They’re efficient, they’re simple, and they’re proven to work. Vegan meal replacement shakes are tasty options to supplement your daily nutrient intake. After reviewing the pros and cons of countless brands, we’ve crowned IdealShake the best vegan meal replacement shake. It meets the most hunger-suppressing, muscle-toning, and nutrient needs compared to other brands while maintaining a clean, healthy ingredient list.
Depending on your specific health goals, there is a meal replacement shake on this list for you. They can be used to help with weight loss on a plant-based diet or as a simple way to boost your day’s protein input. Keep reading for a list of the best vegan meal replacement shakes to add to your daily health regimen.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Garden of Life Meal Replacement. One of the best-selling vegan meal replacements on the market, Garden of Life packs 45 grams of protein and essential nutrients. | |
Best Runner-Up: Vega One Organic All-In-One Shake. One of the best-tasting, complete vegan meal replacements with nine delicious flavors. | |
Best Low-Calorie: Vegan Lean1. With only 180 calories per serving, Lean1 is truly ideal for calorie counters. | |
Best w/ Probiotics: Oxyfresh Vibe Protein Powder. The best option for gut health and digestion thanks to one billion probiotics CFU. | |
Best Budget: Ambronite Complete Meal Shake. As the least expensive option on our list, you can save your money and still maintain a healthful diet. |
Best for Women: Tone It Up Protein Powder. Uniquely formulated to meet the nutrition needs of women, Tone It Up Protein Powder is the best vegan meal for gals. | |
Best Subscription: Huel Vegan Powdered Meal. As a company, Huel is a master at developing subscription based nutritional products to meet your needs. | |
Best Convenient: Pirq Plant Protein Meal Replacement Shake. These meal replacement shakes are individually packaged for unmatched convenience and portability. | |
Best Versatile: Orgain Vegan All-In-One Protein Shake. Mix it, blend it, or bake it with Orgain’s delicious adaptable formula. | |
Best Lifestyle: Lyfe Fuel Essential Meal Replacement Shake. Get with the Lyfe Fuel lifestyle program and transform your body in weeks. |
A Closer Look: Best Vegan Meal Replacement Shakes
1. Garden of Life Meal Replacement
The best vegan meal replacement shake overall
Brand: Garden of Life / Protein: 40 grams / Flavors: 4 / Price: 💰💰💰
The benefits are right in the name. Garden of Life’s RAW Organic meal replacement shake is another option that is filled with 1.5 billion live probiotics and has proved to boost energy levels. One of the most significant differences between Garden of Life products and most others on this list is that Garden of Life uses added flavors like chocolate or vanilla to enhance the taste of their shakes. The shake might taste different than the average chocolate shake because the Garden of Life RAW Meal Replacement is strengthened with additives. Depending on what you’re looking for from your shake, this might be something to consider strongly.
Reviewers Like
- Totally organic
- Pleasant texture and taste
- Whopping 22 grams of protein
Reviewers Dislike
- Lots of sugar
- Contains “natural” flavors and thickeners
2. Vega One Organic All-In-One Shake
The best vegan meal replacement shake runner-up
Brand: Vega / Protein: 20 grams / Flavors: 9 / Price: 💰💰💰
The sheer number of flavors that Vega offers for its meal replacement shakes is something to marvel at. Chocolate, French vanilla, plain, berry, coconut almond, mocha, and chocolate mint are at your disposal when choosing the perfect flavor for your shake. Unlike most other shakes, Vega’s designs recipes to be blended with a milk alternative or juice as opposed to just being mixed with water. This lends itself to a more desirable texture and taste. The amount of probiotics and fiber per serving is comparable to most other meal replacement shakes. When it comes to grams of protein per serving, Vega lands on the shorter end of the spectrum with only 20 grams. However, this is still a large value of your daily protein intake.
Reviewers Like
- Excellent flavor
- Perfectly sweetened
- Contains 1.5 grams of omega-3s
Reviewers Dislike
- Only 20 grams of protein per serving
- Artificial taste despite USDA organic certification
3. Vegan Lean1 Protein
The best low-calorie vegan meal replacement shake
Brand: Lean1 / Protein: 20 grams / Flavors: 2 / Price: 💰💰💰
With 20 grams of protein per serving and 22 vitamins and minerals, Vegan Lean1 is a great low-calorie vegan meal replacement. Lean1 shakes are part of a larger weight-loss plan that offers meal replacement shakes, snack bars, and supplements. The company sells both plant and dairy-based shakes, so make sure to thoroughly read the label when selecting your flavor. That said, these shakes come in a range of tasty flavors. You’ll find regulars like chocolate and vanilla, along with some exciting flavors like strawberry, salted caramel, and mocha. Most drinkers of Lean1 report the standard grainy taste consistent across most meal replacement shake brands. Getting creative with your shake ingredients might offer some respite.
