Table of Contents
Having difficulty hunting for the best plant-based mass gainers that work with your vegan lifestyle?
In this list, we lay out 4 of the best weight gain shakes that are specifically tailored for vegans who are looking to build lean mass.
4 Best Vegan Mass Gainers at A Glance:
1. Best Overall: GNC Earth Genius PurEdge Plant-Based Gainer
2. Best for Hard Gainers: Vegan Naked Mass
3. Best Greens Content: IRONVEGAN Athlete’s Gainer
4. Best for Those on a Budget: Vegun Nutrition VEGANMASS
Comparison Chart
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BEST OVERALL: GNC Earth Genius PurEdge Plant-Based Gainer
- Nutrition per serving:
570 calories
70g carbohydrates
50g protein (pea protein, white bean powder, quinoa, brown rice, flaxseed, whole algal, chia seed)
11g fat - Number of servings: 14
- Top 3 Ingredients: Zucchini powder, Betaine, elevATP
- Allergen: Soy Free
- Type: Powder
- Size: 4.48 LBS ( 71.61 OZ)
| WHAT WE LIKE + | WHAT WE DON’T LIKE – |
|---|---|
| ✅ Features 7 whole food plant-based proteins | ❌ A little bit on the pricey side |
| ✅ Enhanced by BETAPOWER and elevATP that may help boost exercise performance | ❌ Not the highest calorie content |
| ✅ Has pineapple and papaya enzymes to aid in digestion | |
| ✅ High protein content |
Taking a look at its label, GNC’s Earth Genius PurEdge Plant-Based Gainer takes on a well-balanced nutritional profile. It brings together decent amounts of calories, plant-based protein, and carbohydrates – and throws in a couple of performance-enhancing compounds and digestive aids.
Each serving (4 scoops) provides you with 570 calories, which may not look like much – but that’s still roughly the same amount of calories you get by eating 2 single-patty burgers.
Carb-wise, Earth Genius PurEdge Plant-Based Gainer also looks quite decent. You get 70g of carbohydrates (pea starch, sweet potato powder, ModCarb). ModCarb, a patented carb matrix, is gradually absorbed by the body – creating a sustained flow of nutrients to your muscles.
Earth Genius PurEdge Plant-Based Gainer shines the most when it comes to its protein content. Each serving gives you 50g of protein obtained from plant sources.
Its protein blend features pea, white bean, quinoa, brown rice, flaxseed, whole algal, and chia seed protein – supplying you with all the amino acids needed for triggering muscle growth and repair.
This weight gain shake is further enhanced by the addition of a Whole-Food-Based Vegan Performance Blend (zucchini powder, BETAPOWER betaine anhydrous, and elevATP). These compounds work together in supporting workout performance, accelerating muscle repair, and enhancing muscle power during exercise.
To help you digest and absorb the most nutrients from its formula, Earth Genius PurEdge Plant-Based Gainer is topped off with papain and bromelain. These digestive enzymes may help reduce the occurrence of stomach issues caused by poorly digested nutrients.
Verdict
| If you are on the hunt for a casual mass gainer that features a balanced nutritional profile, GNC Earth Genius PurEdge Plant-Based Gainer looks like a great fit for your diet. You get a decent amount of calories, high amounts of protein, digestive enzymes, and performance-enhancing compounds that can help you make the most out of your workouts. |
BEST FOR HARD GAINERS: Vegan Naked Mass
- Nutrition per serving:
1230 calories
248g carbohydrates
50g protein (yellow pea protein, organic brown rice protein)
4g fat - Number of servings: 11
- Top 3 Ingredients: Organic Tapioca Maltodextrin, Pea Protein, Rice Protein
- Type: Powder
- Size: 8 LBS ( 3.63 KG)
| WHAT WE LIKE + | WHAT WE DON’T LIKE – |
|---|---|
| ✅ High amount of calories, protein, and carbohydrates | ❌ Chocolate and Vanilla flavors have more than 50g of sugar per serving |
| ✅ Has an Unflavored variant | ❌ A bit on the pricey side |
Compared to the other weight gainers in this list, Vegan Naked Mass shows off the highest amount of calories, protein, and carbs per serving.
