The 8 Best Organic Protein Powders of 2023

While an organic protein powder may not be nutritionally better for you than a non-organic protein powder, it does give the user a clear picture of how the ingredients were sourced. If you’re looking to avoid artificial ingredients, pesticides, or GMOs, you’re going to want to find a protein powder that is certified organic. 

But even when you narrow your options down to organic proteins, there are a lot of different factors to consider. If you’re looking to avoid animal products, you’ll want a vegan protein powder. Trying to cut weight? A lower-calorie option might be a good choice. Trying to put on some more muscle? Look for one with a higher protein content. With those considerations in mind, we tried a stack of options and dug up the best organic protein powders on the market. 

The Best Organic Protein Powders

• Best Organic Protein Powder Overall: Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein Powder
• Best Organic Protein Powder for Athletes: Jacked Factory Authentic Vegan Protein
• Best Tasting Organic Protein Powder: KOS Organic Plant Protein
• Best Organic Whey Protein Powder: Garden of Life Raw Organic Whey Protein
• Best Vegan Organic Protein Powder: KOS Organic Plant Protein
• Best Unflavored Organic Protein Powder: Natural Force Organic Whey Protein Powder
• Best Organic Protein Powder for Weight Loss: KOS Organic Plant Protein
• Best Organic Protein Powder for Muscle Gain: Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein Powder

How We Tested

The BarBend team is made up of competitive athletes, certified personal trainers, and lifelong fitness enthusiasts, and we’ve put down countless shaker bottles of protein powders for both fitness and testing purposes. For this article, we tried different organic protein powders, researched their potential benefits, and consulted user reviews to find the best ones. 

Best Organic Protein Powder Overall: Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein Powder

Specs

• Protein Type: Rice & Pea Protein
• Grams of Protein: 24
• Flavors: French Vanilla, Chocolate
• Price Per Serving: $1.67

Pros

• There are 24 grams of protein per serving, which is pretty generous for vegan protein powders.
• This protein is organic and non-GMO, and has zero artificial sweeteners, coloring, or preservatives. 
• The rice and pea protein in this powder provides a complete amino acid profile. 

Cons

• There aren’t any added vitamins or minerals in this protein. 
• If you’re looking to bulk up, you may want to try a vegan mass gainer.

When it comes to organic protein powders, you’ll have a hard time finding a better bang for your buck than this one. Each serving of Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein offers a 24-gram blend of rice and pea protein from organic, non-GMO sources, which will appeal to people who are trying to avoid animal products. 

Even if you aren’t vegan or vegetarian, this protein is worth a look because the main ingredient is rice protein, which has enough essential amino acids to be useful for muscle growth. (1) And when combined with the pea protein, provides a complete essential amino acid profile similar to whey. Plus, it can be easier to digest, for people who are sensitive to milk products. (2) Our tester corroborated this: When asked about any gas or bloating, they said “None at all! This was great.” 

This is also a lean protein with only two grams of fat and three grams of carbohydrates per serving, so if you’re trying to up your protein without messing up your macro count, this is a solid option. The 24 grams of protein is also a bit higher than you’ll find in many organic proteins, which tend to skew closer to 20 grams, so you’re getting more bang for your buck with this option.

Best Organic Protein Powder for Athletes: Jacked Factory Authentic Vegan Protein

Specs

• Protein Type: Vegan Protein Blend
• Grams of Protein: 22
• Flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate
• Price Per Serving: $1.16

Pros

• It’s loaded with 560mg of sodium, which can help replace the sodium you lose during sweaty workouts. 
• The wide range of organic protein sources provides a complete amino acid profile for rebuilding muscle. 
• There are only four grams of carbs in this blend, which makes it keto-friendly.

Cons

• If you’re looking to avoid sodium, this isn’t the product for you. 
• There are only two flavors: Chocolate and Vanilla. 