Reviewers Like
- Low calorie count
- Exceptionally affordable
- Reduces hunger for several hours
Reviewers Dislike
- Grainy texture
- Strange aftertaste
4. Oxyfresh Vibe Protein Powder
The best vegan meal replacement with probiotics
Brand: Oxyfresh / Protein: 20 grams / Flavors: 2 / Price: 💰💰💰
Free from soy, gluten, and preservatives, Oxyfresh Vegan Protein meal replacement shakes help you feel fuller longer, support lean muscle, and absorb nutrients more effectively. For those with sensitivities or allergies to certain ingredients, Oxyfresh might be the right choice. Their ingredients avoid all commonly-triggering foods while maintaining the same burst of nutrients and appetite suppression as other shakes. That said, it is still a good idea to review the ingredients list as a precaution. As a bonus, there are recipes on Oxyfresh’s website to enhance your shake and “take it to the next level!”
Reviewers Like
- Contains active probiotics
- Predominantly superfoods
- 20 grams of organic protein per serving
Reviewers Dislike
- Not entirely organic
- On the expensive side
5. Ambronite Complete Meal Shake
The best vegan meal replacement shake on a budget
Brand: Ambronite / Protein: 24 grams / Flavors: 4 / Price: 💰💰
No fake food. At Ambronite, they pride themselves on using whole food ingredients that go through little processing before becoming a shake. What sets Ambronite apart is their philosophy of solely using food to get nutrients, meaning there are no added supplements in their shakes. They only use ingredients proven to improve daily performance and mood. You can purchase a container of the replacement powder and individual packets to take on the go. You can rest assured that your Ambronite shake is clean and loaded with nutritious ingredients.
Reviewers Like
- Smooth texture
- 100% plant-based whole foods
- No preservatives or artificial ingredients
Reviewers Dislike
- On the expensive side
- Dull flavor when mixed with water
6. Tone It Up Protein Powder (for Women)
The best vegan meal replacement for women
Brand: Tone It Up / Protein: 15 grams / Flavors: 2 / Price: 💰💰💰
Tone It Up has been gaining traction in the health and weight-loss community for some time now. The company was started by two best friends who decided to turn their fitness expertise into a business. Tone It Up not only offers replacement shakes high in protein and unique flavors, but a variety of other products like green juices and collagen powders to enhance your diet further. Part of the appeal for most Tone It Up fans is the tight-knit community the company has built around fitness and weight-loss. They offer exercise programs, support groups, and recipes for a variety of health-related goals.
Reviewers Like
- Promotes lean muscle
- Variety of flavor options
- Proven to help with weight loss
Reviewers Dislike
- Chalky taste
- Lacking in protein
7. Huel Vegan Powdered Meal
The best vegan meal replacement shake subscription
Brand: Huel / Protein: 37 grams / Flavors: 3 / Price: 💰💰💰💰💰
Huel is one of the few meal replacement shakes that officially meets the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines and Daily Value (DV) requirements for all macro- and micronutrients. Meaning Huel meal replacement shakes are an excellent energy source, loaded with protein and fiber, that will keep you fuller for longer.
Huel Vegan Powdered Meal contains healthy fats such as flaxseed, sunflower, and coconut, uses peas and rice as its primary sources of protein, and holds all 27 essential vitamins and minerals. Along with the standard powder, Huel sells protein bars and ready-to-drink shakes for those who are always on the go.
Reviewers Like
- Popular all-in-one solution
- Near-perfect macro-nutrient split
- All 27 essential vitamins and minerals
Reviewers Dislike
- Gritty taste and dull flavor
- Uses sucralose, an artificial sweetener
8. Pirq Meal Replacement Shakes
The most convenient vegan meal replacement shake
Brand: Pirq / Protein: 12 grams / Flavors: 3 / Price: 💰💰💰💰
If you’re looking for a meal replacement shake explicitly made for breakfast, Pirq might be your shake-of-choice. All of their ingredients are clean and natural. An interesting ingredient to note is cold brew coffee and pea protein in the caramel coffee option. It’s loaded with antioxidants while being a natural source of caffeine for your daily morning wake-up drink. Other flavors include the classic vanilla and chocolate. Every flavor consists of superfoods like amaranth, sorghum, and flaxseed, which are fiber-rich foods that fill your body with essential vitamins and minerals.