If you want more calories packed into your drink, this mass gainer looks ready for the job. Each serving is packed with 1230 calories – which is quite remarkable for a plant-based gainer.
You get 248g of carbohydrates in the form of organic maltodextrin, which is easily digested by the body. This makes Vegan Naked Mass a good mass gainer to take in the morning or right after exercising.
Vegan Naked Mass provides you with 50g of protein per serving, which is rather impressive for a dairy-free weight gainer. It uses a blend of yellow pea protein and brown rice protein to supply your muscles with all 9 EAAs (Essential Amino Acids) for supporting growth and repair.
One thing to consider, however, is that Vegan Naked Mass can pack quite a lot of sugar, especially for its Chocolate and Vanilla variants (52g and 52g per serving). If you are looking for something with less sugar, the Unflavored version only contains 24g of sugar per serving (which is still the highest when compared to the sugar content of other supplements in this list).
Verdict
| If you prefer more calories in your mass gainer, Vegan Naked Mass can be the smart choice. With 1230 calories, 50g of protein, and 248g of carbs, this weight gain shake is comparable to some of the best dairy-based mass gainers available. However, just keep in mind that Vegan Naked Mass also contains quite a lot of sugar per serving, especially for its Chocolate and Vanilla variants. |
BEST GREENS CONTENT: IRONVEGAN Athlete’s Gainer
- Nutrition per serving:
720 calories
120g carbohydrates
42g protein (fermented pea protein isolate, organic sprouted brown rice protein concentrate)
8g fat - Top 3 Ingredients: Pea Starch, Fermented Pea Protein Isolate, Organic Sprouted Brown Rice Concentrate
- Allergen: Gluten Free
- Type: Powder
- Size: 2.5KG
| WHAT WE LIKE + | WHAT WE DON’T LIKE – |
|---|---|
| ✅ High protein content | ❌ Rather limited flavor options |
| ✅ Only 1g of sugar | |
| ✅ Contains Medium Chain Triglycerides | |
| ✅ Contains 19 greens, fruits, plant oils, and sea veggies |
Iron Vegan Athlete’s Gainer gives you good amounts of calories and protein. It goes a step further by adding a host of organic greens, fruit concentrates, sea veggies, whole grains, and plant oils to its formula for supporting daily health.
With each serving, this weight gainer gives you 720 calories – which is not the highest you will see in this list, but still pretty decent. That’s roughly the same amount of calories you will find in 1 250-gram slab of steak.
You also get 120g of carbohydrates in the form of pea starch and brown rice flour. These carbs help replenish depleted energy reserves and aid in delivering nutrients to your muscle cells. While 120g of carbs per serving is not that remarkable, it is not the lowest you will see in this list.
Iron Vegan Athlete’s Gainer also looks pretty balanced when it comes to its protein content. It gives you 42g of protein (fermented pea protein isolate and organic sprouted brown rice protein concentrate).
This protein blend shows off a complete amino acid profile, supplying your muscles with all the 9 EAAs (Essential Amino Acids) required for building and repairing lean muscle tissue.
If you are trying to watch your sugar intake, Iron Vegan Athlete’s Gainer can be a good choice. According to its label, it only gives you 1g of sugar per serving, which is pretty impressive when compared with the other supplements in this list.
Iron Vegan Athlete’s Gainer catches your attention by featuring 19 organic greens, grains, plant oils, sea veggies, and fruit concentrates in its formula. Its greens blend features:
- Kale
- Spinach
- Coconut oil
- Sunflower seed
- Flax seed
- Amaranth
- Quinoa
- Millet
- Pumpkin seed
- Kombu
- Dulse
- Nori
- Tart cherry
- Bitter melon
- Pineapple
- Papaya
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Beet root
These greens work together in supplying your body with vitamins and minerals that support daily health and general wellness. These nutrients can also bridge any nutritional gaps that might be found in your diet.
You also get Medium Chain Triglycerides in this mass gainer as an added bonus. These fatty acids serve as a readily-accessed fuel source for your body, so you don’t have to worry about them getting stored as unwanted body fat.
