KOS vs Orgain
Two of the biggest USDA Organic plant-based protein brands in America, both with massive Costco followings. KOS is the newer challenger with smoother texture and bolder flavors. Orgain is the established category leader with the broadest retail footprint.
Overview: KOS
KOS launched in 2017 with a focus on USDA Organic plant-based superfood blends, positioned as a premium alternative to typical pea-protein products. KOS Organic Plant Protein uses a multi-source blend (pea, flaxseed, quinoa, pumpkin seed, chia) delivering 20 g of complete plant protein per scoop with added superfood greens (broccoli, kale, spinach, alfalfa, ginger, beet juice). The brand emphasizes clean ingredient panels with no artificial sweeteners, dyes, gluten or soy.
We currently track four KOS SKUs across Organic Plant Protein (1.36 lb and 2.6 lb tubs), Organic Greens, and KOS Protein RTD shakes. The 2.6 lb Costco-exclusive tub lands at $32.99 for 28 servings, making it one of the best per-gram values in the organic plant tier. Standard 1.36 lb tubs are $39.99 at Amazon and Whole Foods. Flavors include Chocolate, Vanilla, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Salted Caramel Coffee and Chocolate Chip Mint.
Overview: Orgain
Orgain launched in 2009, founded by Dr. Andrew Abraham as a clean-label nutrition company. The brand became a Whole Foods darling and grew into a billion-dollar enterprise sold to Nestle Health Science in 2022. Orgain Organic Protein is the flagship plant SKU: a pea protein, chia, brown rice protein blend delivering 21 g of complete plant protein per scoop, USDA Organic certified, sweetened with organic dehydrated cane juice and organic erythritol.
We track six Orgain SKUs across Organic Protein (multiple sizes), Organic Protein & Greens, and Orgain Whey Grass-Fed Protein. The flagship 2.03 lb tub lands at $24.99 at Target. Flavors include Creamy Chocolate Fudge, Vanilla Bean, Iced Coffee, Chocolate Coconut, Sweet Vanilla Bean and Peanut Butter. Available at Walmart, Target, Costco, Amazon, Whole Foods, Sprouts and most US grocery chains.
Head-to-head comparison
| Metric | KOS Organic Plant (2.6 lb Costco) | Orgain Organic Protein (2.03 lb) |
|---|---|---|
| Tub size | 1,180 g / 2.6 lb | 920 g / 2.03 lb |
| Servings per tub | 28 | 20 |
| Protein per serving | 20 g | 21 g |
| Total protein per tub | 560 g | 420 g |
| Calories per serving | 170 | 150 |
| Lowest tracked price | $32.99 (Costco) | $24.99 (Target) |
| Cost per serving | $1.18 | $1.25 |
| Cost per gram of protein | $0.059 | $0.060 |
| USDA Organic | Yes | Yes |
| Non-GMO Project Verified | Yes | Yes |
| Added greens / superfoods | Yes (broccoli, kale, spinach, ginger, beet) | Limited (in separate Protein & Greens SKU) |
| Sweeteners | Organic monk fruit + stevia | Organic erythritol + cane juice |
| Flavor count | 5 | 6+ across SKUs |
| Retailer reach | Costco, Amazon, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Vitacost | Walmart, Target, Costco, Amazon, Whole Foods, Sprouts, grocery chains |
Value Score breakdown
KOS and Orgain land surprisingly close on per-gram math, with KOS taking a slight edge thanks to the larger Costco-exclusive tub format. Over a year of daily use, KOS will cost about $430 (Costco pricing) and Orgain will cost about $455 (Target pricing). The annual gap is small and easily flipped by sale timing.
The more meaningful value differentiator is what's included beyond protein. KOS bakes greens and superfoods directly into the base product, meaning you get broccoli, kale, spinach, alfalfa, ginger and beet juice in every scoop. Orgain reserves its greens for a separate Protein & Greens SKU, so you either buy two products or settle for protein-only in the base tub. If you would otherwise pay for a separate greens supplement, KOS bundles the cost savings into one product.
For more plant-protein comparisons, see Orgain vs Vega and Garden of Life vs Orgain.