Reviewers Like
- High protein
- Flavorful options
- Comes in convenient individual packets
Reviewers Dislike
- Somewhat expensive
- Doesn’t mix very well
9. Orgain Vegan All-In-One Protein Shake
The best versatile vegan meal replacement shake
Brand: Orgain / Protein: 16 grams / Flavors: 3 / Price: 💰💰
Orgain was founded by Dr. Andrew Abraham when he set out to create a vegan-friendly meal replacement shake that avoided processed supplements and chemicals. After battling cancer as a teen and becoming a physician later in life, he understood the importance of a nutritious plant-based meal replacement shake. Orgain is free of GMOs, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives, putting it at par with most other shakes on this list. It offers protein bars, powders, and ready to drink protein shakes along with the traditional powdered meal replacement shakes. A massive bonus of Orgain is the price. Compared to most other meal replacement shakes, it’s more affordable for the average consumer. However, this might come at the cost of an undesirable taste and texture.
Reviewers Like
- Contains 21 vitamins and minerals
- Excels for folks with a busy lifestyle
- Satiates hunger to aid with weight loss
Reviewers Dislike
- Gritty texture
- Unpleasant aftertaste
10. Lyfe Fuel Essential Meal Replacement Shake
The best lifestyle-oriented vegan meal replacement shake
Brand: LyfeFuel / Protein: 18 grams / Flavors: 2 / Price: 💰💰💰
LyfeFuel focuses on superfoods when creating their meal replacement shakes. They promote ethical and sustainable practices while sourcing their ingredients. Lyfe offers two flavors: chocolate and vanilla chai. Each flavor is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that most vegans are in short supply of when eating a plant-based diet. They offer shakes with a focus on probiotics, omegas, post-workout recovery, and weight loss. Along with the products, LyfeFuel also offers a 21-Day Transformation Program that is a community of people trying to make healthier choices through daily tasks that establish long-lasting habits.
Reviewers Like
- Low calorie count
- All natural ingredients
- 18 grams protein per serving
Reviewers Dislike
- Too sweet for many palettes
- Fragile packaging prone to spills
What to Look for in Vegan Meal Replacement Shakes
Now that we’ve compiled a list of the best vegan meal replacement shakes, let’s tackle what you should look for when choosing one to incorporate into your diet.
First and foremost, it’s crucial to take stock of your health priorities and pinpoint why you’re choosing a meal replacement shake. Next, keep in mind that an excellent meal replacement shake should be high in protein, anywhere from 15 – 20 grams per serving, and low in calories and fat. Ideally, all ingredients are ethically sourced and contain no artificial preservatives or sugars. Inclusion of other nutrients, like the essential vitamins and minerals, are a bonus. If you want to improve your gut health, look for a replacement shake that supports digestive enzymes.
All this to say that there are many benefits to adding a meal replacement shake to your diet. Vegan shakes are easy sources of essential nutrients and will leave you feeling full longer than most average meals.
Most people who drink meal replacement shakes use them to replace one or two meals a day, but never all three. Depending on your specific health goals, maybe drinking a shake as a snack or post-workout recovery is more beneficial. It’s also important to keep in mind that there is a difference between vegan protein powder and vegan meal replacement shakes. You should opt for a meal replacement shake if your goals are to lose weight, cut your calories while still getting the necessary vitamins and minerals, or you need something to reduce hunger. All the products listed in this article are designed to meet these goals.
Finding the Best Flavor of Vegan Meal Replacement Shakes
Along with the health benefits of a vegan meal replacement shake, flavor and texture is also something to consider strongly.
It’s no secret that some vegan shakes have a less-than-desirable taste or texture, and for some people, this is enough to steer them away from a vegan replacement shake. In truth, this is the reality for most replacement shakes. For a quick fix, add fruit, powders with other flavors, and various seeds. Have you ever tried a chocolate replacement shake with almond milk and banana? It’s delicious, low-calorie, and will keep you feeling satisfied for longer periods.
These vegan meal replacement shakes have been crafted with your health in mind. Whether your goals are weight loss, leaner muscle, an easy meal, or a generally more nutritious diet, one of these products is determined to satisfy those needs.
Our Process
For this guide on vegan meal replacement shakes, our team spent 3 hours researching the most popular formulas from over 20 brands and manufacturers big and small. We then read about a hundred user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each shake. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 10 vegan meal replacement shakes on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.
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Further Reading
Bob
Wednesday 19th of October 2022
I found this site very helpful in helping me to decide which product to choose and the benefits of each.