Verdict
| Iron Vegan Plant-Based Mass Gainer is a mid-tier supplement that gives you decent amounts of calories and protein, with low amounts of sugar. This mass gainer works great if you are looking for organic greens and veggies in your shake. |
BEST FOR THOSE ON A BUDGET: Vegun Nutrition VEGANMASS
- Nutrition per serving:
280 calories
32g carbohydrates
30g protein (pea protein isolate, quinoa, sacha inchi protein)
6g fat - Number of servings: 25
- Top 3 Ingredients: Plant Protein Blend (PEA PROTEIN ISOLATE, QUINOA, SACHA INCHI PROTEIN), Carbohydrate Blend (PEA STARCH, DEHYDRATED YAMS, GLUTEN FREE MODCARB), Organic Cane Sugar
- Allergen: Gluten-Free, Soy Free
- Type: Powder
- Size: 4.2 LBS ( 1900g)
| WHAT WE LIKE + | WHAT WE DON’T LIKE – |
|---|---|
| ✅ Budget-friendly price tag when compared with others in the list | ❌ Low calorie and carbohydrates content |
| ✅ Features carbs with different absorption rates | |
| ✅ Contains Medium Chain Triglycerides and digestive enzymes |
For those working on a limited budget, Vegun Nutrition Vegan Mass is worth considering. Its 4.2lb tub is good for 25 servings. Doing the math, each serving costs just like a cup of gourmet coffee in your local café.
While this weight gain shake is given a somewhat affordable price tag, its nutritional profile doesn’t really look dressed to impress.
Checking out its calorie content, Vegun Nutrition Vegan Mass clocks in last on the list by giving you a rather disappointing 280 calories. If you are looking for a calorie-packed weight gainer, there are other choices for you to check out.
It also gives you a meager 32g of carbohydrates in each shake. Looking at the positive side, this weight gainer uses a patented carbohydrate blend that features Carb10 pea starch, dehydrated yams, and ModCarb (oat bran, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, and chia).
This multi-phase carb blend delivers a quick and lasting supply of nutrients to your muscles, making Vegun Nutrition Vegan Mass an ideal shake to drink in the morning, in-between meals, after exercising, or before going to sleep.
Protein-wise, Vegun Nutrition Vegan Mass steps up its game by giving you a decent 32g per serving. Its Plant Protein Blend consists of pea protein isolate, quinoa, and sacha inchi protein – giving you all 9 EAAs (Essential Amino Acids) that are used for building and repairing lean muscle tissue.
To give you an extra boost of energy, this weight gain shake adds Medium Chain Triglycerides to its formula. These healthy fatty acids are readily converted into energy by your body, so you don’t have to fret about them just getting stored as unwanted fat.
You also get a Digestive Enzyme Blend (papain, protein, amylase, and cellulase), which will help your body absorb and utilize the most nutrients in the formula.
Verdict
| While it does come with a lower price tag than the others, you will probably get disappointed with Vegun Nutrition Vegan Mass’ calorie and carbohydrate content. It still gives you decent amounts of plant-based protein, digestive enzymes, and Medium Chain Triglycerides, though. |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How do vegans gain weight with a mass gainer?
Vegans gain weight just like any other person. They just need a mass gainer that uses vegan-friendly ingredients.
What is the best natural weight gainer?
Snacking on nuts, nut butters, avocados, dried fruit, and sweet potatoes can help you achieve a caloric surplus each day.
Is vegan protein as good as whey?
Unlike whey, only some vegan protein sources have a complete amino acid profile, such as soy, pea, hemp, chia seed, spirulina, and quinoa. Whey protein also has a higher biological value than most plant-based proteins.
Why do you need a vegan weight gainer?
A vegan mass gainer can give you the calories, protein, and carbs you need for building mass – without you compromising your vegan diet.
My Final Thoughts
For vegans, you do have a limited selection of mass gainers to choose from.
If you are looking for a vegan mass gainer that loads you up with high amounts of calories and protein, Vegan Naked Mass is a smart choice. For those who just want a casual gainer with a respectable nutrition profile, GNC Earth Genius PurEdge Plant-Based Gainer won’t disappoint.
For those who prefer to have their shake loaded with organic greens and veggies, Iron Vegan Athlete’s Gainer is what you want. However, if you are on a tight budget, you are probably better off choosing Vegun Nutrition Vegan Mass to help you gain weight.
