Orgain’s Organic Protein Powder blends pea, brown rice, chia, and mung bean proteins to hit all nine essential amino acids. It’s USDA-certified organic, kosher, and delivers 21 grams of protein, plus 4 grams of fiber and prebiotics for a little digestive support. With about 15 grams of carbs per serving, it leans higher carb than some plant-based competitors, but that also makes it more filling—ideal if you need something to hold you over between meals.

I’ve tested my fair share of vanilla proteins, and Orgain’s vanilla bean flavor is one of the better ones. It’s smooth, not overly sweet, and blends up surprisingly creamy despite being dairy-free. While the formula is free from artificial sweeteners, most flavors include erythritol and gums, which can cause digestive issues for some. Some flavors, like birthday cake, sneak up to 450 milligrams of sodium per serving, which is 20 percent of your daily limit. The iced coffee flavor comes with 60 milligrams of caffeine.

Ritual prides itself on transparency, offering a traceable supply chain, so you know exactly what’s going into your protein shake. The Protein Daily Shake 18+ is crafted from organic yellow field peas, grown and harvested exclusively in North America. By sourcing from regenerative farms, Ritual minimizes heavy metal contamination risks and reduces its carbon footprint. The vanilla flavor is handcrafted using vanilla extract sourced from Madagascar. No surprise that it’s certified by the Clean Label Project and won the organization’s Purity Award.

Ritual’s pea protein is enhanced with L-methionine, rounding out the amino acid profile, with eight grams of essential amino acids and four grams of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) per serving. It’s a clean option: soy-free, gluten-free, vegan, and free from GMOs, stevia, sugar alcohols, and artificial flavors or colors. While I haven’t tested Ritual’s Pregnancy & Postpartum Daily Shake, it’s worth noting it delivers 250 milligrams of choline per serving to support increased dietary needs during pregnancy and lactation.

When it comes to easy-to-digest protein, Promix Grass-Fed Whey Isolate stands out. Micro-filtered to contain less than 1 gram of lactose, it’s designed for sensitive stomachs. Each serving delivers 30 grams of protein, 6.6 grams of BCAAs, and 14.2 grams of essential amino acids. Promix also nails texture; with less than one percent non-GMO sunflower lecithin, this natural emulsifier helps dissolve the powder in water and milk without any grittiness. I’ve tossed it into shakes and muffins—the protein shakes weren’t my favorite, but the baked goods turned out delicious.

The brand also sells protein puff bars (15 grams of protein) in flavors like blueberries & cream, snickerdoodle, and mint chocolate. While I found them too chalky, my fiancé loved them, so they might be worth trying if you’re looking for snackable protein.

If you’re picky about what goes into your protein powder, Momentous checks a lot of boxes. The company sources its whey from European dairy farms, where regulations ensure the cows are grass-fed and free from hormones, steroids, and rBST. The whey is processed using cold microfiltration to preserve its amino acid profile, and it includes ProHydrolase, an enzyme blend meant to boost digestion and absorption. Momentous is NSF Certified for Sport and Informed Sport, making it a top pick for athletes. It’s free from fillers, gums, and refined sugar, though it does use natural flavors.

With 20 grams of protein per serving, it’s great for most people, but bodybuilders and lifters may prefer a powder with a higher protein content. The macros are lean—just three grams of carbs (two from fiber, which helps with satiety) and 1.5 grams of fat, likely from the sunflower lecithin that improves mixability. Taste-wise, it’s not the most pleasant on its own. If you like to drink protein straight with water, you might find this one a little rough. I prefer to blend it into a fruit smoothie.

Collagen-based powders aren’t the best for muscle growth, but they’ve gained a loyal following for their supposed benefits for hair, skin, and joint health. Vital Proteins’ Vital Performance Protein Powder sets itself apart with an NSF Certified for Sport credential, meaning it’s been third-party tested for safety and label accuracy.

This formula combines milk protein isolate with bovine-sourced collagen peptides, making it a gentler option for those with lactose intolerance since it contains minimal to no milk sugar. (It’s still a milk byproduct, so steer clear if you have a dairy allergy.) The powder dissolves well in water or milk alike without clumps. It works well in smoothies and even holds up in baking if you want to sneak some protein into your pancakes.

Beef protein isolate is made from cow tissue that has been filtered and processed into powder. Whey is just as effective at building muscles and is cheaper, but Be Well by Kelly’s protein powder is a good option for those who follow a stricter Paleo diet or are dairy- or whey-free.

There are only three ingredients—organic cacao powder, beef protein isolate, and monk fruit sweetener. It packs 24 grams of protein per scoop and is a much finer powder than other protein powders I’ve tried. It is also a complete protein that has been third-party tested. The main reason I like it, however, is the taste. I do find it difficult to dissolve it plain in water. But with a little peanut butter as an emulsifier, it blends well into a fruit smoothie and makes it taste exactly like a (breakfast) chocolate shake.—Adrienne So

This vanilla protein powder is the secret behind my favorite post-workout snack that masquerades as dessert. I mix it with Greek yogurt, whipped cream cheese (not regular!), and some crumbled graham crackers to make a little protein cheesecake dessert. I usually do about half a cup of the yogurt and cheese to anywhere between half a scoop to a full scoop of powder; you should taste-test it yourself to find your perfect ratio. It’s a great go-to after an evening workout, or in my case, a late aerial dance class that leaves my shoulder muscles screaming.

The Isopure’s vanilla flavor is impressively strong. It can taste a little too strong without enough ingredients to balance it out. It would make for a fun addition to a smoothie or other mock desserts, like some frozen banana ice cream. It has a really nice vanilla scent to it, too. —Nena Farrell

If your priority is clean ingredients and label transparency, Transparent Labs’ Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate is for you. This whey is sourced from hormone-free, grass-fed cows, and the formula doesn’t include artificial sweeteners, food dyes, or any of that extra junk (minus the natural flavors). It has Informed Choice and Informed Protein certifications, so consumers are getting what they’re expecting.

There are over a dozen flavors, but I opted for the unflavored version that blends well into smoothies and baked goods without hijacking the taste.

This powder is unusual in that it’s not whey-, soy-, or pea-based, but consists entirely of powdered Peruvian lupin bean. A boon for those looking for a clean, single-source source of protein, Mikuna is vegan, paleo, keto, and gluten-free, and even the non-plain flavors (vanilla, cacao) only have five ingredients—along with calcium, fiber, iron, and all nine amino acids.

The flavored versions are actually quite tasty, sweetened with cacao powder or vanilla extract, coconut blossom nectar, and monk fruit. Be forewarned, though, that the powder alone can be texturally challenging—online reviews describe it as gritty and chalky, and after drinking it regularly for a few months, I think that’s being generous. (It will keep its suspension longer if mixed with a handheld electric whisk.) Mikuna is, however, an excellent way to bulk up a smoothie, and a potential game changer for those with digestive problems aggravated by dairy, soy, or peas. —Kat Merck