives are poison and should not be on the ingredients list.

This is how much protein you need per day

You don't knowwhat you really need to build muscle? Don't worry, there's a rule of thumb you can follow: It's recommended to consume around 0.8 to 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight per day.

For people who exercise regularly or want to build muscle, the protein intake may be slightly higher.

Looking for more on the topic? Here you will find, ours, dieandas well as .

The best vegan protein powders in comparison

We have the bestvegan protein powderpicked out directly for you to shop:

  • 1/11

    Best vegan protein for muscle building

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Advantages

    • Contains bioavailable protein as well as essential amino acids and electrolytes
    • Made in Germany

    Disadvantages

    • Contain sucralose as a sweetener, which not everyone prefers

  • 2/11

    Best vegan protein in different sizes

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Advantages

    • Available in different sized bags
    • Contains little sugar

    Disadvantages

    • Currently only one flavor available, but there are other vegan products from the brand with more varieties

  • 3/11

    Best vegan protein with high protein content

    “Vegan Protein 3K Shake” von nu3

    • Basis:Pea, rice and sunflower protein
    • Protein pro Portion:23,5 g
    • Taste:Neutral, chocolate, iced coffee, cookies cream, vanilla, coconut

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Advantages

    • Complete amino acid profile
    • Without artificial colors and preservatives

    Disadvantages

    • Fewer flavors than other products

  • 4/11

    Best sugar-free vegan protein

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Advantages

    • Sugar-free recipe
    • Gluten free

    Disadvantages

    • Only available in two flavors

  • 5/11

    Best chocolaty vegan protein

    “Designer Vegan Protein” von ESN

    • Basis:Soy protein
    • Protein pro Portion:24 g
    • Taste:Salted Caramel Mocca, Hazelnut Nougat, Cinnamon Cereal, Dark Cookies, Milky Chocolate

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Advantages

    • ESN named one of the best brands by Stiftung Warentest
    • Relatively high protein content per serving

    Disadvantages

    • Contains sucralose, which not everyone prefers

  • 6/11

    Best vegan protein with probiotics

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Advantages

    • Naturally sweetened
    • Relatively high protein content per serving

    Disadvantages

    • Only available in two flavors

  • 7/11

    Best vegan protein with different flavors

    “Vegan 3K Protein” von Nutri+

    • Basis:Pea protein, sunflower protein, soy protein isolate
    • Protein pro Portion:25 g
    • Taste:Neutral, vanilla, banana, chocolate brownie, cookies & cream, cinnamon cereal, strawberry cream, hazelnut, salted pretzel and others

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Advantages

    • Relatively high protein content per serving
    • Large selection of flavors

    Disadvantages

    • Contain sucralose as a sweetener, which not everyone prefers

  • 8/11

    Best Clear Protein

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Advantages

    • Refreshing alternative to creamy shakes
    • Free from artificial colors

    Disadvantages

    • Relatively low protein content per serving

  • 9/11

    Best vegan protein with different protein sources

    “Vegan Protein” von Foodspring

    • Basis:Pea, sunflower, hemp and chickpea protein
    • Protein pro Portion:21 g
    • Taste:Neutral, cookie dough, chocolate, chocolate peanut, vanilla

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Advantages

    • Additionally contains calcium and zinc
    • Enriched with vitamin B12, folic acid and biotin

    Disadvantages

    • No dosage spoon included for environmental reasons - but can be ordered individually in the shop

  • 10/11

    Best vegan protein on Amazon

    “Vegan Protein” von Alpha Foods

    • Basis:Rice, pea and soy protein
    • Protein pro Portion:22 g
    • Taste:Neutral, banana, cookie dough, hazelnut, raspberry yogurt, coconut, iced coffee (limited edition), chocolate, vanilla, white chocolate & macadamia

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Advantages

    • Made in Germany
    • Relatively high protein content per serving

    Disadvantages

    • Contain sucralose as a sweetener, which not everyone prefers
    • Currently no measuring spoons are included - according to the brand for sustainability reasons

  • 11/11

    Bestes veganes Protein – made in Germany

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Advantages

    • Good amino acid balance
    • Made in Germany

    Disadvantages

    • Currently only available in one flavor