When protein is made from plants it can be tough to keep the macros in check, especially since your typical plant-based protein shake is made from carb-based foods like peas and rice. That said, regardless of the protein source, it’s hard to argue the convenience of having a shelf-stable, ready-to-drink protein supplement on hand that doesn’t need to be refrigerated.
In this Ripple Vegan Protein Shake review, we had several of our testers try out this on-the-go dairy-free supplement and report back with their experiences. Lactose-free and plant-based shakes are popping up more and more as people start to explore fewer meat and dairy-focused options for protein, so we wanted to see how Ripple stacked up against the competition.
Let’s find out what our testers had to say after trying the product before and after their workouts.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.
Whether It’s Whey or Pea, We’re the Experts on Protein
It is not just that our team of fitness professionals loves protein, but we also know a great deal about it. We’ve tested over 100 protein powders and protein drinks—relying on input from registered dietitians, certified personal trainers, and other fitness experts—to bring you a complete look at the benefits and drawbacks of every product. Using our unique GGR supplement testing methodology, we test and rate supplements based on these criteria and more:
- Formulation: Our team evaluates supplements for scientifically proven ingredients. We give the highest scores to those that contain high doses of active ingredients to ensure they are effective.
- Taste: Since taste is subjective, we include our testers’ unfiltered opinions as well as online reviews. So, even and especially if it’s not the best tasting protein in the world, we’ll be sure to let you know.
- Side effects: Were there any unwanted or negative side effects experienced by our testers? Were similar experiences reported in the Amazon reviews? When this occurs, we include it in our rating.
- Third-party testing: Unlike pharmaceutical products, nutritional supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA, so third-party testing from organizations like NSF, Informed Sport, and BSCG ensures they are safe, especially for drug tested athletes. We give a 4 or 5 out of 5 to those products that have been tested by trusted organizations.
Ripple Vegan Protein Shake is a great option for someone looking for a protein shake that is free from animal products and environmentally friendly.
What our tester says:
“For a vegan shake, I was blown away. The chocolate flavor was smooth and not overly sweet. Both my husband and I liked these and drank them regularly.”
A Quick Look at Ripple Vegan Protein Shake
Ripple Foods’ main product actually isn’t its protein shake, but its protein milk. The company patented a method for harvesting protein from yellow peas without the pea aftertaste. Because pea production requires far less water, land, and other resources than that of other dairy-free products like almond milk, this method has the added benefit of being more environmentally friendly.
Ripple also boasts that its chocolate milk is a great alternative to dairy-containing chocolate milk, as it is low in sugar and higher in calcium. The brand offers a number of children’s products for plant-based families.
Before You Buy
- Ripple Vegan Protein Shake is shelf-stable and ready-to-drink, so it’s perfect for those of us who keep our protein in the car or at our desks
- The listed macros may not be ideal if you’re partaking in a cutting phase
- Our tester found Ripple Vegan Protein Shake very satiating, and customer reviews echo the sentiment
Is Ripple Vegan Protein Shake Worth It?
It’s a great plant-based alternative to the likes of other ready-to-drink shakes like Core Power, and at a similar price point. However, the macros may not be ideal for some fitness goals, and some may be turned off by ingredients like sunflower oil and gellan gum. However, Ripple Vegan Protein Shake is free from all nine of the major allergens, so it could be super useful for specific populations.
RELATED: Best Pea Protein Powder (2025)
Great for:
- Vegans and those with severe allergies
- Lactose-intolerant individuals
- People who find protein powder inconvenient
Not recommended for:
- People who avoid added sugars
- Those wanting a low-calorie option for weight loss
- Individuals who want a lot of flavor options
Ripple Vegan Protein Shake Specs
| Price per serving | $2.83 |
| Serving size | 1 bottle (12 ounces) |
| Calories per serving | 200-210 (depending on the flavor) |
| Protein per serving | 20 g |
| Third-party testing | No |
| Sweeteners | Cane sugar, monk fruit extract |
| Flavors | Chocolate, Coffee, Vanilla, Variety Pack |
Experience Using Ripple Vegan Protein Shake
Our tester Lauren Strong, CPT, gave Ripple’s plant-based protein shake an overall rating of 3.8 based on all of our criteria. While she had a generally very positive experience with the product itself, she found some issues with the price and formulation, along with some gaps in the customer experience.
Price Per Serving
A 12-pack of Ripple Vegan Protein Shake costs about $33.99 on Amazon, which comes out to $2.83 per serving, so we had to give a 3 out of 5 for our price rating. To be frank, this is par for the course with ready-to-drink protein shakes as they are always the pricier option for supplementing a high protein diet compared to protein powder.
