Plant-based diets are increasing in popularity among fitness enthusiasts, and with this interest comes the need for effective, delicious vegan protein powders. There are tons of plant-based options on the market, but choosing between them can be difficult.
Pea protein is one of the most popular plant-based proteins and Kaged is one of the most popular sports nutrition brands. To help you decide whether their pea protein is right for you, we’re providing you with a comprehensive Kaged Plant Protein review.
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.
Reviewed by Plant-Based Protein Experts
When choosing your protein, you want input from the experts. Our team of certified personal trainers, registered dietitians, competitive athletes, strength and conditioning coaches, and more have tested nearly 100 different protein powders and are qualified to speak on what to look for in a protein powder.
As a vegan registered dietitian and certified personal trainer, I’ll provide my thoughts on the nutritional profile and benefits of Kaged Plantein. Frieda Johnson, GGR editor, shares her personal experience using the product and rates it on a scale of 1 to 5 for a variety of factors, including:
- Price
- Formulation
- Taste
- Solubility
- Side Effects
- Third-Party Testing
- Customer Reviews
Kaged Plantein
Kaged Plantein
Product Highlights
- Pea protein isolate vegan protein powder
- Soy-, dairy-, and gluten-free
- Third-party tested for quality
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Best-tasting plant protein you’ll ever try or your money back
- Customers say mixes well
- Free from banned substances
Cons
- Limited reviews
- Customers complain too sweet
- Reports of strong aftertaste
Bottom Line
Kaged Plantein is a vegan protein option with a high protein content and a money-back guarantee.
A Quick Look at Kaged Plantein
Kaged Plantein is Kaged Muscle’s non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan-friendly protein powder made from high-quality pea protein isolate.
RELATED: What Is Protein Isolate?
It boasts a complete amino acid profile comparable to whey thanks to the addition of quinoa protein and contains 4.5 grams of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) per scoop, including 2.1 grams of leucine.
The proprietary “Ingredient Optimized® technology” enhances bioavailability, claiming a 300% increase in pea protein absorption.
Before You Buy
- Each container has 15 servings
- There are a variety of Kaged coupon codes available
- Kaged Plantein is unique thanks to its high-absorption pea protein
RELATED: Pea Protein Benefits
Is Kaged Plantein Worth It?
With 25 grams of plant protein and improved bioavailability, Kaged Plantein justifies its higher price of around $2 per serving for those who can afford it and is one of the best vegan proteins we’ve tried.
Other plant proteins will still help you build muscle and recover after a workout, though.
If you’re simply looking for a way to get more protein, standard pea protein powders will do just fine. That said, Kaged Plantein may provide serious plant-based athletes, bodybuilders, and fitness enthusiasts with an extra edge.
Great for:
- Vegans, flexitarians, milk allergies, and lactose intolerance
- Building muscle and strength
- Increasing your total plant protein intake
Not recommended for:
- People avoiding artificial sweeteners
- Those on a tight budget
- People who want a variety of flavors from the same brand
Kaged Plantein Specs
| Price per serving | $1.99 |
| Serving Size | 1 scoop (35.8 g) |
| Type of protein | Pea protein isolate |
| Protein content | 25 g per serving |
| Carbohydrate content | 2 g |
| Fat content | 4 g |
| Cholesterol content | 0g |
| Notable ingredients | Organic quinoa, medium-chain triglycerides, steviol glycosides, sucralose |
| Flavors | Cinnamon roll |
| Third-party tested? | Yes |
Experience Using Kaged Plantein
GGR editor Frieda Johnson has tried countless brands of vegan protein powders in the past and was happy to try Kaged Plantein to see how it compares. She was pleasantly surprised by the cinnamon roll flavor, which she said did have a slightly artificial aftertaste but overall tasted great.
Kaged recommends mixing 1 scoop with 8 to 10 ounces of water, which was easy for Frieda to do in a shaker bottle since this powder blends so smoothly.
She says she probably won’t switch to Kaged Plantein as her go-to option, but recommends it for vegans looking for a great-tasting, smooth plant-based protein powder.
Price Per Serving
Honestly, we had some sticker shock with this protein. At $1.99 a serving, it’s certainly not the most budget-friendly option. You do get 25 grams of protein, which is quite impressive for a plant-based protein powder, most of which have closer to 20 to 21 grams.
Considering the unique technology used to make the pea protein more bioavailable, it does make sense that this product costs a little more. Overall, we rated it a 3.75 out of 5 for price.
Formulation
Kaged Plantein comes out swinging with an incredible 25 grams of plant protein per serving. This is more than you get with most plant-based protein powders and should be enough to support muscle protein synthesis, especially if mixed with protein-rich soy milk.
