The Best Vegan Protein Powders in Canada (2025 Guide)
Joe Clark
We included the following brands:
- Ironvegan Sprouted Protein
- Leanfit Organic Plant-Based Protein
- Good Protein All-in-one shake
- Vega Vega Sport, recently rebranded as Protein + Recovery
- Thrive Protein Plant-Based Protein
And the following comparison categories:
- Protein content
- Amino Acid content
- Protein ingredients
- Sweeteners used
- Gums, Thickeners, and other ingredients
- Taste and texture
- Value for money
This is the most detailed and objective guide available on vegan protein powders, and delves deep into comparing the various products so that you can make an informed decision.
The Best Vegan Protein Powders in Canada in 2025
Protein Content
Total protein per 30g of powder
Protein content is arguably the most important metric when evaluating a protein powder. However, many brands claim "high protein" levels while simply using large scoop sizes. This can be misleading, increases cost, and hides the true protein density. Therefore, to ensure a fair comparison, we have standardized the protein content per 30g serving. The overall winner in this category is Thrive Protein, followed by Vega and Ironvegan.
You can see the scoop sizes for each product above - this is further discussed in the value section.
Amino Acid Content
Essential Amino Acids (EAAs) per 100g of protein powder
The analysis above includes EAAs per 100g, EAAs per scoop, and BCAAs per 100g to give a comprehensive view of protein quality. EAAs (essential amino acids) includes all 9 essential amino acids, and the three BCAAs (leucine, isoleucine, valine).
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. EAAs are those the body cannot produce on its own and are critical for muscle repair and growth. The higher the EAA level, the better the muscle can repair, recover, and grow after exercise.
Analyzing EAA content provides a complete picture of protein quality and muscle building potential. It also best reflects protein completeness, which is especially important for plant-based powders. While total protein content tells you how much protein is present, EAA content is a better indicator of protein quality. For example, a product may be high in total protein but made from low quality or incomplete sources, resulting in low EAA levels.
Thrive Protein performed best in this catagory for both EAA and BCAA by some margin, followed by Vega and Ironvegan.
Note: Good Protein don't list the Amino Acid values on the packaging or website, but they provide it to you if you ask through their live chat.
Protein Ingredients
The types of plant proteins included in the blends
In a vegan protein powder, a blend of different protein sources is necessary to achieve a complete and rounded amino acid profile. Plant proteins like pea, rice, hemp, flax, and chia each offer varying levels of specific amino acids, so combining them helps create a more balanced and complete protein. All of the products in this comparison use blends, but the standouts are Leanfit and Thrive Protein, both of which include 3 or more sources and contain hemp protein, one of the highest-quality plant proteins available.
Sweeteners Used
How the products are sweetened
Natural sweeteners are essential in flavoured plant-based protein powders, as the unflavoured versions are typically savoury. Stevia is the most common option, used here by Ironvegan, Thrive Protein, and Leanfit.
Good Protein also include maltodextrin, a highly processed carbohydrate made from starch. While this is common in carbohydrate beverages, it may not appeal to everyone as it causes rapid increases in blood sugar.
It is unclear what is in the newly reformulated Vega. Despite purchasing both the Vega Sport and the new Vega Protein + Recovery to write this article, we couldn’t confirm whether the new product contains maltodextrin, cane sugar, sunflower oil, and modified starch. The vega website clearly lists these ingredients at the bottom of the Protein+Recovery page in the 'non medicinal ingredients' section, but they are not shown on the tub. We’ve never come across a protein powder that includes these ingredients before, and if the new Vega does in fact contain sunflower oil and modified starch, it marks a significant departure from where Vega began as a clean, health-focused supplement. We are yet to hear back from Vega customer support to find out more on what is actually inside the tub.
Gums, Thickeners, and Other Ingredients
Gums, and any fillers, preservatives, or texture enhancers
Gums are necessary in plant-based protein powders to stabilize the shake and improve texture. Xanthan, guar, acacia, and carrageenan are all naturally derived gums typically used in small amounts, with no known adverse health effects.
