Is the best greens powder the one that packs the most certified organic ingredients and antioxidants into one daily dose? The one that promises glowing skin, a boost of energy, and a fortified immune system? We’d argue that the best greens powder is the one you’re actually going to drink. (The dusty bottles of multivitamins and dietary supplements in the back of your “wellness drawer” would agree.)
While they can’t replace a healthy diet, the benefits of greens powders have undeniable appeal. We’re team kale salads for life, but why wouldn’t you want to gas up your morning smoothie with all the vitamins and minerals and nutrients that leafy greens provide?
It seems like you can’t swing a crystal without hitting a new green superfood supplement brand on the market, so whether you’re interested in elevating your overall health or you just want something that tastes good, we’re here to help you find a high-quality option you’ll enjoy. The packaging and ingredient lists will tell you plenty, but the real question—“Is this something I’m going to be willing to consume every day?”—can only be answered by a good old-fashioned taste test. See our top picks below.
How we tested
First, we subjected BA staffers to an exhaustive taste test of the most popular, vegan-friendly greens powders on the market. While several products use sweeteners to mellow out the grassy taste, our favorites were the ones that didn’t shy away from earthy flavors or hide behind artificial flavoring. We preferred the ones that tasted as advertised—like powdered greens and proud of it. We found that our faves also avoided mysterious fillers in favor of veggies, adaptogens, and all those good phytonutrients.
After narrowing our top picks, we consulted two registered dietitians/nutritionists: New York–based Amy Shapiro (MS, RD, CDN,) and Los Angeles–based Mascha Davis (MPH, RDN). They sifted through the hype and assessed the real impact of the best greens powders you can buy.
The best greens powder overall: AG1
AG1 has a fairly balanced flavor profile; it’s a little bit sweet (thanks to stevia) and a little bit earthy and grassy (thanks to the heavy dose of greens). When dissolved in water, it was plenty flavorful, but reviewers appreciated that it wasn’t too intense to stir into juice or a smoothie. And while the stevia is noticeable, it’s nowhere near as sweet as some of the other options we tested, like Primal Harvest. Athletic Greens did lose minor marks for the texture, which was a little bit grainy.
The Claim: Athletic Greens says its AG1 blend contains 75 vitamins, minerals, and food-derived nutrients per serving, all sourced from ingredients like alfalfa, artichoke, and spirulina. It also includes probiotics and a long list of adaptogens, like ashwagandha, licorice, and shiitake mushroom. According to the website, Athletic Greens will increase your nutrient intake while promoting better gut health, supporting immunity, boosting energy, and helping with recovery. They are also NSF certified, which means they use third-party testing to ensure their products include exactly what’s on the label and that they’re free of heavy metals and other contaminants.
The Reality: “This product is powerful and nutritionally dense,” Shapiro says, agreeing with the brand’s marketing claims. She likes how easy it is to prepare (just add water), which makes it easier to commit to each day. “Basically, taking this supplement in the morning will set you up for a strong immune system, healthy digestion, and loads of energy as long as you take it consistently and in conjunction with a solid diet,” says Shapiro. Davis does caution that, with “the sheer number of different ingredients” in the AG1 blend, you might not be getting all of them at a level that’s “actually beneficial.” And the product doesn’t come cheap, at $99 for 30 servings.
The runner-up: The Beauty Chef Cleanse Inner Beauty Powder
Many of the powders we tasted had assertive flavors, but the Beauty Chef’s organic greens powder had a more subtle taste that won a couple devoted fans. They noted hints of kale, apple, broccoli, and sesame, describing a mellow flavor profile that prompted one noted green-powder-hater to write “I actually like this! I would drink this!”
The Beauty Chef Cleanse Inner Beauty Powder
The Claim: The Beauty Chef is an organic skin care company created by Carla Oates, the Australian author of the book Feeding Your Skin. The Cleanse Inner Beauty Powder claims to “help detox and purify your body on the inside, promoting smoother, clearer skin on the outside” through a blend of bio-fermented greens.
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