Orgain Reviews: A good value in supplements and meal replacements?

Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers like you make more informed decisions to live healthier lives. We extensively test each health service we review.

Our team has spent over 112 hours testing and researching Orgain and its close competitors to give you an unbiased exploration of your nutritional options, free of marketing jargon or gimmicks. Through a thorough and deliberate approach to every product we encounter, we evaluate services based on adherence to quality, the latest medical evidence and health standards, and a simple question: would we buy the product or service ourselves if it weren’t part of our job, and would we recommend it to family and friends?

Additionally, this review of Orgain, like all health-related content on this website, was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.

We used holistic guidelines to help us make a clear, honest appraisal of Orgain’s products for you as a customer. This includes the quality of their products, what you can get for your money (in terms of both cost and how many different products they have), and how easy it is to get their products online.

9.3 / 10

Orgain’s biggest selling point is their high quality, and it’s hard to disagree when all of their products are full of 100% organic, non-GMO, and well-sourced ingredients. Though their protein powders have twice as many carbohydrates as nutritionists recommend, they are otherwise very good for you with simple ingredient lists, no artificial flavors or additives, and high protein content. Their special blend of pea, brown rice, and chia seed proteins ensures you get all of the amino acids you need. These products offer a simple ingredient list and no grainy texture.

8.6 / 10

On the one hand, the cost of Orgain’s protein powders is on the low side of average, even for whey- and casein-based powders. There are very few other companies who can keep prices so low but still stock such high-quality products. On the other hand, this high quality and low-cost combination is likely possible because their other products can be expensive. Some are marked up higher than others: protein bars are more than $1.50 per bar, but MCT oil costs twice as much as their competitors’.

8.6 / 10

Orgain is focused primarily on plant-based protein products. They offer multiple types and flavors of foods within that category, with seasonal offerings like peppermint hot chocolate. There is even a kid’s section of the catalog with protein shakes and bars specially created for growing bodies and minds. There’s a handful of non-protein products – almond milk, MCT oil, and a handful of dietary supplements – but a vast majority of the catalog is dedicated to protein. Orgain won’t be your best bet if you’re looking for a one-stop shop. But as far as vegan protein products go, Orgain has everything you’ll need.

9.2 / 10

Their website lays out everything you need to know from the get-go (except for customer support, but that’s because there’s not any). From the homepage to individual product pages, all of the information you could want – and some we didn’t expect – is right in front of you. Even the nutrition facts for each product, down to the complete list of amino acids, can be found in the product descriptions.

7.0 / 10

Orgain’s customer service is minimal. If you want to speak in real-time with a person, you’re out of luck: customer support is only available through a contact form with no external emails or phone calls allowed. In fact, there’s no email address or phone number listed on their site at all. Orgain’s customer service representatives respond to contact form messages on a first-come-first-serve basis, so your wait time can vary significantly. However, their FAQ is exceptionally thorough, so you may not need to wait if you have a common question.

Integrative medicine specialist and cancer survivor Dr. Andrew Abraham created Orgain in 2009.

As a teenage cancer patient, Dr. Abraham experienced the struggle to get proper nutrition firsthand. He could not eat solid foods due to weakness from chemotherapy and instead turned to protein shakes as advised by his doctor. Upon examining the ingredients of these products, Dr. Abraham saw just how unhealthy they were. He would experiment with creating his own shakes from natural, food-based ingredients for the remainder of his cancer treatment.

After finishing his medical training years later, Dr. Abraham created Orgain as an organic and nutritious alternative to conventional protein shakes.

Clean, food-based nutrition is the center of Orgain’s ethos. Most of their products are Certified Organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, and without artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Today, they stick close to their original promise by only using the highest-quality ingredients to make their unique and nutritious blends.

In recent years, Orgain has also started centering their environmental footprint alongside their clean ingredient initiatives. In 2020, they reduced the amount of plastic in their containers by 40%, saving 30,000 pounds of plastic. They cut CO2 emissions by 884,000 kg. The company also averts 580,000 pounds of corrugated cardboard from their packaging annually.