RELATED: Best Soy Protein Powder
Plant-based protein like pea tends to be less bioavailable than animal-based protein. This doesn’t prevent it from helping with muscle repair, maintenance, and growth, but many people want the most effective protein shake possible.
To address this issue, Kaged uses patented technology that alters the protein structure into a form that is easier to digest while keeping the protein intact. According to the Ingredient Optimized® website, this process makes pea protein three times easier to absorb than standard pea protein and its bioavailability is comparable to whey protein.
To my knowledge, they haven’t tested whether this protein is better for actually building muscle, so we don’t know how it will translate to real-world results yet. That said, it does seem quite promising.
Pea protein contains all nine essential amino acids (EAAs) required for muscle but is slightly low in methionine. To balance the amino acid profile, Kaged includes methionine-rich quinoa.
We liked that they also included steviol glycosides (stevia) as a sweetener, reducing how much sucralose is needed.
We rated Kaged Plaintein’s formulation a 5 out of 5 for an incredible 25 grams of plant protein per serving.
Taste and Solubility
Kaged Plantein is currently only available in one flavor, Cinnamon Roll, with which Frieda was pleasantly surprised, saying: “…it’s definitely one of the best tasting vegan protein powders I’ve tried.”
She was particularly excited to get creative with it in the kitchen: “While it’s pretty good just mixed with water or milk in a shaker bottle, I’m excited to try it in some baked goods since I think the cinnamon roll flavor would be excellent in something like protein cookies.”
She did notice a slight “artificial” taste from the use of sucralose, but “much less so than most protein powders I’ve tried.”
Frieda easily rated this protein a 5 out of 5 for flavor. Kaged offered more flavors like Peanut Butter and Banana Bread in the past, so we’re excited to see what additional flavors they come out with in the future.
In terms of mixability, Frieda says it “blended really well with just water and a shaker ball,” making it easy to prepare quickly and providing a pleasant, non-chalky consistency. We gave it a 5 out of 5 for solubility.
Side Effects
Pea protein doesn’t contain lactose, so it’s usually tolerated well by most people, however some people still may have side effects.
Frieda rated this protein a 4.5 out of 5 stars since she noticed a bit of an aftertaste from the sucralose, but didn’t experience any negative side effects like bloating or stomach cramps whether taking it pre-workout or post-workout.
Third-Party Testing
Kaged Plantein is Banned Substance Tested by Informed Sport, meaning it’s been tested for ingredients that are prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency1.
This is a widely respected third-party testing program that helps ensure the safety of sports nutrition supplements and ensures they don’t contain contaminants.
Additionally, GGR collaborated with third-party accredited lab Ellipse Analytics to analyze 150 protein powder samples for harmful substances (like pesticides) and label accuracy and purity.
Kaged Plantein ranked Excellent for the latter, in addition to bisphenols and phthalates (chemicals found in plastics) and pesticides.
We break down this terminology and our testing processes in our Independent Supplement Testing Glossary.
Comparison to KOS Organic Plant Protein
KOS Organic Plant Protein
KOS Vegan Protein Powder
Product Highlights
- Multi-source vegan protein powder
- USDA-certified organic, soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO
- Digestive support via DigeSEB to help maximize absorption
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Manufactured in the USA
- Superfood-infused
- 20 g protein per serving
- Chocolate flavor is rich
- Enhanced with digestive support enzymes
- Under $1.50 per serving
Cons
- Customers say it has a gritty/chalky flavor
- Some users reported protein gave them stomach issues
- Reports of strong sweetness and bad aftertaste
Bottom Line
KOS is a vegan protein with a lot of positive reviews, but a number of people experienced stomach issues using this protein powder.
Kaged Plantein sounds great so far, but how does it compare to similar products? We’ve compared it directly to KOS Organic Plant Protein, another pea protein powder, to help you decide which best fits your needs.
While KOS only has 20 grams of protein compared to Kaged Plantein’s 25 grams, it also includes some additional ingredients such as organic chia seed, organic flax seed, and organic pumpkin seed protein, as well as an “organic fruit and veggie blend.”
Certified Sports Nutrition Coach Amanda Capritto tested this protein powder and says it’s the only vegan protein she’ll willingly drink: “Even with water, the taste is decent. It’s not great, but it’s not offensive, and honestly, what more can a meat lover ask for when drinking vegan protein powder?”