Flavor and mixability
KOS has invested heavily in flavor and texture development. Chocolate Peanut Butter is the standout: legitimately tastes like chocolate peanut butter with smooth texture and no chalk. Salted Caramel Coffee is a top pick for morning shakes. Chocolate Chip Mint is more polarizing but loved by some. The monk fruit + stevia blend produces moderate sweetness without strong aftertaste. Mixability is excellent, particularly in a blender with banana and almond milk.
Orgain has been the flavor benchmark for organic plant protein since the brand launched in 2009. Creamy Chocolate Fudge is one of the smoothest plant protein flavors in the category. Vanilla Bean is real vanilla bean flavor with restrained sweetness. Iced Coffee delivers a proper coffee-shop drink experience. The organic erythritol + dehydrated cane juice sweetening produces a more "natural sugar" sweetness profile than stevia-only competitors. Mixability is good in a shaker, excellent in a blender.
Verdict by goal
Which one should you buy?
If you are a Costco shopper who wants maximum protein and bundled greens per dollar in a single organic plant product, buy KOS Organic Plant Protein. The Costco-exclusive 2.6 lb tub at $32.99 is one of the best organic plant values we track. Chocolate Peanut Butter is the universally-liked starter flavor. The added greens save you from buying a separate superfood supplement.
If you shop primarily at Target, Walmart or your local grocery and want a smoother, more proven plant protein flavor experience, buy Orgain Organic Protein. The 2.03 lb tub at $24.99 at Target is reliable year-round availability. Creamy Chocolate Fudge or Vanilla Bean are the safest first picks. Orgain's reliability in retail availability is a real competitive advantage.
If you cannot decide: buy KOS Chocolate Peanut Butter from Costco for your post-workout shakes and Orgain Vanilla Bean from Target for your morning smoothies. Total cost: about $60 for two months of varied organic plant protein covering different daily use cases.
Common questions about KOS vs Orgain
Are these proteins complete (all 9 essential amino acids)?
Yes, both are complete proteins. Both brands blend multiple plant protein sources (pea, rice, chia, flaxseed, etc.) to ensure all nine essential amino acids are present in proper ratios. A single-source pea or rice protein would not be complete on its own. The multi-source blending used by both KOS and Orgain solves this naturally.
How does plant protein compare to whey for muscle building?
Per recent peer-reviewed research, equal-leucine doses of plant and whey protein produce equivalent muscle protein synthesis. Both KOS and Orgain hit 20 to 21 g protein per scoop with sufficient leucine to trigger muscle protein synthesis (around 2.5 g leucine). For serious lifters, two scoops per day plus other protein sources comfortably hits the 1.6 to 2.2 g per kg bodyweight daily protein target.
Is KOS or Orgain better for digestion?
Both are generally well-tolerated, but plant proteins can cause bloating in some users. KOS includes natural digestive enzymes (DigeZyme) which help with breakdown. Orgain does not specifically include digestive enzymes in the base product but uses a pea-rice-chia blend that is gentle for most users. If you have plant-protein bloating issues, KOS is the slightly more digestion-friendly pick.
Does Orgain still own its brand after the Nestle acquisition?
Orgain operates as an independent brand within Nestle Health Science following the 2022 acquisition. The original product formulations have remained consistent, and certifications (USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified) are maintained. Some loyal customers worry about long-term formulation changes, but no notable downgrades have been reported in the past three years.
What about KOS vs Garden of Life or Vega?
KOS sits in a similar tier to Garden of Life Sport (USDA Organic, multi-source blend, added superfoods) but is typically slightly less expensive per gram. Vega Sport Premium is higher protein per scoop (30 g vs 20 g) but not USDA Organic. For organic-certified plant protein, KOS, Orgain and Garden of Life are the main competitors. See our Garden of Life vs Orgain for more on that matchup.
Are these brands worth the premium over budget plant protein?
Depends on certification priorities. If USDA Organic certification matters to you, KOS and Orgain are among the best values in the certified-organic tier. If you do not require USDA Organic and you want maximum protein per dollar from plant sources, Nutricost Plant Protein or budget pea protein options deliver more grams for less money. The premium for KOS and Orgain buys you the organic certification and the cleaner ingredient panel.