Ironvegan, Leanfit and Thrive Protein perform well in this area with minimal addition of gums. Good Protein uses a heavier dose of gums than Ironvegan, Leanfit, and Thrive to achieve its thick, creamy texture. Therefore, Good Protein is considered to be more processed and less clean than the other proteins.
The newly reformulated Vega shake performs worst in this catagory. As mentioned above, their website lists the addition of sunflower oil and modified starch, which is very unusual for a health supplement. Again, we have reached out to Vega to get a definitive answer on what is actually in the product, as the information on the container does not match what is shown on the website.
Taste and Texture
How the products perform when mixed with water
Taste and texture are somewhat subjective, so here is the most objective feedback we could provide from trying these different shakes:
Vega Protein + Recovery: The texture was the most grainy of all the proteins, with a very strong aftertaste of bitter pea. We struggled to drink the shake with just water, and after reading reviews online, found that most people were either blending theirs with other fruits or drinking the chocolate version, in which the cocoa powder masks the bitter pea protein they use.
Ironvegan Sprouted Protein: Although the sprouted protein is a great idea, and they make great protein bars, this protein powder is virtually undrinkable, as one scoop requires over 600 to 700ml of water to achieve a runny consistency. It formed a coagulated dough in the shaker, and we couldn't drink it. Again, it is likely fine if blended into a shake, but as a stand alone protein powder, it's tough to swallow. The result is a rather gloopy texture, almost like drinking dough, and is likely due to the choice of only rice protein and sprouted ingredients. It's more ideal for baking or blending, but unfortunately it does not hold up as a stand alone shake. The only way we could form a drinkable solution was to use around 700 ml of water, at which point it reached the same consistency as the other brands at 400 ml.
Thrive Protein's Plant Based Protein: This is the best tasting 'true protein' powder we've tried. Despite being extremely high in protein, the proteins themselves are not remotely bitter. Instead, they are creamy and satisfying. The flavouring is fairly light, and the sweetness is just right without tasting of stevia. This is no easy achievement with a very high protein product, and it is due to the quality of the raw protein ingredients used.
Good Protein All-In-One Shake: Taste and texture is what Good Protein do best. Their all in one shake isn't really aimed at people seeking exercise recovery (hence the very low protein content). Instead, it is targeted at those with weight management and digestive issues. The taste of Good Protein is exceptional, and you genuinely look forward to having it. However, they are at somewhat of an unfair advantage over the other brands, as it is not really a protein powder, it’s a superfood blend with some protein in it (less than 40 percent protein). That being said, they do nail it with the taste.
Leanfit Organic Plant-Based Protein: The texture is good. However, there is a strong taste of Stevia, which presents as a licorice-like flavour. It is then swiftly followed by an extremely bitter aftertaste, likely from the type of pea protein used. Like Ironvegan and Vega, it's ok to blend, but doesn't stand up as a shake mixed in water. That being said, it's more palatable than the Ironvegan and the Vega.
Value for Money
Cost per kg of protein powder
Value is another metric that can be difficult for protein consumers to compare, as brands often use different container sizes. Sometimes a product appears to offer great value, but in reality, it may come in a smaller tub or contain less product than expected. Here, we have normalized the values to cost per kilogram to allow a direct comparison.
Leanfit uses a very small (715 g) tub which is fairly misleading and is not ideal from an environmental standpoint - the tub is literally 50% full. Vega isn't great in this regard either, with a 828g container and a 41 g scoop which means you end up only getting 20 servings per container. Thrive is the best in this catagory with a full 1000 g container, at only $49.99 and a 32g scoop, giving 33 servings per unit.
The giants in the industry (Vega, and Good Protein), both use massive scoops (Vega, 41 g and Good Protein, 44 g). This means you get through the already small units extremely fast, which makes sense from a business perspective, but means you end up spending a small fortune on protein powder.
