Top 9 Greens Powders of 2023: Thorough Testing and Detailed Reviews

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Greens powders are trending on TikTok, but they are more than a fleeting fad. Although many greens powders make too-good-to-be–true health claims, they do boast some impressive health benefits. Greens powders have recently become popularized as a convenient way to drink your fruits and vegetables. They often come with a label claiming to support gut health, de-bloat, or detox. While greens powders have been around for decades, only recently have we seen the market explode with lots of new options and tasty varieties. 

When looking for greens powders, you want to consider a few things: 

To help you determine the best greens powder for your lifestyle, Shape tested 21 popular greens powders on the market from big-name brands like Athletic Greens, Amazing Grass, and Primal Harvest. During our testing process, we thought it was important to evaluate each product based on the smell, the texture, the mixability, the flavor, how the greens powder would best be consumed, and if there was any sentiment after mixing. Finally, we consulted with experts to get their take on whether or not greens powders are worth it, if they have any expert recommendations, and who might benefit (or not!) from drinking greens powders. After our comprehensive testing, here are the best greens powders for drinking your fruits and veggies.

Sakara uniquely offers a greens powder that contains 17 g of plant-based protein and 1 g of fiber. Although it is higher in calories than other types of greens powders, we love that you get balanced nutrition making it a good bang for your buck. Sweetened with Stevia and coconut sugar, the product is on the sweet side with a powerful vanilla flavor. If you’re not a huge fan of Stevia or vanilla aftertaste, this product may not be for you.

Sakara offers single-serving travel pouches or large bags to scoop from. One scoop blends nicely into water or could work in an alternative milk product like almond milk or coconut milk. Sakara sources its ingredients from USDA organic sources and is also gluten-free.

Amazing Grass is an OG in the greens powder space, and for a good reason as we felt they were the best-tasting product that we tested. With a mild sweet flavor that didn’t leave a chemical aftertaste, we loved that this product does not have artificial sweeteners and comes made with an antioxidant fruit blend.

The product did have a strong smell and didn’t mix as easily as others we tested, so it’s possible that blending it into a smoothie could work better for folks who are sensitive to smell or want to make sure that they don’t have any clumps or sediment in their drink. With 3 g of fiber to boot, we love the nutrition added to this product (which clocks in at just 30 calories per serving). 

AG1 has become incredibly popular in recent years, and we especially love it for folks who are vegan. It has a great texture, mixes well, and is slightly sweet but without an artificial aftertaste. With 2 g of fiber, we love the added nutrition boost for better digestion. Some say that Athletic Greens have a pineapple aftertaste, and this could be due to the use of pineapple juice concentrate as one of the ingredients. This product may be cost-prohibitive for some, and if that’s the case we have you covered with another option that’s budget-friendly — the Ora Organic Easy Being Green (more on that later).

“Athletic Greens has an impressive ingredient list in its greens powder mainly from whole foods, vitamins, and minerals. Their greens powder is vegan, has no artificial ingredients or pesticides, and is free of common food allergens, including gluten. It has strong third-party testing and is NSF Certified for Sport,” says dietitian Moushumi Mukherjee.

“Its long ingredient list — including adaptogens, plant extracts, mushroom powders, digestive enzymes, and probiotics — is why it stands out from the rest. If you are looking for a greens powder that has a lot of nutrients packed in a serving, AG1 could be a good fit for you. This greens powder could serve as a multivitamin — it is a good source of many vitamins and minerals, except iron,” she adds. Adaptogenic mushrooms might be a no-go for folks who have blood pressure concerns or are on certain medications. Be sure to speak with your doctor before you add a supplement like this to your routine. 

It’s no secret that greens powders are not the cheapest supplement on the planet, and that’s why we sourced options on this list at a lower price point. We love that Ora contains a similar ingredient list to other products on the market like adaptations, prebiotic fiber, and an impressive greens powder blend that includes organic wheatgrass, chlorella, and spirulina. With 2 g of fiber per serving and sweetened with Monk fruit, we love that this product is low in sugar and balanced with some additional fiber.

This product was very mildly flavored with notes of orange, and we noticed that it thickened over time becoming viscous and a bit harder to drink. If that doesn’t bother you, you may love this thicker option as a beverage, or you might find that it blends well into a smoothie.

Made with adaptogenic mushrooms, you’ll want to consult your healthcare provider before taking this product regularly. For folks with high blood pressure or certain medications, you may have a contraindication for this supplement.

Many supplements have been tested and shown to include different amounts of the ingredients that they claim to deliver. Searching for supplements that are third-party tested, like BioSteel, offers extra peace of mind that you are getting what you pay for. We love the price point of this product as well, especially when you compare it to other competitors on the market.

We felt that the flavor was quite strong during our testing process, and would work well for folks who like a powerful fruity, minty aftertaste. However, we think this would work best blended into smoothies to add some nice sweetness that’s balanced out with the other ingredients.