For many athletes, replacing sodium after a sweaty workout is key to maintaining a healthy fluid balance. (3) Jacked Factory’s Authentic Vegan Protein is ideal for athletes because this vegan blend has 560mg of sodium sourced from Himalayan sea salt to replenish the sodium lost in sweat. In addition, it offers 22 grams of protein from a wide range of sources, including organic peas, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and mung beans. 

At 110 calories per serving, this is one of the leaner proteins you’ll find, which makes it ideal for athletes trying to maintain muscle while making weight. Plus, this protein is manufactured at a CGMP-certified facility, and it only has four grams of carbohydrates, which is ideal for keto athletes. And the flavor is excellent, according to user reviews. “The chocolate flavor was on point,” one reviewer notes. “I actually crave this stuff!”

Best Tasting Organic Protein Powder: KOS Organic Plant Protein

Specs

• Protein Type: Pea, Flax Seed, Quinoa, Pumpkin Seed, Chia Seed
• Grams of Protein: 20
• Flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate
• Price Per Serving: $1.22 

Pros

• The two flavors, Chocolate and Vanilla, have gotten rave reviews from our testers. 
• This protein is made from peas, flaxseed, quinoa, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds, making it ideal for vegans.
• The ingredients are all-natural, USDA Certified Organic, and derived from whole foods. 

Cons

• The 20 grams of protein here is less than other proteins on this list. 
• This isn’t the leanest protein, so if you’re trying to cut, you might want to try a different one. 

KOS’s Organic Plant Protein combines protein from five different plant sources to provide a complete amino acid profile, but that won’t do you any good if you don’t want to drink it. Fortunately, this certified organic protein’s two flavors, Chocolate and Vanilla, are so tasty that it’ll feel more like a treat than a nutritional supplement. The reviews we’ve seen are equally positive about both the Chocolate and Vanilla flavors, but our tester was a particular fan of the Vanilla. “It’s light and creamy without being overpowering,” he says. “It’s a perfect complement to a fruit smoothie.”

Each scoop has 20 grams of protein, which is less than you’ll find on a lot of protein powders, but the digestive enzymes included can help you digest more of that protein. Plus, this protein also includes 12 additional vitamins and minerals, including copper, magnesium, vitamin B12, and zinc. 

Best Organic Whey Protein Powder: Garden of Life Raw Organic Whey Protein

Specs

• Protein Type: Whey Protein
• Grams of Protein: 21
• Flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut butter, Lightly Sweet
• Price Per Serving: $2.51 (Chocolate/Vanilla), $3.18 (Chocolate Peanut Butter, Lightly Sweet)

Pros

• This powder contains whey protein that’s certified USDA Organic and sourced for American Humane Certified grass-fed cows. 
• The 2 billion CFU of probiotics may help improve digestion. 
• There are four different flavors to choose from. 

Cons

• At over $2.51 per serving, this is one of the pricier options. 
• If you’re looking for a vegan protein, this ain’t it. 
• 21 grams of protein is on the lower side for protein powders.

If you’ve been searching for the cleanest whey protein on the market, you may have found it with Garden of Life Raw Organic Whey Protein. For starters, this whey is sourced from some very happy cows. The cows that produce this whey are grass-fed and pasture-raised on Humane Certified organic farms, and they’re never treated with hormones or antibiotics. 

Whey protein can be difficult to digest, particularly for people with lactose sensitivity, which is why some protein powders will add digestive enzymes to help aid digestion. Garden of Life goes a step further by adding 2 billion CFU of probiotics, which studies suggest may help reduce gastric issues when consuming lactose products. (4) User reviews praised the taste and texture, noting that the chocolate flavor had pleasant dark chocolate notes. “This was impressively delicious,” one user review says. “It’s creamy and rich, especially when mixed with unsweetened almond milk.”

Best Vegan Organic Protein Powder: KOS Organic Plant Protein

Specs

• Protein Type: Pea, Flax Seed, Quinoa, Pumpkin Seed, Chia Seed
• Grams of Protein: 20
• Flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate
• Price Per Serving: $1.22

Pros

• Every ingredient in this powder is plant-based, USDA Certified Organic, and derived from whole foods. 
• The five-protein blend creates an amino acid profile similar to what you’d find in whey. 
• When mixed with alt milk, the texture is very creamy, making it ideal for smoothies.