Calories, Protein, Carbs, Fats
Values calculated per 30g of powder
Overall Performance
🥇Thrive Protein's Plant Based Protein (Overall Winner 94%)
Performing towards the top end of all categories, with the highest protein content, highest amino acid profile, great taste, minimal gums, a well rounded choice of protein ingredients, and by far the most cost effective, Thrive's Plant-Based Protein is the overall winner for the best vegan protein in Canada in 2025.
🥈Leanfit Organic Plant-Based Protein (Second Overall 70%)
In second place is Leanfit organic plant-based protein powder. The texture, ingredient selection, protein content, and value for money are all very good with this protein. However, there is a strong taste of stevia, which presents as a licorice like flavour. It is then swiftly followed by a very bitter aftertaste, likely from the type of pea protein used. Like Ironvegan and Vega, it's ok to blend, but we struggled to drink it with just water. That being said, it is more palatable than the Ironvegan and the Vega. Leanfit earns second place as it performed well in numerous categories.
🥉Vega Protein + Recovery (68%)
Vega takes 3rd position. When Vega began, they were the brainchild of Brendan Brazier, an ultra-endurance athlete and passionate health enthusiast, and the brand Vega represented all things health and wellness for vegans. Since being taken over, their products seem to have moved further and further away from the original objective. If the new product does in fact contain fillers and flavour enhancers such as sunflower oil, maltodextrin, modified starches, and cane sugar, this is no longer a protein supplement for the health-conscious individual, but instead a product aimed at the non-protein user, hoping they don't read the ingredient list. Hopefully, it's a website mistake, not a change in their ingredient selection (we are still waiting for Vega to respond regarding this). If the ingredients remain as they are in Vega Sport, we give the product 76%, which would put it in second place. However, as we have received no response as of yet from Vega regarding the ingredients in the product, Vega will remain in 3rd place in our comparison.
🥉Ironvegan Sprouted Protein (64%)
This product performed well for protein content and amino acid content, but very poorly in taste, texture and value for money. The texture of this product is tough to get past although the sprouted protein is a great idea, the product is virtually undrinkable when mixed with just water, as it required over 600 to 700ml of water. Better used for baking, or used sparingly in a smoothie.
🥉Good Protein All-In-One Shake (60%)
The taste and texture is what Good Protein do best (it is genuinely delicious), and their all-in-one shake also contains a nice selection of fruit and vegetable powders for added nutrients. However, this isn't really a true protein supplement, as the protein content is very low—under 40%. They aren't really aimed at people seeking exercise recovery (hence the very low protein content) and are better suited to those with an extremely sweet tooth who are seeking to fulfil a sweetness craving—potentially those looking to lose weight or replace sweet items such as cake or sugary drinks. If you're looking for a protein powder for exercise recovery, this is not the product for you. It's extremely expensive at $86.34/kg and has a huge 44 g scoop, which comes in at a whopping $3.73 per shake—unsustainable for daily use (unless you want to spend $120/month on protein powder, or double that if you do two shakes a day!).
Good Protein is a superfood shake, so it really does not stand up well against true protein powders in this kind of comparison—but it is a very good superfood shake. However, it may be better to use an actual protein powder for protein intake, and then a separate greens blend to achieve the nutritional support component, as the protein levels in Good Protein are just too low to properly support exercise recovery. Likewise, the nutritional component isn't as high as something like AG1 or Thrive Ultimate Greens.
Summary:
Overall winner = Thrive Protein's Canadian-Made Vegan Protein Powder
About the Author:
Joe is a certified personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, and nutrition coach. He holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Sport and Exercise Science, graduating with First Class standing. During his studies, Joe focused on human physiology and performance, and he applies this knowledge of exercise science to his work with Thrive. He is the co-founder of Thrive Protein, a Canadian family-run supplement company focused on clean, scientifically backed nutrition products — including protein powders, greens, and electrolytes.