Even a whey protein drink like Fairlife or Core Power is typically priced in this range, so it really depends on how much you’re willing to pay for the convenience of getting in your needed grams of protein for the day.
Formulation
While Lauren didn’t try the Coffee or Vanilla flavors, she gave a lot of awesome feedback on the Chocolate variety. The full ingredient list of the Chocolate flavor is as follows:
Water, Pea Protein, Cane Sugar, Vegetable Oil, (Sunflower Oil or Safflower Oil), Alkalized Cocoa, Natural Flavor, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Mixed Tocopherols, Gum Arabic, Sea Salt, Monk Fruit Extract, Gellan Gum, Guar Gum
This is a little longer than we’d like to see in a non-GMO, plant-based protein shake, but it must also be noted that there are no artificial sweeteners. The shake is also made without any of the nine major allergens, which means it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, and lactose-free.
This makes it a great option for those who have to consume lactose-free protein products or those with severe allergies. The shakes also are fortified with 25 to 30% of your daily value from iron and 35 to 40% of your daily value of calcium, both of which are great for vegans as these minerals can be tough to get while following a plant-based diet.
However, the list of positives aren’t much longer than that. There are indeed 20 grams of pea protein in each protein drink, but there are also 200 to 210 calories, which means only half of the total calories come from protein. Not the most ideal quality in a protein supplement.
Furthermore, Ripple contains 8 grams of fat from sunflower oil, which we assume helps give the shakes their great taste and texture, but could pose a problem for those trying to stay in a deficit. Out of the 10 to 13 grams of carbs (the Vanilla flavor has the lowest carb content), 9 grams of sugar is coming from added sources, specifically cane sugar. So, if you’re on a low sugar diet, watch out.
While pea protein lacks the essential amino acid methionine1, it still boasts a decent amino acid profile. Unlike products like Orgain that contain a blend of pea and rice protein in order to feature all nine essential amino acids including methionine, pea is not a complete protein and studies have shown that protein sources that are a complete protein result in more favorable muscle mass gains2.
All in all, it still makes for a decent meal replacement for plant-focused folks on the go. The protein and fiber content are high, meaning it can promote a feeling of fullness, which is another positive that Lauren reported. Ultimately, we came to a rating of 4 out of 5 for this formulation.
RELATED: The Best Calcium Supplements of 2025
Taste and Solubility
Lauren praised both the texture and flavor of the Chocolate Ripple protein shake she tested. “My mind was blown for a vegan protein shake,” Lauren gushes. “As far as the texture, I liked it! I didn’t find it too thick or too watery; it had just the right amount of thickness.”
“The Chocolate flavor boasts a smooth texture, but it’s not overly sweet despite the sugar content. My husband and I didn’t just enjoy these on-the-go shakes as an emergency situation; we liked them so much they became a bit of a go-to for our protein intake.” Based on this feedback, we awarded a 5-out-of-5 rating for both of these categories.
Many Amazon reviews also claim that it’s the best-tasting protein shake they’ve ever had, so this would be a great option for those who are lactose-intolerant or dairy-free if they are sick of gritty plant-based protein shakes.
Side Effects
Ripple earned another 5 out of 5 in this category, as Lauren didn’t experience anything negative and most of the customer reviews report Ripple being quite easy on the stomach. What Lauren did report, however, is that she felt her hunger was satiated after having the shake.
RELATED: Best Protein Powder for Sensitive Stomachs (2025)
Third-Party Testing
We couldn’t find any sign of a certification from a third party tested by any recognized lab, including NSF, Informed Sport, or BSCG. The product also doesn’t exactly have a short ingredient list, so we had to give a 1 out of 5 here.
Ripple Vegan Protein Shake vs Evolve Plant-Based Protein Shakes
Evolve Plant-Based Protein Shakes are a great choice for those with dairy intolerances, or living a vegan lifestyle. With 20 grams of protein, these shakes are naturally sweetened with cane sugar and stevia. They also are free of artificial flavors and are non-GMO certified.
What our tester says:
““It’s not flavored exactly like a mocha, but I can tell what they’re going for, and it doesn’t just taste like chocolate milk.”
Both of these products are pea protein shakes that include added iron and calcium and have a natural flavor while being free from artificial sweeteners. Both offer Chocolate, Coffee, and Vanilla flavor options. Further, both feature added sugars from cane sugar, though Evolve features far less of it.
Evolve is also more low-calorie, as well, though they both have the same grams of protein, meaning Evolve is probably more favorable for weight loss but not as effective as a meal replacement. Both, however, could be decent options as a post-workout shake for those who eat plant-based or non-dairy.