Melissa Boufounos, CHN, sports nutritionist and owner of MB Performance Nutrition shares why she recommends BioSteel Sports Greens to athletes. “Other greens products do not provide the amount of each medicinal ingredient, so it’s difficult to determine how effective they are for the claims they are making. BioSteel has third-party testing certifications for banned substances (NSF). It is high in antioxidants, contains more than 20 whole food ingredients, and I enjoy the price point.”

Sometimes you’re not always in the mood for something sweet, and having a savory product that gives you a nutrition boost is such a  great way to prioritize your health goals while still feeding your cravings. Some savory greens powders are hard to get down as they taste very grassy. True Grace tastes almost identical to broccoli, and we felt it was best mixed into about 4 ounces of water to get the right ratio for drinkability.

Although it is a mild taste, if you don’t like broccoli, you might want to pass over this savory greens powder. Alternatively, you might enjoy mixing it into dishes like soup or casseroles to get the nutrition benefit without drinking it. The product is also great for allergies as it is vegan, USDA organic, and gluten-free. With just one ingredient, broccoli microgreens, you know exactly what you’re getting when you purchase this product

We loved how well this product mixed to create a really smooth texture without clumps or sediment the whole time we drank it. With a smooth texture, you might find this super easy to drink, but of course it would go well into smoothies, soups, or casseroles.

With an earthy taste, folk who want a sweet aftertaste may not choose this greens powder. With no added sugar, we love that this product is artificial sweetener-free and also contains 2 g of fiber to boot. The key ingredient included is moringa, which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties.

This product contains all USDA organic ingredients, in addition to digestive enzymes and adaptogens that make it a powerhouse product. Its frothy, smooth consistency was the cherry on top, making this product super easy to drink. However, it did take about 30 seconds to mix it completely, which is good to know if you find that it’s not totally mixed after your first attempt.

The aftertaste was a bit sweet, although we also got an earthy note as well. We thought this product could be more balanced if it was just a touch sweeter. However, if you are not looking for sweetness as one of your greens powder qualities, you may love this option.

Neutral-tasting greens powders are great for any use: drinking them straight, adding to a soup or hot dish, or mixing them into yogurt if the vibrant color doesn’t deter you. Particularly for folks who are not keen on strong smells, neutral-tasting powders are going to be much more tolerable.

This product is made with comprehensive greens, an antioxidant blend, digestive enzymes, and added fiber for an impressive 35 cal per serving. Unlike some products with added fiber that get more viscous as they sit, this product did not thicken and stayed well dissolved and easy to drink.

We tested this one but ultimately felt like the clumpy texture took away from the taste of the product. However, we did like the balance of fruity, grassy, and earthy (sounds weird, yes, but the fruity notes offset the intense grassy flavor). Wan Na Chun, MPH, RD, CPT of One Pot Wellness shares, “What sets this greens powder apart is that the grasses are juiced and cold-temperature dried within an hour of harvesting, which ensures the most nutrient-dense version of the greens supplement.”

After consulting with experts in nutrition, we identified the most important qualities when seeking the best greens powders: price, taste, smell, texture, mixability, and how the greens powder would best be consumed. From there, we completed comprehensive market research to choose 21 fan-favorite, best-selling greens powders to test. We tested the greens in our lab by adding the recommended serving size to 8 ounces of water or the recommended fluid amount. After mixing for 30 seconds, we noted details of how well it combined and what texture appeared. In addition to our testing, we spoke to experts who wear them every day. Throughout the testing timeline, we took detailed notes on the key features of each product and how they compared to one another. After testing, we felt that the Sakara Organic Protein + Greens Super Powder was the best greens powder overall.

There are many reasons one might be unable to take a daily greens powder. It’s always a good rule of thumb to check with your doctor and receive personalized recommendations. 

Here are some known contraindications for taking greens powders:

Depending on the directions, most greens powder mixes well into water. For options that are on the sweet side or have a vanilla aftertaste, milk or milk alternatives might be feasible. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could mix into OJ or yogurt for an alternative delivery method. You might enjoy incorporating them into smoothies, casseroles, or soups too. Look for a savory or neutral-tasting option if you don’t want your final product to be sweetened. 

Mix into at least 8 ounces of fluid and stir for 15-30 seconds until well dissolved. 

There are undoubtedly health benefits to taking a greens powder. However, greens supplements may be cost prohibitive, have contraindications for your health, or just plain inconvenient. 

Miranda Galati, MHSc, RD, dietitian and owner of Real Life Nutritionist shares her take on whether or not someone should take a greens supplement or a multivitamin: “I’m not yet convinced that these blends are the best choice. If you want to try a greens powder or find they benefit you, I say go for it. But for some people, a personalized supplement routine is going to be more cost-effective and impactful. A good multivitamin with a few additional targeted supplements to meet your unique needs, deficiencies, and goals might be a better choice.”

Talk to your trusted medical professional to get the most personalized advice for your needs.

As a registered dietitian, Caroline Thomason has 10+ years of experience in the wellness space. She has personally tried dozens of greens powders over the years and worked with many clients and colleagues alike who have strong opinions on these products. For this piece, she worked closely with our testing staff and dietitian experts to get the inside scoop about real-world insights on greens powders in a variety of categories.