Protein is an essential nutrient for survival. It is required for your cells to build things, create chemical reactions, and transport oxygen through your blood. It is found in every bodily tissue and provides the building blocks for you to stay alive with twenty amino acids. However, nine of these twenty amino acids are not created by the body:

• Histidine
• Isoleucine
• Leucine
• Lysine
• Methionine
• Phenylalanine
• Threonine
• Tryptophan
• Valine

Each of those amino acids needs to come from food. This is why eating protein is so important: different foods with protein provide separate amino acids depending on where they come from. Protein from a cut of beef or pork has amino acids that are not found in protein from hemp or whole wheat; your body gets different nutrients from each of these sources.

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The amount of protein you should eat depends on your age, weight, and sex. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, the average adult woman should eat about 45g of protein a day, and the average adult man should eat about 55g per day.

Ideally, a protein powder should have 15 to 21g of protein per serving for the best satiety and muscle repletion. Eating a full days’ worth of protein in one sitting will help you less than spreading it out over a day. A protein powder should also have 7g of carbohydrates or fewer and 1 to 2g of sugar per serving.

Unlike animal protein sources like whey or meat, plant-based protein will not have all of your necessary amino acids in one go. If your protein powder is plant-based, it’s best to have more than one type of plant-based protein to ensure that you’re getting all of the necessary proteins. Nutritionists often suggest that plant-based proteins include a methionine-rich plant (like hemp, chia, or soy) and a lysine- or leucine-rich plant (like quinoa, brown rice, or oats). In some cases, brown rice protein alone is comparable to a traditional whey-based protein powder.

You don’t need every amino acid in a single meal. If your diet is varied, you can still eat them all across a day and stay healthy. However, that’s much harder to do if you’re eating a restricted diet (from food allergies, vegetarianism, veganism, or other reasons). In that case, a protein powder that contains all of your necessary amino acids is great to have around.

Each of Orgain’s protein powders has the same nutritional value. They offer 21g of protein, the maximum helpful amount, and also have 15g of carbs. This is not inherently bad, as these come from complex carbohydrate sources, but one gram of carbohydrates contributes four calories. Orgain’s protein powders sit at an average 150 calories per serving, but 40% of these calories come from carbohydrates.

Orgain’s trademark Organic Protein Blend is made from three protein sources: peas, brown rice, and chia seeds. These are plant proteins, meaning that they are more accessible for vegans and vegetarians. No matter the product, Orgain’s protein blend is always the first ingredient on the list. It’s always great to see when a protein powder is composed primarily of – you guessed it – protein, as opposed to something like sugar.

These protein powders also have no table sugar but 5g of erythritol, a sugar alcohol substitute. Erythritol is less dense than table sugar, with only 5% of the calorie density. Instead of table sugar, Orgain uses Stevia and erythritol to sweeten their protein powders. Both of these sugar alcohols are proven to be better for you while still tasting great.

Orgain’s protein powders are all vegan, gluten-free, and USDA-certified organic. Every single ingredient that they list is from an organic source. In 2017, they even won an award for the cleanest packaged food.

Each product’s second or third picture is always the accurate ingredient list. Orgain is committed to transparency with their ingredients, showing you exactly what goes into their organic, plant-based protein.

Orgain sells seven different types of protein powder to cover every nutritional need with a plant-based protein option. This includes vegan, grass-fed whey, and sport protein powders. They also sell collagen and nutritional powders and supplements, which are taken just like protein powders but focus on boosting other areas of your health.

These powders all come in multiple different flavors. Plus, Orgain isn’t grainy or sandy, creating a delectable food experience across the board. You can get your protein powders in the following flavors:

• Creamy Chocolate Fudge
• Chocolate Coconut
• Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt
• Chocolate Peanut Butter
• Vanilla Bean
• Iced Coffee
• Natural Unsweetened
• Unflavored
• Holiday flavors like Peppermint Hot Cocoa and Vanilla Horchata

All of these powders come in a variety of sizes, including:

• 1.02 lb canister
• 1.59 lb canister
• 2.03 lb canister
• 10 single-serve packets

Some retail stores carry smaller canisters, in sizes such as 16oz, at higher prices.