We named Evolve the Best Plant-Based Protein Shake for Weight Loss (with Ripple taking the title of Best Vegan Protein Shake for Weight Loss), so you can read more thoughts from our testers who tried Evolve in our Best Protein Shakes for Weight Loss roundup.
| Ripple Vegan Protein Shake | Evolve Plant-Based Protein Shakes | |
| Price per serving | $2.83 | $2.55 |
| Serving size | 1 bottle (12 ounces) | 1 bottle (11 ounces) |
| Calories per serving | 200-210 (depending on the flavor) | 140-150 |
| Protein per serving | 20 g | 20 g |
| Third-party testing | No | No |
| Sweeteners | Cane sugar, monk fruit extract | Cane, Stevia leaf extract |
| Flavors | Chocolate, Coffee, Vanilla, Variety Pack | Chocolate, Vanilla, Berry, Chocolate Caramel, Mocha |
Customer Experience
We gave Ripple a rating of 3 out of 5 here after encountering aspects of the ordering and returns process that weren’t ideal. According to Ripple Foods, it aims to ship out all orders within one to two business days and deliver in five to nine business days, so arrival times could vary and they do not ship outside of the continental United States (sorry, Hawaiian friends!).
We had to try really hard to find the return policy, too, as it’s not where the website indicates. When we did find it, we learned that Ripple Foods does not accept returns on any of its products. If you order from Amazon, please note that returns on consumable products are also not accepted, so order your on-the-go protein shakes with caution.
Ordering Ripple Vegan Protein Shake
You can save 10% on your order by enrolling in subscribe and save, which means a delivery will arrive every two weeks, two months, or three months. However, there’s a big disclaimer: Unlike similar programs, there is no free shipping included.
RELATED: NOW Sports Plant Protein Complex Review (2025)
That said, shipping is a flat $5 unless you order $70 or more. If you choose to order from the company directly, Ripple Foods uses Shopify, which could streamline ordering for those who shop online often. Amazon shipments will follow whatever speed you select through the site.
Customer Reviews
Ripple protein shakes currently hold a 4.3-out-of-5-star rating based on over 5,000 reviews. Most positive reviews praise the product’s great taste, with one reviewer calling themselves “mildly addicted.” However, negative reviews criticize the price and grams of sugar from added sources, despite expressing appreciation for the lack of artificial sweeteners.
On Ripple Food’s official website, its vegan protein shake holds a 4.7-out-of-5-star rating based on over 100 reviews. People love the calcium content and how it’s a great alternative to dairy-containing and whey protein shakes. However, some reviews note the natural flavors are muted and criticize the texture.
Final Verdict of Our Ripple Vegan Protein Shake Review
Our tester had a generally good experience when using Ripple Vegan Protein Shake for her post-workout and snacking needs. We like how it is non-GMO and free from major allergens, contains no artificial sweeteners, and is great tasting for a vegan protein. It being shelf-stable is also very convenient for people who are often on the go.
However, we had some issues with the added sugar content and the lack of a complete profile of essential amino acids, along with puzzling ingredients like guar gum and gellan gum. Either way, if you’re looking for a dairy-free, ready-to-drink protein source and have issues with allergies, it could be a good option.
Ripple Vegan Protein Shake
Ripple Vegan Protein Shake is a great option for someone looking for a protein shake that is free from animal products and environmentally friendly.
Product Brand: Ripple Foods
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 33.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.8
Ripple Vegan Protein Shake Review: FAQs
Are Ripple protein shakes healthy?
Ripple shakes are high in protein and free from the most common allergens, meaning it’s dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free. However, it does contain a good amount of added sugars, so consumers can determine whether or not these shakes are healthy depending on their food standards.
What is the healthiest vegan protein shake?
Orgain is the most popular vegan protein shake on Amazon and considered by many to be the healthiest due to using all organic ingredients along with pea protein, rice, and pumpkin seed as a protein source.
What are the downsides of vegan protein powder?
Vegan protein powder isn’t always the best tasting and often has a gritty texture and an aftertaste. Furthermore, pea protein alone isn’t a complete protein, so it may not give the same muscle-building benefits as a supplement like whey protein.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
References
- Gorissen SHM, Crombag JJR, Senden JMG, et al. Protein content and amino acid composition of commercially available plant-based protein isolates. Amino Acids. 2018;50(12):1685-1695. doi:10.1007/s00726-018-2640-5
- Church DD, Hirsch KR, Park S, et al. Essential Amino Acids and Protein Synthesis: Insights into Maximizing the Muscle and Whole-Body Response to Feeding. Nutrients. 2020;12(12):3717. Published 2020 Dec 2. doi:10.3390/nu12123717