Cons

• 5.75 billion CFU might not be enough for someone who wants a large dose of probiotics. 
• If you’re looking for a formula that also contains prebiotics, you’ll need a different supplement. 
• There are only two flavors: Chocolate and Vanilla.

One concern among people who are looking for vegan protein is that a plant-based protein may not have the same muscle-building amino acid profile as an animal-based protein like whey. KOS Organic Plant Protein solves this issue by using a protein blend made with a variety of plants like peas and flaxseed, which combine to provide a complete essential amino acid profile. 

The ingredients in this blend are USDA-certified organic and flavored naturally with stevia, Peruvian cacao, and monk fruit. The result is a flavorful shake that mixes well with oat or soy milk to create smooth, creamy protein smoothies. Plus, the added digestive enzyme blend can help ensure that you absorb more of the protein into your system.

Best Unflavored Organic Protein Powder: Natural Force Organic Whey Protein Powder

Specs

• Protein Type: Whey Protein
• Grams of Protein: 20
• Flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, Unflavored
• Price Per Serving: $1.80 (5-pound bag), $2.26 (1-pound bag)

Pros

• One of its three available flavor options is Unflavored, so you can mix it with whatever you want without messing up the taste.
• This blend only has 110 calories per serving, making it ideal for people who are trying to cut weight.
• Every batch is third-party tested and certified USDA Organic, non-GMO, and American Humane. 

Cons

• This product comes from cows, so if you’re vegan, you should look at a different protein. 
• Since this is whey protein, people who have lactose sensitivities may have trouble digesting this. 

Many people prefer to mix their protein with other ingredients, like when you mix chocolate protein into a peanut butter and banana smoothie or vanilla protein into a mixed berry smoothie. But if you want a protein powder that’ll work with anything, you’ll need something unflavored like this powder from Natural Force. It comes in the classic Chocolate and Vanilla flavors, but it also has an Unflavored option, which works great for mixing with a post-workout supplement that may not work well with vanilla or chocolate. 

Plus, it’s an extremely clean whey — its 20 grams of protein are sourced from grass-fed cows on a certified American Humane location. The ingredients are also USDA-certified organic, non-GMO, and keto, since it only comes with three grams of carbohydrates per serving. It’s on the pricier side at $2.26 per serving for the one-pound bag, but you have the option to buy it in five-pound bags, which cuts the price down to $1.80 per serving. 

Best Organic Protein Powder for Weight Loss: KOS Organic Plant Protein

Specs

• Protein Type: Pea, Flax Seed, Quinoa, Pumpkin Seed, Chia Seed
• Grams of Protein: 20
• Flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate
• Price Per Serving: $1.22 

Pros

• This protein has 3.5 grams of fat and two grams of fiber, which can help with satiety. 
• The higher calorie count can make this a good base for meal-replacement smoothies.
• Ingredients like organic vanilla, coconut milk, stevia, and monk fruit make this taste more like a treat than a supplement.

Cons

• If you’re trying to avoid carbohydrates, you might want to steer clear of this option.
• There are only two flavors, so if you’re looking for more variety, look elsewhere. 

Many protein powders are low on carbohydrates and fat, which help keep it lean, but may not prevent you from being hungry again right after you take it. KOS Vegan Protein Powder has 3.5 grams of fat as well as two grams of fiber, both of which may keep you feeling satiated longer, so you’re less likely to overeat. (5) 

This protein also offers moderate doses of 12 different vitamins and minerals, which, along with its 20 grams of plant-based protein and 150 calories, make it a potential mid-day meal replacement if you’re having trouble making it to your next full meal. The protein itself is derived from five different plant sources like peas and quinoa, so you’re getting a full set of essential amino acids, and every ingredient here is USDA organic and free of hormones, artificial sweeteners, and GMOs.