If you’re not sure how to use your protein powder, Orgain has a blog that features dozens of recipes you can try. From shaking them into water or milk, blending into a smoothie, or baking into bars, you’ll be sure to find some way to enjoy them. All of the protein powders contain 21g of protein and between 140 and 160 calories per serving, with a substantial amount of fiber.

Keto powders are explicitly designed for a ketogenic diet with fewer carbohydrates. Orgain has two powders for those following keto:

• Keto Collagen Protein Powder provides a 2:1 ratio of protein to fat in each serving. It comprises commonly occurring collagens derived from coconuts, which break down quickly in the body for a fast energy source. A one-scoop serving contains 90 calories and 5g of fat. Keto Plant Protein Organic Keto-genic Protein Powder is the first-ever Certified Organic, plant-based keto protein supplement. This powder provides 10g of protein and 13 - 14g of fat per serving.

Orgain offers three powders aimed at athletes and those seeking to develop muscle tone. These products support muscle recovery and growth, reduce soreness, and boost energy.

• Sport Protein Organic Plant Based Powder serves up 30g of protein, 5g of branch chain amino acids (BCAAs), and 3g of net carbs. Its blend of plant-based ingredients includes tart cherry, fermented turmeric, and ginger.
• Sport Recovery Organic Plant Based Powder is another vegan option aimed at replenishing sore muscles. It incorporates anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as organic acacia, amla fruit, and monk fruit. A one-scoop serving contains just 20 calories and 9g of total carbohydrates.
• Sport Energy Organic Plant Based Powder boosts your energy with electrolytes, adaptogens, and 80mg of caffeine. It is also high in Vitamin C from organic amla fruit.

Though their focus is on powders, Orgain offers a few other popular kitchen pantry products.

MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil – made from 100% organic coconuts – is flavorless, odorless, and adds a boost of energy when mixed with food or drinks. MCT oil may help support weight loss by increasing fullness and ketone production, so it is most often used to supplement ketogenic diets.

They also offer four different types of organic protein pancake mix:

• 50 Superfoods
• Whole wheat and oat
• Gluten-free
• Keto-friendly

These boxes of dry mix cost between $7.99 and $22.99 and have 8 to 10g of protein per serving. You do have to order in packs of three 15oz boxes (hence the high price), but they make it well worth the price with fully organic and high-quality ingredients.

Orgain offers protein and nutrient shakes in pre-blended packages if you aren’t convinced to get a full canister of protein powder. These shakes come in individual containers and are the equivalent of a drink made with one scoop of protein powder. However, you can only purchase these shakes in packages of 12 at a time.

• Orgain’s Organic Protein Grass Fed Shake comes in both Creamy Chocolate Fudge and Vanilla Bean flavors and has a whopping 26g of protein per serving. However, they are grass-fed, meaning that they are not plant-based but instead made with whey.
• The 20g Clean Protein Shake supplies 20g of grass-fed protein, 130 calories, and 11g of carbohydrates.
• The Plant-Based Protein Shake only comes in a Creamy Chocolate flavor, but is made with 10 organic fruits and veggies and has 20g of fully plant-based protein.
• The Organic Nutrition Shake provides 16g of grass-fed protein, 21 vitamins and minerals, and organic fruits and vegetables. It is an excellent choice for a meal replacement or snack with 250 calories, 7g of total fat, and 32g of carbohydrates.

Orgain also sells almond milk, containing 10g of plant protein per serving. It comes in both Unsweetened Vanilla and Lightly Sweetened Vanilla flavors.

Orgain’s Organic Protein Bars come in six flavors, including:

• Chocolate Brownie
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
• Peanut Butter
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk
• S’Mores
• Chocolate Coconut

These bars are vegan and fully plant-based, with up to 160 calories and 10g of protein in one average-sized bar. For those with nut allergies, be aware that these are made with either almonds or peanuts. Both the S’Mores and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavors are peanut-free, but both are made with almonds.

Organic Protein Bars are only sold in boxes of twelve bars, though you may find them sold individually in your local grocery store.

Orgain’s kids products include plant-based and grass-fed nutrition shakes, as well as a snack bar in several flavors. The shakes come in 8 oz individual containers, perfect for school or a snack on the go.