Learn more with our full KOS Vegan Protein Review.
| Kaged Plantein | KOS Organic Plant Protein | |
| Price per serving | $1.99 | $1.50 |
| Serving Size | 1 scoop (35.8 g) | 2 scoops |
| Type of protein | Pea protein isolate | Pea protein, chia seed, flax seed, pumpkin seed protein, quinoa (all Organic) |
| Protein content | 25 g | 20 g |
| Carb content | 2 g | 9 g |
| Fat content | 4 g | 6 g |
| Notable ingredients | Organic quinoa, medium-chain triglycerides, steviol glycosides, sucralose | Organic fruit and veggie blend, digestive enzymes, and micronutrient blend, Organic coconut sugar, organic stevia extract, organic monk fruit extract |
| Flavors | Cinnamon Roll | Chocolate, Vanilla, Blueberry Muffin, Chocolate Chip Mint, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Salted Caramel Coffee, Unflavored |
| Third-party tested? | Yes (Banned Substance Tested) | Unclear |
Customer Experience
We didn’t need to return the product so we weren’t able to test the return process ourselves, but the Kaged return policy allows you to request a refund, store credit, or replacement item within 60 days of the day you purchased the product.
You’ll need to submit a request in the Returns Center on their website or email them at support@kaged.com. You may need to provide proof of purchase or mail the item back, and you’ll have to pay for return shipping yourself.
Ordering Kaged Plantein
The ordering process is pretty standard. Once on their website, simply add the product to your virtual cart, enter your information, and make your payment.
They offer free shipping on orders over $79. Shipping to Texas, where I live, was around $6.50.
You can save 10% by using the Subscribe & Pay option. Considering this product only contains 15 servings, the Subscribe & Pay option may make sense if you drink a lot of protein.
You can also pay in installments with ShopPay for orders over $50.
Kaged also offers additional discounts for military and first responders, teachers, students, and medical staff.
Of course, the ordering process will vary based on the retailer. Amazon offers a Subscribe & Save option that saves you 10-15% and two-day shipping is free with Amazon Prime.
Customer Reviews
Kaged Plantein is rated extremely well on the brand’s website, with 4.7 stars from over 250 reviews. Many reviews especially loved that it’s “creamy and not powdery” and mentioned the great taste.
Some, however, weren’t fans of the sweeteners used. We appreciate that Kaged seems to take the time to respond to many less-than-stellar reviews.
This product is rated lower on Amazon, but most reviews are still positive with a 4.1-star overall rating. Opinions here seem a bit more mixed regarding the consistency, but most mention that they enjoyed the flavor.
Final Verdict of Our Kaged Plant Protein Review
Overall, we were pretty impressed with Kaged Plantein. This product scored major points for its great taste, creamy consistency, and mixability—not to mention 25 grams of protein per scoop.
I’d like to see more research on how well this high-absorption pea protein helps build muscle, but its improved bioavailability may help overcome common concerns about the effectiveness of plant protein.
These are the key takeaways from our Kaged Plantein review:
- Includes 25 grams of complete plant protein per scoop
- Absorbed more efficiently than conventional pea protein, which could translate to bigger gains
- Comes in a small container with limited flavors
- Most reviews say it tastes great and shouldn’t cause digestive issues
Full Rating
Kaged Plantein
Kaged Plantein is a vegan protein option with a high protein content and a money-back guarantee.
Product Brand: Kaged
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 29.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.6
Kaged Plantein: FAQs
Is taking plant protein good for you?
Yes! Plant protein can help with muscle growth and strength, weight loss, recovery after exercise, and making meals more balanced.
Does plant protein have side effects?
Plant protein usually has minimal side effects since it’s lactose-free, but some soy powders may cause digestive distress for people with IBS.
Does plant-based protein powder affect hormones?
There’s no evidence to suggest that plant-based protein powder negatively affects hormone levels. Studies2 have shown that soy protein has no impact on male reproductive hormones.
Is plant protein bad for muscle-building?
Plant proteins can help build muscle since they stimulate muscle protein synthesis3. They tend to be less bioavailable than animal proteins, but using larger serving sizes and choosing a product with a balanced amino acid profile can help.
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
- World Anti-Doping Agency. World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2024. WADA website. Published 9/2023. Accessed 1/19/24.
- Reed KE, Camargo J, Hamilton-Reeves J, Kurzer M, Messina M. Neither soy nor isoflavone intake affects male reproductive hormones: An expanded and updated meta-analysis of clinical studies. Reprod Toxicol. 2021;100:60-67. doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.12.019
- Nichele S, Phillips SM, Boaventura BCB. Plant-based food patterns to stimulate muscle protein synthesis and support muscle mass in humans: a narrative review. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2022;47(7):700-710. doi:10.1139/apnm-2021-0806