Best Organic Protein Powder for Muscle Gain: Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein Powder

Specs

• Protein Type: Rice & Pea Protein
• Grams of Protein: 24
• Flavors: French Vanilla, Chocolate
• Price Per Serving: $1.67

Pros

• The rice protein in this has the essential amino acids for building muscle.
• There are zero artificial sweeteners, gluten, or preservatives. 
• This powder has 24 grams of protein, which is on the higher end of this list. 

Cons

• You’re only getting two flavors (French Vanilla and Chocolate), so if you want something more exotic, you’ll have to look elsewhere. 
• There aren’t any added vitamins or minerals in this protein. 

If you want to build muscle, it’s important that whatever protein powder you choose has a full range of essential amino acids, particularly leucine, which helps drive protein synthesis. (6) The rice protein in Transparent Labs Organic Vegan Protein Powder contains many essential amino acids, including leucine. And, when paired with the pea protein in this formula, provides a complete amino acid profile similar to whey protein (without the animal products). 

Plus, it delivers 24 grams of muscle-building protein, which is a higher amount than you’ll find in a lot of organic protein powders…and not much else. You won’t find any artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or coloring, and every ingredient here is organic, gluten-free, and non-GMO. It only comes in two flavors, but our tester was a fan of the Chocolate flavor’s richness. “It tastes like a dark chocolate drink (not milk chocolate),” they said. “ But with an earthy hint because of the rice and pea protein.”

Benefits of Organic Protein Powders

Organic protein powders may not be better for you nutritionally, but they provide a clear picture of how the protein was sourced and give some reassurance that they don’t contain high-quality ingredients without any artificial ingredients, pesticides, or GMOs. 

Clean Ingredients

If you want to make sure that the protein powder you take is free of artificial ingredients, GMOs, and pesticides, choosing an organic product is the way to go. Not only are all of the products on this list free of all of the above, but all of the animal-sourced proteins used whey from free-range, grass-fed, humanely-raised cows.

Muscle Gain

Protein is essential for building muscle mass, but it can be difficult to get enough with whole foods. A protein powder is an easy and effective way to tack on enough protein to hit your macro goal every day. 

Convenience

Let’s face it — sometimes, chewing your way through another flavorless chicken breast is the last thing you want to do. Shaking up some protein powder and slugging it down is an easy way to get your protein without having to cook anything.

Also, protein powder is a lot easier to take to the gym than whole food, so you can start the muscle-rebuilding process as soon as you finish your last rep.

Satiety

If you’re trying to lose weight, protein may be able to help prevent you from overeating. Protein is thought to help you feel fuller for longer by influencing hormones that tell your body that you’re full. (7) This might be able to help you get to your next meal without cracking open a bag of chips before dinner. 

How We Chose The Best Organic Protein Powders

There are a lot of organic protein powders available, so picking the best ones took some consideration. We looked at several different factors when choosing the right ones, including protein type, protein content, ingredient quality, certifications, and price. 

Protein Type

When people think of protein powders, whey is what usually comes to mind, but many people are either lactose-sensitive or want to avoid animal products altogether. So we included a few whey options but made sure to add vegan options that had a comparable amount of protein, as well as a full essential amino acid profile.

Whether you choose to go with whey or plant-based protein, there’s a good option on this list for you. 

Dosage

A lot of organic and plant-based proteins tend to short-change you on the amount of protein you get per serving. For this list, we included powders that had a minimum of 20 grams per scoop to make sure you’d get your money’s worth no matter which option you chose. 

Certifications

While many brands claim that their products are organic, it pays to check to see if the ingredients are actually certified to be organic. We went with protein powders that are either third-party tested, CGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) certified by the FDA, USDA-certified organic, or all of the above. For animal products, we made sure that they were American Humane certified as well. 

Price

One consequence of going organic is that since no pesticides, hormones, or other yield-boosting chemicals are used, organic products are a bit more scarce than non-organic. So, you can usually expect to pay a bit more. We have some premium organic proteins in this list, but we tried to include some that would be accessible to people with tighter budgets as well. 