• The Kids Protein Organic Nutrition Shake provides 8g of grass-fed milk and wheat protein and 26 vitamins and minerals in each serving. These shakes are appropriate for children ages two and up.
• The Kids Organic Plant Protein Nutritional Shake provides 8g of organic, plant-based protein, 23 vitamins and minerals, and 3g of organic fiber.
• The Organic Kids O-Bar contains 40-55% less sugar than competitors’ brands with 6g total. The whole-grain bars have 130 calories, 4g of fat, 2g of protein, and 25g of total carbohydrates. Plus, they come in chocolate chip, peanut butter, and brownie flavors, to entrance any child.

The two major categories of Orgain’s products – protein powders and others – are priced with their mission in mind. Orgain’s protein powders are on the lower side of average compared to competitors, but their accessory products range from slightly to wildly more expensive. MCT oil, for example, costs almost $40. You can find a virtually identical bottle for less than half that price from other reputable sellers.

For a one-time shipment, a 2lb canister of protein powder costs $31.99. This cost fluctuates with the size of the canister, but size doesn’t affect the price drastically. Most competitors’ costs range between $34.99 and $39.99 for an equal-size canister and equal or lesser quality ingredients, so their protein powders are a true steal. It makes the higher accessory costs make sense and, in some cases, worth it.

No matter the item, however, you won’t be able to use food stamps or EBT online (though Orgain notes that you might be able to if you purchase them in person, depending on the retailer). Instead, they accept all major credit cards, PayPal, Shop Pay, and Google Pay.

Orgain offers a rewards program free for all customers. All you need to do to create an account is provide your name and email address. This ShakeUp! Rewards account will allow you to:

• Save addresses
• Save billing information
• View past orders
• Check order statuses
• Build points for bonuses and rewards

The rewards themselves are earned through points, which you can build up in several ways. You’ll automatically get 50 points deposited into your account when you sign up. You can also earn points in the following ways:

• One point for every $1 spent
• 100 points after three subscription orders
• 50 points after your second purchase
• 75 points on your sign-up anniversary
• 10 points each for following on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
• 15 points for sharing their page on Facebook
• 25 points per review left for purchased products (by following a link sent via email two weeks after your purchase)

100 points are equivalent to a $10 gift card for use on a one-time purchase or a subscription box. These points can only be redeemed in sets of $10 but never expire. Plus, each subscription box earns points, not just the first one you place, so you can keep racking up points while you save money.

You can also earn a neat 20% off your first purchase when you sign up for their email newsletter.

Ordering from Orgain’s website is easy. If you live in the contiguous United States (all but Alaska and Hawaii), auto-ship orders will always ship for free. They are currently offering free shipping for one-time orders as well, and regularly host deals and promotions for free one-time shipping. When these deals aren’t in place, shipping costs vary depending on your location. This is because they don’t mark up their shipping costs at all – they charge exactly what their shipping company charges them.

Orgain only offers one tier of shipping that takes two to seven business days to reach you in the contiguous United States. Your package will take about five to seven business days to reach Hawaii, and seven to nine to reach Alaska.

If you aren’t happy with your product, whether it doesn’t agree with your digestive system or you just don’t like the flavor, Orgain has an easy 30-day return and exchange policy. There are virtually no questions asked, and there is a separate page for returns, so you won’t have to worry about getting in contact with customer service first.

Some of Orgain’s products are available to purchase in brick-and-mortar stores. You can find their organic protein powders in everything from drug stores and big box stores like Target or Costco to specialty health food stores. They are so widely prolific that one of our testers found 25 stores with Orgain products in stock in a three-mile radius around their home.

However, the cost of Orgain’s products can vary in stores. Our testers saw prices between $16.99 and $34.99 for their products, including protein powders in 16oz sizes no longer carried on Orgain’s website. Most of these prices are marked up from the website. Their site is best for samples and buying in bulk; if you know you won’t use it much, it may be worth it to scout out your local Costco, Sam’s Club, or other major store.

If you know you’ll be using Orgain’s products regularly, you can sign up for an autoship subscription called Subscribe & Save. This will automatically package up your order and send it to you every 30, 45, or 60 days.

