Plant Protein · Vegan · Vegetarian · Weight Loss · Workout    

The Best Plant‑Based Protein Powder – How to Choose & Why It Matters

wooden spoon holding the best plant based protein powder over a protein smoothie

Looking for the best plant‑based protein powder for muscle recovery, daily nutrition, or supporting a vegan lifestyle? Plant‑based blends have exploded in popularity — but not all are created equal.
In this guide, you’ll learn what to look for (amino acid profile, digestibility, clean ingredients), how plant powders compare to whey, and how to choose the right one for your body and goals.

In this article, you will learn:

The Problem with Most Plant-Based Protein Powder

That said, many of the plant proteins on the market aren’t great. Some of them aren’t complete. Others aren’t organic. Some have GMOs, and many plant-based protein powders rely on crappy grain-based fillers, artificial sweeteners, or heaps of sugar to improve taste and texture.

If you’re looking for a high-quality plant-based protein powder to help your body build and repair, use these tips to help you choose.

7 Tips for Choosing the Best Plant-Based Protein Powder

If you’re reading this, you’re probably a careful consumer. You want the cleanest, most nutritious plant protein available. Well, you’re in luck. We’ve made a checklist for you.

1) Organic

Make sure your plant protein is organic. You don’t want the plants your protein comes from drenched in pesticides. This is an especially big concern with conventional soy protein - it often comes from GMO soy that was bred to withstand huge pesticide loads. And even if none of those pesticides make it into your food, they’re destroying the planet. Go organic. It’s worth it.

2) Complete Protein

A lot of single-source protein powders (rice protein, pea protein, and wheat protein, for example) don’t contain the 9 essential amino acids you need. Other vegetarian protein sources (like ground chia seeds) are complete but don’t contain very much total protein.

Opt for a complete protein powder to make sure you’re getting essential amino acids. Complete plant protein powders often have carefully chosen blends of different plants to cover the full spectrum of amino acids.

3) Sustainably Sourced

Look for a sustainable protein source. Some ingredients are harvested at a detriment to the environment or the people who grow it. We only get one Earth. It’s worth a little extra diligence to take care of it. There are plenty of sustainable plant proteins on the market. Most will say “Non-GMO certified” or “sustainably sourced” on their packaging. If you’re unsure, just write the company and ask. Most of them are happy to talk about their sourcing!

4) Quality Ingredients

It can be difficult to make plant protein taste good. Most plant protein powders are gritty, bitter, or have an off-putting color. Some companies fix the problem by adding a bunch of synthetic sweeteners, flow agents, fillers, artificial flavors, and/or artificial colorings. Or they’ll just load it with sugar (yes, honey, agave, and coconut sugar count as sugar).

Always check your labels for suspicious ingredients. Common sweeteners to avoid are:

  • Sucralose
  • Acesulfame-potassium (acesulfame-K)
  • Aspartame
  • Brown rice syrup (a fancy source of sugar)
  • Agave
  • Coconut sugar

Instead, choose a plant protein powder that uses all-natural stevia and natural flavors.

5) Nutrient-Dense

Not all proteins are created equal. Opt for protein powders that are rich in micronutrients. Pumpkin protein, for example, is rich in magnesium and potassium, and pea protein is packed with calcium, zinc, iron, and vitamin E. You might as well get some extra vitamins and minerals with your protein.

6) Non-GMO

Honestly, we don’t know much about the long-term effects of GMO crops. They haven’t been around long enough for us to say what kind of health problems they’ll cause down the line. On top of that, the majority of GMO crops are modified to withstand extraordinary levels of pesticides – pesticides that kill everything else and leave the GMO crop.

Jane Goodall said it well: “Someday we will look back on this era of agriculture and shake our heads. How could we have ever believed it was a good idea to grow our food with poisons?”

Avoid the question of genetic modification and the issue of synthetic pesticides. The bottom line? Choose a non-GMO protein powder.

7) Grain-Free

If you’re Paleo, Primal, or just sensitive to gluten or grains, opt for a grain-free protein powder. You have a lot of solid options: hemp protein, pea protein, spirulina, and more. For more, check out our article on the best plant-based proteins.

The Most Important Thing to Consider When Choosing a Plant-Based Protein Powder

One of the main criteria for choosing the best plant-based protein powder is that you’ll actually use it! Make sure it tastes good and that it’s convenient for you to use. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, make sure to add other protein-rich plants to your diet like legumes, rice, almonds, broccoli, and spinach to your diet as well.

Are you using a plant-based protein you like? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

Related Articles
• Grain‑Free Vegan Protein: Top Plant Sources & How Much You Need


Frequently Asked Questions

  • What makes a plant‑based protein powder “good”? A good plant‑based protein powder delivers a complete amino acid profile (or mixes sources to achieve this), uses clean and minimally processed ingredients, is easy to digest, and has transparent labelling. 
  • Are plant‑based protein powders as effective as whey for muscle building?
    Yes — when you choose a complete or well‑blended plant option and hit your total daily protein needs, plant‑based powders can be comparable to whey. What matters most is consistency and overall diet.
  • How many grams of protein should I look for per serving? Ideally, aim for 20‑30 g per serving (for most active adults). Also, check that the serving size doesn’t hide a small scoop labelled “serving” but actually delivers less than you think.
  • What ingredients or allergens should I avoid? Avoid heavy fillers, excessive added sugars, and artificial sweeteners, and choose non‑GMO/organic where possible. If you have sensitivities, beware soy, pea, or blends that might trigger you. 
  • When’s the best time to take plant‑based protein powder? It depends on your goal — after a workout for recovery, or as a meal supplement when you might struggle to hit your protein target. What matters most is total daily intake rather than exact timing.

The content on this blog and any accompanying materials are for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding your health. Products sold by Natural Force are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.



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