How Much Do Organic Protein Powders Cost? 

Since organic protein powders aren’t made with ingredients that use pesticides, hormones, or genetic modification, the crops (or cows) generally don’t have as high an output as non-organic ones do. The relative scarcity tends to result in slightly higher prices for organic proteins, which are usually somewhere between $1.25 to $2 per serving. Non-organic proteins, on the other hand, can often be found for less than a dollar per serving. 

What to Consider Before Buying an Organic Protein Powder

From what kind of protein a powder contains to what certifications it has, there are a lot of factors to consider when deciding on the right organic protein powder for you. Here are some of the most important ones. 

Dietary Restrictions

The majority of protein powders you’ll see on the market are made from dairy, but if you have issues with digesting lactose or don’t want to consume animal products, there are plenty of options for you.

While most plant proteins don’t have all of the essential amino acids that you’ll find in whey, the proteins on this list use a combination of plant-based sources that, when combined, provide you with a complete amino profile. 

Additional Ingredients

While protein is obviously the star of the show here, some products can contain some other helpful ingredients. If you have trouble digesting protein powders, one that has probiotics or digestive enzymes may help. If you want your protein to act as a light meal replacement, a higher-calorie powder with a bit more fat and carbohydrates could be a good choice. 

Price

Organic proteins tend to cost a little bit more than non-organic, but at least you can be sure that the ingredients you pay for are top-notch. Organic protein powders are free of artificial ingredients and fillers, so the extra dough is all going towards ingredients intended to directly benefit you. If you want to save a bit of money, some companies offer discounts for buying in larger quantities or subscribing to a monthly delivery.

Certifications

When selecting an organic protein powder, you’re going to want to look for some verification. The Certified USDA Organic badge is a great start, and finding third-party-verified options is a great way to go as well. There are also other certifications that you might be interested in, like Certified Gluten-Free or Certified American Humane. 

Final Word

Organic protein powders are a great option for anyone who wants to make sure they’re getting the best ingredients possible. When you decide to go organic, you are narrowing down your options a bit, but there are still plenty of choices, from hormone-free, grass-fed whey to plant-based proteins that are free of pesticides and artificial ingredients. 

If you’re looking at organic protein powders, consider whether you want a plant- or animal-based protein, whether or not additional ingredients like probiotics or vitamins and minerals are important to you, and how much you’re willing to spend. When you have an idea of what you’re looking for, you can use this list to help you pick the right one. 

FAQs

Resources

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2. Joy JM, Lowery RP, Wilson JM, Purpura M, De Souza EO, Wilson SM, Kalman DS, Dudeck JE, Jäger R. The effects of 8 weeks of whey or rice protein supplementation on body composition and exercise performance. Nutr J. 2013 Jun 20;12:86. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-12-86. PMID: 23782948; PMCID: PMC3698202.
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4. Oak SJ, Jha R. The effects of probiotics in lactose intolerance: A systematic review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2019;59(11):1675-1683. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2018.1425977. Epub 2018 Feb 9. PMID: 29425071.
5. Salleh SN, Fairus AAH, Zahary MN, Bhaskar Raj N, Mhd Jalil AM. Unravelling the Effects of Soluble Dietary Fibre Supplementation on Energy Intake and Perceived Satiety in Healthy Adults: Evidence from Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised-Controlled Trials. Foods. 2019 Jan 6;8(1):15. doi: 10.3390/foods8010015. PMID: 30621363; PMCID: PMC6352252.
6. Breen L, Churchward-Venne TA. Leucine: a nutrient ‘trigger’ for muscle anabolism, but what more? J Physiol. 2012 May 1;590(9):2065-6. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2012.230631. PMID: 22548909; PMCID: PMC3447149.
7. Chungchunlam, S., Henare, S., Ganesh, S. et al. Dietary whey protein influences plasma satiety-related hormones and plasma amino acids in normal-weight adult women. Eur J Clin Nutr 69, 179–186 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.266

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