Two of the most-recognized plant-protein brands in America, head-to-head. Sport-formulated pea + pumpkin meets certified-organic raw plant protein with probiotics. Which plant powder wins in 2026?
Vega launched in Vancouver in 2004 and became the leading plant-based sports nutrition brand globally. Vega Sport Premium Protein delivers 30g of protein per 44g scoop from a blend of pea, pumpkin seed, sunflower seed and alfalfa proteins. The Sport line is NSF Certified for Sport (rare among plant brands), making it usable by tested athletes.
Vega sweetens with stevia and is 100% vegan, gluten-free and non-GMO. Pricing sits at $40-$55 for a 2lb tub (19-20 servings) at Whole Foods, Target, Sprouts and Amazon. The brand was acquired by Danone in 2017, which has expanded distribution but kept formulations intact.
Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein delivers 22g of protein per scoop from a sprouted blend of 13 organic plant proteins including brown rice, peas, garbanzo beans, lentils, adzuki beans, flax, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and quinoa. It is USDA Organic certified, Non-GMO Project Verified, and includes 4g of probiotics and 1.5g of digestive enzymes per scoop.
The brand operates a different positioning than Vega. Garden of Life targets the wellness-and-functional-food shopper rather than the athlete: probiotics, sprouted grains and organic certifications matter more than NSF Sport. A 22-serving tub runs $35-$45 at Whole Foods, Vitacost, Amazon and Sprouts. The brand was acquired by Nestle in 2017.
| Spec | Vega Sport Premium (2lb) | Garden of Life Raw Organic (1.5lb) |
|---|---|---|
| Protein per scoop | 30g | 22g |
| Serving size | 44g | 34g |
| Protein source | Pea + pumpkin + sunflower + alfalfa | 13-blend sprouted plant proteins |
| USDA Organic | No (Vega Sport is not organic) | Yes |
| NSF Certified for Sport | Yes | No |
| Probiotics included | No | Yes (4g) |
| Servings per tub | 19-20 (2lb) | 20 (1.5lb) |
| Typical price | $40-$55 | $35-$45 |
| Cost per gram protein | ~$0.07-$0.10 | ~$0.08-$0.10 |