All Subscribe & Save orders are eligible for free shipping in the 48 contiguous United States, and all earn points on every individual package sent. The first order you place with Subscribe & Save is also eligible for a 25% off extra discount.

One of the first things you’ll notice on the Contact page is that there are no options to contact Orgain’s customer service and get an answer in real-time. Instead, Orgain has a time-delayed request form. Their customer service representatives service these requests on a first-come, first-serve basis, so the time before you’ll get an answer can vary from minutes to days.

In order to get help on a particular question, you’ll need to fill out this request form. It first asks you for a reason you need support:

• Orgain.com orders, returns, and ShakeUp! Rewards
• Product questions or concerns
• Healthcare professionals and ambassadors
• Wholesale
• General & feedback
• Call back request

A call-back request will get you on the phone with a customer service representative, but the interim steps make that process slow. Picking one of the above categories pulls up the contact sheet itself, which asks for:

• Your name
• Email address
• Phone number (optional)
• Type of inquiry (question, concern, suggestion, or compliment)
• Details regarding the request
• Up to five attachments

All personal information shared through the contact form is confidential and managed in line with their privacy policy.

If your question is more general, they have a comprehensive FAQ that answers a multitude of common questions.

Orgain’s privacy policy is standard for most online retailers. The company protects your personally identifiable information, and all payments are encrypted and secure. Orgain uses Google Analytics, cookies, and similar technologies to collect non-identifiable information for site research and improvement.

Optimum Nutrition is one of the most common protein powder brands – so much so that one of their main lines is named “Gold Standard.” This protein powder is made with traditional ingredients, however. Most of their products are whey- or casein-based, meaning they are not vegan-friendly. With 24g of protein per serving across their wide catalog, you can find any flavor or form you want (banana split, anyone?). They also sell weight gainers, endurance support, pre-workout, vitamins, bundles, and more, as well as a broader range of canister sizes to personalize exactly how much you’ll get. They are marginally more expensive than Orgain, costing $34.99 for a 2lb canister.

The nutritional supplement brand KOS knows their demographic well. Their site is covered in cute, bright artwork, and their marketing emphasizes the good KOS can do for your body. Not only do they offer protein powders that are incredibly similar to Orgain’s plant-based products, but they also offer options for immune support, antioxidants, sleep support, and more. Everything comes in powder form from KOS to add unique, floral flavors like “chocolate rose” to your day. Like Orgain, they are entirely free of additives and food coloring, and their protein powders offer 20g of protein per serving, albeit at a slightly higher calorie count and cost.

Garden of Life wants to make sure that every ounce of their products is usable. They added digestive enzymes and probiotics to all of their major protein powders for optimal digestion of the plant-based proteins. They have a sports line that packs an even bigger protein punch with 30g of protein in every serving, but a majority of their protein powders clock in at 20g of protein per serving, comparable to (but ever-so-slightly lower than) Orgain’s 21g. All of their products are NSF certified for sport, meaning they’ve undergone third-party testing to make sure it doesn’t have unsafe levels of substances that are prohibited for athletes. However, they aren’t as forthright about what amino acids their protein powder supplies and cost almost $10 more for slightly less product.

GNC isn’t a supplement powerhouse for no reason. Beyond their vast catalog of vitamins and herbs, they also offer protein powders and pantry items like Orgain. They carry over 375 different brands as a major retailer – unlike Orgain’s focus on their brand only – so you can find virtually anything you need. The one thing you might have a hard time finding is plant-based protein powders, which are surprisingly rare in GNC’s catalog. But if you’re not looking for a vegan option, most of their protein powders are whey-based and come in interesting branded flavors, such as Oreo protein powder or a Dunkin’ Mocha Latte flavor. They also make nontraditional products into protein supplements, such as cheese puffs, so that you can increase your daily protein intake in dozens of new ways.

Amazing Grass offers similar products and deals to Orgain, with comparable benefits from nutritional content to auto-ship and save plans. Their catalog is focused closely on protein powders, extending only briefly into other nutritional powders and collagen synthesis, with a great children’s section. The two brands match up nutritionally as well. Amazing Grass has a slightly lower calorie and carb count but higher saturated fat. The biggest downside? Amazing Grass products cost twice as much as Orgain’s.